Description: A chance meeting leads to Chi Research part II. Naerose encounters Amy, for the first time and they have a long discussion on things which turns into a positive experience all around. Talk of a mysterious author arises and Amy makes her own assumptions about who this author actually is for this book Naerose was supposedly hired to research.
The past few days have been tough on the youngest of the Knights Templar. Left in a bloody pulp on the steps of a Turkish amphitheatre, she has been forced to spend time recovering - and reflecting on the nature of that fight. A message was passed on that seems at terrible odds with what actually occurred, leaving doubt and conflict to once more consume Amy Johnson.
There is little other reason she has ended up in the backwaters of Slovenia, travelling from Bergama in Turkey to the little-noted municipality of Murska Sobota in the northeast of this sleepy European country. Following the river Mura away from the town, shying away from population centres as she sought instead solitude and peace of mind, it has been almost a full two days skirting the roads. And Amy has found solitude amongst the sparse forests above and between the eerily desolate flood plains. Truly alone for the last forty hours, she has allowed herself to lower her guard completely... but this allowance seems dismissed by some inner demon. She remains in a heightened state, her control over outlying chi flaring intermittently, ensuring she has been followed every step of a way by a thick mist of energy.
It would look most strange to any passerby. Luckily, or so she believes, the conflicted warrior has been seen by nobody. The truth? In the nearby village of Krog, cut off from the busily consuming bulk of the western world, rumours still abound that witches roam the forests, plying their trade in magical healing techniques and using their sorcery to grossly mislead those who seek their aid. The true nature of these wise women is under much debate - as it has always been - but they are avoided as one avoids anything impossible to understand. A rogue, ambiguous element, they are. Had Amy glimpsed any of the few who have seen her, she would have found cold courtesy on the outside; fear and doubt to match her own on the inside, reflected in the eyes.
She is certainly alone, if nothing else. At this moment, she reclines in the bole of a fallen tree, looking out over the grey-green landscape through knots of her own manipulated chi. Her wounds still ache despite the days that have passed and, though absolutely lost in her own thoughts, she occasionally leans forward to massage her bandaged right calf.
These sorts of rumors would attract a great many tourists - if they managed to get very far, especially to english speakers, but they don't. These were the local sorts of legends that you needed to have some information, or a ins to get. For someone like Amy, this might not of been difficult, but it took a great deal of investigative journalism for one particular witch to find out where the other witches were all hanging out. This particularly red clad woman could not help but be drawn to the location when she finally picked up some of the rumors of occult on the mill, especially given her more resent research projects.
Getting to Europe wasn't hard for her, she had long since learned that there were means of cheap travel for those willing to utilize it and live on the fringe. Boarders were good, but you just couldn't stop a rat from getting around if it really wanted to and despite how much she hated to admit it - she was that rat. The difficult part was finding the forest. As much as English speakers were typically easy to find, the more back country one got, the less frequent people could speak to a relatively uncultured American. Naerose struggled at this part, but finally managed to find a travel agent whom hoping to get some extra business, was willing to help out the woman. It was a lucky break.
Wandering the forest and camping out in it was however .. disapointing. There just wasn't much in the way of leads and before too long the now discouraged Naerose was pretty convinced that the rumor was just that. . a rumor, that is until she happens opun Amy. This was chance. Pure chance. Though if you counted the number of failed ventures and wastes of time that Naerose regularly engated in, it was actually a statistical likelyhood of occuring. Coicidence when you factored in the mundane was not that unusual.
"Woah.." Naerose says to herself, happening near the tree and pausing to stare behind her black round shades.
If there was one person here who looked like a real witch, it was probably Amy with her chi manifested mist.. If there was one person who looked like a cliche witch, it was Naerose, with her red dress, witches hat and broomstick.
It's true that Amy's resource management is usually superb; wherever she turns up, she usually has some form of groundwork down, researching the local superstitions and ensuring she is au fait with the more obscure social practices. It saves embarassment, and makes her rather unusual day job a great deal easier. She also happens to be interested in just about everything that falls into the notoriously wide bracket of 'history'.
On this occasion, however, the Templar knows relatively little. She is aware that witchcraft has supposedly been practiced in Slovenia, and acknowledges the very likely possibility that some still actively pursue such interests. The same can be said of most countries in Europe- from her unified homeland to the sunny isle of Cyprus. Unlike many of the locations she has visited, Amy chose Murska Sobota - and indeed the village of Krog - because of it's seeming lack of relevance to ANYTHING. She has been followed once this week... now who would follow anybody to a place like this?
Perhaps Naerose's appearance will solve the puzzle of why, precisely, the knight errant (and possible witch) has been completely unable to subdue her uncanny power. For the moment nothing registers - Ms. Delphine is no Vega. She does not bear an energy signature so painfully recognisable that it requires concealment in the darkness of a Thai jungle. Amy sees nothing, hears nothing, and feels nothing. It is many minutes before she seeks to move. When she does, it is with a stretch and an accompanying frown as tired muscles threaten to pull. Unhappy with her condition, she promptly slides from the decaying treetrunk, tapping booted feet upon the soil as she seeks to loosen up.
