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Jul. 6th, 2006 12:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shelley_wintersWith a little ingenuity, some flat stones and a pen, Shelley had managed to make a substitute chess board - each stone marked according to the piece it is to represent. K for king, Q for queen, lots of small P's. She had run through all the moves carefully, and moved directly on - she has no doubt that he will remember. Not that she minds if he makes mistakes...
"The King cannot be taken, only rendered immobile, which would be the object of the game. All the others can. If you get a pawn to the opposite side of the board after your Queen has been taken, you can exchange the two and get her back."
Shelley deliberates, eyeing her makeshift board thoughtfully.
"Um. I'll think if there's anything I've missed. Want to ask anything?"
"The King cannot be taken, only rendered immobile, which would be the object of the game. All the others can. If you get a pawn to the opposite side of the board after your Queen has been taken, you can exchange the two and get her back."
Shelley deliberates, eyeing her makeshift board thoughtfully.
"Um. I'll think if there's anything I've missed. Want to ask anything?"
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Date: 2006-07-05 11:43 pm (UTC)"I think you have explained everything well."
It was all he could do to keep from smiling. This game was very much like Tcheran, which he was quite skilled at, a very favorable turn of events.
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Date: 2006-07-05 11:48 pm (UTC)"Oh- No piece can jump over any other when they move, except for Knights," she says, indicating the four pieces marked Kn, "They can jump. Presumably because they are meant to be on horseback, but I don't know really, that's a guess."
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Date: 2006-07-05 11:57 pm (UTC)"I see."
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Date: 2006-07-06 12:05 am (UTC)"That should be it, then."
The kitten gets a fond glance, her eyes softening just a fraction as he climbs up onto his conquest to peer over the edge of the bed.
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Date: 2006-07-06 12:11 am (UTC)"Should we begin our contest then?"
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Date: 2006-07-06 12:15 am (UTC)"White always starts."
Both go behind her back, then she hold out both hands, each closed around one.
"Choose."
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Date: 2006-07-06 12:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-06 12:36 am (UTC)He chose the white.
She replaces the two pieces and moves the board around so white is facing him. Here they go. As she straightens those on her own side, she is very carefully not remembering the last board game they played together.
"Okay. Off you go."
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Date: 2006-07-06 12:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-06 12:48 am (UTC)Her pale face is set and shut off, watching the board and little else. She can't be distracted, but it's likely he'll try.
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Date: 2006-07-06 12:57 am (UTC)Shelley took one of his pawns. The stone promptly crumbles to dust and then there is nothing left at all.
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Date: 2006-07-06 01:04 am (UTC)"...That was theatrical," she mumbles.
It does not stop her carrying on and sacrificing two of her pawns to take one of his rooks.
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Date: 2006-07-06 01:08 am (UTC)This could be going better, honestly.
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Date: 2006-07-06 01:10 am (UTC)"So if you manage to reclaim your Queen at any point, you'll do it how exactly now?" she asks, moving a pawn to protect her bishop.
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Date: 2006-07-06 01:12 am (UTC)"How little faith you have in me."
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Date: 2006-07-06 01:16 am (UTC)"None."
Her eyes go back to the board, deliberating two possible moves. She could head off his offensive early, but then she might miss the opportunity to get at his king...
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Date: 2006-07-07 06:47 pm (UTC)"Have a little faith."
Abdiel jumped onto Shelley's shoulder, purring as he nuzzled her head.
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Date: 2006-07-07 06:54 pm (UTC)"Not now, sweetheart. Go... kill the teddy, or something."
Abdiel, however, has decided that now is the time to show Shelley his adoration, and will not be scooped off her shoulder. The girl frowns distractedly at the board, and makes the safer, defensive move.
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Date: 2006-07-07 06:58 pm (UTC)"You should listen to your mommy, Abdiel."
A small smile as he glanced down at the board. Just a space to the left is all that it would take.
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Date: 2006-07-07 07:02 pm (UTC)Hearing Ishamael say 'mommy' is just plain wrong. She scratches the kitten soothingly behind the ears and leans forward a touch to make another move.
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Date: 2006-07-07 07:07 pm (UTC)The board spilled stones everywhere, Ishamael backed away carefully. Abdiel turned to Shelley on the board of spilled stones, beaming proudly at his conquest.
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Date: 2006-07-07 07:12 pm (UTC)Shelley stretches out a hand to catch the kitten just a little too late. She sighs before gingerly scooping him back into her lap. She remembered where most pieces had been, but...
"...What do we do? Start again?"
She would prefer not, she had been doing well.
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Date: 2006-07-07 07:15 pm (UTC)"No, I remember where the pieces are. One tends to after years of playing Sha'rah."
A flick of his finger as all the pieces returned to their original places, except one bishop that was a little to the left of where it had been.
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Date: 2006-07-07 07:20 pm (UTC)"...Okay."
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Date: 2006-07-07 07:23 pm (UTC)"It is your turn, my lady."
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Date: 2006-07-07 07:30 pm (UTC)The girl may not have noticed then, but it quickly becomes apparent that she isn't doing nearly so well. She is still playing well, but her attempts to take back the advantage are failing.
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Date: 2006-07-07 07:46 pm (UTC)"Checkmate."
Her King crumbled to dust.
(I win again)
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Date: 2006-07-07 07:57 pm (UTC)Her eyes run silently over the board. But of course he's right - he would have said nothing otherwise, been cautious. Well, then.
She looks down at the kitten purring happily in her lap, and nods once.
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Date: 2006-07-07 08:04 pm (UTC)"That was an entertaining game, Lady Shelley."
A gracious nod, but one that could not conceal the smile of triumph.
"Do not worry, I have a few complicated matters to attend to this weekend and I will send you back for a day or two."
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Date: 2006-07-07 08:16 pm (UTC)So close. She had been doing so well.
"Thanks," she says dully, already thinking uneasily about her end of the deal.
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Date: 2006-07-07 08:34 pm (UTC)"Quite welcome."
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Date: 2006-07-07 08:40 pm (UTC)"When?" she asks.
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Date: 2006-07-07 08:44 pm (UTC)"Two days time."
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Date: 2006-07-07 09:06 pm (UTC)"Okay."
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Date: 2006-07-07 09:11 pm (UTC)"At some point in the next few days, I will have the seamstress visit so that you can have a dress for the occasion."
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Date: 2006-07-07 09:28 pm (UTC)Something else not to look forward to. And it sounds as if she won't even be able to go out for it. But she nods, in any case. This was the deal, she supposes. It will be something to do.
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Date: 2006-07-07 09:34 pm (UTC)"Do you have any preference on when, or where even?"
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Date: 2006-07-07 09:38 pm (UTC)"It is not as if I have much else to do. Anywhere, I suppose. My rooms."
Wherever it ends up being, he will not be there. She'll make sure of that, at least.
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Date: 2006-07-07 09:45 pm (UTC)"As you wish."
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Date: 2006-07-07 09:56 pm (UTC)And she still gets to go back. For a couple of days. She rubs a hand slowly across her forehead, feeling tired. She always feels tired, these days.
Abdiel nudges at her ankle affectionately and after a moment she lifts him up with her.