Azami blinks at the sudden transformation of Zhongyi's tone from calm to cold; she remembers the power Kyras imbued in her and rises to a height where she can see what is happening amidst the samurai blockade, moving forward through the air close enough to hear. The weight of her armor bites into her ravaged form, the few closed wounds threatening to reopen.
She dares not draw her weapon or move to engage. Instead, her voice calls to the woman she admires. "Honorable scion of House Sera, it is wise that you treat well with the Emperor's Loyal Shadow. He has long served as the eyes of the Son of Heaven and his honor is unquestioned. You and your kin will reap the rewards of remembering we are allies, both seeking to reclaim that which was lost."
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He knew that look, he'd walked that path before and in the face of her barely controlled rage he was serene. It was her right and he'd had expected as much when he told her, but he had no right to keep such a secret from her. He bows his head to Azami then caught off guard by her words for a moment. However he does not delay in pulling out the jar in question and is careful in every step of the process. His inhuman dexterity allowing to produce the item with ease and delicacy. He stood carefully and presented it too her, the swirling silver smoke inside. "As you wish, I only mean't to protect her and no disrespect to you or your Clan. If I have offended than end me." He spoke truthfully, hoping to ease the Elder sisters rage as he was by no means her enemy. With his last word his magic faded, his swirling armor of force dissipated and he was completely open and vulnerable to attack.
Zhongyi looks at the jar. Her mouth moves but no words come out, and for the briefest moment her eyes begin to mist up. Then, as quickly as the moment begins, the great Sera samurai-general clamps down and regains her focus and balance. She takes the jar and whispers once, softly; "Aki-Chan". She then bows to Chu. "I am unworthy of your forgiveness, Imperial advisor, but I beg it nonetheless. My actions bring shame on my house, and on my empire." The apology is breathtaking in its vulnerable sincerity. All of the Black Orchid Samurai present receive a lesson in humility from their General as she bows deeply before the Loyal Shadow, baring the back of her neck to him.
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Chu was quiet for a moment, gathering himyself before he spoke. Certain human emotions captivated him and he took no disrespect in the way he was treated for a moment. "You are more then worthy, as no dishonor has occurred and you show great honor as well for your house as your humility is a strength the Empire needs. Always. Please rise and lead us onward Honorable Sera." He didn't need to say more, he did however remain close to her to protect her, the prince and the jar if he was able.
Azami lowers herself back to the ground and looks back to the others in their retinue, both to afford the Sera Elder her private moment with the Adviser and to distance herself from that overpowering emotional display.
"He's gone! Could the water have washed him out of his cell?"
A cloud passes over Imuri's expression. The uncommon loss of his On actually draws a response from one of the Spider samurai next to him, his eyes widening in surprise. The scion of the Shoto lowers the register in his voice.
Grandfather, you have kidnapped a member of a high house of the Empire. You demanded a criminal as ransom and I have risked insulting the honor of your captive's house by making the exchange you requested. Now you play at games and think to poke my mother's son with sticks, hoping not to be stung.
His eyes narrow and he assumes the unique standing-charge iai stance of the Broken Promise dojo. Though it resembles little more than a slight shift of weight, it signals to his samurai that Imuri may begin combat.
You err in thinking I have not already achieved victory. If I deliver the Sera's body to her family, it is more than they have now. I am already her savior. If a second campaign is required to restore the girl, I will pledge samurai to the cause. If I walk away now, I am the victor.
Now Imuri purposefully shifts his stance. He turns one foot to mimic the intention to turn, sending the unmistakable signal that he will cut the Scarecrow down, but only with the slightest turn of his ankle.
You have been offered the exchange you requested. If you claim you are a man working for the Empire, then have honor and complete the exchange in faith. If you do not choose honor, then I shall behave...dishonorably.
Zhongyi holds Chu's inscrutable gaze a moment longer, then her samurai clear back to the perimeter as she swivels her head to look over at Wei. "'He', who, brother monk? Who is it you speak of?"
The soldiers in blue that were backing up the Black Orchid samurai when they came to your aid all look quite healthy and strong, and are of many different races; undine, sylph, human, half-elf, half-orc, gnome, gillman...etc. On their rich, sea-blue tabards is a white symbol that looks like stylized waves. Instead of spears or pikes they all have tridents for polearms.
