[D5LM] Mandalorian Meditation

[Sacha Ordo]

She just gave the slightest of nods. She wasn't fully focusing on him so much now as exploring the feeling, and the variances of life around her. Petrus felt different from the other things around them. They all felt like... part of something. Connected. But not like they all melted together or anything. He could see it, but perhaps he could feel the small smile as she felt some of the animals around them - scurry rodents nearby, and small birds above.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus smiled softly. "You're doing really well, Sacha."

He took another slow breath. "Keep focusing on that feeling. Tell me about it, if you can." Slowly, he withdrew his hand, just a little. Their hands were no longer touching, but his was still close to hers.

[Sacha Ordo]

The request for her to describe it... unfortunately takes her out of it as her mind revs into overthinking gear. She sighed and shook her head. "I couldn't hold onto it when I tried to think about how it feels. I didn't grow up with this, you know?"

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus could see the change as she came out of it. He smiled reassuringly. "It's okay. Not getting it isn't a failure. It's just another step on the journey. And you already took a big one."

He pressed his palm against hers again, letting her feel the connection, feel his pulse. "Let's begin again. Try to... hmmm." Petrus frowned. "I can't quite describe how to do it. But thinking and feeling should be the same thing. I, uh, know that probably doesn't make much sense." He shrugged his shoulders, his palm moving just a little. "But try it. It's one of those things where you know it when you feel it."

[Sacha Ordo]

"That's easy to say..." She replied, rubbing her gloved hand against the side of her helmet. Letting out a long breath she nodded, trying to let go of the frustration. It was like when she first started smithing. She hadn't been good at that to start with either.

After a few moments of finding her center, she lifted her hand again. "All right..."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus chuckled. "It's not even easy to say. It's like... trust your feelings, but also understand them."

He nodded. "Alright... breathe..." He resumed his earlier breathing pattern. "Okay. Begin again. This is an exercise, keep in mind. It's just like stretching. You do it everyday, and eventually you can touch your toes, or whatever."

[Sacha Ordo]

"All right... It might be easier if I just... talk from the beginning," she started as she breathed slowly, relaxing as she exhaled each time. "It's sort of like..." Breath. "When your body goes limp when you let go of tension, but each time you do, a little bit of your awareness spreads out into other stuff like there's nerves that far that you're just now activating and paying attention to, but they were there the whole time." As she describes the sensation, she keeps breathing and feeling. "But not exactly. I can feel you, and your pulse and breathing and kinda... Something else? But I'm not confusing you for me or anything. There are all sorts of little animals around I can feel... That's nice..."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus smiled. "You're doing really well. And that's a really good way to put it, too."

"Animals, huh?" This time, Petrus left his hand against hers. He grinned. "That is nice." He was silent for a few moments. "Maybe let's just stay like this a little while. Just think of this like breathing. Something that comes as naturally to you as that."

He was silent a few moments. "How do you feel?" He asked. Maybe that was the better way to guide her.

[Sacha Ordo]

"I don't know... relaxed?" She replied softly, trying not to think too much lest she lose the feeling. "Should I feel different?"

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus shook his head. Oh, right. "No." He said. "You feel how you feel. I guess there's a few wrong answers, but definitely not that one."

Slowly, he moved his hand again, letting it move back to rest on his knee. This time, he didn't say anything, letting her experience the meditation as she chose.

[Sacha Ordo]

She hummed a little, almost a chuckle. She let it go on a little while longer before opening her eyes. "... So... I still don't really fully understand what that was. I mean, I get that meditation is a big deal, but so far that is most of what I've learned about the Force."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus smiled. "Hey, we've all gotta start somewhere, right? And that was a pretty good start."

He shifted to a more relaxed pose, shoulders not quite so straight. "So, the Force. I guess the easiest way of saying it is that the Force is the energy of life. Every living being, no matter how large or small, generates some of this energy. It surrounds us and connects us, connects all living things. And it spreads, throughout the galaxy. And it has a will of its own."

