Mingle Post for Solace

[reflectedblight]

Who: EVERYONE
Broadcast: N/A
Action: On Solace
When: Second half of January

[Start your own headers, fix ships, buy stuff, get on those hoverboards, whatever!]

Comments

[therewerefifty]

[Makie marks the coins being tossed. She finishes her piece of melancholy music first before she glances up to offer a thank you-- and then she sees the shamisen in his lap.]

Another player...! [Kubo, you've made her day. She leans forward a little, fingers plucking at a few test notes.] That's a rarity. Are you from the Fleet?

[shamisens]

[ He nods, keeping his grip on the bachi ]

I'm on the Starstruck. My name is Kubo.

[therewerefifty]

[That gives her more pause than the shamisen. Truly?]

I am... Makie, from the Windrose. [She'll spare him the mouthful of her full name.] It may seem an odd question, but are you Japanese?

[The amount of people she assumes are from her own homeland that turn out not to be has been a little ridiculous.]

[shamisens]

[ He nods cautiously. ]

My village doesn't really have a name, but we're off the coast. Far away from most places.

[therewerefifty]

[She smiles at the confirmation. But really, Kubo? Languages and meanings can change over time, so perhaps...

Well, it's none of her business.]

It's nice to meet you, Kubo. It's been long since I met another practitioner of the shamisen. Have you played long?

[shamisens]

All my life. I can't remember a time when I didn't have it.

[ He had to learn quickly, as his mother slipped away but Kubo genuinely enjoys his trade, the music and the stories that came with it. ]

[therewerefifty]

I inherited my instrument from my mother. The teaching of it was part of my education as a child. [Back in the day...]

May I hear you play?

[shamisens]

. . . Me too.

Uh, sure!

[ With clumsy fingers, he takes out his shamisen and starts one of his trademark tunes. ]

[therewerefifty]

[Fast and lively. Wholly unfamiliar work. She's attentive throughout, laying her own shamisen flat in her lap and covering it with her shawl, bachi tucked away.]

...you're very good. [Sincerely, despite the clumsy fingers. He's going to be amazing if he keeps playing.] Thank you. Is the piece your own creation?

[shamisens]

Yeah. They all are.

[ There wasn't much in way of music in his village. His mother taught him what she could but she was fading fast when he got older. ]

[therewerefifty]

Then you are doubly skilled.

I'm teaching another of my crew how to play. We hold regular sessions, if you'd ever like to join us. I think she'd like the extra accompaniment.

[shamisens]

. . . Are you sure you want me there?

[therewerefifty]

[...oh she's familiar with this, too. Makie watches him a moment, then smiles softly.]

As long as you would like to come.

[shamisens]

[ His fingers drift over the strings before he nods quietly. ]

Yeah. I think I'd like that.

[therewerefifty]

My friend's name is Misty. She's very nice.

Do you have... anyone you know here? From your home?

[shamisens]

[ Kubo hates that question. There's no neat way to deflect it or pretend it was fine. He just settles for shaking his head. ]

[therewerefifty]

I understand. I'm the same, though I suppose in my case it doesn't matter quite so much. [And if it's difficult...well, she'll move on.] A simpler question, then: have you ever played accompaniment before?

[shamisens]

My mother and I used to play together . . . when I was younger.

[therewerefifty]

The same.

She grew ill and died some years ago, but playing with her gave me fond memories to look back on. I remember her well at times like this.

[Not...just because of the shamisen, either.]

[shamisens]

[ He knows that look and his own grief surges upward, trying to claw its way through. With effort, Kubo suppresses it. ]

She really loved it.

[therewerefifty]

[She thought that might be the case.]

I'm glad she passed her teaching on to you. It's a legacy of sorts, isn't it?

[shamisens]

She didn't have a reputation as a musician. But there are different ways to carry out her legacy.

[therewerefifty]

My mother wasn't known for it, either. [...she was known for being an outcast whore. But let's leave that aside.]

You're correct, though. In taking what made her happy and continuing to bring it to the world.

[shamisens]

It's what I learned recently.

[therewerefifty]

You learned it faster than I did. [Which is said with no small amount of fondness. She learned in the end. It's what's important.]

I would enjoy playing together with you, Kubo. If you've a mind to do so.