ic Extra Credits (IC)

[Thevshi]

Beaudrie Opera House
Theater District, Freedom City, New Jersey
Tuesday November 12, 2024. 10:20 AM

 

A couple of weeks ago Headmistress Summers had spoken with a few her students about an opportunity to assist a field trip for several of the youth attending the Nicholson School to attend a performance by the Freedom Youth Philharmonic for several area elementary schools. Michael Adon, Sarah Thatcher and Jack Davydov had volunteered. Earlier that morning, the trio had been transported over to the Nicholson campus in nearby Port Regal, where they had met the teacher leading the field trip (Ms. Houston) and the group of forty some students that were attending the performance.

 

They had then loaded onto a school bus and made the trip over to the Theater District in downtown Freedom City. The level of excitement for the students varied considerably, ranging from very excited for many of the younger students (those nine or ten years old) to a more resigned indifference with the teens in the group.

 

The area around the Beaudrie Opera House had been rather chaotic, with more than a dozen school buses all dropping off loads of elementary school students to attend the performance. Michael, Sarah and Jack had managed to help keep all the Nicholson students together and guide them into the building, making a stop by the restrooms for any that needed to use them, before heading off to find the groups seats in large venue. 

 

It was perhaps even more chaotic inside the building than out, as hundreds of students were gathered, many chatting away as they waited for the performance to begin, teachers and other chaperones keeping an eye on them and making one last headcount to ensure everyone was present. Sarah found herself sitting near some of the thirteen and fourteen year old students, many of whom were focused on their cellphones or otherwise looking around for distractions. One of the older girls looked particular bored and restless, Sarah thought she recalled her being introduced as Victoria. 

 

Jack was seated among some of the ten-year-olds, his gentle nature having won them over on the bus ride, despite his imposing height and frame. Among the group were two twin girls, Madison and Mary who seemed very excited to see the performance.

 

Backstage…..

 

Lynn Conners stood among the other members of the Freedom Youth Philharmonic as they waited for the que to take the stage. The blonde sixteen-year-old was wearing a long black evening dress with sleeves that went to her elbows. She was holding her violin and bow in her hands (her sheet music already out on a music stand by her chair) as she took a deep breath to try to steady the many emotions she was feeling. 

 

Although she had been part of the youth orchestra for a couple of years back in her timeline, it felt so very different here. For one thing, all of the other performers were unknown to her, as this timeline’s versions of any that she had known in her timeline being six years younger, and thus not yet in the orchestra (if they were even learning classical music here). Even the conductor was different in this timeline. As if that were not enough, there was also the fact that Lynn had managed to gain a spot in the orchestra outside the normal tryout process (in no small part due to her adopted family’s support of the orchestra over the years). 

 

The blonde girl let out a sigh as she opened her eyes again but did not focus on anything in particular as she continued to wait to go out to her seat…..
 

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

Michael was excited to be picked to chaperone some younger kids, but while Sarah and Jack had easily formed connections with the younger kids, it was a bit harder for Michael; the truth was, he was always acting a bit older than his own age, which made it more difficult for kids just a little younger than him to associate with him; he could easily come across as a bit uptight or too much like their teachers instead of a slightly younger, maybe more pliable chaperone. He was still dashing in the Claremont uniform; with just a little addition of a little blue button on his jacket to represent the Claremont Squad he was on. Michael did have a lot of pride in his Claremont schooling and his squad, so he tried to at least represent them a little. He definitely looked like someone chaperoning kids, even if he was wearing a school uniform, just due to how he was acting and looked. While Jack was managing the ten year olds and Sarah was handling the thirteen and fourteens, Michael had taken a spot amongst the ones between those two, helping the teachers and other chaperones as he could. He was relying on his enhanced hearing a lot at this moment to keep track of the kids; with so much going on, he was sorting information as he took it in, and making sure to keep a check on specifically the Nicholson students to confirm they weren't getting away anywhere.

 

For now, he'd taken a seat next to the aisle to make sure everyone was reasonably corralled as he waited for the music to start, flipping through the playbook in between glances to make sure every kid was still accounted for. He knew some of these little ones had powers, or at least he was pretty sure, so he needed to make sure they weren't doing anything too out there with their powers. If it came down to it, he was pretty sure he could wrangle any unruly teenagers- even if he was just a teenager himself-, but he also knew from Lawrence there were a few who might have quite a bit of weight to them, so he was mostly hoping for a performance that was exceptional, but not too loud  to enjoy the orchestra and show he could be trusted with responsibility. Getting a little time off from school was nice, but it wasn't his biggest priority; after all, Michael was one of those weird guys who liked being in school, unlike some of his friends

 

He offered Jack and Sarah a little thumbs up when they caught his gaze, as always exuding the absolute confidence that only Michael Adon could have- on the outside at least-, and hoping to give them some of that boundless confidence with the simple gesture of 'We've got this, no worries, yeah?'

 

Calm, cool, and collected. At least on the outside.

Edited November 14 by Poncho

[Spacefurry]

Seraphim

 

Sarah had to admit, she liked the school’s uniform. She thought she looked cute in it.

