Door and clock chimed at 11pm in the Philosophers Flask. Lene walked into her mothers shop, her one ear flattened against her skull in irritation. Skateboard and Spice were sat on the floor as she went off to find mother.
Ammy knew Lene was in the shop. She could feel her daughter throwing off waves of raw anger in the Force. Lene must have run into another one of life's nasty lessons. Ammy finished stirring the latest batch of fever few and let it set. It would be ready to bottle tonight, then the long sit for distilling.
Lene could feel that mom was in the work room and was heading there. She stopped when she saw mom stepping out and looking right at her as if Lene was expected.
"Now then, what has you so riled up this late at night? Hmm? Shouldn't you be back in Arcadia sleeping?" Ammy asked in a soft soothing tone.
"I should be, but I am too mad to go back to Arcadia right now." Lene growled and crossed her arms.
Ammy crossed her own arms then tapped her muzzle in thought. "Mad at someone in Arcadia? Or mad at an event in Arcadia?" she prompted Lene.
Lene blinked a moment and looked up at mom. "It doesn't have anything to do with Arcadia mom. No one there is bugging me. What's bugging me is the duels tonight. I walked into the dueling arena and it was one big shouting match. So many people arguing, griping, and fighting each other in the not so dueling way. The emotions crashed in on me and I spoke my mind."
Ammy raised her eyebrows at this. Lene speaking her mind usually lead to only trouble. She waved her paw in a gesture for Lene to continue.
"All the arguing going on was over honor, name calling, title, and rank. I hate it. I simply stated that title, rank, and honor lead to one thing, people becoming violent jerks. Then Anya started in on me with that mothering tone, and I snapped at her asking her where her rank got her? And what was her response? 'Because you have no rank Myrlene Wolf-Spiritor, don't trample on those who have earned theirs. Show respect.' How is that advice on treating people. I was told I have no rank and then to show respect? Why? What makes them so bloody special? The fact they can cast magic fancily? That they can out think someone with a sword? That they can throw down punches just as good as the next idiot?" Lene fumed as she spat all of this out.
Ammy was quiet, listening to her daughter, and analyzing the issues at hand. Then she walked over to the counter. A small teapot was on a burner keeping tea warm. She poured two cups, the handed one to Lene. Without a word Ammy made a 'Follow me' gesture with her fingers and walked back into the workroom. The room was split into two parts. The laboratory, and a research / consultation room. Ammy took a seat in a plain chair and waved for Lene to do so as well. Ammy sipped her tea a bit more and then set the cup down.
"So you walked into a room rife with hostility and by your words, your shielding was down. Then you reacted to the forces at hand and spoke your mind. Is this correct?" Ammy asked.
Lene sipped her tea stiffly and nodded.
"Dueling and honor are two archaic systems that are not well known for children in your generation bracket Lene. You are born in a multiverse and things are quite mixed and muddled. Duelers wrap themselves in layers of honor, code, and duty. It gives them purpose in a time where their martial skills mean nothing. It helps keep their edge should a need arise for their services. Now then, titles, ranks, and honor has their place in this world. Doctor, Lawyer, Judge, Alchemist, Receptionist, Ship Builder, and Pirate are but a few of the many titles and ranks out there. They are important in letting others know what duties are expected of the person. Honor is akin to personal pride and ego. You can not have honor without pride and ego. The three are inseparable and many refuse to hear of it.
Now then, what you ran into is honor and dueling formalities run amok. Granted you have no title or rank Lene, take heart, neither do I or your father. But we don't care about this. We like to duel once in a blue moon to show off our skills, refine them, and have fun in the rituals of violence. Dueling is ritualized violence, for once upon a time, dueling ended with the death or serious maiming of one of the duelists. The way you were addressed was not called for but many still view you as a child. Snapping back most likely just added cause to keep treating you poorly. You are competing against adults. You need to level the playing field.
Anya takes her dueling quite personally and seriously. Knowing this, one usually respects her on this. Your statement has most likely rankled her pride and ego which then comes across as a slight on her honor. Now then, honor is both needed and outdated. Too many hold tightly to honor but fail to balance it with logic and common sense. Old warriors from a land known as Japan would kill themselves outright if they felt their honor irreparably damaged. This was in keeping with tradition and the mindset of their people, yet as the culture grew and became modern, those traditions were outlawed as the need to kill oneself over slights of honor was deemed a waste of a life. These days, a person who values honor has logic to balance it out. I believe you experienced this once already during a light saber duel?" Ammy looked to Lene.
Lene thought for a moment about the event and what mom said. "It was odd. It was a sword duel I agreed to be in, and my opponent, without warning pulled out a light saber. I felt shocked, and a bit mad that he would pull out a weapon not allowed in dueling because of the lethality of it. But I pulled out my own light saber to keep the advantage even."
Ammy nodded approvingly. "There you are. You went in to the duel honorably and felt dishonored by the sudden change of weaponry. Some people would whine and complain and cry foul to end the duel before it even starts. You didn't. You used logic to balance your honor and you leveled the field restoring honor. The people you heard arguing are most likely petty duelers that have left logic at home. They will not last long in their positions because title, rank, and honor tell you nothing of the person. Action does. Next time you walk into a room full of squabbling, stop listening, and start watching. Observe the actions of others. If the actions don't match up to the words, ignore them."
