A person came to meet Twii. They had a lot to talk to them about, but both individuals were wary. Twii wanted to see what KIND of person they are, so, the two fought, briefly. Before sitting to talk, Twii stated, "Sorry about that. But you'd be surprised at how much you learn about a person by fighting them." -- Anon Guest
[AN: Just attacking someone out of the blue makes ZERO sense for: (a) a master of the martial arts, (b) someone who believes in Two Kind Hands, (c) someone who has canonically adopted a bunch of kids because they had nowhere else to live, and (d) Master Twii. This prompt is BEYOND out of character. So I am going to test this newcomer in other ways.]
"I need to know all about fighting," said the stranger. She had come to Twii whilst the Immortal Master was out grocery shopping. "They say you're the person to speak to."
Twii looked her over. Fighting fit, as some might say. Standing a little too close for comfort, and not even saying excuse me to begin the conversation. Too many red flags in one basket. "Wait for me in ZYL Gardens Eat, please. I must finish my duties."
A huff of a sigh, but she obeyed. It was all in the attitude. The hunched stance as she punched up the location. The lowered brow as she looked up the transit links. The muttered, "Fine," in lieu of a farewell. She would definitely be weighed in the balance with that one task. Whether or not she would be found wanting... Twii could wait and see.
Twii took their time shopping. Making certain the food products their children desired had not changed the formula. Double-checking the bargains available. Then sending the results to the Dojo via automated courier.
Twii cared about what they did. Making sure the groceries would get home with zero damage was just as important as meeting a stranger in the slowest restaurant in the Alliance. The route to get there was slow, too. Wait times between transits. Arthritic veets[1]. And of course there was ZYL Gardens itself.
ZYL stood for Zen Yoga Lesson.
Inhabited by creators or people who wanted to sit and chill for an extended period of time, ZYL Gardens prided itself in presenting works of culinary art to its patrons. Fast food wasn't even remotely related to what they did.
Let's just say that the bread rolls are very fresh.
It was the Lunch Slouch[2], when the most people were present in the garden-like atmosphere of the establishment. People who had ordered their coffee two hours ago were now receiving their cups. Some of them even paused from word processing or sketching to take an image of their order.
The stranger was there, too. Tapping her heel and gripping her own clenched hands as she sat. Trying to look the serving staff in the eye and thereby attract attention.
Anxious. Not angry. Patient enough to wait at the table, and not aggressive enough to chase down the staff.
Twii identified themself at the entrance. They had also ordered some relaxing tea in advance. They did very good tea here. They understood the zen of tea.
"The tea will still be twenty minutes. Plenty of time for a conversation."
"I am joining the lady in the corner," said Twii. They bowed with respect, and made their way to the bundle of nerves who was their new client.
"There you are," she sighed. "I thought I might have missed you or... I'd been ghosted or... I don't know." Taptaptaptaptaptaptap, went her heel on the floor. "I need to know about fighting. All the fighting."
"You do not seek to conquer?" asked Twii. "You don't want to defeat?"
"I want to make sure he takes 'no' for an answer and 'flakk off' for an instruction. Everywhere I go, he follows me, ruins my life, and then suggests going back to him is the only way things can get better."
"Deregger?"
"Deregger." She was shaking. Fractions away from tears. "I really need to know how to fight him. I need to make him quit. I'm so tired of rebuilding..."
"Ah," said Master Twii. "I see. How quit would you like him?"
"I don't wish him dead. Despite everything. I just want him to go back to his gravity well and stay there."
"I know just the people," said Twii, tapping on their datareader. "Do you have an image?"
"Nothing recent. A ghost of happier days. Just to show Security what he looks like." She was trembling, even now, as she brought up the picture on her own vambrace.
Twii sent a copy to the Offices for Pax Humanis with a polite request for justice and letting him go home. Then making sure he stayed there. "He will be dealt with. No lasting harm. But... just in case. I will teach you what I can."
Now she wept. Tears of gratitude. She had time enough to be done with it before the tea arrived.
[1] Veet: Vertical Transit, or VT. Some species took monikers like 'lift' and 'elevator' a little too literally.
[2] Any other restaurant would call it the Lunch Rush.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Jag_cz]
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