Owner	Pose
John Connor	When you live your life using an alias, they become second nature. John Connor's primary alias is John Baum, which is essentially John Connor with a different name, but it is as close to him as it gets. When he and whomever is with him want to go to a place that might require photo ID, he has a cheaper one, that isn't in the system, but will stand up to visual scrutiny, as he planned to do now. One of their contacts mentioned Caritas as a violence-free karaoke bar. It sounded too good to be true, but John had recently learned that the supernatural did seem to exist, and he and his mother had heard of some magical superheroes. It seemed like it was worth checking into. John wore blue jeans, he almost always wore them. They blended in so well for guys. Not as good for girls, but it was like his armor. Above that, he had on a dark green t-shirt, and a thin black t-shirt. It was a bit hot for the shirt, being summer. As he walked in, he paused, surprise coming over him. There were people in here, humans, but also what he assumed to be mutants, metahumans maybe, and some... that were very strange mutants or mutahumans. There was a guy on stage singing karaoke that had antlers that seemed to be dripping syrup, or some kind of slime. As if that wasn't strange enough, he was singing 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley. "Is this really the place?" He asked.
Cameron	"It is the correct address." This from the young woman at his side. She was dressed appropriate for the outing. A pair of black leather pants that fit well. Form fitting but able to be moved in despite that, the leather having been worked until it was smooth and soft. She had on a black tank top that was scoop necked but also short, showing off her midriff. She'd left her jacket with an attendant at the entrance. On her feet were a pair of knee high boots in black, laced up the front. She looked around at the variety of being gathered, brow going tight as she tried to analyze everything. Then she stared openly at the being on stage. Which was okay as that is what one was supposed to do when a person was on astage. It didn't make it any easier to understand. "Is he a professional?" she asks, somehow thinking he was not.
John Connor	At some point John would have to talk to Cameron about how color help to blend. Sure, black on black on black looked great, but it only blended in with some very specific situations. Earthtones and muted colors were often best, as it gave colour, without drawing the eye. Such was how John had to live his life. Of course, he'd had the same conversation about color with his mother, and it hadn't worked there either. "I really doubt it. Come on, let's find a table," and he would move into the club. No one knew who he was, or that he was here, so he could be as free and safe as he could anywhere. If the story was true about it being violence-free, even better. He found a table towards the right of the stage, and pulled out a chair for Cameron, although she may instead go for her own chair. The singer finished up his song, and there were claps. It was the polite thing to do, even if he wasn't very good. And afterwards, a green skinned individual with red horns and red eyes would charmingly come on stage, taking the microphone, "Well, wasn't that something folks? I'm just going to have a sweet little chat with Lornox now, but next up, we have Jinglar, who's just a on a quest to be reunited with his Sindel," whatever a sindel was, or maybe it was a person. Either way, it would seem that Jinglar was going to sing 'Barbie Girl' by Aqua.
Cameron	To be honest, the outfit she had on didn't really stand out that much. There were plenty of women in little black dresses or other mixes of black. He probably had a point when they were out during the day. But a night club? She was good. As he pulled out the chair, she sat down and gave him a nod and a brief "Thank you." Then she listened to the host discussing Lornox and Jinglar and Sindel. Wait a Sindel wasn't a who but a something? Or maybe it was both. She just tucked it away for information. A server came over, a woman with bright pink skin and four small horns, two on each side of her forehead. "What can I get you to drink?" They had the ID bands so apparently were over 21, when they were checked at the door.
John Connor	John took a seat next to Cameron, with her towards the door, and the majority of the other patrons, and he more in the corner, though there were other tables that way. It was just that she was between him and more people. He always thought about that. While he was further away from the door, he was also further away from possible danger, and she could make a door if need be. John gave his ID, since he definitely looked his 16 years old, possibly passing for 18, but the ID said he was 21, as of three weeks ago. It seemed to pass, but he still didn't bother ordering an alcoholic beverage, instead opting for a Hibiscus Tea, and a plate of nachos, extra cheese. After Cameron had ordered anything she wanted, he would playfully ask, "are you going to go up and sing something?"
