[Video] Rabbit Day 3... with Rabbits

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi was in greenhouse carriage as usual. It was usually his place for making any sort of posts on the train as he enjoyed it there. This time, there actually was a reason... because he had two rabbits and it was the month of rabbit.

You know... appropriate.

So Little Carrot was sitting inside his robes with his tiny head sticking out, nose wiggling as WangJi spoke]

Good day. I wanted to inform those on the train with a musical inclination that I have ordered a guqin so that others may try and play it.

[He adjusted the video to show the very long zither instrument sitting on the ground near him. It definitely wasn't his own. The colors were different and it didn't have any of the markings showing it belonged to a Gusu Lan disciple.

There was also Little Radish the white rabbit next to it, sniffing it and trying to figure out what it was]

If anyone would like to learn more about it, feel free to ask. This one, I will leave in the music carriage.

Comments

[achickenformylove]

[He would certainly be willing to teach her if she wanted. Guqin at least had the benefit not relying on air to make it play. Officially just plucking the strings was playing the instrument and they tended not to play fast paced music in general in Gusu Lan]

There are a few. The others of me know how to play it as well the two disciples from my world. It is not a very common instrument to play, but I thought that others might wish to try it.

[happyends]

Oh, so it must be pretty well known in your world then..

[ Even though he's saying that it's not a common instrument, he's still summing up quite a lot of people from his world here on this train who could play it. Maybe it's something that only exists in their world?

.. who knows. Madoka really can't be sure. ]

I'm not sure if I've ever seen anything like it where I come from.

[achickenformylove]

It is known. Our sect is known for having guqin players.

There are smaller versions of it. The guqin is one of the larger zither instruments. If you would like it see it for yourself, you are welcome.

[happyends]

Okay, I guess I can stop by.. [ It's not like she has anything better to do at the moment, after all. Madoka already finished her chores for the day! ]

Are you there right now, sir? In that case, I'll come right over!

[achickenformylove]

[Very good that she had finished her chores. WangJi always preferred to do them early as well so he didn't have to worry about them later]

I am in the Greenhouse Carriage right now. I can come to the Music Carriage if you would prefer.

[happyends]

Um, do you still have the guqin with you right now?

[ Because she won't mind going over to the music car together if it's where the instrument is, but.. ]

If you do, then please don't worry about it! I'll just come over to the greenhouse instead! [ After all, if Wangji is nice enough to show the instrument off to her, then the least Madoka can do - in her opinion - is to come over, instead of making him move. ]

[achickenformylove]

It is still with me here in the Greenhouse Carriage.

[He shifted the video to show that his white rabbit had taken to sitting on the new guqin. Not anywhere near the strings, but on the body of it]

I will wait for you here then.

[happyends]

[ Madoka nods, just to show she's understood it, and then cuts the feed. She seems to be in a hurry, since he can even see her running off a moment before she pulls her ticket out of the machine enough to be able to fully run away.

Which means that between her rush and the transgates it truly doesn't take long before Madoka already appears in the greenhouse, moving between all the different plants in the direction of where she can see the man. ]

Mister Wangji..! Here I am!

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi could definitely see her beginning to run before she cut the feed so he was definitely expecting her shortly. The transgates certainly helped with moving through the train faster at least.

He smiled as she came running over. Little Carrot, now on the ground, went bouncing over in her direction. Friend!]

It is good to see you. I'm glad that you were interested in seeing the guqin.

[happyends]

Of course I was...!

[ But even as she's replying, it's hard to not notice one of Wangji's little bunny friends hopping in her direction. Madoka is already squatting down to start giving the creature some gentle pats. Can't ignore an animal that greets you in a way that's so friendly, after all..!

She turns her head up slightly so she can actually look over at the man while she is still patting the rabbit. ]

After all, if it's something that's important to you, then I want to learn all about it! [ Especially since that gives Wangji a chance to talk about something he likes. That's important. ]

[achickenformylove]

[Little Carrot was very happy with pets and practically smiled... in a rabbit-y way at getting pets. Definitely encouragement for him not to ignore her.

WangJi smiled at her comment] Thank you. I do appreciate that. If you have something similar from your world, I'd like to learn about it as well.

[happyends]

[ Madoka hums. ]

You mean something like a musical instrument..? [ Since that's what the thing he was describing is, right?

But that just leaves her thinking for a moment before shaking her head. ]

Sorry, but I'm.. um. [ The girl seems to be thinking of how to put this, before continuing to add: ] I'm not very good with music.

[ That's a fair explanation. ]

So I don't know if there are any musical instruments that are very unique to my world.. I don't even really know how to play any. [ But she does, apparently, know how to properly appreciate bunnies.

