This one is for Tashia and a monk. Set in the wilderness, before or after resting...
It has been some time since you could go through an entire workout without disturbance. Between the search for Imoen and Irenicus, the various conflicts that seem to erupt in your passage, the multitude of people on your tail, and the general hustle and bustle within the city, it seems like it has been weeks, if not months, since you last had a proper physical workout.
Moving through the various stances and poses, some of your muscles protest under the strain you put them under, but thankfully you are able to finish the entirety of your exercises.
As you finish up, you notice Tashia standing stock still, her green eyes avidly following your every move. When you finish, she walks over and slides her arm into yours, stands close to you, and kisses you deeply.
When Tashia pulls back, she gently says, "No wonder you are so flexible. You seem so at peace with yourself... almost makes me wonder why you stay with me..."
Tashia chuckles, and says, "After all, I thought all monks were ascetics, living lives of deprivation off in some desert..."
Option 1:
Pull Tashia towards you, and caress her lips with yours, and then say, "That is the typical impression of what we are, sad to say. But there are many schools, many forms..."
Smile, as you walk behind her, and say, "One of the primary tenets of my school is balance. One mind, one body, two become one..."
Gently moving her arm in gentle circles to release some of the tension, while your other hand presses gently into her diaphragm, you feel her body heat rise with your very touch, the rise and fall of her chest, her backside pushing up close to you...
Whisper "Breath is life. We should pay as much attention to it as any other aspect of being..."
Option 2:
Smile gently at Tashia, holding her hand tightly in yours, and say, "There are many schools, love. Not all of us are ascetics, eschewing the simplest of human contact. Enlightenment is the destination, but the journey is a whole lifetime..."
Stand solemnly beside her, feeling the wind swirl around you, her hair flying loose like a whirlwind, and whisper, "In spring, hundreds of flowers; in autumn, a harvest moon. In summer a refreshing breeze; in winter, snow will accompany you. If useless things do not hang in your mind, any season is a good season for you..."
Option 3:
Shrug your shoulders, and say, "That is just the physical portion of my training. No different than a warrior who goes through his paces, or even a mage when he studies his spellbook..."
Chuckle, and add, "Your riddles are just as good as many of the koans I was forced to ponder. So, would you like to help me train by giving me a riddle?"
Option 4:
Look at Tashia, irritation crossing your face, and say, "You don't know what is entailed in my training, do you?"
Lean in closer, and say, "I guess the masters were right, that I have to rid myself of all distractions..."
Harden your face, finishing the conversation with, "I think... no, I know... it is best that we separate..."
If Option 1, then go to A. If Option 2, then go to B. If Option 3, then go to C. If Option 4, then go to D.
A:
Tashia's eyes open, and she whispers, "I felt that... I mean..."
Tashia disengages, and she says, "I don't know how to explain how I feel. Have you ever been in a steam house, until your very body was tingling with warmth, and then you rush out into the fresh snow, allowing the chill to shock your system. It takes your breath away, and at the same time you feel... alive..."
Option 5:
Smile, reaching forward to Tashia, allowing her to feel the pulse of your heart once more, the very scarlet coil of your life, as it matches Tashia's and say, "The feeling is different for everyone, but when they hit the crescendo, it is always an exultation of life..."
With your free hand, lightly trace your fingers along the inside of Tashia's palm and offer, "Would you care to learn more?"
Option 6:
Smile at Tashia's progress, but you decide, much as a child must take small steps before taking larger ones, Tashia has done well with her first step, but she has had enough for now.
Lean into her and whisper, "You've done well, but these matters take time. Let's go back to the others..."
Lick her pointy ear, and say, "Man... or elf... does need to eat after all..."
If Option 5, then go to E. If Option 6, then go to F.
B:
Tashia looks quizzically at you, and she murmurs, "Is this some kind of riddle? Heh, I guess I'm getting a taste of my own medicine..."
She closes her eyes, her entire being becoming still, her breathing slows, and the tension and worry leaves her body, when she opens her eyes again, a smile tugging her face.
"I think I see what you mean. By holding onto the past, to my regrets, my failures, whatever you want to call it, then I can hardly find contentment in my current state?" she asks.
Then she giggles, and says, "I'm sorry, that just didn't sound like me there..."