And then, she begins to exercise in earnest. To test the current limits of her recovering body. It all appears vigourous enough, if unremarkable when the presence of that bizarre mist is discounted. Until she begins to hone her internal chi flow, raising arms to the heavens, then flowing through complex kata-like movements. Moving through intermingling stance after stance, she appears graceful and controlled. Skilled, perhaps, but not unusual. All strangeness comes from the movements of the mist, which begins to emulate her every act, turning and indeed flowing in tandem with each sway of the arms, each quick pace of the feet.
She still fails to notice Naerose, until such point as a single tendril whips about and looks to brain the constantly-famished red witch. At that moment, the mist solidifies into a hard striking surface... and whether or not it is avoided, a gasp parts the Templar's lips. Dark eyes turn upon Naerose, and are instantly overcome by a deep-seated confusion.
...she says nothing, but she might as well scream it: 'Who the HELL is that?' Just HOW injured is she?
The chi mists were unusual in that the most familiar tune they register with the witch was the power that a certain umbrella wielding rain chi user. Naerose had no idea how to classify such things and thought to make a note of asking such a person, but why wait, there was one right here. The templar was going to start doing something, a kata? Well no reason to say anything more, Naerose is happily quiet and observant. Perhaps a knot in her shoulder tells her to get comfortable, that this could be a while and so, using the end of her broom, the witch drives it into the ground to make a sort of post to lean against and does just that, shifting her weight from one hip to the other and going perfectly relaxed. A little time passes but not much.
The mists seem harmless, so there wasn't any effort to avoid them as they expand a bit and extend toward the witch. Naerose is more interested in studying then preparing for an attack and needless to say she's completely off guard when one surface of it solidifies and hits her square in the head, almost knocking off her hat and causing her to give a cry of protest. Even after it hits she doesn't think to prepare herself for a followup attack, merely rubs her head and looks mildly offended at having been struck. Her shades are adjusted and fixed and eventually she manages to smile.
"Ouch, you ahh, should really be more careful," Naerose states plainly enough and in a friendly tone, whatever ill will toward being hit is melted away with the assumption that it was probably an accident. Anyway, it was easier to assume an attack was innocent then to take offense and then have to do something about it. She was a pretty easy going person.
Though the kinomichi practicioner's control is remarkable, Naerose has discovered something that few others have. Or at least that few others may have realised. Due to the manner of her education and the belief it has nurtured, there is an unfortunate level of disconnect between Amy and her power. Each has some ability to understand the other - often, they seem almost one being - but when a full depth of focus is not applied... well, things like this can happen. The mist seemed to act of it's own accord, and Amy's astonishment at seeing the red witch does nothing to dull this impression.
Her mouth opens and closes a few times as she struggles to first formulate thoughts, and then find words to express them. To see anybody in this quiet wilderness is astonishing; but to see somebody like Naerose? Not given to spectating the fighting circuits, Amy is not sure she can draw parallels to any person not seen at a fancy dress party in October. Finally, she manages to speak, "And you should be less... bright..." Lame as the words are.
Waving a hand, she shakes her head and takes a step forward, leaning closer to peer at the stranger through the mist - which does not obey her movements any longer, simply billowing gently in the air, as it should. "But, sorry. I suppose you're right. Do you live near here? I was beginning to think nobody did." Not that the other woman is speaking in Slovenian. After her recent encounter in Bergama, this situation really should be unnerving Amy. But all she feels is confusion. Could there be a costume shop near here? Is Naerose a university student on a backpacking holiday?
Rocking back on her heels, Amy reaches up to slip a hand beneath her beret, subconsciously scratching at her scalp as she awaits an answer. ANY answer, for the love of God.
"Ummm.. Well you seee.." Naerose begins, pressing her fingers together with the fidgety nervous twitch of someone who is going to admit something really embarassing, "I don't even know the name of the language they speak in these parts."
It wouldn't of been a stretch comsidereing whatever the language is, she isn't speaking it. Relief replaces the pervious expression like water washing away mud and the witch is smiling again, brightly, just to spite you.
"Wow am I relieved you speak normally, I was totally worried." She leaves the dressing less brightly comment alone. It was sure to spiral quickly into one of those, 'should not, 'should too' fights if she let it and Naerose was in no hurry to see that happen, instead she changes the subject.
"Hey, do you mind if I ask you some questions, I'm doing some research for someone who is writing a book and well.. I'm not sure I've seen a lot like what you're doing before." Speaking of someone who does unique things though, Naerose' power manifests all sorts of random ways and not to mention what she uses that broom for, two rare abilities wrapped up in one of the most unlikely of bodies and yet - she has an utter lack of appreciation for it. Also, a lack of commitment to truly studying hard.. Small gains over a long period of time, but digressions aside - the red clad woman resumes getting comfortable leaning against her broom and adjusts her shades before pulling a notebook out of her hat with a pen convientally stuck in the first page.
