(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

From here.

The room is comfortingly neutral, warmly lit but without overt decoration. A couple of padded benches and a small bathroom, should they need it.

"Will this suit our need?" Sinric asks softly.

Comments

[manofbusiness]

"At least until you learned to guard them around other people. He would not have thrown away the good your gift could do him, if he had any sense."

[thewidewideworld]

"He was wise and kind." He lowers his eyes. "I miss him very much."

[manofbusiness]

"But he is still with you." Childermass looks at him steadily, and he knows what he's talking about. "And always will be."

[thewidewideworld]

"It was such a temptation, when I was losing myself, just to reach for the memories of him and let myself drown in them. To let myself be overcame." It would have killed him but the temptation was there.

[manofbusiness]

He nods.

"But you had something to fetch you back out."

[thewidewideworld]

"People I love. People who love each other and who I am destined to bring together. They are why I'm here, my purpose. They gave me a reason to go on."

[manofbusiness]

"Good enough", he agrees, "if it will suffice for you. As it seems it will."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods, unable to express how much they matter to him, how much they future matters to him.

"Is there anything else you can teach me today?"

[manofbusiness]

He considers.

"Do you know anything of the ways of the East in clearing your mind?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I do." He blinks, feeling foolish. He learnt many such things in his time with Kamino buy in his panic, he'd forgotten them.

[manofbusiness]

"They can be hard to achieve without some degree of calm going in, but I knew an old Chinaman who had once been a sailor. He taught me a little."

[thewidewideworld]

"Will you show me what he taught you? That I might better remember my own training."

[manofbusiness]

"Gladly", he says with a nod. "You had better make yourself comfortable again."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods and returns to his bench, moving a little steadier now than before.

[manofbusiness]

Childermass watches with understated approval, drawing his legs up to sit with them crossed.

"Close your eyes, and concentrate on your breathing. Do not try to control it. Just count."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric closes his eyes and breathes, just letting himself sink into his body. He'd forgotten this but the calm of it brings the muscle memory of it back.

He relaxes, the next of gold against his skin pulsing with each breath, just viable.

[manofbusiness]

"Relax your shoulders", he continues, "and allow your arms and hands to hang as they will. You should feel nothing from them."

[thewidewideworld]

He obeys, letting the weight that has held his shoulders high and his neck stooped slowly ease away.

[manofbusiness]

"You may open your eyes at any time you wish, but do not look at anything. I have always found it easier to keep them closed. Your back ought to be straight, but not tensed."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods minutely and straightens his back a little with each breath. His body is still weak and the wounds around his throat and wrists show up as vivid lines of colour where they peek out of his clothes.

[manofbusiness]

"If any stray thoughts come to you, let them come and go. Do not hold on to them. Your only focus should be the breaths in and out of your nose."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods, trying not to show a flash of irritation that his own weakness is so transparent.

[manofbusiness]

To be fair to Sinric, not much gets past Childermass.

"When such thoughts come, start your count of breaths over. When you can reach ten uninterrupted, you may count the breath in and out as one, not two."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods again and counts, trying not to let the thoughts and visions snag him. Once or twice, he fails, the pain of it showing on his face as he forces himself to focus past it.

[manofbusiness]

"Good", Childermass says levelly. "Whether the thoughts come from within you or as images from beyond, make the counting your prime focus, and trust your golden net to catch the worst of them."