(no subject)

[shelley_winters]

With 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?"

Comments

[shelley_winters]

Shelley yelps quietly, putting up a hand to steady the little cat. Ouch. Tiny claws are still claws.

"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.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael smiled at Abdiel as he made another careful move. If that bishop were not in the way...

"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.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley eyes him.

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.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Another move by Ishamael as the piece moved seemingly of its own volition. Abdiel leapt off of Shelley's shoulder with claws bared in a flying attack at the small stone.

The board spilled stones everywhere, Ishamael backed away carefully. Abdiel turned to Shelley on the board of spilled stones, beaming proudly at his conquest.

[shelley_winters]

"Oh-"

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.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael shook his head as he looked at the board. Abdiel was such a good kitten.

"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.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley frowns as he returns them, regarding all the pieces keenly. But her memory, though good, isn't quite so perfect as his, and all she can see is that the board looks like it did before Abdiel did his diving trick.

"...Okay."

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael nodded calmly at the chess board and smiled. This changed things quite distinctly in his advantage. She would not actually take the time to notice the gaping hole in her defence.

"It is your turn, my lady."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley gives him a cold look, but continues.

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.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A small smile like triumph blossomed on Ishamael's face. He saw it. The move that would result in his victory. She had taught him several of the more curious rules of this game and he remembered them. The King and the Rook both moved at once, Castling as she called it. She had not seen that possibility, and there was no way out.

"Checkmate."

Her King crumbled to dust.

(I win again)

[shelley_winters]

No.

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.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael nodded calmly as he rose to his feet. This had been a most excellent endeavor and one that would surely pay off handsomely.

"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."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley glances up warily at that, face set and hard to read.

So close. She had been doing so well.

"Thanks," she says dully, already thinking uneasily about her end of the deal.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Gingerly, he stretched his hand out to help her up. It would not do to make her overly resentful of the matter.

"Quite welcome."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley, predictably, ignores it and stands alone, brushing her skirt down with dignity after placing Abdiel gently on the floor.

"When?" she asks.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A glance away from her as he turned around, his arms crossed on his chest. She should learn to accept his gracious offers.

"Two days time."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley nods quietly, walking away from the game board and its arrangment of stones and dust. Abdiel stays fretfully behind her skirts, keeping his Mistress between himself and Ishamael.

"Okay."

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael nodded and turned to her. With her presence assured, he would have someone come and make her a dress. Her only truly nice dress had been destroyed.

"At some point in the next few days, I will have the seamstress visit so that you can have a dress for the occasion."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley bites her tongue.

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.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A quiet comment as she seemed less than happy about that state of affairs. It was best to give her minor decisions in the matter.

"Do you have any preference on when, or where even?"

[shelley_winters]

She looks over coolly.

"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.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael nodded calmly and turned as if to walk out the room. His voice was cool, if not unfriendly.

"As you wish."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley sighs quietly, not bothering to watch him leave, and sits slowly down on the bed, trying to swallow her disappointment. It was worth it. It was. It's just a party, after all. It will probably be boring, but just a party.

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.