Stretching Fingers [Vasheera/Zen]

[kevna]

Vanisha - Candidate

Her fingers were starting to feel stiff. How long had she played? Long enough. She was sure her hands would be raw by the time she finished. At least she only had her lap harp. It was far easier to play then the behemoth harp her family had in their sitting room. Still, the children just kept asking for more. Some would dance, others would run away and get distracted, only to come back if it seemed she would stop. “More, more,” their excited pleading voices would shout. Vanisha should have known better. She had just been so thrilled at the prospect of spending time with some sweet littles, she had forgotten how passionate and dogged they could be. It was just so hard to say no to them.

And… This was far better time spent then thinking about him. Wondering if he and Relaena were successful in procreating, wondering what it would have been like if she had been the one chosen by him. Wondering if he thought about her as she oft did about him. He was married… Her thoughts needed to depart, she needed to move on. Still, her heart hurt. At least the music and the children, the laughter and screaming, were loud enough to distract her. Her fingers kept going, her voice joining in when she remembered the words well enough to a requested song.

Say Goodbye and Sorka’s Song were familiar enough, though long. She had chosen Azure Wings after, and it had struck a chord in her.

“Don’t leave me, I cried
Don’t take that dragon ride
But the Weyr asked you to stand
Find your fate upon the sand

You’re going to miss me
But one day you will see
The dragons never choose wrong
And the Weyr must remain strong”

This must have been how her mother had felt, with first No’va leaving, and then Vanisha. Of course, she would have left no matter what, but marriage was far safer then threadfighting. But the song also spoke to her, ‘The dragons never choose wrong,’ was a powerful phrase, and one she hoped desperately to be true. Marriage was a much less viable option then it had been before her candidacy, and her choices were limited now. 

She continued to play even after Azure Wings finished, spurred on by their begging; shorter, more upbeat melodies. They loved that. She should have taken comfort that they had plenty of lessons and music from the harpers here. But what if they didn’t get the fun songs? The question and duty songs were important, but they wanted more, and she could give that too them. Her soft voice joined her fingers as she sang the Wings of Gold. Her contralto range she didn’t think measured up to a soprano, but the children didn’t seem to mind.

“In the amber glow of dawn
She forgot the urge to roam
With a leap and a pop between
The dainty gold queen went home.”

She stretched her fingers, already seeing one of the little girls jumping up and down, sure to ask for more. She smiled, and sighed, waiting for the demand.

Zen

[Zen]

Vasheera

The vote was only two days away and Vasheera felt no closer to figuring out just what she was supposed to do about her father’s threat than she had been the moment he’d made it. She had convinced Master Clintock to allow her to assist with overseeing the election, but only to keep up the pretense that she meant to obey her father. She certainly had no intention of tampering with the results, even if she could figure out a way to do so where no one would notice, and it would be at all believable. There was just no way. Mavros wanted to move forward and a vote to continue their elections would only mean they would continue to stagnate. They needed a Lord of the Blood if they wanted to open doors that had been closed to them for turns. Her father had tried, she would give him that. She had often overheard his frustrated ranting about how the Lords of Pern would not recognize his authority. But that wasn’t about to change, he wasn’t a Blooded man and he was no proper Lord no matter how badly he wanted to be. She sighed as she made her way through the halls. Sometimes one just had to know their place and make the best of it, but her father was incapable of letting go.

Her dilemma weighed on her and she found that her lessons with her children were about the only way to distract herself so far, but lessons were over for the day and she’d been getting restless. Haliya had noticed, and she couldn’t let her mother know. She probably wouldn’t believe her anyway. She’d been happy for so many turns, she wanted too badly to believe that Vashemin had really changed, and Vasheera had no desire to force the harsh reality of it all on her. She deserved to be happy… even if it was a lie. So she’d left, headed back for the Weyr to visit the creche and see if she could lose herself for a little while in the innocence of children. She had her gitar slung across her back, figuring she could play for the children and crecheworkers alike, but as she neared the creche music greeted her. She paused to listen for a moment, but didn’t recognize the voice and headed inside to find out who had stolen her idea.

