It's Killing Me (open)

[absalom]

"Oh no," came disappointed words as the rain had now started to fall, hard on the ground as well as the library. A dull roar of the pelting droplets could now be heard throughout the interior of the building.

Just before he was about to walk out the door to return to the church. Silently and with a slow understanding nod, Absalom told himself it was better off this way. At least he didn't get caught out there in the middle of the journey. If Chileab found he walked through a storm like this he'd possibly murder him, as Absalom jokingly figured.

He turned his eyes from outside the window, honing them back on what was distracting him from the now lost race against the rain. Absalom was entrusted to bring in some obscure religious text to the church from the library. Even though he knew it looked like rain, Amnon seemed pretty anxious for this book. Normally Absalom is much more focused, yet when his eyes passed a book on the Five Houses of Zen Buddhism he just had to at least skim through it a little. The rain had suddenly brought him back to his senses, but it was too late now. Absalom just had to sit there inside the library. An unsettling dripping noise sounded, as the rain was entering in holes and cracks within the building's roof. Rather than get upset about any of the books lying around getting wet, he instead decided to try some meditation. To focus himself more, and to rid his mind of care for just a moment is what he truly felt like accomplishing. In Indian-style sitting, with fists brought firmly together above his lap, Absalom began breathing ever so slowly, optics closed, senses expanding towards his surroundings and beyond...

[Chrysanthos]

"How interesting. Might I ask, what is it you're doing?"

The new voice was male, and close. Almost uncomfortably close. It's owner hadn't made so much as a footstep before speaking to the other stitchpunk. Were Absalom to open his eyes, he'd find the new doll.. if it were a doll.. standing barely an inch away from him, bent down slightly to look him in the face, his arms casually folded behind his back. His face, covered by an eerie mask and jet black hood, was just a few centimeters away from the Savior. Perhaps he was trying to get a better look at him, or couldn't see well through the mask. Or, possible, was purposely trying to startled Absalom, though the softness in his voice that defied the rest of his appearance suggested against the latter.

[absalom]

A wind can blow against a mountain, yet it only blows off the snow from it's sides leaving the rocky surface intact and still. Such would the suddenness from the stranger's talking after coming in such close proximity be compared as Absalom pulled off the appearance of the mountain in this metaphor fairly well. Without moving another part of his body, not even to open his optics he gave a suitable, calm answer to the stranger.
"I'm waiting for the storm to pass."
While unable to pick up on anyone approaching him, Absalom did not hear any harmful intent in the voice that spoke to him as soon as the stranger finished the first syllable. He found the question silly himself, but then again Absalom noted how little other stitchpunks might practice meditation which in turn would make him seemingly odd as well. "Not one is perfect, and even less understand that well enough," the monk reflected in his head...

Any other time, Absalom would have added why he came to the place in question, but the library hardly seemed to be somewhere out of place for someone like himself. The better question at the time would appear to be the same to this stranger as he had just asked. What business did he have sneaking on someone with their eyes closed, just to ask why they were sitting in place minding their own business?

[Chrysanthos]

"Well, yes, of that I was sure. I mean, the way you're sitting. It must have some purpose?" The doll sat down a little ways away from Absalom, folding his legs together as he did, as if mimicking the Savior's position. The cloth of his robe rustled as he sat down, indicating to Absalom, even with his eyes shut, that he was still there, and didn't yet want to leave. "Forgive me, but I'm rather curious. I've never seen such a thing." His head tilted slightly in curiosity, his voice slightly muffled by the mask that covered his face.

[absalom]

"Hm. This is something called meditation. It is a relaxed state of mind that one takes in order to reach a better inward focus and possibly achieve enlightenment if done long enough," Absalom gladly went on to explain to the stranger, while still imitating the mountain in constant stillness. Eventually he added a confession of sorts. "Honestly, I've gotten up to half a day like this before, feeling very much at peace after, but I wouldn't say as far as being enlightened."
The change in Absalom's impression of the stranger was quick, yet well founded as it seemed he was just genuinely curious. Had the guy really sat down like he did just now? It was hard to keep inward focus now as Absalom felt he was being given a chance to give a lesson, and outside the church of all places. The downpour was being tossed about outside as the wind started up. Thunder could be heard a ways off.

[Chrysanthos]

" 'Meditation'... fascinating. Sounds quite beneficial. Could you possibly show me?" Again he shifted his position to better mimic Absalom's. "It seems we've a bit of time to kill at the moment anyways."

He noted the change in Absalom's voice. He seemed surprised, but happy, by the question. The hooded doll himself was rather surprised with his own curiosity in the subject. Something involving so little movement wasn't normally his action of choice. Then again, anything that ties in with the words "peace", 'enlightenment" and "relaxed", especially now, must be worth at least a try.

