The thing with playing with an orchestra, especially once as world-renowned as the New York Philharmonic, was that there was more to the gig than just playing the music. Oh one likes to think that the only thing the musicians have to worry about is rehearsing and then not choking when they were on stage, maybe even have to consider that some travel will be involved in their lives; but there was so much more attached to it. One of the things that is extremely important is the public image, to be accessible and the rest of the world via candid photo sessions and behind-the-scenes sneak peaks for the upcoming season. When Agnes had first heard about this it, of course, made her a little self-conscious but she was something that she knew she was going to have to get over; especially if this was her dream.

Today had started like any other day. She was still reeling from her maybe/possible break-up with her fiancée but because she still wasn’t sure where she stood, the engagement ring still sat on her finger. She had wandered in, numb but still smiling and greeting all of her co-musicians as they all shuffled into the concert hall and the ungodly hour. They didn’t have to worry about performing tonight as today was just set aside for rehearsals only. Still, there was a new show coming up and rehearsals tended to be brutal, especially when first starting out. It required long hours, dedication, and a lot of practice. Not really a whole lot of time to dilly-dallying.

But, as mentioned before, the New York Philharmonic was a servant of the people and they needed to make themselves available at all times. News had come down the wire, oddly enough to Agnes herself. Her conductor had stated that there was to be a local youth, a teenager, who was working on a documentary will be in today. This student had gone through all the proper channels and submitted a request to interview and record some behind-the-scenes footage of the orchestra, with a very special subject in mind – Agnes herself.

Agnes was stunned when she had heard this; after all, she wasn’t famous and didn’t possess any kind of celebrity-status that she was aware of. She was actually fairly new to the company so why would anyone want to interview her? That was when her boss revealed the reason and it all clicked into place – she was going to be interviewed because she was a mutant. At first she wasn’t quite aware to what to make of it. Her mind instantly wanted to assume that she was just being used as a publicity stunt but she had to remember that the orchestra has been treating her just fine ever since she had arrived back in New York. They have been sweet, understanding, and more than comfortable with her visible mutations. It was hard after living so many years on the streets, eating from garbage cans, to remember to not be so cynical these days.

So, it was decided. She would be the contact person for this student, this Leo Valdenbro, and would be the first smiling face he would see once he was directed into the building. God she hoped that she didn’t do anything that would make a bad impression, especially if she were being filmed. But she was a professional and, somewhat, used to having cameras around, she could do this, she knew that she could.

Standing in the lobby, Agnes was taking a rare break from rehearsal as she quietly spoke with one of the custodians, chatting about this and that. She was dressed very casually in hip hugging jeans and a halter top that exposed the pale skin of her back and shoulders. There it made it easy access for her iridescent insect wings to poke out and fold comfortably against her back. It was very different attire than from when she was performing, which usually consisted of dark slacks and crisp, white, button-up shirt. Her companion, the custodian, was dressed in a standard navy blue slacks and a shirt with a patch that read “STAFF” over his right breast. The older, dark-skinned man was always friendly to her, always had a kind word or two no matter which stage in her insect cycle that she was in. As the man vacuumed the lobby around her, Agnes was chuckling rather loudly at one of his many, many bad jokes.

Agnes sighed at her companion, finding him sweet companion, until she saw a young, teenage head peeking in through the door that had been left open for him. Agnes tilted her head and smiled sweetly at the young man, her sapphire blue momentarily scrutinizing him. She didn’t know what Leo looked like so this could be him…then again it could just be some passing teenager looking to be nosey. Patting the custodian on the arm to excuse herself, Agnes gently glided across the carpeted floor as she called out to the young man.

”Hi. May I help you?” she asked with a voice sweeter than bee pollen. While Agnes was always nervous about speaking with strangers, she knew how sound disarming. It was a gift.

This was Capital I- Important. Maybe even ALL CAPS IMPORTANT.

His boy Matt had shown Leo that there were still people who were out of the loop. There were still people who didn’t know what a mutant looked like in context in the real world. Nothing bred fear or hate like a lack of knowledge so he wanted to fix that. He had to show everyone what it was like to work with a mutant. To be a mutant working with humans. He had to show that it was not only possible, but that people were already doing it. Today. Successfully. Even with obvious physical tells that made them look different.

When he asked What mutant has the coolest “normal” job? on AudubonX, one of the answers lead Leo to a worthless two-line article on a racist blog about the New York Philharmonic Orchestra hiring a bug girl and how everyone should stop listening to classical music as a result.