 

Being the fourth child of five, Sarah was use to dealing with younger kids. She was always stuck with helping her mother with the youngest as her older siblings conveniently had ‘other things to do’.

 

Even still, this was more then she was expecting.

But she had agreed to this and she wasn’t going to let the school or the headmistress down.

 

She returned Michael’s thumbs up with nearly a genuine smile.

 

She supposed she had it a little easier with the young teens, even though technically she was only a couple years their senior. They were more interested in the phones than in running amok. One of the girls, Veronica? No, Victoria. Yes, that was it.

Victoria seemed restless.

 

Sarah leaned closer to the girl.

“Hey there.”

She said in a lowered voice and gave Victoria a friendly smile.

“Is everything alright? Can I get you water or something?”

She offered.

Edited November 20 by Spacefurry

[Jack]

Jack shifted uncomfortably in his seat, tugging at the collar of his button-up shirt that clung to his muscular frame like a straight jacket. He longed for the comfort and ease of his usual sleeveless hoodie and basketball shorts that allowed his body to breathe. Even the dress shoes squeezed painfully as he shifted restlessly, the stiff leather nothing like the comfortable sandals he usually wore

 

 He wiggled his toes, trying to get some relief, but it was no use. This uniform was a prison, trapping him in its starched, constricting layers. With a soft Russian curse muttered under his breath, Jack resigned himself to enduring this sartorial torment, dreaming of the moment he could shed these clothes and feel like himself again.

 

He caught Michael's thumbs up and returned it with a grin. At least his small charges were making the formal attire worthwhile. The group of ten-year-olds had latched onto him during the bus ride, seemingly unbothered by his towering frame and muscled build. Now they clustered around him in the theater seats, trading jokes and giggling.

 

"And then penguin say 'Is not fish, is ice cream!'" Jack finished his joke, his thick Russian accent making the punchline even funnier to the kids.

 

The bear spirit inside him purred with satisfaction. Perhaps the children sensed his protective nature on some primal level, recognizing him as a guardian rather than a threat. Whatever the reason, they remained well-behaved despite their excitement.

 

Madison and Mary, the twins, practically vibrated in their seats next to him. Their matching braids bounced as they craned their necks to peer at the still-empty stage.

 

"Vhy you so excited for music?" Jack asked them softly. "You play instruments too, da?"

 

 

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

The kids among whom Michael had chosen to sit were seeming to finally start settling down, either taking a que from Michael’s calm demeanor, or a couple quick words from Ms. Houston. Once things seemed to be in order, the Nicholson teacher made her way over to sit at the end of their section, taking the other side of the ten-year-olds from Jack. Throughout the theater, the chaos was starting to subside as the numerous students were seated and brought under some semblance of control by their teachers.

 

Madison and Mary shook their heads in unison. "Maddy plays piano." Mary stated, to which her twin replied, "and Mary plays the flute."

 

A short ways down the row, Victoria looked up from her phone at Sarah, giving a rather dismissive shrug of her shoulders. "Just been looking to see if I could find any new stories about Forever Boy's exploits." The teen replied. "Haven't seen anything in a few days." She looked over towards the stage, filled with chairs where the youth orchestra would soon be sitting. "Not expecting much from this. I bet Forever Boy would never allow himself to have to sit through something boring like this."

 

At that moment, the teenage orchestra members made their way out onto the stage, moving to their places in the half circle set out around the conductor’s stand. As Lynn moved over to her seat (the outer most seat in the second row on the left, when facing the stage), she looked out at the seats filled with elementary and middle school children. Although unable to pick out faces, the blonde sixteen-year-old knew some of her classmates were out there, accompanying students from the Nicholson School to the performance.

 

Taking her seat, Lynn took a moment to check her sheet music on the stand in front of her and then brough her violin up to under her chin as her eyes looked up to the girl that was the current first chair violinist. After the older girl bowed to the crowd, she had turned back to face the others and brough up her violin and began to play an A note, to which the rest of the orchestra followed suit, tuning their own instruments to the same note. Once that was finished the older girl took her seat as well.

 

Moments later the conductor strode out onto stage, dressed in a tuxedo with tails. Coming to a stop at center stage, he turned towards the audience, giving a slight bow before activating the microphone he was wearing. "Good morning, and welcome to this special performance of the Freedom Youth Philharmonic, I am the conductor, Howard Walters. As we are nearing the beginning of the holiday season, the group before you will be starting a series of performances here in Beaudire Opera House. We are very pleased to be able to offer this opportunity for all of you to hear several of the pieces that will be performed."

 

"The young musicians before you have all worked very hard over the last several months, first to qualify for a spot on the orchestra, and then to prepare these pieces such that they were ready to be performed in front of an audience. The majority of our musicians have lived much of their lives in Freedom City and come up through many of the schools in attendance today, so are especially proud to be able to perform for you today."

 

With the short speech complete, the conductor turned and climbed up onto the small podium at the center of the half circle of musicians. Looking out over the orchestra, he raised his hands and baton, the teenagers before him all bringing their instruments up to the ready. The was a brief pause, and then the performance began with the rather upbeat tune of I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major-General.

