09-22-2013, 03:15 PM
Yes. There it was, the reaction Jon was looking for as he tossed the die onto the table. From the corner of his eye he saw Jaxen lean away from the flow of spirit Jon had sent past him. He can see it. The weave had touched nothing, had done nothing, and it should have left no telling mark of its passing.
That presence Jon felt in Jaxen, there was no doubt now. He was in touch with the Great Spirit. Which also meant...follow the bouncing ball... Jaxen could feel the power within Jon as well. What an interesting turn of events indeed.
Jon let the flow of spirit vanish and looked down at the die he'd rolled. Five white pips showed -- He turned his card over which he would keep -- a 20. He'd won the second round -- and he chuckled at Jaxen's bemoaning his loss. Oriena, having neither won nor lost, would get to determine whether Jaxen's fulfillment of Jon's demand was satisfying enough.
Jon turned to Jaxen and studied him. With the power coursing through him, he gauged the resonance he felt in Jaxen, and found he could determine the man was holding a fair amount -- about as much as Jon could safely hold for the time being. "Fortune is a whimsical and unforgiving mistress,"
he said to Jaxen.
Had the two men been private, Jon would certainly have asked him about what he knew of the Great Spirit. As it was, though, that elephant in the room would have to sit down and wait itself out.
Jon glanced around. There was a section of hardwood floor laid out in the establishment near the bar, apart from the stage, where couples could dance if they so chose to, and that gave Jon an idea. The man's pride had certainly lost its edge. Jon wondered how much further he could push that, and if some balance could be restored. Talk of his fears appeared to have put Oriena off a bit. Although -- considering how she continued to demand pleasantries and courtesy be drawn out of Jaxen, while filling Jon's own glass without even being asked -- perhaps a demand that included her cooperation would just give her another arrow in her quiver.
Or maybe not. Depended on how good Jaxen was on his feet. Jon had gotten Oriena to describe what made her happy, with a suitable partner leading -- and enough skill on Jaxen's part -- he might be able to achieve something like that on the floor.
"Not all communication between two people need be spoken,"
he said. He met Jaxen's eyes -- yes, he was definitely aware of the elephant in the room. "I have been told two dancers speak their own language on the floor. You have drinks, a floor, music that can be cued up, and a fine young companion here. Why don't you ask Oriena for her partnership in a dance?"
Since Oriena would be the judge and whether or not she accepted was entirely up to her, Jon sipped his drink and settled back in his chair before adding: "And he must ask you in a way you will find as an acceptable way to be his partner, and it's up to you whether he's done a good enough job on his feet."
Jon took another sip and turned back to Jaxen, wondering which of them he'd given the advantage to.
That presence Jon felt in Jaxen, there was no doubt now. He was in touch with the Great Spirit. Which also meant...follow the bouncing ball... Jaxen could feel the power within Jon as well. What an interesting turn of events indeed.
Jon let the flow of spirit vanish and looked down at the die he'd rolled. Five white pips showed -- He turned his card over which he would keep -- a 20. He'd won the second round -- and he chuckled at Jaxen's bemoaning his loss. Oriena, having neither won nor lost, would get to determine whether Jaxen's fulfillment of Jon's demand was satisfying enough.
Jon turned to Jaxen and studied him. With the power coursing through him, he gauged the resonance he felt in Jaxen, and found he could determine the man was holding a fair amount -- about as much as Jon could safely hold for the time being. "Fortune is a whimsical and unforgiving mistress,"
he said to Jaxen.
Had the two men been private, Jon would certainly have asked him about what he knew of the Great Spirit. As it was, though, that elephant in the room would have to sit down and wait itself out.
Jon glanced around. There was a section of hardwood floor laid out in the establishment near the bar, apart from the stage, where couples could dance if they so chose to, and that gave Jon an idea. The man's pride had certainly lost its edge. Jon wondered how much further he could push that, and if some balance could be restored. Talk of his fears appeared to have put Oriena off a bit. Although -- considering how she continued to demand pleasantries and courtesy be drawn out of Jaxen, while filling Jon's own glass without even being asked -- perhaps a demand that included her cooperation would just give her another arrow in her quiver.
Or maybe not. Depended on how good Jaxen was on his feet. Jon had gotten Oriena to describe what made her happy, with a suitable partner leading -- and enough skill on Jaxen's part -- he might be able to achieve something like that on the floor.
"Not all communication between two people need be spoken,"
he said. He met Jaxen's eyes -- yes, he was definitely aware of the elephant in the room. "I have been told two dancers speak their own language on the floor. You have drinks, a floor, music that can be cued up, and a fine young companion here. Why don't you ask Oriena for her partnership in a dance?"
Since Oriena would be the judge and whether or not she accepted was entirely up to her, Jon sipped his drink and settled back in his chair before adding: "And he must ask you in a way you will find as an acceptable way to be his partner, and it's up to you whether he's done a good enough job on his feet."
Jon took another sip and turned back to Jaxen, wondering which of them he'd given the advantage to.