Several children were gathered around a young woman she’d never seen before, so it was certainly not one of the other harpers. But she was fairly skilled and Vasheera simply stood back and listened for a few moments longer, closing her eyes as she focused entirely on the music. Her gaze refocused on the young woman as her song came to an end and she seemed to be waiting for the children to throw a request at her. “Would you be opposed to a duet?” she asked with a soft smile, stepping closer. A few of the younger children, noticing her for the first time, ran over to hug her and she crouched down to embrace each one in turn. Standing again she tilted her head at the young woman, amusement in her tone, “What haven’t you played yet?” She didn’t know how long she might have been here, but if it was much time at all Vasheera was sure she’d already burned through plenty of songs. She pulled her gitar around to strum a few absent notes and gave the young woman a playful bow as she introduced herself, “Vasheera, apprentice harper.” Straightening, she cast a fond glance over the gathered children, “I have the pleasure of teaching many of these little ones.” A couple demands for more songs came as the children were not terribly interested in listening to the adults talk when there was music to be had. She laughed softly, “I don’t want to steal your show, so I’ll follow your lead.”

kevna

[kevna]

Vanisha - Candidate

The request was not what she was expecting, nor was the visitor she had overlooked. She felt the tinge of embarrassment color her cheeks as she noticed the young woman. The children were distracted, as was part their nature, and swarmed the young harper woman, giving her hugs. Vanisha placed the lap harp upright next to her seat and stood to welcome the woman, her perfect smile tinged with genuine tenderness as she watched the little one’s reactions. “Not at all.” She answered softly, waiting a bit for the hub-dub to die down.

Her eyebrows rose and her smile widened at the amused tone and question, and Vanisha tilted her head as if in thought. She tried not to think of her tired fingers as she came up with a song choice. “A very good question… I haven’t played the Little Queen for them yet.” She looked around at the little ones, wondering their reaction to that would be. It was a fun enough song, and children loved firelizards.

Vanisha responded to the bow smoothly, curtsying in her dress and then straightening. “Vanisha, dragonrider candidate, it’s a pleasure to meet you Vasheera. Your little ones are very well learned.” She complimented easily, smiling first at the harper apprentice and then at the children as she reseated herself and placed the harp in her lap. She felt the discomfort at being offered the lead, preferring to follow the lead herself. It would seem rude to refuse the offer though, and it was offered in kindness.

“That is quite the honor, thank you.” She nodded, and her fingers started to the well-known song, sure and steady, even as they ached. How long would Vasheera like to play? It was so nice playing with another, but this new addition could mean she would be stuck here for a while longer. She tried to ignore the ache in her fingers, instead focusing on the music, the way the gitar and harp played and mixed their harmonies.

[Zen]

Vasheera

“Wonderful.” She was glad the other woman didn’t mind her intruding, though it was generally more fun to perform with others rather than on your own so she hadn’t thought it would really be an issue. She may enjoy the spotlight herself but she had no trouble sharing it. At the song suggestion her fingers absently found a few of the beginning notes, but she stopped herself with a small grin at the other woman as her fingers had rather gotten ahead of themselves. Vanisha. A dragon candidate? Vasheera had plenty more questions she’d like to ask the red haired woman but as a song was their current purpose there was no time for it.

The compliment toward the children had her beaming, though she couldn’t be sure if Vanisha was just saying so to be polite as she didn’t know how much chance the candidate had had to judge the quality of their education. “There is no higher compliment I could imagine,” she responded anyway, her fondness for her students quite clear, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Vanisha. We shall have to play together more in future.” The children pressed for the song, leaving them with little more time for speaking, and Vasheera laughed softly at their insistence. It was good they had a healthy love for music.

She waited for Vanisha to begin the song and lent harmony to her harp, the music they wove through the air made better for the two talents giving it life, and Vasheera was again impressed with the candidate’s ability. As the song came to an end she couldn’t help but wonder if Vanisha had training at the Harper Hall, and if not just where she had come from before accepting candidacy. She had been looking for a distraction and it seemed she had found one. She might have liked to play a while longer, but she didn’t know how long Vanisha had already been there playing and also found herself wanting to get to know the young woman better. When it came to people, little piqued her interest more than a fellow musician. If she wanted to get to know Vanisha better, the children would give them little chance to chat if they stayed.