Where else would she of had pockets? Her dress is a one piece fairly long red flowing linen, with a corset that isn't too tight and sleeves that don't seem to attach to the dress at all, leaving her shoulders almost entirely bare. Though there isn't a swooping neckline, it would appear as if Naerose was quite modest, as the skirt goes a bit past her knees with pleated goodness before meeting a pair of long brown boots with heels - some of the only not red she wears. Even the sleeves, though an airy fabric and a lighter shade manage to fit into the whole red look. Needless to say there is no room for pockets anywhere.
"Slovenian?" Amy helpfully supplies, seeking to at least end some of Naerose's confusion in hope that it brings her closer to resolving her own. Eiji Kisaragi was an imposing figure, and transpired to be from somewhere completely different than she had first assumed; while Vince LaRose happened to be a mere wandering soul whose path had crossed with her own. She can easily conclude (if only for her own lingering sanity) that the red witch bears no relationship to Strolheim, and the latter is always a possibility.
Of all the other possible paths she could have travelled in search of an explanation, the Templar never would have imagined that this costumed apparition would be a researcher. Perhaps if she accosted people on the street holding a clipboard... but even then, who would she be researching for? Witchcorps? The Marketing Company of Sleepy Hollow? None of this adds up even /with/ an explanation, and as puzzled as she is Amy does not judge herself to be in a position where she can trust Naerose. She doesn't even know that she's called Naerose, as little help as that would be.
Tipping her head to one side as a pen and paper are yanked from that comedy hat, the mistress of the mists immediately lends further credence to the 'student backpacker' idea. This could all be some elaborate prank designed to make fun of the more legitimate European travellers. But why here? How would they have found her here, of all places? It's ridiculous! Might as well be honest, if nothing else...
"This is ridiculous!" Amy so proclaims, lips pulling into a lopsided grin as she once more shakes her head, "I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I need to ruin your fun right now. I came here looking for some peace and quiet - I don't want to be in your magazine, or stuck up on the Internet for your friends to laugh at. Why would I tell you anything, anyway? I don't even know your name!" She pauses, taking a step back and lifting a finger warningly, "If /you/ know /mine/, then I'm going to want some answers. Who are you?"
"I dunno who you are," states Naerose with her hands up in the defensive sort of thing. The witch shakes her head a bit and fixes her shades before answering some of the qusetions, she's pretty convinced this isn't going to go very well.
"I'm Naerose Delphine, a witch, a commentator and a journalist." Sehe smiles a bit and leans back on her broom, crossing her ankles. After a moment or two the witch asks the question, you know, having let some pause, the peace saturating in. A bird calls, the wind blows, the leaves rustle, how could anyone be uptight at a time like this
"So what is your name?" asks Naerose and then closes her notebook, tucks it away, back in the hat. Probably there are pockets in there but it is hard to tell. She does pull out a powerbar and starts to snack on it.
"Nice to meetcha by the way." She says, in what might be sarcastic, especially if she doesn't get a response for a name. Even if it is sarcastic, shes' quite nice about it.
Luckily it's not a cold day here, or too cold, Naerose doesn't look at all prepared for weather.
Indeed, knowing the name really does change nothing for the cagey young woman. It's an unusual moniker, but tells her absolutely nothing. The real kicker comes in the words that follow the name. They're a strange combination, but one stands out above all. 'A witch?' Amy has to mouth that back to assure herself she's /still/ not hallucinating, and then a moment later she laughs, the sound refreshingly open given her mood. Even if it does nothing for the sense of peace that would otherwise have pervaded the scene.
"People used to call me that, too," she notes with a wry smile, without elaborating on what exactly she means - it could well be that the people in question used to call her Naerose Delphine. For a moment longer this might seem possible, until she sees that notebook get filed back into the hat from whence it came. Her shoulders lower slightly, whether with relief or simply a conscious lowering of that defensive stance. She has yet to really hear any answers, after all; the options are all still open. But what would Jesus do?
"Amy," she replies immediately after that potentially sarcastic follow-up from the witch, "I'm just a traveller. I can't go into much more detail than that, especially since I know of nothing here to interest any kind of journalist." Let alone one who, as has been pointed out, is not prepared for the climate and appears to be attending a party later this evening. Though that part is at least vaguely likely; the media do love their celebrity bashes. Slovenian celebrities? Amy sighs, stepping over to her own pack and rummaging about for a metal canteen, which is uncapped as she turns back to Naerose. "So who's the author? Anyone I should have heard of?"
The question of who the author was, one that Naerose should of been most ready to answer, but the truth was she hadn't been asked this before. The pause that follows is really quite suspicious. The witch fixes her shades which has the effect of hiding her eyes. They usually peer with their chocolate brown depths over the top rims of the shades, but just now they're hidden entirely by the black circles. What is she hiding?
"Alceide, Alceide Sato." She fixes her hat a little so the brim shadows her eyes a little. This does bring up another question for her though, as the 'people used to call me that too'. Process of elimination made this an easy one. Unlikly anyone would call Amy Naerose, unlikely a comentator or a journalist unless she actually was one.
"So are you a witch then?" Asks Naerose, though her words, they have the sort of skepticism to them that seem to say, 'cause I don't think you are'. She doesn't say that though. She leaves her own thoughts to her head there, having only the sound of her voice and mysterious slant of her head as means of expressing just what she thinks about that. Meanwhile her broom gets some attention, a good distraction from looking right at Amy as she was still a little uncomfortable perhaps from the author question.
