hello hello susato!!! in the evening when things have cooled down a little, xie lian delivers instructions to meet at the training grounds by the tournament area. he's settled in the grass, something next to him in a brown package, quiet in meditation when she arrives, san lang in his qilin form beside him. ]
anyway yeah. xie lian has a little smile in greeting for her, as he bows his head, and lifts up the package. it's long and rectangular - he offers it forward to susato, and inside is this!
very seriously, he sets his hand at the hilt of his own jian, in his belt. ]
... I spoke with one of the blacksmiths in town and we spent some time at the forge together. Since we are going to begin training in a more formal context, it is best to begin your journey with a blade by your side. This is a jian - it is the type that I have always preferred, because it is a dexterous weapon and designed to move with the body of its master. Each blade is as unique as the person that owns it and wields it, and I hope that this one will serve you well as we begin to train together.
To name it is to claim its identity - and with it, take ownership of your own. You don't have to do so now, but... this is yours and yours alone. It is a companion for a journey that will be lifelong - as close as a friend, to be treasured and adored.
[She takes the sword in her hand, a little shocked, staring at it as Xie Lian hands it to her and begins speaking. His words remind her very much of someone else. A Japanese man's katana is his soul. This blade shows me where I need to go and will cut down anything that's in my way. As a gesture, it is incredibly kind - as promised, he does not make her feel condescended to, but treated as someone worthy to wield such a blade and form that bond despite her sex and despite all of the ridiculous tears she's shed.
She swallows, but doesn't shed any new ones. She bows deeply to him. And then she holds it out to hand back to him.]
[ oh... he looks a little surprised, but... all the same, mouth opening, and then closing. ]
...Are you sure, Susato?
[ even still, xie lian recognizes the seriousness in the gesture, in the deepness of her bow, and the emotion in her voice. this is something beyond him - he takes the rejection of it as one with deeper meaning beyond camebit, beyond the conflict they've found themselves a part of. ]
Susato. [ it's not quite - he's not quite scolding, really, but there's firmness to his usually gentle tone. he turns the handle of the blade in her direction and regards her evenly, eye to eye. ]
...You have told me that you wish to be stronger. We are here to prove to others that you are not one to be pitied, or one who needs to be protected, and to hone your strength, no?
The point of our training is already lost, if you will place limits upon yourself before you have even put your hand upon it - part of becoming stronger is not allowing yourself for even a moment to believe that you cannot do so.
I see no limits in you - you are as freshly forged as this blade itself. You will learn together - dull together, sharpen together. Strengthen, together. The worth of this blade is measured in the journey that you take, as sword and martial artist. Pre-determining those things ensures failure before you even begin.
You are worthy of the journey. How it ends - that is still up to you when you take your first step.
[She listens, but she can't meet his gaze directly.]
It is not that I do not believe I have the strength. It is only that . . .
[She trails off, her mouth tightening in frustration, and shakes her head. She doesn't have the words to explain the reasons it feels unbearable to take this kind gift from him.]
[ there's a pause, as he chews it over. thoughtful.
and then, with his usual gravitas, he offers it forward once more. ]
...Then earn it.
Think of it as something borrowed, if you must - we will call it a different name. Wuming, perhaps. [ 'no name.' ] And when you feel the time is right, I will confer it to you as your own.
[ the smile changes to one more encouraging - pleased. ]
Very well. Though, to be quite honest, the chance to teach you is a payment in and of itself.
[ Xie Lian Loves Swords ] It has been some time since I've had the chance to spar with others as much as I have here, and - I haven't had the chance to work with a pupil since my days at the Royal Holy Pavilion. Even then, I had very little chance to teach.
[ this is the best way to share his love of the blade, after all. with that, he stands up from his place, reaching for fang xin at his waist and giving it a little tap. ] But, if you come up with something else, I will be happy to accept.
[ brightly: ] Now, shall we begin? I'd like to get an idea for where we can start - have you trained with a sword before?
[That seems important to her. But she holds the sword, turns it over in her hands.]
Kazuma-sama always carried a katana. He would train with it every day. He was quite good. [. . .] When I was his assistant, I would bring him tea and breakfast each morning and help him practice study while he trained with it. And I would help him care for the blade from time to time. So I know the very basics.
[She will draw her blade. I don't know swords, but she does it right? She holds it right. Or at least right for a katana, maybe not for a straight blade.]
and it was great. hard work! xie lian is a very firm teacher - he doesn't put up with a movement being even a millisecond off, and is quick to correct and adjust, but his praise comes hard earned, too. he expects susato to be an excellent pupil with mumei, and seems overall pleased with their results, when it's all finished!!
with finishing training comes a cool down meditation, too; as they're wrapping up, he settles comfortably on the ground, white silks spread in front of him and hands folded neatly in his lap. ]
...When I began cultivating, the spirit was always as important as the body. My teacher's pathway follows many different adages and lessons, but there is always one particular mantra I have found to be the most soothing to me - "to make your heart as still as water."
[In a way, he reminds her so much of Kazuma-sama, but. Not so much the Kazuma-sama she knew, but the one she always imagined he might be. If he achieved whatever his great dreams were, if he found a way to shake off that restless determination and if his happiness felt a little more genuine. She had always liked the idea of having an older brother, since the first day he came to live with them, but . . . Well done, Judicial Assistant Mikotoba. She always knew, at least a part of her, that he didn't - or wouldn't - see things that way.