@Imuri: Bethany-as-the-Scarecrow suddenly looks worried. "Imuri-san, no; don't!"
Tokine gathers those in need close and performs another radiance of healing....her last...and says a quiet prayer for a quiet dinner tonight.
............................
As Tokine walks she wipes the hair our of her face...
...then she dabs at the cut on her cheek....
...then she makes a stab at wrestling her wet hair up and back on top of her head....unsuccessfully.....
.......then she wipes her other cheek, thinking a carbuncle MUST be stuck to it...
What are they all LOOKING at? I must look a fright.
Perception
No stranger to the Curator's ability to awe an audience merely with her uncommon beauty let alone her myriad skills and dignified grace, it is still odd to have such an array of foreigners barely hiding their wonder. She chalks it up to Tokine's ineffable allure and instead pays attention to the General and Wei.
"Swift? That seems unlikely."
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The moment with the Elder Sera was past and Chu dismissed further need to remember this event save for the exchange of the jar and the clear emotion the Elder had for her Younger sister. All other things were beneath ever being mentioned again. He turned his attention to the rest of the group and the warriors in blue but...
Perception
Chu seeing the Curator struggling to right her appearance, unsuccessfully, decides to aid her as she walks. His simple cantrip cleaned any dirt from her clothes and caused the water in her hair to flee dribble on the floor behind her. Last he brightened her hair color and left it at that, it wasn't like she needed his help. He dismissed his cantrip then disregarding his own tattered robes, keeping them only as tattered clothing for now lest he offend others by walking in his scales. "What a strange group of Gaijin..." He studied their attire for a moment curious as to who they served...
@Imuri: The pink-haired man snorts derisively. "You think to challenge me? Openly? You speak of the 'High Houses' and the empire. Well I AM the empire! Look to the trees in the parks, to the plum blossoms in spring, look to the color of their petal, look to the bark on their branches, then look at me, at my skin and hair and eyes. I am of the Suihan Sanyou, the Song Zhu Mei, I am resilience personified, I am Bai, the plum tree, the plum blossom, one of the three pillars upon which The Uniter, Fen Chan built Lanzhu, and his empire of the Land, and yet I and my brothers preceded even him! I have played this game because it amused me, but now you are no longer aumusing, and I will send you to your ancestors!" As he has been speakin, Bai has been growing and his skin has been hardening into a bark-like substance. It is not clear if this is something he is consciously doing, or an uncontrolled process, like the surge of adrenaline that makes a warrior's ears sing with blood and the heat of battle. Before you now stands a 12-foot tall monstrosity with several legs and arms, skin like the roughest tree bark, glowing pink eyes, and covered in plum blossoms. He sneers down at you.
Tokine smiles at the effects Chu is able to have on her appearance. She works at getting her hair successfully up off her shoulders this time. "You are a true friend Adviser Chujitsuna. I would have forever regretted meeting him looking like a wet cat fresh from the sewer."
Imuri immediately changes his stance, affecting the aire of a man who is relieved to finally be getting to the point. He casts the medallion of the Uniter down to Bai's feet, and bows his head lightly.
At last, Old One, you have revealed yourself. You have tested me for an entire day, and yet the Spider have seemed unable to gain your audience. Please forgive my impropriety, but the Shoto would know your place in the current events. If you are the oldest among the Empire, what are your desires to protect Lanzhu? If you seek war, who are your enemies?
The scion of the Shoto looks up, and corrects his stance. His hand never strayed to his kitana. His eyes are dispassionate, and his face a mask of indifference. I am the son of Shoto Maemi, the Mother Spider. You must choose whether you are amused by this gambit, and perhaps consider a future daimyo as a resource, or you must excise your wrath and make an enemy of those who wish only to serve the Empire and preserve the way of life you set into motion.
Kyras looks grimly over at Chujitsuna. "Yes, the anthropomorphic snake points out that we gaijin are the strange ones." His dark humor comes off a bit harshly from his pain-gritted teeth.
