Striking the Right Chord

Writers: Leigh M-F., Paula
Date Posted: 1st July 2014

Characters: Jessmyr, A'kua
Description: There are more options out there than some people realize.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 20 of Turn 7

Today, Candidates were mingling with other Weyr residents to help with butchering ovines. A few of the mix, male and female alike, looked a little squeamish on facing the dead animals, but others seemed almost bored by it. Aluka was bored too. They hadn't been allowed to pick up the knives and cleavers yet, because the cook in charge was going on and on about safety around sharp objects, a lecture they had probably all heard a dozen times before.

Aluka found himself rolling his eyes, and waited for the cook to turn her back on him. Then he mimed taking one of the knives and stabbing himself in the neck repeatedly while grimacing. Two boys across the table snorted, one of the girls also rolled her eyes, and then they all had to look innocent when the cook turned around.

"Does everyone understand?" the cook asked.

Jessmyr tried to keep his face straight while watching the red headed candidate's antics. He nodded to the cook's question, he wasn't doing this for the first time. He felt sorry for the beasts but the actual butchering didn't bother him. Besides, afterwards you get all kind of delicious foods when the meat was cooked.

Once the cook was satisfied everyone would take the safety instructions seriously, the volunteers were allowed to pick up their instruments of choice and get to work. Parts like the ears, snouts, and several bones could go to the spit-canines, but other bones could be used for soup. Aluka sorted out bones and innards carefully, not really noticing when he started humming.

Jessmyr was separating tendons, they would be made to strings and hides of course would go to tanners. "Most people don't find this hummable job," he remarked when the candidate in his group started to humm. There was amusement in his voice.

"Actually, mindless, borin' work's the best kind of job for hummin'," Aluka said once he had gotten over the embarrassment of being overheard. He hadn't realized how audible he was being. "Passes the time and helps ya figure stuff out."

"Are you harper then?" Jess asked. His experience with music was limited to listening harper performances.

"Not by profession," Aluka answered. "People prob'ly wouldn' wanna listen to me even if it was my craft." He shrugged, uncaring. "But I do have fun with my gitar."

"You can play gitar? How did you learn it?" Jess asked, sounding quite interested.

"Same way anyone does. I found a harper willin' to put up with me at the hold I grew up in." Aluka skinned off some fat off a hunk of meat, but not too much, and it aside. "Haven' had a chance to get any more lessons, though, so I just play for the fun of it."

"Nobody ever showed any interest towards music or playing instruments in my family," Jess said. "Sure, we could go to listen harpers at the Tavern or at the Gathers, but one of us to actually learn to sing or something?" he shook his head.

"Ya sound like such a thing's inconceivable," Aluka kidded.

"In my family, pretty much yes. As inconceivable than that a girl could do anything but marry and have babies," Jess grinned back.

"Ancients, I hate that mindset," the redhead complained. "Too many people believe it, women included." Unfortunately, there was no cure for stupidity, and far too many women had few chances to explore other options.

"Can't disagree with you," Jessmyr said. He had lived in a Weyr long enough to have his view of the world broadened and mind opened for new ideas.

The smile Aluka gave Jessmyr at that statement was absolutely brilliant. Finding a like-minded male to converse with was surprisingly pleasurable. "I think I like ya," he stated.

"Likewise," Jess grinned back. They did seem to have a common ground.

"So did ya ever wanna learn to sing or play?" Aluka asked, curious. If Jessmyr had used that example, maybe it was something he had thought of, but hadn't dared consider due to his family.

"I really haven't thought about it. I mean, can I even learn? I don't know if I have any talet in music," Jessmyr said.

Aluka shrugged. "Dunno 'til ya try," he said simply. It was the same for everyone. He hadn't known if he had any talent, but as soon as he heard a reel played with three different-sounding gitars, whatever made him alive had been sold to music, and he _had_ to get his hands on one and learn how to do it. His mother had let him do as he pleased, and his grandfather hadn't cared; if it kept Bex's redheaded bastard out of the way, it could only be a good thing.

"Maybe I should give it a try," Jessmyr was intrigued. Besides, he wanted to be _something_ besides just a worker in lower caverns.

"If ya wanna give it a try 'fore ya officially go to a Harper, I got a good gitar. Stop by the Candidate barracks some time and I'll let ya fiddle with it," Aluka said without thinking, and then choked on air when he realized what he'd just done. Not even the Weyrwoman herself would be allowed to touch his gitar. But it was too late to take it back.

"Thanks, I would hate to embarrass myself in public if it turned out I have absolutely no talent," Jess replied, with all intention to take up that offer.

Well then, that was that. Aluka felt both wary and settled, and strangely hopeful. What if this turned one more person on to music, and it made them happy? That wouldn't be a bad thing. "You're welcome."

Last updated on the July 3rd 2014

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Striking the Right Chord