 

Of the pieces the orchestra was performing this morning, this was one of Lynn's favorites, filled with tempo changes and some complex bow work. The blonde teen focused on her sheet music and the sound of the rest of the orchestra as she played, enjoying the opportunity to focus on something at normal speeds that required her full concentration….
 

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

If everyone was clapping when the Orchestra and the Conductor came out, Michael joined them, paying attention as Lynn walked across but taking the time to examine each of the performers in turn; he wasn't afraid to use his speed and enhanced senses to look at each of the people in turn; he had utmost respect for people who put in the absolute best of their effort and got rewarded with recognition, so he was acknowledging them; and if he happened to see them again at a later day, he could bring this up to them.

 

When the music started, he kept his hearing heightened but let his brain slow down; he was picking out each individual musician and their instrument and listening to them with his enhanced hearing, trying to pick out each from the overall music. He still listened to the entire piece, but he was trying to find something to speak about to each individual member if he needed to. He wasn't much of a musician, but he could tell when the big instruments- Cellos?- were in charge to start with before the smaller ones like Lynn's violin and others started to take over. It was sort of a call and response thing, it seemed like. After a bit of the performance, he found himself mumbling the lyrics under his breath, trying to keep pace with the musicians; he refused to sing, as always, and he didn't want to disrupt the children's enjoyment or anything, so he sat and watched with his chin in his hand as the music kept playing. It was definitely fun to be here.

[Spacefurry]

Seraphim

 

Sarah wrinkled her nose. She’d heard a little about ‘Forever Boy’ and he hardly seemed like a good influence.

“I'm sure he had to do things he didn’t like while at school.”

She tried to sound like she was sure, though she had heard several rumors floating around Claremont. He was among the troublemakers that enjoyed testing the teachers, after he left it seemed some showoff calling himself ‘the Paper’ or some such took up his mantle. Sarah shook her head.

 

“Oh, it’s starting.”

She whispered.

“I’m sure you’ll find it more enjoyable than you think.”

[Jack]

Jack's eyes crinkled with warmth at the twins' musical talents, but before he could ask more questions, the conductor strode onto the stage. The cushioned theater seat creaked under his weight as he shifted, trying to find a comfortable position that wouldn't have his broad shoulders interfering with the people behind him. The formal setting made him somewhat self-conscious - it was times like these when his bear-enhanced size felt more like a burden than a blessing. 

 

He slouched slightly in his seat and listened politely to the introduction speech, though his mind wandered a bit as the conductor droned on about the evening's program. He recognized a few of the composers' names that were mentioned, reminding him of concerts his babushka had taken him to back home. The formality of it all still felt strange - he was more at home in the wilderness than these cushioned seats - but he would endure it gracefully for the sake of…

 

Then his breath caught as he spotted Lynn taking her place among the orchestra members, her graceful movements drawing his eye as she settled into her chair near the front. Even from this distance, he thought he could make out the familiar curve of her smile as she arranged her sheet music, and his heart did a little flip in his chest. His jaw dropped slightly - he had no idea she played violin. The delicate instrument would have looked fragile and comical in his massive hands, yet she held it with such natural confidence. It stirred something deep in his chest, seeing this new side of her, and he found himself leaning forward in his seat without realizing it. 

 

Jack shifted again in his seat, trying to find a position where his knees weren't pressed quite so awkwardly against the row in front of him. The movement reminded him he was staring with his mouth open and he snapped it shut and leaned forward, resting his chin on his large hands.

 

As the first notes filled the opera house, Jack sat transfixed. The music washed over him in waves, each delicate vibration resonating through his massive frame. He'd never experienced anything quite like it - the pure, crystalline sound seemed to bypass his ears entirely and speak directly to something primal within him, reminding him oddly of the way his bear spirit stirred when sensing ancient magic. His restlessness stilled completely, replaced by an almost meditative calm. He smiled and focused his enhanced hearing, honed tracking prey through Siberian forests, picked out Lynn's violin with little effort. To his ears, her part weaved through the symphony like a silver thread, adding something distinctive that made his chest tighten with emotion.

 

The orchestra swelled toward a crescendo, and Jack watched Lynn's bow dance across the strings with fluid grace. Her movements seemed effortless, yet he could see the years of dedication in every precise gesture. A familiar feeling of inadequacy crept in as he observed her mastery. Jack watched Lynn play, entranced by her skill and passion. Here was yet another remarkable talent she possessed that he hadn't known about. It seemed she was full of wonderful surprises, each new facet of her abilities and interests leaving him in awe. He couldn't help but compare her diverse aptitudes to his own narrower focus, wondering if he would ever discover depths to himself that could impress someone as profoundly as Lynn's gifts impressed him. 

 

Jack pushed the thoughts aside and let his eyes drift closed, allowing the soulful music to transport him. The delicate harmonies conjured the sensation of floating peacefully in a tranquil forest pond, the cool water embracing and supporting his body as the melodic sounds flowed around and through him, infusing every fiber of his being. In this moment, Jack was utterly at peace, buoyed by the dulcet tones and his fond admiration for the talented musician coaxing them from the strings.