She sits on the ground, legs crossed, and bows her head, eyes closed.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w4 monday
hello hello susato!!! in the evening when things have cooled down a little, xie lian delivers instructions to meet at the training grounds by the tournament area. he's settled in the grass, something next to him in a brown package, quiet in meditation when she arrives, san lang in his qilin form beside him. ]
no subject
Anyway, she will come find him. Ryutaro is on her shoulder, in hare form, and she's dressed in trousers and a simple shirt and jacket.]
Xie Lian?
no subject
anyway yeah. xie lian has a little smile in greeting for her, as he bows his head, and lifts up the package. it's long and rectangular - he offers it forward to susato, and inside is this!
very seriously, he sets his hand at the hilt of his own jian, in his belt. ]
... I spoke with one of the blacksmiths in town and we spent some time at the forge together. Since we are going to begin training in a more formal context, it is best to begin your journey with a blade by your side. This is a jian - it is the type that I have always preferred, because it is a dexterous weapon and designed to move with the body of its master. Each blade is as unique as the person that owns it and wields it, and I hope that this one will serve you well as we begin to train together.
To name it is to claim its identity - and with it, take ownership of your own. You don't have to do so now, but... this is yours and yours alone. It is a companion for a journey that will be lifelong - as close as a friend, to be treasured and adored.
no subject
She swallows, but doesn't shed any new ones. She bows deeply to him. And then she holds it out to hand back to him.]
I am sorry, but I cannot accept this gift.
no subject
...Are you sure, Susato?
[ even still, xie lian recognizes the seriousness in the gesture, in the deepness of her bow, and the emotion in her voice. this is something beyond him - he takes the rejection of it as one with deeper meaning beyond camebit, beyond the conflict they've found themselves a part of. ]
no subject
I cannot. Everything you said - this blade deserves an owner that will be worthy of it, and I am not she.
no subject
Susato. [ it's not quite - he's not quite scolding, really, but there's firmness to his usually gentle tone. he turns the handle of the blade in her direction and regards her evenly, eye to eye. ]
...You have told me that you wish to be stronger. We are here to prove to others that you are not one to be pitied, or one who needs to be protected, and to hone your strength, no?
The point of our training is already lost, if you will place limits upon yourself before you have even put your hand upon it - part of becoming stronger is not allowing yourself for even a moment to believe that you cannot do so.
I see no limits in you - you are as freshly forged as this blade itself. You will learn together - dull together, sharpen together. Strengthen, together. The worth of this blade is measured in the journey that you take, as sword and martial artist. Pre-determining those things ensures failure before you even begin.
You are worthy of the journey. How it ends - that is still up to you when you take your first step.
no subject
It is not that I do not believe I have the strength. It is only that . . .
[She trails off, her mouth tightening in frustration, and shakes her head. She doesn't have the words to explain the reasons it feels unbearable to take this kind gift from him.]
no subject
and then, with his usual gravitas, he offers it forward once more. ]
...Then earn it.
Think of it as something borrowed, if you must - we will call it a different name. Wuming, perhaps. [ 'no name.' ] And when you feel the time is right, I will confer it to you as your own.
no subject
. . . I accept. I will borrow Wuming from you. Mumei. But I insist upon repaying you in some way.
no subject
Very well. Though, to be quite honest, the chance to teach you is a payment in and of itself.
[ Xie Lian Loves Swords ] It has been some time since I've had the chance to spar with others as much as I have here, and - I haven't had the chance to work with a pupil since my days at the Royal Holy Pavilion. Even then, I had very little chance to teach.
[ this is the best way to share his love of the blade, after all. with that, he stands up from his place, reaching for fang xin at his waist and giving it a little tap. ] But, if you come up with something else, I will be happy to accept.
[ brightly: ] Now, shall we begin? I'd like to get an idea for where we can start - have you trained with a sword before?
no subject
[That seems important to her. But she holds the sword, turns it over in her hands.]
Kazuma-sama always carried a katana. He would train with it every day. He was quite good. [. . .] When I was his assistant, I would bring him tea and breakfast each morning and help him practice study while he trained with it. And I would help him care for the blade from time to time. So I know the very basics.
no subject
[ smile smile!! he gets it, so, xie lian will gladly acquiesce. ]
The very basics are an excellent start. Draw your blade for me, and let's begin.
no subject
no subject
and it was great. hard work! xie lian is a very firm teacher - he doesn't put up with a movement being even a millisecond off, and is quick to correct and adjust, but his praise comes hard earned, too. he expects susato to be an excellent pupil with mumei, and seems overall pleased with their results, when it's all finished!!
with finishing training comes a cool down meditation, too; as they're wrapping up, he settles comfortably on the ground, white silks spread in front of him and hands folded neatly in his lap. ]
...When I began cultivating, the spirit was always as important as the body. My teacher's pathway follows many different adages and lessons, but there is always one particular mantra I have found to be the most soothing to me - "to make your heart as still as water."
no subject
She sits on the ground, legs crossed, and bows her head, eyes closed.]
I think I understand the principal. I will try.