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.

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[superieure]

[Bah kids!! But it's Midii, Monet gestures to the seat opposite her in her own suite.]

Come over, then.

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[unetrustworthy]

[There are times when not acting her age can be to her advantage.]

[Like now. She does smile when Monet accepts her offer, though it's demure. Her eyes are already attempting to scan the architecture behind her in hopes of figuring out which sector the woman lives in.]

Which building?

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[superieure]

ME-3A, chéri. Door's open.

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[unetrustworthy]

I'll be there as soon as I can.

[ME. That meant Metal. She would have to cross sectors, which would take a while, but that was okay. All she needed was her jacket.]

[Some time later, she manages to find the exact location. There were four quarters to 3A, but since Monet said the door was open....ah! Right there. Out of politeness, though, she still knocks on the doorframe to announce her presence.]

action;

[superieure]

[She's familiar with Midii's footsteps by now, and so, she gives it a few moments before answering, switching to French, which they're both more comfortable with.]

Enter.

action;

[unetrustworthy]

[She was fairly light on her feet, entering the room with more of a swiftness than grace. Used to going undetected in her movements. But Monet had been expecting her, and as it was just the two of them, she did not mind the individualized attention.]

Thank you.

[They both knew why she was there, and thus, there seemed little point in doing anything but assume the chair directly across. It was a bit on the shorter side, so she repositioned herself to sit on her knees. There. That gave her a much better view of the board, which she immediately began to analyze. Figuring out her strategy.]

You set is lovely. Where did you get it?

[superieure]

It's mine from home, it was at the auctions.

[She gestures to the small table next to the board, where some wine and finger sandwiches have been set out, but she frowns at the wine.]

Would you prefer something else?

[unetrustworthy]

[She glanced over at the sandwiches and...was that wine? It looked like juice at first, once she got a better look at the bottle, it seemed more like the kind some of the soldiers would sneak in large brown bags whenever they went into town.]

The sandwiches are fine, but...I think I might be better with water.

[superieure]

[In reply, she goes to the kitchen and returns with a bottle of warm water and a fresh glass, placing it beside Midii before she resumes her seat.]

[unetrustworthy]

[Midii waited patiently for Monet to return before making her move, accepting the glass of water graciously as she reaches for one of the center pawns, guiding it two spaces forward.]

[superieure]

[As she moves her own piece forward-]

Who taught you to play?

[unetrustworthy]

[Midii did not even need to think before making her next move, clearly having planned the first few steps of the game in advance. Her expression noticeably softened, and although her eyes did not lift from the board, it was easy to see them smiling from the memory.]

Papa did.

We never have much at home, but some games didn't cost much. Or we could borrow from neighbors. He had a small handful of puzzle games that he used to play with me before he got sick. It was the only time I ever had him to myself, while the boys were either out playing or asleep.

[superieure]

[Monet's learnt to rein in the hawklike observation, around Midii, even if they both know they're watching each other.]

I see.

[She wonders about her own father, now, probably recovering from Mordo's attack.]

You didn't have time to polish up?

[unetrustworthy]

[Given Midii's own tendencies for instinctively observing other's body language--something she learned, in part, through chess--she wouldn't have been surprised to find Monet doing the same. For once, she had nothing to hide. Her words were absolute truth, and her nonverbal cues were an open book.]

[It was nice. Getting to be herself without fear.]

Nobody to play with.

The soldiers at camp always preferred cards. A game called Hold 'Em. It wasn't hard to learn, but it wasn't the same thing. More bluff than strategy.

[superieure]

[Monet'd never admit it (or even consciously realise it) but that openness made her relax too. She always pretended to hold herself as this pragmatic, cutthroat personality that showed no weakness and never backed down, but the truth was... that was in Layla's personality more than it was Monet's.]

[Which was why Layla Miller was the one who knew stuff, not the rest of them.]

Bluff is a strategy, albeit a difficult one to pull one.

[unetrustworthy]

Bluff isn't a strategy. It's a skill. You have to train yourself to think, act, and project in a way that's different from how you normally would.

[superieure]

That takes skill, Midii.

[unetrustworthy]

But also luck.

You have to rely on the actions of another person. It's possible to do it completely right, and yet still fail because the other person is an idiot.

[superieure]

[She laughs.]

Very true, chéri.

[unetrustworthy]

[Pleased at Monet's reaction, Midii makes another move. Two more, and she would have her in check. An easily escapable check, but it was a sign that she was at least holding her own in the game.]

[superieure]

[Something Monet was surprised to see in one so young. She easily avoids the trap and creates one of her own. Unlike other games she's had this afternoon she's holding back considerably so that Midii can enjoy the game instead of just be soundly thrashed.]

[unetrustworthy]

[If Midii knew that Monet was purposely taking it that easy on her, she might have been a bit frustrated. Not nearly as frustrated as if she had been soundly thrashed, however, so it was really the better of the two options.]

I've seen this before... [She murmured to herself. Eyes scanning the pieces. It was familiar, but she couldn't place how or why. Or when. She just knew it was. She took a moment, resting her chin in her hands as her eyes viewed the board from a different angle.]

[superieure]

[Score 1 for Monet on that count, then.]

It's a fairly common setup. Not without its uses, however.

[unetrustworthy]

[That must be why it seemed so familiar.]

[She stared. And stared. Her eyes glanced between her rook and her bishop. Trying to remember how she responded the last time--or, more importantly, which method worked best.]

[After nearly a full minute of working out the scenarios in her head to the best of her ability, she dared go with the rook. Moving it accordingly, and then looking up to see Monet's reaction.]

[superieure]

[Monet smiles at Midii as always, and moves to take the rook.]

Good try, chéri, but if you keep it up you will be checkmated soon.