driftfleet | Let Me Sing You the Song of My People

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Let Me Sing You the Song of My People

Who: Vanyel Ashkevron & Anyone
Broadcast: Yes
Action: S.S. Starstruck
When: Now

[ The feed pops open to show Vanyel, his hair pulled back in a loose queue that falls over one shoulder. It's like he tried his best to look good for this broadcast, but that surely was not it at all. He didn't even bother to dye out that gray streak running from his temple back into the rest of his hair. In his arms he is cradling a guitar in his arms, fingers idly plucking, soft little twangs underscoring his words when he speaks. ]

Good day - evening, perhaps? It is so hard to tell on the ships.

I was wondering, as we travel to our new destination, if any one would wish to share the music of their home worlds with me? Music has always been a passion of mine, and I feel that the music of a world tells a much deeper story than simply words. I would appreciate, and be honored, to hear yours.

[ For those who are aboard the Starstruck, he is sitting in what counts as his room, strumming the guitar though the tune itself is something that is more at home in a medieval king's court than it is aboard a sleek spaceship - or even on a guitar. He will gladly receive any visitors who wish to stop by. ]

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Miss Carter, then.

_{[ He inclined his head to her, releasing her hand and resting his back
atop his guitar. His mother had trained him well in how to treat a lady,
and he had never forgotten those lessons. They served him well, especially
at court, and when dealing with people in general. Everyone liked a little
courtesy, especially the courtesy they thought might be due someone of
higher station. ]}

It is difficult, being taken from your world and thrust into such a place as this. I can assure you it does not last, though it might be years before you see home again.

_{[ He motioned to the instrument. ]}

Any requests? If you hum or sing, I can generally pick up the tune.

Rule Britannia would likely be a touch too crass. [ her smile is slow and ghostish. it exists as a mere hint and no more. ] Please, continue playing whatever it is you like to play. It sounded very pretty.

And one I am not familiar with, unfortunately.

_{[ So he did not understand why it would be crass, though he has a
feeling it has to do with the world she hails from. ]}

Ah, that? It was a ditty I picked up in a tavern one evening when I was on Circuit. A quiet little village. I was surprised to hear it being played, actually, but I couldn't help but it pick it up.

Do you play by ear, Mister Ashkevron? [ she weaves her way through the name with shocking alacrity and grace. ] That's rather impressive.

I can if I listen long enough. I suspect it is part of my Bardic Gift - that and having to play accompaniment to my mother's ladies whenever the mood took them.

_{[ His voice is wistful at the memory. ]}

A bard, then. [ she sounds a little surprised. ] How curious.

Haha, if only. I spent my youth wishing to be a Bard, but such is not my fate. I am a Herald - Herald Mage to be precise. I simply also have the Bardic Gift, though it pales to a true Bard.

_{[ Yes, Peggy, that many capitals really is necessary. ]}

I'm rather afraid you might have lost me somewhere about the middle of that explanation. [ a thin smile. ] Shall we start over, perhaps? From the beginning?

Ah, yes. I sometimes forget whom I have explained this to and not.

_{[ He cleared his throat. ]}

In my world, I am known as a Herald, agents of the crown Chosen by Companions. We aid the people of the kingdom from threats within and without, and act as the King's voice in the far villages for disputes and enforcing law. We use our Gifts - that is, magic is the easiest term for it - to aid the people and defend the nation.

Something like a magistrate-cum-MI5-agent. Apart from the magic, of course.

I suppose so, though I admit I do not know what an MI-5 agent is.

Ah, I should mention - one of my Gifts is Healing. If you find yourself hurt, you may come to me and I can use my Gift to aid your healing. It is not very strong, but it will be enough to reduce pain and shorten the time you must spend healing.

A nurse, as well? By golly, you're well-rounded.

Hardly so well trained as a nurse, but enough I can deal with minor injuries the crew might face. My actual 'job' so to speak is security. Or what I am supposed to do at any rate.

What did they give you, if I might be so bold?

_{[ He tapped the back of his own neck to make sure she knew what he
meant. ]}

[ she nods -- and her fingers touch the curl of hair against the nape of her neck, indicating (wordlessly) that she understands his meaning.

as for the specifics: ] Communications. A rather universal term for the position, as I take it, because it sounds rather similar to duties I've known back home.

An important one too. If we lost communication with the fleet...

_{[ He frowned, touching the metal walls and shivering a bit. ]}

Is this your first time on a space ship, Miss Carter?

Second, [ she answers shrewdly. ] But that's only counting the Marsiva as my first.

_{[ He chuckled. ]}

I felt safer on the Marsiva, oddly enough. Thicker walls, I suppose.

Skiffs in the shadow of a galleon. [ her own smile is muted. lost, a little, in her hesitation. ]

Something like that, though truth be told I have never been on a galleon either. My country was landlocked. All we had were river boats, if that.

What did you do back home, Miss Carter? Something communications related?

[ the old line (i work for the telephone company) mightn't work. not here, where old comrades-in-arms stalk the edges of her experience. but neither should she oversell her involvement in the war and with the s.s.r., choosing instead to pick her way carefully around a half-truth: ]

Do the words Signal Corps mean anything to you? [ gentle steps. there is culture shock here. ]

_{[ He shook his head. ]}

No, I am afraid not. I should tell you that I come from a far less advanced world than many, so anything of a technological nature shall make no sense to me at all, I think. I from magic and steel, not wire and electricity.

Then I suppose it ought to be enough to say, quite simply, that I was something of a communications officer during the war. [ ... ] During a war. Mind you, we didn't have ships that travelled in space. But the basics remain somewhat the same.

[ encryptions. hailings. the importance of getting messages across. ]

_{[ He frowned softly at the mention of war. ]}

I see. I am sorry you had to go through that, be a part of it. War, or battle of any sort, is something I wish on no one.

_{[ And he meant it, voice ringing with sincerity. ]}

So we shall get to share the experience of the first time among the stars. I find company makes these sorts of adventures more enjoyable, don't you?

Oh, I'm certain it does. [ company, improving the journey. but peggy herself has been something of a lone agent in the past. liaising with the s.s.r., and then ultimately joining their ranks, has been something of an anomaly in her career.

peggy isn't a team-player, but she's trying to be. ] Have you been on the...Starstruck for long?

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Let Me Sing You the Song of My People

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