[The point or not, Wei Wuxian immediately moves closer, taking a deep look inside and even reaching in to brush his fingers along what parts of the instrument he can reach. He can see now how it all comes together, and it's fascinating. There's an obvious joy in his eyes to have discovered more about how it works and when he steps back and looks back up at Gene, some of the melancholy he'd entered the room with has vanished.]
What an amazing woman. And here you are, spreading her legacy across the universe. [He reaches into his own robes and pulls a bamboo flute out, holding it up for Gene to see.] I was never very good at anything with strings, but I've been playing this for long enough to be alright.
（ his smile goes soft at the edges, gently fond at the man's reaction. ）
Yeah? Will you play somethin' for me if I ask real sweet?
（ music has always been so much of his heart an' soul. everyone in his family had a gift for somethin' — john made robbie somethin' like a guitar out of old coffee tins an' wood an' wire not long after their pa had that minin' accident, an' he's got letters in his footlocker back home that detail the practice he'd been doin' on the real thing. can't wait until you're home, robbie wrote excitedly, but he hears it in reggie's voice as the man read it to him aloud — we'll damn near have a whole band. an' he'd looked forward to it, even though their plans went sideways after al lost an arm an' couldn't play the fiddle their ma hauled outta london just after the great war. gene ain't never met an instrument he didn't like nor a song he couldn't find somethin' to enjoy, an' the prospect of a new instrument seems to delight him. ）
That seems more than fair. [Wei Wuxian smiles, and doesn't wait for the aforementioned request. The song Gene had played on the Piano was gift enough for him to return the favor. He pauses for a moment to consider what to play, and then lifts the dizi to his lips when he's made his choice.
The song he chooses is a sweet yearning tune that he'd picked up in Yiling, a popular local song about a traveler's wanderlust. He isn't sure if it was originally from Yiling, but it brings him back to his time there nonetheless, and the bittersweet memories always bleed into his playing.
When he finishes the song, he lowers his flute and smiles softly at Gene.]
（ haunting, is the word for it. gene finds himself takin' a seat back on that piano bench, expression solemn as he listens. he takes in every note, enraptured by the sweet melody until the fella's done. he's smilin', then, just a touch. ）
Sure did. Ain't ever heard anythin' quite like that, gorgeous sound. Like somethin' from a dream.
[He raises a finger to rub self consciously at his nose and his cheeks take on a pleased flush, not used to receiving such high praise for his playing. Then again, music was the last thing people associated his flute with back home.]
It's a beautiful instrument, isn't it? I can teach you if you'd like. Not now, I don't have an extra, but it's not so hard!
[His eyes track to the piano and then back to the harmonica and he nods, smiling warmly. As much as he'd love to be able to play that piano, the harmonica makes such an interesting sound, and it's closer to what he already knows.]
It's a deal. It shouldn't take me long to get a hold of another dizi. I'll let you know when I do.
[Exhaling quietly, Wei Wuxian resigns himself to heading back to his room. He's feeling much calmer now than he was before, and this is a music room. Of all the places in the station to go to avoid Lan Wangji, this probably isn't the best one.]
...I should be getting back to my room. I've got some things to take care of. Do you want to meet here again on another day, Gene?
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no subject
Date: 2022-10-10 03:43 am (UTC)What an amazing woman. And here you are, spreading her legacy across the universe. [He reaches into his own robes and pulls a bamboo flute out, holding it up for Gene to see.] I was never very good at anything with strings, but I've been playing this for long enough to be alright.
no subject
Date: 2022-10-10 02:27 pm (UTC)Yeah? Will you play somethin' for me if I ask real sweet?
（ music has always been so much of his heart an' soul. everyone in his family had a gift for somethin' — john made robbie somethin' like a guitar out of old coffee tins an' wood an' wire not long after their pa had that minin' accident, an' he's got letters in his footlocker back home that detail the practice he'd been doin' on the real thing. can't wait until you're home, robbie wrote excitedly, but he hears it in reggie's voice as the man read it to him aloud — we'll damn near have a whole band. an' he'd looked forward to it, even though their plans went sideways after al lost an arm an' couldn't play the fiddle their ma hauled outta london just after the great war. gene ain't never met an instrument he didn't like nor a song he couldn't find somethin' to enjoy, an' the prospect of a new instrument seems to delight him. ）
no subject
Date: 2022-10-11 06:06 am (UTC)The song he chooses is a sweet yearning tune that he'd picked up in Yiling, a popular local song about a traveler's wanderlust. He isn't sure if it was originally from Yiling, but it brings him back to his time there nonetheless, and the bittersweet memories always bleed into his playing.
When he finishes the song, he lowers his flute and smiles softly at Gene.]
Did it live up to your expectations?
no subject
Date: 2022-10-12 09:53 pm (UTC)Sure did. Ain't ever heard anythin' quite like that, gorgeous sound. Like somethin' from a dream.
no subject
Date: 2022-10-15 02:14 am (UTC)It's a beautiful instrument, isn't it? I can teach you if you'd like. Not now, I don't have an extra, but it's not so hard!
no subject
Date: 2022-10-17 04:57 pm (UTC)Only if I get to teach you piano. Or the harmonica — we got our options.
（ he pulls the little instrument out of his breast pocket, waggles it about an' then hammers a few seconds of bluesy refrain into it. ）
Little less fingerin' than your fine flute, though.
（ this is not an innuendo, he is a polite young man from a respectable house!!! ）
no subject
Date: 2022-10-23 05:39 pm (UTC)It's a deal. It shouldn't take me long to get a hold of another dizi. I'll let you know when I do.
[Exhaling quietly, Wei Wuxian resigns himself to heading back to his room. He's feeling much calmer now than he was before, and this is a music room. Of all the places in the station to go to avoid Lan Wangji, this probably isn't the best one.]
...I should be getting back to my room. I've got some things to take care of. Do you want to meet here again on another day, Gene?
no subject
Date: 2022-10-24 02:15 pm (UTC)（ he gives the fella a companionable nod, an' leaves him to it. ）