Fifteen Minutes with Colin McKay: The Dazzler

[kylun]

A montage sequence of past interviews and closeups of the host flashed on the screens to mellow techno music. An announcer spoke:

"He asks the questions, and we all get to hear the answers. This is Fifteen Minutes with Colin McKay."

The screens then showed a medium shot focused on McKay seated.

"Ah thank ya all out there at home fer joinin meh today. Mah guest is Alison Blaire. A performer like none other and hopefully not the last. Aside from being a gifted musician, Miss Blaire, known the world over as The Dazzler, uses her distinct mutant power ta provide her own brand of visual effects both in her live performances, as well as in her music videos.

Ah'm certain Ah dun't havta ask this, but could Ah get a big glorious round of applause fer Miss Blaire please."

The cameras turned onto Blaire, the canned applause piped into the sound was almost unnecessary, any member of the crew who didn't have their hands full added their own applause. And some even added the occasional whistle and howl.

[dazz]

"Ready Ms. Blaire? And five...four...three..."

The man behind the camera grew quiet as he counted down the last few seconds on his fingers. Two to go, and then the cameras were rolling.

The Dazzler sat quietly at the host of the show, Colin McKay gave his introduction. Waiting for the cue, he asked for a round of applause as the focus of the camera shifted to the pink-haired bombshell seated opposite him. For most, the applause was fake, but she was met with a mostly-genuine response. Hamming it up for the cat calls behind the scenes, the camera finally fell on her face giving a sly, even seductive grin. Why not? She was earning the response in her clinging blue top, leather jacket and a very mini denim miniskirt.

"Thank you some much guys, Colin," She addressed the unseen crowd and the host, her smile sincere as she turn to focus on him. "And please, just call me Ali. We're all friends here."

Giving the camera a practiced look, she awaited his response. She was eating this up, but it was only one of many such interviews she'd been through.

[kylun]

There was something about her voice that was just... enchanting. And her choice in wardrobe only excentuated her feminine rockstar beauty, Colin involuntarily adjusted his tie.

"As you wish then, Ali. Yew recently finished doing a tour in Canada right? How was that?"

McKay was surprised at how hard it was for him at this moment to maintain his usual professional cool. This didn't normally happen to him during an interview. He prayed to whatever gods might be listening in his thoughts.

"Ah sure hope none of the cameras are doing a full medium body shot of meh right now. Focus Colin. Focus, focus, focus, fucus, NO!!!... Think about Antarctica. It's very cold there."

None but the nosiest of telepaths would know that McKay's current thoughts were an almost non-sequiter to his mostly calm, controlled, and friendly demeanor.

[dazz]

Dazzler was by no means a telepath, or an empath, or anything like that, but had she seen the host adjusting his tie beside her, she could hazard a guess as to why. It came from a lot of experience, and just a dash of vanity that she knew she just had that effect on guys. She would have picked up on it in an instance, but she was too busy smiling for the camera to notice.

Ali's focus turned to Colin after that small action. Nodding as he spoke, she replied to his comment on the last stretch of her most recent tour.

"Canada was great this year. A bit tame at first, but once the beer started flowing, it was a wild time. I don't know if it's all the hockey, but they ended up a violent bunch, it was amazing."

Letting out a calm laugh, she continued a bit more seriously.

"The atmosphere was great, no matter what province we were in. Quebec was interesting, a bit like the European tour last year, because half the people cheering for me aren't speaking English. I know I didn't understand what they were saying, and they may not have understood me, but they definitely got the point I was trying to make. It's always a surreal feeling, when the music transcends like that and we all get pumped no matter what the differences are."

((OOC: Umm... Yea, so I really know like nothing about Canada. ))

[kylun]

(OOC: You are a gifted Ad-libber)

Colin was not a novice when it came to the ladies, but it wasn't something he was very active about lately. His job had taken over his time barely five minutes after he had been hired. Normally he would convince himself not to pursue. His mind was using every ounce of effort it had to convince the rest of him to stay focused on the interview, not the interviewee.