[absalom]

He could leap for joy right now if he wasn't so far into inner focus. "Absolutely," answered Absalom with enthusiasm. "Now if you're in a position like I am, that's fine. Know that really any sitting position, or kneeling are suitable positions as well. Whatever makes you comfortable."
While he could have gone on about lotus positions and even name the rest by their Chinese names, but he didn't want to bore his new student so quickly.
"Concentrate on breathing first. Try counting down from ten for each inhale and exhale. Be still and calm enough until you can faintly hear the tick of your gears."
When confident the stranger was following his instructions so far, he continued.
"Once you feel relaxed, contemplate on things. Your past. Your future. Then realize the present moment, the hear and now, and let your mind reflect on the lessons taught to you in the past as well as the hopes for the future and how you might achieve them now. The ever present moment is what we all live in. Meditation can be a way of bringing one to focus on this and clear their mind. The universe, God will expand your thoughts and unveil the mysteries of your life. This is what I believe enlightenment truly is."

[Chrysanthos]

He nodded with each instruction, following along to best of his ability. This didn't seem too difficult. Why had he never seen any others doing this before? He supposed it was a human practice he'd yet heard of that this Savior had retained after the humans' extinction.

One of the Savior's words caught his attention, and inadvertently answered his question for him. His optics flickered back open to look at the Savior again. " 'God'? The humans' Christian God?"

[absalom]

"Christian God? You misunderstand. God didn't belong to the Christian's. The Christians belonged to God. Furthermore, I believe like my brothers do that there is no distinction between the God the Christians followed and the true source of Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha's enlightenment. The fact that our souls are the continuation of mankind in turn makes those of us who still desire to believe belong to this same God. Therefor, in some aspects I suppose I could mean the "Christian God" but rather I refer to the God they presumably followed. Perhaps the scriptures they followed should have mentioned the Apocalypse happening like it did."

Not once had Absalom's optics opened. Even when giving his firm correction, there was not even the slightest movement he gave aside from his mouth. "But, regardless. Forgive me. Not all meditation is meant for enlightenment. Which in turn is not to say that meditation isn't always spiritual. Just relax yourself, and everything else will come in time and practice."
The big iron-framed ragdoll then made a long, hard exhale to regain his focus.

[Chrysanthos]

"Forgive me, I wasn't trying to offend. I just... thought His belief died out with the humans. It wasn't something I was expecting to encounter again." He said softly, apologetically, before falling silent. He forced his thoughts back to the Savior's instructions. He hadn't been lying when he said he found this new art fascinating, but still, he secretly wished for a conversation instead. He wasn't about to ask though. He'd already disturbed the doll enough.

[chileab]

Suddenly, singing could faintly be heard over the clamor of rain and violent electric discharge from the heavens. When it could be heard just outside the door, the voice's tone could be made out as slightly elderly and overly raspy.
"... me: rain on me;
Let Your mercy rain on me;
It is not by willing or by running, Lord;
Let Your mercy rain on me."
The door opened by the time the singer got to the second line, filling the library as best as possible with his aged, slightly tremolo voice.
"Hey! You in here still Absalom?" the voice then cried out into the darkness. The figure swiftly approached the one in question.

[absalom]

It was pleasing for Absalom to find someone so curious about learning... even if he didn't know their name. He was about to open his mouth and lightly ask for it before a particular sound caught his receptors. The voice he heard made Absalom momentarily shoot his optics open and aimed towards the source. After hearing his name called, he shook his head and just closed his eyes again. As soon as his brother came near, Absalom answered his calling.
"Yes, I'm still here. And I'm educating this brother stitch here about meditation right now."

[Chrysanthos]

The masked doll said nothing as he looked up at the approaching doll. Figures the first doll would be part of a close-knit group. Perhaps this new one would be as friendly as the first. Still in an attempt at a meditative pose, the unblinking eyes of his mask watched the new doll carefully. Still he didn't speak, but waved his hand in a friendly, greeting gesture.

[chileab]

"Ah! Good!" the singer stated, not seeming to get the hint Absalom gave about it not being a good time to bother him. "You know, just about when you walked out that door, I couldn't help but look outside to make sure you didn't trip over anything. That's when I noticed the clouds coming in, and I said to myself "Boy, that big ape is just going to try going through that rain like it didn't matter at all!" so I decided to follow you here and make sure you didn't do such a reckless thing. I couldn't stand not knowing for sure that you didn't risk rusting your aging iron limbs or nothin' like that."
Irony could be seen in the newcomer's statement as when his short, barely over six inch frame came into view his tanned leather skin was glistening and flat out dripping wet. He partially splashed his way in between Absalom and his student.

[absalom]

"Wow. You know, Brother Chileab? Your logic is really so off sometimes. Did you really think I was going to drag an important addition to our religious text collaboration for Upkeep through all that rain?" replied Absalom before slightly opening one optic towards his brother. "From the look of things, you didn't seem all too concerned about your own well being anyway."
And Absalom returned to his full meditative postition, bracing himself for another one of Chileab's tirades.