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

text - anon cafe location;

[denyamenti]

I enjoy the game, I merely enjoy my privacy more. Will you play through here?

[ Of course, "enjoying privacy" is more like "wishing to maintain two personas" but hey, that's nothing new. ]

text - anon cafe location;

[superieure]

Provided you aren't an amateur.

[Monet is very, very good at chess.]

text - anon cafe location;

[denyamenti]

I take gaming more seriously than most.

[ A moment later, his first move comes through in standard PGN format: Nf3. ]

video;

[superieure]

Then, proceed.

[His move comes through, and Monet puts the piece where it should be. She's never played like this, maybe her opponent is more used to it, but they settle into an easy rhythm of attack and counterattack. He plays aggressively, which forces her to alter her usual style to keep up, but keep up she does.]

[There's a very pleased smile on her face as she goes for checkmate, about an hour later.]

We should play again, soon.

text - anon cafe location;

[denyamenti]

A good game.

[ Even in the text, it somehow conveys that he's not in any way upset at having lost. He doesn't enjoy from a practical point of view but it's informative and he's taken mental note of her strengths and preferences for move combinations. He feels a little rusty -- indeed, this is so much more classical than Monster World or the like -- but doesn't offer anything like that as an excuse or by way of explanation. ]

I agree. Though I am not always at a place where I can play.

[ That was, he knew better than to speak (or type) as himself from his personal console. ]

video;

[superieure]

[The best kind of opponent, in her opinion. She can't stand tantrums over people who lose, and no doubt whoever's on the other end of the screen has taken note of the way she plays, just as she did his. She has other cards up her sleeve - now that Damian's warned her of who might be listening, but Monet's not afraid.]

Illness? Or anonymity?

text - anon cafe location;

[denyamenti]

The latter. To whom should I ask for the rematch?

video;

[superieure]

Monet St. Croix. And what do you prefer to be known as? "Anonymous" is dreadfully boring.

text - anon cafe location;

[denyamenti]

Shen will do fine.

Have you had trouble finding opponents, to have posted such a wide request?

video;

[superieure]

Charmed.

[One of the rare times she actually means it.]

My usual one isn't here [but like hell she's going to say she misses Shatterstar] and I was bored. Take what you will from that.

text - anon cafe location;

[denyamenti]

Likewise.

I imagine that would have attracted all sorts of replies. Should I have auditioned instead?

video;

[superieure]

You'd have found it cumbersome, no doubt.

[It would have involved a telepathic scan. Monet has no idea how this might have deprived her of an opponent.]

Re: video;

[denyamenti]

Most likely. You seem a person more interested in proof than potential anyway.

video;

[superieure]

I'm not one for conjecture.

Re: video;

[denyamenti]

Nor am I. There is little sense in guessing at the opponent's cards... either make them show the hand, or have one that bests theirs regardless.

video;

[superieure]

[She smirks, in agreement.]

What other games have you played? Chess is common, but not universal.

perma text and video respectively;

[denyamenti]

[ Now here he has to be more careful, since as Ryou he mentioned Duel Monsters as a game in that public post he'd made. But other things should be all right to mention, ]

Many. Card, dice, figurine. Also ones far older than chess... it would be nice to find a sennet board here.

[superieure]

[Card games seem to be his specialty from liking to show an opponent's hand, but Monet's not about to jump to conclusions. Instead, she studies the text message.]

Sennet is an unusual hobby. Archaeologist, are you?

[denyamenti]

No.

[superieure]

[That sounded defensive, to her.]

Picked it up from a friend?

[denyamenti]

Learned it from a young age actually. A common pastime, like chess.

[superieure]

Is it common in your universe to enjoy games from the ancient times?

[denyamenti]

Not at all.

[ He's rather enjoying this little back and forth. ]

[superieure]

You're [interesting] peculiar.

Same time next week?

[denyamenti]

I will look forward to it.

[ And he actually means that, too. ]