An Off Day Pt 3

Neo wanted to look around the casino. Kali agreed they might as well. Walter didn't see any problem with it. He did like to gamble but his skills usually attracted too much attention if the house lost too much.

Maybe just a few hands of poker with other players. If it wasn't the casinos money being lost they wouldn't mind too much.

He used to enjoy going to poker nights but he didn't attend much anymore. He was the one who insisted to his friends he needed to sit out or pass more rounds than he played to be fair. They teased him good naturedly as he'd go personally make them drinks or if they were over at Charles place spend as much time playing with the kids as the grown ups. He did miss it just a little though.

They stepped into the casino proper and got some chips. The cashier was surprised at the amount but she nodded and they were handed over without fuss. Walt already had his plan in mind anyway. He'd play a little then turn them over to the girls to have fun. It was only money after all.

A lot of folks had characters escorting them. Either personally or professionally. Some were modded and others were their more their "stock" selves. All were lovely though.

Still he felt the three of them draw looks from nearly every eye they passed. The ladies on each of his arms were just that lovely. Win or lose tonight, he already felt damn fortunate.

"Thanks to the two of you every eye in the place is on us. I'm already the luckiest man here," he said kissing their cheeks.

Neo and Kali blushed and grinned. That had been a part the plan all along. Still... it was very nice to hear it from the most important person. They wanted to wow him primarily. All the rest wasn't nearly as important.

Neo also liked to gamble but she hadn't been in some time. The last few years were so hectic there hadn't been time to cut loose. She was intrigued by the newer games but Walt didn't even glance in that direction. That was fine. She sensed he had something in mind.

Kali on the other hand was new to the casino experience. There were a few gambling dens and halls she'd frequented in her youth but nothing big and certainly nothing like this! "Are all casinos on Prime like this one?"

Walt chuckled. "No. This ones definitely a large one. But there are much, much bigger ones. Probably not as grandiose though. This ones a little over the top for it's size. They obviously put a lot of money into it. That's why the security here is so tight. It makes a good neutral meeting place location... potentially at any rate."

Walt ordered them drinks and played for a bit. Kali was having fun just taking it all in in general. Neo was having fun watching Walt play. Just by watching she she tell his skill and was picking up tricks she could learn to use as well. Penny wasn't the only one learning today.

"Ouch!"

Penny felt the shock where she'd been hit. She sighed. This was quite difficult.

When master Kenobi had done it he made deflection look so easy but she could tell it wasn’t. She was right. She could manage the occasional deflection or two though with reflexes and luck... but most got through. He kept watching her though and didn't stop her for a longtime. Even complimented her for taking it seriously and not complaining or getting frustrated.

He said there was one more thing he wanted to try before holding out the helmet. And here they were now. She hadn't managed to defend herself from a single bolt since donning the blinding thing.

Her friends had been watching and had complained but she had insisted that it was fine. She wanted to try doing this.

Now she was a little frustrated. But she kept trying to do what he said. To reach out and "feel"... something.

Zap!

"Ouch!"

"Sir... I don't think I am getting the hang of this at all." She shook her stinging hand.

She could hear him walking around her checking her stance. "Do you want to stop "trying" then?"

"No, Sir. I'd like to keep trying!" She said.

He hummed then sighed. "That's the problem with all potential padawans. They want to "try". Give yourself a small break Penny."

She heard the remote power down and she retracted the blade but left the helmet on. She heard him eating something. Fruit maybe? "Sir? I don't understand, master."

He kept walking around her chewing and swallowed. "You may not have the potential after all. This is just a test... but if you did, a major hurdle for those first learning the **** is that they "Try". "Try" is a very uncertain word. The key to using the **** effectively is to "Do" it. Visualing it happening is a part of it, but a belief that one's s will "can" manifest the desired outcome into a reality as a certain fact, rather than an uncertain "trying" to make it happen, is important. Since you could use magic in your world and manifest the things you wanted to happen with it, I thought you might be instinctively familiar with the process and the proper mindset." He took another bite and chewed.

Penny didn't say anything as she thought about that. That was how the process had worked for magic. She felt she could do something with it, visualized and then made it made it happen. She just did it. Just make it happen. Just do it. There was no "try".

"Well, I think that's a good stopping point for today." He said as he circled around her.

"One more time, please?"

"Are you quite certain? It has been a long first session..." he said.

She nodded. "I would like to "do" this or not and stop "trying", master Kenobi."

She couldn't see it but Obi-Wan was smiling. Whether she had talent or not, she was a good student. "One more time then... just for a few minutes." She heard her friends hold their breath and the remote start back up.

Zap!

She didn't even react now.

Zap!

She tried to just think about doing it.

Zap!

Visualize defending against the attack.

Zap!

See it happening and then make it happen.

Zap!

Just do it.

She kept repeating that to herself in a meditative state. After awhile with still no success she heard the remote power back down. The time was up and todays session was over... she retracted her blade.

She sensed the attack coming and acted. It was different but coming right for her! She visualized herself defending against it, making it happen and then raising her hand and did it.

She heard her friends gasp. And someone clap. She thought it sounded like master Kenobi. "Take off the helmet Penny." She did. He looked mildly pleased. "You may or may not have the ****. But Walter and I were right about you. I think that, is a good stopping point for today." He gestured for her to look as she saw the others running towards them excitedly, shouting about "her magic".

There was a mostly eaten apple on the ground. It had a very small, thin, green glowing needle sticking out of it.

It was barely a sliver of anything, really...

But it was something!

It was quite the pile of chips he'd collected in a short while. He tipped the dealers generously and tried not to stay at a table too long... but this last fellow had insisted.

Apparently he had been very lucky earlier in the day. Something about a small insurance settlement and he'd actually been lucky at the tables earlier.

But now the flashy looking fellow who reminded Walt of the Pimpolympics in that get up, was taking umbrage at losing to Walter. "Come on, Man." He kept insisting."You gots to let me try and win my money back! My luck will change again, cowboy!" They kept playing, he kept losing.

Walt and even the mans own escorts kept trying to make him see reason. Quit while he was ahead. Let Walt walk away. "Bitches, please! Back off and let me do my thang!" But he kept playing losing hands with obvious tells.

It was all gone now. He didn't even react just sitting there, dumbfounded. Walt tipped the dealer generously and then passed the mans ladies some chips. "Get him out of here. Take his mind of it somewhere's else. Easy come, easy go." They took the chips and thanked him and sighed, assuring him it was "always like this".

Walt shook his head watching them help the devastated man stumble away. "Some boys can't go near a cliff without jumping off."

He turned to Kali and Neo. "Here," he gave them all the chips. "For you two. Have fun!"

Neo's eyes lit up! There was a lot of chips here! He was going to let them just do whatever they want with it?

Kali smiles but shakes her head. "Actually I'm not much of one for gambling... you take them, Neopolitan. Have fun!"

Neo looks at Kali about to "say" something but Kali's not looking at her. She's looking at Walter. Neo grins. Lucky indeed.

She pats Kali's hand and when she looks her way she gives her wink of understanding. Kali blushes but nods.

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Ahnassi and Lifts-Her-Tail

Will Return In

An Off Day Pt 4

Coming Soon]