A troop of ants just then decide the broom looks like prime realestate to which the witch has to pull it out of the ground,
"Oh man.." she complains while swatting them away, carefully brushing them off so as not to splatter her broom with ant bits.
Whilst Naerose fails to make any attempt to even hide that she's evading the question, Amy busies herself taking a slow gulp of water from her canteen, watching the mysterious self-proclaimed journalist all the while. She may have given her the benefit of the doubt for now, but 'now' is a constantly evolving period in time. Opinions change, and this process is only aided and abetted by the long pause and unfamiliar name that finally follows.
Not, she supposes, that any author writing a book on energy manipulation would be likely to possess much in the way of international appeal. Once again, the answers proves nothing and only heaps further questions onto the rapidly growing pile. The pile grows on both sides, though. Does the pregnant pause carry over? Is Amy a terrible hypocrite?
"Of course not," The response comes quickly, with a short and breathless laugh that doesn't seem unbelievable; and why should it? The answer is perfectly honest. She is not a witch. "Are /you/ a witch?" The counter comes with a sparkle of mirth that reaches Amy's often unreadable eyes, as she meets Naerose's gaze only to have it shifted when the odd woman gets attacked by a very mundane annoyance. "If you are, then don't worry about the ants. They bite, but it's nothing a poultice won't sort out."
"Yes I am," Naerose states confidentally. The she looks at the ants and then back at Amy. The expression as her dark shades slide down her nose can only be described as a sort of dry expression. She finally shakes her head, as if accepting that this would be a somewhat difficult exchange before finally chancing a reply.
"I don't do poultrices. Anyway you know there are plenty of things people will call you a witch for." Naerose shrugs a little before continuing, as if her point was so crystal clear it isn't possible thay Amy wouldn't see it, "You know? Semantics."
"Anyway.." Naerose continues and examines Amy for a moment like she might be studying something under a microscope, "So I don't mean any harm, or anything, just, I've not seeen a lot like that mist you have around you, it's like a cloud that follows you around and whacks people. I guess there isn't anything too unusual here, but you have to admit it is a little unusual.. Mostly.. I expect people to spit fire whenever they eat something hot." It wasn't Naerose being eccentric, it was Naerose making fun of fire based chi even though some of hers came out that way. She was never entirely above being a hypocrite after all. She wanted to ask Amy questions, but evaded some herself, just to name a single example.
"...oh." Amy glances away from Naerose momentarily as the other woman offers the only reply she didn't expect. At least not with such seeming honesty; a joke and a flourish, perhaps, some gesture to highlight the costume followed by some explanation of why she's /really/ walking about backwater Europe dressed like that. That would have been both expected and welcome. As it is, the only particularly sane assumption is that here is a bona fide Wiccan who happens to have a sense of humour.
Looking back toward the newly revealed pagan - and now intent not to mention lions or bonfires - Amy nods with seeming understanding. There are plenty of reasons the 'witch' tag gets bandied about. "It's a much abused term. I imagine that gets annoying for someone of your faith." Now that she has accepted some explanation for this bizarre human being's presence, the Templar appears much more relaxed, folding her arms about her waist and leaning back on faintly tired heels. She's still a little concerned as to /why/ any self-respecting Wiccan would dress for the stereotype, but perhaps that concern answers itself.
Naerose's question is more fascinating given her apparent religious ties. Though their separate faiths have been at each other's throats throughout history, perhaps they find some common ground here - back in the very roots of what has become modern culture. Before Christianity was founded as a religion, when people had other explanations. Myths and legends. "There's not a lot like it," Amy concedes when Naerose is through speaking, "And it's not something anybody could learn, if that's what you mean. I.. was born with an affinity toward part of our world that most see fit to overlook. The heart of it, you might say. What do your people believe about the world? How it was created, how it is held together?"
Whatcha mean by 'your people'? No, no offense of course, for one thing there was a fundemental misunderstanding going on here. That Amy thoght that Naerose was wiccan. In fact real wiccans would be up in arms, shouting, SCREAMING about just how much not a wiccan Naerose is, but do you expect someone like Amy to really know that much about Wiccans? Actually she probably knows more about the subject than Naerose, but a healthy does of benefit of the doubt and assumption might allow Amy to see something that isn't actually there. How Naerose takes it is rather.. off in another direction. She wants some answers and is willing to play along to get them, so she just smiles with a knowing look even though she's pretty confused about what people she's being referred to as. She'll just assume witches. Real witches.
"Well actually I'm not really curious how... you do it exactly, but what you see it as, your power, what is it. I guess you see it as a connection to the world?" Naerose rubs her jaw. So far this was more or less the explanation of chi that most people gave. Amy was displaying an unusual variety, but ussing the standard definition thus far. Interst maybe lost at this rate.
"So.. you use chi?" Naerose proposes, a touch curiously.
Chi? Amy smiles, glancing heavenward. "Not... exactly."
