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 Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:12 pm
  It is a nice Friday afternoon, and like it always is on days like this, the campus of Jaradin is bustling with life. In an attempt to get away for some quiet personal time, Hùang Jùnrén has disappeared off to a secluded music room in the music hall with his erhu. Samantha, entranced by the melody of the instrument, follows the music out of curiosity.
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:29 pm
A haunting, forlorn melody resonated throughout the only occupied music room in the music hall and throughout the entire corridor as well. A lone figure sat off in the corner of the room, seemingly lost in the music. Jùnrén, the younger of the two princes of Chialen, often got like this when he played. The notes of the music swept him away, carrying him off into another world entirely his own. It was there that nothing could touch him - nothing could bother him. He could relax and be himself, which is just how he liked it.
Currently, it was a Friday afternoon on campus. Classes had just let out for the day, and that could only mean one thing: everywhere was crowded. The grounds of Jaradin seemed to bustle with life as soon as the weekend started, and the same could be said for after class during the week as well. For the prince, this wasn't an ideal time. He preferred the quiet hours much more; time he could spend walking around the school and just enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, that couldn't happen right now, so the soon-to-be-emperor went to the next best spot - his favorite music room.
Jùnrén had had a passion for the arts ever since he was little, the complete opposite of his elder brother, Dáwei. Their grandfather had given the younger of the two twins his first erhu when he was about four years old, and he had been playing ever since. It was difficult at first, much like all things are. Yet after years and years of practice, Jùnrén had managed to hone his skill and perfect it as best as he could. The same could be said for his two other favorite pass times as well: poetry and calligraphy. Among the people of Oawo, the boy had become quite renowned for these talents, which was quite typical for someone of his status. His elder brother, too, was well-known for things in his own right, particularly war-tactics and public-speaking.
As the tune continued, the boy's eyes seemed to close. A soft and gentle smile - a signature look of his - tugged at his lips. Yes, it was clear, by the looks of things, that Jùnrén had found his moment. He was in his comfort zone, and there was no way that anyone, by any means, would be able to take him away from that.
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Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:21 am
The soft, scritching noise of a pencil against parchment was drowned out by the laughter and chatter of a busy hallway. Settled into a cross-legged sitting position against a wall, it was no surprise that Samantha was often overlooked and almost trampled. The class that she had just left had been difficult, and her mind needed a rest. The headache developing in her skull from the noise and the angry scowls of those rushing off for their weekend activities didn't exactly help ease her pain. Her ears began to burn as she repeatedly apologized, the frustrated frown only growing on her face.
"Perhaps we should move," a deep, calm voice suggested at last. Looking briefly to her right, she saw what appeared to be a mouse with antlers. Her daemling. She nodded to him and, with a sigh, gathered her materials and began to scurry down the hall.
The crowd gradually thinned out until she was nearly alone... At last, a quiet place to think and draw. However, when she finally got settled in and the throbbing pain in her head ceased, a new noise began to seep into her ears. No, this wasn't noise. This was music. The melody was sad; almost depressing. And yet, it made her smile. However, it was so soft from here, losing its volume as it echoed down the corridor. Suddenly losing that nagging interest to swim within her own head and draw, she stood once again and followed the haunting melody.
As it grew louder, he smile wavered. What was she getting into? Was she intruding on someone else's moment of solitude? Slowing for a moment, she only continued on the behest of a cold, wet nose on her hand. This was the second time that her daemon had ever touched her. After a deep breath, she carried on.
After a short while longer, she finally reached the room from which the song was leaking. Looking around, she immediately saw the source of the mysterious music; a boy around her age, she guessed. He seemed nearly entranced by his own playing, with such a peaceful smile on his face. Remaining in the doorway instead of daring to step inside, Samantha found herself closing her eyes as well, savoring each forlorn note as it hummed past her ears.
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Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:14 pm
The boy was apparently completely oblivious to the girl's presence in the doorway. He just continued on with this playing. The bow of the erhu continued to move over the instrument's two lone strings. As it did, the music went on and on, and Jùnrén lost himself. All he could think about as he played was his family, his people, and his country back home. It was a lot to take in, but somehow that's all he could picture when he played. The erhu was like that - a traditional instrument of Chialen. Eventually, though, the notes faded away into the air, leaving a slight melancholy aura within the music room.
Without even skipping a beat, Jùnrén smirked and addressed the girl.
"Enjoy yourself, did you? I hope so, as it isn't often I have an audience."
The situation he was in was amusing. The prince hadn't even needed to turn around to know that someone else was in the room with him. He could feel it; just tell that there was another presence nearby him. Simple things like this - things that others might not have noticed - were easy to pick up for the boy. While his brother had a flair for speaking to people and being motivational, Jùnrén was able to read the small things like emotions and facial expressions to see how others were feeling.
Once he had addressed the girl, the prince did end up turning around. Jùnrén stood immediately as he laid his eyes on his companion; it wouldn't be proper at all to continue sitting in front of a lady. He then bowed to her slightly as was customary in his culture. That was Jùnrén for you; ever the gentleman. It was only after he had finished addressing the girl that the prince moved to put his erhu away. He had been playing long enough, and it would be time to go soon. His brother was probably off waiting for him somewhere around campus, and he didn't want to keep him waiting.
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:01 pm
In the mere instant that Junren had spoken, Samantha had managed to nearly trip herself. One half of her told her to run, and the other to stay, resulting in a rather embarrassing position that left her clinging to the doorframe, on foot crossed over the other. Humming nervously as she righted herself, she took one hand and rubbed he back of her neck; a failed attempt at hiding her nervousness. No, the scarlet tone of her face erased any chance of that. In response to his bow, she offered an awkward, open-palmed wave, her fingers spread wide and stiffened.
"I'm so sorry for intruding, sir. B-but the music was very, um... I was -er- walking down the hall, and I happened to hear it. Sorry," she said, her words stumbling over themselves like drunken men from a bar. At last, she gulped and took a deep breath, her composure improving ever so slightly. What a fool she was making of herself! After a moment of inward scolding, she finally worked up the courage to speak once more.
"Y-you play that instrument very well... I've never seen one like it." She leaned forward slightly, trying to get a peek at the erhu before he put it away. Where could it have come from? And, come to think of it, where did the boy himself come from? His voice, appearance, and even that bow seemed out of place. At least, she had never seen one quite like him back in her small hometown. The only things keeping her from asking was her own meekness, and the fact that she was unsure whether or not asking if someone was foreign happened to be rude. Without thinking, she began to fiddle her fingers around the end of her green tartan scarf, and continued peering curiously over at the young man across the room.
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