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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 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.