A Promise of Philosophy [12/30/14]

Earlier in the evening, just as the sun was starting to set on the short winter day, a knock would strike firm and arrhythmic on the gym door.

The familiar face unlocks and opens the door, holding a black and gray fox in his arms. "You're a man of your word. Welcome, come inside."

Vlad smiles when he sees Arkadi but hesitates only briefly at the sight of the animal. "I try to be. It tends to work out in the long run." The ecstatic's demeanor recovers quickly and he is stepping with a new grin. "I'll let you know, your friend won't have any place in what I have to say."

Arkadi nodded when he talked about things working out in the long run. "I agree." He walked them further in, and took a seat on the mat, nodding for the Ecstatic to join him.

The bear mage looked confused when Vlad referred to his 'friend'. "My friend? Are you talking about my little Raina here? I promise you she won't have much to say on the subject. I don't usually bring her out around company, she frightens easily. So where did we leave off, the last time you were here? Tapping into sensation, yes?"

"Well Raina is adorable."

With a nod he sat in a rather casual posture "I... don't remember very clearly to be honest." Vlad laughed a little at his own lack of memory and "I know I was trying to wing it with explaining dance, which isn't really my forte. So perhaps we should start over with something more up my alley. Sensation is a good place to start anyway I guess." a beat passed as the man seemed to be thinking. "Tell me, what would you describe as the most and least pleasant sensations you've experienced."

Arkadi let the fox down to scamper away. "Least pleasant sensation isn't too hard. My body heals itself faster than normal, and I was recently poisoned and shot with bullets that were attempting to burrow into my flesh. They were unable to make purchase because my body was healing, but they continued to burrow for a while till someone removed them. The most pleasant? I've had some interesting times experimenting with tantric yoga."

"Those are both good examples. Very extreme ends of the spectrum. So.." Vlad grinned and took half a second to collect his thoughts. "Do you remember those experiences well? Would you say that your mindset was altered by it? Focus on those experiences, and the differences in your existence between most every moment of being and then those moments. Focus on how the world was different in those moments relative to your perspective. Try to recall them for me."