Hidden Price: Your Dignity [Open]

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

With her son back to being self-sufficient (and being able to remind her of such), Eva's suddenly found herself with a windfall of downtime. Doing what any sensible lady would do with such a situation, she raided the hall closet for board games.

She sits outside the house with a little plastic table an lawn chairs set up, as well as a battered old chessboard of Cassie's. A few of the white pawns and the black rook were missing, so she replaced them with bottlecaps and a salt shaker.

A cardboard sign in impeccable handwriting reads: FREE CHESS GAMES, YOUR LOSS. She drums her fingers as she waits for company.

[OOC: bendytimed to a little after Melting Clock.]

Comments

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi's bike runs very quiet, but it is a little hard to miss a big black motorcycle pulling up next to your garden. He sheds his helmet, glancing over at the sign. "You mean you were charging before?"

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Well, you know, crushing defeat is incredibly taxing. I've decided I'm not going to point and mock people when I destroy them," she says with a grin. She nods over at the motorcycle. "Don't let Marco see that. He'll want one and then it's all a downhill slide into tribal tattoos and girlfriends with hoop earrings the size of hula hoops."

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

"Pointing and mocking. So that's what I've been missing." He props the bike up, walking towards her and giving her a little fake-scoff.

"Why, I've had this bike all my life and not one tribal tattoo yet. Madam, I submit that you are ill-informed."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Witty pointing and mocking. Don't doubt me."

She makes a 'pah' hand gesture and shakes her head. "But, see, you have a good head on your shoulders, and my son's skull is stuffed full of dustbunnies and videogames. And I say that in the most affectionate possible way!"

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

He bows, half-serious. "I'm duly grateful for the compliment. So, how have things been? Roses coming in all right?"

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"You can look for yourself. I'll help you dig some up, later, if you want to start any little colonies back at your home." She taps her nose. "Which I still have to visit, by the way."

Look at her, avoiding the question!

"And you've been well, I trust?"

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

If she doesn't want to talk specifics, it's fine with him; she's not bleeding out of her eyeballs or anything, and Marco should be back to normal. He sits down in the lawn chair on the other side of the plastic table, looking completely incongruous in his customary black body armor. "I'd like that. And if you want, we can go visit the Inn today -- Allenby and I are pretty much done cleaning it up."

"Oh, I'm doing pretty well. If you discount the whole 'my-world-was-destroyed' thing, of course."

[imperious_lex]

Well, Lex did enjoy a good game of chess. He also enjoyed his liquor. So, genius that he is, he decided to combine both, bringing with him a $6000 bottle of Hine Talent Brandy and two glasses.

"Still taking on challengers?"

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She looks up from her book at this newcomer.

"I am, but if you're going to wave that brandy under my nose I might have to charge admission," she says, turning the board so the white pieces face him. "I'm Eva."

[imperious_lex]

"I'm Lex," he introduced himself. He took a seat, placing one of the glasses down near him, and offered her the other. "Hopefully this should be enough to buy me a seat at the table."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"I think I'll take that as suitable tender." She folds her hands across her lap, lacing and unlacing her thumbs. "Lex, hmm? The name sounds familiar. I think I heard your name associated with Programming?"

[imperious_lex]

There was a quiet laugh. He had gotten so used to being the infamous Lex Luthor, even on this ship, that it amused him when his reputation didn't precede him.

"Yes, I head up Neuropathy. And you...'re part of Starfighter Command?"

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She's heard his name before, from Kaya and others, and in media, but it's impolite to accuse people of being nefarious when they bring you a drink, a challenge, and company.

"Oh, so you're whom I get to thank for my newfound ability to punch odious people in the nose," she says with a grin. "I'm the tactical officer on the Quarter. You can start."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"Hello, Eva," the Chancellor said, taking a seat.

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Chancellor," she says, turning the board to him. "I didn't know you played. Have you been well?"

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"Often it is not so much playing as providing the Emperor with someone to trounce more slowly than his wont. I have been... It has been complicated, I must admit. But I am well now."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Well, I hate to disappoint you, but you're going to continue your losing streak if you play me. Your move first, if you don't mind." She gives a wry smirk, understanding. "That's an understatement. If you're well now, I take it you recently weren't."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

The Chancellor pushed the king's pawn forward. "...the woman with the cake and the mazes," he says.

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Ah. GLaDOS. I've heard of her. I...don't really want to think about how I'd feel if I got trapped in her." She brings a pawn forward.

[dragonlordbight]

For yet another day, the Governor of Sanction and Councilor found himself wandering the streets of the city, taking those streets he had not yet been down. Ones that led in fact past the house in front of which, Eva had set up.

"Chess, I can't say I have had the chance of playing before," He commented as he stepped up to the table and peered down over the board, it looked remarkably like Khas, a game in a similar style except utilizing hexagonal spaces, "Though I'm always up for a challenge,"

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Congratulations on the election, Councilor. I didn't expect a home visit," she says, smiling. What Kang's told her about Bight has made her a little wary, but she doesn't let that show. "I may not be the best opponent for a beginner, but I could teach you, if you like."

[dragonlordbight]

"Thank you, Eva, If I'm not mistaken? Indeed, it would seem my stroll brought me right to your offer," He replies easily with a smile returned as he takes the seat opposite her, "An experienced player I don't doubt, I am one to enjoy a challenge though."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Yes. Clearly it was serendipitous." She turns the board so the white pieces face him. "It's a war game, pretty much. Each player takes turns moving their pieces until they trap the other player's king, which is a checkmate. And each of the pieces move according to their own rules."

[dragonlordbight]

"Clearly," He leans over to inspect the board and the pieces themselves, nodding as her explanation added to the similarities between the two games, "Not unlike a similar game back on Kryn, known as Khas, despite the slight difference in the board itself,"

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Even the name sounds similar. Khas, chess..." She explains what each of the pieces does. "You ready to bow before me?"