001 [video] console café

[shifu_sifu]

[The backdrop? One of the console cafés private rooms, with the door open to show a hall crowded with locals, but this particular room seems empty save a pair of large, rounded ears that are twitching minutely to catch the many sounds going around him. Seconds later, half a head peers into the video and a furry brow furrows.]

This is not anything like what I expected once my time came. There is much and everything is complex and-- No one can see me, can they. [A mutter as one elderly red panda holds onto the edge of the console and tries to look at the camera.

This? Is not working. He abandons that technique and kicks back the chair, performing a perfect flip to land balanced on the crux of his staff, the base of which is resting on the floor. Now centered in the video, he smoothes out his robes and clears his throat.]

I understand this is a realm for those who have completed their journeys. [A pause, a steady breath, and a nod.] I am at peace with this.

[The murmur of crowd in the background surges briefly and an ear flicks in irritation. Shifu decides it is better to finish his message before more people arrive.]

If you can just direct me to Master Oogway, I... [A pause as he glances around, borderline frazzled by all the people here.] -ah, I will confer with him and resume my meditations.

[A marginally graceful nod to the camera, then he descends the staff onto the console, searching for the command to kill the feed.]

There are many, many more people than I expected to have achieved the inner peace necessary to attain this state.

[It's one more perplexed mutter before he finds the command and ends it.]

Comments

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[sophos]

That's what a 'completed journey' implies, to most people. And mine's not complete, so it's not ending. Certainly not here.

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[shifu_sifu]

Not all journeys have a completely dead end. [A slightly punny, wry restatement.] They can wind down at the dawning of a new one, or shift tracks with little forewarning.

[A break as his nose wriggles a bit in thought.]

Though it is unlikely that you would attain the meditative oneness necessary to ascend in the midst of a chaotic shift, it is not impossible. [See: Po and the inner peace he, Shifu, obtained as a result.]

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[sophos]

[Oh that pun sure gets an eyeroll] You don't have to tell me that.

I wasn't in any kind of meditative state when I was brought here. I agree that it's not impossible, but I still don't think that's the be all end all answer here. Death or inner peace? No, there's more to it.

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[shifu_sifu]

[T-minus five seconds to eyebrow lift... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... We have liftoff.]

Then what answer do you expect to be told?

[Come, student. Tell the master why it is that he is incorrect.]

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[sophos]

I don't know yet. I've never heard of a place called 'Tu Vishan' before. [And she looks very put out at this fact.]

But I know I'm not dead and I'm certainly not in a state of inner peace. This might be part of my journey, but I don't know why.

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[shifu_sifu]

You need not know the name of a place to reach it, nor must you know the path to tread it.

[Kung Fu mysticism 101.]

What you must do, however, is earn the answers through hard work and perseverance! [A pause, a bowing of his head.] Unless you master your inner self and can obtain the peace necessary for meditation, but even this can take years of growth.

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[sophos]

Do you know how many times I've actually known the path I needed to take? The true destination? You never really know, until it happens.

You act like I'm unfamiliar with finding answers. I would never expect them to be thrown in my lap. I will always work for it. And I will never stop seeking out more.

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[shifu_sifu]

[Stop. Blink. Think. Curious that she appears young, but has the drive to earn -- to learn without it being given. Shifu often has to instill in a pupil that they must work in order to obtain results, but her foundation is solid.

WEIRD, HUH.]

You speak with much conviction and experience for your age. Were you a master or warrior?

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[sophos]

[She straightens up a little bit, with a flash of pride. If she's being honest with herself, she's a little pleased to catch him off guard.]

That depends. Master of what? Though I've had plenty of combat training and put it to use more times than I can count, so warrior is pretty applicable.

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[shifu_sifu]

Kung Fu. [He says it with the simple expectation that she understands. What else could you be a master of?]

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[sophos]

Then no. I've never learned any. My fighting style is more akin to those of Ancient Greece.

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[shifu_sifu]

I have never heard of this style. [Pause. Perplexed.] What kind of animal is a Greece?

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[sophos]

[Her eyebrows crinkle a little.] Greece is a country, not an animal.

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[shifu_sifu]

Ah.

[Composure, he'll get it back. Eventually.]

Then what kind of animals are in Greece?

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[sophos]

There are a lot of different animals there. I could name some? I've never actually been though.

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[shifu_sifu]

Then surely your master told you which style you were trained in?

[He is going to figure out what combat style you use if it... well, he has ascended, so it will not kill him. The determination is the same.]

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[sophos]

[...how does this relate to Greek animals????? She tilts her head a little bit]

Well, Chiron did most of my training. And like I said, it's kind of a mix of several Ancient Greek styles. Infantries, phalanxes, individual hand to hand combat. I can use a lot of different weapons, but I primarily prefer my knife.

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[shifu_sifu]

[It all makes sense to Shifu, trust in that.]

Then, just as I fight in red panda style, you must do combat in Chiron style.

[Yes, this makes sense to him.]

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[sophos]

Er, well, it's not really a style named after him. I suppose he has some influence and preferences, and he's been training heroes for centuries, but he didn't invent Greek combat.

I've never heard of Red Panda style before, but I don't know much about kung fu.

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[shifu_sifu]

Then you have never seen a red panda in combat before, have you.

[You gotta admit, he has a point.]

There are many styles to an art, all of which require much study and determination to master. If Greek is the art, then Chiron is the style. This is how it is with Kung Fu.

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[sophos]

No, I haven't.

[Pause] While I agree in principle of the requirements, the style isn't named after Chiron. He's not the only master of it.

There are a number of us who train with each other, we train by ourselves -- the style is Greek. It's just a mix, and after the basics, we practice with each other most of the time.

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[shifu_sifu]

When you have is when you will know of the red panda style then.

[Makes total sense in Kung Fu.]

Ah. Then you are a master of Greek and a student of Master Chiron.

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[sophos]

Yes. [Because... that seems obvious?? Of course she'll know of it when she sees it]

I guess that's more accurate. Though I don't think I'll ever stop learning more about it. Knowledge is endless.

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[shifu_sifu]

You are quite... wise for one so young.

[This keeps occurring to him.]

Knowledge is indeed endless. By understanding this, we can master our ability to learn from all things, though a master's tutelage is always first.

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[sophos]

I get it from my mom. [a little pleased to hear it, despite knowing she is? You bet.]

"I know that I know nothing." Once people realize this, by acknowledging that knowledge is endless, it opens them up to greater learning. But not everyone can do so.