Turning her gaze back to Naerose after a moment, she raises a hand, splaying her fingers outward and then gently wiggling the tips. In front of the presumed Wiccan, a gout of mist dives in on itself, creating a vague orblike shape before exploding outward with a twist of Amy's wrist. "It works in a similar way, though. Chi - as you probably know - is everywhere. 'Life energy', that which binds and invigorates. It's not a static force, but it has no will of it's own. Anyone can tame it, with the right mindset and training."
The Templar takes a deep breath, and smiles at Naerose again before stepping around a particularly thick blossom of energy as it swings toward her, watching as it moves to track her own motion. "This is something else. Don't you ever wonder what lies /behind/ chi? What controls all that power, keeps it bound to everything? If it were a purely chaotic force, it would not be so easily controlled without backlash. Chaos begats chaos. There's order behind everything in this world."
"I communicate with that which brings order. We work with each other, guiding the same energy you call chi to greater effect. When I call, it awakens to my command, exercising it's own control. Sometimes... sometimes it works the other way around, but I'm still trying to figure that out." She shrugs, somewhat apologetically - as if excusing a weakness, "We have so many subtleties to our senses that it's hard to know the reality from simple intuition."
This was interesting. Naerose considered this for a while and then finally scratches her cheek and smiles a bit. She wanted to reach into her hat, pull out her notebook and start making rabid notes about the things that was just said, but unfortunately she can't. That might make this person before her stop and that would in turn cause the interesting new perspective go away. So Naerose tries another tactic, she decides to engage her. Press on the sort of attack.
"Well yeah, but would that not like mean you're more or less using the same source of power, but speaking on the form of control, or manipulation, rather than what the manipulation manipulates?" Naerose wags her finger with a red painted nail in the air, as if to indicade the clouds which seem both chaotic and controled - after all if they were entirely chaotic well, Naerose might get hit on the head a few more times. She seems at least more than secure in the belief that Amy is in complete control of her power, for now.
"And what do you call this? Exactly?" Naerose asks.
Amy still harbours some suspicion; namely as to why Naerose wishes to know all of this. However, the other woman's manner and stance have yet to suggest anything more untoward than she herself presents. She at least reached a point that she trusts there is no direct aggression intended, nor any motivation beyond genuine curiousity. If that be the only reason for questioning, there is nothing to fear.
"The source is theoretically the same - it's all life energy. I learned about chi long before I learned how to control it in this way, but it came to me even further back; before I even knew what 'chi' was. The difference is hard to explain, but I can feel it. Watching others manipulate energy, I can see that they sense things differently. It /is/ subtle, though." For all the Templar almost sounds as if she is talking in a circular riddle, she shows no hesitation, even when she answers Naerose's final question...
"I call it what my master calls it: the Dragon's Breath."
"Breath.. Huh. That's funny you should mention. It's the same word they use for Chi. Except for the dragon part of course," Naerose replies, still looking quite thoughtful before going on, actually kind of sounding excited. It was as if her voice was a pipe and someone didn't tighten the emotion value so just a little passion spilled out,
"See I have been kind of thinking this myself. See like, energy comes from .. well depends on the instance, but living things arguably all use life even to move around.. I mean you eat to live, right? Alright, so we use the word Chi, but to me it seems that something like that totally is just semantics and that you could use the word 'magic' as well as any other number of things. It's all the same really right?" Naerose seems gripping a little because her notions might be viewed as a little out there. Or maybe a lot out there. Looking at her outfit, by the way, she's picked up a few burrs, they might not of been evident but - yeah she's out there. The burrs, by the by are in her sleeves, not visible before she started to wave a hand around, swishing about the airy material as if to make a point, this has the added effect of showing that nature has noticed what she is wearing to the forest . . . and it does not approve. The price she would pay? Picking burrs out later.
"Anyway that's just a little theory of mine I'm working on."
Magic. Amy appears amused by that, the quirk of a grin beginning at the corners of her mouth, which soon turns into a wider and more unrestrained expression. Naerose is making some kind of impression- no matter what that forest-mussed outfit is all about, she has a certain way of looking at things that is appealing. "Hm." The Templar makes only that smallest of sounds at first, arms back around her waist as she watches the witch flail about verbally and physically.
"No," she murmurs a few seconds after the speech is done, canting her head slightly to the side and looking at Naerose with clear interest, "I agree with you. What I do /isn't/ chi, because it's not approached in the same way. There's something behind it, something you communicate with. It's exactly where the term 'magic' comes from - sorcery, conjuring, call it what you will. All these things refer to the concept of chi we've now taken from eastern spirituality. But the approach is what defines it."
Amy pauses, lightly chewing on her lip as she regards the red witch a little longer. A theory she's working on? Clearly, there is no mysterious author. And Naerose's veil of mystery makes a lot more sense, when she holds this belief. It's the same reason the knight errant conceals a lot in herself. To believe that what you do is 'magic' is widely unacceptable. Suddenly, the crazy woman she first glimpsed is not quite so confusing any more. Opening her mouth again, eyes glinting, she asks, "What approach do you take, Naerose?"