Cameron	Cameron ordered a soda. Just a cola of whatever type they carried. Not really needing alcohol because it cost more and honestly was a waste of money for her to drink. Not like she could get drunk. So why spend money they could really use for other things in their life. As the server headed off to get their orders, Cameron looked at him curiously. "Why would I sing?" Because honestly she doesn't understand the concept. Yet.
John Connor	"People sing because we have something, deep inside, that we need to express, but can't, won't, or don't, for one reason or another, in everyday conversation. It's a release of sorts. And can be its own reward. It has the power the alter our moods, and those around us." Listening to the demons, humans, and metahumans sing, many of them badly, "not always for the better. But a place like this is open. Anyone can do it. In the future, did you ever sing, with future John, or for future John?" He often asked about his future self, trying to figure things out. She was a walking cheat sheet. But she didn't give out much.
Cameron	"I didn't sing with him. He did sing sometimes. Not very often," Cameron admitted as she looked around the room again. Just someone casually taking in the variety of clientele. Nothing like casing the room, marking exits, checking for anything that might be a threat to John. Even though that was being done too. Then back over toward John as she continued. "There was not a lot to sing about then. Some of the others did it more often. When John sang, it was usually in private." Another tight smile. "He did not ask me to sing. I never really understood the appeal." Yet she had learned about dance so perhaps it was something she could learn more about. "Do you like to sing? Are you going up there?"
John Connor	John Connor had lived, and knew he was looking forward to a life of reservations. He constantly had to bow to his mother, to the future, stunting himself, quieting himself. He wasn't free to be himself, to who he wanted to be, or who he might be. He was who he had to be, who he was destined to be, so he searched for those quiet little moments where he could be a normal person. He didn't do it often. Sometimes he was even scared to sing in the shower. But he was a normal guy, with a very abnormal life. "Probably just trying to remind himself... myself, of what we're fighting for, that life's worth living." He liked the tight smile she offered him. It made him feel warm and nice. "And if I asked you to sing, would you?" He was asking, not ordering, and even when he did order her, half the time she didn't follow it. She seemed to have detailed instructions on when and when not to do as he said. Plus, he treated her as a human. To him, she was. "Not sure, I'm thinking about it." He was a bit scared to go up, not to sing in public, but to be on a stage alone. It was a risk his mother would never approve of.
Cameron	"Going on stage would draw attention." Her way of saying it was a bad idea. For him. For her. Perhaps for both of them. Yet at the same time, she did remember the future. Remembered the moments when John would have music playing and would sing along with it. When they were in private, away from others in the Resistance. They'd even danced at times. But that was long ago. Or long ahead. Either way. "However, if you choose to ignore my recommendations, I would have to go up there with you." If someone took a shot, she needed to be close to block it.
John Connor	He nodded, looking a bit dejected at her advice. It was the right thing to say. Staying and listening, drinking, just relaxing as best they could, was the wise choice. The future wasn't worth risking for a song. The server came back with their drinks, which they paid for, giving her a normal tip. Money was both an issue, and not one. They stole from ATMs. Sometimes actual large caches, either set up by the resistance, or in the course of their work, they came into large sums of money. When they did, they kept it secret and used it sparingly. No need to buy brand new trucks or anything else that might call attention to themselves. Her later comment did pique his interest. "If we did go up there, what would we sing?" There was a catalogue of the karaoke on every table. It was pretty extensive. Handing it to her, since she could read them, analyse them, faster than he could, "why don't you pick... in case we do go up there." He smiled at her. What would she pick?
Cameron	Cameron went through the song list, scanning it quickly. Being that she thought logically, she was focusing on duets involving a male and female. Certainly they could sing anything but that is how her mind worked since it fit the scenario. Some she knew. Some she didn't. But there was one song on the list that the title caught her attention. She took the pen and piece of paper and quickly wrote it down with their names, to be taken up to the front and added to the list of people set up to sing. She handed the paper to John, allowing him to veto the vote if he wanted.
John Connor	John accepted the paper, looked at it. The name seemed familiar. He had seen the Greatest Showman, and in the back of his head, somewhere, he remembered the song, it's lyrics, but that wasn't really active memory for him. Thankfully karaoke had the background music and the appeared on a screen with a bouncing ball, so you could sing it even if you weren't familiar with the song. He said simply, "sure." Since they were close to the stage, and she was watching, he took the paper that short distance. It was as safe as him going to the toilet, which was still something she had seemed to struggl to accept he could go alone. And he was back at the table mere seconds after, seated, "good choice," he said. "We're up after this and one other."
