[Open] [Video] [Iskarault]

[tallasaking]

[Crowley's bar is the setting, and Tyrion is the broadcaster, as he is setting up a chess board on one of the tables, along with different stacks of cards on others, and yes, even some odd games he managed to find called 'Monopoly' and the like.]

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Considering how ... fraught things are lately, I welcome you to come to your local watering holes and enjoy a cool beverage, and perhaps a little gaming besides that. I myself have taken to, after excellent instruction from Kitty Pryde, to teach others how to play chess. I think it might be good for all of us to get outside of our own heads for a bit. You can even bring a game of your choice, if you do not see it here.

[He bowed once, before smirking.] And if you are all really good, I have figured out how to turn this communication device into a microphone, so if one wishes to do the ... karaoke, I believe I can figure something out. Given interest and a little time, of course.

Comments

[tallasaking]

[Charm was only good for what was on a man's surface. Tyrion had just learned that being more charming, or more of an ass, usually got him farther with his words than other men.

He nodded, and gestured her to a seat.] No, it is a game rather like cyvasse. Have you played cyvasse?

[goodandtrue]

[The reputation the Imp carried was far from favorable. Part of her hoped that this was another case of believing the wrong people, as it had been with her parents. Perhaps Tyrion was actually a better man than others stated.]

My brother, Raynald knew how to play the game. He was teaching our younger brother to play, but I have never had the chance before.

[tallasaking]

[Raynald ... mm. The name sounds familiar, although he was not quite sure why. His green eyes flashed with interest momentarily, before he tipped his head to the side.]

Well, then please come and take a seat. The rules are very similar.

[goodandtrue]

[She realizes her slip a little too late. He said nothing, which let her hope that he might not have noticed.

She takes the offered seat with a grateful smile.]

I hope you will have mercy on me for this first lesson.

[tallasaking]

[Oh, dear lady, there is very little that Tyrion Lannister misses. Especially since she knew what cyvasse was. She was clearly from his homeland.]

Naturally. I am always merciful to students. [He smiles at her, before pointing to the board.] So, let us begin with the basics - you have black, and you have white. White moves first.

[goodandtrue]

[She knows he will figure her out eventually. Her accent isn't one of the North, similar to the Westerlands and she had already gaffed by saying the name of the heir (former heir) to her father's house. She's not very good at subterfuge and knows it very well.]

You will have to explain the pieces to me as well. Or are they the same as cyvasse? Which are you, white or black?

[tallasaking]

[He is already mulling that name in his mind, plucking up houses and putting them back into their individual books.]

They are subtly different. You shall be white, so I can talk you through the basics of the game.

[goodandtrue]

[She inspects the pieces carefully before moving a pawn forward.]

Is this how you spend your days, my lord? Learning new games from other worlds?

[tallasaking]

[He watches her move a pawn forward, before stating.]

Pawns can only move forward two squares at the start, and then one after that. They can move sideways, but only when they are attacking another piece.

[A faint smile.] I spend my day learning whatever I can get my hands on, my lady.

[goodandtrue]

What have you learned about this place?

[If she managed to last more than a few moves, she would be surprised.]

[tallasaking]

That it is never what it seems. That we are doing what we are doing here - but there is a greater game at play. We are pieces on that board, but if we chose how we move and what part we will play ... we have the right to choose our own destiny.

[He moved his piece, watching her carefully.]

[goodandtrue]

Do you think it is possible to stay in this world if we choose to? If we have the right to choose our destiny, couldn't we choose that?

[She at least hopes so, reflecting on that wish as she moves another pawn.]

[tallasaking]

[His fingers paused on a piece, giving her a thoughtful look, as things finally clicked into place.]

If we had the right to choose our own destinies, my dear lady, I do not think either one of us would be sitting here right now.

[goodandtrue]

What makes you say that?

[Warning signals are going off in her head, but she remains seated, trying desperately to appear calm and collected.

It wouldn't work against someone as observant as Tyrion.]