This part is a little less clear and requires the red painted lips to be bitten, in the sort of uncertain way people bite their lips when they want to say something, but they don't know how to say it. At least it was a pleasant setting, with birds chirping and squirrels and .. whatever animals are in this forest. An answer is fourthcoming,
"Actually I'm not sure yet, this research project has been sort of on going and I think, well I hope I'll know more when it's done, actually I expect it to branch. See the initial project is sort of a foundation to the theory, in this case, chi and other energies, the next project is trying to give a arguement to my theory there and some form of testing it. So.. I don't really have an answer for you yet, it's kind of on going right now."
Either Naerose forgot about the author part, screwed up entirely or hasn't reached the same conclusion about this that Amy did, either way, she's being much more fourthcoming as the conversation continues, this is of course, a good thing, for her anyway.
"If I had to guess.. Well.. I don't really know. Yet, I prefer to use the word magic, after all I am a witch.. but life energies certainly powers what I have, so perhaps similar to what you're talking about."
Presumably this quirky self-proclaimed witch has some manner of ability, or they would not have made it very far into this conversation. The Wiccan assumption is steadily slipping in relevance and probability; in mentioning the Dragon's Breath, by name nonetheless, Amy would have expected some form of insight relating to the other woman's beliefs. The idea of the dragon, or the serpent, whose breath binds the earth is similar to ideas used in many mythologies and many religions. It certainly appears in Wicca. Perhaps Naerose's identity as a witch is not what matters here, however. She might as well call herself a fishmonger or a thief. It is her interest and study of natural energies that forms the pertinent point.
It doesn't really matter who 'Alceide Sato' is either. Or if he/she/it exists.
"Semantics, as you say," Amy concedes as Naerose again labels herself. She has not removed her gaze from the other woman in some moments, allowing herself to blink but otherwise fairly rapt in attention. She came here to be alone, but there is something in this discussion. They might both stand to learn something. "But if we must set definitions, then I believe the difference... is if you merely use what is already there, or if you go a step beyond - and take control from the source. Much like the difference between religion and a set of ideals; you either aspire to qualities or you personify and deify them. It's two different methods of reaching the same understanding."
The Templar smiles, lifting a hand to rub idly at the back of her neck, letting her hand go still for a moment as she continues, "Power, like belief, is relative. You can only choose your own backdrop, the structure around which you hang things that, really, are common knowledge to us all. Your magic is another person's chi - they are as similar as they different, defined by your attitude and way of thinking. It's up to you whether you walk a much-travelled path or trample your own." Bold words for a proclaimed Christian. But Amy appears to be frank, in any sense. Slipping her hand to her chin, she taps her cheek a couple of times, looking wistfully through Naerose as she considers something inwardly.
The relgion of Amy was not something on Naerose' mind at all. If she was told what it is during the course of this conversation, she'd already forgotten. Her power was not garnered through faith and if it was that might of been somewhat interesting in it of itself, but as it isn't the case, the issue doesn't linger in the witch's head. Instead she reflects on the words spoken, on the relativity of things, this seems to be a perspective not yet taken by anyone she spoke to yet. Amy was unique and her views were at least well thought out if not well founded. They merited attention and even though she was not a big name like Vega, the last person she managed to get some answers out of, Naerose quickly seemed more convinced they held worth of their own.
"I think I totally see your point. I'm kinda curious though, if things are relative to what you compare them too, how can you really tell what is different and what is the same but just viewed differently? I mean, how do you decides cause like if my magic is another person's chi, but self defined and unique, would that make all energies different or the same in essence? Perhaps you're suggesting that it is as unique as individuals?" Really it was sort of hammering the point a bit much, but Naerose was taking the mind set of the journalist. She wanted to make clear what Amy was saying because like it or not, this was something she would be reflecting on seriously.
"Personally.. If you look at what people can do, I mean it's different right? Even those who study the same .. Exact same thing, it's still got to be at least a little different. Some people on the top of the world stage, er Ken Masters and Ryu.. Ryu whatever his name is, you know who I mean though right? Supposedly the same style and it looks a lot alike, and yet, not. Huh, very interesting." Naerose adjusts her shades and allows a silence to fall between them, if only for a few moments while she thinks further. The woods meanwhile continue to sing the chorus of life, while these two people talk on the forest floor, perhaps two squirrels were having a similar discussion about the differences and yet similaries between nuts. .. or maybe not.
It's actually a shame that Naerose doesn't draw a comparison between the two women and the squirrels hopping through the branches above. It would certainly amuse Amy, if only because the comparison would be /perfect/. The witch's thought processes are hardly difficult to figure out, though. One thing that can be very quickly appreciated is the seeming honesty with which she is willing to discuss her thoughts; not withholding things, as so many do, because they are yet to be properly worked out. It's a refreshing approach; almost childlike, with a perspective that can only be born from experience.
"That's it." The Templar's voice echoes from her own revery, as she loses that odd distance once silence has ruled for a few moments more. "That's it," she repeats, before her lips curl up in a wide grin, "It doesn't really matter what I believe. The very fact that I maintain my own stance on the matter is what makes my skill unique. Every individual, whether they seem distinct or not, holds some trait, or combination of traits, that differentiates them from the next person. Even if I followed the path of another, claimed my power was simply chi and nothing more, then somewhere, deep down, I would hold some nuance of opinion that made my use of energy refreshing."