Because she's still patting Little Carrot. ]

[achickenformylove]

Or anything from your world that you wanted to share. It does not have to be a musical instrument. It is common in my sect to learn to play, but many others do not require it and thus they do not know how to play.

[He smiled faintly watching as she continued to pet the rabbit. And Little Carrot was very happy with pets too]

[happyends]

I don't know if there's really anything special from my world to share..

[ Of course, part of that might just be Madoka being humble. She never likes being the center of attention - and it's probably why she's saying all of this in the first place.

She's always far more content hearing things from other people than talking about any of her own. ]

For now.. I'd just like to hear more about your instrument, mister Wangji..! If that's okay.

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi knew her well enough to guess that she was probably just being humble, but that was just her way. If she didn't want to share or want to be the center of attention, that was fine with WangJi. He had kind of ended up the model of their sect, but he had never actually sought out being the center of attention]

Of course. Please join me.

[He gestured to a place near him, indicating she could sit near him. Don't worry; Little Carrot will follow. But he reached over to remove Little Radish from his seat upon the guqin. He can't play with a bunny on it]

[happyends]

[ Don't worry, Madoka has the perfect solution here.

Which is sitting down next to Wangji at the spot he indicates as the first step. When Little Carrot follows her, she gently puts the rabbit on her lap.. but then she grabs Little Radish as well. Madoka's lap may not be huge, but she can shape it so that it can at least fit two rabbits.

She even has two hands for petting, which means neither of the adorable little creatures will have to feel either jealous or neglected.

Though the petting is very much idle, since her gaze and attention are instead aimed at the man sitting next to her. ]

It looks so big when it's on your lap like that. [ She remarks. ]

[achickenformylove]

[The rabbits are both very happy with this solution and they are perfectly willing to share. Neither are complaining about only getting one half of the lap, one hand for the pets. They both sit there patiently and let her pet them]

It is quite long. It is three chi, six cun, and five fen in length.

[happyends]

Doesn't that make it harder to play..? Because it's so big?

[ Not like she knows - but that's why they're here, right? It's basically a show and tell session, and Madoka feels comfortable enough with Wangji, especially this particular one who's been here for so long, that she can just ask it. Without getting all shy.

Mostly because she knows he wouldn't be bothered by her questions, especially since they seem to be born out of nothing but pure curiosity. It shows in her innocent gaze as she looks at the other. ]

[achickenformylove]

Not particularly for an adult. It is more difficult for those who are young.

[He picked up the guqin, setting it across his lap. He placed one hand near the wider end of the instrument near were the string rest was while the other was closer to the more narrow end.

Then he began to play song, keeping that one hand in the same spot while the other moved along instrument depending on what he was trying to play.

The hardest part definitely seemed to be more knowing where to move ones hands on the instrument at any time]

[happyends]

[ Madoka thinks he's right. It'd probably be pretty hard for her to try and play it.. She is much smaller than Wangji, after all, and she doesn't think her arms could always reach far enough to be able to properly play on it.

But rather than remarking that, she just watches as the other plays. Silently. Madoka may at some points even be consciously holding her breath, like she doesn't even want the faint sound of breathing to interrupt the music the other is making..

It's tempting to close her eyes to listen even better, but she doesn't want to miss out on the way his hands move across the instrument. So as Madoka is sitting there, silently listening, she seems to be paying close attention to the way he's tending to the instrument. To where he keeps moving his hands. ]

[achickenformylove]

[When he finished, he settled his hands back on the instrument to stop the strings from vibrating anymore]

The different hui on the instrument- [He indicated the dots that were visible on it] show the player where to put their hands to play certain notes and tones. Some will be the same string, but perhaps at hui 4 or at hui 10.

For those who are young, it is difficult to reach the furthest ones easily.

[happyends]

Yeah, I'm not sure if I could..

[ Though Madoka is making sure to not touch the instrument - it's probably important to Wangji, after all, and she wouldn't want to accidentally put her hands on it when he might not want her to! - she still stretches her arms right in front of her into the air, just to show why she thinks so.

Her arms aren't particularly long, just like the rest of her. Madoka's a tiny girl. ]

I'd definitely need an instrument that's a little smaller than this one.

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi watched with a faint smile as she tried to see if she could reach the length of the guqin]

There are smaller options. Guqin is one of the largest qin. Songs for younger players usually don't use the furthest hui.

[happyends]

[ Oh! Hold on, that seems especially interesting to Madoka. Her eyes are wide with curiosity. ]

They have different songs for different ages?

[ It makes sense. After all, if young people are too small to reach all the notes, they'd need to have songs that don't use those notes.. ]

Wow.. That was so smart to think of! The people who made this instrument really must have been very wise..

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi nodded]

Usually for those younger and new to playing the instrument, the music is not as difficult. As you progress, it begins to get harder, but it is not something that I would ask someone new to play a song with all the hui immediately.