A bug girl that played violin? Perfect.

He wasn’t sure the best way to go about things, but he figured asking permission was the right thing to do so he emailed, faxed, and called until they were so sick of him that they changed their initial ‘no’ into a ‘if I say yes will you leave me alone?’ which was as good as it got, really.

Leo was suave in his own mind and sometimes even managed to be suave on the outside, dressed in slacks and a button-up with his pinhole camera in place on his navy blue vest. He didn’t have the funds for a camera man. This was about as good as it got.

He tried the door. Locked. Leo tried at least 5 other doors before he found one that was open. It all felt sorta of taboo to be here when it wasn’t all gussied up for a show. Like he got to see the secret underbelly of the orchestra.

And then… there was a girl there, like actually waiting for him, and all his suave left him in a rush.

“Hi!” Too enthusiastic. Leo tried again.
“Hi. Ohno. Not cool. Be cool.” Oh God. Did he just say that outloud?
“I mean hello. Hey. I’m uh.” He didn’t know what Agnes looked like, but he caught a flash of wing and it all came crashing together in one giant ball of sense. “You’re her. And I’m—” Failing! Horribly! ABORT! ABORT!

Leo took a step back and closed the door between them.

So. Freaking. Suave.

He took a breath and tried it again. From the top.

Leo opened the door, spied the girl who logically must have been Agnes and offered his hand. “I’m Leo DeValdenebro. I have permission from your boss to get some footage of you at work and I was really hoping to grab an interview with you after. I’m sorry that I’m a moron. DId they say anything about the whys of what I’m doing?” His hand might have been a tad shaky, but he gave a good handshake otherwise. Nerves? What nerves?

Agnes had never considered herself the “scary” type. She was smaller, have a lithe frame, and except for the spewing out a legion of six-legged defenders, there really wasn’t a lot that was intimidating about her (though most probably found her mutation to be disgusting). That was why, when she approached the young man who poked his head in through the door and greeted him with her most friendly of smiles, she was…a little stunned by his reaction. Then again, who wouldn’t be?

When he came in and greeted her with his way overly enthusiastic “HI!” the young violinist actually jumped a bit. She was going to inquire how she could help him but the torrent of commentary that flew from the young man’s lips was almost dizzying. He repeated himself, berated himself, pointed out that she was a “her” (okay?) and finally stepped back through the door, closing it behind him. Agnes stood there, dumbfounded, her head tilted curiously before she turned back to the custodian who was standing nearby. The two of them shared a look that could easily be summed up as “da faq?”

As she turned back around to face the door, Agnes was surprised to see the young man seemingly calming himself down before he re-entered. This time he appeared to have a little more composure about himself, a spray of confidence, Spine-stiffened and a jutted out hand, he introduced himself as Leo DeVeldenbro – the person she had been waiting for.

Agnes stared at him for a second as he explained his presence in the building and, after giving her hand to shake, she finally snorted and descended into a small amount of laughter. It wasn’t at Leo’s expense (not entirely) but more just a release of tension. There was some bit of a relief at the idea that her interviewer was just as nervous as she was. Though she really couldn’t understand why, after all, if he were scared of mutants then why did he seek to speak with one? But those were thoughts she would have to save for another time.

Now she had an interview and a tour to give.

With a smile on her lips, her attempt to help defuse his nerves (and her own), she shook his hand. ”Hi Mr. DeValdenbro. As you guessed correctly, I am Agnes and I’ll be showing you around.” Taking a step back to help give them both a little bit of breathing space, Agnes nodded her head in answer to his question. ”They told me that you were doing some kind of documentary project? About mutants?”

Once she got a confirmation, Agnes stepped to the side and gestured for the young man to follow her. As they walked on, she held her hands behind her back, looking over the architecture and trying to figure out where to start. She had never done an interview before, except for maybe with the police. Her nerves were clearly still there as her iridescent wings (which were fully visible now that she had her back to him) fluttered and created a cascade of rainbow tinted light.

She glanced back to the boy, again. ”I must say I’m a little surprised you wanted to interview me,” she gave a shrug of her shoulders. ”I’m sure there are plenty of mutants out there who are far more interesting?”

"Yes!" His enthusiasm was catching.

