Kings of the castle

[Oriena]

Satisfying. A coy shrug answered Jaxen’s stare, though the curl of her smile was undiminished. You’re - what? He cut dead, though, with an abruptness suggesting something else captured his attention - in fact he actually twisted about as though someone – or something – had just walked over his grave. That certainly had nothing to do with her, and she watched his expression with uninhibited interest, particularly when it coalesced to something like wonder. It unravelled some of the casual darkness of his manner like a breeze dispersing smoke, and her eyes followed him up as he stood. What was left was purposeful. Intent. Interesting, indeed.

A couple of seconds later she followed his line of gaze.

And found their friend at the bar.

Ori was still contemplating what that meant when Jaxen called the guy over, and he wasn't the only one invigorated by the invitation. Challenge sparked her gaze; exhilaration, though perhaps at least some of that owed its source to the light she'd not yet let go of. Friend or foe? She hadn't quite imagined the opportunity to find out would come so readily. Not that her reaction to such fortune was anywhere near as dramatic as Jaxen's - though what he'd reacted to, she did not know. One thing she did know; her actions had catalysed... something. And that something was intriguing.

She had not moved, bar to turn her head in the stranger's direction and run her gaze over him anew. Curious. Welcoming; though hers was the smile of a lioness welcoming potential prey into the den.