"Remember laddie, yew are on Camera."

"Aye, Music truly is an international language. This one bit has always moved meh."

Using his mutant ability of perfect sound imitation, Colin recreated the first few bars of Beethoven's Ode To Joy, being performed by a full classical orchestra.

"Stop showin off! This is supposed ta be an interview."

"Uh, so is there any particular song that ya heard as a child, that inspired ya ta become what yew are today?"

[dazz]

((Thanks! ))

Ali nodded in agreement as Colin spoke. Music was moving to just about everyone, and that's why it was so powerful.

Opposite her, Colin opened his mouth, and instead of words, the sounds of an orchestra came out, playing the moving beginning of "Ode to Joy." Ali was dazzled by it.

"Wow. That's very impressive." She replied, then added. "Not to mention, a beautiful talent."

Getting in her praise, Colin continued, looking for some insight in her own music tastes.

"Well..." Ali began lamely, "Not so much one song, but I had so many influences. My mom was the free spirit, got me into things like classic rock, music from the original punk scene, things like that. My dad was more uptight, didn't appreciate that kind of music, but they both respected that I liked it, that I liked any kind of music, and encouraged me to pursue it. I took singing lessons, piano, guitar when I was older..."

[kylun]

"Woo-hoo! Ah impressed her!!" Colin's common sense had given up once Alison had made her praise. It would bide it's time, hoping to strike later with an "Ah toldya so", with some of Colin's guilt and shame tagging along. Colin's self-control was working overtime however. It barely managed to keep his embarrasing goofy grin off of his face.

"Sounds like yew were kept very busy. All that trainin has certainly paid of fer ya though. Did ya have any memorable teachers?"

[dazz]

"Oh, I was pretty busy. School and music for a long time, though I had my social life after school too." Ali began. Answering his question, she continued.

"I started studying voice and piano under an old woman, rather strict but not mean about anything. She taught me the basics I needed for a career in music, not to mention the classical approach to singing, things like breath control, endurance. She was nice, but my guitar teacher was awesome. He was a huge metalhead, with the long hair and a man-stache like Lemmy Kilmister. He helped get me into a lot of great rock as well, showing me how to play that style. And, when I decided I wanted a rougher approach to my singing to go along with the heavy rifts, he helped me learn the distinctive metal growl, when my regular voice teacher was absolutely horrified by it."

The memory of her old guitar teacher made her grin. She hadn't seen him in years, but he was another huge influence on her current rock stardom.

[kylun]

"Didya write any one of yer songs in memory or honour of that guitar metalhead teacher?"

[dazz]

Ali shook her pink head in response.

"Nah, you usually don't want to be the topic of one my songs. I'm not too nice when the subject is a person." Ali responded sweetly, but Colin and the viewers at home would surely know that the songs she now referenced were among her most intense, angry and violent lyrics.

"He gets a nod every now and then, though," she continued after a moment. "Just about every cover song I've ever performed was something he taught me during my lessons."

[kylun]

"That's neat. Ah'm sorry ta say this, but we're almost out of time. I was wonderin if ya might sing one of those covers as the credits roll? If Ah know it, Ah can supply ya with tha backup music."

Colin gave Alison his cutesey "C'mon, it'll be fun" look.

[dazz]

Ali was a tad bummed to hear that the interview was coming to an end. Colin was charming to talk to and she definitely wouldn't mind talking to him for longer. But, this was only 15 Minutes with Colin McKay, after all.

Flashing him a disappointed look for a moment, she recovered with a smile but still said, "Aww." Looking opposite, Colin asked her one favor to end the show, and he wore such a hopeful look she couldn't resist. It was going to be an odd sensation, singing with the music of a full band, but when only one man was there, an with no instruments! However, that wasn't going to stop her at all. While different, she liked how well their powers would play into each other.

"I suppose I could." Dazzler finally replied. Pausing, she stared at the cieling until an appropriate song came to her. "Okay, how about some Motorhead, since we mentioned Lemmy here anyway."