"I'd really like to show the world that mutants, or uhm- gifted? Do you have a preferred term?" He grabbed his phone out of his pocket, ready to take a note depending on her answer. Meanwhile, he finished his answer. "Yeah. I want to show people that gifted people, are already integrating into society so we should get our heads out of our a-" He started to say one thing and self corrected. "-aaabsolute bigotry and learn something."

No one else seemed to even be trying the education angle as far as he knew, so Leo was taking this project on himself.

"I wanted to interview you because you've got this great job, you know? And it's easy to see you have abilities, but nobody is chasing you around with a pitchfork. You've got a place for yourself here. People gotta see mutants and humans together when it works 'cause we already see way too much of the opposite."

He hoped that was encouraging because she was seriously perfect! Pretty. Talented. Visible mutant. Small and non-threatening, too. Was Leo a bit taller? He tried to stand up straight which reminded him...

"Oh. Heeey. There's literally no not-creepy way to say this so I'm just gonna: This is my camera." Leo flicked one of the buttons on his vest and swapped apps on his smartphone to show Agnes a live video feed that was still rocking back and forth from the flick.

"I didn't have the funds for a camera guy so this is the best I could come up with." He shrugged apologetically and got the back up powerbank cord from his pocket to plug in. He was not going to miss a second of this.

"Also, I haven't actually hit 'record' yet. I wanted to be sure you were cool with being on camera and stuff. I mean, your boss said it was, but I didn't ask you, like, to your face so..." His thumb hovered over the big red button. He was ready.

Admittedly, this was a bit of a first for Agnes. The only times she had been interviewed in the past, like one-on-one where she was the focus, was when her parents were arrested and she had to testify for the years of abuse she suffered, when Detective Cervantes spoke with her after Rebecca’s disappearance, and when she interviewed for both her jobs with the Traveling Orchestra and with the New York Philharmonic. Agnes was the type of girl who liked to shy away from the lime light; she never liked being the center of attention. As a matter of fact, she could still recall a candid moment of hers where Sveta made her powers go haywire at a bug show and she was caught on camera summoning a legion of insects to her aid to defeat another bug-powered mutant. The next day it was all over ViewTube but luckily no one seemed to really be talking about that video any more.

God she hoped it never was brought up again.

So, to suffice, interviews were not really Agnes’ thing. However when she had been informed about this by her conductor, the man was sweet and kind enough to let Agnes know that it was fully her choice if she didn’t want to but that it could help a lot of people. Agnes had to say that she liked the concept, the idea of seeing a mutant in the workplace, working with colleagues that were sweet and understanding and her orchestra was all of the above. They understood about her molting cycles, about her varied appearances, and best of all, they treated her like an equal. Having suffered some of the worst that humanity can dole out to those that are different, it would be good to offer her assistance to stop it.

With a smile on her lips, she glanced back to Leo as the younger man fumbled about and with his own word usage. He didn’t want to offend her by calling her a “mutant” if it made her uncomfortable and offered “gifted” instead. Agnes thought for a moment, actually liking the sound of the word but had never been given the choice before. After a second her iridescent wings fluttered briefly, sending and array of color into the air before she replied.

”In all fairness both are fine with me. I grew up being called a ‘mutant’ so I see no reason it has to change, despite how some people use the term,” She shrugged her shoulders. ”It’s better than ‘demon’ or ‘hellspawn’ anyways.” She said that last bit with a bit of a mysterious air about her before she turned and continued to lead Leo deeper into the building.

As she came up to a heavy wooden door, Agnes grabbed the massive brass handle and pulled. As she did so, the both of them would feel the vortex of cool air that sucked them both towards the opening. Agnes smirked as she glanced to him. She had asked why it was he would be interested in her, especially since there were those with cooler abilities out there. His answer, it seemed, wanted to focus in on the everyday and commonplace. Mutant superheroes and celebrities weren’t always the most interesting but showcasing those with everyday jobs, working amongst human peers, well, that seemed to be what he most wanted to capture. She could respect that.

Holding the door open she nodded as she gestured for him to head inside. ”Duly noted.” she said, another light smile on her lips. Once he was inside, she followed after but paused when he snagged her attention.

Her eyes fell to the pin-hole on his vest and marveled when she was informed that that was his camera. She had to admit that the boy was pretty genius; she would already see a future for him if he continued with this kind of persistence. On top of that, he was courteous and admitted that he hadn’t started recording yet but wanted her permission before he began. A sweet grin pulled at the corners of her lips, her sapphire eyes shining with amusement and respect. She nodded her head.

