Meditation Garden (Open)

[The Darkstar]

(OOC: Let me just say that anybody is free to join me here, especially if we don't know eachother or are in different kingdoms. I would really like to get to know everybody, so this place isn't specifically regional, just pretend it is right on the border of everybody's kingdom. So join me, :-D )

The music drifted lazily throughout the garden, putting the very winds themselves at ease. The garden was a place which consisted of an extremely large area, surrounded by a high stone wall. The only entrance was through a single circular arch entryway. Pathways led all around the garden, weaving and bending through the bushes, grass covered with large rocks, flowers, and trees. The garden was built around a single small pond with an island in the center. A sturdy wooden bridge connected the island to the pathways. On this island sat a large gazebo-type building, four pillars at each courner supporting a large roof, with a paved floor devoid of any chairs. It was from here that the music was originating.

The Darkstar sat in the center of that floor, his weapons at his side, wearing an intricate white robe with a masterfully designed dragon woven in which looked as though it was crawling over his right shoulder and down his chest. He sat with his eyes closed, playing a peaceful, meditative song on a flute made of bamboo. It seemed as though the water in the pond pulsed with the rhythmic flow of the music, the birds and insects perfectly silent.

It seemed as though the world had stopped in this garden, as it was the perfect place for meditation, contemplation, and philosophy, which was precisely why the Darkstar found this place to be so relaxing, and why he could be found here so often. This place warmed his soul as well as the midday sun that was in the sky above his shelter, and granted him a sense of ease that the plants themselves seemed to share in.

[Wen Chou]

Bare feet silently descended the stone steps that lead into this garden of tranquility. Ba Zeng loved the environment, it was his style. An area totally void of all negative emotions. It was very Zen. Smiling, eyes closed, Ba Zeng hummed along with the music, accurately predicting the rhythm and mimicking the tone of the notes perfectly.

The monk made sure he did not disrupt the music as he approached the epicenter. It was a flat stone floor with four pillars at each corner. Even the birds were silent, dutifully listening and enjoying the music produced from the flute.

It seemed that in this garden all was at peace, and even with the Han hanging by a thread, the country in disarray, and factions fighting for strength - it all disappeared. Worldly affairs did not matter anymore. Such things did not exist.

Ba Zeng sat down, opposite the musician. Eyes closed, quietly humming the rhythm of the music.

[Norion]

Magashi was feelin' rowdy today.

The music playing from within the walls of this garden wasn't exactly his style; smooth, melodic, almost hypnotizing. This was not music one could make love to, so why would anyone want to listen to it? Magashi yawned as he walked down the steps towards the location of the music. There was a smaller man sitting in front of the music maker (Magashi soon realized it was a flute), and Magashi could see the doll-like skin, flowing grown hair...

She looked pretty hot.

Were they on a date? Magashi didn't know, and he sure as hell didn't care. Magashi was what one would consider, in our day and age, as a "cock block". The only cock he didn't block was his own and Magashi intended to keep it that way. He stretched a little as he walked towards the cute couple, and almost let out an audible "awwww" when he realized the guy was humming along with her. That was so cute, Magashi almost vomited.

The garden made Magashi feel strange. He felt... well, he felt calm. His immature jokes and blunt words didn't seem to matter in this garden. Tranquility reigned supreme, like a dictator with an iron fist. Or maybe like a sexy hot polititian who could make guys do as she pleased............. Magashi didn't like it. He didn't care for the peaceful aura that enveloped the garded. Magashi felt it grow stronger as he approached the cute couple, and cared less for the music the closer he got. It was sophisticated and boring, albeit quite good. Magashi disliked it so much, he felt allergic to it... speaking of allergies...

"ACHEW! Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt- HOLY SHIT."

Magashi leaned forward, and examined the woman. Magashi soon realized that it was no woman at all. It was, in fact, a very feminine looking man.

"Sorry... totally thought you were a chick. Your penis totally killed my buzz."

Magashi sat next to the man across from the flute playing man, and noticed the musician also had a sword next to him. Magashi could only assume it was sharp, and the musician was just as adept with the weapon as he was with the flute.

"I mean, uh........ nice robes. Did your mom make it for you?"

Magashi's defence against tranquility was to cancel it out by being even more brash and obnoxious. However, Magashi couldn't help but think...

...were they actually a couple?

((Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzkilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.))