Cameron	"Alright." She wasn't sure why it was a good choice. Again, this was not her sort of information normally. Cameron did take a moment to pull out her phone, flicking through until she could search the song. It allowed her to see the sheet music which meant she would be able to know what notes to hit at what points. Then the phone was tucked away, the information for the song now in her memory. John could peek over her shoulder and see if he could read music. "It is interesting this place has so many various types of beings yet all are peaceful. I wonder how they maintain it."
John Connor	It just so happened that one of the waitresses came over just in time to hear Cameron's question. It wasn't anything sensitive, so Cameron didn't need to guard it against anyone who might overhear it. "Oh, that's because of the sanctuary spell cast by the Transuding Furies. No one is capable of any act of violence within these walls, and you two are up." That would be something John wanted to talk more about, and how to replicate it, if it were true, but they were up. So he would rise from his seat, heading towards the stage, taking a microphone. He sang in the shower, occasionally, or in a car, when he was alone, which was oh so rare. But he had Cameron there with him. The song started more as a verbal speaking role, and he said, "You know I want you. It's not a secret I try, to hide. I know you want me. So don't keep saying our hands are tied." With the song beginning to pick up, his voice did as well, "You claim it's not in the cards. But fate is pulling you miles away. And out of reach from me. But you're here in my heart. So who can stop me if IIIIIII decide. That... you're my destiny?" He was reading from the telepompter, but they had a nice set up, with ones in a few different directions, so he could move about the stage, look, and still maintain where he was in the song. Curiously, his body language and the tone in his singing voice would suggest that he sincerely meant what he was saying, even if he was reading them. "What if we reeee-write the stars? Say you were maaaaade to be mine. Nothing could keeeeep us apaaart. You'd be the one, I was meant to find." When he said that, he grabbed onto her waist, pulling her in close, so that their noses briefly touched. Pulling away, so he could see the next words, "It's up to you. And it's up to me. No one can say what we get to beeee." He grabbed her again, dancing with her. "So why don't we reeee-write the stars?" His hand reached for her cheek, brushing it, "Maybe the wooooorld could be ooooours. Tonight"
Cameron	For a moment, she remained as close as she had been. When she sang, she was pitch perfect. Not from any actual skill. The wonders of being a living machine were in play. It wasn't that she was an amazing singer but she was on the notes and sang well enough. "You think it's easy You think I don't wanna run to you But there are mountains And there are doors that we can't walk through I know you're wondering why Because we're able to be Just you and me Within these walls But when we go outside You're gonna wake up And see that it was hopeless after all." At that moment she moved away from him, out of the circle of his arm and putting distance between them as she was playing her part, trying to get through to him in song that it wasn't possible. Made to be mine was a fitting line from him considering what she was, as opposed to who. Then it was vocalized as she picked up the chorus with the opposite viewpoint from the first. "No one can rewrite the stars How can you say you'll be mine Everything keeps us apart And I'm not the one you were meant to find It's not up to you It's not up to me When everyone tells us what we can be How can we rewrite the stars? Say that the world can be ours Tonight."
John Connor	With her coming back towards him, and him moving towards her, at the end of her part, they sang together as they held each other. "All I want is to fly with you. All I want is to fall with you. So just give me all of you." And then they had separate parts, with her saying that "it feels impossible," and he replying, "it's not impossible," only for her to ask "is it impossible?" And together, "Say that it's possible." His voice wasn't as good as hers. His timing wasn't as good as hers. He had the voice of a young man who had spent some time in music classes at high school, who never would become a professional, but he didn't make people's ears bleed either. There was no groaning in the audience. He was okay, maybe even good, but no more than that. And by karaoke bar standards, he was pleasant. So that in itself was an achievement. They would separate for the next part, continuing to sing together, "How do we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine? Nothing can keep us apart. 'Cause you are the one I was meant to find. It's up to you. And it's up to me. No one can say what we get to be." And then they were together again, "Why don't we rewrite the stars? Changing the world to be ours."