It was a difficult decision to make, but she could play for them any day really, whereas it wasn’t every day she met a talented young musician she didn’t already know. Hopefully Vanisha would be agreeable to spending some time with her and continue to be that welcome distraction from her looming problems. “I hope I’m not cutting the performance too short for you, but I’ve a sudden desire for klah and I would love it if you would join me, if you have the time to spare. My curiosity about you has rather gotten the best of me.” She offered the other woman a wide, friendly smile, “And I’m of the mind that one can never have too many musical friends.”

kevna

[kevna]

Vanisha - Candidate

It was obvious, Vasheera’s adoration for her students. No wonder they loved music so. How better to inspire music in the littles then by giving them a teacher who truly loved and believed in them? So what had gone wrong with her? Hadn’t her parents loved her enough, hadn’t she loved Degranik enough to…? She shook the thoughts away with another smile for Vasheera’s words. Her distractibility was embarrassing, she had better control then this.

Vasheera’s offer to play more together in the future gave her hope that their performance wouldn’t last more than a couple of songs. “Indeed. I would enjoy that.” Vanisha promised enthusiastically. It made the playing of the music far more enjoyable, knowing there was some sort of end in sight. When the song ended she turned her attention back to the new comer, waiting to see what she had in mind for the next song.

Her smile may have been full of gratitude when Vasheera put in her request for a klah companion. The children had had enough music to satisfy them surely, and it would be rude to refuse Vasheera’s kind request. “Not at all.” She murmured, “Klah sounds like a wonderful interruption and I look forward to learning more about you as well.” She wiped down her harp, then placed it in its cover. It had been designed to help keep the harp safe in the candidate quarters, which were damp, and not entirely safe for the instrument.

She stood and made her promises to return for more music time to the children, before picking up her harp and walking towards the exit with the harper. It was easy to start a conversation with an individual with such obvious fondness for certain people or things, like music. So she felt confident in asking her first question.

“How long had you been apprenticed, Vasheera? Do you have plans to attend Harper Hall?” Had she already been? How she would love to visit the halls and hear all the music. To have sheets of music to learn at her fingertips. Would her parents been open to her being a harper instead of a dragonrider? She doubted it, and while she loved music, especially the harp, would being constrained to just one passion be enough for her? There was something special about dragonriding. Something inspiring, and seeming so freeing. Could she not follow all of her passions here? She thought so. 

[Zen]

Vasheera

The children were less than enthusiastic about their music being cut short. When Vanisha agreed to klah with her, there were some protests, a few requests for just one more song which Vasheera very well knew would turn into just one more again and again if they gave into the plea. She could only shake her head and laugh as Vanisha put her harp away, “You’ll have more music when I see you tomorrow. Why don’t you go start a game of Threadfall?” Several of the children immediately began trying to claim the role of Thread or Dragonrider, forgetting all about their desire for more music. Others were less easily distracted and stuck around to hear Vanisha’s promise to return to play for them again before they trotted off to join the game.

“How long? Oh, several turns… five?” It took her a short moment to recall just how old she had been when Clintock had taken her under his wing. She sighed wistfully, “No, I’ve no plans to do so…. I don’t think I could bear to leave my family or my students for so long. Master Clintock has tried to convince me to go, but… I adore teaching the children here. I might have walked the tables by now if I had gone, but… I don’t mind.” She didn’t, not really, no matter how Master Clintock insisted her education would always be lacking if she never went. She’d never learn the proper techniques for instrument construction for one thing.

Clintock often fretted at her about it because an apprentice must craft their own gitar before they could become a journeyman, but all she could do was try to assure him it was fine, she was happy where she was. Even if she had to remain an apprentice all her life it hardly mattered. She was already doing what she loved regardless. She didn’t need rank or titles or whatever. Even if she was a journeyman she would still be doing exactly what she was now. The idea of leaving only for the sake of benefitting herself by attaining a higher rank felt… selfish. Like something her father would do.

She quickly turned her thoughts away from her father as she and Vanisha made their way from the creche to the dining cavern. She had no desire to think about him right now, to think of all the things that would follow. For a little while, at least, she didn’t have to worry about what would happen come turn’s end. She could focus on Vanisha instead. “How about you? Where did you learn to play the harp so beautifully?” It wasn’t exactly a common instrument. Vasheera had never seen anyone but harpers playing them at Mavros. It took real dedication to learn to play them at a more advanced level as well. Where string instruments were concerned gitars were far more common as they were easier to craft, less expensive. That Vanisha seemed to own her own harp was curious.

kevna

[kevna]

Vanisha – Candidate

Five turns seemed impressive to her, though she didn’t know the normal number of years an apprentice would work as one before progressing to journeyman, so she only made an interested noise. The wistful sigh was interesting to note, hinting at a desire, though her words then seemed contrary to that for the most part. She couldn’t help but feel another stab of guilt listening to Vasheera’s reasoning for staying, putting herself and the children she taught first. Why hadn’t Vanisha been willing to do that? Why couldn’t she have done the selfless thing?