”I’m…’cool’…with being recorded, Leo. Carry on.” She waited until he hit the button and closed the door behind him. However, before she got too far, she stopped, a small blush on her cheeks. ”Um, if I ever sound, like, not cool, just signal to me. I…don’t always sound cool.”

A grin on her lips she turned and started to lead Leo into the auditorium. It was a sight to behold. Cavernous with wood-paneling on all sides and a several crystalline chandeliers handing from above, Agnes led on, walking passed rows upon rows of red velvet seats. Inside, the sound of music being practiced could he heard wafting throughout the entire room. Violins song, drums rolled ominously, and flutes whistled and called to their mates. On stage Leo would see most of the orchestra there. Some were sitting around chatting, others were practicing their instruments. Most of their eyes turned to Agnes and her new friend as they approached. From far away they looked like a scrutinizing lot but as they drew closer, most had only given the two of them a glance before heading back to work, while others waved to her with friendly expressions.

”Ags! Seriously, Ginger or Mary Ann?” One of the players called out.

Another joined ”Hey hun, I borrowed your music stand. Mine’s wobbly.”

”Agnes, is that your body guard? Couldn't you afford a life-sized one?”

Agnes snorted and proceeded to flip off that last person, a flute player, but both still had well-meaning grins on their faces. It was obvious this was just how they joked around. As the neared the stage steps, Agnes turned to Leo and gestured around here. ”Well, here we are. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Where would you like to start?”

God, she was so cool. Leo tried to walk as evenly as possible and watched the feed to be sure that he kept Agnes in frame. That meant he fell a little behind, but that was okay. It gave him a wider angle when she flipped her friends off. He totally got their jovial reactions which was not at all what he'd been expecting.

The way these people interacted spoke of familiarity, but, like, more than that. They were friends enough to do things that were potentially offensive and then just laugh about it. Anges was unapologetic. Maybe even smug. But moste importantly, she was ready to start.

"I guess I was thinking it'd be cool to get a shot of all of you practicing together. You know? I'd like to pan around so that everyone sees that it's a job and it's normal. And no wings or anything are gonna stop you from doing your job. I'd like to be as unobtrusive as possible and not waste your time. The director was kinda serious about that part and I gotta respect if I ever want to get invited back for this kinda thing, y'know?"

He also hadn't missed the demon comment, but he would just have to remember to ask about that kind of thing in the actual interview which was supposed to happen after.

"So, I guess. Music time?" He didn't actually know who was conducting or if there was a conductor at practice or whatever.

Agnes had found a home. Sometimes that still surprised her, especially considering where she was less than ten years ago. Agnes lived on the streets, scurrying through alleyways like some kind of rat, that is until she found a place that would take her in, Xavier’s Sister School. It was a blessing, though on admittedly she didn’t fully appreciate until today. It gave her a bed and friends and helped to shape her into the young woman that she was today. If it weren’t for them, if it weren’t for that sense of home, Agnes might have never achieved the things that she had. That was the power for home.

The same could be said for this orchestra. The Traveling Symphony was wonderful, of course, and it was where she had met River, but this place, it took her in with arms wide open. They were caring, they were understanding, and they didn’t let her mutations take away from the beauty that they managed to produce whenever they were together. That isn’t to say that Agnes got along with EVERYBODY. Of course, like any group, there were those whom she only somewhat knew and those whom she tolerated, but it was normal. It would be the second time that Agnes would find a home and she loved every second of it.

Interacting with her fellow musicians was easy and calming. They didn’t treat her any different and the vice versa. They laughed, they disagreed, they joked around at the others expense, and that comradery was visible the second that they were all in a room together. As Agnes and Leo walked up, Agnes had immediately slipped back into her element, smirk and chatting with the rest of the musicians on stage. It was probably the most comfortable she had seemed in the longest time – perfect for the camera; not that that was on her mind.

Leo had told her that he wanted to get some footage of her interacting and playing with everyone else, to capture her job at its most normal. Most would say that they weren’t recorded doing their jobs but for musicians it was one of those things they got used to. She agreed that Leo would be good so long as he didn’t get in the way, the director was serious about that kind of thing so Agnes nodded her head.

”I’m sure you’ll be fine. Just, you know, don’t pick up an instrument and jump in,” she said with a smirk.

