Wayne Scott aka The Music Man

"May I help you? I do have a business to run here. Speak your piece quickly, or you'll be escorted out."

[singinghands]

((testing to see if I’m muted))

[colourful-serendipity]

Halloween Surprise!

[colourful-serendipity]

waynescott-musicman:

mygardenofmuses:

“Yep, that’s right.” Bernard nodded, and reached to hold one of Gabrielle’s hands. He wished to give her all his strength. 

“Believe me when I say, if I could carry this pregnancy for you, I would. You’re really brave, Gabby. Thank you so much, really.”

She squeezed his hand back in return. “You’ve made my brother so happy, Bernard. I’m glad to do this for you.”

After Gabrielle had applied one last touch to her whisker makeup, the three of them headed downstairs. By now more guests had shown up, and they found themselves approached by well-wishers. 

“Oh, don’t you look lovely!” an old lady Wayne vaguely knew cooed over Gabrielle. “Just radiant. It’s going to be such a delight to see children around this place again!”

Gabrielle, who had too many memories of being told to stay out of the way when she was a child, said nothing.

“Eehh… I guess our daughter will visit the place frequently. We’re all family.” Bernard stepped between Gabrielle and the old lady. For once he didn’t think what he was doing - he just acted and ignored the woman after those words. 

The curator laid a hand on his sister-in-law’s shoulder. “Maybe we should move to a less crowded area. I don’t want anyone to overwhelm you.” He looked at his husband, and gave him a quick nod. “Wayne, do you see an area where we can get away from prying looks?”

[waynescott-musicman]

“The music room looks free,” he replied, gesturing toward the room off the parlor where the Scotts’ piano and other musical possessions lived. “Mom would probably like it if I put on some tunes anyway.” 

Gabrielle followed her brother into the room, flicking on the light as she went. There was a white reclining couch in one corner, and she settled herself on it, looking like a lazy cat making itself comfortable. “Thanks, guys. Mrs. Bigelow means well, but this thing,” she patted her belly, “is like a magnet for Mom’s friends. I need a flyswatter to fend them off!” 

[colourful-serendipity]

Halloween Surprise!

[colourful-serendipity]

waynescott-musicman:

mygardenofmuses:

“This might be the cutest costume I’ve ever seen…” Bernard mumbled, reaching to hug her as well, as carefully as he could. After pulling back, her commentary got him to blush. 

“Heheh, yes. One can’t go wrong with steampunk, ever.” he declared, before bursting into giggles. He leaned forward, admiring her belly. “So… did the little one behave? I hope the baby isn’t giving you much trouble…”

Gabrielle shook her head. “She’s been kicking and shifting more in the last couple of weeks, but nothing I can’t handle. I think she’s just impatient to get out and see the world.” She sighed. “And I don’t blame her. I’m glad to be doing this for you guys, but I am getting a little tired of being pregnant.”  “Well, you don’t have much longer to go,” Wayne assured her. He turned to Bernard. “The due date’s a week from tomorrow, right?” 

“Yep, that’s right.” Bernard nodded, and reached to hold one of Gabrielle’s hands. He wished to give her all his strength. 

“Believe me when I say, if I could carry this pregnancy for you, I would. You’re really brave, Gabby. Thank you so much, really.”

[waynescott-musicman]

She squeezed his hand back in return. “You’ve made my brother so happy, Bernard. I’m glad to do this for you.”

After Gabrielle had applied one last touch to her whisker makeup, the three of them headed downstairs. By now more guests had shown up, and they found themselves approached by well-wishers. 

“Oh, don’t you look lovely!” an old lady Wayne vaguely knew cooed over Gabrielle. “Just radiant. It’s going to be such a delight to see children around this place again!”

Gabrielle, who had too many memories of being told to stay out of the way when she was a child, said nothing.

[colourful-serendipity]

Halloween Surprise!

[waynescott-musicman]

mygardenofmuses:

mygardenofmuses:

waynescott-musicman:

mygardenofmuses:

“Yes! I saw them in a shop and couldn’t resist!” Bernard added with a smile. He wasn’t that perceptive at reading Lady Scott’s face. While he could notice some tension between them, he didn’t know what could be the reason. Maybe she was just stressed. Reason more than enough to give her some space. 

He stepped back and tugged at Wayne’s ear to whisper in his ear. “Looks like your Mom is a bit tense. Should we leave her alone, so she gets some room to breathe…?”

