video: un: tenskulls

[stayscared]

[sometimes a garden of 'wow, this is happening' blossoms out of a small seed. the idea had been theme music for storytime, and that had become a sudden scrounge for things beyond humming - actual instruments instead! (which beyond a few harps, and spotting yeah that's a guitar ...mike doesn't really know much about.)

he can't play them, and he doesn't know how to read sheet music. though he's an enthusiastic supporter.

but at least three of the koz kids do, and the story was interrupted by pleas and cheers for a treasure hunt, which resulted in two recorders, a harmonica, a pair of maracas and a ...fart piano. his blood does not care if he wanted that last one, and it's only responsible for that one thing until three more recorders appear, along with a kazoo. it's all downhill from there.

the music that he can't read results in several selections. one of which those kids would like to play for you now with dedication, straight from mike's omni without him realizing that it's happening. his omen knows, though, and she waves into the screen, nodding her ratty little head along with tune.

(nothing is in tune.)

it's terrible. it's great. it's ...happening. he has rick rolled the network. (he probably isn't the first, but maybe he'll be the last?) and give him a break, the rick roll's new from his timeline.]

Comments

Video; UN: Filledwithsunshine

[onebadapple]

[Snow has absolutely no concept of what a "Rick Roll" is, she only knows someone is clearly attempting to play music. She claps for Mike with complete sincerity as she always does for everyone she meets.]

Oh! That was a very good job! And with more practice, you'll get even better! You should be very proud of your efforts!

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[stayscared]

[it's hard to hear over the random sound of toot-tooting, but it catches his attention eventually once things have piped (ha) down a little - the song's over, and it's just a few amused kids still figuring out what noises they can make.]

This was supposed to be a test run. [a look directed at delmira, but he's trying not to smile. it's hard to be mad at his omen, and so what if it wasn't ready - the kids gave 100%.] Wasn't supposed to go live just yet, but I'll pass that on.

Hold on, I have a better idea---

[he's now turned the screen to the small group assembled, and there's an orange shirted boy that gives a loud whzzzzz on his kazoo when he sees snow's face on the screen. two girls are giggling over the fart piano, pressing random keys. ah, look. it has a burp setting. hilarious. he is laughing now.]

---hey, listen to what this nice girl has to say. Looks like it was a hit.

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[onebadapple]

Yes! Yes, it was wonderful! You should all be wonderfully proud of yourselves! I'm so happy to have been your audience!

[stayscared]

[smiles all around from any kids in view, and several burp-notes later, the girls look up, one nudging the other. both wave. the curlier haired one gives a wave before offering a beaming, laughy thank you!]

No problem. It was our pleasure. [a wry smile and a look at the omen, who does not look anything but cheerful.] Right Delmira?

[onebadapple]

You're so good with the children! Do you have many of your own?

[stayscared]

[there's a pause, and an ache that's in that silence no one else can hear, but it strikes at the heart of all of this - isn't that tied into why he's doing this?]

I had a daughter, so I've had a little bit of practice.

[he isn't looking into the screen when he says it, but his tone's even. wistful. and his omen adds helpfully: more than a little practice!]

[onebadapple]

Oh, a doting father, how absolutely splendid. [She doesn't miss the "had" comment.]

[stayscared]

[the smile is bittersweet. and he transfers his feelings into a gentle, awkward touch of his finger to his omen's nose - at which one of the fart piano girls lets loose a little high-pitched note of contribution. it's cute, as far as bodily humor goes, and mike can't help but laugh. how did he end up here?

you're splendid! the orange shirted boy shouts, looking over mike's shoulder into the omni and waving.]

They're very excited about this. I ...they appreciate the good review.

text | un: cleansingsong

[baiyueguang]

[Not everyone is born a musical genius, not even himself and his brother (though half the Jianghu is convinced that Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji sprung from the womb with guqin and xiao in their pudgy little baby hands). The noise and chaos reminds him fondly of the younger disciples just starting out in musical cultivation, and he makes a mental note to, should he ever be forced to return again, introduce whatever the kazoo is into the mix, and should Wangji complain about it, well. It would offer the perfect opportunity to make a pointed statement about silencing talismans.]

Mike-xiansheng is teaching them well. They have a solid grasp of melody and their enthusiasm seems boundless.

text: un: tenskulls

[stayscared]

[he is sparing you further fart piano shenanigans, but what an unexpected hit. guess there are going to have to be more instances of 'theme music'. the real mvps are orange shirt kid (geren) and the fart piano girls (kell and thea) - they're the music readers. mike's still figuring out how to play twinkle twinkle little star by trial and error. maybe one of them will help him out.

mike would approve of this plan for the kazoo - it's a good one. it's a real reason for a silencing talisman, too. countdown until either his omen or one of the porgs gently wakes him with it one morning. it's coming, he can sense it. an inescapable fate.]