“That is very noble of you, your devotion to your family and your students is inspiring.” Vanisha said earnestly, wishing she had had the resolve that Vasheera had, truly impressed with her willingness to put all before herself. “Is there really no way for you to progress in your profession while you are here?” She didn’t know enough about harpers or what each progression would entail. It seemed like torture to be doing something you loved, only to be unable to progress and continue to learn the things you truly loved. Did Vasheera struggle with what Vanisha had struggled with for so long, before finally leaving home to come here? Would she too, someday, break away from her family to follow a dream?

Vasheera’s question kept her from following the rabbit hole she had been slowly going down, and she placed her perfect smile in place to hide the guilt talking about her home was currently inspiring in her. “I was fortunate to learn it in my home ever since I was a small child as well, back at Tidewalk Hold. I had extensive lessons and many patient and talented tutors. I only play for pleasure, and to hone what I have been taught.” Her continuing to play was a sort of tribute to all of the harpers that come and gone, because her mother always needed someone with more experience to teach her girls. Her mother had only wanted the best for them, and it had meant some sad goodbyes. It had seemed the more proficient the harper, the older, and less kind they were.

[Zen]

Vasheera

Laughing lightly at Vanisha’s praise, Vasheera shook her head, “It is as much for my sake as theirs, I assure you. I’m not sure if it is more noble or cowardly of me… for I fear if I went I would only miss them too much to focus on my studies anyway.” No need to mention the fact that her father would never let her leave even if she truly did want to go. When she had been younger, just starting, before she’d begun teaching, she had wanted to study at the Hall more than anything. Master Clintock had raved to her father about her natural talents, tried to convince him to send her off to the Hall, but he had deflected at every turn with as much grace as he could muster.

When Vasheera had tried to beg him to let her go on her own later, he had only snapped at her that she would remain at Mavros and he would hear no more about it, and she was lucky he was letting her study under that old fool to begin with, so she should be grateful, or he could put an end to that as well if it was only going to inspire disobedience in her. She’d never brought it up again and done her best to dissuade Master Clintock from discussing it any further with her father as well, afraid it would mean the end of her lessons with him if the old man kept pestering him about it. In the turns since, she had quite given up on the idea, but her students really had come to mean more to her than anything, and though she was a grown woman able to make her own choices now, she feared what her father might do to her family in retaliation if she disobeyed him and went anyway.

She offered a soft smile of reassurance at Vanisha’s inquiry, once again doing her best to push away unpleasant thoughts of her father, “To an extent, yes, but an apprentice must construct their own gitar in order to walk the tables and there is no one to teach me that here, nor does Mavros have the tools for it. I’m afraid that is far from Master Clintock’s area of expertise and the last time he constructed an instrument that was more than a whittled pipe was likely his own journeyman’s gitar.” She waved her hand, dismissive, “Please don’t concern yourself overmuch for me. I am happy here. I feel like I’ve truly found my purpose in teaching. Seeking for more just seems… greedy?” She gave another light laugh, “Or perhaps I simply lack ambition.”

Vasheera took to studying the young woman as she answered her own question, more than a little curious about her skill with a harp. She had been learning since she was very young? Vasheera considered her briefly, rolling that answer over in her mind a little. She’d had many talented teachers. She must be from a very well off family… of noble birth, perhaps. Well, she was a candidate now, so she supposed it mattered little. “You do your teachers proud. I do hope we get to play together again soon.” She chuckled, “Perhaps we could surprise my class with a duet one day when you’re free. They would eat that right up.”

Pouring herself a cup of steaming klah, she poured for Vanisha as well before taking a sip of her own, “Nothing like a hot drink on a cold day to warm you from the inside out.” She cradled her mug in both hands, letting it warm her fingers as she looked around for a place to sit. “So have you always wanted to be a harp-playing dragonrider?” she tossed a playful grin at Vanisha, “What inspired you to come to Mavros? Tidewalk has its own Weyr, does it not?”

kevna