002 ♛ video

[superieure]

[ Monet is seated, one leg crossed over the other, arms folded, lips curled into a smile, immaculately dressed as always, regarding the camera with a critical eye. In front of her is a chessboard, all set out for a game. She’s chosen black, so white faces the viewer. ]

I require an opponent.

Comments

[ action until otherwise stated ]

[laylaknowsstuff]

[Layla leans on the railing behind Monet, raising an eyebrow.]

[Of course Monet is playing black. She is unsurprised. If they were playing croquet, she'd probably be red.]

Consider it done.

[superieure]

White moves first.

[There's a playful joy to her tone, and something of that in the smile, too, as she looks at Layla.]

[laylaknowsstuff]

[She gives her her best Mona Lisa smile and moves down the stairs, coming to take a seat across from Monet.]

This isn't my first time, y'know. [But she'll move her pawn two places.]

[superieure]

[Monet doesn't completely let her guard down, but significantly enough. Layla's not a threat, and even if she did still know stuff, she still wouldn't be. She'd proved as much before Doom and Monet was trying out forgiveness.]

[She hadn't forgotten that it was Rictor who said she was indestructible.]

It's your first time with me.

[She boldly moves a knight.]

[laylaknowsstuff]

Kinky.

[But she grins, surveying the board. Her bishop moves.]

[superieure]

Don't get ideas.

[She opts for a safe move: a pawn.]

[laylaknowsstuff]

Oh? [She raises an eyebrow as she idly moves her next piece.] Don't want me tempting you?

[superieure]

Layla my dear, as if you could.

[She's smiling, though, as she counters.]

[laylaknowsstuff]

Strip-chess.

Different from naked Twister, of course. Takes a long longer, makes it all the sweeter.

[She was pretty sure she just made that up.]

[superieure]

All that just to get a peek? Really Layla, you could have commissioned a calendar.

[laylaknowsstuff]

Now you're the one who's doing the tempting.

[It's actually a good thing Jamie isn't here.]

[superieure]

[Maybe. Monet misses him, riffing on Ric gets old after a while (when he starts catching on, and winning).]

[She gets stuck on this move, narrowing her eyes, but plays a risk, intending to ensnare one of Layla's bishops.]

[laylaknowsstuff]

[Layla keeps her face blank, but lets Monet take her bishop. In her next move, she brings her knight up, set to take her down.]

[superieure]

[One of the things she loves - that she'll never admit - is that Layla doesn't know the outcome of the current game. Everything here is new to her, Monet wonders what that's like, briefly, as she goes for a pawn.]

[laylaknowsstuff]

[It's like everyday, for a person like Monet. For Layla, it's blinding. It's stiffling, this terrible pressure on your chest, realizing just how much effect your decisions can have, but not knowing what they will effect. She hates it, wants to know stuff again. But at the same time...

She takes the bishop.

It's kinda nice.]

[superieure]

[Monet falls into a comfortable pattern. Layla's a piece of home, so's the set, and for a moment she can pretend Keeliai isn't around them - that they're not trapped and unable to return until some spell fails, or until the entity is defeated.]

[For a moment she can pretend they're not a family torn apart by time shenanigans and just... be the two of them enjoying a chess match.]

[It's kind of nice. And in front of Layla, Monet'd even say so.]