Dionysus Venuvea is with Roshadam in the cafeteria. She greets you warmly, "Congratulations!"

• Jack_C smiled. "Thanks! They did great. It was very uh..." smirk. "Moving."

Dionysus Roshadam grunts disapporval, then stomps off. Venuvea frowns, then smiles at you, "He suffered a setback."

Jack_C "How'd he do?"

Dionysus "Lost to the destruction priest. He's very grumpy."

Dionysus "5 to 1.2."

• Jack_C nods. "That's rough."

Jack_C "So what are your plans for a while?"

Dionysus She smiles, "Well, Roshadam's going to go practice, so I should help him."

• Jack_C grins. "Alright. See you...when?"

Dionysus She considers, "Tomorrow morning?"

Jack_C "See you then."

• Jack_C puts this together with her letter.

Dionysus Any other private stuff he does?

Jack_C He congratulates Ushy, but otherwise no.

Dionysus Ushy is so exuberant it's almost dangerous to go near him, but he shakes your hand and juimps up and down when you do.

---

Dionysus You visit Venuvea the next morn?

Jack_C yes

Dionysus She's in her room.

Dionysus She greets you when you arrive, "Good morning!"

• Jack_C greets her happily. "Allo."

Dionysus "So, what do you want to do with our time?"

Jack_C "Have I ever sung you anything?"

Dionysus "You sang to convince Little Wing to join you!"

Dionysus "And I was there when you won a song from Roshadam!"

Jack_C "Well, right, but I mean, just for you."

Dionysus "Are you suggesting you should now?"

Dionysus She smiles

Jack_C "Yes." smirk.

• Jack_C sings her a love song.

Dionysus She laughs, and listens, and holds you as you do.

Jack_C assuming we're standing while that happens, Jack turns the motion of holding into a dance.

Dionysus She flows with you.

Jack_C after we start flowing, Jack lets her lead.

Dionysus She takes it, carefully

Jack_C Jack does not steer the events after this point. He wanted to spend time with her, and she's under at least as much stress managing this thing as he is playing in it, so he lets her guide the rest of this time together.

Dionysus Nice. She dances the morning away with you, gently, and just enjoys your company, but eventually, she has duties to attend to.

Jack_C and so does Jack

Jack_C so he goes to his practice.

---

Dionysus Venuvea comes to you that night.

Dionysus "I've good news and bad news."

Jack_C "What's up?"

Dionysus "Both are the same: Roshadam lost. I'm... freed up. He's out of the tournament, though he'll be watching still."

Jack_C "Oh! Alright. How's he doin'?"

Jack_C "And who'd he lose to?"

Dionysus "Grumpier than usual, but he'll get over it. I don't think he really expected to go all the way, but losing so soon hurts him. Argast Taern, the ogrish drummers, this time."

• Jack_C nods. "Well, at least it wasn't one of the real bastards. there are some contestants here that are a little scary."

Dionysus She smiles, "That's an understatement."

Jack_C "I mean, if we'd'a lost to the Starlings, that'd at least be tolerable. If we lose to Monin the Unseelie, I'm'

Jack_C a be righteously upset."

Dionysus She frowns, "Don't do anything stupid. You'll still have a chance, even if you lose once."

Jack_C "I'm not throwin' anything."

Jack_C "I'm just commentin' on the state of the contestants."

Dionysus She nods, "Good."

Jack_C "Hey, I been thinkin' about some things. You up for a logistics talk?"

Dionysus She pauses, "How romantic," she laughs. "Sure."

• Jack_C blushes, and invites her in.

Dionysus She comes in

Jack_C "So I've been thinkin' about how to be a Euphonic Knight, and I got a big question:"

Jack_C "Say we win this thing. What happens if I /become/ the Song?"

Dionysus "Then you won't exist anymore."

Jack_C "That's a problem."

Jack_C "Okay. So try to avoid that."

Dionysus She smiles, "Yes, please."

Jack_C "So...can you foresee any situation at all in which I might have to do that to...do what we came to do?"

Dionysus She pauses, "I have no idea what the Summer Country holds, Jack."

Jack_C "I meant hypothetically."

Dionysus "I'm afraid, I can't answer even hypothetically. No one knows for sure what you'll find there."

Jack_C "Fair enough."

• Jack_C sighs. "It took me a long time to find you. I suddenly wish I was younger and doin' less dangerous things."

Jack_C "If I coulda been this man in my younger self..."

Dionysus She smiles, "If I could have known then what I know now?"

Jack_C "Yeah...Sounds as lame from me as it does from every other old codger, don't it?"

Dionysus She laughs, "No! It's an old saying, but it's a valid one. Everyone feels that way."

• Jack_C chuckles a bit. "Well that's where I am...I just don't want you to think I'm bein' careless. I got you and Little Wing to think about--you know, he's all grown up now, but I still feel like he's my kid,"

Jack_C "But...I don't want to lie to you. I'm willin' to die to see this thing through if I have to."

Dionysus Venuvea holds you tightly, "And that's why I love you."