Lene sipped more tea and was feeling a bit calm. She didn't realize that the tea blend was a relaxing one. "But this is all easy for an adult to say. You have respect of a lot of people we know."
Ammy sat her cup down, empty and considered Lenes statement. "I used to have the respect of people Lene. I was more respected when I died, than I am being alive again. But that's the fickle nature of respect. You have to earn respect. It's not handed to you magically when you get older. Watch more, listen less when pointless arguments erupt around you, and just focus on the strategy of dueling. Soon enough, you'll start getting respect for having a level head, even emotions, and the ability to stay calm regardless of others actions. Oh, and something else I have noticed. You may be trying to hard. You participate in all three disciplines. Focus on one, maybe two. You don't have to be a dueling guru. What do you feel you duel best in?"
Lene finished her own tea and thought for a minute. "I like dueling in magic and swords. I suck at dueling in fists."
Ammy just smiled. "Fists can be hard when you're small Lene, but you can overcome that with training. However, you've answered my question. Focus on Magic and Swords for now. When you get good at them, or feel you need a change, then go for fists. Your name isn't Wonder Pup. Keep your goals realistic and down to earth. Considering you didn't start any fights over the arguments in the arena I believe living on your own in Arcadia has been a help."
Lene nodded to that. "It has been a big help to get away from all of this. I don't have to worry about everyone else, just me. It's given me time to think about a lot of things."
Ammy nodded and looked to the clock as it chimed out the Midnight cadence of bells. She looked to Lene and offered her daughter a hug. Lene got up and gave mom a big hug. "It's late, time for you to head home, but before you go, I have something for you."
Ammy stood and walked to the lab area. She picked up a small box and handed it to Lene. Lene opened the box and saw inside two rows of tiny glass bottles with medicine droppers in them. She looked at mom inquisitively.
"I heard that you're having migraines again. It's fever few tinctures. Take 9 drops every day to keep away the headaches, but if one does hit you, take 9 drops ever 2 hours till the migraine goes away. Here is a picture of the Fever Few plant. Arcadia is tropical so look in the shade. You can eat the leaves. Three leaves every day to prevent the headaches. Okay?" She hugged Lene again then let her go.
Lene nodded that she heard the instructions, packed the box and picture into her leather satchel, then collected Spice and her skateboard. She opened the door, waved to mom and left. Ammy went back to her new batch of Fever Few with a small grin. That girl was growing up all right, she just needed some clear road signs to follow.
Ammy knew Lene was in the shop. She could feel her daughter throwing off waves of raw anger in the Force. Lene must have run into another one of life's nasty lessons. Ammy finished stirring the latest batch of fever few and let it set. It would be ready to bottle tonight, then the long sit for distilling.
Lene could feel that mom was in the work room and was heading there. She stopped when she saw mom stepping out and looking right at her as if Lene was expected.
"Now then, what has you so riled up this late at night? Hmm? Shouldn't you be back in Arcadia sleeping?" Ammy asked in a soft soothing tone.
"I should be, but I am too mad to go back to Arcadia right now." Lene growled and crossed her arms.
Ammy crossed her own arms then tapped her muzzle in thought. "Mad at someone in Arcadia? Or mad at an event in Arcadia?" she prompted Lene.
Lene blinked a moment and looked up at mom. "It doesn't have anything to do with Arcadia mom. No one there is bugging me. What's bugging me is the duels tonight. I walked into the dueling arena and it was one big shouting match. So many people arguing, griping, and fighting each other in the not so dueling way. The emotions crashed in on me and I spoke my mind."
Ammy raised her eyebrows at this. Lene speaking her mind usually lead to only trouble. She waved her paw in a gesture for Lene to continue.
"All the arguing going on was over honor, name calling, title, and rank. I hate it. I simply stated that title, rank, and honor lead to one thing, people becoming violent jerks. Then Anya started in on me with that mothering tone, and I snapped at her asking her where her rank got her? And what was her response? 'Because you have no rank Myrlene Wolf-Spiritor, don't trample on those who have earned theirs. Show respect.' How is that advice on treating people. I was told I have no rank and then to show respect? Why? What makes them so bloody special? The fact they can cast magic fancily? That they can out think someone with a sword? That they can throw down punches just as good as the next idiot?" Lene fumed as she spat all of this out.
Ammy was quiet, listening to her daughter, and analyzing the issues at hand. Then she walked over to the counter. A small teapot was on a burner keeping tea warm. She poured two cups, the handed one to Lene. Without a word Ammy made a 'Follow me' gesture with her fingers and walked back into the workroom. The room was split into two parts. The laboratory, and a research / consultation room. Ammy took a seat in a plain chair and waved for Lene to do so as well. Ammy sipped her tea a bit more and then set the cup down.
"So you walked into a room rife with hostility and by your words, your shielding was down. Then you reacted to the forces at hand and spoke your mind. Is this correct?" Ammy asked.
