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 Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:08 pm
An Encounter with a Falcon ✿ ✿✿ complete - reflection to come
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:14 pm
I'll Take You to the Candy Shop ✿ ✿✿ not complete
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:15 pm
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:02 pm
First Steps in Tai Chi ✿✿✿ Bao woke up to birds chirping in the early morning rays of the sun. She felt well rested even though excitement had made it hard to fall asleep last night. Today she would be learning Tai Chi. She had finally managed to convince her father to find her an instructor. It was a good thing too. If not, she might have gone behind his back and found someone who would teach her without his permission. She was at the Academy now, a student, and needed to learn some kind of martial arts to protect herself. He usually countered that argument with the fact that he had loyal men who could protect her. It was the fact that they couldn't follow her everywhere that made him give in.
She had bathed the night before. Cleanliness was important. Her mother always scolded her for getting so dirty. She almost yelled at her mother. Her mother who rarely ever left the house. Of course she was so damn clean. How do you get dirty if you never go outside? Instead, Bao had stormed off. It was becoming quite clear that they would never get along.
She slipped on some tight pants that was made out of flexible material for easy movement. Her usual wear was put on the side in favor of light materials and plain colors. She never purposely exercised in her nice clothing. Despite being a noble and having the money, she preferred not having to buy more clothes. Her hair was twisted up into it's usual bun to stay out of her face. Now she was ready to learn.
Her father was most likely already serving tea to the lunarian that would be her master. She didn't want to make them wait. Father could only be patient for so long. Plus she was the actual student. Bao knocked on the door that lead to their main room where they usually would go when there were guests to entertain. Her father's voice was loud and clear, "Enter." He never said more than was needed.
Bao stepped quietly into the room to see who her master would be. He was a much older lunarian with long wispy looking hair. His scales were lavender and sky blue. A combination that she had never seen before. She bowed to both of them briefly, remembering to show respect, before seating herself on the ground. "This is Master Lee and he has agreed to teach you." The look on her father's face clearly told her to not ruin this opportunity. She sure wouldn't. It had been hard enough convincing him to allow her to learn Tai Chi and it wasn't even a really violent form of martial arts.
Bao bowed her head again in greeting to her new Master. "Thank you for taking me on as your student Master Lee." She gave him a genuine smile. This would probably be the first serious thing she was willingly doing.
He held up his hand and waved with his hand as if shooing something away. "No need to be so formal Bao. Just call me Sifu." He smiled back at her. It was a good sign. Perhaps they would get along just fine. Though she tended to do her best to get along with everyone. Bao was confident in her socializing skills. "Shall we start now? I am finished with my tea and the earlier, the better."
Bao nodded. She was eager to start and agreed with him. It would be best to do all the practices and training in the morning before the sun was high in the sky and the heat unbearable. Then they could have nice cool air to practice in and the rest of the day would be free. "Yes Sifu. You can follow me to the area Father decided we should practice at." She got up and led the way out. Of course, she didn't miss the pleased smile on her father's face. That pleased her more than anything. She loved to make her father proud.
The practice area was actually in their vast garden. There was a spot where it was just an open grassy area. Sometimes she would have her servants come outside with her to have picnics there. They usually only did that when father wasn't around. He didn't like her mingling with the servants as if they were at the same status as them. Bao didn't mind treating them like her friends. So long as they did their job well.
✿✿✿
Bao was sweating more than she cared to. Her legs were aching from sitting in the same stance for only five minutes. She never realized the training would be so intense and boring. That was all she was doing was sitting. It was driving her crazy. What she really wanted was to get to the good part, like using weapons. Compared to her fellow students, she was far behind in terms of fighting skill. She wanted to catch up and fast.
At the rate she was learning though, she'd never become a great fighter. So far all they had done was go through different stances. Each one she was required to stay in for five minutes each. He told her to focus on her breathing as a way to forget about the time. All Bao could think about though is how she'd like a nice dip in the ocean or to be doused in cool water. Maybe moving the practices to night would be better. Then there would be no sun to heat her any more than the exercises were.
It wasn't long before Bao had lost what little patience she did have. What was the point in training if all she did was stand a certain way? Her face was flushed and sweating, trickles of it running down her neck. This was no way to be working her way towards the goal of a great fighter. She snapped up into a standing position with her hands balled into fists at her side. It wasn't out of anger, more frustration. "Sifu, aren't you going to teach me something else? Oh, like maybe using a weapon?" Her voice was a little high, loud, demanding. That made her father appear out of the house.
"Bao! You do not speak to your Master in that fashion. Do you understand?" His voice was one of authority. Even the way he stood commanded obedience. His yellow eyes looked down at her under bushy eyebrows.
She visibly cringed. Her bossy attitude and impatience had once again got her in trouble with her dad. She looked up at him slowly before staring at her feet, hands nervously twisting behind her back. "Yes father."
Father gave a brief nod to Master Lee. "Good, now do what he says. He wouldn't be teaching you this if you didn't need to learn it." His hand flicked in the air and a servant came running out with a wooden stool for him. Bao bit her lip, now he was going to watch her. She would have to behave.
✿✿✿
A couple hours later and Bao was stretched out on her stomach in the middle of the grass. Her legs could not work anymore. Maybe she was just being dramatic but she had just had the most intense workout ever. The running and acrobatics she did for fun did not kill her like this. Sure her muscles ached after but not to the point that she felt like they would fall off. Then again, the stances they had gone through worked out some muscles she didn't even know she had. She sighed dramatically and lifted her arm to wave her hand in the air.
One of her personal servants rushed to her side. "Get me some juice and something to shade me with. I'm hot." The young man gave a quick nod before going to follow her order. Bao closed her eyes. It was her first step in learning and mastering Tai Chi.
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:57 am
Things You Discover While Walking ✿ ✿✿ not complete
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