With a sigh Agnes started to climb the steps to get on the stage. As she did she made her way over to her chair to pick up her violin and waved to the small section of violinists that she had command over. Taking her seat, she looked up when Leo had guessed that it was time for the musical performances. She smirked and nodded her head. He seemed like a good kid and part of her really hoped that she would give him something good to catch on film.

”Yeah. Just, stay along the edge of the stage and don’t wander through the sections,” she said, gesturing with her bow to the interior of the stage and all the musicians who were setting up. ”You should be fine. Oh, but maybe stay away from the brass if you’re going to be on stage, okay?’ As if on cue, a tuba player blared out a long, loud note that reverberated through the stage. Agnes winced before she glanced to Leo again. ”They can get loud. So, um, just relax and, like you said, just stay out of the way.” She hoped that didn’t come off as rude or anything.

> "Just, you know, don’t pick up an instrument and jump in"

"My mom would die of joy if I played something, but nah— for both our sake's I'll pass."

The more comfortable Agnes was, the more comfortable Leo was. And once the focus was on the music, he let his focus be on filming. He tried to always be moving, keeping things smooth, and framing so that Agnes was in the shot.

He was really getting into his groove, doing his own thing and trying to stay on the outside of the practice while still looking in. It was... fun. More fun than homework and way more fun than running an AMA. Behind the scenes was really more of his thing.

He grabbed some sweet scenes. The music would go great as a backdrop to Anges' interview. Even if it was imperfect, he hoped that would actually be cool, real. Though Leo would have to double check the usage rights for live performances, he could already imagine switching between the interview that was to be and these scenes. Maybe a little voiceover work to make it seamless... Yeah. This was totally useable for his project.

And he only jumped from getting too close to the brass section once. Maybe twice.

Agnes liked the kid. He was nice, respectful, and most of all he seemed to be absolutely interested in everything that the young violinist was doing. Not that she was vain enough to have wanted a full-time stalker or anything, but it was simply the fact that he found what she did actually mattered – and that was a good feeling. Agnes had been in interviews before, but more to either be tossed up as fluff piece or as a reminder to the changing climate in America. Whatever the case, it was interesting to see how this young man reacted to what she would consider as a mundane existence.

Of course Agnes didn’t get too long with these thoughts. As the boy slipped away, Agnes claimed her seat just as the conductor appeared on stage. He was a tall, thin man with a serious face and a bald head. However, despite his fearful demeanor, he was, in essence, one of the kindest men that Agnes had ever come across. It was his vote that had made her presence here in the philharmonic possible and she had a tremendous about of respect for him. Everyone here respected the man, just being in his presence demanded it. So when he appeared on stage, that was the sign that everyone needed to settle down and get ready to start playing.

The set started simply enough. It was just warm up exercises, a chance for the strings section to loosen up their fingers and for the brass to get prepare their lungs. After each section had played a simple melody, the man announced what they would be rehearsing and had everyone turn to those sheets of music. The sounds of shuffling papers could be heard through, a few jokes and snickers, and idle chatter which even the conductor took part in. When all had settled again, he raised his hands and prompted the music to begin.

Agnes was in rare form. Her violin playing was on point as she easily mastered her sections and led her small troupe of fellow violinists into the melody. As a matter of fact, everyone did extremely well for just a rehearsal, though there were a few pauses. Even Agnes had to stop because one of the violinists in her section was having trouble with a particular page. Thankfully they discovered that it was just a misprinted sheet so after a quick swap for a correct sheet, they were on point again.

All-in-all, the entire orchestra did well, filling the massive room from floor to ceiling with some of the most beautiful, classical music that had ever been heard. While each member of the orchestra was extremely talented, the fact that they could all play in utter harmony really proved the dedication and the passion that each individual had put into their profession; Agnes among them.

It was a little weird at first, playing and knowing that there was attention specifically on her. However, whenever Agnes picked up her violin, it was almost as if she could just switch off the rest of her brain. The rest of the world didn’t matter as the only thing that filled her headspace was the pull of the music that she produced. It was a testament to a young woman who had suffered but found peace and joy with the one thing the world couldn’t take away from her.

At the end of their set, Agnes paused, smiling to her group and nodding to the conductor as he began to go over a few of the sections he felt needed some changes. Agnes only had the most minimal of critiques from him, just simple, technical stuff that she had already caught onto while she was playing. They were easy matters to fix and things that could be ironed out with more and more practice.