Option 7:
Smile at Tashia, and laugh as well, "No, that didn't sound like you, but then, can any of us honestly say that we know ourselves?"
Emit a soothing sound to Tashia, stroking her hand, and ask, "Here, let me show you the first step to reaching that state again..."
Option 8:
Smile at Tashia, laugh, and say, "Well, there are depths that we seldom plumb. Why should you be any different?"
Stroke her hand, and ask, "Since I strive for balance, and gave you something to consider, would you care to reciprocate in kind?"
Option 9:
Smile at Tashia, holding her close to you, and say, "Well, I think that we're done for today. Shall we get back with the others?"
If Option 7, then go to Option 1. (Remember, Option 1 then loops to A.) If Option 8, then go to C. If Option 9, then go to F.
C:
Tashia laughs, and she says, "That was gently said, but amusing. Very well, give me a moment to think..."
Tashia's eyes close, and she says, "A lovely woman, a lady, safeguarded me to the utmost; at times she plied me with her fingers, and other times gave me to her lord and loyal master. Then he poked his head inside me, pushed it up until it fitted tightly. I, adorned, was bound to be filled with something rough if the loyal lord could keep it up. Guess what I mean..."
Option 10:
Hold Tashia close to you, stroking along the length of her inner thigh, and admit, "I can only think of one answer for it..."
Grin, nibbling her ear, "But I doubt that it would be that simple..."
Option 11:
Hold Tashia close, and answer, "Is it a helmet? Or a kirtle?"
Option 12:
Hold Tashia close, and admit, "I really have no idea what it is. What is the answer you have?"
If Option 10, then go to G. If Option 11, then go to H. If Option 12, then go to I.
D:
Tashia's eyes open wide at this abrupt dismissal, but anger contorts her face, and she says, "That's all I am? Some kind of distraction from your training?"
Her eyes slowly glow with an unnatural glint, and she whispers, "Spirituality: the last refuge of a failed life. Just another way of distracting yourself from what you are..."
Tashia then turns on her heels, and moves to rejoin the others. (End romance)
E:
Smile, and say, "This is the simplest of the breathing exercises, Tashia."
Whisper, "Close your eyes, empty your mind of all thoughts. Take a deep breath, then exhale all stale air from the lungs, contracting abdominal muscles to squeeze out the last remnants. Inhale through the nose making a snoring sound."
Smile, and add, "And pay no attention to the snoring... vanity is but a roadblock along the path..."
As she breathes, continue by saying, "Hold your breath for seven seconds, then exhale through the nose, making an air sound from your palate. Focus on the sound during inhalation and exhalation... on the vital life force being stored and saved during breath retention..."
As Tashia continues to breath, all the worries leave her face again, and then press your lips to hers as she inhales. Hold firm next to her, and her entire being floods into you, reminding you of fresh earth, of the scent of the forest, of the cool cleansing of winter, as her life force mixes with yours. In that moment, your souls become bound as one for that moment in eternity... (End dialogue)
F:
Tashia laughs, and she says, "Oh, okay, let's get going..."
She twines her hand in yours, and says, "However, you better be careful of what you say... some of the tales they tell of monks is the conservation of action. Yet, that just almost reminds me of my brother. He hated to clean. He asked 'Why bother to clean when it's just going to get dirty?'"
She laughed, and said, "He ended up cleaning after himself when he woke up with chigger bites up and down his body..." (End dialogue)
G:
Tashia laughs, and touches the tip of your nose with her finger, and she says, "Naughty, naughty..."
She shakes her head, as her hands grasp delicately towards you, and says, "I think it is safe to say that your mind listens to your body, that is for sure..."
Smirking, she says, "The answer is..." and lose the solution as her soft, pliant mouth presses onto yours... (End dialogue)
H:
Tashia's smile tells you that you are correct, and the languorous kisses she bestows tells you she is very pleased.
"Heh, I guess that you will be teaching me a thing or two about riddlecraft before too much longer," she says. (End dialogue)
I: Tashia smiles, and she says, "The answer was helmet, although I've heard kirtle as an alternate answer..."
She smiles, kissing the tip of your nose, and says, "Guess you have some more practice to go through as well..." (End dialogue)
Edited by Bri, 22 September 2003 - 07:49 AM.
. Also, I never cheat unless I need to circumvent a bug.
