Culture and Tradition and ... Accidental Videos

[therewerefifty]

Who:  Misty, Makie, and Anyone!
Broadcast:  Fleetwide, whoops
Action:  SS Windrose
When:  Today


[The feed switches on suddenly, showing a brief glimpse of Makie’s face before it slides out of view, showing a portion of the cargo hold recognisable to those who know it as belonging to the Windrose. Misty, wearing a pale green kimono, is kneeling on what looks like a small exercise or yoga mat in the middle of the room. Her back is ramrod straight and her expression is very serious as she holds a shamisen in her lap, somewhat awkwardly. She looks at Makie with some uncertainty.]

Just to keep them out of the way. [Makie puts her own comm down and then turns to glance at Misty, and after a moment she smiles.] That’s good posture. Relax your shoulders a little. You don’t want to get stiff.

[Misty nods and relaxes her shoulders, then tries to position the shamisen like Makie showed her earlier, with only half of the shamisen resting on her lap.] Like this?

That’s right. I think you’re a faster learner than I was. [Said with good humour. Makie walks a small half-circle around Misty, before sitting nearby in much the same fashion.] It’s not always necessary to be so formal, but I think… it’s better this way, sometimes.

Gotta learn the proper way first, right? Before you can start experimentin’?

Mmm. There’s a great amount of tradition behind the shamisen. Though I suppose that’s true of any form of music. Regardless, I think you look very pretty in a kimono.

[She reaches out to make the tiniest adjustment to Misty’s grip of the bachi. Honestly, though, the other woman’s form is near perfect, if it weren’t for the uncertainty.] Relax, and don’t lock your wrists. Nobody can see you but me.

[...about that.]

[Misty beams at the compliment.]Thank you for letting me wear it - I don’t think I’ve ever worn anything so beautiful. [Then she takes a deep breath.] Ready?

Yes. Whenever you are. [For this performance, Makie will just be an attentive audience.]

[A piece of Misty’s voluminous hair falls in her face. She quickly brushes it aside before reassuming her position and starting to play. The song is simple enough, clearly meant for a beginner. Misty plays very slowly and unsurely, missing a few notes here and there, but she resists the urge to go back to redo them. This time, she’s going to play all the way through if she can. Of course, unbeknownst to her, she’s giving the fleet a free concert.]

Comments

[spontaneouscombustion]

[Ooh, hey, a free concert! It's clear Misty needs a LOT of concentration, so it's not until Misty's all the way through that Pinkie starts applauding. That was a really good first try, even to Pinkie's novice ear.]

Wow, that was great! That's the instrument you were wanting somebody to put the weapons in, right, Makie?

[therewerefifty]

[...possibly there's a silence that stretches just long enough to be awkward. Makie turns to glance in the direction of the comms. Oh, no.]

Pinkie Pie...?

[Please tell me you're like. Hiding behind that stack of boxes and not on the comm.]

[mistyday]

[Misty jumps at the sound of someone else's voice, nearly dropping the instrument. Fortunately, she catches it before it hits the ground.]

Shit!

[She frowns in the direction of the communicators and sets the shamisen gently down on the mat before crossing over to stare at the communicator.]

I think it's on!

[spontaneouscombustion]

[If this were Ponyville, she likely WOULD be behind the boxes, buuuut she's a little more bound by spacely physics here. Also, what's that four-letter s-word?]

Oh, oops! Is it NOT supposed to be on?

[therewerefifty]

[Shh Misty, don't teach the pony swears.]

It wasn't meant to be, no. But no harm done. [Which is more for Pinkie Pie's benefit, at any rate. There's no point making her feel bad about it now.]

I'm sorry, Misty. [She's drifting over to the comms now.] I must have accidentally switched one on. [Somehow. She was sure she was careful.]

[mistyday]

[She doesn't mean to, honest.]

It's all right. These things are confusing.

[But now she's squinting at the video screen on her comm in disbelief.]

Is that... Miss, are you a talkin' pony?

[spontaneouscombustion]

Yes indeedy~! My name's Pinkie Pie! And YOUR name's Misty, right? Is that your full name? Great job, by the way, that sounded pretty good!

[therewerefifty]

[She'll let Misty field the proper introduction, her lips twitching up a little at the compliment to her playing.]

I've never had a shamisen student before. I fear she's ruining my expectations for any other.

[mistyday]

Misty Day's my full name, but just Misty's fine by me.

[She blushes at Makie's compliment.]

Oh no I'm sure there's students loads better than me. I'm glad y'all liked it though.

[spontaneouscombustion]

[Ladies and gentleman, the most normal sounding name to pony ears!]

I did, I did! Keep practicing, you're gonna be great! Hee, maybe you two can even have an on-purpose concert sometime!

[therewerefifty]

Maybe some day.

[Misty, you're like her only student in the shamisen ever. She'll run comparisons if she ever has someone else to teach.]

I would need to find another shamisen. My skill doesn't quite extend to making them; not with the materials on hand.

[mistyday]

I bet someone here would be able to figure out how to make one.