driftfleet | I need a shamisen Rhiannon arrangement stat

Who: Makie and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Iskaulit, Twin Roses
When: Now-ish

[She'd been, uh... somewhat distracted about thinking on this from a bunch of ships colliding with each other and upsetting her carefully maintained equilibrium (guys I'm just a samurai chick who wants to sit peacefully and drink tea enough of these space shenanigans) and avoiding looking outside entirely, because being under the ocean is extremely unsettling.

Today is the first time she's been to the Iskaulit gardens since they arrived in this odd place. It reminds her of something she'd like to do.]

...in Adstringendum, people arrived and left all the time, much like this place. You grow used to a person's presence, establish... ties. [What a formal way of putting it. She's thinking of the bizarre jar collection in her room.] And then suddenly, they're gone. The same holds true here, doesn't it...? It can be hard for a great many people, even if you know you'll see them again.

In Adstringendum, we kept what we called a memory tree. People would attach the names of those who'd left... paper monuments, so they'd never be forgotten. And new arrivals would always know who had been and gone.

I wondered if we might do the same here.

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[She'll be in the garden for most of the day. Either playing her shamisen or actually, you know, gardening. It's a thing. And if she concentrates on the dirt under her knees, maybe she can forget they're submerged in the ocean.]

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But it is music, nonetheless. [She smiles, inclining her head.] And I would greatly enjoy hearing you play, if it pleases you.

[ He smiles back ]

I am at the lady's disposal! Of the world around us, is there anything that you wanted to hear?

[That's a hard question to answer, so new she is to the idea that the world even has a song. But after a moment of thought--]

Is there music for... the land itself, under the water? The coral, or the plants.

[ he looks thoughtful, eyes going distant ]

Aye. [ he murmurs, and his voice is full of water ]

It is a bit hard to separate from the water, but it is there, if you would hear it?

[There's such a difference to that response, for a moment she just stares. Before she remembers her manners, ducking her head. Now, she's doubly intrigued.]

I would, if it isn't trouble. Please.

[ A smile and a bow, and Maglor opens his mouth and Sings, and in his voice is heard the teeming deep, the richness of the kelp forests, the rocky barreness where life thrives on the edge of disaster, where the molten heart of the world pumps fumes into the water, the teeming life of the reefs.

He manages a minute, maybe two, and then he has to stop, shuddering and putting his hands over his ears and shutting his eyes until he can ground himself in flesh.

[To say Makie is stunned would be an understatement. She listens with wide eyes. How can such description be kept in such a song? But it's beautiful, and she's completely rapt, taking a few moments to register the difference between singing and-- shuddering.

She reaches out, but stops short of touch.] Are you all right...?

[ When she reaches he closes the gap himself with trembling fingers gripping almost too tight ]

I...sorry...sing...for me? I ...I need...the Sea...calls me. Hard to...remember I don't...belong there..."

[Makie flinches at the sudden contact. Mostly it's just surprise, but she's startled enough by the request she takes a few moments to try and get her bearings.

She normally doesn't sing without accompaniment, but so long as her touch is grounding him in some way...? Her voice is slightly unsure at first, quiet, but she does sing for him; one of the olden, melancholy ballads from her time at the geisha house. She isn't capable of matching the depth and weight of the world's songs, but her voice is trained, high and clear, growing stronger as she goes.

She hopes it helps.]

[ It clearly does, Maglor's breathing regulating (matching hers, rather than trying to follow the tug of the tides) and grip relaxing. In a few minutes he opens in his eyes and apologetically lets go, tucking his hand and looking away, ashamed ]

Forgive me for inconveniencing you so, milady. I should never have been so rude.

[[She folds her hands away in much the same fashion, looking away.]

I feel the apology should be mine. I didn't realise such a song would be so taxing for you.

It is normally not, so the fault is mine in offering carelessly - you could not know! But this close to the water... I have already wandered out following it a few times, now. I could lose myself in the Song, but that would worry my brother.

[She can accept that explanation, though she's still concerned. But as he finishes, she smiles faintly.]

Your brother is here...?

[Lucky or unlucky, she wonders.]

One of them, yes - the eldest. You may have seen him. [ Because a 7ft plus redhead is kinda hard to miss ] Maedhros is his name, the tall one with red hair.

I'm afraid I've yet had the honour. [She says it ruefully. The red hair would stand out, but Makie... well, she probably needs to get out more.] But I'm sure to be looking out for him now.

It is an impressive gift you have.

You will know him when you see him, I think.

[ Maglor smiles at her shyly ] Thank you. It is a rare one, amongst our people, and one I am glad to have, for all the difficulties it brings.

Are there more difficulties than just losing yourself?

[She's painfully aware of just how being gifted can lead to a whole host of complications.]

The main problem is the distraction. [ He admits ] I was slow to speak as a child, for I sang long before I spoke, and was forever wandering off following the sounds that only I could hear.

Even as an adult I was, and remain, apt to lose myself in music if left to my own devices. My folk also are supposed to have quite strong gifts of the mind, but I do not, for music fills all those spaces.

[She nods as he explains, understanding settling in her features. It's not the sort of problem she's seen, given where she's from, but it makes sense to her.]

There are worse things to lose yourself in than music. [She smiles faintly.] As long as you can always return. Does the presence of others always help?

It does - I find it easier to remember that I am flesh and blood when there are others there to ground me. It also helps to distract a little.

I will do my best to give such distraction, should you ever need it. [An unspoken 'again'.]

[ Maglor smiles and finally relaxes ]

Thank you - I only hope I do not! But I suppose time will tell.

I need a shamisen Rhiannon arrangement stat

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