The Second Koan of the Beta (G)
This is adopted (mainly made third person) from a comment I made in eponis's journal. I like it, so I let the world see it in my LJ. Then hobaggins told me to post it here, so yes, that is why it is here. So I give you The Second Koan of the Beta.
When the pupil of a Master in the way of the Beta first comes to the temple seeking instruction they come to the room of the Beta Master and bows, asking for instruction. "Beta Master," the pupil says, "Can you teach me the secret of enlightenment and the correct way of obeying characterization while using proper punctuation?"
The master responds, "I shall, but first you must snatch the ellipsis from my hand."
The pupil responds, "But you have no periods in your hand."
And the master says, "The ellipsis is not made of periods but of trails."
The pupil is then sent away.
---
The next day, after contemplation, the pupil comes back. "Master Beta," they say, "Can you teach me the secret of enlightenment and the correct way of obeying characterization while using proper punctuation?"
The master responds, "I shall, but first you must snatch the ellipsis from my hand."
The overly clever pupil answers, "You have nothing in your hand, behold, I have snatched it."
And the master hits them and says, "Clever boy. Cleverness multiplies punctuation where it ought not be. The way of the beta is not the way of cleverness, but the way of sagacity. The ellipsis remains in my hand, wiseguy. Return when you have finished disc one of Final Fantasy VII." And they are sent away.
---
In several days the pupil returns, bleary-eyed. "Beta Master," they say, "I have played the #@$%@!& first disc of the game you have requested, where is the second disc?"
The master asks, "Are you not here to Beta?"
And the pupil responds, "But... *wibble* Aeris!"
The master points to the cupboard and the pupil leaves to finish the game.
---
A week later the pupil returns. "Master Beta," they say, "Can you teach me the secret of enlightenment and the correct way of obeying characterization while using proper punctuation?"
The master responds, "I shall, but first you must snatch the ellipsis from my hand."
If the pupil has been aware they place a word in the master's hand. The master closes his hand and asks them, "What is the nature of the ellipsis?"
The pupil responds, "The nature of the ellipsis is waiting."
The master asks, "What is the correct use of waiting?"
The pupil responds, "Waiting should be done only in dialogue or monologue."
Then the pupil is given the robes of an acolyte and taught the secrets of the Beta.
This is the second koan of the Beta.
When the pupil of a Master in the way of the Beta first comes to the temple seeking instruction they come to the room of the Beta Master and bows, asking for instruction. "Beta Master," the pupil says, "Can you teach me the secret of enlightenment and the correct way of obeying characterization while using proper punctuation?"
The master responds, "I shall, but first you must snatch the ellipsis from my hand."
The pupil responds, "But you have no periods in your hand."
And the master says, "The ellipsis is not made of periods but of trails."
The pupil is then sent away.
---
The next day, after contemplation, the pupil comes back. "Master Beta," they say, "Can you teach me the secret of enlightenment and the correct way of obeying characterization while using proper punctuation?"
The master responds, "I shall, but first you must snatch the ellipsis from my hand."
The overly clever pupil answers, "You have nothing in your hand, behold, I have snatched it."
And the master hits them and says, "Clever boy. Cleverness multiplies punctuation where it ought not be. The way of the beta is not the way of cleverness, but the way of sagacity. The ellipsis remains in my hand, wiseguy. Return when you have finished disc one of Final Fantasy VII." And they are sent away.
---
In several days the pupil returns, bleary-eyed. "Beta Master," they say, "I have played the #@$%@!& first disc of the game you have requested, where is the second disc?"
The master asks, "Are you not here to Beta?"
And the pupil responds, "But... *wibble* Aeris!"
The master points to the cupboard and the pupil leaves to finish the game.
---
A week later the pupil returns. "Master Beta," they say, "Can you teach me the secret of enlightenment and the correct way of obeying characterization while using proper punctuation?"
The master responds, "I shall, but first you must snatch the ellipsis from my hand."
If the pupil has been aware they place a word in the master's hand. The master closes his hand and asks them, "What is the nature of the ellipsis?"
The pupil responds, "The nature of the ellipsis is waiting."
The master asks, "What is the correct use of waiting?"
The pupil responds, "Waiting should be done only in dialogue or monologue."
Then the pupil is given the robes of an acolyte and taught the secrets of the Beta.
This is the second koan of the Beta.