Liar's Dice
Click-click. Click-click.
"Three fives and a three."
"Liar."
"Try it and see."
The cup slid across the wood of the kitchen table. Jenny lifted it, and her brow creased.
"That's another quid you owe me." The Doctor leaned back in his chair, smug. Jenny set down the cup, shaking the dice again.
Click-click. Click-click.
She glanced at the dice, then met her father's eyes, her face wary.
"A six, two threes and a one."
He studied her face, recrossing his long legs. "I'll believe that."
Jenny slid the cup over, and her father lifted it. Four dice lay on the table, showing the numbers she'd called. Jenny's eyes narrowed.
"You're cheating."
The Doctor leaned back in his chair, smiling. "It's not cheating, it's using my advantage. You're leaving yourself open. If you don't want me looking into your head, then set up a decent defense. Like I showed you; put a shield around everything you don't want me seeing."
Jenny's spine stiffened just a bit. Her eyes had a glint to them now.
"Two credits says I get the next round."
The Doctor's lips quirked into a lopsided smile. "Done."
Click-click. Click-click.
The Doctor checked his dice. Jenny focused on her father's mind. All she picked up was a sense of amusement, a hint of a challenge. She tried harder. Nothing.
He smiled back at her. "A seven, three two's and a one."
"Okay… I believe you."
"Oh you do, do you?"
He slid her the cup. The dice showed three fours and a five.
"You can't push your way in here, 'cause force won't work on me or anyone with my kind of training." Her father said, tapping his forehead, "You have to be clever, not forceful. Of course, you could just keep me from getting points up on you. Best offence is a good defense they say."
Jenny's eyes were dark, riveted on the cup she shook.
Click-click. Click-click.
You are not getting it this time. She closed her eyes for just a moment, concentrating on a shield that she pictured as a white force-field around herself. Then she glanced at her dice. She could feel her shield weakening around the edges, something sort of golden and blue slipping in at the weakest points of it, almost teasing. She pushed.
Stay out!
"Good! Really good. Erm- a six, a five, a two and a… a four?"
Jenny's eyes widened. "You got in!"
The Doctor shrugged, annoyingly serene. "You did have it right there on the surface. Got to get a mental poker face, Jenny. Poker, now there's a game where telepathy really comes in handy. Got to show you that game sometime. But 's no fun with two players. Your guess."
It was her turn again.
Okay, shield up. Got to be stronger…or clever.
She took a look at her dice. Then Jenny got an idea. This time, she didn't really look at the pieces, but pictured the position of the dice a few rolls ago as clearly as she could. Jenny glanced up at her father, her eyes dark and compelling.
"Your guess?"
He leaned forward.
"A five, a four, and two threes. So you owe me-" he reached for the cup, glancing at the dice casually. Then his eyes widened. He glanced up at her, his eyebrows rising. Jenny planted her elbows on the table, her grin delighted and fierce.
"This time, you owe me."
The Doctor glanced at the dice again.
"Yes, 'pparently I do."