“Might be a good idea,” Wayne agreed. 

He let Lady Scott lead them into the parlor, where some of the other guests had already gathered, and then asked if he and Bernard could be excused to go greet Gabrielle. To his relief, his mother seemed fine with it; she was already making her way to talk to the Davises, keeping herself busy in her role as hostess. 

“Elle?” Wayne called out as they headed upstairs. “Are you there? Mom said you were still getting ready-”

“Not anymore. I’m officially finished.” Gabrielle strode out into the hallway confidently. Her costume wasn’t particularly complex: she’d decided to go as a black cat, complete with pasted-on whiskers and yellow cats-eye glasses. But Wayne smiled as he saw that she’d pasted a mat of multicolored yarn over her swollen belly, making her look like a cat playing with a ball of yarn. “You like?” 

“You look adorable.” Wayne pulled his sister into a hug, maneuvering carefully around her pregnancy hill (Gabrielle had joked on their last visit that it was much too big to be called a “bump” anymore). 

“You look pretty cool yourself. And so do you, Bernard. Steampunk, right?” 

“This might be the cutest costume I’ve ever seen…” Bernard mumbled, reaching to hug her as well, as carefully as he could. After pulling back, her commentary got him to blush. 

“Heheh, yes. One can’t go wrong with steampunk, ever.” he declared, before bursting into giggles. He leaned forward, admiring her belly. “So… did the little one behave? I hope the baby isn’t giving you much trouble…”

Gabrielle shook her head. “She’s been kicking and shifting more in the last couple of weeks, but nothing I can’t handle. I think she’s just impatient to get out and see the world.” She sighed. “And I don’t blame her. I’m glad to be doing this for you guys, but I am getting a little tired of being pregnant.”  “Well, you don’t have much longer to go,” Wayne assured her. He turned to Bernard. “The due date’s a week from tomorrow, right?” 

[colourful-serendipity]

Halloween Surprise!

[waynescott-musicman]

“Oh, she’ll be joining us.” Lady Scott tsk’ed. “She’s upstairs getting ready. I wanted her to stay in and rest, now that she’s so close to her due date. But she’s insisted she’s not missing the party. She even made a costume.” 

“I’m sure she’ll be okay,” Wayne tried to reassure his mother. “This is going to be a pretty quiet party, isn’t it? She can come sit and talk for a few hours.” 

Lady Scott said nothing, but her son read a great deal from her expression. He’d known from the beginning that, while she was happy about the idea of grandchildren, having a grandchild who’d been created in a test tube from the DNA of two men wasn’t something she was entirely comfortable with. She’d never say it out loud, of course, but the feeling was there. And the longer the pregnant Gabrielle spent in the company of the Scotts’ society friends, the more likely it was that the details of how the baby had been made might come up. 

Awkwardly, Wayne tried to shift the subject along. “I do like your costume though, Mom. Check it out, matching hats!” He tipped the gray bowler hat he was wearing as part of his own costume: a dove-gray Victorian suit embellished with brass studs and filigree. Bernard had taken a strong interest in steampunk, and Wayne was happy to indulge his husband. 

[colourful-serendipity]

“Yes! I saw them in a shop and couldn’t resist!” Bernard added with a smile. He wasn’t that perceptive at reading Lady Scott’s face. While he could notice some tension between them, he didn’t know what could be the reason. Maybe she was just stressed. Reason more than enough to give her some space. 

He stepped back and tugged at Wayne’s ear to whisper in his ear. “Looks like your Mom is a bit tense. Should we leave her alone, so she gets some room to breathe…?”

[waynescott-musicman]

“Might be a good idea,” Wayne agreed. 

He let Lady Scott lead them into the parlor, where some of the other guests had already gathered, and then asked if he and Bernard could be excused to go greet Gabrielle. To his relief, his mother seemed fine with it; she was already making her way to talk to the Davises, keeping herself busy in her role as hostess. 

“Elle?” Wayne called out as they headed upstairs. “Are you there? Mom said you were still getting ready-”

“Not anymore. I’m officially finished.” Gabrielle strode out into the hallway confidently. Her costume wasn’t particularly complex: she’d decided to go as a black cat, complete with pasted-on whiskers and yellow cats-eye glasses. But Wayne smiled as he saw that she’d pasted a mat of multicolored yarn over her swollen belly, making her look like a cat playing with a ball of yarn. “You like?” 