“Okay, everyone. That’s lunch. We’ll work on the last set after the break,” the conductor said.

Everyone seemed relieved, some standing up and stretching with a loud moan, others immediately picking up their conversations where they had left off. As for Agnes she turned to chat briefly with her section before she picked up her case to return her violin to it. Once that was done, she stood up straight and began to peer around for her new found friend. Leo had vanished from her sight as the young man had been filming the entire thing from afar. It wasn’t until she looked towards the corner of the stage that she finally found him. With a smile she gave him a tiny wave and picked up her case.

Walking over to him, she gave him a warm smile. ”Hey. How did it go? I hope it wasn’t too boring for you?”

"That..." Leo shook his head showing the reverence and awe that even a practice session deserved. "That could never be boring." He grinned from ear to ear. "The acoustics in here are uh-MAZING. I mean, even paper shuffling sounds good." It was true. He'd loved the sound. Total ASMR.

"My phone got super hot, though, so I had to cut the filming short. I wish I'd gotten the critique, but..." He shrugged and motioned upward to show why he was off in the corner. He'd balanced his phone on the crown molding of a pedestal so that the handset stood next to the HVAC output vent. It got a fresh blast of cold air so long as the unit was chugging along. It might have been early spring, but global warming was real, yo.

"Wanna take a short break and scarf lunch? Or. Dainty nibbles? You seem like a dainty nibbler." Leo had to climb on a chair and stretch, stretch, stretch to reach his phone. It was still toasty. If he could give it even just a few more minutes before he turned the screen back on, it would preserve its usefulness later.

"I didn't bring anything so I gotta run out to grab something. Uhm. Can I bribe you to keep being super nice with a hot dog or something?" His budget didn't allow for much better.

>> "That... That could never be boring…The acoustics in here are uh-MAZING. I mean, even paper shuffling sounds good."

Agnes grinned from ear to ear. She didn’t know what she was expecting his answer to be, but she was glad that he had liked it so much. Maybe part of her believed that teenagers just didn’t get this type of music. It wouldn’t be the first time. Even when she was a teenager herself, playing on street corners, no one ever really stopped to pay her any praise. Most just tossed her a few coins to shut her up; most would have been offended but money is money.

Thankfully that wasn’t the case with Leo. He seemed genuinely excited to have been able to sit through the performance and was all smiles. Unfortunately it seemed that he only got some of it as his phone had started to overheat. She had heard this nonsense before about exploding phones and figured that was probably what he was scared of; it made her glad that she very rarely used her phone for anything other than calling, texting, or playing Candy Crush (goddamn jelly squares!).

It was here that Agnes could feel the hunger welling up in her stomach. Rehearsing for so long was always more taxing then she expected. She never noticed it while playing, but once she set the bow and instrument down, her bodily needs soundly let her know that she needed to move.

>> "Wanna take a short break and scarf lunch? Or. Dainty nibbles? You seem like a dainty nibbler."

Relieved that he wanted lunch, Agnes nodded her head in agreement. ”Yes, please. Starving, actually.” She had to pause and laugh, though, when Leo said she looked like a dainty nibbler. She snorted as she started to lead him off the stage. ”My fiancée would disagree with you.”

It was true. Despite her small frame, Agnes had a voracious appetite. She had been known to polish an entire hotdog without so much as blinking. Many times, during meals, she found herself unable to reply to conversation because she had bit just a little too much food at one time. It wasn’t that she had bad manners, it was more that she just loved food and, in some ways, it was muscle memory from her time living on the streets where she had to eat fast and duck out.

She was touched by the idea that he wanted to buy her lunch but, considering that she was the adult, it would probably be best if she took the reins on this. Besides, she didn’t want to bankrupt him because she really could go for more than one hotdog right now. So, with an appreciative smile on her lips she shook her head as she started to lead him out.

”No, no, no, the least I can do is pay you back for having to sit through all of that.” Grabbing her clutch from a nearby chair, Agnes gave him a warm smile. ”Come on. Lunch is on me. There’s a great hot dog vendor just outside. He does polish sausage too. To die for.” Without really waiting for his confirmation, Agnes was off, heading towards the doors that would lead to the lobby and then outside.

Ah. Cut to the quick! Leo grabbed his shirt over his ache-y, break-y heart. There was only one reason a chick would throw out the 'my fiancee' card. She thought he was hitting on her. And she didn't like it.

