A Musical Request
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 29th January 2010
Characters: R'masu, Briata
Description: R'masu asks Briata if she would like to make a request.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 8 of Turn 5
Briata looked up to see a familiar face making his way toward the area where the harpers played. The previous harper wasn't done, but evidently his set was coming to an end soon. She caught the dragonrider's eye and waved a greeting. She had heard him play but a few days before and was glad she would get another chance. She hoped he played one of his own compositions. The one she had heard she had really liked.
R'masu returned the wave and headed over to her. "Hello, Briata."
"Hello R'masu." Briata leaned over and glanced behind him. "Am I right to assume that you are up next?"
"Yes. Do you have any requests?." If she wanted him to play the dance song again, maybe she'd find a partner this time.
"I get to choose?" Briata's lips curled into a smile. She tilted her head and regarded the harper for a moment. "Another one you've written. Perhaps your most recent composition?"
He'd finished a short piece last month, a short but pleasant song. That one would do. "It would be my pleasure." He made a short bow.
"Thank you, R'masu." Briata's smile brightened and she nodded her head in reply. "I look forward to it." She glanced past him and laughed softly. "Better hurry, the stage is empty."
He smiled and turned to get on stage. R'masu glanced around at the dining cavern. "This is 'First Light'." He settled the gitar on his knee and played. The song was soft and light, a melody that had filled his head one morning before drills.
Briata listened, her eyes set upon the dragonrider, her legs folded and one arm lying upon the back of her chair. She rest her chin upon it and smiled. It was pretty. Not a dance tune, more like something one would want to listen to before bed, or perhaps as a calming influence. When he was finished, Briata clapped. She wished she could have a talent for music. Alas, her talents lay elsewhere - not that she didn't want them. Still, being able to make music had to be nice.
"Thank you," R'masu nodded to the audience. He tapped his foot a few times and went into a dance tune, one he'd played so often he could probably do it in his sleep.
The effect was immediate. People got up and began dance. Briata sat in her chair and tapped her feet. Where was B'lamick? Whe would have loved to dance with him. She didn't even have time to speak to Latarth before someone grabbed her hand and swept her into the cleared area. She laughed and merely went along for the ride. She caught the harper's eye as she glided by and grinned, but she didn't remain in view long.
When the dance ended, she curtsied to her partner. For a moment it seemed he would stay and chat, but another woman came up to him, a frown aimed at Briata. The girl didn't try to keep the man behind. Instead, she made her way back to her chair, glad for a bit of a rest. That had been a fast one!
R'masu smiled, pleased that Briata had found a partner. He played another fast song to please the dancers. This one had a few simple lyrics, his trained voice carrying over the sound of his gitar and the skipping feet of the dancers. When the song finished, the audience clapped. In the pause of silence after he thanked them, someone called out, "Broken Sky!"
He searched the crowd, wondering who had spoken. "I usually save that for Gathers," He didn't like to sing it too often at the Weyr. "but I'm happy to honor your request." He played the first few bars and then started to sing:
"So many lost on that endless day Couldn't find you on that endless day And I never will There's a hole where you should be Light that now I cannot see This wound will never heal Gone, gone forever, never coming back ..."
It was not a song she had heard, though Briata could have easily missed it. Not all dinners were taken in the dining hall, and there were times she had left before the music started at others. She resumed her earlier perch, chin resting upon her arm as she watched the dragonrider play and sing. A sad song. Why had someone requested that? There was something more, as well. When he sang it, there was more than simply communicating loss - Briata got the sense that he felt it, reflected his own personal tragedy in the song that he sang to the rest of the Weyr. Those immediately around her went silent, and those who continued the conversation respectfully lowered their voices as they spoke. So sad...had he written it? The way he sang it, Briata had little doubt that he had.
The last notes of the song died away. The applause that followed was soft, respectful of the mood. R'masu played traditional songs for the rest of his set, things he could play automatically. He didn't have the will to play anything else.
When his set was over, he made his way over to Briata. "You stayed for the whole set."
"It was lovely music, Why wouldn't I?" Briata smiled to the dragonrider. "And it seems I got my dance this time as well."
"Yes. I saw that you found a partner. Or perhaps a partner found you?" He smiled.
"Found me, really." Then was pulled away by that rather insistent woman. Briata wasn't going to complain. She liked to dance, but sometimes men seemed to get the idea that when she danced with them, that meant she wanted more than just a dance. "You make beautiful music. I'm sorry I've only just discovered it."
"I'm glad you like it, no matter when you discovered it. It's always nice to hear that someone appreciates your music." The light conversation helped to lift his mood a little.
"How long were you in the craft before you impressed?" Had he been younger? Older? He had talent and skill with music so Briata thought he must have spent at least a few turns.
"Not long, but this was well before Thread, so I had much more time for my craft." He missed those days for many reasons.
"Ah, yes." Thread had been around for a few turns - a few turns too many. If only...Briata shook her head. "The harpers must have mourned their loss."
"Yes. So did I." His eyes darkened for a moment. "But I can still pursue my craft, even if I'm limited. My favorite parts of harpering are song writing and performing, and I still get to do that."
"That is something at least." Briata pondered a way to get off the subject. The look upon his face told her that perhaps it wasn't the best topic to pursue. Another harper began to play, another tune that made people sweep partners out onto the floor. That distracted Briata enough to turn her gaze to watch the dancers. "Now that is a song I am familiar with."
"Would you care to dance?" R'masu offered his hand.
Briata's smile brightened and she took R'masu's outstretched hand. "I would love to, thank you."
He led her out to the dance floor, returning her smile as they joined the other dancers.
Last updated on the January 31st 2010