Ace of Spades wasn't her first choice, but she didn't want to pick an unknown song. This one would be easy for him to recognize.

"If you like to gamble, I tell ya I'm your man
Win some, lose some, it's still the same to me..."

Waiting for the music, she waited for her cue and began to sing. Her voice, sweet through the interview, took on a rough, growling edge while still being intelligible. Her simple, interview-smile faded to a much more serious expression as she got into the music. She wasn't sure how it'd take on the camera, but there was enough crew behind the camera to put on a full show for. The perfectly-lit studio was suddenly awash in the glow of a multitude of color orbs bouncing to the beat, moving as violently as if they were their own moshpit.

[kylun]

If you like to gamble,
I tell you I'm your man.
You win some, lose some;
All the same to me.
The pleasure is to play,
Makes no difference what you say.
I don't share your greed,
The only card I need is

The ace of spades.

Playing for the high one,
Dancing with the devil,
Going with the flow,
It's all a game to me.
Seven or eleven?
Snake eyes watching you.
Double up or quit,
Double stake or split.

The ace of spades.

You know I'm born to lose,
And gambling's for fools,
But that's the way I like it baby.
I don't wanna live for ever,
And don't forget the joker!

Pushing up the ante,
I know you've got to see me.
Read 'em and weep,
The dead man's hand again.
I see it in your eyes.
Take one look and die.
The only thing you see,
You know it's gonna be,

The ace of spades. [/i]

Colin did his best to keep up with Ali, it wasn't easy for him to keep his full attention on his part of the music. There was something about her voice as it sang. Something powerful, as if a goddess of Music had posessed her body and sang through her. The lightshow she was making to enhance the song was also a trial on Colin's attention. He was certain that her backup band probably felt the same awe he felt right now when they jammed with her for the first time.

"AAand Cut!" A Madrox called from a director's chair.

Colin wished the credits could roll longer. He turned to Ali and strained to say something.

"Yew.. are... amazing!"

Colin then reached for a glass of water.

[dazz]

The impromptu song had got Ali into a mood she wasn't expecting from this interview. A request for her to sing wasn't an odd question, but Colin had the ability to back her up with some music. As she broke into song, he followed flawlessly providing a perfect and complete track to go with her vocals. He could keep up, too, and Ali had a lot of respect for that. Because of it, she was thoroughly enjoying this little jam session. As if she were on stage, the lyrics took on more intensity with each word and by the end of the song, she was at full energy to keep going. However, she'd just belted out the last line when the director yelled "Cut!" It was perhaps the first time she'd ever been sad an interview ended so quickly.

Her breathing was fast and excited as the lights and music died out. Before even looking back at Colin, she had the same idea and reached for her glass of water and down almost half in a single gulp. She was happy and refreshed coming out of an interview, and that thought alone was refreshing in itself. Wearing a wide, dazzlingly white, grin, she looked back at Colin.

Yew.. are... amazing!"

If possible, her smile grew wider.

"Thanks! You're not half bad yourself." At first, Ali replied casually, but couldn't keep up the cool facade. Enthusiatically, she complimented. "That was friggin' amazing! I should take you on the road with me."

[kylun]

Ali reminded Colin of a young child who had just opened a birthday present she had not expected, but was profoundly happy to get it.

"Thanks! You're not half bad yourself." At first, Ali replied casually, but couldn't keep up the cool facade. Enthusiatically, she complimented. "That was friggin' amazing! I should take you on the road with me."[/i]

"That's very generous of yew ta offer. But Journalism is as much mah passion as Music is ta yew." Colin then got a thoughtful look on his face. He pulled a notepad and pen out of his suit jacket pocket. It was the equipment he had used back during his Glasgow newspaper days, and still kept on his immediate person out of habit, and the hope of using it. He used it for this occaision to write down his personal cellphone number and private e-mail address. He handed the torn out sheet to Ali.

"Whenever yer in tha neighbourhood, drop me a line. Ah'd be glad ta make the time fer a private jam session. Or dinner, or even a nightcap."