“You look adorable.” Wayne pulled his sister into a hug, maneuvering carefully around her pregnancy hill (Gabrielle had joked on their last visit that it was much too big to be called a “bump” anymore). 

“You look pretty cool yourself. And so do you, Bernard. Steampunk, right?” 

[colourful-serendipity]

Halloween Surprise!

@waynescott-musicman

This sure was one unusual Halloween for Bernard. He was used to be the host, but this year he was just one of the guests to the Halloween party in the Scott Manor. 

Neither Grace or Jess could come, they had their own plans already. And it was OK - being here with Wayne was more than enough for him.

[waynescott-musicman]

In years past, the Scotts had thrown some very lavish parties. The occasion didn’t really matter, so much as the chance to entertain and show off for their various society friends. This year, however, Lady Scott had chosen to go for something more subdued: cider, cocktails, and Halloween-themed hors d’oeuvres in the grand parlor. 

Not all the guests had dressed up, but Lady Scott had. Wayne was surprised to see his mother greet them in a baggy, old-fashioned black suit, a cocked bowler hat, and a toothbrush mustache carefully glued into place. “Do you like it?” she asked, beckoning them inside with a bamboo cane. “Gabrielle and I found the clothes while we were going through the attic. Remember how the two of you used to play dress-up when you were little?” 

Wayne gave a slightly embarrassed chuckle. “That attic was quite a treasure trove. The Scott ancestors never could throw anything out, could they?” 

[colourful-serendipity]

“It’s certainly… something unusual.” Bernard commented, checking her outfit, then looking at his own. He felt his costume wasn’t anything big in comparison. But it worked for tonight, at least. 

“Where is Gabrielle? Will she join us in the party?” he asked, looking around. She was very pregnant by now, and Bernard liked to check on her every now and then to make sure everything went just fine.

[waynescott-musicman]

“Oh, she’ll be joining us.” Lady Scott tsk’ed. “She’s upstairs getting ready. I wanted her to stay in and rest, now that she’s so close to her due date. But she’s insisted she’s not missing the party. She even made a costume.” 

“I’m sure she’ll be okay,” Wayne tried to reassure his mother. “This is going to be a pretty quiet party, isn’t it? She can come sit and talk for a few hours.” 

Lady Scott said nothing, but her son read a great deal from her expression. He’d known from the beginning that, while she was happy about the idea of grandchildren, having a grandchild who’d been created in a test tube from the DNA of two men wasn’t something she was entirely comfortable with. She’d never say it out loud, of course, but the feeling was there. And the longer the pregnant Gabrielle spent in the company of the Scotts’ society friends, the more likely it was that the details of how the baby had been made might come up. 

Awkwardly, Wayne tried to shift the subject along. “I do like your costume though, Mom. Check it out, matching hats!” He tipped the gray bowler hat he was wearing as part of his own costume: a dove-gray Victorian suit embellished with brass studs and filigree. Bernard had taken a strong interest in steampunk, and Wayne was happy to indulge his husband. 

[colourful-serendipity]

Halloween Surprise!

@waynescott-musicman

This sure was one unusual Halloween for Bernard. He was used to be the host, but this year he was just one of the guests to the Halloween party in the Scott Manor. 

Neither Grace or Jess could come, they had their own plans already. And it was OK - being here with Wayne was more than enough for him.

[waynescott-musicman]

In years past, the Scotts had thrown some very lavish parties. The occasion didn’t really matter, so much as the chance to entertain and show off for their various society friends. This year, however, Lady Scott had chosen to go for something more subdued: cider, cocktails, and Halloween-themed hors d’oeuvres in the grand parlor. 

Not all the guests had dressed up, but Lady Scott had. Wayne was surprised to see his mother greet them in a baggy, old-fashioned black suit, a cocked bowler hat, and a toothbrush mustache carefully glued into place. “Do you like it?” she asked, beckoning them inside with a bamboo cane. “Gabrielle and I found the clothes while we were going through the attic. Remember how the two of you used to play dress-up when you were little?” 

Wayne gave a slightly embarrassed chuckle. “That attic was quite a treasure trove. The Scott ancestors never could throw anything out, could they?” 