 

 

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

A slightly downcast look came over Victoria at Sarah’s response. "I doubt he let anything like that happen." She responded in almost a mumble, but then the orchestra made their way out and the performance was set to start. At first Victoria seemed intent on remaining uninterested, but as the first piece began, Sarah noted a small smile came to the young teen's face as she seemed drawn in by the light nature of the music.

 

The twins quickly focused on the front of the opera house as the orchestra and then the conductor made their way out. As the performance began, they were watching with rapt attention.

 

As the first piece finished, there was a brief pause as the gathered audience applauded. But then it was not long before the next piece began, this time playing the first and third movements of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Spring. Again, Lynn let herself get lost in the music, focusing on the notes set out for her. When the first chair violinist began a solo a short way in, Lynn and one other violinist were the only other ones to continue playing, providing accompaniment to the first chair’s solo. But it was not long before the entire orchestra was playing again.

 

The performance continued for a little over half an hour more, with several other pieces being played, including Beethoven’s Ode to Joy (from Symphony No. 9) and the Second and Third movements of Haydn's Symphony No. 94.

 

As the last notes of the final piece faded away, the crowd began a final round of applause, the conductor turning to give a bow and signaling for the rest of the orchestra to stand and take a bow as well. As she stood and took her bow, Lynn had an uncharacteristically wide smile on her face, the experience of being able to so fully focus on just playing and the music she and rest of the orchestra had created helping her forget most everything else for at least that short bit of time. The orchestra stood on the stage for a few moments, enjoying the applause, before turning to make their way off stage

 

As the applause began to die down and people started stirring in their seats to get up. Ms. Houston leaned forward in her seat as she looked over at her students and the three Claremont students accompanying them. "Okay everyone, we will make out way out to the lobby and gather near the stairs to the upper balconies. Ms. Conners, a Claremont student that was among the performers today, will be joining us for lunch."
 

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

The music was relaxing, and eventually he stopped trying to overanalyze the music and just let it wash over him, instead of trying to overperform as always. The orchestra was putting its effort into performing, and Michael was trying to respond appropriately to their efforts. He checked the book a few times and came to realize that while he hadn't often connected the pieces to the names before, he had heard of them and heard them, so he was able to connect the dots. He also was getting to hear them in full instead of in snippets, an enlightening experience. 

 

He was suitably impressed by the younger Claremonter playing her piece. There was a lot of similarity between her and her brother, in ways big and small. He'd not dealt with their mother directly very much, but he assumed they got it from her; their serious attitudes and the effort they took in doing their best. He knew Lawrence had heen spending time in the Doom Room, but Lynn had clearly been focusing on her own efforts and attempting to excel at them, even after her own hardships. An inspiring amount of effort put in by the Sophomore who was his Junior. He was completely certain that within a few years she'd be the one playing solos in the first chair.

 

What he had not been expecting was when the conductor stabbed a balloon at the end of Haydn's 94's secon movement. He had been pretty focused on the music and had no isea it was coming, so he tensed momentarily in his chair at the sudden, sharp sound, his eyes glancing around at the children to see if they were okay. A reflex to always be on the lookout incaae someone needed help.

 

And then almost as soon as it started, when Michael wished it would keep going, the performance finished and he stood up and clapped for all of them, who put so much effort into something and wanted to share it with the world, one of the most noble goals. So he happily cheered for them, then turned to Msm Houston.

 

"Yes M'am." He said, ready to help chaperone these kids out to the lobby and then the stairs. He had thoroughly enjoyed his time to get a little culture.

[Jack]

Jack sat mesmerized, the swell of the orchestra washing over him in waves of exquisite sound. His massive hands, more accustomed to fighting than applauding, came together in mighty claps that added to the roar of an appreciative audience.

 

Jack's eyes kept drifting back to Lynn as her bow danced across the violin strings. The way she moved with such fluid grace, completely absorbed in the music, filled him with an appreciation of her talent and love of music. Her usual lightning-quick movements had transformed into something altogether different - measured, precise, yet somehow just as impressive.

 

A pair of giggles pulled his attention away from the stage. He turned to find Maddison and Mary watching him with barely contained amusement. Their eyes darted between him and Lynn performing on stage, and when they caught his gaze, their expressions shifted to exaggerated innocence. The corners of their mouths twitched upward into knowing little smiles that made Jack's cheeks warm slightly.

 

Jack shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. The warmth in his cheeks lingered, a pleasant residual effect of Maddison and Mary's teasing. He couldn't help but feel a little flustered; their playful scrutiny was unexpected, but undeniably charming. He glanced back at Lynn, her performance still captivating, a wry smile tugging at his own mouth. He supposed his admiration hadn't been particularly subtle. With a quiet chuckle, he returned his attention to the music, letting the soaring melodies carry him away once more. Let the girls whisper and speculate - in this moment, Jack had eyes and ears only for the radiant musician.

 

He let his eyes drift closed, surrendering to the pure experience of the music. His enhanced hearing picked out every nuance, every subtle harmony, until the final notes faded into silence. All too soon, the performance ended, leaving him with a bittersweet ache. Despite having to wear the stiff school uniform that never quite fit right across his broad shoulders and muscled frame, he felt deeply grateful he'd come on this field trip. The jacket strained uncomfortably whenever he moved, and the tie felt like it was choking him, but even these annoyances couldn't dampen his appreciation for the experience. After spending so much time alone in the wilderness, Jack had forgotten how beautiful human artistry could be.