His expression turned more serious. "There are those of us who can feel this energy. Can even use it, and allow it to guide them. That's what it means to be Force Sensitive. Like you are, Sacha." He smiled gently at her.

[Sacha Ordo]

"Hmm..." She looked thoughtful. "Why does it affect inanimate objects? What kind of will is it? Does it have to do with what the woman was talking about with destiny? Is that a real thing?"

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus laughed. "Whoa, okay, one at a time. Okay, gimme a sec." He frowned thoughtfully, considering her question.

"Okay. So. The Force is everywhere, it's just generated by living beings. I've heard it said that size doesn't matter, and distance doesn't matter. That's..." He grimaced, "well, it takes some getting used to."

He gently shook his head. "I don't know what kind of will it is. But it seems to encourage certain things to happen. And some Force Sensitive people can see things ahead of time." He spread his hands. "I think that's destiny. Or pretty close, anyway. And yeah, it's real."

Petrus took a deep breath. "Okay. I knocked those out. Hit me again if you've got more." He grinned.

[Sacha Ordo]

"I think it makes sense. The Force is one big thing. If you touch a giant living thing on one side, no matter how far away the other side is, you're still connected to that because it's one thing. If you ask the big thing to talk to someone on its other side, it's easy for it because it can just turn it's head, where you'd have to travel a long way on your own." She rambled a little bit as she tried to wrangle the metaphor. "I know that only kind of makes sense."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus' jaw dropped. Slowly, it closed. He shook his head, wildly, as though trying to clear it of cobwebs.

"That..." Grinning, Petrus shook his head. "That actually makes some sense. Yeah, okay. That's basically right." He chuckled. "I've never thought of the big talking creature-thing metaphor, but yeah, sure. Maybe I'll remember that one for the next time I try to teach someone this stuff, if you don't mind."

[Sacha Ordo]

"It was a stupid kriffing metaphor, but it gets the job done," she replied bluntly, then laughed. "My point is that if it's all one thing kinda and everything touches it, it makes sense that distance and size wouldn't matter."

[Petrus Karath]

"No, no!" Petrus raised his hands, laughing. "If it works, I don't see what's stupid about that. It was a good one."

He looked at her. "You've done well today, Sacha. I think you could really develop this. If you had the right teacher."

[Sacha Ordo]

She tilted her head to the side. "I don't really have a teacher. And I'm a Mando, no Jedi or anyone else is going to come anywhere near me on the chance I turn them in for the reward." She waved a hand. "I wouldn't, as I've mentioned, but they don't know that. Got no reason to believe me just because I say it."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus' expression grew serious. "Sacha. There's one very important question that you haven't asked. Perhaps it's because you already know the answer, at least on some level." He took a deep breath, keeping his eyes on hers.

"How do I know all this?" He asked, his voice soft.

[Sacha Ordo]

"Petrus... I don't mean any offense saying this, but I just figured you were kind of naive," she admitted with a small, self-effacing laugh.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus made a face at her. "Seriously? Naive? Sacha..." He shook his head, smiling ruefully. "I mean, I'm not saying you're wrong, but still."

He spread his his arms. "Anyway, in case it wasn't entirely clear, I'm a Jedi. And I hope I'm not being naive in telling you that." His expression turned serious again. "Because if I am, then it'll cost not just me, but also those closest to me."

[Sacha Ordo]

She shook her head. "You're not. You're a friend, Petrus. I won't betray your trust even if I didn't have specific qualms about hunting Jedi."

There was a beat.

"Which I do. As you know."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus' eyebrows went up just a little, but he nodded solemly. "Thank you. On both counts, Sacha."

His lips quirked. "This means I'm pretty much gonna have to invite you over for some more Warrior's Heart, you know."

[Sacha Ordo]

He could hear the grin in her voice. "Kriff yeah, let's do it."

"Though that reminds me of how we got here - I feel like a teacher would be a good idea. I'm not sure who, though."