6566/Sarod in the Park

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Sarod in the Park
Date of Scene: 14 June 2021
Location: Bushwick <Mutant Town>
Synopsis: Laxmi and Alison meet - and Alison offers the young musician a business card. Business contact score!
Cast of Characters: Laxmi Mallick, Alison Blaire




Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    Sitting underneath a tree in the rather sparse, and somewhat pitiful park in Bushwick is a woman with dusky skin and black hair but green eyes, with a brightly colored skirt of sari silk, and a shirt that leaves both her midriff and back showing. In her arms she holds a large, stringed instrument with a smooth, silvery neck. Her fingers fly over the many strings, creating a deep, resonate sound and an almost haunting melody as she sings along with the tune in Hindi - there's something sad, but almost hopeful in the tune, as her fingers slide up and down the neck of the instrument seemlessly.

Alison Blaire has posed:
She's out! And about! And only mostly attempting to hide her identity as she goes for a jog through Bushwick. Alison Blaire is out for a run in the late afternoon because that is what you do when you have a gap in your recording schedule and ate half a pizza last night by yourself. She turns the corner onto the street Laxmi's park is on, and then turns again to start jogging on the path through the park. It's then that the sound of the Sarod catches her ear, and she slows to a stop as she tries to place it, starting to unconsciously walk in the direction of its source.

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    Nearby, the sounds of children laughing and calling to one another mix with the music as a group of children kick a soccer ball around the park. Not far from them is a small playground - with just a swing, and a simple slide, in a sandbox. The equipment looks like it's decades old - and one of the swings has a broken chain, and hangs uselessly. Not that that stops children from grabbing it and trying to swing like 'Tarzan.'
    Laxmi, though, hardly seems aware of them as she sits with her back straight to support her singing as she continues to strum.
    Well. Other than the little girl who's stopped to stare with wide eyes. The girl gets a smile and a nod as the singer continues her song.

Alison Blaire has posed:
This isn't the 'best' part of town (despite Bushwick's recent gentrification), but Alison does not seem particularly worried, as she walks closer to Laxmi. She listens appreciatively, humming along to the tune that she plays, but otherwise does not interrupt the performer for the time being. Just, hands clasped behind her back, swaying with the music just a little.

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    The song slowly fades out - and Laxmi takes a deep breath in, and lets it out slowly, before she lowers the instrument to rest on its back in her lap. She smiles first at the girl who applauds enthusiastically - before running off to a nearby bench calling, "Mommy, mommy! Did you hear the lady's music? She was making music! Did you hear?"
    Laxmi's attention turns next to Alison, who she greets with a nod. "Namaste," she adds, pressing her hands together in a traditional greeting.

Alison Blaire has posed:
A smile passes over Alison's features at the enthusiasm the girl shows, though she doesn't join in clapping. "A very pretty tune. Sounds Indian, but I cannot place the instrument you're playing....what is it, if you don't mind me asking?" she asks, nodding towards the musical device laying across Laxmi's lap. "And, sorry, hello. Sorry, terribly rude of me to just ask without any sort of greeting."

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "I'll admit, few people outside of Indian culture are familiar with it," Laxmi replies with a tolerant smile. "It's called a sarod. This one has 19 strings." Apparently that is not always the case, though. "But you primarily use these four to create the melody," she explains, lifting the instrument once more to demonstrate - and playing only those four strings. It loses some of the haunting, droning quality the instrument had demonstrated before.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison Blaire nods, "I think I've heard it before, though...a long time ago. Maybe during my studies..." she says, considering for a few moments as she thinks, "But, I love its sound, it's so very rich." She then seems to remember that introductions include names as well, and she says, "I'm Alison, by the way. Nice to meet you, you have a nice voice as well."

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "I'm Laxmi, Alison. A pleasure to meet you," she replies - offering the woman a smile, then gesturing to invite her to sit beside her. "Thank you. I've been studying music most of my life - what is life without art, after all?" she asks rhetorically. "If you'd like, you can try playing a few notes," she invites.
    Does she recognize the other musician? Or was she really just this generous and trusting? It's a bit hard to tell.

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Oh, no, I doubt I could do more than just pick a few strings. Thank you though," Alison replies, before she asks, "Do you play professionally, or is this more of a hobby?" It would seem she recognizes some formal training, even though the instrument is unfamiliar to her.

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "Ah - well. I only recently graduated, actually, so I hope to play professionally. I just don't have enough work lined up, quite yet, to make a full living off of it," Laxmi replies with something akin to embarrassment. "So at the moment I'm waiting tables in the evening - and auditioning, and trying to produce music by day." It keeps her busy, that for certain. "I'm sure I'll get there."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"You'll get there. It's not...a linear thing. Some people take years to get their music to where they can make a living off of it. When I first started...there were a lot of days I lived off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches." Alison replies with a small smile, before she pulls a small card out of the back of her cellphone case, "When you've got something you're ready to share, email this address and I'll take a listen, ok?" she asks, before he cellphone starts beeping at her, "And...enough standing around time it seems, I've gotta go get to a meeting myself, pleasure to meet you Laxmi," she says.

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    Laxmi accept the card with a smile - using both hands to do so. It was, after all, a way of showing respect. "I would be honored to share some of my music with you, Ms. Blaire," she says with gratitude. Maybe she had recognized her, after all? "Goodluck with your meeting, and the pleasure has been mine," she assures her.