Little Dipper Campfire: Friday Afternoon

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

For Worf, a field trip to the mainland was not an experience he'd like to go through.

So instead he was using the nice weather to practice the mok'bara out by the campfire in what he hoped would be a quiet day.

[And while Worf may not want to be disturbed the post is definitely open]

Comments

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He was walking to his cabin after work when he noticed the strange... huh. What would he call it?

He stopped and, much like the gawky clueless boy he was, watched.

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

Worf did not stop his routine. "Can I help you?" he asked gruffly as he moved his arms into another form.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He shook his head mutely, continuing to watch out of curiosity without a thought for rudeness.

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

And so Worf replied by saying nothing and continued his routine.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

After a moment, he sat down. And continued to watch.

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

And so Worf continued to work through his team.

And when he reached the end of it he started again.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He got up and moved a little closer.

Then, finally, he thought to ask:

"Do you mind? If I watch what you're doing?"

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

Worf didn't miss a beat as he continued his routine. "No," he said gruffly.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"What is it you're doing? If you don't mind me asking questions."

Since he'd gotten an idea from the first repetition. He'd learn more on the second go round if he repeated the same.

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

"It is the mok'bara," Worf replied sternly as he continued. "It is a form of meditative discipline. And I do mind."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Oh. My apologies."

He shut up and went back to watching.

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

Which was just fine with Worf.

Upon completion of the second routine he dropped out of his posture and walked to the fire pit and began working to start a fire.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He got up and wandered, carefully, over to sit at the fire.

"May I?" he asked.

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

Alice hesitated near the campfire, watching the fluid motions in silence.

Perhaps it was rude to observe like this, but it seemed more rude to interrupt with her usual chatter. So Alice waited, instead, transfixed by the movements.

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

"Can I help you?" Worf asked as he continued to do his routine.

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

She bobbed him a brief curtsy. "My apologies, I'm being quite rude. I can leave if you would like."

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

"It is not necessary," Worf said gruffly and switching forms. "And observing is not rude. It is observing."

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"Then I shall stay," she said, seating herself on the ground and crossing her legs. "I suppose if you wished to remain unobserved, you would not have chosen to do this at a campfire."

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

"I have nothing to hide," Worf stated continuing his exercise. "If that is what you mean."

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"Not entirely," Alice mused, fingers straightening out her pinafore in her lap. "More that if this was private in some way, something personal and only belonging to yourself, something that it would be horribly invasive for others to gather round and observe -- you would do better not to be standing in such a public location."

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

"Correct," Worf replied. "Is that not what I said?"

No, Worf. It wasn't.

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"That depends entirely on how it is you mean 'hide,'" Alice said, smiling faintly. "Some things we keep hidden away because they're dear to us, and not for others to share in. Some things we hide because there's shame attached. And some things we hide because we're worried others will take them if they sit out in the open, but that really goes more with possessions than meditation forms. Is that a meditation form? I suppose now is a good time to determine if questions are rude."

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

"It is called the mok-bara," Worf replied. "It is a form of Klingon meditation and the basis of our martial arts."

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"Are you a martial artist, then?" Alice asked. He hadn't said that questions were rude, so she would presume that they weren't until such time as he indicated otherwise. "Or are you meditating? I've never tried meditation, my mind insists on wandering off to look under rocks and into crevices to find something to do, and there I am, searching for my mind instead of meditating."

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

"I am a warrior," Worf replied. "As are most of my people. The mok'bara is a form of meditation that teaches us to center ourselves and also prepare us for combat. By concentrating on the forms you focus on your mind and body connection hopefully becoming one with the movement."

He paused for a moment as he shifted his body again.

"And therefore eliminate distractions."