"Naerose," Amy brakes her train of thought, lifting her chin to ensure she is appraising the other woman eye-to-eye, her voice commanding but respectful, "You strike me as not being the judgemental type. Willing to speak to just about anybody, without making sweeping assumptions." She parts her hands in a questioning shrug to either side, "If I'm right, then why? What could ever make each and every person worthy of one's attention? What I'm telling you is... don't focus on what looks impressive, on what seems most powerful. Don't focus on the /differences/ between styles and techniques. Find the similarities, and then build your own alternative. Just like all people have some common ground, so does all of this," she waves her hands vaguely at the air around them, at the softly billowing grayish mist, "My beliefs might be interesting, but if yours are different then why should or either one of us be correct?"
A soft sigh escapes Amy's lips as she leans back, finally taking her eyes from the witch to glance toward the horizon, "What matters is the journey, and the strength /you/ gain from making it. Our differences define us, but we need to remember where we've come from."
To call Naerose childlike or even childish was probably one of the most accurate singular words used to describe her that wasn't at least a little left handed. Children were often innocent and in some ways Naerose would fit that description, careless -definately, selfish? Yes. Though people often expect more from an adult when it comes to this sort of thing and thus, look rather unfavorably on her, still the observations weren't far off, even if Naerose herself couldn't fully appreciate or even understand it,
"I mean, yeah I guess I don't make er assumptions and stuff." She clearly doesn't entirely follow that part, but the next part, Naerose can totally nail that.
"Oh well, as to that.." she begins, with a growing grin, "I realize that a lot of people get their ideas from others, I mean, that is just how things are.. So I was trying to compile those thoughts higher up, not that I'm disregarding other people or stating that the conclusions arrived at or umm, given? Are the absolute truth.. heh, whtever that is. I'm just trying to do this an efficient way right? But I mean I wasn't expecting to find you here, for instance, and look at how far we've gotten. this is one of the best discussions I have had on the subject and it totally happened outof the blue. So.. Yeah, I guess I see what you mean." Naerose gives a slow nod then smiles a bit more before knotting her brow,
"Wait hold on, you're here for peace and quiet right? But you said you were traveling or something? So I understand why you're in the forest, but why this country? I came cause I herad a rumor of witches in the woods.. hah, I guess there are witches in the woods here." If by that she means herself and to some degree the Templar, whom might fit the description some would give over the word, but Naerose isn't done there, she adjusts her shades,
"Or maybe just the sort of quality of this forest, it is kind of mysterious."
One person here does make assumptions, or at least she has. Not more than a few minutes ago. This meeting has already been an educational process in that regard. Naerose's surpassing of expectations is a lesson for Amy, and one it could be argued she was and is in much need of learning. But even the seemingly wisest mind can also appear to suffer from hypocrisy... we are such frail and flighty creatures. Amy is familiar with her flaws, and considers this as Naerose replies, the flow of conversation getting a little harder to follow through the witch's excitement.
"It is mysterious, but isn't everyone? You've.. surprised me a lot, yeah," she murmurs the last, the final word coming out at the edge of hearing. But it's enough to show her agreement, if her demeanour has not already done as much. Clearing her throat, Amy lifts her voice, "I'm here because I went through something a few days ago. It gave me some fresh perspective, and offered me a choice that I need to think through properly. I already had a plane chartered, and I asked them to drop me here because it's the last place I would have expected anything /else/ to happen."
Far from seeming annoyed at this - as she did when Naerose first appeared - the raven-haired knight chuckles softly, shaking her head in mild self-admonishment. "Clearly you've got better reason to be here than I have. I'm sorry for the way I reacted, by the way. You.. look more than a little eccentric," says the girl wearing a beret and a leotard, among other things, "I jumped to my own conclusions rather than remain open to new ideas. It's important to maintain an identity, but you've got the right idea... study the differences and learn from them. Flow through the current, rather than pull against it, right?"
"Huh," That's all Naerose can say to the proclimation of having been through something. Things just didn't phase her for long. Sure she might come whining about someone being mean to her, but she usually forgot about it within a day or a few hours or even less, dwelling just wasn't in her nature, nor was any deal of negativity, though chartering her own jet...
"Wow, you must be really rich to be able to have your own jet chartered.. I had to work on a fishing boat to get across the ocean, then I had to be a bus driver to get out here.. It took a few weeks and ..." Naerose cuts off there, reflecting on her own passage, actually it was pretty fun. Cooks on fishing boats got to eat a lot and fishermen were so over worked that they didn't care that Naerose couldn't cook. Bus drivers got to drive a bus! How cool is that? Of course she had gotten bored with that before arriving.
"I wish I could travel in style," she does but she doesn't, her voice isn't really brimming with sincerety at her wishes or hopes or dreams, "but I guess I'm pretty happy with what I have." This is almost true, with the exception of what she can see in front of her that she wants, typically this refers to an imidiate need, but at present, there is nothing she's really wanting for.