I take no credit for the teaching. That's all them. I did contribute a fair amount of encouragement, and apparently some instruments.

video; un: lady

[dohaeris]

[sansa appears four years younger than usual, with her hair braided back very simply and her clothes not quite fitting. it's not immediately clear if she knows she's being recorded and intends to leave a comment.]

Oh, that's very sweet. I should like to learn an instrument.

video

[stayscared]

[it takes him a moment before he figures out what's off - and it turns out it's not his memory after all. it's this thing that's happening all over trench.]

You've got my vote. It's yes. You should, if that's what you want. [i should too. god he's bad at this.] I'm surprised you don't know a few already. There's a whole bunch to choose from, that's for sure.

They're better on these things than I am, which isn't saying much, but they've only been at this a week. The plan was to give it three and then show off, but someone got excited and I can't blame them.

[an offscreen smile at one of the girls noodling on the fart piano. perhaps no one noticed it was a rick roll. aw, man.]

[dohaeris]

[sansa starts a little to be addressed. she's not used to video communication...but she is used to people generally knowing who she is and what ladies do.]

I'm not a musician.

[though she will learn the basics of the high harp in a few months, and pick it back up in trench, eventually. she sighs a little.]

Perhaps it's a southern fashion for ladies to learn instruments, but we never had any at Winterfell. I can sing some songs, though. Perhaps the children might like to learn the one about Florian and Jonquil.

[stayscared]

[he sees that start and offers a small smile.]

I'm not either, but that didn't stop any of this from happening. [a laugh as he gestures at ...all of it. he's pleased with, even if the performance got let out of the bag early. it's fine.]

I don't know that one, and I bet they would like to hear it. You might even be able to teach it to them if you want.

I also bet your singing is a hell of a lot better than my playing.

[Video] un: QueenCobra

[abornfighter]

[Although Tory isn't saying anything mean, she can't quite hide the wincing reaction. Especially since she volunteers at the orphanage and that means she'll have to be confronted with...this. Thanks, she hates it.]

Did you and the kids just rickroll us?

[Tory Nichols: asking the important questions.]

video

[stayscared]

[finally! someone gets the reference. yes. YES. he's so excited over this he doesn't even see the wince. well, he does, but he's not focusing on that. he might remember it later. it's a very important question.]

Yes! Yes!!

[it's a rallying cry - he's been seen. he's not given a more enthusiastic yes in the four months he's been in trench. the serenade's over, but there are wheezes of discordant ...sounds here and there. and a couple shouts from the kids after his exclamation.]

[abornfighter]

Well, congratulations. You'd be the first to rickroll the network, as far as I know.

[stayscared]

[that gets his attention in a new way. no one has done this before? that's almost too good to be true.]

Well, that's a cause for celebration if I've ever heard one.

[he will make a little round of the room high fiving any kid that isn't otherwise occupied - which is like, four kids.]

Hear that? We just made an important moment in Trench history, so ...juiceboxes are on me. [everyone gets snacks, despite the fact they already got snacks. this is a milestone.]

text | un: wheninlanling

[poorlittlesange]

[his omni would choose the moment Jin Guangyao accesses Mike's stream to freeze--but only partially. the touchscreen is unresponsive to his sudden, desperate attempts to turn the volume down, but the sound itself blares like baby's very first klaxon call and leaves his ears ringing. Jin Guangyao slaps a hand over one ear and frantically keymashes with the other until his omni cooperates. this is hell. someone free him.

--oh thank god, finally, the touchscreen responds to his touch. mute.

he needs a moment to regain his composure before drafting his response.]

What an interesting song Mike-xiansheng is teaching the children.

[stayscared]

[he would be sorry if he knew this was happening. not a hundred percent sorry (sorry) but maybe seventy five. fifty?

the omnis sure do have a knack of when to freeze, don't they? it's almost like they know.]

It's a classic on a couple levels. An old classic, to hear some other people tell it. Now, imagine what we'd sound like if we had a real musician involved.

[is that a bit of an invite to help? well, of course it is.]

[Video] un: 008

[hachitaro]

[He's laughing and clapping.]

Fantastic. A classic. Impeccable. No notes.

[stayscared]

[hear that, kids? a classic. impeccable. mike turns the omni so they can see the clapping, and the fart piano girls take a double bow through their smiles.]

No notes. That's good.

