messianic | [VIDEO] 005 ☽

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[VIDEO] 005 ☽

[This is a tired Minato on your SFCs today, Vatheon. It's been a few days, but what could he do? Pull people out of their safety to ask them to help him? Distract from the effort to save the city because he has a somewhat selfish request to make?

Of course not. But now that the fish monsters are gone, he has no issues with asking. Because after Aigis' breakdown, this has to happen.

At the very least, he's no longer very sick.

But first--]

I hope everyone is alright. It seems like most of the creatures are gone, but there might still be a few we missed, so be careful. If anyone is in need of any healing, please let me know. I'd like to thank everyone who helped with the Defense Force as well.

[Even if they didn't stop every death, it was a start. He has to believe they can get better from here. ...Ahem.]

If...there's anyone who is good at fixing things, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know. I need some help with something really important.

[For a moment, he looks sad, but then he shakes it off. He's about to shut off the feed from there, when he seems to remember--]

Ah...one more thing. Adachi-san seems to have gone home. At least he wasn't hurt by the monsters.

[...a contemplative shake of his head and he shuts off the feed.

Click!]

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I like it.

[ He is being truthful. His mind easily grasps onto strategy, and part of it is happily flipping through all the possibilities open to both of them. Minato is a challenging opponent, making this a difficult puzzle to sort out. ]

Why does white always go first? And why can the Queen move anywhere and not the King?

[...huh. He blinks, considering.]

I'm not actually sure, for either of those. I know it's just how the game is played. I'm sure there's a reason...

[He moves his pieces thoughtfully as he considers N's questions. Mmm...]

Maybe I can find out at the library.

[ For N is nothing if not horribly curious, about anything and everything. ]

I'm sure you could, N.

[...

...

oh he was so absorbed with answering the questions he didn't notice--]

Mm. Check.

[ Oh! Damn. How does he get out of this?

N frowns, nibbling on his lip, and tries to escape, but he has wandered too far into danger while he was distracted by his own thoughts. ]

[Minato can see that as well with a glance at the playing board. So he makes his next move. And the one after that. And the next and--]

Checkmate.

Good game, N.

[ Hmmm.

N does not seem particularly mad about it, though he gives a soft huff. Instead he just ends up staring intently at the board, turning over all the moves they both made in his head. ]

[...Mm

He'll let N ponder all he wants. Minato simply leans back in his chair, hands finding his pockets again, and waits patiently for N's verdict.

Honestly he's a little surprised that he's managed to win even these games; he's decent at strategy, but chess is not one of his common activities.]

[ N reaches out and starts to put the pieces back in their places. ]

Once more.

[ It is all clicking into place. N is not instantaneous... but he is fast.

He will win this one. He has decided it.

N moves a pawn forward. ]

[N doesn't even ask this time before the game is started, and that's something Minato notes quietly. But he nods, making his move quietly in return, spending the rest of his time watching N, rather than the board.

Hm....]

[ He is free to watch as much as he wants without objection, as N is focused solely on the board. However, his expression is far from serious. Instead it is obvious that the boy is excited. He is nearly quivering with energy, eyes bright with enjoyment.

He gets this. He understands this game. He can win. He knows it. ]

[And it seems...he can.

Minato has been paying attention to the game as well as keeping an eye on N--now he pauses, considering his next move.

Huh.

....tough.

He eventually makes the best move he can, but he's on the defensive for the first time.]

[ N does his best to keep him on the defensive. In a lot of ways, it is similar to a Pokemon battle: his team is larger, but they each have their own moves and he does not have to worry about weaknesses, just location. There is not the added concern of not knowing the other team's moves: he knows every move Minato could possibly make, simply because they are both constricted by the rules of the game.

Now it is just a matter keeping up with the other boy, and pitting their abilities to strategize against one another. ]

[Minato doesn't show any outward change, though he's definitely focusing a bit more now. This is a pretty serious game, and N is easily predicting what he will do, and so he pays a bit more attention.

Strategy, it's something that comes rather naturally to someone who is used to leading a group.

But it is also something that comes naturally to N.

He returns moves with moves, trying to force N back on the defensive a bit, though he is losing pieces by doing so.]

[ N is not a particularly defensive strategist. Few of his Pokemon ever used support moves.

However, his longest friend had been Zoroark. He was well-versed in the uses of deception. Why not try it here? He backed off, letting Minato take the offensive, and attempted to set himself up to trap the other's more valuable pieces as he was concerned with chasing after him. ]

[Which is, of course, underestimating Minato in a way. He might not know N's strategies but he does know N--and he's fought with him enough to know that backing down isn't his style.

Minato response is not cautious, per se--

But he does know a trap is coming, and so he does not press his obvious advantage, instead attempting to set up a bit of a trap for N of his own.]

[ Damn. Minato does not follow like he wanted...

So something else is up. Is that--? N sees the possibility for the trap.

No time to mourn a failed plan. Time to ditch the idea completely and form a new one, turning his moves to slam into Minato, intent on destroying his ability to finish setting up his trap, even though it means ruining his own chances to finish his own. ]

[Admittedly, that does surprise him for a moment, not having expected N to abandon his strategy so quickly. While his movements are as slow and deliberate as always, his mind is thinking just a little bit more frantically.

But he's lost a lot of ground with N's assault on his pieces.]

[ N hits hard and fast, intent on crippling Minato's forces. While aggression is not always the best of tactics, N does not play offense recklessly; instead he focuses on each threat, aiming for the most powerful ones first. If he can manage to strip away the armor --

The king will be an easy capture. ]

[...It's a few moves later that Minato realizes he's not going to win this match.

Of course, he will still play to the best of his abilities--he's never been one to give up. But N has hit hard and fast and has left him with few moves left.

He doesn't give any hint to what he is thinking about, however, except with a slight incline of his head and a small, amused smile.

N learns very, very quickly.]

[ N's eyes are bright with glee when he looks up at Minato and moves his final piece forward, announcing "Checkmate."

It is not thrill in causing defeat, but excitement in his own success. He fought against someone he considered to be one of the most worthy opponents he had ever faced and triumphed. ]

[.....aha.

He sits back in his chair and nods, glancing at the board.]

Good game, N.

This game is fun!

[ N grins at him. ]

I'm glad you taught it to me.

I thought you might enjoy it.

[It's N's sort of game. And he nods.]

If you ever want to play, you just have to ask. But I...

[A pause and he considers the time. He's been here for quite a long time with those three chess games, and he stands slowly.]

I should go check on Aigis.

[ Oh, yes. N stands too, but he moves forward quickly to embrace his friend warmly. ]

All right. But if you get tired again and need someone to pay attention...

[ Headbump. ]

You're always welcome. Okay?

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messianic - 2011-09-21 14:58 (UTC) - Expand

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