14689/How to make a drummer...

How to make a drummer...
Date of Scene:	14 April 2023
Location:	Dormitories - Happy Harbor High School
Synopsis:	Crush pulled Mike aside to ask for some lessons with drums, and attempts to get to the bottom of the issue between him and Richard Stadler. Guess what... Mike's a role model!
Cast of Characters:	Xiomara Rojas, Michael Hannigan

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Xiomara Rojas has posed:
The silence that had been maintained by Mr. Hannigan all the way through the halls to Melvin's room, along with the fact fact that Mr. Stadler didn't seem to even try to communicate with him, lead Crush to ease on up to him after Melvin was in his room.

"So uh... you got a minute?" she asked quietly, offering him a piece of the real red licorice she was carrying the fifteen pound bag off. "Gotta put this away."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Sometimes, silence is necessary. Based from the feedback he was getting from Rick, the walk to the dorms had been a necessary time. But to the credit of those involved, they all stuck with the task until it was taken care of. Once Melvin was safely in the dorm without there being a blowup, the musician was prepared to make his leave. He had only come to the school because of a potential emergency anyways.

The quiet request from Crush, of all people causes Mike to glance up to the tall student. The red vine is looked to. He reaches over to take the offered piece. "Thanks." He replies, "And sure."

He drifts back to the bit of quiet, glancing to the departing teacher before looking back to Crush, curious to what was needed.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Leaving Belinda and Mr. Stadler outside Mevlin's room, Crush started to head back toward the girl's dorms in the other hall. She offered a wave and nod to the two, then turned and started walking.

For a short distance she remained quiet, letting a bit of distance be obtained before she turned the corner and paused just in time. A couple of younger students running in the hall, laughing, probably human so clueless, but even still, knocking them over was a bad idea. "You been quiet," she comments first to Mike, after the two kids stop panicking over almost running into Crush, or being run into by her. "Not like you, or Mister S." She adds once she starts walking again, eyes shifting from the man to the other kids coming up the hall and heading to their room.s

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike shifts to the side as the students run through the hallway, perhaps missing his opportunity to play the adult card to yell at them. Instead he takes a bite of the newly acquired piece of candy. When Crush comments about him being quiet, he blinks. Holding up his hands, palms facing himself before the fingertips curl inwards, causing for the pointer fingers to point to his currently moving jaw for his explanation.

Of course he's quiet. He's chewing.

When Rick gets mentioned, eyes roll upwards.

He chews faster.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
And there it was, all the confirmation that Crush needed that something was in fact up between the two adults... who weren't acting like adults... but whatever, they were the adults and this wasn't exactly the time for her to start forcing 'Kum Ba Yah' moments on teachers.

What Mike would see is her eyes narrows, after the roll, her face go sort of dead pan and then she sighed as if the feud was something that actually mattered to her. She didn't say anything, it wasn't her place to, but she /really/ wanted to.

Reaching a spot in the hall where there was actually a bench, she gestured toward it. "So, since I ain't supposed let guys in my room," again with an eye roll. "Like that would even be an issue... have a seat for a minute? I was wondering, you uh... play lots of instruments, right?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
In Mike's defense once he finishes chewing the bite he had in his mouth, he doesn't take another bite of the candy. He shifts over to the bench, assuming the room to be close enough for Crush to drop off her EXTREMELY LARGE bag of candy. His butt hits the seat, making for the already tall Crush to tower over the older man. His head tilts up even higher. "Uh yeah. Drums, piano, guitar, violin... why? Are you thinking of taking something up?"

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
The bench was in fact right across from her room so Crush opens the door, flung the bang inside her room, and closed the door again... one fluid motion. Once the candy was out of hand, she moved over to tower over him for a moment then sat down on the other end of the bench.

"I been thinkin about something musical, yeah," she replied once she was settled, still taller even sitting, but not towering. "Piano ain't right, too... uh, plinky. Been thinking drums."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Listening to Xio's explanation against playing the piano, the side of Mike's mouth curves upwards to a bit of a smirk. The concluded instrument gets a nod. "Drums." He repeats, giving a nod, "Yeah. I can see it. That's actually the first one I learned too. Burn off a lot of energy with that one."

He turns his head, looking over to Xiomara, "Are you thinking basic drum set, the marching type, or something more orchestral?"

Let's be honest, he's got an idea which one. But best not to assume.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Crush blinks not once, but twice, and slowly. She was attempting to wrap her head around the concept of orchestral drums, which actually took her a moment. "Oh hells no, orchestral is big bam boring, get to hit them like what... twice in a song? And marching?" Another eye rolls over that.

"I got legs longer that some kids er tall, end up marching past em... nah, I want the rock, the real rock."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike does not even hide the growing look of amusement upon his features as Crush works out the options outlined for him. "I thought as much." He admits, "But I don't want to automatically rule out your options in case I'm wrong. Also side note, there IS a perk to doing orchestral percussion in that they teach you multiple instruments AND if you luck out, the suspended cymbal might be positioned RIGHT behind someone you don't like."

