Players:
Summary: Robyn and Mason talk about music and Mason's fame not being 'the norm'.
Date: January 4, 2011
Log Title: Different Worlds
Rating: PG
Xavier Mansion - Music Room
The music room has four levels of tiers that each sit one row in a semi circle. On the floor in the semi circle is grand piano. There is a large closet on either side of the room, one filled with string instruments and the other filled with various wind and brass instruments. There are a few guitars in the back of the room next to a large variety of percussion instruments. All the instruments here are for the students to use provided they take care of them and clean any necessary parts after they use it. The room is sound proof, so once the door is closed, the music being played will not interrupt the other classrooms.
Over the Christmas break Robyn made a promise to his Dad, that he wouldn't slack on playing the cello anymore. He's been neglecting practicing it for his art and where Robyn does like to play the cello he gets caught up in his art easier. But not tonight. He's plays a bit more of a traditional piece his eyes following the sheet music as he plays. Sure it's not in his usual tastes but the song is good for him to practice his fingering.
Christmas concerts, New Year's concerts. New Year's Eve parties. New Year's Day parade. Mason has been exceptionally busy. Today was no exception. It was orientation day at Julliard. Mason needs to get away from everyone, just for a little while. He still wears his suit and tie, dressed to kill, when he opens the door to the Music Room.
He wasn't expecting to find Robyn in here, though. While they may be teammates, Mason really hasn't had the opportunity to meet Robyn properly. He slides out of his suit jacket, and tosses it over one shoulder as he sits down at the graduated steps. Yes, there's chairs, but he doesn't use one. He just pulls up a piece of floor, listening. It's good to just listen for a change. But he doesn't say anything while Robyn plays, not wishing to interrupt him.
There isn't much for Mason to listen to as when he sits down Robyn immediately stops playing and blushes. "uh..hey. Sorry, Dad told me I gotta practice more." He says running his hand through his hair while still holding his bow. "So..how's it going and what's up with the suit and tie?"
Mason grins, tilting his head back. "No, don't let me stop you," he tells Robyn. "Cello is a pretty sweet instrument. That Bach you playin'?" he asks. The blond tugs on the tie, pulling it off and undoing the top button. "Had orientation today at Julliard. I'm taking some classes there this semester." He supports himself with his elbows and shrugs with his hands. "Been a busy day."
"Yeah, I got a book of Bach's works for the cello for Christmas. My Dad's a musician so he let me choose the instrument but I had to learn something." Robyn says with a grin. "That must be pretty cool, going to Julliard. I've got my hands full here to also do art classes on the side but I got my portfolio out to a few art schools so hopefully I hear from some soon."
"Yeah, but now I get to listen to a bunch of old dudes tell me that I suck for the next two and a half years. I know I'll be better when I'm done, but…" He makes a face. If there's one thing Mason can't stand, it's being rejected. "I think I get enough from the hate bloggers. So you're a senior, right?" He wads up his tie and tosses it up onto the chair next to him. "Which school you hoping for, Prat?" Since Prat University is not only very well known, but also in New York City.
"I did apply to Pratt, Rhode Island School of Design, NYU, some of the SUNY and CUNY schools but I'm really hoping to get into Parsons." Robyn says as he nods. "I know, I'm sure I have so much to learn still with sculpting since it's not just doing the art itself but art histories, conceptual art and all that stuff. I'm sure it's the same with music. My Dad never went to school for it but he's a musician for living. Nothing like you but I think him and his band are fun."
"Some of the best bands I've ever heard weren't famous. Ever here of Too Many Drummers? Or Yo La Tengo? They're both fantastic, nobody's ever heard of them." Mason gets up to his feet, and wanders non-commitally toward Robyn before taking a chair closer to him. "I'd love to hear your dad's band. I'm sure he's great. What does he play?"
Robyn shakes his head. "But then if I named some of the bands I like you might not have heard of them either. VNV Nation, Apoptygma Bezerk and And One are some things I like. Rasputina is cool for the cellists, so are Apocalypitca." Robyn says scratching the back of his head. "And my Dad's band..well..do you like Rush? He sings and plays Bass right now but he plays a lot of different instruments. Guitar, Bass, saxophone, stand up bass and clarinet are a few."
"I know Rasputina and Apocalyptica. They're pretty good," Mason says. "Just because I'm famous for pop music, doesn't mean that's all I listen to," he notes. He doesn't sound put off at the idea, he gets it a lot. "If you listened to classical stuff a lot, you'd hear my name there, too. Don't tell the fan girls." he laughs, and gets up, walking over to the grand piano and pulling up the cover to the keys. "Rush is great. They have such complex music. I wish I could meet them, figure out how they got the recording companies to let them make their songs however they want." Implication, he doesn't. "I think your dad sounds like a cool guy."
"My Dad is in a Rush cover band. When they're not doing stuff like weddings and bat mitzvahs and such they're singing Tom Sawyer." Robyn says with a bit of a sheepish smile. "I don't know much about music theory or anything, I just play cello. Art has always been my thing, I think I took off a bit more after my Mom like that. But she paints where I sculpt. And my parents are cool." Robyn admits. "I don't really know any of your fan girls so your secret is safe with me. HOnestly, I don't think I've ever heard an entire song of yours."
