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The Gift

Richard's Storyline, Chapter 6.2

copyright comidacomida 2018

Before I could answer Balam leaned forward and the end of his muzzle pressed against my lips. It was a forward, almost aggressive gesture, and it was accentuated by the feel of his long, sharp teeth through his fuzzy, whiskered lips. He pulled those back, however, and those fangs brushed against my flesh, pricking my bottom lip, which I found suddenly pushed out of the way by a broad, roughly-textured tongue. A moment later his tongue was in my mouth, overpowering my own as the action took my breath away. Then, it was done.

Balam took a step back, inclining his head to me even as I tried to catch my breath. He about-faced, and disappeared through the wall, leaving me there almost panting from the experience. Like when I had kissed Jack the experience left me refreshed and energized, but it also left me with a number of other feelings too.

The Gryphon scowled. "That was foolish... he gains less Spirit Energy when he forces himself upon thee. The Savage must learn restraint."

I smiled, touching my lips where I had felt the feral insistence of his fangs. "Mmm... maybe that's the point... if he gains less spirit energy he'll need to do it more often to make up for it."

Jack didn't mirror my grin, in fact, the way his ear tufts felt and his beak twisted downward left me with the impression that he was scowling. "If thou dost encourage him then he will likely only get worse... or art thou interested in seeking such a regular overbearing exchange?"

There was no doubt in my mind that he was bothered by how receptive I was to Balam but I couldn't tell if it was because I was doing something wrong or if he was just jealous of the interaction. I tried to see if I could get some perspective by questioning him in a light-hearted manner "Is that such a bad thing? I mean... should I encourage YOU to start some 'overbearing exchanges'?"

His scowl grew even deeper, but his ear feathers rose up in response and the Gryphon actually seemed a little taken aback by my chiding. "Me? I-- w-would you... I-- I mean... is that what thou dost d-desire?"

Honestly, I didn't know... but it was a perfectly valid question. I was willing to tell him as much. "I don't know, Jack. I haven't really ever explored interpersonal relationships like that... but I don't mind Balam making his interest known."

The Gryphon's expression finally evened out and his little feathery tufts remained up on either side of his head. "He can be difficult to understand in many ways, I have noticed. I can't imagine what it must be like for thee to try and puzzle through that."

I let out a long sigh. "Yeah... it's not all that fun. Everything he does suggests that he likes me more than a little but, for some reason he still holds back. That whole ritual thing-- the Rite of Binding... he hasn't ever finished it. He's supposed to be a Spirit Guide but he's not really giving me much guidance. I can't help but feel that either he's toying with me or that I'm doing something wrong."

Jack's feathers slowly lowered until they laid flat, and he stated simply "Thou art doing something wrong."

It was the most straight-forward and confrontational I'd seen the Gryphon that evening. "Oh? How do you know? What is it I'm doing?"

He blinked. "It is what thou art NOT doing, Richard."

"Okay... then what am I NOT doing?"

Instead of providing me a direct answer, jack instead reached out into midair and his sword appeared in his grasp. He turned the blade sideways so the hilt rested in one talon and the blade lay across the other. "When crafting a sword, a blacksmith's art is based on timing... time enough for a blade to heat, time enough to work the metal with the hammer, time enough for the metal to quench in water. Too little time for any of those steps and there is wasted energy, wasted material, or wasted potential; too much time and the entire process will amount to nothing more than slag."

I've always considered myself astute and that also included metaphors. "So you think Balam doesn't like half measures or hesitation?"

He raised his sword, and then, with a flourish, he returned it to the hilt that appeared on his belt at his side. Like that, Jack was once again completely clothed and fully equipped. "In part. Richard, but there is also the matter of the ritual. Rituals are, in many ways like the blacksmith forging a sword. A metalworker cannot stop mid-strike to take a break or engage in conversation and when thou art in the middle of a ritual thou must act in the way indicated by the Ritemaster."

I put everything together. "So... when he asked for a 'yes' or a 'no', anything other than a 'yes' counts as a 'no'."

Jack nodded. "And, I would assume. based on this confusion, that thou hath spoken neither yes nor no more than once now."

He was right. "That's a safe bet."

The Gryphon offered a shrug, his wings extending and refolding in the scope of the action. "Well, I am sorry, Richard, but I know not the ways of his people or how his Rite of Binding functions... there are nearly as many forms of the ritual as there are Spirits, and his is... complex."

I waved away the apology. "It's not your fault, Jack... I think I just need to get my brain wrapped around Spirit matters a little better. I keep going back and forth between thinking that Spirits aren't that different from Humans and wondering how Spirits have managed to exist alongside Humans for as long as you have."

He chuckled at the statement, probably more out of politeness than any real humor, but when he reached out and rested a talon on my shoulder I could tell there was a strong sense of contrition to the act. "Thou shalt have my apologies regardless, Richard-- if not for my inability to assist thee, then for my unflattering reaction to his admission of fondness for thee."

It was a touching sentiment, but really unnecessary; I said as much. "That's alright, Jack. Half the time I'm just as willing to smack myself after I say something these days. I'm still trying to get my footing when it comes to this Spirit stuff."

Jack nodded, his beak returning to more of a smiling expression. "Thou art forgiven, so long as thou mayest give me some leeway in my trespasses as I learn to interact with thee as well. Tis been quite some time since I have been with a Seer and perhaps I may have become somewhat out of touch."

It was my turn to laugh. "Well, that makes us one big wonderful pile of incompetence then, doesn't it?"

His eyes glimmered Gold. "So long as we can be incompetent together, we can learn together, and in that I am content."

I held out my hand. "Deal."

Rather than taking hold of my hand, he surprised me by latching onto my wrist with his talon, gripping me by the forearm and giving it a firm shake. I had trouble figuring out whether his next statement was in jest or if he was taking me up on my earlier offer to be more overbearing himself. "So... is this where I am to try being overbearing?"

I--