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[dow]

Recently, I bought a personal item from one of the auctions in Markutte. In light of recent network posts of a festive Terran nature and having been exposed to Christmas before with far more ceremony, purely out of deference for a family member, I am aware that giving is very much in the spirit of the season. As purchasing gifts for a wide range of individuals would be a waste of resources and time which I must covet for my scientific studies, I am instead inclined to use the instrument in my possession.

It is a Vulcan harp.

[ Instruments, literal instrument ... Get it? Whatever, his attempts at humor are golden. Straight-faced, Spock leans back in his chair and settles it against his right shoulder, beginning to play. His left hand is bandaged, but he pays it no mind; after the post, green blood will have bitten through and the wraps will need changing.

Firstly, Brahms Intermezzo is played to invest people in the music he studied intently during his recreational time as a child. Shortly after that lulls to a close, you might think this stuffy Vulcan has nothing more interesting to offer but, son, you would be wrong. Music is mathematics, after all, and Spock adjusts the knobs on the instrument to alter the octaves and sounds to more of a guitar-quality. That's when he delves into an improvised piece still kicking around his memory, composed long before he set foot on the Enterprise. His final performance is a gentle carol he is very familiar with, for his own personal reasons, and he doesn't rush it into the previous natural rhythm in the slightest, almost playing for someone ... who has expressed their preferences on the matter before. (Perhaps the family member he mentioned at the start, for attentive listeners.)

The song is Silent Night. ]



( OOC: Vulcan harps/lyres are ridiculous, but these are the sound ranges, for reference. )

Comments

[dow]

I would be willing to play a duet on the piano, if one ever makes itself known here. How long ago did you learn how to play?

[manofiron]

[ Talking about his past this close to the anniversary and being stone sober is a bad idea, but when does he ever worry about that? ]

When I was a kid. That's what all the geniuses do, right? Play music? That's what my parents thought. So I learned. And I'm good at it. Music is just another language. How about you? How'd you learn to play the harp?

[dow]

My father is an exceptional musician, he won an important competition on my home-planet to which I came in second. As a child, I wished to emulate his accomplishments in every way.

[ Looks like everyone here is being very Carefully Level with their subjects. ]

My mother lived with us on Vulcan. She did not wish to impress her traditions on our family, yet she encouraged me to broaden my range of musical interest for a while and I learned to play the piano for her. Over the holiday of Christmas, she refrained from celebrating. To ease the emotional distress she sometimes felt, I learned the carol she expressed the most fondness for.

[manofiron]

[ Oh, fuck no. Now they're talking about their parents. Abort! Abort! ]

Guess that's a common trait with kids, no matter what planet they're from.

[ Emulating Dad. Trying to make the bastard proud.

It's like digging a knife into his gut and twisting it around, but Tony's always been a glutton for punishment. He can't resist asking. ]

What'd they think of how you play?

[dow]

My father is satisfied with my talents in this area, though he did not encourage their uses. Careers in the musical field are of no direct benefit to society as a whole and my work in the sciences proved far more competent.

[ Knife, meet hook. His brows raise and Spock's expression gentles. ]

My first rendition of Silent Night caused my mother to fall off the couch laughing, much to my bewilderment. She assisted me in re-evaluating how it ought to be played and thereafter requested to hear it each year at approximately the same time as Christmas was underway on Earth. I did not play a genuine piano until I left Vulcan to join Starfleet.

[manofiron]

[ It sounds like Spock had a decent childhood. A father that encouraged him, even if it was encouragement in a different direction than what he'd initially wanted. A mother that appreciated his company and interacted with him in a pleasant manner. Tony can't relate. At all. ]

Music careers aren't seen as all that beneficial to society as a whole on Earth either. But they can pay a lot. If you're a rock star. Or Lady Gaga. Course, she might be an alien, I don't know.

[ He tries to avoid the piano simply because it reminds him of his parents. Maybe he shouldn't. Here, at least. ]

If I build one, do you want to start a band? Piano, I mean. Obviously. Not a Lady Gaga.

[dow]

Is Lady Gaga's species unclear? [ Suitably distracted! Initially, and then after a pause, he nods. ] I will join your band of musicians.

[ Gold star, he tried with the terminology. ]

[manofiron]

It's about as clear as muddy water at midnight during a new moon.

[ So, yes. That she dresses like Loki doesn't help Tony's assessment of her species. ]

And good. That's great. I'll build it... Give me two weeks. That ought to be enough.

[ He built a miniaturized cold fusion reactor in a week and a particle accelerator in about a day and a half. A piano will be easy. ]

[dow]

May I assist you? [ It'll be a change from tricorder readings. ] Creating a rudimentary instrument will require physical labor and as I am three times stronger than a human, I put myself at your service in what is essentially a joint effort.

[manofiron]

[ His eyebrows rise. Working with someone is a novel idea. He likes it. ]

Sure. Okay. I'll draw up the plans, collect the materials, and we can meet at my place. You want to scout out an empty building that has good acoustics while I do that? We can turn it into a music studio.

[dow]

I have a spare apartment floor, having been granted three levels. The acoustics there may suffice, but if you wish to place the piano on neutral ground I will endeavor to find somewhere else as fitting.

[manofiron]

You want to jam in your apartment, I'm down. Sure. That makes it easier.

[dow]

There is a spare bedroom on the same floor, if you wish to stay intermittently for the duration of the piano's completion.

[manofiron]

Thanks, Spock. I appreciate it. Let me know I can return the favor, okay?

[dow]

I will. May I play something else for you, Mr. Stark?

[manofiron]

What? No, that's all right. Me and Christmas are a little...

[ He waggles his fingers in a gesture that's not very informative. ]

I'm sure one of the others here will be glad to have my place on your dance card. Thanks, though.

[dow]

I am also ... [ Copying Tony's finger-waggle thing a little stiffly. 8( Easier than explaining, it's efficient. ]

If you do wish to dance at any time, you ought to know that I am familiar with a Terran waltz.

[ Little confused why dancing was brought up, but there you go. ]

[manofiron]

[ Mixing metaphors and randomly switching analogies is probably not the best way to communicate with someone from another planet. Unfortunately, Tony doesn't think anything of it. ]

Me too. Ballroom dancing's apparently a skill every rich kid needs to have.

[dow]

Though my family is prestigious and wealthy, Starfleet mandates all commanding officers know how to dance in the event of inter-planetary gatherings.

[manofiron]

So that's a common thing for you? Dancing with the natives? You sure they're paying you enough for that?

[dow]

Admittedly, it is not a situation that arises with great regularity.

[ Thankfully. ]

[manofiron]

Glad to hear it. Otherwise I'm seriously going to have to question an organization that pimps you out to the highest bidder.

[dow]

I do not have a 'pimp' as such would be tantamount to slavery, which the Federation does not condone.

[manofiron]

Good. Very good. I'm glad to hear that future Earth organizations haven't fallen back on unsavory practices.