Mason laughs. "Good, I can play you something better than what they put on the radio," he tells Robyn. His fingers begin to dance across the keys. It isn't pop music. It sounds more like a piano rock song. "I should warn you, though. This one is written for guitar." His guitar isn't here right now, though.
"Well it's good that you're choosing to play it on the piano then use the guitar that is over there. Mr. Gilpatrick gets so moody when people touch his guitar." Robyn says as every one in one of his music classes learns not to touch it. "Do you have a guitar?" He figures he's a rich kid Disney musician type, he probably does. "So…why Xavier's?" He eventually asks.
Mason arches his brow. "Yeah, I wouldn't want to piss him off," he returns to Robyn. "Me? Yeah, I got a few. The piano jams out the tune, but Mason passes on singing it for the time being. It does sound like it has lyrics to it. "Well, mom didn't want me to go to Barnes," he says. "She doesn't want me getting any ideas of being a superhero in my head." The boy laughs. "Though, I dunno, it could be fun." Of course, he hasn't seen all the dramatic things that can happen at the school. Not to mention the one big fight he was in, he took a bullet to the chest. "Here I don't have to worry about being discovered as a mutant. The masses aren't very forgiving about that sort of thing."
Robyn shakes his head. "I'm not really into being a superhero. I thought about it for a bit but then I realized my heart is in my art. My boyfriend likes superheroes more than I do. He knows a lot about them. I dunno though." Robyn say with a shrug. "It's just you're this person on the radio and you're here. I would think that famous people who are mutants wouldn't bother with stuff like this here. But I guess the discovering part is good. I wouldn't want my name plastered about knowing that I was a mutant."
"Yeah," Mason comments. "Don't. I'm just another guy. I feel better here when somebody doesn't know who I am. Everybody makes assumptions. Cloud thinks I'm stuck on myself, and I think Connor might, too. People think I'm just some shallow pretty boy because I sing pop music." He shakes his head, continuing the song through the conversation rather effortlessly. "It's really frustrating when everyone knows your name, but nobody knows you. They just think they do because they keep up with entertainment blogs."
"I just know you like I know Justin Bieber. It's name and I couldn't tell you the name of one song you sing." Robyn says shrugging a shoulder. "But the thing is, you're not just another guy, cause…people do know you. It's like being the guy that everyone gossips about in school but worse, cause you're on an internet level. I could go to the store and find a CD of yours, you can't really do anything even close to that like that here. It's not a bad thing it's just….it's like if you were in the room with someone like..uh….um….David Bowie or something. Would he be just a guy to you?"
"I dunno. I guess I'm just used to seeing famous musicians all the time. And actors. It's hard to get starstruck or anything like that when you're around famous people all the time." Mason doesn't really have a good point of reference. He stops playing. "Is it really that weird?" he asks.
"Mason, I can't go to the store, pick up a teeny bopper magazine and see anyone of my friends on it. None of us have a wikipedia page about us, unless you count the X-Men." Robyn admits. "I type in your name in Google and I can find your height, weight and birthday I mean..it's not really normal." He hates to break that to Mason but then it's like he's a different social class. "It's not bad it's just..different."
"Nobody ever seemed to think much of it at my old school," he says. "I wish they'd just get over it here." Mason admittedly started going to his old school before he was famous, so that makes it a little different. "I just don't want to be the outcast because people think I'm some weird space alien or something. I'm on the same team as you. So…just don't believe the stuff you read in Seventeen."
"I know we're on the same team, you're in Alpha Squardon like me." Robyn says before raising an eyebrow at Mason. "I see, so…cause I'm gay I automatically read girly magazines like Seventeen." He says trying to hold back a smile as he's teasing Mason. "You're not an outcast Mason, you're just…from a different background. We all are. It's just with you, it in a magazine."
That's not what Mason meant. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that," he laughs, scratching behind his head. His face turns a little red. He knows Robyn was teasing, but he still feels a little embarrassed at the comment he made. "What about you, then? You can read about me in the magazines, but that's an unfair advantage. I get that your gay and you like art, but who is Robyn Larkin?"
Robyn shrugs a the comment. "I don't know, someone who likes Tim Burton too much?" He says not sure how to describe himself. "I don't know, I'm me. I don't really try to change for anyone, my parents always taught me to be yourself. It's better to be happy and poor doing what you love then miserable and rich doing something you hate. So….the art thing then. And don't worry about the Seventeen thing, I was joking with you."
Mason grins. "Yeah, but better being rich and miserable than poor and miserable," he adds. "Glad you have something you really like doing. I love doing music, I hope I can do it forever. I don't need people to be my fans, I just love playing good music." Of course, it's easy enough for him to say. To follow through on that statement is another matter.
Robyn gets up and starts to put his cello away. "Happy is better than miserable." He says with a confident smile. "Good luck with your music but I gotta get to bed. I promised Connor and my parents I'd be on a regular sleep schedule this semester so I gotta get going back to my room. See you in practice Mason." He says with a smile. "You don't need people to be your fans, you just need to be happy in yourself. G'night Mason."
