breathe in

[troubadamsel]

WHO: Maribelle and Kei
WHERE: Kei's home.
WHEN: Early August, Pre-Event.
WHAT: Let's Learn Meditation!
WARNINGS: None.

Maribelle had only faintly heard of meditation from others, and still wasn't entirely sure what it meant. But how difficult could it be? ... At least it couldn't be more difficult than braiding flower crowns, which had proven to be surprisingly challenging... Anyway! Maribelle was confident she could get through this easily, and become a better person for it. Kei did seem like a reasonable and sensible man, more of which the town needed.

She arrived promptly, knocking three times before announcing her presence. "This is Maribelle."

Comments

[totheno1]

The door opens rather quickly when Kei steps out, being careful that Maribelle doesn't have to see or meet the other cohabitants of the building. Pieces of tattered clothing have been rolled up and folded; they'll be used as mats as soon as they get to their destination.

"Miss Maribelle."

His gloved hand points towards the direction that leads to the outskirts of the forest.

"We will head towards this direction. I feel being away from the districts will help for this exercise greatly."

[troubadamsel]

Such a gentleman! Maribelle's already high expectations raise tenfold. She bows her head slightly, hand to chest, before walking alongside him. "It would be nice to have some peace and quiet, away from people."

Though she can't help but glance at the forests... it tends to be dangerous, but surely just being near it won't hurt, right?

Clark Kent

[troubadamsel]

[totheno1]

"The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind." Kei's replied seem to be more from a self-help book than anything else, but he did seem to believe it.

He notices her glance and gives her a small smile.

"Do not worry...should there be an issue, I will have no problem dealing with it. I will keep watch while I teach you to mediate. Besides, we are only going close, not enough for whatever creatures lurk to take proper notice."

How thoughtful.

[troubadamsel]

Had she known they would be going near the dangerous forest, she would have brought along one of her tomes, or at least her healing staff... Oh well, too late to do it now. She'd just look like a paranoid worrywart, and we can't have that. Best to face this with grace and dignity, her head held high.

"Of course, of course. We'll be able to handle this, and I do trust your abilities. I'll focus only on meditation, you have my word."

[totheno1]

Perhaps having her act like a paranoid worrywart had been part of Kei's plan all along...to show her that to mediate you needed to concentrate included the belief and trust of others.

Maybe.

"Good."

Once they reach an area where Kei feels is proper, me builds a small seat of pieces of torn tissues and cloth that can function as a proper sitting area.

"Keep in mind that the ground's own natural hills won't be negated by this. Part of the training is to ignore what lies under you and concentrate on yourself."

Still, he invited her to sit down as he prepared his own, directly in front of her.

[troubadamsel]

Thankfully, Maribelle isn't THAT snotty, she can handle sitting on grass and dirt... for a while.

She took her time sitting down, legs crossed, glancing at him to see if this was the right way. "Is there any sort of... special position...?"

[girod]

[ As they'd discussed, Clark made his way to where he knew Maribel was to be found, not looking forward to this, exactly, but a part of him was glad to have it done. He hated that he'd been keeping his abilities away from some of the people who took care of emergency services; there were dangers, to the route he was taking now, but just as many advantages. ]

Maribel?

[totheno1]

"What you feel is the most comfortable, miss Mirabelle. Traditionally, there are three positions when sitting; lotus, half-lotus and burmese like you are currently doing."

As an example, he set down on a mat he made for himself, removing his shoes and getting into a full lotus pose with his legs. If he didn't make it so easy, it would probably look plenty painful.

"Burmese is best to start out with. Keep in mind that meditation is meant to relax but also to help you stretch out your muscles and keep you in better shape."

Or at least as Kei was taught.

[troubadamsel]

[Maribelle opens the door, politely bowing her head and stepping aside to let him in.

... she's still internally screaming WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT, but, one must always be a classy lady.]

Clark, a pleasure. Please, come in, and make yourself at home.

[troubadamsel]

How is he doing that with his legs?! How have they not snapped?! She's so amazed at his talent she doesn't even get mad at the accidental insinuation she needs to lose weight. Good call.

"I... I see. In that case, since I'm just starting, I'll stick with 'burmese'. Not need to go all the way all at once..."

[girod]

[ He walks in with a bow of his head in greeting in return. ]

Thank you for having me, Maribel. I really am sorry that all of this is only coming up now.

[troubadamsel]

You have your reasons, I suppose. We can't all trust each other immediately, nor can we even begin to understand what each other's home realm is like.

[totheno1]

If Kei knew what she might have thought, he would have apologized; he meant stretching ability and certainly not her weight.

"Do not worry. A few months will increase your flexibility as you become more attuned to your body." He looks back at her, and briefly closes his eyes.