[Wen Chou]

Ba Zeng knew the spirit of any twelve year-old boy. It was mischievous, playful, joking. And he was convinced that one had just walked into the garden. His steps were careless - probably walking all over the roses - and not the least bit quiet. The respect for the tranquility was hidden by an overwhelming need to spy on women. Ba Zeng smiled, there were no women in this garden-

Ba Zeng pried open an eye,

Right. He closed the eye-lid. No women in this garden. There were only three souls. All of them male. Two of them respectful, and one of them all-knowing.

The twelve year old boy closed in on them, his footsteps finally hit the stone, then Ba Zeng realized that his footsteps were much too heavy to be a twelve year old boy. But that was impossible. Such a mischievous spirit filled curiosity and just the hint for the tranquil.

He's going to sneeze.

"ACHEW! Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt-"

"Quite alright-" Ba Zeng began, then:

"HOLY SHIT!"

Ba Zeng's eyes opened immediately at the blatant slander. He was about to say, "Don't curse in front of your elders!" when he realized that the man was in fact NOT a twelve year old boy.

The confusion set in, and Ba Zeng merely looked at the new comer with a raised brow as he explained that he was just looking for a women to get in bed with. Unfortunately, he mistook the musician for a woman.

Ba Zeng laughed. And seemingly out of nowhere a porcelain kettle appeared by his side, along with three bowl-shaped cups. He started to pour tea into them.

"Please sit down, drink some tea, you are much too ridiculous to be wandering around town."

[Norion]

Magashi picked up one of the cups, and downed it instantly. His throat burned for a second... he was used to drinking wine. It wasn't every day that Magashi had tea of all things. Who were these people? Drinking non-alcoholic beverages... Good lord above. They must be monks.

"Please sit down, drink some tea, you are much too ridiculous to be wandering around town."

"Too ridiculous? More like too sexy. I would single handidly populate this town if I went out there. It's just not safe to wield a sword that isn't sheathed, if you catch my drift."

[Wen Chou]

Ba Zeng watched in a bewildered manner as the man drank the tea in one gulp. He was about to offer advice on drinking tea, but it was his turn to speak. It would quite rude to another 'adult' to interrupt and speak out of turn. Despite this man already doing such a thing within the first ten seconds of interaction.

Ba Zeng smiled quite effeminately back at Magashi, perhaps strengthening his homosexual theory. Ba Zeng sipped at his tea, and as Magashi spoke, he refilled his bowl-cup mid-way. A full cup would incite that idea that your host would want you to down it and leave already. A mid-filled cup meant that you are welcome for refills and to stay and chat.

It was probably wasted etiquette anywho.

Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Much too ridiculous.

"Single-handedly eh," The logic was wrong, "Well then, for your own safety, you'd best keep your penis away from your vagina."

A pause,

"Would you like some more tea?"

Ba Zeng smiled kindly.

[Norion]

"Well then, for your own safety, you'd best keep your penis away from your vagina."


Magashi looked at the little man, and snorted. That was almost clever.

"Oh, you. That's so old the last time I heard that I fell off your mother."

The man paused.

"Get it? I'm insinuating I had sex with your mother, thus bringing you into existence."

"Would you like some more tea?"[/color]

Magashi brought the tea up to his nose, and swirled it while he finally experienced the aroma. It was interesing, much different than the robust scent of plum wine, which was the national drink of Magashi Shimazu. He took a sip this time, knowing that it was tea and not alcohol. Although, wine was the far superior beverage. The tea wasn't as bad as Magashi expected.

"Yeah, I'll take some more. So, I've noticed you've got about twice as much skin as your body requires. Is it bad that I'm turned on by that?"

Magashi continued to drink his tea, somewhat enjoying his little back-and-forth with the man. This was beginning to look a lit like Christmas a friendship.

Wait, who was Magashi kidding?

Magashi didn't want friends. Only sexual slaves.

And this man was clearly not one of those.

[The Darkstar]

The playing of the flute went on undisturbed by the strange exchange which was taking place around the Darkstar. He heard the words, but in truth was not listening. It was the tea which brought him back to this world, and the music slowly faded, until it had stopped completely. Bringing the bamboo flute down from his lips, he was pleased to note that the music felt as though it continued in the garden, despite no longer being heard.

Setting the flute down next to his bow and sword, the Darkstar looked up at the man directly across from him, who had provided some delicious smelling tea, nodded politely and brought the cup to his mouth to begin sipping. After a few moments the cup was empty, and he set it back down in front of him, nodding again.

