One Kata, One Step at a Time [Open]

[Toki Akiyama]

The chilly fall afternoon in Goldenview had a quiet peace to it. The sounds of the nearby waterwheel spinning away with the gently running river and the occasional breeze did much to clear one's mind should they be open to it. Toki, for example was. He sat atop a small hill at the edge of the river, eyes closed and taking in the serene nature. He opened his eyes and checked his phone and scrolled idly for a moment before he pocketed it. With a deep breath, he stood swiftly, using only the strength of his legs to lift himself up.

He found a good, flat spot on the hill and focused on the wind a little more before he squared his stance. With a sharp exhale, he began going through his karate forms, each one trained countless times throughout his life. He was passionate, dedicated, and fully committed to eventually taking over the family school when the time came. Each stance and swift strike looked graceful despite the power each one possessed. Several swift punches, weight shifted to the correct foot with the proper pivot of the hips, and each sweeping kick looking like they'd cleave a mountain in two. With one final stomp, he rests his hands above his thighs and lets out a heavy breath.

After the quick session, he wiped his brow and pulled a water bottle out from his backpack. He took a few drinks, savoring each drop before putting it away. The wind was starting to pick up, so he held his scarf closer to his face as he thought on some things. Namely his social circle, his schooling...he as doing fine in school. Great, even. Though he felt a bit of loneliness from time to time. He didn't make many friends in high school due to rumors about him and his overall quiet personality, but he can't live life without at least a few friends. The problem was he found himself to be a rather uninteresting person. Sure he enjoyed games, anime, and the like, but he was insecure about his tastes and struggled to break the ice in conversation. Maybe he needed to just relax and be himself...if people liked him for who he was, that's all he could ask for. He didn't want to pretend to be someone he was not. He rubbed the back of his head a bit as he contemplated this, but for now he wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Stella Morozova]

Cold. But still not too cold for a walk. The area, contrary to Lumen City, gave of fresher, calmer vibe than glass and holograms adorning the place she lived. It felt... Like a different world. A change of place wasn't unwelcomed, so in complete silence Stella has been walking through the fields and hills, watching the flow of the river following her on this small escapade. She fixed the grey shawl and checked the hour by tapping the screen of her digital watch. There were still... Three hours to the departure of the train that would take her back to Lumen City after today's ordeal. Whose idea it was to have a photo session on the outskirts of Goldenview? Right... As a part-timer and underage person, she wasn't getting full-time sessions, so after taking her pictures she was dismissed. That's it. Normally she'd be annoyed however Stella was free to do whatever the hell she wanted until it was time for meet up.

They did tell her to stick around... So after wiping off that annoying makeup and changing into her clothes, Stella decided to leave the Little Lumen and roam around. Just for the sake of killing time. Bus lines were following the clean, even roads between patches of outstanding greenery - it's not like she went far away from the train station. Having in mind that yeah, she should get back sooner rather than later, Stella was strolling next to the river, listening to the humming water. Even at this time of year, when nature was slowly preparing for hibernation, everything was green. The hue was a little dull, greyish, but still noticeable and pleasant to the eye. The breeze was nice, and the silence was just great. Peace, quiet... Why can't Lumen City be like that, huh?

She stopped on the side of the river, admiring the afternoon lights dancing on the surface of the water. After a moment a short vibration in the pocket of her jacket told her that someone send her a message. A moment later same thing repeated. And again. Aaand there was another one... With a quiet sigh Stella pulled out the mobile to check who felt the need to bother her right now but a soft metallic clink caught her attention. Keys with a keychain slipped out of her pocket during that innocent motion. By reflex, she tried to catch it but was seconds too late. Her hand brushed against the keychain charm in the shape of a star and worsened the situation by pushing it farther away. Key's to the house plopped into the water around a meter away from the riverside. The surface waved and ripples smoothed in a minute, turning back into a natural current like nothing ever happened.

For a second Stella was standing there, her eyes staring at the spot her keys disappeared. With an annoyed sigh, he closed her eyes. The girl rubbed her temple and brushed blonde hair with her fingers, trying to find a solution to this unexpected problem.

"For fuck's sake." she murmured to herself, looking back at the river. Isn't her luck just great?

[Toki Akiyama]

Toki lifted his head as he heard the girl curse something out. Seems like someone ran into a little trouble or inconvenience. He looked around, and spotted her standing near the river. He walked down to meet with her, a little nervous, but he took a deep breath to calm himself. "E-excuse me...did you drop something in the river?" He inferred from her annoyed gaze at the water. "Luckily the current's not too strong right now...let me see if there's something I can do." He said as he took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pantlegs.