 

He rose to his feet, his massive frame towering over the younger students around him as he applauded enthusiastically. His heart warmed at the sight of Lynn's radiant smile on stage - he wasn't sure he'd ever seen her looking so genuinely happy. After everything she'd been going through lately, seeing her lost in the joy of music filled him with quiet delight.

 

A regretful thought crossed his mind about not having brought her flowers, followed by immediate self-reproach. How could he have known to bring flowers when he hadn't even known she would be performing? Still, the regret lingered. he had seen enough movies to know you were supposed to give flowers after a great artistic performance.

 

"Okay everyone," Ms. Houston announced, cutting through his mental reproach. "we will make our way out to the lobby and gather near the stairs to the upper balconies. Ms. Conners, a Claremont student that was among the performers today, will be joining us for lunch."

 

Right on cue, Jack's stomach let out a thunderous growl. The children around him erupted in giggles, and he grinned down at them sheepishly. "Bears need lots of food, da?" The children giggled a little more at his joke, and a few nodded their heads and smiled.

 

He felt his cheeks warm slightly at the mention of Lynn joining them for lunch, pointedly ignoring the poorly suppressed giggles from Maddison and Mary. Focusing instead on his chaperone duties, Jack began herding the children toward the exits, making sure they stayed together as they followed Ms. Houston out of the auditorium.

[Spacefurry]

Seraphim

 

Sarah was momentarily worried about the younger  Victoria. But as the orchestra filled in the stage and the music began, she caught the girl smiling and taking interest. Sarah, herself was able to relax and enjoy the music as well.

 

She was able to pick out Lynn amongst the crowded stage and was once again impressed by how talented the other students for Claremont were. She had no talents of her own. She caught herself frowning even as the music tempted her to smile. She had already began to doubt she belonged at the school.

Sarah quickly shook her head and pushed those thoughts down. She was there to chaperone these students, not sink into a spiral. She tried to focus on the music and her duties.

 

When the concert ended, she applauded as loudly as anyone else. At Ms Houston’s command Sarah nodded.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She echoed Micheal and chuckled at Jack’s comment. He seemed to be good with children.

“You’re more teddy bear then polar bear sometimes.”

She teased as she attempted to herd the teens out of the seating and into the lobby and to the stairs.

Edited December 10 by Spacefurry

[Jack]

Jack caught the subtle tension in Sarah's posture and expression - his years tracking in Siberia had made him particularly attuned to reading body language. Something was troubling her beneath her attempts to help manage the excited students. 

 

He turned his massive frame toward her, flashing an enormous grin that crinkled the corners of his eyes. Raising one thick finger to his lips in an exaggerated shushing motion, he leaned down slightly despite still towering over her.

 

"Shhhh," he whispered in his thick Russian accent, though his whisper carried easily over the chattering students. "You vill give away my secret to little ones. Cannot have them thinking big scary bear is actually giant teddy bear, da?" 

 

His deep laugh rumbled through his chest as he straightened back up, the sound warm and genuine. The stiff formal jacket strained across his shoulders with the movement, reminding him why he preferred his usual sleeveless hoodies. But Sarah's gentle teasing had hit closer to home than she probably realized - his bear spirit might be fierce and protective, but Jack had always had a soft spot for helping others, especially children.

 

 

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

For as much as they appeared amused by watching Jack and his fascination with Lynn, the twins also were clearly enjoying the performance. As it finished, they stood up alongside Jack to clap, and then as the applause began to fade, they went back to whispering and giggling.

 

Victoria had been quiet during the performance, seemingly enjoying much of it. While she applauded along with everyone else throughout, after the performance, she tried to go back to appearing indifferent about being there, pulling her phone back out and looking down at it as the group stood and began the process of exiting out to the lobby with the crowd of students from other schools.

 

Meanwhile, backstage was equally chaotic, as the teenage musicians stowed their instruments in their cases to be collected and stored for their first nighttime performance. Once Lynn had her violin put away, she made her way to the girls' dressing room to change so she could meet up with her classmates and the Nicholson students.

 

The blonde teen changed as quickly as she could (without using her superspeed) and soon was in her Claremont uniform making her way out from backstage and out into the lobby to where she was supposed to meet the Nicholson fieldtrip. Lynn still had a wide smile on her face as she approached the group, the euphoria from the performance still having not faded.

 

Michael, Jack and Sarah had been busy helping Ms. Huston keep everyone together, and then coordinating restroom trips for those that needed it. By the time Lynn approached the group, many of the Nicholson kids were starting to get a bit restless, the excited energy from the performance and anticipation of lunch needing an outlet.

 

"Ah, there is Ms. Conners." Stated Ms. Huston, a slight hint of relief in her voice as she saw Lynn approaching.

