April System Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: Possibly!
Action: April System
When: Month of April!


[Welcome to the Belt, a huge asteroid belt that's been terraformed for life. Here you can explore the different asteroids, become a rock star, race on some ATVs, enjoy not being underwater.

In other words, it's a mingle! Get in everyone!

> System Info ]

Comments

[mistyday]

[Misty has found a particular favorite place to play, kneeling on a pillow in a little gazebo in one of the nicer parks on Meston. A lot of people walk by here: couples strolling hand in hand or families coming to play with their kids or street artists setting up their canvases. But the boy with a shamisen like hers easily stands out - as far as she knows, no one here plays that instrument, so he must be from the fleet. As he starts to copy her she smiles encouragingly at him, though she doesn't speak until she finishes out this song. A few people place credit chips in her hat that she's set out. She nods her thanks at them before waving Kubo over.]

Hey kid, what's your name?

[shamisens]

[ He approaches hesitantly. ]

It's Kubo. You're . . . part of Makie's shamisen group, right?

[mistyday]

That's right! My name's Misty, pleased to meet you, Kubo!

[shamisens]

[ His smile is tentative but genuine. ]

Uhm, same here.

You're not Japanese though. Where did you learn how to play?

[mistyday]

From Makie! I've only been playin' about a year so I still have a lot to learn but it kinda reminds me of home 'cause it's like an instrument we have called the banjo.

[shamisens]

What's a banjo like?

[ Kubo has always been curious when it comes to other instruments. He'd never give up the shamisen, but he's always looking at new techniques. ]

[mistyday]

Well, it's got a more circular frame than a shamisen and more strings but you play them both by plucking the strings. And it's a little more... twangy.

[shamisens]

Do you have it in the Fleet? I would love to see it sometime.

[mistyday]

[She shakes her head.]

Sorry. Maybe someone here could make one for us though!

[shamisens]

[ Aw. His shoulders droop, but his smile remains polite. ]

Maybe. I don't want to go through too much trouble. I just like seeing other instruments.

[mistyday]

From what I've seen, I don't think anybody here would find it any trouble at all!

[shamisens]

[ He supposes, but it's presumptuous, especially since Kubo is a stranger. ]

Maybe.

[mistyday]

I could go with you, if you like - won't hurt to ask!

[shamisens]

I . . . don't want to bother anyone. I'm fortunate enough already.

[mistyday]

Why would it be a bother?

[shamisens]

Because it's not important or necessary?

[ And Kubo has lived his life strictly on necessities. ]

[mistyday]

But if it'd make you happy, then that's important!

[shamisens]

[ He blinks, not sure how to respond to that. ]

[mistyday]

[Laughing, she stands and settles her shamisen across her back before holding out a hand to him.]

C'mon, I'll show you.

[shamisens]

[ He takes it tentatively. ]

Show me how?

[mistyday]

There's a woman just down the road who makes instruments. I promise - she'll be real excited to learn something new. She couldn't get enough of my shamisen yesterday.

[shamisens]

That's nice but . . . what are we going to do?

[mistyday]

We're gonna get ourselves a banjo!

[shamisens]

[ He blinks. Just like that? ]

Won't it be expensive?

[mistyday]

[Sorry, Kubo. Misty is very much a creature of impulse. Besides, she's spent most of her life being poor, so the idea that she actually has money she can spend to help out other people is wonderful.]

Probably. But it's all right, I've made a fair bit of credits with these concerts and I mean... not like we gotta pay rent or food.