Cameron	Then it came to the end where the music faded out entirely. There was no music to follow, just the words on the screen. Thankfully she had looked up the song before they came up. She stood close to him, hands joined with his, faces almost touching. Her words were soft but still carried thanks to the mics. "You know I want you It's not a secret I try to hide But I can't have you We're bound to break and My hands are tied." She sounded almost as though that admission was painful as she released his hands slowly, turned, and walked away to the far side of the stage as befitting the song and the tone as it ended. Which resulted in quite the round of applause by an audience that got to watch a good performance and no one had bleeding ears.
John Connor	John was left stunned. He had heard the song before, in the movie, but he hadn't listened to it that closely. Singing it, he thought about the lyrics. It carried so much more weight. It resonated with him. And the way it ended. He was stunned. With the applause, John would walk off the stage with Cameron, though he gave her a few sideways glances. There was so much going through his mind. The host had been listening. He had a funny look on his face, as if he was trying to work something out in his mind. But he did not seem to be having a headache, or being knocked out. Nor did he go to the young singers. But he did smile at them. Smile and nod. Once back in their chairs, the host would make a brief cameo, saying, "I just wanted to say that I enjoyed that." To John, he said, "keep at it kiddo, you just keep doing what you're doing, and you'll get there." It seemed as though he was talking about the singing, though there may have been a hidden meaning. And he gave Cameron another odd glance, "and," he scratched his head, "you surprised me. It doesn't happen very often. It's a rare and magical gift. Thank you. And because of that, I'm going to..." he paused, considering, then said, "I think you need to watch the Wizard of Oz. There's... there's something there." And he smiled again, before heading back to talk with a waitress.
Cameron	As they exited the stage, Cameron wasn't aware of the unusual looks coming from John. She simply returned to her seat, settling in. As the host made his observations, she looked truly confused. It was interesting to get compliments from him considering. As he left the stage, she looked to John. "I have read the book. Why should I watch the movie? Isn't the book always better?" Because that is what people always said.
John Connor	"The book is usually better when it's a straight adaptation. But the more they change; sometimes they can become different things. The Wizard of Oz is one of those. Starship Troopers is another, weird as it sounds. In the book, she actually goes to Oz, so the first chapter is kind of a waste. It's just describing prairie life, people who aren't really important to the story. In the movie, she dreams versions of the people she met, so it's a clever twist. They both have their advantages." "The slippers were silver in the book, not red. The book goes into detail about the Tinman being a real man whose fiance's roommate kind of... well, she chops him up. It's pretty gruesome by children's book standards. The scarecrow was made the day before Dortohy got there, but they don't explain the lion's backstory. There are more witches in the book, a lot more violence, the monkeys have this genie in the lamp thing going, and there's a Queen of Field Mice in the book. They're very different. I like them both, but for different reasons."
Cameron	"Thank you for the explanation," Cameron said automatically as she reached for one of the nachos. She made sure it had plenty of cheese and toppings. A quick bite, careful not to have the chip collapse and dump stuff all over her shirt. She chewed thoughtfully then glanced over at him again. "Is it something I can watch when we are at home?" Likely it was available on some sort of streaming service and, thanks to his hacking skills, they had those just fine despite not actually paying for them. "I would like to see the differences."
John Connor	John reached for some nachos himself, not as careful as she was, but he didn't spill any... yet. "Sure," he was pretty sure they had a digital copy, but he couldn't remember. Sometimes they would have to leave a home on short notice, and couldn't take a hard drive filled with nothing but movies. He could always get another copy, or at least, he could for the time being. In the future, that might be a different story. "If we don't have it, we'll get it," somehow. "Can I watch with you?" He enjoyed spending time with her, and her song selection had him wondering. He was also thinking back to when she malfunctioned, and what she had said as she was better. He had another chip.
Cameron	"I would like that," Cameron replied to his request to watch it with her. Which she left at that as she finished off her nacho. A second was grabbed and eaten before she spoke again, her gaze going to the next person singing on the stage before she looked back over to John. She didn't elaborate as to why she would like to have him watch with her. It could be she just wanted him to be able to explain concepts that she might not understand. Or it could be she actually liked spending time with him. No wonder he was often confused.