Players:
Summary: Mason meets Kieran, they talk music.
Date: Wednesday, May 18, 2011. 3:56pm
Log Title: It's Musical
Rating: PG
Xavier Manion - 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.
Class is out for the day, and so Kieran decided to hit the music room for some more practice on the piano. Currently he's playing the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, the sheet music propped up in front of him. He's not bad at the piano really. The blonde's hat sits nearby as he continues coaxing the song from the piano, eyes occasionally closing as he just enjoys the sound of the music that is coming from the piano. Next to him, a classical acoustic guitar rests propped up against the piano bench near him.
Mason is headed up to the music room as well. His composition isn't quite finished yet, and he has to have it done by the end of next week for his final. He pauses as he grows near the door, hearing the familiar sonata. It's relaxing to be certain, and it's rather a relief that Mason isn't the one having to perform it at the moment. It's nice to just listen some times. He doesn't interrupt, but instead, he puts his bag next to him at the back of the graduated room, and pulls his sheet music out, and starts studying it.
"Hey." Kieran says as he continues playing. "This piece is relaxing isn't it?" He asks curiously, the more he plays it the more tension that seems to release from the teen. He doesn't look towards Mason just yet. "Beethoven wrote some really good pieces. Can't play some of the faster pieces yet. Takes me awhile to master the piano pieces versus the guitar." He says casually, finally glancing towards Mason,"And since I can't damage a piano…"
Mason glances up from his sheets, a lopsided grin on his face. "Yeah," he says. "Beethoven is one of my favorite composers. He really changed the way people viewed music in the late sixteenth century." The teen starts to saunter down the steps, his music still in his sight, one casual plod at a time as he grows closer to the piano. He's dressed casually, a pair of blue jeans and a black polo. It has the Julliard logo on it. "You play a lot? Or is this just a piece you like to do? It sounds like you know it pretty well. You can feel the piece, not everybody can do that."
"Actually not a whole lot with the piano. As I said, I'm a lot better with the guitar. Piano, well, I have to focus a little more on learning piano. THe guitar, I haven't met a piece that I can't play on the guitar with a little bit of effort." Kieran says grinning broadly,"I think this piece is one that's easy to feel because it's a sensation that we're all familiar with. A lot of it is like sitting out under the moon by yourself and just watching the stars and feeling that bit of loneliness that is etched deep."
"That's cool though, I play guitar too, but I'm much better on piano, myself. If it has music, I can probably play it. But a lot of people get caught up on hitting the right notes. I like to just do it. The notes come easy for me, and all I have to do is get into the music. You do classical? Or electric? Or acoustic?" Mason plops down unceremoniously into a chair at the front of the room.
"Well there are times where I don't play a piece on piano. I just let what I'm feeling flow out on to the piano. So less with the technically correct stuff, and more with what I feel." Kieran says smiling, before he says,"If it's a guitar, I can play it. I've even been known to break out the twelve string at home. Mostly these days I do a classical style acoustic. My powers make me worry about playing an electric since they're too easy to overload."
"Your powers something with electricity?" Mason asks. "That could make things a little troublesome. Maybe you could get some insulated latex gloves so you don't go zapping it. Does latex stop electricity?" Clearly, he doesn't have much electrical knowledge. "I would hate it if my powers made it to where I couldn't play piano. I'd have to find some way to get rid of them. I hear there's stuff that can neutralize powers."
"Electricity and Magnetism. Basically I generate magnetic waves by changing polarities or something. I don't quite understand but I'm not terribly strong on that." Kieran says shrugging a little bit,"I've got the magnetism under control so I can play guitar now. Since I can still play most guitar's it's all good." He pauses for a moment, before continuing,"And rubber will stop electricity, but I am not sure I could play right with gloves of any kind on. It would effect the sound."
"Well, maybe you can get it under control. Do the strings get hot when you play acoustic, then? From the electricity?" He puts the sheet music down on the chair next to him, and rubs his eyes. "Man, my brain is gonna fall out before I finish this thing," he comments.
"I haven't noticed it happening." Kieran says shaking his head a bit,"I don't exude that much energy. I'm Kieran, Kieran O'Toole." He says remembering he hasn't actually introduced himself just yet,"What is it?" He asks curiously glancing towards the sheet music Mason is holding.
"Mason Steele," Mason offers out a hand to shake. "It's my final for Julliard," he says. "I have to make a composition for a chamber orchestra, and it has to be done by next Friday." He gestures back to the music. "I think I'm too perfectionistic, though, I don't know what's missing, but there's something I want to change. Just haven't been able to figure it out yet."
"Oh. The guy with the gay porn star name, Robyn mentioned you." Kieran says blinking a little bit,"I write my own music for the guitar. My mom taught me to write music. Not sure if I could do something for a full chamber orchestra. That's a lot of instruments to be trying to blend together into a single set of music."
"Yeah, it's a lot to — wait, what?" Mason turns red at the statement. "Gay porn star!? I'm not a porn star, I'm a pop star. I think you must've misheard him." Mason shrugs off a lot of comments, but usually he's prepared for them. In this case, the statement from Kieran caught him completely flatfooted.