 

Many of the young students turned to spot Lynn as she approached, several clapping for her, which caused the sixteen-year-old to blush slightly. "Sorry if you had to wait long, I.." Lynn began as she came up to the group, but the blonde stopped mid-sentence as her gaze fell on Madison and Mary standing near Jack. Lynn's mouth dropped open as her expression changed to one of shock. In an instant, the remaining excitement  she had felt from the performance was gone.

 

For a few moments (less that a second to most everyone else), Lynn actually considered just getting away from the situation completely. But she held that impulse in check, even as she felt a painful emptiness settle over her as she looked at the faces of the two girls that had been her best friends in her original timeline, six years younger due to the slight variation in the progression of the timelines.

 

"I tried to get changed as quickly as I could." She managed to continue, though her tone had become much more neutral.

 

"No worries, dear," Ms. Houston replied, not quite seeming to not the change in Lynn’s demeanor, instead focused on ensuring all her students were present and glancing at her phone, "the driver is bringing the bus around to the front so we should make our way out there to meet him."

 

As the group of young students and their chaperones started moving towards the exit, Madison and Mary made their way over to Lynn. "Hi, I'm Madison." 

 

"I'm Mary."

 

"You play really well." Madison continued. "Jack certainly thought so." Mary added with a bit of a mischievous grin.
 

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

"Now now, we're eating soon kids, just calm down, alright? We're all hungry aren't we? But we can't leave people behind."  he said as he kepted a couple of the more restless kids in line. With Sarah and Jack talking, he smiled over to them having fun. He did like basically all of his fellow Claremont students, even the younger ones. And Sarah and Jack at least weren't troublemakers like some of his other friends, which made it easier to spend time with them. He didn't want to think about the idea of trying to chaperone a bunch of kids with Riel and Kadene around, they'd probably incite them into throwing off their chains and engaging in a revolution of the school. Which would be fun, but also concerning. 

 

But then Lynn appeared and he could actively see how upset she was at...something. He wasn't sure what. But he was watching. He wasn't near as fast as the Harrows (or Conners, as the case may be)- he might have been fast to normal people, but to them he probably looked like he was moving in slow motion even at his fastest-, but he could catch that something had happened to Lynn, even if she had processed it so fast he couldn't tell if it was happy or sad. And then came his own thoughts on if it was the right thing to acknowledge it or not. He was friends with Lawrence, and he'd promised to keep an eye on Lynn, but she had problems that were beyond him, and he didn't want to be an overbearing presence in her life, she probably had plenty of those. He just wanted to be a friend, the same way he was a friend to everyone else at Claremont. So he had to consider his actions carefully before doing anything.

 

The two girls gave him the excuse, at the least, as they spoke. He watched Jack momentarily before pausing to smile a little to himself and looking at his phone. He put in a simple order for some flowers to be delivered to Champion's. To him, but with a listing as 'From Jack, to Lynn'. Nothing particularly fancy, just a bouqet to be given to a performer after a successful show. After that, his phone went right back into his pocket and he continud to focus on tending to the kids; he hoped Lynn was okay, but he wasn't going to overreach in his attempts to make it better.

 

"I agree, great performance Lynn." he said alongside the younger girls, smiling supportively; even if they weren't classmates, he was her older brother's friend, so complimenting her shouldn't be that weird.

[Spacefurry]

Seraphim

 

Sarah laughed lightly at Jack’s reply. The large young man certainly had a way with children, and he was one of the few fellow students she had no problems feeling relaxed around.

 

She was still smiling when Lynn finally managed to join them. Sarah would have sworn the girl hesitated for a moment, but it was so brief she doubted herself. Still, she suffered from social anxiety enough that something just seemed… off. She just couldn’t figure out what.

 

When Micheal agrees with the girl’s, Sarah has to agree as well.

“”Oh my, yes. You were incredible.”

She nods.

“I wish I could play anything.”

She admitted with a guilty chuckle.

“I suppose I just never tried.”

 

Ms Houston’s prompts though distracted Sarah from thinking about it further and she began herding her cats… that is, her student charges towards the exit to await the bus.

[Jack]

Jack rubbed the back of his head, feeling heat creep up his neck as Madison and Mary's teasing comments hung in the air. The gesture, so familiar it was practically muscle memory at this point, did little to ease his self-consciousness.

 

"Da, vas wery good performance," he managed, his accent thickening slightly with his embarrassment. He towered over the giggling twins, feeling suddenly too large and awkward in the crowded lobby. "Whole orchestra vas amazing, but violin part..." He trailed off, frustrated at his inability to properly express how the music had touched him.

 

The cold aura that usually surrounded him intensified slightly as his embarrassment grew. He caught himself and took a deep breath, forcing the temperature back to normal. The last thing he needed was to accidentally frost over the polished floor of the concert hall.

 

His eyes met Lynn's for a brief moment before darting away. How could he explain that her playing had reminded him of winter winds dancing across Siberian snow fields, of the crystalline beauty of his homeland? The delicate notes had transported him back to endless white plains where his bear spirit felt most at home, where moonlight sparkled off fresh powder and the aurora painted the sky in ribbons of light. But the words stuck in his throat, too personal, too close to his heart to share in this crowded space. Instead, he just nodded in agreement with Michael and Sarah's more eloquent praise, feeling like a tongue-tied fool.