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

Mapping the Future

[waynescott-musicman]

With Bernard so close at hand, his scent filling Wayne’s nose, the sound of his breath and heartbeat drawing his ears, it was surprisingly easy to relax. He always felt so calm with his mate. Calm and loved and safe in a way he couldn’t quite put into words….

He didn’t even notice the needle piercing his skin until it had already happened. 

Wayne froze in his seat. His instinct told him to flex his arm, to snap the intruding sharp thing with a single twitch of muscle. But he fought back, forcing himself instead to remain calm, and fill his thoughts and sense with Bernard. 

“I think it’s working…”

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

“This… this is incredible.” Bernard was just as flabbergasted as Wayne was, if not more. Who would say that the power of the mind could be the key to turn off (even if just temporarily) Wayne’s invulnerability? At least now he could see that one but him could do things. It was a relief.

“Megamind, quick! Tell me what to do, please!”

[finallyhadareasontowin]

Like the others Megamind herself looks surprised that this actually was working, immediately sitting up and taking over to help guide Bernard. “First, just remember to be careful.”

This wasn’t something they could rush, and she’s trying to keep both of them calm. As she’s walking Bernard through it, though, she can’t keep everything she’s thinking off her face, expression a mix of surprise and pride.

[waynescott-musicman]

Wayne watched in silence, taking deep breaths as his red blood began to flow in and fill up the sample tube. It was ... quite honestly, it was weird as hell to finally see himself bleed. The needle in his arm didn’t hurt anymore - it was more of a low ache, and easy to ignore if he focused on his mate. 

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

Mapping the Future

[waynescott-musicman]

Wayne blinked in surprise at Bernard’s suggestion. He never would have considered such a thing … and yet it was so simple. It made perfect sense. They’d come so close on that first try. If he could only relax just a little bit more, by placing himself solely in his mate’s hands…

“I’m willing to try if you are, Bern.” With his blue eyes fixed intently on his husband, Wayne offered his arm again. 

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

“I am.” Bernard picked up the needle and gave Wayne a soft kiss on his lips. “It will be alright, love. Jut keep your eyes on me. It will be over before you notice…”

He kept talking as he applied the needle, secretly praying it could work this time. If he couldn’t do it, probably no one could!

[finallyhadareasontowin]

With Bernard taking over, Megamind sits back, keeping herself close by in order to make sure things went well. Letting the two of them talk amongst themselves, she’s taking the time, apart from supervising, to get things ready for the next step.

[waynescott-musicman]

With Bernard so close at hand, his scent filling Wayne’s nose, the sound of his breath and heartbeat drawing his ears, it was surprisingly easy to relax. He always felt so calm with his mate. Calm and loved and safe in a way he couldn’t quite put into words....

He didn’t even notice the needle piercing his skin until it had already happened. 

Wayne froze in his seat. His instinct told him to flex his arm, to snap the intruding sharp thing with a single twitch of muscle. But he fought back, forcing himself instead to remain calm, and fill his thoughts and sense with Bernard. 

“I think it’s working...”

[jess-at-your-service]

Weekend with my Uncles

[jess-at-your-service]

“OK…” Jess let him take the control. After all, he was the expert here…

Bernard nearly dropped the candy he was about to eat. “Eeeh, I know that song! Van Morrison, right? Man, I adored his music when I was a kid…” Bernard chuckled lightly and turned to Jess. He ruffled gently her hair. 

“Heh, some of those lyrics are so true. You’ve grown up so much, that we almost missed you becoming a woman.”

Jess blushed lightly and shook her head. She couldn’t consider herself a woman until she could have a period, right? Those were the marks of adulthood, most definitely. She decided to focus on Wayne’s music. 

“You almost make it look easy…” she giggled, a bit embarrassed of her own clumsiness. “I’d like to try again.”

[waynescott-musicman]

“Hey, I’ve just had more practice,” Wayne replied. “Give yourself a few more years, and you’ll be just as good. Maybe even better!”

He handed the guitar to Jess again, and this time, he took her hand and guided her to the right strings. “Like this. And try humming or singing the song as you play each note. Trust me, it helps.” 

[jess-at-your-service]

“Oki…” Jess whispered, letting herself be guided by Wayne’s expert hands. Still she was a little clumsy, her insecurities were still eating at her. 

“I have the feeling I’m better at playing the piano than the guitar.” she whispered, leaning against him. “Maybe one day we could do a duet, don’t you think, uncle? Maybe for Christmas. It would like having Daddy with us.”

