Sing me a happy song...

[x-siryn.livejournal.com]

Music Room, Monday.
Terry and Alison finish up a singing lesson and Terry confronts Alison about something that's been bothering her. Alison is reassuring. Then she assigns double homework.



Terry held the last notes, careful to keep the very close harmony under control. Alison was already fairly glowing with the occasional “slip-ups” Terry’d had during the session. Her teacher had looked tired when they’d started. Not so much now. Terry cut off the notes crisply and raised her eyebrows at Alison for approval.

Better. Much better then things had been at first, that was for sure. More self-confidence, more daring when it came to learning something new, although Terry certainly had never been one to lack for determination or staying power when it came to voice training.

"Good. Very good. Still need to work on strengthening your voice some," Alison grinned a bit, "but you've been showing regular progress since we started. I'm pleased." She raised an eyebrow at Terry, giving her a curious look. "And how are you feeling about how things are going?"

“Better,” Terry responded firmly, “Haven’t broken anything in ages.” She gave Alison a sly look, “You know, the new Guthrie says he sings like a choir of angels. We could probably do some really excellent duets.”

An amused snort greeted that comment and Alison raised an eyebrow at Terry. "Uh huh. And you need to concentrate still to keep them notes right, young lady." And while Alison could take the occasional stray into shriekdom, she didn't think the newcomer was quite up to that yet, although the image of a bird with its feathers ruffled out every which way from a loud sound did cross her mind and draw a small grin from her. "And music is optional."

Terry pouted. She was almost certain that Alison knew the difference between her actual mistakes and the deliberate shrieks that she directed at her teacher to perk her up. Another thought occurred to her and her pouted changed to a challenging glare. “Did you ask my dad to take over my voice lessons?”

"I asked him for assistance in tailoring your voice lessons, yes," was the firm response. "His power is far too close to yours to not take advantage of the training and knowledge he has. It'd be stupid of me not to consult." A pause. "Man, I sound like my old voice teacher. Ow." Wincing, Alison slapped a hand to her forehead lightly, shaking her head. "She's old. And creaky. Gah!"

Terry glared more, “I don’t want to train with him. I don’t want to have anything to do with him.” She crossed her arms, “Besides, he sent me here because our powers aren’t the same, just similar.”

"They're similar enough that some of the stuff we spoke about has already been integrated to your lesson plan." There was a touch of iron in Alison's voice that, had she realized, would also have reminded her of her former voice teacher, a diminutive but formidable old woman. "And while I am training you, it's my responsibility to make sure that every single angle is covered. You're working in controlled conditions now," she went on, meaning her own ability to avoid the more damaging effects of Terry's power, "but it won't always be so."

“I won’t do it! I don’t want him near me!” Terry’s temper was a volatile thing. Anger came as easily as volume.

Which was fine as far as Alison was concerned, considering it would do a hell of a lot more to illustrate her point than anything else. "Is he here now?" she just asked, tilting her head to the side, blinking with a politely puzzled expression on her face. Consulting sure as hell didn't mean he was a voice teacher, after all.

“You won’t bring him here?” Terry’s anger fizzled as quickly as it had come. “Promise?”

"You're my student." There wasn't the ghost of a doubt that it was a very proprietary 'my' there. "If you don't want him here, I won't force him on you. If he wants to be here, he'll have to get your approval. My teaching space. My student." This was something Alison's own teacher had practiced with her students, all those years ago, keeping some of them 'safe' for a while, from overeager parents.

Terry relaxed entirely. It had been on her mind since the welcome home fight she’d had with him. Voice lessons were one of her escapes. She definitely didn’t need him interfering. “I don’t want him here. He’s got no right to be.”

"Without your permission no one is allowed in this room during our lessons." And not only for reasons of health or security, at that. That was simply How Things Were. And it wouldn't hurt to repeat that to Terry, Alison knew. "That simple."

Terry nodded. “Sorry. You just don’t know what it’s like. He shows up and thinks we’re going to be some kind of perfect little family. It’s just not on.”

"Well, I'm hardly one to argue with you on that one. Don't exactly get along too well with my dad," Alison pointed out softly.

“I was perfectly happy not having one.” Terry grabbed a chair and swung herself into it backward, resting her chin on the back. “Did he really have to show up now?”

"Mmm. Parents are supposed to be inconvenient and all. It's in the handbook or something." Alison smiled a bit, plopping down to sit on the floor instead, legs stretched out and leaning back on her hands. "I'm hoping Miles doesn't clue in until he's an adult too.”

There was inconvenient and then there was trying to pretend you hadn’t ruined your kid’s life then abandoned her. Terry hmphed. “Miles is always going to be a great kid. Even if his mom is inconvenient.”

Laughter greeted that comment, Alison shaking her head. "Brat. That's double singing homework for you, I'll have you know!"

Terry trilled up the scale at her teacher in response. “If I do it double voiced then it’s only the same amount.” She giggled. “Besides, it’s not like that’s much of a punishment.”