Despite the chilly air and even colder water, he unflinchingly stepped into the water and crouched down to feel around for something for a while. He rooted through the soft soil and rock, until he found something that glinted beneath the surface. He grabbed whatever it as and managed to pull out the keychain. With a little smile, he waded out of the water and shook the water off his feet. "H-here you go. Is this what you dropped?" He asked as he handed them over. "It would have been really bad to lose these...glad I was able to find them."

Once his feet were dry he sat down to put his socks and shoes back on. He looked content. "Oh, m-my name's Toki Akiyama. It's nice to meet you." He said with a bow of his head. He hoped he didn't seem like he as imposing or getting involved in business that wasn't his own. To him he was just trying to help someone who needed help. He hadn't seen this girl before, maybe a tourist? Someone from Lumen? He couldn't know for sure. Goldenview as a big town as it was, and Lumen was a metropolis. He pulled out a pack of rice crackers he got from Old Town and snacked on one. He looked the the pack, then at the girl before offering one to her in case she was hungry.

[Stella Morozova]

Yes, it was her damned luck. Some higher deity decided to screw with Stella once again, throwing her keys into the river with the most spectacular splash. Shoving her phone back into the pocket and narrowing her dark eyes, she stared at the place her belongings disappeared. Annoying. So what to do now? Could she fish the keys out with a stick? If that won't work she could take off her shoes and try to find them herself if the river was shallow enough... But the most logical reason for this misadventure was to call Rosina, tell her what happened, and admit that she needs new keys. Like she wasn't busy enough... Rubbing her temple Stella sighed, never suspecting that a little field trip would end like this. And to add to the surprise she never thought she'd be approached at that peculiar moment.

It wouldn't be unusual to see someone in this open green area, but Stella wasn't expecting to hear a hesitant question. Without moving from her spot she glanced to the side, seeing a young man, tall and tanned. He had a pleasant face, with a friendly, but a tired expression, giving him a somewhat anxious presence. He spoke politely, but with a certain difficulty... Well, it's not like she was going to bite him unless he'd give her a reason to, was she? Half-asking and half-stating he summed up the situation for her, looking at the water. Before she was able to title him Captain Obvious, he started... Undressing. That was unexpected? The mysterious altruist threw off his shoes and socks and walked into the river like the temperature of the air wasn't low and it wasn't the end of the fall. And Stella stood there, watching without a word.

So... He was there in the water, knee-deep, looking around for her keys - ridiculous. When he picked up the right trophy from the bottom of the river, she nodded slightly. That was it - keys, silver ring, and rugged from age metallic star-shaped keychain with engraved letters on the rough surface. She took back her belongings, cold and wet from the chilled waters of the river, and silently looked at them. Her indifferent, but pensive gaze shifted to the lad drying his feet and putting back on shoes. He certainly was glad that his assistance wasn't pointless. Why? At this very point, Stella was just... Confused. No chitchat. No inappropriate remarks. Not even staring. Simply, he had an inner need to help a lady with distress, and without a second thought, he did. Even if it was something small, he went to great lengths to help out with a small inconvenience. That was new.

"Why?" she asked calmly without introducing herself, rotating her keychain between the slim fingers of one hand. This matter seemed more curious after all than learning each other's names. Keys clicked softly with a metallic sound. "Wouldn't it be easier to just walk away? You know, I could simply get another set." she lightly tilted her head to the side, strands of hair falling on her forehead. Her voice was simply calm, there was no malice in it, but she wouldn't be herself without a teasing undertone. Stella looked at the engraved star, blurry inscription of her name and date of birth. And to think, she'll still have this old trinket... It was worth throwing into the river anyway. Closing it in her hand, she turned her head to the side, looking at the unexpected and helpful stranger. "What's your answer then? Why would you bother yourself simply to help a stranger? Mhm... Because it was the right thing to do or you wanted to be praised?"

She was teasing him, curious both about his reaction and reasoning behind actions she saw a moment ago. Altruism was a foreign word in her dictionary, so it was hard to believe all there was to his help... On the other hand, she knew from her experience that the simplest reasons can be the most powerful, really.

[Toki Akiyama]

"Would it have been easier to just ignore the issue and walk away like it was none of my business...? Maybe, yes..." He shrugged a little and thought about how to continue. "Y-yes, you would have been able to get another set, but that's more inconvenience and trouble I don't want to see someone deal with...plus, I was able to do something to help, so I don't see why I shouldn't have." He said as he stretched his legs a bit to get more circulation going.

When asked what his answer was, he just smiled softly "I don't care about reward or gratitude. The people I help could forget about me the next day and I'll still feel fulfilled that I made someone's life just that little bit easier. I guess you could say it's because I thought it as the right thing to do." He seemed so earnest and honest about his answer. "Little kindnesses build up." He said as he ate another rice cracker. "There doesn't have to be a big reason to help anyone, honestly...a-at least that's what I think."