“Mmh, I remember your Mom telling me that. Steve used to play the piano a lot, even in Christmas, right?”

“Yes. He loved that instrument and taught me how to play it. Perhaps it’s because I already put all of my soul into it, that playing any other instrument feels… a bit weird. But thanks for showing, me, uncle. I appreciate it.”

[waynescott-musicman]

The mention of Steve made Wayne’s heart ache, even now. He gave Jess’s hand a comforting squeeze, and nodded. “If the piano is what feels right to you, then that’s what you should stick with. And I’d love it if we could have a Christmas jam session.” He smiled. “Most Christmas tunes are pretty easy to play, too. It would be like our own family caroling party.”

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

Mapping the Future

[waynescott-musicman]

At his mate’s insistence, Wayne tried to relax, taking slow, deep breaths. He closed his eyes, focusing on the feel of Bernard’s hand. The warmth of his skin, the feel of his pulse - all those senses that, to Wayne, meant love, home, and safety. 

He barely noticed as Megamind moved beside him. She would be picking up the syringe he’d seen, and he could feel it as she touched his arm, preparing the needle. He squeezed Bernard’s hand a little tighter, trying harder to shut out all other stimuli …

And then there was pain.

It was only a tiny prick, and only for an instant, but it was enough to make his invulnerability flare up. The thin needle bent against his skin as if it had hit a stone wall. 

“I’m sorry,” Wayne sighed, looking down at the ruined needle. “I tried-”

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something. In the crook of his arm, where the tip of the needle had touched, there was a tiny, almost invisible red mark. Not enough to draw blood, but Wayne remembered very clearly that when the pediatrician had tried to give him his shots, it hadn’t left any mark. 

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

Bernard shuddered slightly when Wayne squeezed his hand. He hoped that this would work out. Needles weren’t exactly a superhro’s best friend, so being nervous was a normal reaction, right? Still, he tried his best to stay calm.

“Hey, hey, it’s OK love.” Bernard kissed his cheek, then observed his arm. “Looks like, if you are enough relaxed, your invulnerability can be turned off. If only temporarily. Maybe we should try again, or…”

The curator rubbed his own chin in thought. “In case it doesn’t work… Megamind, would you let me use the needle? Perhaps I can help a bit more…”

[finallyhadareasontowin]

It hadn’t worked. Annoyance over that has Megamind almost missing what Bernard had said. When it sinks in, though, she finally looks up, momentary surprise on her face before it quickly disappears as Megamind nods.

“If you think it would help.” Despite hoping that it would, she sounds doubtful, picking up an unbent needle before handing it over to Bernard carefully. Better to not contaminate the results by accidentally hurting either one of them.

[waynescott-musicman]

Wayne blinked in surprise at Bernard’s suggestion. He never would have considered such a thing ... and yet it was so simple. It made perfect sense. They’d come so close on that first try. If he could only relax just a little bit more, by placing himself solely in his mate’s hands...

“I’m willing to try if you are, Bern.” With his blue eyes fixed intently on his husband, Wayne offered his arm again. 

[jess-at-your-service]

Weekend with my Uncles

[jess-at-your-service]

Jess’s eyes widened. “It’s more complicated than I thought.” she mumbled, trying to take in his lessons. She touched every chord after Wayne, trying to remember everything he had said. 

“E… B… G… D…. A… and E, right? When I studied music with flute at school they teacher mentioned different lengts with the sounds. Is that something I can do with guitar, too?”

[waynescott-musicman]

“Absolutely. It takes some more practice to get the hang of the frets, and changing between keys, but you can make a whole range of sounds. Here, why don’t I show you?”

Wayne took the guitar back, and took a seat on the couch next to Jess, so that she could see the guitar from his point of view and follow his hands. “A nice easy tune to start out with.” 

He began to pick out a song that, in this moment, made him think of Jess: Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl”. 

[jess-at-your-service]

“OK…” Jess let him take the control. After all, he was the expert here…

Bernard nearly dropped the candy he was about to eat. “Eeeh, I know that song! Van Morrison, right? Man, I adored his music when I was a kid…” Bernard chuckled lightly and turned to Jess. He ruffled gently her hair. 

“Heh, some of those lyrics are so true. You’ve grown up so much, that we almost missed you becoming a woman.”