"Strangers maybe, but I was foretold of their arrival, for if my guess is correct, they are agents and representatives of the King of the Floating Kingdom....and for the first time, I am about to meet my Father."
She swallows hard, and keeps her eyes straight ahead. As she walks, Tokine brushes absently and unnecessarily, at her now clean sleeves.
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Chu turned towards Kyras drawing forth a wand as he did so. He was used to Kyras's venomous words and wasn't in the least bit bothered by it anymore.
"I am impressed you even know that word Kyras. However. Allow me to correct you, I'm an abomination, now quit your weak mewling and let me heal you.."
Not trusting him to be reasonable he looked to Azami before proceeding.
Azami just shakes her head, muttering to herself. "Floating Kingdom? Father? This day grows more complex." Noting that Chu is looking to her for something, she redirects her attention to him, noting the wand and truly confused for a moment that the Advisor would seemingly wait for her assent to heal the Dragonborn.
With a brief glance to Kyras, Azami doesn't bother to keep the admonishment from her firm tone. "He is our companion. He has his own tongue with which to answer you." It seems all the response the Advisor will get, as she turns towards other matters.
"The man calling himself Swift, honorable general. There was also a goblin here, claiming he knew something of your sister's predicament. Swift vanished with the flood that followed you, the goblin just before."
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Following Azami's statement Chu nodded and, once Kyras agreed, turned his focus on utilizing the wand to heal the man's injuries. Anyone else that appeared to be in need of healing as well. At the first sign of resistance though he will stop casting, there was no need to waste charges.
His skill with magical devices however was more than apparent out how quickly and efficiently he utilized the wand without a single failure. Once he was done healing he tucked it back into his pack and calmly followed The Elder Sera with the Prince close by. He spared a glance to Tokine every now and again in case there was signs of trouble.
@Imuri: "You INSOLENT, FOOL-" Bai's bluster is cut off by the sudden appearance of two bizarre strangers, clearly the work of magic. One you recognize instantly as a goblin. The small troublemakers are rare in the empire, but certainly not unknown to you. This one has more than the usual amount of intelligence glittering in his cunning little eyes, though, and is dressed in good, strong adventuring gear, and has a number of strange...rods? or something? strapped to his person in little holsters. He has the air of someone confused, or drugged, or perhaps enchanted.
Next to the goblin is a horrid, stinky beast roughly the size of a horse, but with five spindly legs that terminate in strangely dainty little hooves that look very much like a goat's. Its back is covered in matted and greasy hair that extends nearly down to the floor and gives off a distinct smell of day-old flop sweat and bile. You see many vermin crawling around in its disgusting coat. The hair extends all the way up to its bulbous head, which has a flat, piggish nose, a cackle-toothed maw for a mouth, and overly large eyes that are milky and seem to be leaking a viscous pus from where the tear ducts should be. The creature speaks, and its voice is like the braying of an ass and the sound of metal on slate. It sounds the way a papercut under a fingernail feels. It sounds the way rotted fish intestines look.
"What are you DOINGS, stupid TREE-MAN! Who is this HOOMANS to see your TRUE FORM?! He is just another DUMB HOOMAN, I bets! You lets Grik-Groks new pet be destroying hims while WE goes to BETTER THINGS! DINNERS is tonights and we make MUCH MISCHIEFS! HAHAHAHHAHAAA!" The creature babbles something in the goblin tongue and does a curiously irritating little jig, its hooves clacking on the fine tile floor, and then it and Bai both vanish in a smelly cloud. The goblin looks at you, its eyes a little spacey, as if considering Grik-Grok's last words.
"Brother Monk, if this 'Swift' is the person I think he is, then you have nothing to fear. He is notoriously difficult to kill." She makes a face, then gestures for you all to follow her. "We have what we came for. Let us hasten back to the river, and then the surface."
"Hmm, I'm thinking why should I? Do the hoomans have anything neat? But I'm also thinking, why not? And then maybe I 'splode the tree-man after for fun too, ey?"
The elder Sera leads you through the passages by a different route than the one you used to get here, but which also leads back to the river. Standing on the bank is a huge force of soldiers; the remaining Black Orchid samurai of House Sera, many more of these soldiers in Blue, and all of the strange "New Kings" gaijin are all either dead or sitting down, bound and disarmed and looking sullenly at the ground.
