A Visit to the Waterfall Pagoda
Resplendent Fire 19, R.Y. 776
Ash was busy supervising his crew while they performed routine maintenance on the Geronimo. While tinkering with various First Age engine parts and polishing the ship to Ash's exacting standards (He took as much pride in the appearance of his ship as he did himself, and as one of the best-dressed Grass-Spiders in the Order, this was often to the frustration of his crew)., they bickered among themselves, as they often did.
"Maybe don't smoke near the fuel supply," Tick-Tock grumbled as she leaned over the injection system, trying to fix a broken valve. Yusuf leaned over her with a dirty rag in his hand, intensely curious about the bizarre technology buried innocuously under the deck's aft floorboards. A hand-rolled cigarette hung loosely from his lips, still lit.
"Please! You couldn't ignite this fuel in a blast furnace - it's practically raw essence!" Yusuf shot back, having admittedly little understanding of what essence even was.
Tick-Tock shook her head, replying, "That doesn't mean it's good practice. It almost looks like someone cut this valve with a blade -- "
Their conversation was cut short as Ash approached the two, leaning over Tick-Tock alongside Yusuf.
Ash spoke up, "Actually, that is pretty weird... " As Tick-Tock prepared to offer up commentary on the suspicious break, Ash was quickly distracted.
"Ah, Yusuf, do you have any of that tobacco left? I haven't had that stuff since we first met."
Yusuf replied, "I think I have some in my cabin."
"Fucking spectacular. Wanna roll me one?"
Yusuf smiled as Ash patted him on the shoulder. "My pleasure. Let's go."
The two walked off toward the stairs. Tick-Tock sighed with a slight shake of her head. Moon, who had slowly hovered down from the eagle's nest, took Ash's place next to Tick-Tock, though she was far less imposing. She offered her sympathies.
"You'd think we'd get used to it, but sometimes Ash is just Ash. He's got more than ever to worry about lately."
Tick-Tock nodded, but didn't continue the discussion. Moon was often defensive of Ash's eccentricities; it was as though she feared trying to change Ash's hedonistic and absent-minded qualities would also quash the brilliance and charisma she so admired. Tick-Tock didn't necessarily agree, and sometimes wondered if over the years, Moon had grown attracted to Ash romantically. She honestly wasn't sure if Moon looked him at as a father, a brother, a lover, or some combination of the three, and she preferred not to know. Thus, she continued her work, doing what she loved most - tinkering. Silently, Tick-Tock counted her blessings - if Yusuf smoking over the fuel injection system was the worst thing that happened today, she'd be lucky. At least Mesa wasn't here.
As Ash and Yusuf made their way toward the stairs, Ash spotted a mule with a rider approaching the entrance to the Waterfall Pagoda. He stopped when he realized the rider's identity.
"... Shit."
Yusuf looked to Ash inquisitively.
Ash continued, "That looks like Gyoki..."
Yusuf had never met Gyoki himself, but had spent enough time around the Grass-Spiders to know of him. Yusuf remained silent, as Ash looked like he had more to say.
Ash had a lot more to say, but chose to keep it short with Yusuf. "I should probably take this one."
Ash had cleaned himself up a bit and climbed down from Geronimo's dock. He made it to the gates of the encampment as Gyoki dismounted his mule.
"Well this is certainly a nice place!" When Gyoki spoke, he moved forward and opened his arms as though welcoming Ash to the encampment. As usual, the body language was misplaced and awkward. Ash smirked.
"Thanks. To what do I owe the honor?"
Gyoki now stood next to Ash, and the two began walking into the encampment. Gyoki replied, "Just wandering. You understand that, yes?"
Ash looked to Gyoki quizzically. "... I suppose..."
Gyoki continued, "The urge to wander... Naturally comes in cycles. Few in number are those who'd wander their entire lives, but fewer in number, perhaps, are those who'd stay put. You've always wanted to get away. From everything. Can I have a smoke?"
Although slightly taken aback by Gyoki's self-interjection during one of his typical wise-old-man monologues, he didn't deny the request.
"Uh, sure. Here." Ash passed Gyoki the one he'd been rolling for himself, and began rolling another. He casually lit Gyoki's with a mote of essence as they continued walking.
Gyoki continued, "... and those who'd stay put. You've always wanted to get away. From everything. For awhile, the Order was exactly the place to do this. You play largely by your own rules, as long as you keep innovating. But that wasn't enough... you... you started to feel trapped again. And maybe you're right. Maybe you are trapped."
This was more lucidity than Ash was used to from Gyoki, and that alone was enough to keep him listening.
"I think, Lord of the Ashen Cloud, that you are the most puzzling man I have ever met. I dare say that I have figured out almost every Grass-Spider, but not you. But then again, I am not sure that you really are a Grass-Spider... And I am also not sure that you have figured yourself out."
There was an awkward silence between them. Ash didn't disagree, and frankly, wasn't sure what to say. He knew Gyoki wouldn't have come without a reason, but there was no guarantee that reason was sane, and even less of one that it would ever be revealed.
"For some of us, the Order is life, for others, it is a stop along the way. But regardless, for now, you are a well-dressed man."
They paused and looked to each other. Gyoki broke the silence again.
"And a Grass-Spider. Your family hasn't forgotten you. You have a job to do, Ash. I'll be staying for the night if that's alright. I would very much enjoy a round of hookah and Gateway with you and your crew this evening."
Gyoki's scattered emphases were confusing, but Ash had been a Grass-Spider long enough to know the message - he'd been contracted. As Gyoki wandered deeper to the encampment, where he'd undoubtedly manage to cause trouble, he turned to Ash once more.
"Don't forget what I said about being a well-dressed man. Ten years from now I am confident that you will remain at the height of fashion. I don't know if you will still be a Grass-Spider."
Gyoki then turned, leaving behind a quiet Ash. As Gyoki hobbled away, the old man mumbled to himself about the future never being any of his business anyway.