"What's most important right now is to concentrate on your breathing. Take slow breathes and exhale slowly. Ignore everything else around you."

[troubadamsel]

If he's closing her eyes, then so shall she. She takes a deep breath, and tries to think only about her breathing.

In... out. In... out. Is she supposed to say something? Wait, don't think about that! Don't think about not thinking! I-In, out...

[girod]

[ He bows his head to her and scrubs at the back of his neck. ]

It's less that I don't trust the people here and more that I worry about when I get home. Keeping certain things secret is a necessity there.

[troubadamsel]

[Interesting.]

You think what happens here will affect your life back there?

[totheno1]

"You're breathing too fast," he told her, gently. "It is rather hard to grasp at first, don't don't worry if we don't quite figure it out today...the ability to tune out everything and not let the mind wander is extremely difficult to master. I myself still have issue with it."

If she looked back at him, she'd notice he had one eye open. Just making sure that nothing was around them, after all.

[girod]

I think we have no way of knowing if people can or will remember things once we return home.

And there's no telling who might show up, unfortunately.

[troubadamsel]

Sh-Shut up, it's harder than you made it sound! Maribelle grits her teeth, trying not to lose her temper - that was the point of this, after all. "I... must try to get as close as I can to mastering it! The sooner I lose my dreaded snobbery, the better we're all be. I'm just making everyone miserable!"

[troubadamsel]

Hm. In that case, whatever I learn here, I give you my solemn oath to never tell a soul.

[totheno1]

"Hmmm. Stop." Kei moved from his position and moved his 'carpet' closer to hers. "I think we should talk a little more about that first. I realized you felt you had an issue, but it appears that it's weighing a lot more on your mind than I suspected."

He paused before adding;

"Does being like this make you feel miserable?"

[troubadamsel]

Maribelle opens her eyes, sighing deeply. They'd barely just started and she was already screwing up.

"... I don't want to be the sort of person who thinks they're above others, no matter what. I've seen what those people can do... How much they can hurt everyone around them. I want to help people, not put them down. I should know better... I was treated much like that when I was young."

[totheno1]

Well he wasn't a psychologist, but even Kei saw a giant arrow towards part of a root issue when he heard one.

"...Maybe we should talk about your life then. It's true we don't know much about each other. That might help you mediate better, if you make some sort of peace with your past. I've had to do that for myself before."

[troubadamsel]

Maribelle bit her lip - she thought she was at peace with her past... then again, if she was having this many issues, what did she know?

"... All right. Where do you want to begin? It's difficult to just spill everything once."

[totheno1]

Sometimes just talking would help. Or at least that's what Kei thought anyway.

"What you feel is pertinent to what we are doing may work best. I can start with my own experiences, if you'd like."

[troubadamsel]

Well, if he was going to offer...

"Go right ahead. I'm listening."

[girod]

[ He bows his head to her in thanks, and in appreciation. ]

I appreciate that. The safety of my family and friends relies on that secrecy.

[troubadamsel]

The day I ever spill a secret is the day I throw myself upon the house sword of Ylisse! Whatever I learn here, I learn alone.

[girod]

[ He actually blinks at that. ]

I wasn't trying to imply you ever would. I was more... trying to explain, I suppose.

[troubadamsel]

[Oh. That gets an eyebrow raise.]

... I'd ask, but then again, perhaps the less I need to know about your home world, the better. For now, let's focus on your abilities and what can be used here.

[girod]

[ He considers for a moment before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his trusty notepad. That's when he starts writing out what he considers his medically pertinent abilities, which are... most of them. ]

[troubadamsel]

[She nods approvingly.

... and he keeps going.

... and going.

... jfc.]

... Th-that is quite the list.

[girod]

[ He looks up, and there's a bit of a blush to his cheeks as he does. ]

I don't particularly like to boast, but I would also hate for someone to suffer because they weren't treated.

[troubadamsel]

Yes... quite noble of you, good sir. I just continue to be amazed... this world defies my imagination day by day.

[girod]

[ He looks up at her with a wry smile. ]

Not really noble, just practical. We're all in this together, after all.

[troubadamsel]

Don't sell yourself short. We all make choices, and this is yours. You didn't have to do this.

[girod]

I guess it just doesn't seem like much of a choice to me.

[ He looks over towards her. ]

Could you stand back and let people be wounded if you could help them?

[troubadamsel]

No, I couldn't. But I understand not everyone could do the same. I might even hesitate if it was an enemy.

[Granted, she'd still do it, but that counts.]

[girod]

Hesitation happens.

It's what you end up doing that matters most.

[ He's pretty forgiving of people who do the right thing. He knows it isn't easy, especially when it doesn't help you or the people you care about.]