[OPEN]

[burnseternal]

Characters: Saint Walker & open to all!
Date: Throughout April
Location: Various locations around the Turtle
Situation: Various: See starters below!
Warnings: N/A
Just a note: I wrote these out in bracket text, but if you prefer prose, just use that format in your comment and I'll follow suit! I have no real preference between the two.



[A: Training/Meditation | Water Sector]

[It takes a great deal more than simply being displaced from one planet to another to deter Saint Walker from performing his daily rituals, and it's to that end that he's managed to find a particularly quiet corner of the Water Sector for his purposes. It's not uncommon to run into him here deep in meditation by the edge of the pool, long, thin legs crossed and hands resting lightly on his knees. Sitting here, he hones in on his surroundings, every sound around him seemingly magnified.

Then again, if you aren't the type to interrupt someone deep in meditation, that's not the only facet of his training. His method of training is far from impressive, and frankly, it probably isn't all that interesting to watch. He simply shifts from one pose to another, moving with slow, graceful, fluid movements, evidently intent upon some goal that only he can see. Those who are familiar with martial arts may recognize what he's doing as a form of kata, albeit a very slow one.]

[B: Flying | Across the Turtle]

[Of course, even he cannot sustain his interest with meditation alone. One of the great pleasures of becoming a Blue Lantern beyond self actualization, a sense of purpose and all those petty little details is the ability to fly, something that Saint Walker fully intends to take advantage of. Aside from simply taking joy in soaring through the air, he appreciates the unique view he gets from the skies, and it's not rare for him to edge a little closer to the ground to pause and appreciate it. Beyond his attention to the aesthetic beauty of Keeliai, he keeps an eye open for anyone who looks as if they may be in need of help, whether that takes the form of a physical intervention, or merely a figurative ear to rest their burdens on.]

[C: Shopping | Bazaar]

[As wonderful as the bird's-eye view can be, Saint Walker has to come back to the ground for some things, and one of those things just happens to be food. He doesn't eat meat as a rule, but happily, Keeliai is a generous host in providing all manners of fruits and vegetables for his consumption. A cloth bag rests in the crook of his arm, a large, leafy vegetable hanging over the top, and the way he blinks around at his surroundings makes it all too clear that he's both unfamiliar with the wares being presented, and looking to buy.

This is not a fortunate combination in a bazaar rich with people looking for an easy sell, and he finds himself being called at from all sides as the merchants attempt to indiscriminately sell their wares. One fruit stall manages to catch his attention, and he eventually gives in to the vendor pushing free samples at him. Whether it's because of the difference between an Astonian's tastebuds and a kedan's or if the fruit is well and truly vile, there's no polite way of disguising his disgust.

As such, you may just run into Saint Walker patiently bearing the vendor's tirade against rude customers after he spat the wretched thing out into the palm of his hand. From the grimace on his face, it's clear that Saint Walker finds the vendor's tirade against him to be infinitely preferable to forcing the fruit down.]

[D: Wildcard]

[OOC: Which is to say, do you have a different scenario in mind? Just run it by me, and I'd be happy to figure something out! Feel free to PM me or to contact me on plurk at feygasm.]

Comments

[burnseternal]

Have patience, and you will see, [Saint Walker says simply, then continues.] To concentrate on only a few things, it is good to be aware of what it is you are blocking out. Only when one has awareness of one's surroundings can one truly focus their attention.

[looksfine]

Then you are claiming I must somehow focus on both the exterior and interior. Very well.

[And she falls still. Very still. Not even the subtle movement of breathing or a twitch from a chest heartbeat. Were it not for the situation, one might almost assume the young AI had gone off-line completely.]

[burnseternal]

[Eyes closed as they are, Saint Walker isn't aware of how still Aya's become and continues speaking.]

Now that you can hear what is around you, you may begin to phase them out, one by one. Hone your focus in on your energy, and a single sound from the external world - I find that the sound of the pool's movement does quite nicely for our purposes.

[looksfine]

[It all seemed so contradictory to her. Focus internally. Now focus externally. Now gradually reduce your external focus by honing on your internal, but then return to a single focal point of the external. She wondered if this was some sort of exercise in patience as well as focus.]

[She also wondered how this was supposed to allow one to enter a calming state.]

[Questions aside, however, she did just as Saint Walker described. Her scanners continued to function idly in the background, but her auditory receptors were tweaked so that additional emphasis would be placed on the flow of adjacent water. It was consistent. Almost...pleasant to listen to.]

[burnseternal]

[Once again, Saint Walker falls silent for some time, allowing Aya to become accustomed to the practice, and to fully slip into a state of true focus.]

