DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Alternate Reality PHX: Phoenix Reform Academy Parlor room

Ben

"No, I had a fairly good upbringing. My father could be a harsh taskmaster but my parents love me and I had an excellent education so I can't complain."

He grinned at her.

"And you should never take away the mystery of the unknown."

Blake

“Eh. Probably nothing you would be interested in. Freckles everywhere. Connect the dots and you could draw a Picasso. Lucky me, I don’t have to deal with body image.”

Ben

"Infinite diversity. You are a pretty girl, don't doubt yourself." he said and smiled.

"Now, is there anything you would like to hear played?"

Blake

She smiles.

“Awww, you can see right through me.”

She thinks for a little bit.

“Never got much chance to listen to music back there. Enkidu played Jazz. I heard that sometimes. I can almost sing without hurting someone’s ears.”

Ben

He closed his eyes and began playing a peppy little tune called Ragtime.

(Introing one more npc with Blake.)(you have somewhere you want to move Ben?)

OOC: Nope, just figured they had talked enough. Ready to continue.

(I meant this scene was to intro Blake and give Ben someone to play off of. Did you have something in mind, or if not I have a few other set pieces to do with Ben which can be slotted in)

Ben

Once Blake left he played quietly for a while, just losing himself in the music to make himself feel not so alone.

“Good music.”

He recognizes the voice of Kemp behind him.

“You must have had a good teacher. Myself, I learned by trial and error over the years. Perhaps more error than I would like, but the results work.”

Ben

At times like this, when he was lost in the music, he would find his thoughts drift into memories of old. Now they were of his earlier days when he had started getting his lessons in music from Mrs. Thatcher, a kindly older retired woman who had a great love of music after spending 40 years teaching children who had little appreciation for it. She had had a gentle demeanor, just right for teaching young children and very fond were the memories of his afternoon's after school in the music room of the Metropolis house. Music would fill the air and laughter often followed as she chided him on a missed keystroke with a gentle clucking of her tongue that reminded him of a bird.

The older man's voice broke his train of thought and Ben opened his eyes.

"She was quite talented at teaching a young boy to find enjoyment in music." he replied, a faint smile as he pictured her face.

Kemp

“When I was your age, a piano teacher was not on my mind. East village New York in the 1920’s wasn’t visited by too many piano teachers. Couldn’t find too many pianos either. Sometimes I could sneak in to listen to a bit of Jazz. When you could find music, it was quite the escape. Didn’t learn to play myself until much later.”

He pauses a moment.

“If you want, I think I could arrange for a piano teacher to visit. I know someone.”

Ben

"I am always open to learning more but mostly I just play for the enjoyment. I never had the passion to pursue it as a career and besides, that was definitely not in my father's plans for my future." he said with a laugh, shaking his head as his fingers stilled on the keys.

"The 1920's huh? I guess extended life span is part of your abilities?" he asked, looking at the man.

Kemp

“I haven’t aged now in a good fifty or sixty years, at least. Don’t know when or if I’m going to start up again. I guess I’m lucky it stopped after I grew up. Music has changed a bit over the years.”

“So music isn’t your interest. Mind if I ask, now that it is your choice, what is? One would almost think law, from listening to you ...”

His face made it clear he was joking.

“But I seem to hear you has expressed some interest in physics.”

Ben

"I have had the benefit of being around a number of lawyers at the firm so I guess I picked up enough to get myself into trouble with. But no, Law is not what I am interested in. Physics is more to get a better understanding on the basic forces of the universe of which gravity is one and so I attain a better understanding of my power."

He shook his head.

"Frankly, I am not sure what will catch my final passion yet. I know that my father had high hopes of me taking over the company when he chose to retire or was forced to but it will be gone now by the time that I am out of here. I plan on attending Harvard and seeing what does intrigue me."

Martin

“So no plans then? We could expose you to different fields and see what clicks?”

He pauses a moment longer.

“If you do as well as I suspect you are going to on your placements, might you be willing to help in tutoring some of those that haven’t had that advantage? Many might benefit from that, possibly I think including you. It’s not a requirement, naturally. Just something to think about.”

Ben

He thought about it for just a moment and nodded.

"Of course. We did that at the boarding school as well, helping tutor the lower classes. That would be fine." he agreed and then smiled.

"I do understand what you are doing by the way. Trying to invest me in the place to encourage me to get the most out of it. Just because I dislike the attitude of the law in making me accountable for my parents crimes doesn't mean I don't appreciate your effort, especially for those who haven't been as fortunate as I was."

Martin

“My only goal here is that you come out the other end productive and successful. I have more the mindset of an engineer, concrete and rebar, and deal with what is in front of you, and make sure that is as sound as possible.”

Ben

"I feel like the Brooklyn Bridge now." he joked. "Of course you probably saw it getting built."

Kemp:

“1883 is still a little bit before my time, Ben.”

He grins.

“I may be old, I am still 20th century.”

Another brief pause.

“I had to think about it for a while, but Dr. Sorensen has requested permission to have Grey brief you on the charges and details of the case surrounding your parents. She has the most direct connections and can supply you with the details that have been released. She said that it may perhaps interest you, although, Ben - I suspect there are going to be details of it you might not like much.”

Ben

Sitting there on the piano bench, Ben met his gaze with a steady look.

"It is no secret that my parents have committed crimes both in the pursuit of furthering their business empire as well as for the thrill of it. The power. It was an act of hubris for father to think that it wouldn't catch up someday but then again I guess he knew it would happen and that is why he prepared for it like he did. He left me a letter telling me to go out and forge my own life now and I would have if it had just been him but my mother...." he stopped, sighing quietly.

"I couldn't just leave her behind. Them behind. They are family after all." he said softly.

Martin:

"Laudable. Just remember, you are likely to see things in there you don't know about. That I don't think they ever told you. You might not like some of it very much. But I don't think tis right to keep that information from you."

Ben

"If I like it or not, I still need to know what the government accuses them of and thus, by proxy, what they hold against me. Thank you for the information."

He got to his feet, closing the piano.

"And with that I think I am going to head off to the commons. I assume that we will get a tour tomorrow and that there is some type of exercise equipment here? I work out in higher G so I will need to use my power for that if it is allowed."

Kemp

"It is possible, that should not be an issue."

Ben

"Good. Night then." he said, slipping out of the parlor and heading for the boys dorm.

(Fade)