A Job Well Done

[Will]

Will leaned against the wall for a minute, catching his breath.

His ramshackle team had put up a dozen tents and some tressel tables, with food and water out and available. They had dragged in some sheets and things from the laundry rooms, creating a makeshift collection of bedding in case people needed to bunker down here for the night. He had even dragged up some speakers from the music room to provide some music, as well as sticking a collection of guitars on the the stage in the XUB, just in case.

It didn't feel like home, but it felt safer now, and like people could gather without being in too much trouble.

"We'll call that good. For now," he yawned, stretching a little longer than normal people otherwise could.

((open)).

[Shane Marsh]

Shane started fingering one of the guitars.

"With beds like that, I'm glad my bones are optional."

[Will]

"With fingering skills like that, I'm glad I'm not a guitar," Will shot back, grinning.

"We'll make do."

[Shane Marsh]

He played something substantially more impressive. Almost as good as a certain telekinetic redhead.

"You were saying?" he smirked.

[Will]

"So, that's the way it's going to be, huh?" Will smirked, stepping onto the stage area near Shane. "Plug in and hit it."

[Shane Marsh]

"Are you challenging me to an epic guitar battle?" he asked as he plugged in the guitar.

[Will]

"Me? No, no. I can fake rhythm or bass, but I'm no lead guitarist.

But we've got a bunch of nervous people around. Music soothes the savage beast, am I right?"

[Shane Marsh]

"Right. Something smooth then?"

[Will]

Will considered.

"Nah. Play what you want. If we get people partying, they'll forget what they're worrying about."

[Shane Marsh]

He nodded and began playing.

"Dedicated to you then."

[Will]

Will rolled his eyes and smirked.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, welcome to the bar at the end of the universe," he said into the mike. "We've got a lot of familiar faces in here tonight, and we're gonna kick this one off by taking a trip down memory lane to the swinging days of the 1970s. Let's give a Giant-Sized X-Men #1 welcome to the Xaviers Band...

North side, east side, Little Willy Willy wears the crown, he's the king around town...

[Narrator]

Will and Shane kept playing, providing some music and slowly but surely getting the crowd on their side. People started getting up and down from the stage, joining in for a song or two as the music kept going -- Con McGraw sat in on a couple numbers, Tink played some jangly rhythm guitar for a bit, Rick Ferguson picked up a bass -- the nervous energy in the room was becoming more just energy energy, for better or for worse.

Taking a quick break, Will took a water bottle ("Thanks, Onyx"), to rest his vocal chords.

[William Stanton]

After sitting in the corner awkwardly for a little bit, William Stanton clambored his way onto the stage.

"Uh...room for one more?"

[Shane Marsh]

"Aye. We could use a drummer."

[William Stanton]

"Been a while, but I think I can keep time, at least," William grinned, sheepishly. "Something simple at first, please?"

[Will]

"Simple'll it'll be. Shane, give us something fairly easy for our new beatboy."

[Shane Marsh]

"How about some Stripes then? About as simple as drumming gets."

He adjusted a few things and began to play.

[Will]

"I think I can sing as badly as Jack White," Will smirked.

"Ya he, icky thump
Who'd a thunk?
Sittin' drunk
On a wagon to Mexico!" he warbled off-key, trying to match Jack's...shall we say 'vocal stylings'.

[William Stanton]

William was keeping up, grinning as the crowd got in on the action.

"Team green rocks!" he shouted over the din, transitioning the band into another number without a pause, seeing which band members came along with him.

[Will]

Will nodded along to the music, shifting into a female form to better hit the lyrics.

"Nothing is a color
I cross the desert
Nothing is alive
What does the black top know that I have not cracked with my mind..."

[William Stanton]

When Will shifted, however, the drums suddenly crashed to a halt, as William just sat and stared, jaw dropping open.

"Wait, wait, waitwaitwait..."

[Will]

"Drums! We need a beat!" Will hissed back.

[William Stanton]

"Shift back! It's in your range!" the drummer replied. "Everyone's watching!"

[Will]

"What?" Will asked, confused. "Yeah, they're watching, we're performing. Drums, two, three, four, go!"

[William Stanton]

"But, I mean...you..in front of everyone....gah!" William said, slamming his sticks down and rapidly storming off in a random direction.

[Will]

Will sighed, handing the mike over.

"I've got to deal with this. I'll be back in a bit," she said.

[Shane Marsh]

Shane's guitar went silent. "The bloody hell was that about?" he muttered.

"Well, it looks like it's just me so how about I show off, eh?" he said into the mic with a grin before beginning another song.

"Every time when I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It went by, like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got the dues in life to pay"