Lene sipped her tea stiffly and nodded.
"Dueling and honor are two archaic systems that are not well known for children in your generation bracket Lene. You are born in a multiverse and things are quite mixed and muddled. Duelers wrap themselves in layers of honor, code, and duty. It gives them purpose in a time where their martial skills mean nothing. It helps keep their edge should a need arise for their services. Now then, titles, ranks, and honor has their place in this world. Doctor, Lawyer, Judge, Alchemist, Receptionist, Ship Builder, and Pirate are but a few of the many titles and ranks out there. They are important in letting others know what duties are expected of the person. Honor is akin to personal pride and ego. You can not have honor without pride and ego. The three are inseparable and many refuse to hear of it.
Now then, what you ran into is honor and dueling formalities run amok. Granted you have no title or rank Lene, take heart, neither do I or your father. But we don't care about this. We like to duel once in a blue moon to show off our skills, refine them, and have fun in the rituals of violence. Dueling is ritualized violence, for once upon a time, dueling ended with the death or serious maiming of one of the duelists. The way you were addressed was not called for but many still view you as a child. Snapping back most likely just added cause to keep treating you poorly. You are competing against adults. You need to level the playing field.
Anya takes her dueling quite personally and seriously. Knowing this, one usually respects her on this. Your statement has most likely rankled her pride and ego which then comes across as a slight on her honor. Now then, honor is both needed and outdated. Too many hold tightly to honor but fail to balance it with logic and common sense. Old warriors from a land known as Japan would kill themselves outright if they felt their honor irreparably damaged. This was in keeping with tradition and the mindset of their people, yet as the culture grew and became modern, those traditions were outlawed as the need to kill oneself over slights of honor was deemed a waste of a life. These days, a person who values honor has logic to balance it out. I believe you experienced this once already during a light saber duel?" Ammy looked to Lene.
Lene thought for a moment about the event and what mom said. "It was odd. It was a sword duel I agreed to be in, and my opponent, without warning pulled out a light saber. I felt shocked, and a bit mad that he would pull out a weapon not allowed in dueling because of the lethality of it. But I pulled out my own light saber to keep the advantage even."
Ammy nodded approvingly. "There you are. You went in to the duel honorably and felt dishonored by the sudden change of weaponry. Some people would whine and complain and cry foul to end the duel before it even starts. You didn't. You used logic to balance your honor and you leveled the field restoring honor. The people you heard arguing are most likely petty duelers that have left logic at home. They will not last long in their positions because title, rank, and honor tell you nothing of the person. Action does. Next time you walk into a room full of squabbling, stop listening, and start watching. Observe the actions of others. If the actions don't match up to the words, ignore them."
Lene sipped more tea and was feeling a bit calm. She didn't realize that the tea blend was a relaxing one. "But this is all easy for an adult to say. You have respect of a lot of people we know."
Ammy sat her cup down, empty and considered Lenes statement. "I used to have the respect of people Lene. I was more respected when I died, than I am being alive again. But that's the fickle nature of respect. You have to earn respect. It's not handed to you magically when you get older. Watch more, listen less when pointless arguments erupt around you, and just focus on the strategy of dueling. Soon enough, you'll start getting respect for having a level head, even emotions, and the ability to stay calm regardless of others actions. Oh, and something else I have noticed. You may be trying to hard. You participate in all three disciplines. Focus on one, maybe two. You don't have to be a dueling guru. What do you feel you duel best in?"
Lene finished her own tea and thought for a minute. "I like dueling in magic and swords. I suck at dueling in fists."
Ammy just smiled. "Fists can be hard when you're small Lene, but you can overcome that with training. However, you've answered my question. Focus on Magic and Swords for now. When you get good at them, or feel you need a change, then go for fists. Your name isn't Wonder Pup. Keep your goals realistic and down to earth. Considering you didn't start any fights over the arguments in the arena I believe living on your own in Arcadia has been a help."
Lene nodded to that. "It has been a big help to get away from all of this. I don't have to worry about everyone else, just me. It's given me time to think about a lot of things."
Ammy nodded and looked to the clock as it chimed out the Midnight cadence of bells. She looked to Lene and offered her daughter a hug. Lene got up and gave mom a big hug. "It's late, time for you to head home, but before you go, I have something for you."
Ammy stood and walked to the lab area. She picked up a small box and handed it to Lene. Lene opened the box and saw inside two rows of tiny glass bottles with medicine droppers in them. She looked at mom inquisitively.
"I heard that you're having migraines again. It's fever few tinctures. Take 9 drops every day to keep away the headaches, but if one does hit you, take 9 drops ever 2 hours till the migraine goes away. Here is a picture of the Fever Few plant. Arcadia is tropical so look in the shade. You can eat the leaves. Three leaves every day to prevent the headaches. Okay?" She hugged Lene again then let her go.
Lene nodded that she heard the instructions, packed the box and picture into her leather satchel, then collected Spice and her skateboard. She opened the door, waved to mom and left. Ammy went back to her new batch of Fever Few with a small grin. That girl was growing up all right, she just needed some clear road signs to follow.