[ 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]

It is times such as now that meditation is most important. "Do not delay, lest you later regret it."

[ Zenyatta hums from his spot, completely unmoving aside from the gentle up and down of his floating orbs. ]

You have been quite busy lately, I take it.

[pummelling]

'Busy' is a nicer word than I would've used, but yeah.

[He sits beside him and idly watches the orbs move.]

What about you, Zenyatta? Are you staying safe?

[iomnic]

I seem to be encountering less trouble than you have, yes.

[Since "busy" is the nice word here.]

I have been staying with the Qorral and helping them with their tasks, if I am capable. I feel this is where I can provide the most help.

[pummelling]

Ouch. Accurate, but ouch.

How do you do just that? [It's kind of a loaded question, he realizes. He shifts uncomfortably where he sits, tilting his head to get a better look at Zenyatta's face.] There's so much happening on this planet. And you... kind of know how I am with picking battles.

[i.e. that he wants to fight every single battle, forever.]

[iomnic]

[Zenyatta's face is metal and unchanging, not really sure what Jin's expecting by looking at it.]

There is much happening on this planet. The mines have been closed, and so the people here are at a loss, without their job and a consistent food source. They are being attacked, both outside their town and within it, if they are not careful. They are far from unable to defend themselves, but there are instances in which they should not have to, or they are need assistance.

Our mission may be to stop the Deemers, but we should not neglect the people who are affected by this.

I hope you do not feel as if I am somehow slacking in my duties to ALASTAIR by proceeding as I have.

[pummelling]

[bud he's a human he is used to looking at faces]

I don't. I really don't, Zenyatta. You're doing as much as anybody else can do here.

What I mean is, how do you stop at that? How do you not want to be in ten places at once? [After all, it's always been that part of him that's gotten him into trouble: wanting to do too much And, often, more than he can handle.]

It sounds stupid. But I keep--

[he falters.]

I keep screwing up trying to help where I don't have to, I think.

[iomnic]

[Well then BUD, he'll go ahead and look towards Jin back. Also this is an important lesson, so...]

I understand your frustration. The desire to help everyone and do everything, is great. The limitations placed upon you are limiting, and mortal.

You do what you can, because it is what you can do. No more, no less. Through regret over your actions and your choices, and remaining trapped by the "what-ifs," you will find no peace.

"He who seeks happiness should withdraw the arrow: his own lamentations, longings and grief. With the arrow withdrawn, unattached, he would attain to peace of mind." We must also acknowledge that we cannot save everyone. We cannot do everything. We can try our best, and hope that that will be enough. But if we cannot, then it was not meant to be. No amount of our power would change it.

[pummelling]

[The scripture card, huh.

Jin expects that he'll feel annoyed; condescended to, even. It's what he'd felt when he'd first had these lessons drilled into his head, a boy with the streets still in him and only the barest sliver of trust in the Shaolin, in spirituality at all. Instead, it's a comfort. Even, yes, from a robot monk. Jin takes a slow, easy breath. He digests the words, reflects on them.]

I'm starting to learn that's so much more easily said than done.

[that's the problem with wanting to be a big dumb hero, in the end.]

I'll keep trying.

[iomnic]

Trying is the best we can all hope for. Succeeding is the pleasant surprise we may wind up with.

[ Zenyatta replies, and hums a note in thought. Jin is kind. He tries, so very hard, to do what he hopes is right. He is smart (sometimes), but he is still just as controlled by his emotions as anyone else is. Still, he has faith in Jin. Despite his words, he almost doesn't want to see the other change. He knows, having such strong emotions can be detrimental, especially when those emotions tend towards hotheadedness... ]

... Jin, might I tell you of my brother, Mondatta?

[pummelling]

You have a brother?

['but how does a robot have a brother' crosses his mind, but he's actually polite enough-- and, somehow, respectful enough of Zenyatta to not blurt that right out.]

Yeah, of course. Tell me.

[iomnic]

If I am technical- we all have brothers. And sisters.

[ You know, since they're monks. ]

... But the one I am referring to, I would consider him closer than that. Omnics do not have family relationships in the same way a human would... We are made dozens at a time. But Mondatta and I... we shared the same Omnium. The factory we were made in. To come from the same place, and to find that you both share the same ideas and thoughts... it brings a level of closeness I never thought I would have.

I bring him up, because I too, still have trouble letting him go. I still feel regret, for not being there when he was killed. I know I could have done something, had I been there.

[ Zenyatta tilts his head up, looking at Jin. ]

I am not perfect. I strive to be, but I am not.

[pummelling]

[At first, Jin doesn't really know what to say. That sense of regret and helplessness is all too real to Jin, but he hesitates to relate. Zenyatta's always seemed so unflappable; it's, of course, obvious that he's not without his own flaws, but bizarre all the same to remember that much.]

Thinking about those what-ifs is the worst. Even when you know you can't change it, or couldn't have possibly been there in the first place. You'll wear yourself out thinking like that.

[he casts Zenyatta a look of complete empathy.]

...Which is what you want me to learn from this, I'm guessing.

I'm sorry about Mondatta. He'd be proud, though. I know it.

[iomnic]

You are very bright, Jin.

[ He would say with a small smile, if he were capable of it. Instead he hopes the satisfaction in his voice conveys that much. Sometimes, one must teach by example, in a way. ]

There is no need to apologize. I feel most regret that my world has lost a great advocate of peace between human and omnic. I hope that my actions, even though we had chosen separate paths, still honor his memory.