He cracks a smile, "Or so I've observed, never really got to do. I started off late."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Glancing up the hall toward a couple of kids arguing, Crush looks back to Mike. No fists being thrown, so she won't get involved yet. "I ain't wearing no fancy suit just to slam two metal cymbals together behind an idiots head, deserving or not... though it sounds entertaining," she smirks, then throws another glance toward the kids. Sometimes roommates just didn't get along.

"You started late how? Like late in life, or late in school?" she then asked, still no physical confrontation occurring.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike chuckles, taking the expression he got in return for that scenario as a mild victory. He leans back, resting his back against the wall positioned behind the bench. "Late in life." He answers, "I already had my GED when I picked up my first set of drumsticks."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
A sudden scream from down the hall cause Crush to let out a loud, "Hey, knock it off or I'll give you a real reason to scream!" And even as the two girls are scrambling to go in two different directions away from the apparently angered Czarnian, Crush has already put her attention back on Mike.

"I just think beating on drums is way more entertaining then standing up in the front of the stage and getting stared at, cause you know I'm already gonna get stared at," she admits with a slight shrug, calm as if she didn't just scare the shit out of two kids. "So you started with drums, what came next? Also... does this mean you're willing to teach me?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Well, after drums it was a mix between vocals and piano. Basically the one who got me into music taught me as much as he could and then I started learning from others." He pauses, looking to the licorice. "I'm willing to help get you started." He replies, "And after we see where you are skill wise we can go from there. The studio does keep an extensive list of those who are in the market for teaching so finding you a tutor won't be an issue."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
For one brief moment Crush stares at Mike as if an entire nest of snakes just sprouted from his forehead and tried to wiggle at her, but then her face returned to normal, well her normal, which was a slight sneer with a hint of smile.

"Tutor? You talkin a stranger?" She blinked. "Really... you think some strangers gonna teach me?" She gestured at her face, at the pale white skin, the black markings that were natural and not make-up. "Yeah, I don't think they will, in fact I think they'll call the cops on the alien that looks like him." She still won't say his name, she can't say his name, but anyone who knew... well, they knew... Lobo.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike shakes his head, "Not a stranger... I'm talking someone who went through a process to be vetted to be on a list of 'go to' people in the music industry that is maintained by a group that has made it quite clear about their stance on diversity. That list is a money maker for some of them. So, at the very least, they'd behave to stay on that list."

Mike pauses, looking to Crush, "Besides, you'd still have say in who you get matched up with. It wouldn't do to pair a student up with someone that makes them uncomfortable, you know?"

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
One thing most people never see with Crush is her being anything more than sure of herself, what she wants, where she's going... the mask she wears to keep strangers from having any kind of chance of hurting her. Whether it was the protesters or something Mike said however, the Czarnian does something very human... she chews at her bottom lip nervously. It was brief, likely only Mike could have caught it before she shrugged.

"People don't usually like me," she states as if this is a known fact he should have known already and how was it he didn't... but then her tone changes. "But uh... if you say they're vetted, an... you don't think it'll be a problem... I'm willing to try."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Watching the display of hesitancy, Mike grows quiet once more. He waits for when the student has formed her thoughts on the matter. The statement made causes for him to hold his breath for a moment, processing the added details.

There's quiet.

So much quiet.

Could he have fallen asleep?

"You know..."

Okay he's awake at least.

"There's a reason why I had to get my GED. I pissed off a lot of people by simply existing."

Mike glances up, studying the wall in recollection, "High school was not a pleasant time for me. And I think I may have felt similarly to what you are feeling. But-"

He pauses again, giving a puzzled look, before shaking his head, seemingly dismissing some line of thought. "Anyways. One of the people I found to actually like me owns that studio and maintains that list. He's never done wrong by me and I highly doubt he'd do wrong by you. Also, we kind of have that whole agreement with the school anyways so you might as well get some music lessons out of the deal."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
It was rare for anyone to share something personal with Crush, most of the time she believed it to be a result of her unwillingness to share anything personal about herself. Her life before Happy Harbor, there were only a couple people who knew about it, and thus knew the reasons she rarely trusted anyone. Mike was exposing himself, offering up an olive branch, showing the similarities over the differences... she got it. He was a man who could turn into a bird, there were portals, if she remembered correctly, he certainly wasn't no human... but what he was? No idea, and it didn't really matter, not human was enough.

"Glad you got that kind of friend," she offers with another slight shrug, trying to figure out how to say that more nicely. "I mean, and that they're still your friend... it's nice to know that can happen." Open mouth, insert foot. She so sucked at this.

"So uh... when would be a good time to come by then, to test out my learning abilities and such? I know your busy, got a life and all," she almost chuckles at that and then the quick, smooth talker ability just let's slips, "And what's going on with Mister Stadler and you?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike nods, "Yeah. Appreciate your friends while you have them. You never know when -"

Okay. Veto-ing that line right there. Not going down that road.

