The Eleventh Trial

[catcophonous]

Who: everyone
When: Day 23, evening
Where: The Trial Zone

[Just as twilight darkens the clearing, you hear the train's customary shift, the sign of a Trial.

Outside in the clearing, a brick building has appeared. It's shabby, paint peeling from the heavy door, but the windows are full of neon signs advertising various brands of liquor. From inside you can hear the thumping of bass, and the faint sounds of a rowdy rock song.

A voice chimes in, lazy but amused.]

You all know what this is. I'm not "come hither"ing you. Just get in here.

Comments

[awakenerd]

[Rean hasn't really relaxed into meditation himself yet, watching Crow instead with distant amusement and fondness.]

Just keep letting things come and go. The most important thing is to breathe and keep at it, but mainly not to forget to breathe.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He opens his eye back up. ]

How long does it take for the "not thinking" part to work?

[awakenerd]

Depends on the person. I don't think most people will get it without a lot of practice. Emptying the mind is harder than you'd think. It's about the same as learning any new skill, it takes determination and patience before it pays off.

[bad_crowmance]

That makes sense.

[ He closes his eyes and takes another breath, determined to give it another try. ]

[awakenerd]

[He smiles faintly and this time he closes his eyes to sink into meditation himself, letting Crow be to work at it on his own.

His breathing falls so soft and even it's as if he's fallen asleep.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow does not hit any real state of meditation. He ends up managing to count up to ten at any given time before he inevitably slides back into some inane thought or another that suddenly seems vitally important to work out.

He inevitably gives up-- for now, he tells himself, and it's fine not to be perfect right away. But he doesn't want to disturb Rean either, so he pulls out his chain and starts poking around on it. ]