Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Deck 4 Garden- A Picnic

Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Deck 4 Garden- A Picnic

Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Deck 4 Garden- A Picnic
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“I have no doubt,” Kel said with a small smile as she moved back to the picnic.

Sair gave Alex a look that was something not quite exasperated but definitely in the realm of ‘Give me Strength’. It wasn’t that her mother was being difficult, but their quick conversation was more or less ‘We’ll talk more about it later and can we just have a nice time?’ and Sair was confident things were okay right now. Later though… well, her and her mother had some things to work out, clearly. But it was not fair to anyone to do that now.

“Are you going to play?” Kel said, her face brightening with hope.

Sair scooped up Koro and brought him back to the picnic and she eyed the case. “I’m so out of practice,” she said with a frown before looking at Alex. “There is very real risk that I will harm your musical sensibilities.”

“Hush, don’t listen to her, Captain. Her father is a renowned prizar musician on our world and Sair has been playing since she was Koro’s age.”

“Duration does not indicate current skill,” Sair replied.

~Sair Songz & Family

“I’m unfamiliar with the instrument, but I do that playing is something that one just does.” Alex said. “If you want to play, just play. Don’t think. It will come.” and he nudged the case slightly towards her.

Cochrane, CO

Coercion, and yet a tiny smile pulled at Sair’s mouth. “Alright.” She pulled the polished wood case towards her as she shuffled back a bit to give herself more space. On to her lap she pulled out a 21-stringed trapezoidal instrument with a small movable bridge for each string. Made in a pale coloured wood inlaid with geometric designs in metal and stone, the delicate and expert craftsmanship spoke to the likely high value of the instrument.

Crossing her legs, Sair rested the prizar against her body with the longer side resting on her thighs and Sair took a few moments to settle it just right before she reached into the open case for a little bag tucked safely in a compartment. Reaching in she pulled out a metal fingerpick in a filigree design that she slipped onto her right index finger and gently plucked the first string, turning her head ever so slightly towards the strings as she assessed the delicate note that sounded.

Koro’s attention has become highly focused on his mother and he reached over to hand her the bag. Sair grinned. “Yes, yes, I’m getting there. Can you hand me them?” she asked Koro, who beamed. Sometimes his lack of words worried her but she also knew that he was immersed in a multilingual environment and it was clear he was absorbing new words. For the moment she was letting him learn at his own pace. As Koro handed the other plectra to her, she put them on her other fingers of her right hand as she looked at Cochrane. “You said you play the cello. That’s a string instrument too, if I recall?”

~Sair & Family

Cochrane nodded and said “It is. Four strings, tuned in fifths to C, G, D and A. Played upright while seated.”, his eyes moving over the instrument and taking in every detail.

Cochrane, CO

Sair nodded with understanding. “The prizar is tuned to a major pentatonic scale and…” She plucked the next few strings in turn, only adjusting the third one before she continued. “This is not too out of tune, fortunately for me. Otherwise it can take awhile.”

She finished tuning and the metal strings had a resonate quality to them even as they got into the higher register. Then she took some time to flex her fingers and stretch out her hands.

“Mira? Play eeso” Koro said, making Sair grin as she looked at Alex. “He wants me to play a specific folk sing that’s often used as a lullaby.”

“I used to hum it to Sair when she was a baby,” Kel said, smiling softly.

And ready to play, Sair blew out a breath. “Aright, here we go.” Inhaling slowly, she began to pluck out a tune that began in the lower registers. It was calm and flowing, almost like waves rolling in and out from shore. But there was a deeper part of it, a yearning almost, as she used her bare left fingers to cause tremolo or to add a softer harmony. As the song moved along it expanded into the upper registers of the instruments and Sair allowed it to be brighter, but still there was something quiet about the piece.

Koro watched with animation though he seemed to be relaxing much like his mother was. It wasn’t just that Sair was calmer, no. It was like for a few moments she could touch something deeper. For some music was a release but that had never been Sair’s experiences. Music for her had been about expressing the unspeakable, the things that everyday made normal that should not be. Even in a lullaby, there were things one could not escape.

Her fingers slowed slowed, finishing with a flourished chord and Sair blew out a breath. “Not terrible,” she said with a smirk.

“Nonsense! You father will be so just pleased you still play at all,” Kel said, beaming at her daughter.

~Sair & Family