[ OPEN ] And now for something completely different-

[iomnic]

CHARACTERS: Zenyatta and OPEN!!
DATE: Late November to early December
WARNINGS: None, hopefully.
SUMMARY: So there's violence, fighting, drama all over the place, and Zenyatta just wants to chill and help people find their chill.

[To those who mentioned to Zenyatta they were interested in meditating, he sends out a message to each individual to let them know the location he has taken to for practice. For those he did not speak to, well... It was a public post, available for all to see. Or, perhaps one notices the floating robot monk, and his journey in the wee hours of the morning, and take to following him or asking him where he's going. His answer, in this case, will be "to find peace of mind."

The spot he has taken to is on the edges of town, in the opposite direction of the fracking mines and Deemers camp, to avoid contact and overall distraction brought on by the town itself, and the ever encroaching dangers brought on by the Taraxa.

It is along a path decently high enough up that one can look out over the completely uninhabited parts of Q-65. Below lies the scrublands, and further still lies a small pine forest that lines the edge of a mountain that the Q-65 equivalent of a sun begins to peek out over.

Zenyatta will be there from dawn until dusk, leaving only at night when the temperature begins to drop. For the time he is there though, he hovers just a few inches off the ground, legs crossed and arms spread, with his index fingers touching. He is completely silent with his head bowed, except for the chiming sounds of his orbs circling him, and giving off a light 'ding' as they rise and fall a few inches during their orbit.

Should one choose to join him, they are allowed to, of course. This is what he had hoped for, when he had extended the invitation. And if those who join also have no idea where to start, he would happily give any instruction needed. ]

Comments

[iomnic]

[Sure, Keith can grab one, but at the cost of Zenyatta being Startled. You see, his meditation practice revolves around him counting his orbs, and with one suddenly disrupted... The omnic looks up at Keith very quickly, staring for a few seconds, before finally shaking himself back into full consciousness.]

Oh, it is you, Keith. Welcome.

[secondnature]

Hey. [Keith tosses the orb from one hand to the other, debating the weight and shape of it. It's really not why he's here, but it's obvious that he's somewhat absorbed at the moment.]

Can you only do this with these, or can you do them with ... any kind of ball?

[It's not that Keith can't tell that he was meditating. They'll get there. Heck, he wants to get there.]

[iomnic]

[ It's okay Keith, he'll just wait until you're sleeping and then violently shake your shoulders. Since you know, they seem to be on that kind of level with each other.

As for the weight of the orb- it's heavy. There's also a chime inside the hollowed center, that makes a deep 'ding' sound upon Keith's tossing. ]

I would need to find a way to connect with it, through my own signals and energy... But I suppose it is not impossible to do?

[secondnature]

That might be useful in a pinch. [It is heavy, but he supposes that since Zenyatta seems to telekinetically direct them around himself, the weight might not bother him all that much. He extends it forward after his examination.]

I mean—if someone steals all your balls. But I guess they'd have to come prepared.

[Keith is the last person to show up to a fight completely prepared. What preparation he has always has that element of improvisation.

He moves to sit down, crossing his legs.]

[iomnic]

I have a few other tricks aside from my orbs.

[Like when he can have 6 more arms. Either way, the ball lifts itself out of Keith's hand and into his orbit once more. Finally, Keith seems to sit down as well.]

Alright. If you are ready, I will begin.

Start by crossing your legs, with both feet resting on top of your opposite thighs. Next, rest your hands in your lap, one hand in the other, with the thumbs touching.

[He indicates with his own hands, like such.]

There is a belief that putting your hands and body in certain positions bring about better thought and clarity.

[secondnature]

[It's not that Keith hasn't done this before, but he hasn't done it like this. Patience yields focus, which requires practicing the patience and focus at the same time. He shuffles his legs into the proper position before coming to press his hands into the right position.

His eyes are just a ... bit squinty about this, like he has his doubts.]

And they're ...sure about this belief?

[iomnic]

As sure as one can be, of a thousand year practice.

[ Look, if he can move his shitty robo-limbs into this position and stay like this, you can too Keith. ]

Now, if you are comfortable enough, close your eyes.

For humans, the next step would be to consider your breathing. Allow yourself to focus only on your inhale, and exhale. Your goal is to only allow your mind to focus on this task.

[secondnature]

And you—is it just easier to do this without the whole breathing thing, or harder? [Given that his name is "Zen"yatta, Keith has a feeling that it might just be in how he was made (or born). Still, to his credit, he is clothing his eyes, trying to clear away any notion that he might feel silly. Focusing and breathing, again, isn't new to him. It just runs so counter to his nature that he has to get over the hill of "this is kind of stupid" every time.

As it is, his shoulders begin to relax, no longer showing signs of his usual tension. His mind is still divided, waiting for Zenyatta's answer, but he's focusing on the task at hand for the ... most part.]

sorry i fell out of the zenyatta loop for a while, if this tagback is too late, im sorry!!

[iomnic]

I have other things I concentrate on. My orbs, for example. The thing one must focus on is something that is natural, and something you can do unconsciously, but by focusing on it, you clear your mind of unimportant or distracting thoughts.

[After that, silence reigns for a while. There is nothing but the sound of wind, and dust shifting.

Don't go falling asleep, Keith.]

[secondnature]

[Focus on his breathing. Focus on his breathing. Okay, Keith can focus on his breathing. He steadies himself, eyes closed as he tries to shut out everything around him, even the unusual sound of Zenyatta's orbs twinkling around him. He eventually comes to just ... accept the sounds as his new focusing point as they shift in and out, and he matches his breathing to them.

It's easier to focus like this. But ... before long, his mind begins to wander. It's not the silence that gets him, but the fact that he doesn't think he can do this on the fly, at least not for long.

He drops out of the pose with a huff, head handing forward.]

How is this supposed to work elsewhere again?

[iomnic]

If you are able to master focus in a calm environment, it will be easier to bring it about again in a chaotic one.

[Zenyatta explains, but his voice takes on a more cheerful tone:]

Do not worry, Keith. You have done well! For beginners, the longest most can do is a few minutes at a time. It will become easier, with experience. I am very proud of you!

[secondnature]

Proud, huh ... [After a moment where he breathes out, he offers Zenyatta a wry grin.]

Hey, it's something to work on with practice. So long as you're here, I might as well keep having you as my teacher.

[iomnic]

And I would gladly teach you what I know, for as long as I am here.

[ And also he loves teaching people........ So it's a win-win for everyone, really. ]