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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» video ;

[superieure]

ME-3A. Any time this afternoon. Refreshments are provided.

» video → action ;

[pikes]

[ He happens to know exactly where that is, considering that he knows who lives close by to where she is. ]

I'll be there.

[ It's only a matter of time before he arrives, politely knocking on her door. ]

action ;

[superieure]

[Monet hears people walking up and down the stairs, and this afternoon she's taken the liberty of listening intently to everyone to comes by (super-hearing has its perks). She's learnt the hard way that normal people don't enjoy the door being opened for them immediately, or before they arrive, even if it's more efficient, and so she gives it a few seconds before she does so.]

Come in, have a seat.

action ;

[pikes]

[ pike would've been amused, would've joked about it being more convenient for himself. in any case, he inclines his head and enters her domain. ]

My name is Pike, by the way. Christopher Pike.

[ titles and job descriptions can come later, if they have time to get to know each other better. ]

[superieure]

Monet St. Croix. Charmed, Monsieur.

[The board's been set out on a table, all arranged, and she's opened a bottle of wine. There's finger sandwiches, too, napkins provided. She might not have her father's money here but that's not an excuse to be improper.]

[She waits for him to take a seat on white or black side of the board.]

[pikes]

[ he doesn't hesitate to sit on the black side. countering other people's moves is his forte. ]

French? Or simply a greeting?

[superieure]

French.

[She says it very proudly, and looks over him for a moment before she sits on the white side, and without hesitation, opens.]

[pikes]

[ It's easy to figure out that Pike doesn't play to win. His mind is a maze of strategy and tactics, always has been, and right now, he employs on the board to function as his way to read his opponent's movements, but he, surprisingly, usually just wings it as if he can't be bothered to think it. Surface thoughts include a calm void, stars drifting in the space, and the pain in his leg that is by now more like a veteran's old wound, a lingering pain that he's masterfully endures without missing a beat.

Chess is not a way for him to win, but to get to know better the person sitting opposite him, determine if they are friend or foe or nothing more than a satisfying chess opponent. Usually, he's satisfied with a draw, aims for it, even. Pike has his own opinions on what a no-win scenario holds, after all.

It doesn't mean, of course, that he can't, or that he's not giving her a run for her money. He's simply at that stage where he's gauging her skill. ]

How long have you been playing the game?

[superieure]

[A chess game is the ultimate test for a telepath, and Monet is not only uninterested in her opponent's thoughts, she's actively blocking them so she receives no feedback at all. What would be the point, when they're thinking about moves, countermoves, strategies for now and later? She is, however, peripherally aware of the leg, as something about the way he holds himself is subtly incongruent with one his age.]

[She hates boring. She plays to win (maybe it's because she's still young and the entire world is her oyster) forward and aggressive as demonstrated by the way her pieces dart around the board. She's meticulous, sure, but this is a new opponent and they haven't settled into a steady rhythm of backs and forths.]

Since I was a child. [Emma Frost hadn't taught her, but Professor Xavier had suggested it, and Monet could never turn down a good challenge.] And yourself, Monsieur?