Although he would note the queens apparent annoyance upon being asked to speak of a subject one would think she'd enjoy, Xarces smiles when Jaas agrees to tell him a little about her city. He listening attentively as he wanted to know all that he could about the woman that sat across from him, the woman who's heart he hoped to win, and likewise the city in which she ruled.<br/><br/>As the story begins he leans forward, eyes locked on hers as he periodically offers an attentive nod. Enjoying hearing about her mother, about the peaceful society that Jaas was no doubt raised within. Though he would soon realize that this particular story was not a pleasant one for the queen, as the manner she was drinking and the amount of alcohol she was intaking would certainly allude to.<br/><br/>Sitting on the edge of his seat he hears the entire tail, of the battle between Jaas' mother and the obsidian witch. The end of the tale, the snapping of her own mother's neck was not one he expected, though it made sense to him once it was over. (So that may explain why she acts the way she does, why she seems determined to keep others out, to avoid being hurt, to avoid having her city hurt...... the type of sacrifice she was forced to make, the strength she possesses, and certainly the unbearable weight she must carry upon her shoulders.) Xarces felt terrible for her, though he wouldn't dare speak such things to her directly, for her knew that she would likely scoff at such behavior.<br/><br/>Watching the whine drip from her hand from the broken bottle, Xarces frowns sympathetically. (Anyone would become hardened after having to make a decision like that....most may become emotionally dead as a means of coping with what they have done.....I wonder though..I wonder if the Jaas back then.....if the Jaas that made that difficult decision was always this tough? Or if it was a transformation that took place out of necessity for her, and her people, in order to survive......) he thinks before speaking  "You are amazingly strong Jaas, to have had to sacrifice your own mothers life, for the benefit of your people......that is a decision very few on this earth could even think to make." Xarces reaches his hand out hoping to lightly brush that of her own reassuringly, though he would take care not to tread lightly, not wanting to invade or impose on her personal space. "You made the right decision though, your people, your city, Suinouzin has survived. The weight on your shoulders must surely be great....I assure you however, that you have my word that I shall do everything in my power to help you and your great city. I shall prove myself to you, and even after I shall continue to provide all that I can for you, proving myself again and again." He says adamantly, his eyes burning bright with passion, taking it upon himself to do all that he could to not only love the woman before him, but to aid her, to bring happiness to her heart, to her life, in every way that he knew how. (It's not going to be an easy task..but you'll see Jaas...) he thinks to himself as he sits back in his chair once more.<br/><br/>Xarces sighs softly, taking a swig of his own glass "I could never truly know what that may be like, you see......I never knew my own parents, at least not my biological ones. I was abandoned as a babe, left to die along the side of the road....but I shall not bore you with tales of my own history."