You may notice that your energy has in some way aligned with the sound of the pool, [he finally says, voice quiet, and somehow, a little distant. His own breathing has slowed, steadied, as constant as the quiet trickle of the pool.]

[looksfine]

There is a noticeable degree of synchronicity, yes. As if the pool is somehow influencing my flow of energy.

My energy readings themselves are also...unusually low.

[Though she did not sound too concerned by this fact.]

[burnseternal]

Good. In that case, the meditation is influencing you as it should. In this state, you feel in sync with your surroundings, the external and internal merging as one.

In this state, you could concentrate on many things. [He had started out as one who preached the words of God, after all - he still continues to do God's work in healing, and in prayer, but he seldom preaches anymore. Instead...]

What I concentrate on, Aya, is hope.

[looksfine]

[This time, her expression did change. Faintly. The corners of her lips tugging upward. His response was hardly a surprise, given what the Blue Lantern Energy was known to be powered by.]

Hope for what?

[burnseternal]

I hope for the future. For a peaceful tomorrow, in which we all may be joined together without strife. But we all hope for different things, and the hopes you wish to concentrate on need not be the same as mine.

[She is young, and still finding her way. For all the tragedy that has struck his life, Saint Walker considers himself blessed; he knows with great certainty that he has found his true path in life, and he needs to stay loyal and true to it. Aya, however, still has much to discover.]

No hope is too great, or too small.

[looksfine]

[Very young, yes, with much to learn about Life. And tragedy. And loss. And hope.]

I...am not certain what it is I hope for.

[She had desires, of course. Things she wished to be. But was that the same as Hope?]

[burnseternal]

Discovering that can be its own journey. [Saint Walker says, voice still low and calm, speaking to the rhythm of the pool.]

Hope is more than mere desire. Hope is attached to a belief that what you desire may, in fact, happen. Look within yourself, and try to see what it is that you are moving towards, what it is that you wish to move towards.

[looksfine]

But I am not moving at all.

[Either figuratively or literally. She remained stationary, in Keelai, until the time came when her abilities were needed. That is why she had been summoned, after all.]

What I...wish to move towards?

saint walker: GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

[burnseternal]

Each and every one of us is moving on a path. Sometimes, this path is can be obscured by darkness, but hope can help light the way.

[Perhaps they have moved away from meditation, but this is an important conversation to have. If nothing else, having this conversation in a calm, meditative state is the best way to do it.]

Where would you like to see yourself in a year's time, Aya?

tell us something we don't know

[looksfine]

[...in a year's time...]

[For a girl who had only existed for the better part of a year, or at least who could remember existing for the better part off a year...it seemed so far into the future.]

I...

[It was too distant. She needed to focus on where she desired to see herself in the present. The answer would be the same.]

I wish to be back on the Interceptor.

all he needs now are brochures

[burnseternal]

And to be with your friends there, no doubt.

[Whatever experience Aya lacked, she had, at least, found a place where she felt at home. Saint Walker may have a limited knowledge of the crew there, but he knows enough to know that each member of the crew has a good heart, Aya included.

It's a sad thing to know that Aya has been ripped away from the one place where she truly belonged.]

And do you believe that you will eventually be able to return to the Interceptor once more?

he could always advertise over the Network? when it's...not broken...

[looksfine]

[Denial was never really Aya's thing. The moment Saint Walker's clarification of her desires were spoken aloud, she nodded her head.]

Memories of their faces, words, and actions continue to replay over and over in my mind often. Particularly when I am not otherwise occupied with more pressing matters.

[She missed her family. Very much.]

I would very much like to believe that. It was what I was promised, after all--once my mission here has been completed, I would be returned home.

hahaha that would be an interesting broadcast...!

[burnseternal]

Then you too have hope in your heart, Aya. I believe that you have just found it.

[He opens his eyes to smile at her, the expression soft, tender.]

And for what it may be worth, sister, I will also hope for your safe return.

[looksfine]

[She hadn't doubted him that she did--after all, he was the resident expert on the subject--but hearing it from his own lips verified the notion.]

Thank you.

I wish for you safe return as well. Perhaps, when this is over, we may do so together.

[burnseternal]

I would like that very much. And perhaps once your task is through, you and your crew can return to Odym. It is a place of peace, and one that you are welcome to visit at any time.

[looksfine]

Is that what you hope for, Saint Walker?

[burnseternal]

Eventually, yes. There is still much work to be done with my Corps, small as it may be. But I do believe that we were called here for a reason, and that that duty must be fulfilled before I am able to return.

[looksfine]

You and I are in agreement in that regard.