maskormenacelogs

WHO: Saint Walker and YOU.
WHERE: In every Porter City to make sure imPorts of every city have access to some good old fashioned meditation!
WHEN: Throughout March.
WHAT: As per this post, Saint Walker is offering meditation lessons -- people tagging in needn't respond to that post to participate, however. All of my starters will be geared towards meditation classes, but if you want to play out anything else, feel free to PM me or PP me at feygasm!
WARNINGS: None anticipated.

A: HEROPA

[Heropa is, in truth, where Saint Walker prefers to give his lessons. Not because he lives there - to commute between cities is but a trifling thing - but because it features a quiet, peaceful beach ideal for meditation. While it's possible to meditate no matter the locale, it's always easier for beginners to have nothing but the sounds of nature and Saint Walker's harp to distract them from their task.

Saint Walker is easy enough to spot on the beach, as blue and alien as he is, but even if he goes unnoticed, he's got an eye out for any of his potential students coming towards him. He floats in mid-air, legs crossed and hands resting gently on his knees as he surveys his surroundings.

Even if you're not here for meditation classes, there's certainly no harm in saying hello.]

B: NONAH/MAURTIA FALLS/DE CHIMA

[In the absence of a nearby beach in the remaining Porter cities, Saint Walker has located nearby forests for meditation purposes. It may not be as sunny and warm as Heropa, but the air is clean and fresh, and Saint Walker knows that there's a small river - more of a creek, really - not so far away that they may use to their advantage. To prevent others from getting lost, he lingers at the entrance of the forest, hands wrapped around a thermos of green tea he had made at home, large enough to provide cups for anyone who may decide to attend his lessons.]

C: WILDCARD

[Want to do anything else? Go to the library? To a cafe? Catch him flying about town, or playing his instrument publicly? Just let me know, and I'll be happy to write a starter for you, or respond to one made for me!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[At the very least, Saint Walker isn't inhuman enough to stand in the exact same position the entire time; when Klarion returns, he's floating cross-legged in mid-air, eyes half-closed as he stares up at the sky, sipping at a cup of tea that he's poured himself.]

Welcome back! We won't be going far; a mere fifteen minutes or so, depending on your pace.

[He unfurls out of his position so that his feet are touching the ground once more, then unscrews the lid of his thermos and offers the top - used as a cup, of course - to Klarion.]

Would you like some tea as we walk?

[ He hadn't been expecting the floating. Klarion comes up just short of Saint Walker, and he's trying not to stare at him too much, since he knows exactly how much it gets on his own nerves, but...

... Ok, he's staring a little bit, so sue him. ]

Er... I suppose so, thank you. That's very thoughtful. [ He takes a big sip of it and falls into step just behind Saint Walker, giving an appreciative little 'mmm!' noise at the flavour. ] It's quite good, whatever it is.

It is green tea! Evidently it is very healthy as well, though I do not know whether or not that applies to you and I. Healthy or not, I quite enjoy the taste, so there certainly is no harm in drinking it.

[Saint Walker doesn't seem to notice the staring overly much, mostly because he experiences it on a daily basis, these days. It never did bother him, but that's what comes of being absolutely comfortable in one's own skin. He waves the bugs away as they walk, delicately picking one hanging worm up and placing it back on its perch before continuing on their merry way.

Before long, they come across a trickling creek, framed by trees, bushes, and all sorts of glorious (or terrible, depending on how you look at it) nature.]

There. That didn't take too long, now did it?

It could use more sugar, but then, most things could.

[ Klarion's usually pretty good when it comes to nature; having grown up underground, most of it is still a novelty... but not so much when he's getting smacked in the face by tiny tree branches, or walking through cobwebs. By the time they reach the clearing - and it is nicely scenic, he'll give Walker that - Klarion's brushed off about three different spiders, has both sweater hoods pulled up over his head, and has gained about ten grouchiness points. ]

Time is relative.

So. How does this work, exactly? [ HE IS DUBIOUS... ]

So it is! And the relative nature of time is doubtless something we could spend many hours speaking on, but at, perhaps, a different time.

[Sometimes, speaking with someone as pig-headedly single-minded as Walker can be something of a trial. Most don't see it as much because, as usual, he moves quickly along.]

Please, sit down! Make yourself comfortable wherever you choose, and sit cross-legged with your hands resting on your knees.

[ It's like speaking to a relentlessly zen brick wall! That's not to say that he thinks Walker is unintelligent - just that nothing seems to have any impact on him, everything slides off like water against a rock.

Klarion huffs a bit, but does as Walker says. He chooses a clear patch of grass close to the stream, and the instant he sits down, Teekl curls up in his lap as if it's where he fits naturally. ]

Like this?

[Generally speaking, Teekl should not be in his lap... but considering Teekl is the only reason that Klarion's here, he supposes some flexibility is necessary. He smiles brightly at him, and says,] Yes, like that! Simply place your hands on your knees and attempt to relax. There is tension in your body -- do you feel it?

[ Attempting to relax is easier said than done. Klarion isn't a naturally laid-back person, and he's visibly tense as he sits with his back straight, like he's at a lesson in school. Teekl nudges his furry head under one hand, and Klarion absently scratches between his ears, a little bit of tension easing out of his posture. ]

It's hard not to, sitting like this. Does anyone actually sit like this naturally?

Yes.

[He, as always, takes the question as literally as possible.]

Though not with your posture, I think! Most bipedal species find that this is the position that puts the least stress on your joints, and provides you with enough balance in order to remain upright. Your spine is too straight, your shoulders too hunched; try to allow your body to relax in the natural curve of your spine. There should be a slight inward curve at the bend of your tailbone.

[ That gets an irritated grunt out of Klarion as he shifts his weight a bit and adjusts his posture, until he's sitting in - more or less - the right position. The cat shifts in his lap like he's liquid, completely unphased by the movement. ]

... Alright, I think that's it. Now what?

Now, close your eyes. Remember that it is not only your body that I am asking to relax, but your mind as well. It is no easy task, but one that I believe you are more than capable of accomplishing.

[Saint Walker closes his eyes in turn, as if prepared to relax himself, though that is not the case; he simply wonders if Klarion would feel more comfortable without Walker's prying gaze upon him.]

Tell me, Klarion -- what do you hear? What do you feel?

[ Not having Walker looking him actually does help a bit, something about that easy, placid smile and the direct eye contact sets Klarion on edge! He does close his eyes, though, and speaks up again after almost thirty seconds of dead silence. ]

... Purring. In answer to both of your questions.

Good, [he says, because he needs to provide some form of positive reinforcement, and the very fact that Klarion is speaking as opposed to simply dismissing this exercise as stupid is a better beginning than he could have expected.]

Can you tell me what you hear and feel in more detail? No fact is too small, too insignificant for it to be unworthy of further attention, and I am certain that your senses are keen enough to latch onto such things. Like, for example, the sound of the river.

If you insist.

[ There's no real venom or snarkiness to his voice; he's pretty much just being ornery out of habit at this point. ]

... There's the river, like you said, the cat... the wind in the trees, I suppose. Breathing. I think my legs are getting a bit sore, but again, that may be because of the cat using them as a pillow.

[ he cracks one eye open to look at Walker as he speaks, half-wondering if the guy will be able to tell. ]

[If Walker can tell, he certainly doesn't show it. He remains as quiet and serene as ever, his eyes fastly closed.]

How do you feel these things in relation to yourself? Does the wind comfort you, or discomfort you? Do you enjoy the sound of the river?

[He's starting off with blatantly leading questions, but that is, he feels, often the only way to get a reluctant student to truly consider their surroundings.]

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