 

Jack's inner bear stirred, sensing the shift in Lynn's demeanor as she looked at the twins. Something in her expression - there and gone in a flash - set off warning bells in his heightened senses. The bear within growled softly, protective instincts rising at the hint of her distress.

 

He watched as Lynn masterfully composed herself, tucking away whatever had bothered her behind a neutral mask. It pained him that she felt she had to hide her feelings, but he understood. Public spaces weren't for private pain. Though they'd grown a little closer since meeting, Lynn still held much of herself behind her walls; but Jack couldn't blame her - he had his own walls, after all. The bear within him understood the need for caution, for protecting vulnerable parts of oneself. He'd learned that lesson early, back in the endless winters of Siberia where survival meant knowing when to retreat, when to keep your soft underbelly hidden from the world's sharp edges. Sometimes the strongest defense was knowing exactly what to keep close and what to share.

 

The bear settled as Jack reminded himself that trust, like the seasons, had its own natural rhythm. You couldn't force spring to come early, no matter how much you longed for it. Lynn would share her burdens when she was ready, if she ever chose to. Until then, he would simply be present, steady as the ancient pines of his homeland.

 

He spotted Sarah nearby, her posture seeming more relaxed as she helped coordinate the students. He enjoyed their easy interactions, and that she she seemed to be a bit more relaxed around him. His babushka always said he had a gentle soul, and he was glad it seemed to be effecting others in a good way. It was a small victory, but one that made his chest warm with quiet satisfaction.

 

He felt Michael's gaze on him and turned slightly, catching the other student watching him from the corner of his eye. A small smile tugged at Jack's lips, though uncertainty made him hesitate to say anything. He'd seen Michael around Claremont before, usually helping younger students or working to keep things organized.

 

The bear spirit stirred with curiosity about this fellow student. In their limited interactions, Michael had proven level-headed and kind - qualities Jack respected. But beyond those surface observations, Jack knew little about him. Did Michael have powers too? What brought him to Claremont? Questions bubbled up, but Jack's natural reticence held them back.

 

Still, something about Michael's steady presence put Jack at ease. Unlike some who seemed unnerved by Jack's size or cold aura, Michael treated him normally - just another student trying to help out. That simple acceptance meant more than Jack could express, especially given his struggles to fit in at times.

 

Jack's smile widened slightly as he caught Michael's eye again. Maybe they'd have a chance to talk properly sometime, get to know each other beyond these chaperoning duties. For now though, Jack was content to share this quiet moment of acknowledgment with someone who seemed, at his core, to be a good person.

 

"This vay, little ones," he called out, gesturing toward the exit as Ms. Houston directed. The children clustered around him like ducklings following their mother, drawn to his gentle presence despite his massive frame. He fell into step behind the group, keeping watch over their excited chatter as they made their way toward the meeting point.

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

"Thank you" Lynn replied to the various compliments, seemingly a bit uncomfortable with the praise, or perhaps with something else. The blonde girl met Jack's gaze for a moment, before he looked away, seemingly embarrassed about something. This did not really help her anxiety or stress, as she briefly wondered if she had done something that upset him. But the teenager had little time to dwell on that as while the group made its way towards the exit, Madison and Mary followed alongside her, bombarding the sixteen-year-old with questions about how long she had been playing, who where her favorite composers and similar questions.

 

Sarah was able to get the older teens moving, almost all of them now focused on their phones as they went. Some of them had congratulated Lynn along with the others, but then quickly went back to their phones. Victoria had been focused on her phone since coming out of the theater but managed to follow along with the crowd as they moved to the exit.

 

Between the four Claremont students and Ms. Houston, the group of Nicholson kids were soon gathered outside on the sidewalk in front of the opera house. Groups of students from other schools were spaced along the block as well, some boarding their buses, others waiting. Thankfully they did not have too long to wait before their bus pulled up to the sidewalk and they began ushering all the younger students aboard as Ms. Houston made another headcount to ensure everyone was on.

 

While the young teens were generally easy, focused on their phones or some conversations, many of the younger students were certainly starting to get a little wild, likely a combination of pent-up energy and hunger. As such, the Claremont students and Ms. Houston seemed to constantly being trying get students to calm down or stay in their seats or dealing with countless other things. Of course, this served to make the near one-mile trip into Midtown seem to pass quickly, and just as things seemed to be calming down, they had arrived at the Super Museum, which was connected to the Champions restaurant. 

 

The bus dropped the group off at the small plaza in front of the museum, at the center of which was the 20-foot-tall bronze statue of a muscular man holding a representation of the Earth high above his head. Several groups of tourists were scattered about the plaza as Ms. Houston led the group over to the entrance to Champions. Once inside, she went up to the hostesses at the front. "Hello, we're the Nicholson group."

 

"Of course." One of the young women said with a wide, practiced smile. "We have set up tables for your group out in the atrium, just this way." She continued as she started off to lead the group through the restaurant to the seating area in the multi-story atrium that was also part of the museum.

 

Ms. Houston led the group in following, with Lynn and Sarah helping keep the middle of the group together, while Michael and Jack ended up at the back to make sure everyone was together.
 

