♚ Ninteenth Move - {Video}

[faustianphantom]

[At first, the connection is fuzzy. The camera doesn't seem to know what to focus on but, then, a chessboard comes into view. On said chessboard are, of course, chess pieces. They are ornately carved and quite dazzling. On the right side, the white pieces shimmer. It's almost as if they have been carved out of glass or a clear crystal. Opposing them, on the left side, are the black pieces. It's possible that these pieces have been carved out of onyx or some other black stone.]

Hm.

[A hand comes into view, wearing an antique ring with a large blue diamond (or sapphire) set into it. It knocks the black pieces off of the board, one by one, until only a knight and a king remain. It leaves the white pieces intact, however.]

There will be no rules this time; and no limitations. The game shall be played in the midst of chaos. He (or she) who wins will not be able to celebrate for long. Such is life. One moment, you are victorious; the next, you are the dirt under everyone's feet.

Does anyone want to play?

Comments

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[chosenfake.livejournal.com]

[A redhead peers intensely at the message.]

Is that... chess?

[He vaguely remembers someone trying to teach him, but he could never grasp the basics. Not when he was still learning things like his mother's face, or how to do basic arithmetic...]

video;

[queens-guarddog.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is. Have you played it before?

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[chosenfake.livejournal.com]

Once. I don't remember the rules very well.

I didn't know other worlds had the same games. That's kinda cool.

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[queens-guarddog.livejournal.com]

Chess is a game of logic. It doesn't surprise me that other worlds would adopt it.

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[chosenfake.livejournal.com]

Really? I always thought it was about war.

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[queens-guarddog.livejournal.com]

It would be a poor war if logic wasn't used to fight it.

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[chosenfake.livejournal.com]

[A soft laugh.] That's true.

Anyway, I hope you find someone who actually knows how to play it.

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[queens-guarddog.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind teaching you. [Because that's the only way he can get an opponent, it seems.]

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[chosenfake.livejournal.com]

[... What. No, really. No one's offered to teach him something in a /long/ time, because he was a brat and also kind of stupid. He stares at the communicator.]

R-really? Isn't that a lot of trouble, though?

[He squashes the thought that he might not be smart enough to play a sophisticated game like that. He's more than some defective replica. He's also a Viscount and he really ought to learn some noble things if he's going to help out somehow.]

[council-king.livejournal.com]

A game... of chess?

[queens-guarddog.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

[prefers-chess.livejournal.com]

Are you white or black?

[queens-guarddog.livejournal.com]

Black, of course.

[prefers-chess.livejournal.com]

Interesting, setting yourself at such an initial handicap.

At least until your opponent demands the right to do the same, but outdoes you in stripping himself of every piece but the king. Which forces a stalemate from the start and leaves you wandering aimlessly around the board, unable to claim victory or defeat.

[queens-guarddog.livejournal.com]

It makes it more interesting.

[A pause and then, said rather smugly...]

Who said I followed the rules?

[prefers-chess.livejournal.com]

Then you admit to being a dishonourable opponent. How charming.

[queens-guarddog.livejournal.com]

Is it dishonorable to use every avenue available to you to win?

[prefers-chess.livejournal.com]

If cheating were honourable, more swordfights would be resolved with guns.