Windrose, where the wind blows

[tothefly]

Who: Windrose crew and you, distinguished visitors!
Broadcast: Naaah.
Action: Windrose, various points in the near vicinity
When: Until we get off this frozen rock

[On New Year's Day, the crew on board the Windrose and those nearby may notice the chill as the doors to the cargo bay are left open, and their captain making quite a bit of noise as she inspects their newly expanded home away from home. This is likely to go on for a while. Feel free to come investigate, chat among yourselves, complain about the cold, etc!]

Comments

[mistyday]

Misty. I'm one of your crew now.

[She hands Makie the container.]

And no you weren't bothering me none. I just got a... sixth sense for these things.

[therewerefifty]

Makie. It's a pleasure to meet you... Misty. [What an interesting name. She likes it.

She holds up the container to look at the goop more closely.] Do I drink this, or... apply it? [It's hard to tell.]

[mistyday]

Oh, you just got to rub it on your chest, right here. [She demonstrates by rubbing her own breastbone.] It's not a cure, but it'll help you breathe easier, 'specially at night when you're tryin' to sleep.

[therewerefifty]

I see. Just a little at a time, right? [She smiles, placing the container delicately on the stand inside the door.]

It is appreciated. I had another doctor helping me for a time, but he didn't have access to such things.

[She assumes Misty's a doctor. There are no women doctors in her own time, but Makie has seen enough past that to assume it's entirely possible in the future.]

[mistyday]

Yeah, just a thin layer will do the trick.

And um... [She blushes a bit.] I ain't a doctor. I promise, I do know what I'm doing - I've got a gift, you see, for healin'. But I didn't go to college or anything so I uh... I just don't want you to get the wrong impression.

[therewerefifty]

I understand.

[She puts a hand on her chest.] I've met other healers that weren't... doctors. And they were very efficient. I'm more than willing to put my health in your hands.

[She doesn't really have much to lose.]

It's lung sickness. Or tuberculosis, I think the modern name is. I don't know if that changes anything.

[mistyday]

Tuberculosis? I don't know much about that... nobody gets that anymore, where I come from. I think there are some real doctors around here somewhere though, on some of the other ships. I can find one of them for you, if you want.

[therewerefifty]

That would be appreciated. I understand it's curable in my future, so I'm hoping that means it can be dealt with here.

[mistyday]

Oh, there's all sorts of people here from different times and worlds. At least one of them will be able to help, you'll see. In the meantime [She gestures towards the potion] that'll help make things a little easier.

[therewerefifty]

I will try it tonight. If it can help me get more sleep, I think I'd be happy with that.

[She hesitates, then looks a little rueful]

...I have nothing to offer in exchange. Not yet, anyway.

[mistyday]

Oh no, don't worry about that! I like healin' people... It's what I'm meant to do.

[therewerefifty]

[She'll find a way to repay you eventually; it's just the way Makie is. But for now, she smiles.]

I'm glad, then. That you have skills you enjoy using.

[mistyday]

Me too.

What about you? What are you good at?

[therewerefifty]

[Some things she hopes are kind of left by the wayside. But there is one thing-- she glances aside to where her shamisen is propped carefully against the wall.]

I play the shamisen. It's very relaxing, and people seem to enjoy it. Do you play any instruments?

[mistyday]

[Misty goes over to study the shamisen, though she's careful not to touch it. She's never heard of it before, much less seen one. Looks like some kinda weird banjo. She wonders if it sounds like it too.]

No one ever taught me, but I'd like to learn to play the guitar.

[She looks back up at Makie and smiles.]

Or the piano. Stevie knows how to play both.

[therewerefifty]

The piano...! I heard one, in Adstringendum. It was very beautiful. [She smiles.] I wonder if you'll find one here.

[She reaches out to lay fingers softly on the neck of the shamisen.] I've never played the guitar, but I understand these are similar instruments. Though the music is markedly different.

[mistyday]

[Eagerly.]

Would you play some for me?

[...]

I mean, if you're feeling up to it, of course. I'd love to hear it.

[therewerefifty]

[She never needs encouragement to play for others. Her smile grows warmer, and she nods.]

Certainly. It is a very melancholic instrument; I hope you don't mind. Were I healthier, I could sing to accompany it.

[But you miss out today. For now she sits awkwardly on the edge of her bed-- Makie isn't used to having such high furnishings, to be honest. But she wanders through the notes for a moment to make sure of its tuning, and then begins to play.]

[mistyday]

[Misty's fascination soon turns to rapture as she listens. After a minute or so she settles in on the ground, cross-legged at Makie's feet, and closes her eyes to soak in the music. When Makie finishes she claps enthusiastically.]

Oh that was beautiful!

[therewerefifty]

[She's far more relaxed at the end of the song than she was at the beginning, and Makie puts the shamisen aside with a peaceful expression.]

It is no guitar, I imagine. But if you enjoy the sound, I could teach you.

[She wouldn't offer normally, but this way she can give something in return for Misty's medicine.]

[mistyday]

Sounds more like a banjo. People play them all the time, in the bayou.

[Which is definitely a compliment. The shamisen makes her feel at home.]

You really wouldn’t mind teaching me?

[therewerefifty]

Not at all. [She wouldn't have offered, but she'd have been open to asking. She has the feeling Misty might have been too polite to do so. So Makie smiles.]

As I understand it, there won't be much to do at several points in our journey. It will help to fill in the time.

[mistyday]

Yeah, it's been pretty quiet around here since I arrived.

Not that I'm complainin' mind you. I like watchin' the stars.

[therewerefifty]

So do I. Though I must confess I've never watched them from this angle before.

[mistyday]

Me either. I never knew there were so many!