Standing tall above all other men is a regally dressed figure, resplendent in rich blues and silvers. His eyes are stormcloud-grey and his hair is white as seafoam but shot through with rich blue streaks. His battle armor is heavily enchanted, as is the crown on his head, the goggles around his neck, and the sword in its scabbard on his hip. He looks elven, but the ears are wrong, and his skin is a bluish-grey hue possessed by no other elf any of you have seen. He immediately looks to Tokine, and the resemblance between the two is unmistakable. He steps toward you all, taking off his gauntlets as he does so. He angles his head to one side and smiles in wonder. Tears fill his eyes. "I...Tokine? M-my daughter? I never thought I'd see the day. I...she told me you...but here you are! And you're...are you hurt? By the gods I will destroy any being who dares touch you...I...it...all these years..." Clearly at a loss for more words, he steps forward with his arms wide to embrace his daughter, Tokine Nagano.
"This is the monarch Nylmorh, ruler of the floating kingdom, come to Lanzhu to aid the forces of light in their time of need, and to speak with the Son of the Heavens, as one emperor to another, and plead the righteousness of his cause." Intones a man standing next to the king, clearly his assistant, or functionary, or similar.
Imuri regards the remaining goblin coldly. Sieze him, The other Shoto step forward, genial but balanced like the fabled ninja.
The son of Shoto Maemi turns to take both the goblin and the Scarecrow into view. Consider more wisely, gaijin. You have been less than forthcoming. You femain with me. As if the kimono I gave you did not mark you so that I could follow you anywhere.
More Shoto move in behind Bethany Erodal. Imuri looks to see if the goblin makes trouble for his samurai. We welcome you as a guest of the Shoto. Please accept our every courtesy for a guest as esteemed as yourself.
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Silently he was thankful that he healed everyone lest Tokine's father had a more intense wrath then they were seeing now. Instead Chu was calm in the presence of this Monarch, or Emperor, when he stepped forward to embrace Tokine he remained on guard. There had been so many deceptions since he had emerged from his office in the Palace, enough to remind him what he hated most. However seeing these "New Kings" were bound or slain he turned his interests towards them instead looking to the Elder Sera for an answer. "Samurai-General Zhonghi, Why are these New Kings soldiers bound?"
Urk shrugs as the silly talky man moves behind the lady and says, "Ah, yess, hide behind the girly. How very nobbly honerable of ya. Cause she's so purty I'm not gonna..."
...try and shoot ya."
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"These men and women of the 'New Kings', it appears, are actually members of an invading army called the Red Dragonflight." Zhongyi pulls a piece of cloth out of one man's pouch and shows it to Chu; on this little square of cloth is a crest that appears to be stylized draconic jaws, done in crimson. "They showed their true colors when the battle went ill, and attacked us. Luckily his majesty Nylmorh showed up to aid."
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Haha... that was funny. But Nooo... Why you do what Grik-Grok wants?! You hates Grik-Grok! You waste bullets you should be putting in him! Yeah, it was funny shooting stupid talky man, but Grik-Grok wants it, so you shouldn't do it!
But Grik-Grok is my friend! He said so! He aknoledged my mighteeness!
Noo! Urk is being stupid! You are King Urk back home! You don't need stupid Grik-Grok to tell you how awesome you are!!
Quiet talky mind-Urk! Urk is 'sploding things!
Standing tall above all other men is a regally dressed figure, resplendent in rich blues and silvers. His eyes are stormcloud-grey and his hair is white as seafoam but shot through with rich blue streaks. His battle armor is heavily enchanted, as is the crown on his head, the goggles around his neck, and the sword in its scabbard on his hip. He looks elven, but the ears are wrong, and his skin is a bluish-grey hue possessed by no other elf any of you have seen. He immediately looks to Tokine, and the resemblance between the two is unmistakable. He steps toward you all, taking off his gauntlets as he does so. He angles his head to one side and smiles in wonder. Tears fill his eyes. "I...Tokine? M-my daughter? I never thought I'd see the day. I...she told me you...but here you are! And you're...are you hurt? By the gods I will destroy any being who dares touch you...I...it...all these years..." Clearly at a loss for more words, he steps forward with his arms wide to embrace his daughter, Tokine Nagano.