He had no air of smugness or pride about him. He didn't put himself on a pedestal for helping out, or see himself as better than those who wouldn't have helped. He just did what he felt as right unconditionally. No praise, no rewards. That sort of thing didn't matter to him. If it was insisted? Sure. If it was gratitude? Perfect. There didn't need to be a large web of ulterior motives tied to what he did. To put it simply, he just wanted to help. End of story.

From what she as saying, it seemed the girl wasn't quite used to altruistic people. He frowned slightly, but understood how that could be possible. There were a lot of selfish, greedy sorts out there who expect gratification for everything they do. It as frustrating to him, and he hoped that his little actions showed there were people out there who were just...kind. "We may be strangers to each other, but what does that matter? We're all people, after all."

[Stella Morozova]

"Then I guess you have higher morals than most people." a light smirk curled in the corner of her lips. "Including me. I wouldn't bother." Stella admitted without a care in the world. Because truly, she wouldn't. Water was humming and flowing still, not interested in their conversation. Was it ironic, that the only other time she could recall receiving sincere help also happened by the river? Though if her keys were to take a dip in a wide, cold, and deep Neva they would never be found again. She shook off the droplets from her keys and hid them in her pocket. As she listened to this calm and sincere explanation, she concluded one thing... That something was consoling in this simple-minded attitude of his. It's not like that was a bad thing, words and actions had as much meaning as people were giving them... And if Toki's way of the understanding world was nobler than her, who she was to take it away?

But something about his approach was slightly out of place. Or maybe it was just her... Genuine, unconditional kindness seemed like a fictional term for Stella, a foreign definition from the unknown dictionary. There always was a deeper meaning, some conflicted feelings, or hidden objective behind people's actions - and she wasn't an exception. The only difference was that Stella was honest about her feelings - both those good, favorable and those that society frowned upon. Most of the time at least... Huh. Although on the other hand, on a whim, she might have done something similar. That is, helpful to others - caprice determined her actions. Like that one time she wanted to make that loud, obnoxious guy shut up, so she helped him run into the wall, and his date thanked her for that... Yeah, there was a certain theme in her helping people. But no, not too often. In her experience being too kind left people lonely or dead, she did not like those options.

"The right thing to do." she repeated after Toki, adjusting the loose ends of the shawl, facing the river as they talked. "... Maybe." Stella nodded. "But you know... We're all people. Treat yourself to praise or brag about it how you helped someone. Because frankly speaking, that stoic, altruistic approach is freaking me out a bit." she chuckled amused, though the look in her eyes hasn't changed from this observant, neutral expression. There's no shame in being proud of oneself. And sure as hell Stella was satisfied with everything about her - that was visible. Right...

"Either way." taking one step to the back, distancing herself from the river, Stella shook her head. Dropping the reflective, pensive mood seemed for the best - the cool air and beautiful surroundings were too melancholic in a way. Running fingers through her hair she glanced to the side at Toki. "Thank you for your help." At least there be no need to call Rosina and explain what happened, so with peace of mind, she could get back home unbothered by guilt or troubles.

[Toki Akiyama]

Toki shrugged a little bit, not seeing Stella any more or less than he did a second ago. "And that's okay, honestly. Live how you like, as long as other uninvolved people aren't directly inconvenienced." He said. He didn't expect everyone to just adopt his ideals. He was kind, but he was not naive enough to think that he could magically make everyone think the way he does. In a way, that would be a selfish goal. People had the right to go through life however they wanted just as long as no one was hurt as a result of their lifestyle.

He was taught to be kind to others for as long as he could remember. Martial arts training taught him discipline and control, but he was blessed with parents who put emphasis on the value of honor and kindness. Battles could be won with words, though in the event that they couldn't, one must be strong enough to defend themselves and others. He watched the river for a moment, and listened to the waterwheels spin along some more. There was a tranquil expression on his face. He closed his eyes and thought about the time he panicked and lost control. Sure it was self-defense, but he felt bad that he went that far.

He looked at Stella, a little surprised. He laughed softly "S-sorry if it's so off-putting. That's not my intention at all. I am happy that I helped out, and glad that I could! There's no doubt about that." He said. He understood that his approach could be seen as a little unnerving. He wanted to work on that, but at the end of the day, if someone's life was made a little better, then that was good enough for him. "Of course." He bowed his head to her gratitude. "You're welcome."

He took out his phone and looked through some news postings. He looked a little thoughtful on one of the recent postings. Something about some trouble in Deep Lumen. Someone was picking fights it seemed...something that didn't seem human. That was concerning...he put his phone away, but wouldn't mention it for now. Whether Stella wanted to continue talking or be on her way, he didn't really mind. He didn't have to be home by any particular time, so he'd likely spend some more time training and taking in the scenery.