Had he been? Okay. Maybe he was extra enthusiastic sometimes, but... okay sure, yeah. Maybe a little. Who wouldn't?

And then... she was paying? Like some doting, obliviously hot soccer mom. Augh! That was the nail in his social coffin. Leo sighed. He hadn't come looking to fall in like. He'd come for the job. He just had to remind himself of that.

"I won't say no to free food." He smiled a bit shyly, feeling dumb for even thinking a brat like him had a chance with someone so... grown up and put together. OF COURSE, she had a fiancee. That's totally what a grown up and put together lady person would have.

Leo tucked his phone into his pocket and trotted after the object of today's documentary focus. "I really did like the music, though. I'm not shi- uh, lying to you. Classical isn't my dig, but it's a whole different thing when you're here in person. It... I dunno. I guess it gets in your bones or your soul."

S***. Now she really was going to think he was hitting on her. His soul!? ABORT! He latched onto the hot dog thing because that was waaaay safer waters.

"Uh. Have you ever had one of those pierogi dogs?"

Agnes was oblivious to whatever youthful heartaches Leo may or may not be having. After all, it was just one of those things that she had never been good at catching onto. Even when she was still trying to find herself, the young woman was vastly unaware of when anyone was interested in her and her dismissive attitude towards cute hints a person may or may not have said normally went utterly unnoticed. It was just the way of Agnes Nicholas.

With her invitation of offering to buy him lunch in the air, Agnes smiled wide as she stepped away from him, leading him back towards the door that they both of them had come through. She was more than happy to treat him to lunch. Even if he did like the music, Agnes was just one of those people that tried to be generous towards others. After all, he was filming her so the least she could do was offer to buy him lunch, especially after the way in which some of the musicians had greeted him. It was all fun horseplay and nothing more but, just in case he didn’t see it that way, lunch was on her.

Not on her. Just that she would be buying it.

With his agreement that he would take free food, the both of them gathered their belongings and headed out into the lobby. From there Agnes breathed a sigh of relief seeing the outside world. As much as she absolutely loved the concert hall, she really did need to take a break from it after performing for several hours. Some sunlight and some 9(admittedly not fresh) air was exactly what the doctor ordered for this little insect queen.

Walking across the lobby with Leo next to her, a small blush and a smile appeared on her expression when he admitted to liking the music; so much so that he felt it in his soul. Again she didn’t notice anything inherently wrong with what he said, and really thought that he was just that into the music. It was Agnes’ mission to bring music to people who were unaccustomed to the classic and it actually made her smile to know that she had helped do that for someone.

”In your soul, huh?” she smiled as she grabbed the door for him. Pulling it open, she held it so that he could walk out before her. ”Well I’m glad it touched you so much. That makes me happy.”

Stepping out into the warm daylight, Agnes blinked in the luminescent city. Everything was brighter and a little sorer on her eyes, but it only took a few blinks for her to adjust. Rejoining Leo, Agnes guided him to the corner where a kindly hotdog vendor was waiting, with only a line of three or four people in front of his cart. As they walked, Leo hastily asked if she had tried a pierogi dog. She chuckled, the notion bringing a memory to her head.

”I can honestly say I have. When I was a part of the Little Traveling Orchestra Co., we had a last minute overnight in Pittsburgh. I had some there. Absolutely amazing,” she sighed happily. ”I love the Philharmonic but there are somethings I do miss from being on the road.” Agnes got into line with Leo and took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of the city before she turned back to him. ”So tell me a little more about yourself, Leo. Where are you from? Native to New York? What inspired you to want to do a documentary like this?”

If she was going to be interviewed, he was too. That was that.

Yes. His soul. She may or may not have been ribbing him. Leo couldn't tell, but he was resolved to be unapologetic for his soul. It was, in his opinion, possibly the best part about him. And since it seemed to resonate with orchestral music, Leo resolved to feed his soul just a little bit more of what made him happy inside.

A blast of daylight greeted them. Leo'd seen the time, but nothing drove home the reality of time's passage more than the quality of the light outside. "Try not to say anything too cool, okay? I don't have the camera rolling." He had a feeling that was gonna be easier said than done. She just oozed cool. Oh! But maybe since he wasn't recording, some of that awesome would rub off on him?

> "So tell me a little more about yourself, Leo..."

Aw man.

