[021] Action

[notasuggestion]

[Helga Sinclair set three boards up, carefully arranging each of the pieces. According to the forms she'd filled out, this "club" would last ninety minutes every Tuesday evening. However, she understood the importance of flexibility

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[getitinwriting]

[ Helga couldn't have been more right, he wasn't missing an opportunity to play chess against her. If anything, she was one of the only opponents he ever considered...worthy of playing against. They're thought processes were nearly the same, so playing a strategic game of chess was more like a game of cat and mouse. ]

Table for two?

[notasuggestion]

[This was the last person she wanted to see. Completely. Or that's what she told herself.

Still, though, at seeing him there, she smirked slightly. She motioned to the opposite side of the table. No reason not to start. If and when the others came, she could explain the rules later.]

Black or white?

[getitinwriting]

[ Partial to any color, he sat down at the white side. ]

When was the last time you played?

[notasuggestion]

Bridge of The Ulysseus.

[She wished she had a better answer. She wished she could say she'd played Thatch or Whitmore these last..

God. These last three months.

But no. The last time she played chess was the game set up on The Ulysses , moving the pieces in between checking on coordinates, overseeing the crew... After all, even with a ship that size, seven hours was a long time.]

[notsoscaryname]

[Here, have a Hiccup walking into the room.] Uh. Hi. This is for the 'chess' thing, right?

[Curiously, he leans over a chess board and curiously examines its setup. He knew chess was different from hnefatafl, but seeing it now, he had no idea how this was meant to be played.]

[notasuggestion]

It is. Welcome Mr. Haddock.

[Her tone is as close to friendly as Helga ever gets.]

[notsoscaryname]

Soooo...how does this actually work? [Hiccup gestures vaguely to the board.] It doesn't really make as much sense now that I'm actually looking at it.

[notasuggestion]

[Helga touches the head of the king.] This is your king. The object is to protect him and capture the other player's.

You have your infantry-- the pawns. [She picks up one of the little pieces.] Then you have your officers. [She touches each one in turn.] The rooks, knights, and bishops. [She indicates the last piece.] And your queen.

Every piece has rules for how it can move and how it can capture other pieces. You chip away at your opponent's defenses until you can "check" them, which means the king is in danger but can escape, or until "checkmate," where the king has no choice but to surrender.

[iminced]

This game involves no kissing does it?

[It had to be said, Helga.]

[notasuggestion]

[Have a cool, cocky smirk.]

Not usually. But I could make an exception for you, Prince Naveen.

[iminced]

[He gives Helga a look. Like he's trying to determine if she's joking or not.]

Ahahahahaha. [It sounds very dry.]

That is funny.

How is this game played exactly?

[He's toying with a knight at the moment, pressing his index finger against the sharp tip of an ear.]

You have horses and towers in this game?

[notasuggestion]

[Helga has to chuckle. After all, she's in her element on the battlefield-- even if it's a checkered one.]

There are pawns. [She picks up each piece as she mentions it before setting it back down.] Rooks. Bishops. Knights. The queen. And the king.

The object of the game is to capture the other player's king.

[protectmemaria]

[Frollo enters precisely on time, grateful to find at least one familiar thing at this Academy.]

[notasuggestion]

[Helga nods her head slightly in greeting.]

Good evening.

[protectmemaria]

[Frollo returns the nod.] I'll admit I am rather eager, though it has been a while since I played. I may be a bit rusty.

[notasuggestion]

I haven't had the opportunity to play for a few months. Missed it, though.

[takeslunchmoney]

[Audrey had been lingering in one of the corner arm chairs. Blueprints for a vehicle of some kind strewn before her, and coupled with a few squeak toys and a saucer of buttermilk next to them on the floor it looked a little odd.

Still, her eyes drifted from her work when she saw Helga setting up chess boards. She'd learned how to play the game when she was very young, and had probably forgotten by now.

She looks back down at her blueprints and erases a white line that was a tad bit crooked from her hand shifting from the ruler.]

You starting a chess club now?

[She didn't see the announcement.]

[notasuggestion]

It's a good game to know.

[She looked over at Audrey and shrugged her shoulders. It wasn't about nostalgia, not in the slightest. That would mean she was sentimental over the thing, and that... most certainly wasn't the case.

She double-checks the boards, even though she knows everything is in its proper place.]

I've missed playing. Figured this was the best way to drum up interest.