[Stella Morozova]

Directly inconvenienced, huh? Oh boy, if he only knew. That was a funny statement to Stella. In a way, by not being inappropriate she was only hurting herself and true freedom emerged from staying honest to herself, not minding the outcome. So yeah, she did whatever the hell she wanted, not concerning herself with others' feelings... Because, why should she? It was amusing in a mundane way. In the end, she was the only person she got. Surviving so far wasn't based on being nice and friendly, was it? With a quiet sigh, Stella brushed her hair.

"And that's all to that." she added to his admission about wanting only to help out. No, it wasn't mocking or even teasing this time, she was just stating a fact. Stella blinked and couldn't help but smirk a bit after seeing him bow his head. Simple thank you created that gratitude? Huh. She could almost get jealous about how easy it was to feel fulfilled this way... Seemed like some deeper level of figuring life out, worthy of a hermit living in the middle of nowhere. All that lofty shit. And to be honest, with his mindful demeanor Toki was matching that archetype. As long he wasn't trying to convert her to the light side. It would probably be awkward to admit how many people she sent to the hospital in her short teenage life. But maybe she could? It could be funny to see his reaction...

Something in her pocket vibrated and started playing music. She blinked, pulling out the device hidden in her jacket.

A soft classical tune played as a ringtone. Stella was holding her phone, waiting, looking at a screen with an indifferent expression, while the screen displayed the name of a person she wasn't keen on hearing. Music played for a while, filling the air with a gentle melody from Swan Lake ballet. The moment the phone turned silent, Stella opened the messages and checked who was the mysterious person spamming her inbox a moment ago... Uh-hu. A quick reply was in order. Right. Seemed that the others wrapped things sooner than expected and were wondering where the hell she disappeared to. Yeah, she might have agreed to stick around Little Lumen and then left here. Huh. Awkward.

"Need to go before my coworkers snitch on me to my boss for taking a walk in work hours." she hid her phone and shrugged, turning to the side she came from. "I should get going."

[Toki Akiyama]

Not much more needed to be said. He didn't even get her name, but that was no big deal to him. It did make him feel a little insecure just how much he was willing to do to help people, since he realized that can come across as very off-putting depending on the circumstances, or that some would think he had nothing better to do. Truth is he spends a lot of time home honing his skills and just relaxing online. He was honestly kind of a nerd. Shows, games, he likes to stay caught up on that stuff. Honestly, a roof over his head and access to the things he liked...that's all he really cared about as far as his own comfort went. That was neither here nor there, though.

Then, Stella's phone began to ring. He tuned out, not wanting to eavesdrop on any conversations, though it appeared to just be text messages from her reactions. "Ah, well best not keep them waiting, yes." He said with a light chuckle. He waved to her and gathered up his things "There's something I feel I should look into, myself, so I should probably be going, myself. Take care." He said as he buttoned up his jacket a bit more.

He should make his way to Lumen City today, see if there was anything he could find out. He had heard of strange happenings as of late, and he'd be lying if he said it didn't spark his curiosity. He was all caught up with his college classes, anyway. Why not treat himself to a little adventure out into the city? Rumor chasing was something he never really got himself involved in, so he thought it'd be fun! Who knows what this would have in store for him.

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[Stella Morozova]

Stella hated phone calls. That's why she calmly waited until her mobile would stop ringing to text her boss what the hell they want from her... It was easier this way. Saved her the annoyance of listening to people she did not wish to hear. On the other hand, Stella wasn't eager to listen, watch and meet people - with a few very rare exceptions. It was safe to say that brown-haired lad was added to this limited category. That was an unusual encounter and a meeting of this type that within a week or two will slip away from her mind. Stella just wasn't keen on remembering people's names and faces when she did not have to, and this time wasn't any different. Even if Toki proved to her with his approach that he wasn't a typical guy. She might not be able to recall his face or name, but the talk about kindness and altruism will stick around for longer - and for completely different reasons he'd wish for.

The girl nodded in understanding and watched him gather his things and explain that he needs to go. Who was she to say no?

"Proshchay." she gracefully waved at him, adding a goodbye in her native language. "Yeshche raz spasibo za vashu pomoshch'." Stella added as he was walking away, without certainty that he heard her. Oh well. Time to go straight to the bus stop, arrive at Little Lumen, and finally the City... Getting to sleep early tonight seemed like a good idea. A day like any other scattered among the rest.

With that thought, she was glancing at the river for five more minutes. She could have stayed here even longer, but another spamming attack on her phone reminded her that yeah, she too should get going. With a sigh, Stella turned around and left this beautiful scenery behind.



OOC
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