I still breathe, Mr. Hollister.

I have retreated from the realms of man, I have once again gone back to a quiet place, surrounded by the reminders of the lives I have taken, attempting to keep my long ago promise "to kill no more".

I am here, I exist, and on occasion, I am watching.

Lets go ahead and start a long running (I hope) discussion of if you choose to meet an unusual encounter with speech 1st or with force, and why. On the side for speech: The universe is an amazing place with many amazing friends just waiting to be met. The more powerful the enemy the more powerful th...

I don't know about extra terrestrial, but I am of the descendents of Amaterasu, the founder of this line (and all it's branches) supposedly "descended from the heavens" along with Okami Amaterasu herself and the imperial regalia. Might or might not be relevant, I do know that being of Amat...

Even when attacked, choice exists. Just because you dislike the choice does not make it cease to be there. Even when they are attacking me, or even innocents, I have a choice - I could choose to be eaten or have innocents harmed, I could choose to attempt to subdue, I could choose to be eaten, I cou...

But we do choose our relationship with them, each and every one of us. Just as each and every one of them chooses their relationship with us. I was merely pointing out that our responses to them are unlike the response we give to a "mere" beast, no matter how dangerous. Instead our respons...

I had never bothered to contemplate the possibility of man and and those this thread has taken to calling therians. I have always taken each individual as an individual and responded as my beliefs deemed appropriate. Our kinds being related in the distant past makes a lot of sense however. The armie...

I shall attend. Travel has gotten much easier.

I might not be particularly social, it is not a dislike of the event or those there, just a matter of me still forgetting things when meditating.

Should I bring training supplies, or is this to be a purely social event?

A young Koga once told me - "In order to strike you an enemy must be able to see you, and tell you apart from his friends." Airborne drones can be avoided by going here they cannot. It wouldn't be the first time a force gave up the glory of Amaterasu and chose to live underground, nor woul...

But why must such a meeting be for as crass a reason as merely gathering intelligence? What if one could discover and address the cause of animosity? What if it has misjudged us based on observations of our media, thinking that the stories in the news are the normal way of life instead of the except...

I am sorry for the misunderstanding. I teased in my way, although I fear the punchline was missed. I apologize for interjecting where my voice was unwelcome. Perhaps you would feel younger and more peaceful if you spent the day contemplating under the blossoms of a tree that has watched eons come an...

To be honest, my own inclination would make me the worst sort of liability in such a task. While I know of many of the things that technology can do, I do not know them. I understand that some cameras can see heat - but I do not understand how they do so, nor what the limitations of such a device ar...

I fail to see what is so terrible about turning 40. If you feel old because of some silly number, ignore the number and listen to what your body tells you. If you feel old because of the relative age of you and your comrades - spend some time with YOUR elders. If you feel old due to the changes that...

If it were hostile, I suppose I should still like to have tea with it. Many zen koans have an innate logic loop, or logic dysfunction. Perhaps taking down the communications grids and power grids could give time to act in a more permanent manner. I also believe that such actions against an artificia...

Athena, traditional tea service is more than merely the act of drinking tea. And while a machine might not enjoy the subtle interplay of good tea, silent contemplation, and pleasant conversation - I do. And while I am interacting with and observing the machine, I would assume it would be doing likew...

Everyone has a destiny, few go willingly to meet it. The being you encountered sounds very much like one I met under the platues of Tibet and Nepal. She guarded a narrow passage to a nearly unreachable valley inhabited by many beings who have achieved enlightenment. She correctly claimed I was unwor...

I admit, I mistrust the idea of an intelligence born of technology - I tend to mistrust all things I do not understand. I would love to sit down for tea with one however, for it has been long since I have encountered something new. If intelligence is not coupled with compassion, it will bring disast...

To go to destroy, to wage war - this is easy.

To create something, to offer peace - THAT is difficult.

To find the balance, to become at once fearsome and peaceful - that is the road of dharma.

Impossible changes with the times. When I was young, for one to communicate over vast distances required magics that were often perilous to all involved. Today they require the press of a button. Where once I rang a temple bell in a specific pattern, trusting the monks of other temples to repeat and...

I have always advocated peace. Like humans, supernatural beings cover the entire spectrum of behavior and mentality, some seek peace, others revel in destruction. I have had many encounters with what you refer to as therianthropes over the years. These encounters have varied in nature, from Buddhist...

You are welcome my friend.

I am sorry that I have nothing of true value to send.

Gold, Silver, jewels, even steel are merely things - the true treasure you have already given one another.

Congratulations, Cybermancer, on finding your shrine maiden. Hannah, congratulations on finding your Knight in shining armor. I will share some advice I was given (repeatedly) in my youth. 1. Never go to sleep mad at each other - even if it takes a day or two, clear the air and resolve the issue - p...

I am pleased to hear you are well, my friend. My condolences about Duke, he was a true friend to you. Enjoy the time with your family, and make sure you pay extra attention to the antics and joys of the little ones, they grow up all too quickly. My only request to you is that you take a single day a...

Forgive me, I had once again forgotten the rushed impatience of the young. Be careful that this impatience does not cause you to miss out on the wonders of life all around you. Indeed, we are all space travelers, and on the most incredible spaceship ever created, but space travel was not the topic o...

Are we not all time travelers? Moving away from the past and being swept away from the present and into the future by the currents of the river of time?

Live your life well, my friend, and never forget that the act of living is the purpose to life. Although I may not be (have been?) there in person does not lessen my joy at the news. Always remember, that as long as there is life, there is also hope. Our position within the great wheel may give us g...

Amaterasu is the Shinto sun goddess and originator of the imperial line.

The poor man hurts, in ways and places not even a master can fully heal.

I'm not sure what pro bono means, but skeptic means well, and for some odd reason offers his services free of charge. I'd offer tea, but I'm not sure where to deliver it to, or to whom I'd be listening. I'll recommend a day of walking in Amaterasu's warm embrace and forcing yourselves to remember al...

Hope, and never forget:
No matter how long and forbidding the night
but ends in morn come dawn's first light.

I awoke today to another thing to smile about.

Welcome back.

I'll have to stop by for tea, sometime.