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

Michael was doing his best to try and keep the kids calm, but he also understood it was probably their hunger getting to them. He had a little brother of his own, after all, and they could get a little aggro when they got hungry. He didn't exactly have any snacks to share either, but he wasn't messing around either; he had gotten on his phone for a bit to handle the thing with Jack, but he stayed on alert for the trip otherwise, making sure every kid got on the bus and no one wandered off before it went moving. It would have been faster for him to go by himself, but that wasn't the point, now was it? He was here to chaperone the kids, and he helped Ms. Houston in keeping them in line as they road the bus.

 

It was when they got off that he took Jack's arm. Jack was a big guy, and you had to be careful with him; he was a gentle guy, and Michael liked that, but he knew the guy was so tough sometimes you had to make sure he noticed, so he squeezed the big Russian's arm as they floated towards the back.

 

"Hang on a sec, Jack." he mumbled as a guy in a Door Dash cap came up.

 

"Michael?" asked the Dasher, and the golden boy waved, holding out his hand

"Yeah, that's me." he said. The Door Dash guy pulled out a bouquet that Michael took, then slapped a twenty dollar bill in the guy's hand before turning to Jack and pulling a pen out of his pocket.

 

"Here. Sign the card and give these to Lynn when we're inside." It was a generic sort of bouquet, the card simply congratulated Lynn on an excellent performance, and gave room for Jack to sign. "She's one of my best friend's little sister, you know? I don't want to see her upset, but it'd be weird if I gave her a bouquet, but you're her friend, so I'm getting you to do it, alright?" he said with a brilliant smile to the younger student who was several inches taller than him and significantly more muscular. "So tell your classmate she did a great job and that she'll be first chair violin in no time."

[Jack]

Jack helped corral the excited students onto the bus, his large presence naturally encouraging them to stay in line. The trip passed quickly as he kept watch over the younger ones, making sure no one got too rowdy. At the plaza, he assisted the children off the bus, careful as always not to seem too intimidating despite his size.

 

As he moved to follow the group into Champions, he felt a tug on his arm. Michael's grip was firm enough to get his attention. Jack turned, puzzled by the unexpected grip, only to become more confused as a delivery person approached carrying an elaborate bouquet of flowers. The bewilderment deepened as Michael handed him a pen and small white card, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his new friend's mouth. The giant teen shifted uncomfortably, unused to being the center of attention outside of his duties watching over the younger students.

 

Jack's mind went blank as he stared at the card, his massive hand making the small white rectangle look like a postage stamp in comparison. The pen felt fragile between his thick fingers as he tried to focus on the task at hand. Without really processing what was happening, he scrawled his name at the bottom, the familiar Cyrillic letters flowing automatically before he caught himself and switched to the English version he'd been practicing since moving to America. 

 

The bear spirit stirred uneasily within him, sending ripples of primal energy through his chest that made his scars tingle with a familiar cold sensation. Jack could feel the ancient creature's restlessness mirroring his own as Michael explained about the flowers being for Lynn. The spirit had always been sensitive to his emotions, and right now his uncertainty was making them both uncomfortable, like cubs wandering into unknown territory.

 

"Da…okay," he managed to mutter, though he felt completely lost at sea. His feet carried him into the restaurant on autopilot while his brain scrambled to figure out what to say. The familiar weight of uncertainty settled in his chest like a block of ice, making the bear spirit stir even more restlessly beneath his skin. Social situations had always been challenging enough back home in Siberia - here in America, they felt like navigating a minefield while blindfolded…

 

As they approached their tables, Jack's heart hammered in his chest. He moved to Lynn's chair, pulling it out with one hand while awkwardly presenting the flowers with the other. His shy smile felt frozen on his face, stiff and uncertain like a first-time performer on stage. The bear spirit's restless energy only made his nervousness more apparent, causing a slight tremor in his hands that he desperately hoped Lynn wouldn't notice.

 

"The vay you play..." he fumbled to express himself. "It reached something deep inside me that I not knows vas there… You're an incredible musician." Then, because his brain seemed determined to make this more awkward, Jack felt his tongue tangle into knots. 

 

"Uhm…" His thoughts scattered like startled birds taking flight. He could face down supervillains without flinching, but here he was, struggling to string two coherent thoughts together. 

 

"Ty samyy krasivyy chelovek, kotorogo ya kogda-libo vstrechal," he said softly, the Russian words rolling off his tongue with a warmth that English could never quite capture. "Ya sdvinu zemlyu, chtoby snova uslyshat' tvoyu igru." The bear spirit purred, responding to the raw honesty in his words.

 

Jack hadn't meant to switch to Russian, But there was something freeing about expressing himself in the language of his heart, and for a moment he just smiled. And then reality crashed back into him and he realized what he said and that Lynn prolly had no idea and thought him crazy and he added in a panic, "Uh, Michael says you vill be first chair soon..."

 

Heat crept up his neck as he realized he'd mentioned Michael. Why had he done that? His hand went to the back of his head, rubbing nervously as he tried to salvage the moment with a smile, though he felt like a complete fool. The twins' inevitable laughter already echoed in his imagination as he stood there, towering over the table, wishing he could shrink to a less conspicuous size.