"No no. He didn't say you /were/ a gay porn star, he said your name was like a gay pron star's." Kieran says blinking a little bit as Mason turns red, and then begins laughing,"Sorry. Sometimes my brain fires a bit oddly. He said you were a pop star but your name sounded like a gay porn star. There is a difference." He pauses for a moment,"Sorry, didn't mean to upset you. Just my brain's a lil weird from time to time."
Mason doesn't seem to be very amused, but he nods. "Yeah, well, I get enough heckling and fan fiction about me getting raped by Michael Jackson's ghost and stupid stuff like that. I don't really like having my own classmates adding to the pile of bull that I have to shovel through. Sorry, it's not your fault, you aren't the one who said it. Being famous isn't always what people think it is." He takes in a breath, and lets it out slowly. "Anyway, yeah, it's a lot of work. I've been trying to figure out whether I want a bassoon or not in the piece."
"Once again it wasn't a crack on you. I don't think he meant for it to mean anything. He just said he thought your name sounded like a gay pornstar." Kieran says trying smile,"I haven't heard any of your music that I can remember. My baby brother listens to you apparently. I sent him an email the other day asking." Well least he's not associating Mason with negative things,"That would depend on the flavor of the piece I'd think. Bassoons evoke an image, so depending on what you're trying to get the piece to say…"
"You didn't tell him I was here, did you?" Mason asks, a little nervous. "Because people don't know that I'm a mutant, and I'd rather keep it that way." He shrugs. "It's not a flavor that I'm really going for with the bassoon, it's just an element. I'm going for a walk through the woods type of feel, and I kinda want to put it in, but there's only one part of the piece that would have any use for the bassoon, so I'm not sure if I want to add a whole instrument just for the sake of twenty measures, you know?"
"No. I didn't tell him." Kieran says shaking his head a bit, "Course I don't think he quite got why I was attending here. I just asked if they knew your name. He said he did and loved your music. Brian's the one who likes your music. Timothy probably has heard you but is so wrapped up in his books that it's hard to say. My eldest brother Sean well… Let's just say he didn't have favorable things to say."
"Well, some people just don't know good music," he counters to the statement about the eldest brother. "And others are just jealous. I won't make anybody listen to my music. It's really great for getting the girls, though. You probably can find that with guitar, huh? It's always good to be the guitar guy at the party. Bring a guitar to a party, and they will be like flies to honey." He lets out a big grin.
"Well I don't have any trouble normally even without the guitar." Kieran counters grinning broadly,"I also play sports, although it's mostly soccer but I was captain so there you go." He says sounding amused,"Honestly… I've gotten hit on by both genders. It's somewhat flattering but creepy when they're several years older than me. Bet you had that problem too when touring." He says casually,"And music is so individual. Considering Sean, yeah probably. Tim's just… As I said, he's a book sort. Although even he plays an instrument. Brian plays guitar and piano like I do, although he's probably already my equal on the piano at ten."
"Yeah, I had this old guy try to pick me up after one of my concerts once, it was really creepy. I just told him I was straight, and he didn't seem to go away. But then my mom showed up, and got rid of him. She's a telepath, so…it can be a nice perk to have one of those on your side. The older ladies are kinda weird too, but since they got the right parts, it's not nearly as weird. The worst is when you meet somebody, and you can't really tell at first whether they are a guy or a girl! I'm never really certain how to respond to them, because I don't really know who I'm talking to." Mason smirks a little. "Sounds like your whole family is pretty musical. I'm the only one who has really done music in my house. My dad is a stock broker, and my mom…well, she's my mom. She spends most of her time schmoozing to get me more publicity."
"My dad's not terribly musical, and Sean had trouble learning anything and kind of stopped playing. Music's just been one place where I can really express myself and no be judged by people." Kieran says smiling slightly,"And I try not to worry because I'm not hooking up with someone that I'm not already friends with. I was in an all male school before coming here so the coed thing is a bit strange to me."
"Wow, all guys? That would absolutely suck. I couldn't do that. I get along with girls better than guys usually, anyway. Which I am perfectly comfortable with." He gives a sly nod. "So you should play something you wrote for guitar, show me what you got." Mason motions to the nearby classical guitar. "I love good music."
"It's not as bad as you'd think. Because there was an all girl's school next door. Being an all guy's school well, it's just like hanging around with other guys. The girls would come to our games, and such but mostly we all hung out before and after school." Kieran says shrugging a bit,"I get along with guys and girls equally I think." He says turning and picking up his guitar and slings it over his shoulder. "Alright but this isn't really done yet." He says as he begins finger picking the guitar, taking a blues type feel to it as he coaxes the song from the instrument. He makes it all look so easy, like he's not even struggling even though the music is quite complex.
Mason simply listens as the music plays, watching Kieran pick through his melody and weave it into a tune. He seems quite content to just listen, settling back into his seat.
As he wraps up the song, Kieran says,"See. Still needs a bit of work. That one I actually wrote down." He's serious about all of this,"So there you have it. That's the kind of music I write for the guitar."
"Not bad at all, that's really good," Mason compliments. "Maybe we'll have to jam out some when I have some more time." He gets up from the chair, gathering the sheet music. "I gotta get this done, but it was good to meet you, you have a good night, right man?" He heads back to the back of the room,and puts the sheet music back into his bag.
"Catch you later and sure thing. Whenever you want just let me know." Kieran says nodding his head a little bit as he places the guitar aside and begins playing something else on the piano, not a real tune this time.