"This is the monarch Nylmorh, ruler of the floating kingdom, come to Lanzhu to aid the forces of light in their time of need, and to speak with the Son of the Heavens, as one emperor to another, and plead the righteousness of his cause." Intones a man standing next to the king, clearly his assistant, or functionary, or similar.
Tokine gives a small bow to the herald, and takes a few hesitant steps forward and looks her father in the face....there was no denying it, he obviously was her father. That he was glad to see her, was not what she expected, as she was a foundling....
She gives him a large bow and comes up with a coy, if confused, smile. "Until yesterday, I did not know I had a father...I mean, of course I had a father... Her hand comes up to cover her mouth and hide her embarrassment for the moment she needs to recover. "What I meant, I did not know You were my father until yesterday. And suddenly here you are...with an army. Your arrival was most welcome, especially with an offer of continued help. Your presence here already has done much to right that which was tainted, so on behalf of the City, I thank you." And she gives another bow.
"As for these scratches, you have taken care of the aggressors upon your arrival surge. The cuts and scratches are a small matter, as I have been trained within Shelyn's Temple and I share the wonderful blessing of talented friends." She steps the rest of the way forward and gives her Father a hug, a bit self-conscious of the continued stares she receives. A bit unorthodox, but if the King wished it...her Father wished it, she will comply. She is surprised to find it feels right....a family embrace is not a memory she possessed. She whispers up to his ear, "I like your hair."
While held in the embrace she continues "I have many questions, but forgive me as I am shamed to ask a request first. A dear friend was washed away in flood. I believe he is a water elemental encased in a mechanical body serving the City. His title is Envoy-Six, and I have been trying to help him as he has been helping me. I do think it would be nice if he got the chance to meet you. If it is in your domain to find him or have him found, or assure me that he is safe. He has done me, and all here a great service, and I would hate to see him come to harm while I am so in his debt. But...it is presumptuous of me to ask such a silly request for a water elemental in a flood....it sounds silly saying it, but it is complicated...and for a Daughter's friendship..." She sags a bit within his embrace, but does not release him until she feels he is ready.
With some effort, Azami keeps her gaze focused elsewhere, as though she could give Tokine and the Emperor privacy amid this throng of soldiers.
To block out the emotional reunion, she notes the General's words about the ruse of the Red Dragonflight army, scanning the bound soldiers as she commits the crest.
Then she steps a bit away from the gathered folk, pulling off her gauntlets. She removes the red sash at her waist, wringing it of gore as best as she can before she sets to wiping down the lamellar scales and plates of her armor, noting anything damaged. It's not likely they will get a chance to clean up properly before the state dinner, if they haven't missed it already. Or even remove armor at all, given our tendency to run into trouble everywhere, she tells herself as she futilely tries to do more than just smear away the blood.
Her thumb rubs into the saturated fibers of the cloth, glancing over at their motley group. As a soldier, she knows the battlefield turns strangers into companions overnight, common enemies creating bonds that become legendary alliances. Three days has brought together an odd array of people, each driven by an inner force, forging a rough camaraderie like a new, yet unhoned blade. Unwieldy still, but with time and practice and sharpening...
Her grey eyes jump from Wei, to Chu, to the Curator--and quickly away from the father-daughter scene to Kyras.
Few know as well as Azami how a single day can turn the whole expected trajectory of one's life on its head. And still, she can hardly believe all that has happened so quickly to bring her to this strange path.
Three days...after four very long years.
She returns her attention to the broken lamellar scales at her side, evaluating how long it would take to repair.
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The General's words struck a cord in Chu and his face twisted as he nearly snarled at the thought of continued deception. Which brought a few glances from the nearby samurai mainly as he looked down right frightening. It took him a moment to restore a semblance of his previous calm. But he didn't hide the malice for the poor dragonflight soldier caught in his golden gaze. "Understood Samurai General, they will reveal more soon enough. One way or the other..."