The Darkstar broke his silence, adressing the third arrival first. "You are disturbing the garden, I spent so much time calming this place, it would be a shame to break this spell so soon." He took a deep breath, closing his eyes temporarily, "Would either of you care to play the flute?" he said, nodding to the flute at his side.

[Wen Chou]

Ba Zeng did not quite catch whatever the man was saying - something about his mother. It didn't matter. His petty words and jokes simply did-not-matter. In ten minutes, this simpleton would most likely forget this ever happened and find his way into a brothel.

Most likely to get rid of his hard-on brought on by Ba Zeng's skin.

Weirdo.

Ba Zeng poured more tea into his bowl-cup. Half-way. He did the same for the musician.

"Heh, and you think I'M the one having male-on-male relations." He laughed quite good-heartedly, as if they were old friends. The fact that Ba Zeng had basically mind-read Magashi would probably be overlooked by the ensuing conversation.

"Well. Typical society would require you not to get turned on by males. Correct? We'd best do something about that."

Ba Zeng wondered for a few seconds. Delightfully thinking the possibilities of what to say.

Then,

"Dead kittens."

He took a sip of his tea.

[Norion]

"Gimme that shit, son."

Magashi took the flute in his left hand, and twirled it between his fingers as if it were a toy. Then, he held it in both hands, straightened his back, closed his eyes. He didn't want to embarrass himself infront of this musician, so he would have to play good. If he even missed a single note, his song would be considered terrible, and he would be forced to leave the garden in shame. Oh, well. Magashi knew what he was doing. He put the flute to his lips and...


"BBBPPPPPTTTTTHHHHHHHHFLUDEELLOODEELOOOOOOOOOOOOODEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODUUUUUUDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADEDUDEDADEDUEADEUDEUDADUEDADUEUDUEDUAPTHPTHPTPHSUDEAHUAEAHUEAHUEQWERTYAHUEPTUHENICKISSEXYDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE."

Magashi just blew the fuck out of that flute, and covered random holes. While he played, he let his cheeks puff up really big, and let his eyes get wide as hell. His face got really red, and then he handed the flute back.

"Sorry, you were talking about dead kittens and I got really inspired."

[Wen Chou]

To Ba Zeng's great dismay the man with the spirit of a twelve year old grabbed the flute, sputtering some incoherent curses as he did so. It would've rude to cover ones ears when another played. So Ba Zeng braced himself.

In a spectacular manner Magashi murdered attempted playing the flute. Ba Zeng simply nodded his head as random jibberish began to erupt from the flute.

The atmosphere of the garden suddenly changed. Nature did not listen to the ballad of dead kittens as eagerly as they listened to the talented musician. The fish began to jump - perhaps trying to get away, the bird chirped - perhaps making fun of this bafoon's playing. And even the plants began to sway again in a manner that hadn't occurred when the musician was playing.

It was a godsend when he stopped.

"The E-Flat on the second verse was bit too flat." Ba Zeng added his false critique with a chuckle.

[Norion]

"First of all, it was a B-Flat. Second of all, I have no idea what I'm talking about. Anyway, my mating call probably just attracted some black bears or something."

Magashi finished his tea, and didn't really know what to say. So, for the moment, he fell silent.

That is, until he farted.

"What? Don't look at me. It was him."

Magashi pointed a finger at the musician. That bastard.

[Wen Chou]

"You are very fortunate that the black bear is not a native of the gardens."

Ba Zeng re-filled their tea-cups. Now that the musical nightmare was over, a sense of relief filled the garden. However this presence was replaced by the strong tangible smell that had just filtered through the air.

[The Darkstar]

"You have better ears than I, sir" Darkstar said to Ba Zeng, "For I missed the E flat entirely. In fact, I believe I missed the second verse as well. Oh well," he sighed, "Such is the way of these new-age musicians. It's not enough to push the boundaries of music, but they must also attempt to invent new notes." He paused, "Though I do believe he was successful."

"Ode to a Dead Kitten, I believe we should call it."

[Norion]

"Yeah, that last note was called M. for "Magashi has a big dick". Anyway, it's your turn, grandpa. Play some funky music."

Magashi tapped the flute his way with his foot, and then finished his tea. This was getting interesting.

"Do you think you could have some fine-ass bitch deliver the tea next time? It's sort of a sausage-fest right now."