Jess blushed lightly and shook her head. She couldn’t consider herself a woman until she could have a period, right? Those were the marks of adulthood, most definitely. She decided to focus on Wayne’s music. 

“You almost make it look easy…” she giggled, a bit embarrassed of her own clumsiness. “I’d like to try again.”

[waynescott-musicman]

“Hey, I’ve just had more practice,” Wayne replied. “Give yourself a few more years, and you’ll be just as good. Maybe even better!”

He handed the guitar to Jess again, and this time, he took her hand and guided her to the right strings. “Like this. And try humming or singing the song as you play each note. Trust me, it helps.” 

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

Mapping the Future

[waynescott-musicman]

Wayne did as she instructed, flexing his arm in the way he’d seen others do when they prepared to give blood. He had to fight the urge to flex when Megamind tied a nanotube-enhanced tourniquet in place, but managed to make himself relax. 

“Okay.” He took a few deep breaths. “I’m ready.”  

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

Bernard reached to hold Wayne’s hand during the procedure. Having him there, touching him, sure would help Wayne to keep his muscles relaxed. 

“You’re doing it great, Wayne. Slow breaths… You can do this. You can do anything.” Bernard whispered, trying to give him bravery to continue.

[finallyhadareasontowin]

While she was setting up, Megamind glances over toward Bernard, gives a faint nod. That was what she had been hoping he’d continue doing, after all. Whether or not this would work, well, they were about to see. “Good.”

With that answer she’s hoping things go well, beginning the first attempt at testing.

[waynescott-musicman]

At his mate’s insistence, Wayne tried to relax, taking slow, deep breaths. He closed his eyes, focusing on the feel of Bernard’s hand. The warmth of his skin, the feel of his pulse - all those senses that, to Wayne, meant love, home, and safety. 

He barely noticed as Megamind moved beside him. She would be picking up the syringe he’d seen, and he could feel it as she touched his arm, preparing the needle. He squeezed Bernard’s hand a little tighter, trying harder to shut out all other stimuli ...

And then there was pain.

It was only a tiny prick, and only for an instant, but it was enough to make his invulnerability flare up. The thin needle bent against his skin as if it had hit a stone wall. 

“I’m sorry,” Wayne sighed, looking down at the ruined needle. “I tried-”

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something. In the crook of his arm, where the tip of the needle had touched, there was a tiny, almost invisible red mark. Not enough to draw blood, but Wayne remembered very clearly that when the pediatrician had tried to give him his shots, it hadn’t left any mark. 

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

Mapping the Future

[waynescott-musicman]

“Yeah, I definitely would. Just ‘cause I’m not out on the front lines anymore doesn’t mean I’ve stopped wanting to help people. And this seems like something that could help a lot of people, and not just in Metro.” 

He smiled warmly at the blue woman. “We could be a team.” 

And in the back of his mind, a familiar thought rose: Like we should have been from the beginning. 

Wayne glanced around as Megamind took her seat and began to prepare her supplies. “So… should I roll up my sleeve and make a fist?” 

[sarcastic-museum-curator]

Bernard looked back at Wayne and smiled quietly. He knew how much Wayne would have liked to team up with the Megaminds and use the power of their abilities combined for the greater good. 

“Is there anything I can do to help?” he offered, unsure if his knowledge could be of any use in this situation. He walked toward them and stood next to Wayne, rubbing gently his shoulders to ease any possible tension left.

[finallyhadareasontowin]

“Yes, we could.” Megamind agrees, still sounding surprised over the offer. She hadn’t thought about that overmuch until the past few years. Now though it did seem plausible. To Wayne’s question she nods. “It would help.”

Hopefully this worked, looking over at Bernard then. “What you’re doing is enough.” For now, at least.

[waynescott-musicman]

Wayne did as she instructed, flexing his arm in the way he’d seen others do when they prepared to give blood. He had to fight the urge to flex when Megamind tied a nanotube-enhanced tourniquet in place, but managed to make himself relax. “Okay.” He took a few deep breaths. “I’m ready.”  

[jess-at-your-service]

Weekend with my Uncles

[jess-at-your-service]

“I guess I could try by hand…” Jess took the guitar carefully, and ran her fingers over the chords. As the notes filled the room, a shiver ran down her spine. This was something he had wanted to do for a long, long, time.

“Uncle Wayne… Could you… teach me?”