The war between light and darkness continues, heroes and villians are harder to identify, it grows more and more difficult to detect deception. These invaders are good at blending in, how are we to repulse those who are among us? What of the citizens? Who is a friend or a traitor?
Whether or not the enemy was intimidated, he didn't care, for the Empire he'd make them sing in pain for their arrogance. Invade he wanted to laugh, their deception would cost them dearly. His thoughts wandered to Barusama and stilled his rage before he turned from the dragonflight soldier lest he do something dishonorable.
He takes in the room, tasting the air with a flick of his long forked tongue and seeing Azami attempting to clean her belongings he focused his Ki snapping his fingers as he summoned forth his simple trick once more. Quickly cleaning his scales of the blood, gore and polishing them to shine once more as he turned to Azami. "Do you need assistance?"
He was trying to give Tokine her time with her father, especially as this was an auspicious moment in her life. He felt completely out of place and tried not to disturb her at this time, not until his presence was needed.
@Imuri: Though not a mage, you of course have been trained in the mystic arts and their application, and can tell this goblin -- whose strange appearance marks him as some sort of champion of that race -- is under an enchantment and not acting in accordance with his own wishes. Even as his bizarre weapon belches smoke and you feel a ray of some sort rip through you, The Scarecrow confirms your observation; "Lord Shoto, he's enchanted! Unbind me and I can help! I can stop this!"
With a giggle Urk dashes backwards, to keep some distance between him and the approaching samurai.
Don't shoot the ladee, stoopid Urk! She help you!
Urk shoots who Urk wants!
Yes, but ladee, smart. She make good eemperial advisur! Don't shoot ladee!
Okay, makes sense. Urk no shoot ladee. But Urk still shoot stoopid talky man! And everybody else!
@In the Undercity: King Nylmorh releases Tokine from his embrace and stands back a step, beaming at her. "No request from my daughter is silly. Alorra! Leta!" He intones over his shoulder and an Undine and a Strix snap to attention. "Seek out this Envoy-6 creature, and bring it to me. Invoke my and my daughter's names if need be. We will see it pardoned and freed into a new life. Go." The Undine vaults gracefully into the river while the strix flexes her powerful onyx-feathered wings and with a single mighty leap sails away down the tunnel.
Nylmorh turns to face the rest of you. "If your business here is done, friends, should we venture forth to the surface? I know I have business there, as I would assume all of you do, as well." He turns to Tokine again; "Thank you for the compliment, great Tokine. Your own mane, untamed as river rapids, I would wager, is a credit to your beautiful mother. Oh I have so much to make up to you. The work you have done, but did not even know...but it can wait." With that, he nods to his commanders, who organize the troops and gather up the prisoners. They begin walking out a different way than you came in.
While not known for her courtliness, Zhongyi is still the eldest daughter of one of the greatest noble houses in the empire, and as such her form and manners are impeccable as she bows to Nylmorh and says "Great Lord; this one, to her shame, must take leave of your august presence. I would see my sister's essence restored to her body, and I believe I have an idea where my search would begin. I hope you will all be able to meet her tonight." After the proper protocols of departure are observed, the contingent from House Sera leaves.
The journey to the surface is uneventful, and you all come out of a large runoff channel near a mill. The workers are astonished at the array of nobility coming out of the entrance to their dam, but bow appropriately as you pass and make no comment.
Once on the street, Nylmorh addresses you all once again. "I will take my leave of you for the time being, but will speak to you at the state dinner tonight, for I would see you all rewarded for your part in aiding my daughter, and in keeping her safe. I will speak with Tokine to determine what is appropriate for each of you, so I can best match your reward to your temperament and abilities. Until then, my new friends." He bows elegantly and turns to Tokine: "My daughter, my Tokine; will you accompany me? You will be cared for and properly prepared for your appearance tonight -- your first appearance at my side, as the heir to the throne of the Floating Kingdom."
Wei shrugs when Azami glances at him, and merely watches the scene unfold before him. Currently unsure how to proceed, he awaits the actions of everyone else in the group.
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Before they leave...
Azami squints up at Chu, considering her reply. "I would rather remove it myself, if it can be done before court assembles. It is ...an activity I should attend to with focus."