Mingle Post for Solace

[reflectedblight]

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

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[shamisens]

I'm Kubo.

[ He swings the shamisen around his back, feeling its familiar weight. ]

I usually use it for my audience.

[arcanepower]

Kubo. [A short, nice name.] Nice to meet you.

You like to play for people? Or do you play for yourself?

[shamisens]

I play for a living mostly. Not that I don't enjoy it, but that usually came first.

[ The shamisen often felt like a phantom limb. He's never been anywhere without it, a reflection of Kubo's character, the way words never could be. ]

[arcanepower]

I cooked to make a living. It didn't bring in very much, but I learned a lot.

[He turns a meat bun over and over in his hands.]

There isn't a lot of music where I am from. Music is a luxury, like many things.

[shamisens]

[ Oh. That's a familiar story. ]

My music and my stories are for everyone.

But you probably have your own music too, when you cook. Or do things that make your heart sing.

[arcanepower]

[... That's... very insightful. His eyes widen for a moment and then he ducks his gaze again.]

I-- I am not much of a singer, but I can make things with magic.

[shamisens]

Me too!

Mine works with paper. And a few other things. It's hard to say.

[arcanepower]

[Belthazar's ears stick straight up.]

I've never seen paper magic before!

[shamisens]

I can show you a little if you want.

[arcanepower]

Oh, please! I have a little loose leaf paper in my journal, if you need it. Or should I conjure some? Should I buy some? How does this usually work?

[shamisens]

[ Kubo smiles, shaking his head. Then he pulls his shamisen out once more, immediately plucking a tune. The paper spills out of his bag, starting to form tiny armies of samurai, shaking their swords at each other. ]

[arcanepower]

[That's... wonderful. With the music narrating the story, Belthazar thinks he understands it better than he would with words. He almost wants to add to it. He watches instead, enraptured by the sight of a new and distinctly foreign magic.]

[shamisens]

[ Kubo keeps up a good momentum, until he gets to the ending where he falters and it's not as strong as his build-up. Even the paper stutters, the edges unfolding. With a sigh, he puts the shamisen down. ]

Sorry.

[arcanepower]

[He blinks as the music falters and the magic ends.]

It's-- it's fine! You do not need to exhaust yourself. Are you all right? Your magic is beautiful, truly.

[shamisens]

It's fine. I'm just — bad at endings still.

[arcanepower]

Finishing a story is the hardest part, isn't it? Because it's over.

[He reaches toward one of the little bits of paper and wiggles his fingers. It sparkles for a moment before lifting itself up and dancing around on its corners, tiny cartwheels to the sound of chimes. With his other hand, he conjures up tiny stars in the space above the former soldiers-- their 'sky'-- and rains more glitter on them.]

[shamisens]

[ Kubo's mouth is open as he watches in awe. ]

Wow. I hope I can do that someday.

[arcanepower]

I think it's certainly within your capability. Charms and simple enchantments are easy enough.

[The magic dies out with the tiniest gesture.]

[shamisens]

I don't even know how it works. It just sort of . . . does.