[waynescott-musicman]

Wayne had always been under the impression that strumming a guitar without a pick was difficult for human hands, but it seemed Jess didn’t have a problem. Her fingers might hurt after a while, but he decided to do as she asked. 

“I’d be glad to. Here…” He placed the guitar in Jess’s lap, and showed her how to hold it. “Now, each string plays a different basic note. They go E-B-G-D-A-E.” As he spoke each note, he strummed the string in question, so that Jess could hear them. “You can play F and C by picking the strings up here,” he showed her the frets, high up on the neck of the instrument, “but let’s stick with the basics for now.” 

[jess-at-your-service]

Jess’s eyes widened. “It’s more complicated than I thought.” she mumbled, trying to take in his lessons. She touched every chord after Wayne, trying to remember everything he had said. 

“E… B… G… D…. A… and E, right? When I studied music with flute at school they teacher mentioned different lengts with the sounds. Is that something I can do with guitar, too?”

[waynescott-musicman]

“Absolutely. It takes some more practice to get the hang of the frets, and changing between keys, but you can make a whole range of sounds. Here, why don’t I show you?”

Wayne took the guitar back, and took a seat on the couch next to Jess, so that she could see the guitar from his point of view and follow his hands. “A nice easy tune to start out with.” 

He began to pick out a song that, in this moment, made him think of Jess: Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl”. 

[jess-at-your-service]

Weekend with my Uncles

[jess-at-your-service]

“I never understood that joke.” Bernard commented, rubbing his chin. “Do you get it, Jess?”

“Me neither.” Jess shrugged, and lifted carefully her arms to cling to Bernard, almost like a koala. 

The curator noticed the bandages and it took all his willpower not to squeeze her right there. How he wished that love could heal. He caressed gently her hair, and smiled when Jess snuggled against his chest. She used to do the same thing as a toddler. Some things never changed.

The teen looked up when she saw the guitar from the corner of her eye. Untangling herself from the cuddle, she lifted her arms almost instinctively.

“Can… can I touch it?”

[waynescott-musicman]

“Sure!” Wayne held it out to her. “You can even strum it, if you want. I usually just do it by hand, but I’ve got a guitar pick you could use.” 

[jess-at-your-service]

“I guess I could try by hand…” Jess took the guitar carefully, and ran her fingers over the chords. As the notes filled the room, a shiver ran down her spine. This was something he had wanted to do for a long, long, time.

“Uncle Wayne… Could you… teach me?”

[waynescott-musicman]

Wayne had always been under the impression that strumming a guitar without a pick was difficult for human hands, but it seemed Jess didn’t have a problem. Her fingers might hurt after a while, but he decided to do as she asked. 

“I’d be glad to. Here...” He placed the guitar in Jess’s lap, and showed her how to hold it. “Now, each string plays a different basic note. They go E-B-G-D-A-E.” As he spoke each note, he strummed the string in question, so that Jess could hear them. “You can play F and C by picking the strings up here,” he showed her the frets, high up on the neck of the instrument, “but let’s stick with the basics for now.” 

[jess-at-your-service]

Weekend with my Uncles

[waynescott-musicman]

“Hey, I wasn’t too good at the guitar either when I first started,” he replied. “But it’s like that old joke. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.” 

Wayne shifted Jess off of him gently, transferring her over to lean against Bernard. “Just sit tight. I’ll be right back.” 

He headed into the room that served as a combination office-slash-library (with Wayne’s business dealings and Bernard’s research and archival work, they both needed such a workspace), and returned carrying the rosewood Gibson. “It’s a replica of the kind Elvis used to play,” he told Jess. 

[jess-at-your-service]

“I never understood that joke.” Bernard commented, rubbing his chin. “Do you get it, Jess?”

“Me neither.” Jess shrugged, and lifted carefully her arms to cling to Bernard, almost like a koala. 

The curator noticed the bandages and it took all his willpower not to squeeze her right there. How he wished that love could heal. He caressed gently her hair, and smiled when Jess snuggled against his chest. She used to do the same thing as a toddler. Some things never changed.

The teen looked up when she saw the guitar from the corner of her eye. Untangling herself from the cuddle, she lifted her arms almost instinctively.

“Can… can I touch it?”

[waynescott-musicman]

“Sure!” Wayne held it out to her. “You can even strum it, if you want. I usually just do it by hand, but I’ve got a guitar pick you could use.”