"I guess I don't really have anything more I wanna ask right now. Glad I came here, wow, so I wonder if I go to Salem.. er wait nevermind, I have a bad feeling about that place." Yes it was getting a little off the mark, but amusingly so.
"I think after this visit I might try to track down that person named Ryu, I still have a lot of questions and I want as many perspectives as I can get for them," Naerose states as way of perhaps saying we should meet again, but not out and out saying it.
"In style?" Amy quirks an eyebrow at the idea that she is some kind of pampered nobleman. By the sound of things, she has a little more money than Naerose... but surely most travellers of their ilk need to work to a tight budget? Even if they didn't through necessity, you can learn a lot more by roughing it; just look at Ryu. "I don't know if I'd call it style. I pay a couple of.. shady characters," she smiles a mysterious smile of friendship and respect intermingled with mild disapproval, "To fly me around in their cargo hold. It's not exactly glamorous, believe me."
"Anyway, I'm glad you came here too. Now I've told you all of that, I have to wonder how much I was already aware of, and how much I've allowed myself to realise for the first time." She leaves unstated the fact that Naerose has told very little about herself. Amy reasons that this is a personal decision, not for her to coerce. But she'll be watching for the name and face of Naerose Delphine. "It sounds a bit strange, but thank you."
Suddenly, the Templar cracks a lopsided grin, "I hope you got some interesting stuff for your book, 'Miss Sato'. Can I expect a signed copy, delivered in person, at some point?"
Blank stare.
"Umm, I'll see what I can do," Naerose replies a little nervously. She's not going to confirm nor deny the insinuation that -
"Oh wait yo umean? Oh I'm totally not that person!" exclaims Naerose quickly, contradicting the previous words about her not confirming or denying. She will be denying, perhaps she protests a little too much. She goes through the whole song and dance too, holding up her hands all defensive like (which can be done compliments of a broom stick shoved tip first into the ground) and a quick shake of her head, sending the floopy tip of her red witches hat a shifting over her head. She even quickly and somewhat nervously changes the subject,
"Oh cargo hold style flying? Yeah hah, I've so totally done that, it used to be my favorite way of getting into the states, but you know it's such a long flight and really uncomfortable. I mean, I hope you bring something to play on." Most people would say I hope you bring something to read, but Naerose seems to prefer the video game approach. Perhaps she even refers to the failure of a device the N-gage.
"Actually kind of surprised you found any planes coming here.." The witch reasons then shrugs a little more.
"So right, I guess I found what I was looking for here, quick trip, but at least I won't have to worry about finding many places to sleep or stuff considering you know, I don't speak the same language as like anyone. But.. " She considers a moment, truly the conversation was reaching a good stopping point,
"If you ever needed to contact me or something.. " How do you contact someone as far off the gride as Naerose?
"You should look up Niesje in southtown, she teaches at Gedo high. She's my land lady."
Video games are probably not Amy Johnson's forte, though she hesitates to explain exactly how she does pass the time. Naerose may be something an enthusiast when it comes to energy control, but it's unlikely she often occupies the same general mindset as the Templar. They might share some love for music, at least, but this? This is somewhat irrelevant, and not up for discussion today. The raven-haired woman does not offer much in the way of reply - perhaps a smile here, or a nod there - until Naerose reaches her conclusive point.
"Niesje? I might do that. I've still got some things stored in Southtown from last time I was there," not that she owns a /great/ deal that can't be carried in a single backpack. Amy's not exactly firmly on the grid herself, and tends to think of possessions as highly disposable; a few beloved articles aside, "And don't worry about the book. I'll live. Who needs the written word when I can look up the walking, talking research material?"
Rolling her shoulders in a loosening shrug, Amy steps forward and offers the witch her hand, attempting to bid her adieu with a respectful warrior's grip. It can only be presumed that, in some way, the other woman falls into the rather broad bracket of 'fighter' and holds some of the same ideals. If not, then the hand is retracted casually. Vive la difference. "Good luck on your quest, Naerose. Whatever you seek, I hope you find it."
A beautiful parting to an unexpected convesration. A handshake, a smile and a pleasant farewell. The woods would carry on as though nothing had happened. The heeled boot prints left by the parting witch would disolve into time and the smell that likely only the keen senses of animals could pick up, would be carried by the wind. The impression left on the witch might last at least a little longer. She decides that since Amy is looking for peace and Naerose found exactly what she was looking for, that she would be the to leave the templar to her thoughts, giving a single hand wave over her shoulder after finding the grip and handshake pleasant, she vanishes through the brush, for a little while longer making some noise as she picks her way through, likely using her broom to aid her. One might ask why she doesn't use her energy to blast a path, or if it's true she can make her broom lift off the ground, glide over thickets.. But for whatever reason, Naerose displays a general tendancy toward the mundane when accomplishing tasks that are mundane in nature. With that feeling left she fades into the forest, gets lost for a few hours, before finally stumbling onto a road, tired, hungry and sore. May the fates help Naerose reach a cheap hotel that accepts dishwashing as payment. And may Amy find peace and quiet until she's ready to return to the rush of the less tranquil world.
Log created on 10:57:44 09/10/2008 by Naerose, and last modified on 12:06:17 09/11/2008.