"Eh. I guess I wanted to do it 'cause I'm not all that interesting and I see the need. I'm from here. Well, the 'burbs. I got a boatload of sisters, though." Leo inspected Agnes with a fresh insight and made sure to move when the hot dog line moved.

"If I had to guess, you're probably closest in age to Landi. She's a pharmacist, which is a bonus in the parent's books, but she wasted all those brownie points by moving to Canada. It's, like, still spitting distance, but 'cause she can't 100% guarantee that she'll make it for Sunday dinner now she's on Ma's sh*tlist. Uh. Crap. Doghouse. In the. Doghouse. You know?"

Actually... Did she know? Leo was finding more and more that a lot of mutants that were even just the tiniest bit older than him had it rough with the family. "I have a big mouth and an even bigger family. That makes some people sad so if you need me to shut it just say."

The line advanced fairly quick and soon it was their turn. Leo ordered one, but made sure it was a full-size, not one of those skinny dogs where the bun to meat ratio was off. From there his order was simple. It had to go on a pretzel poppy seed bun with sauerkraut, mustard, pickled jalapenos, and Frank's hot sauce. Perfection.

Ahhh! Noo! It looked like she was about to open her mouth and say something awesome!

"Remember." Leo carried his dog with reverence. It was a work of art that belonged to his belly. "Save all your cool for the camera."

Leo may not have been expecting to have to answer questions while doing an documentary / interview, but Agnes was one that discomforts should be shared. Agnes wasn’t the most comfortable with answering questions about herself but she was willing to do it; she wanted the same for those who would do likewise. Besides, it wasn’t as if they were on camera or anything, his answers weren’t being filmed. And, well, she just wanted to know a little more about the young man whom would be spending time with her during this time. After all, how could she talk honestly if she didn’t at least know a little about him?

The look on his face showed that he seemingly wasn’t ready to talk about himself but that only caused a somewhat amused smirk to pull at her lips. She didn’t mean to appear like she was taking joy in his discomfort, but he really as quite adorable. So she said nothing and merely listened as he began to answer her questions, explaining a little about himself and why he was doing this documentary. Every few sentences or so they had to move up, as the vendor always worked his lines rather quickly.

She nodded her head as he explained that there was a need for mutants to be painted in a better light. Most people only heard about mutants through news reports where disasters occurred thanks to some evil person or a young kid unable to control his powers for the first time. It was tragic, really. After all, Agnes grew up in Xavier’s mansion and met many mutants, all of which just wanted a chance to live their lives without being judged. Some really had no control of their abilities but they were no different than anyone else trying to find their way in the world.

She snickered a little when Leo fumbled over his apparent embarrassment at cursing in front of her. Tilting her head, she gave him a “come on” look, as if to say that he really didn’t need to be that polite around her. And she voiced that opinion as well when he had finally taken a breath between explanations.

”You know, you don’t have to watch your language around me,” she said with a chuckle. ”Not like I’m going to tell your parents.” Sharing a smile with him she gestured for him to go ahead and order.

As Leo ordered his hotdog, Agnes hung back and took a breath. This wasn’t as bad as she thought it was going to be. The young man was fairly sweet and he genuinely wanted to know about her; this wasn’t just some excuse to talk to a mutant and ask a million questions about her powers. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t really mentioned it this whole time. It was strange how normal that made her feel. It was a gesture that she more than appreciated.

When it was her turn to order, Agnes requested a full-size hotdog, the same as Leo, but wanted it on a Hawaiian roll bun with onion rings and barbeque sauce. It was her standard order, one of her favorites, and looked big enough for two people. Her eyes alit with appreciation, she took her lunch into hand and handed over cash in exchange for the two hotdogs. As the man gathered her change, Agnes turned back to say something to Leo but was stopped when he had reminded her not to say anything cool. She smirked as she held up the napkin that she was going to hand him.

”I…was only going to ask if you wanted a napkin?” She smirked as she turned away, taking the change back that was offered to her and stepped away from the cart. It wasn’t until she was a few steps away, with Leo in tow, that she spoke up again. ”I mean, I was going to tell you about that time I saved a bus load of German orphans from subterranean lizard terrorists but, if you’d rather way until your camera is cooled down, fine.” She said it all with such a deadpan expression on her face that, for a second, it seemed as if maybe her story had been factual. But her cheeks lifted as her lips smirked. She gave him another glance. ”I’m kidding.”