[it feels good to laugh. there was a time he'd forgotten how to do it without bitterness, sadness, always tinged with something else. this is just a laugh. damn, is it welcome.]

[hachitaro]

Look, I can appreciate a classic meme when I hear one. It's been too long since someone rickrolled me.

[stayscared]

[surprise on his face. it is, after all, very new in his timeline.]

It's a classic?

[THIS BECOMES A CLASSIC? best thing he could have heard. the puns about it being classical will just have to be a thing now.]

[hachitaro]

Yeah, are you from like 2008? I'm from 2022. It's still a classic. People don't really Rickroll anymore, but everyone recognizes the first few notes if they're even a little bit online.

Unless it's like your mom on Facebook or something.

[stayscared]

Close, but no cigar. 2007.

I don't know that one. And here I thought I had a pretty good grasp on the "your mom" joke genre.

[hachitaro]

Oh, that wasn't really intended to be? Facebook - man, it would have still been kind of new when you're from, but basically all of the millennials and younger people have abandoned it and all that's left are crazy aunts in conspiracy groups and moms in craft circles and... dads also in conspiracy groups.

It's not a good scene.

video; un: d.larusso

[miyagimagic]

[ Mike just blasting old memes like the true old man he is.. Please, this one is way old by Daniel's time. Old enough that even a middle aged dad like Daniel knows about it, probably.

But he's not focusing on that. Instead he's focusing on what's going on here in general - is this Mike organizing some sort of musical afternoon activity for the kids? That's cute, even if he's rick rolling the place. ]

Having fun?

[ He'll instead just ask that. Casually.

Having fun listening to those kazoos, Mike? ]

[stayscared]

[he's full of old man memes, even if he is younger technically (no he will not let that go, daniel). but yes, it's old. like both of them.]

I'm not hating it.

[he says, trying to deadpan, but instead just bursting into a laugh. the kazoos are terrible. it's all terrible. but god, it's fun. his face hurts from smiling, and it's hard to contain. it's just absolutely ridiculous.

ah, there goes the fart piano.]

[miyagimagic]

Sure, but I think 'enjoyment' may be a big word here.

[ As evidenced by the fact that Daniel's voice coming from the Omni is probably being half drowned out by the fart piano...

Mike, why would you do this to the world.

Though Daniel is just sappy enough of a friend to add, real casual: ]

It's good to see you smile though.

[ Real dudes aren't afraid to tell other dudes they want them to be happy!! ]

[stayscared]

[he can't help it. it isn't his fault! (it is.)

god. are they purposefully trying to play him background music as he speaks? are they composing a fart serenade? yes, and yes.

he lets out a snort at the series of 'notes'. and looks back to the omni, a bit of sincerity under the laughter.]

It's a nice change of pa--- [KAZOO INTERRUPTION!]

[you know, after his questionable history of network posts. but yes, real dudes want their friends to be happy. they ...have friends. they can talk about their feelings. it's still feels new.]

[miyagimagic]

[ Oh god.

The kazoo interruption. These kids are clearly growing way too powerful, and Daniel shakes his head, even if it is - judging by the expression on his face - in amusement. ]

Do you even have the heart to tell them they'll have to cut this out at some point?

[ You know, before any eardrums are permanently ruptured. Maybe Mike's own first and foremost. ]

Video; UN Lothrat

[ezra_of_lothal]

Playing one of my jams and breaking out the recorders? My only complaint is I wasn't there to join in.

[Ezra was 100% a band geek in another life, and he loves playing with the kids. So, yes, while he's being silly - he really would have played along if he'd been physically present.]

[stayscared]

I'm pretty sure there's going to be a repeat performance, so consider that complaint addressed?

[the kids would love it. also, please. teach them your other jams. please. god. they deserve someone more competent.]

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Ezra laughs.]

Ok, music lessons on my rotations for the afternoons I'm there. Got it.

[stayscared]

[deadpan:]

For me or them?

[ezra_of_lothal]

Anyone who's being chill is welcome to join.

[stayscared]

We can make chill happen. Probably after a snack break.

[is he talking about the kids? yes. himself? maybe.]

[ezra_of_lothal]

Snack breaks are important!

Sometimes naps.

[Is he going to get boo-ed for that last bit? Maybe!]

[stayscared]

[mike thinks naps are important, but there is a protesting kazoo, and what can only be nopes from the fart piano girls ...by way of the fart piano. funny, crude, boos, but boos nonetheless.

mike still tries to sell them on it, however.]

Hey, I could use a nap. [incredulous looks.] Yeah, I nap. Naps are cool.