When Crush brings up the scheduling aspect, Mike jumps on that. "Well the funny thing is- The friend I told you about also manages my schedule so...either way I'm going to be talking to him. And being you're with the school to boot, he'll definitely make it happen."

The redirect to Rick ends up triggering a sour look upon the musician's face. He sighs, "You're going to keep asking until I address that, aren't you?"

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
The sudden change of topic isn't missed, Crush knows he was about to say something else, most likely about appreciate friends because you never know when they'll die, or be gone, or something that was generally bad. On that thing, she let's him off the hook.

She nods along as he talks about the friend with the schedule keeping, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. She really did want to learn to play drums, there was just something about the sound and stability of the instrument, the fact that every song used them as a foundation... she's have to get all fan girly over the instrument later. Right now...

"I'm concerned," she admits plainly with a slight shift of her weight on the bench. "I ain't never seen him or you like that before, and if there's anything I can do to help, anything at all, I want to... so yeah, I'm gonna keep asking and since I don't have to sleep..." she leaves it there, so he can picture what could happen.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Yes. He can picture what could happen.

He'd go home and turn off his phone.

The End.




The musician lets out a long sigh, "If you're worried that we can't work together on a common goal I wouldn't worry about that. I think we both want what's best for the school. It's just- He's more concerned about what others think about us. I'm more concerned about what we think about us."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
One dark brow rises on Crush's face in confusion and curiosity. She's silent for a moment, watching Mike's face after he speaks while putting together in her head what she wanted to say.

"Ms. MacIntyre and the other teachers are always tellin us to be ourselves," she says slowly, calmly, trying to make certain the words were right. "But we gotta remember that how they see us, those people out there who hate everything different then them.. it matters." She pauses there, wondering if she said it right, if she got the importance of it across right.

"There's always gonna be some group who hates us, so we gotta look out for how they see us /AND/ we gotta take a good look at ourselves. Does that make sense? I mean... I get what you both are thinking, and saying, but... Stadler cares more about the students than most other teachers, Mr. Hannigan," she sighs softly, again chewing lightly at her bottom lip. "You and he... couple of the greats, that's why seein ya mad at each other... sucks, ya know?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike arches a brow to the last comment. A couple of the greats? "I think you went overboard with that last comment." He points out. "We're not great. Definitely not meriting a 'the' tagged to the front of that."

He glances to the piece of bitten candy still in his hand. "For what it's worth I'm not MAD mad at him. I just-"

He pauses, "It's complicated."

Mike pauses again, "...You know I'm not a teacher, right?"

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Crush's response to his last comment is a large shrug. "I know you don't teach, don't matter..." she states without pause. "You help out, you're here now cause the school needed help... that's the sort of thing that makes you great. You care, when so many people out there don't give a fuck, you actually show up, and care."

Pushing her fingers through her hair, getting the spikey part right again, she offers him a lopsided grin. "Complicated... I'm an alien from a dead planet whose sperm donor tried to kill her just for existing. I stand out on this planet like a sore thumb, am instantly judged because of what I look like, and oh yeah... don't have a living friend. Complicated... what's so complicated?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike chuckles, "Ok mine is more of a 'It's extremely wordy and you'd fall asleep halfway through it, type of complicated."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Actual laughter, not a faked or acted out thing, but real honest to goodness laughter. Crush can't help it, the man had an answer for everything, or at last he's quick with a witty response.

"Fine, you don't wanna talk about it... but I'm gonna ask him about it too," she states once she stops chortling. "And just do you know, nothing you say could ever bore me. I'm still learning how to socialize with people that doesn't end in me punching them or a wall."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Oh good." Mike comments, "He's a teacher. He should be used to students falling asleep when he talks."

He sighs, "And despite what he says, about how it's against decorum and stuff- I find that cursing helps a lot. It's a better alternative to just flat out punching people."

Yep. Definitely not a teacher.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Another sigh, and this time Crush rolls her eyes. "What is with you adults? You tell us kids to 'talk it out' or 'work it out', the one I hate to hear is 'hug it out' I don't hug." She stares at him perhaps a little /too/ intently for a moment about that... so he gets it.

"If ya knew my childhood, you'd know why I swear, why I'll always swear and why I don't really give a fuck about decorum..." she shrugs and stands up, stretching up to her full height and touching the ceiling in the hall. "I don't talk about it, but it's me... so it happens. I'm learning, and you may not be a teacher, but I still learn from you. So, as I head to my room to eat red vines, do my home work and /not/ go kill the protestors, remember just one really important thing... suck it up pretty boy, you're a role model."

Nodding once, she winks and heads back toward the door across the hall.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Brows raised, Mike watches as Crush heads back to her room. Well, he can honestly say he's never heard it said like that before. Giving a shake of his head, he lifts up the piece of candy he acquired earlier.

As Crush's door comes to a close she gets one parting observation from the pretty boy role model before he bites into the red vine.

"This school is in deep trouble then."