Ace, Love, and checkmate!
[Seto invites Marik over for a game of tennis, and the day ends up being a day of many challenges and intrigues. Backdated October 2007
There were a few nice days left in October, and Seto took advantage of one of them to invite Marik for a game of tennis.
Seto was a member of The Willow Ridge Country Club, a social necessity in his circle. It had been quite awhile since he'd been on the tennis court, and as he waited for Marik in the front of the building, Seto realized how much he had missed it.
Marik pulled up in front of the building already in his tennis apparel and some loose fitting wind resistant pants against the cold until he hit the court. He had to admit he was a bit surprised to get the call from Seto about playing a game of tennis. It had been a while since he actively played on the court, and even more interesting that Seto was going to be his opponent. Spotting Seto in front of the building Marik walked over to him extending his hand to greet him " afternoon, Seto."
"Good afternoon, Marik," Seto responded, shaking hands with him firmly. He was not in his own tennis outfit yet, not wanting the other man to feel out of place if he came in street clothes. "I'm glad you could make it." Seto took them into the clubhouse, and to the locker room, where he retrieved his court clothes and quickly changed.
Marik stripped off his outer layer of clothes down, to his matching tennis apparel. He had recently gotten a new set and decided this was as good a time as any to break them in. Folding his clothes Marik leaned against a locker and turned to Seto as he finished changing. " It's been a while since I've played, I appreciate the invite"
"I was looking for a good opponent, and you came to mind," Seto replied enigmatically. "I must confess it's been over a month since I've been on the court as well." Retrieving his racket from his locker, Seto twirled it in his hand and smiled. "How long have you been playing?"
Picking his racket up and leaning against his shoulder he pushed off the locker standing up straight. " I've been playing for around six years now, but I haven't done anything competitive in some time. Yourself?"
Memories of an acerbic tutor flashed through Seto's mind. "Most of my life, off and on. Recently there hasn't been time." The two of them moved outside, to the court Seto had reserved for them. "How is business?" he asked, swinging the racket experimentally.
"Business is well, I can't complain. There is never a shortage of things to do." Keeping the racket against his shoulder Marik gripped the handle tighter twisting the racket eyes trained on Seto " I'd ask you the same question, but you do have an empire so asking how's business would be a bit broad. However I expect all is well?"
"As well as can be expected," Seto responded. Then there was no more time for talking, as Seto moved to the far court and the game began.
There were several things Seto enjoyed about tennis, things that he forgot until he was actually playing again. The soft fuzz on the outside of the ball as it fit into the cup of his hand. The solid thwock of the racket on impact. The stretch of his muscles as he leaned into a shot, or ran for an unexpected return. As they played, the smile he wore deepened to a feral grin as the game heated up. Marik was a good player, despite his statement of not having played recently, and the two of them seemed evenly matched.
And all his life sounded about right as Marik stretched back sending a fast return to the left side line. Small beads of sweat began to spot his for-head as the game continued. Marik grinned seeing as it was time to kick it up a few more notches. Though he had only been playing for six years four of them were tough competition. " I hope you're ready.." Marik said in a hushed yet audible voice as he reached up to serve intending to achieve an Ace.
Seto returned it neatly, but missed the volley and it was point to Marik. The game went that way for some time, point and counter-point, neither of them pulling ahead, until Seto began to feel his muscles burning. His fierce competitive spirit was engaged, and he returned one of Marik's vicious, beautiful backhands by a slim margin.
Marik was close to a full blown smile, which was rare, but he was having a good time with a worthy opponent. However he wasn't about to let up, his muscles felt the burn but with his constant training it was nothing he wasn't used to. Racing up to the net he sliced the ball so as to creep over the next, and backed up fast in case Seto made it before the second bounce.
The move was unexpected, and Seto had it... almost...
As the ball hit the surface the second time, Seto exhaled. That was game, and an invigorating one at that, even if he did have to remember how to lose gracefully. With a smile that was hardly feigned, Seto extended his hand over the net in the traditional handshake. "Well played. I can't remember when I've had a more enjoyable game."
Marik reached back over the net and took Seto's hand shaking it firmly. "Likewise, the game was indeed enjoyable. We'll have to play more often."
It was while they were clearing the court that Seto noticed Marik's back. More specifically, the black lines creeping along the skin of his back when Marik bent over to pick up a vagrant tennis ball. Marik's shirt was tight, Seto had certainly noticed that, so it was perhaps not unexpected that it would ride up when the other man was stretched out. Seto blinked, and bit down on a sudden urge to reach out and touch the dark markings.
When they achieved the relative privacy of the locker room, Seto pondered whether or not to say anything. It was hardly polite, would be something of an invasion of privacy-- and yet Marik had always been impenetrable to Seto, a blank, opaque wall. Truthfully, it was one of the reasons that Seto went out with him socially, to try to find the one chink that would let him understand the man. It was a challenge.
"I apologize for my forwardness," Seto began in sudden decision. Shake things up and see what happens. "I saw some marks on your back. Do you have a tattoo?"
Marik paused for a moment at Seto's words. In truth he would not have expected such forwardness from him, nor had he been aware that his back showed to that degree. For a fraction of a second he felt indecent, but that thought quickly left his mind. There was no point dancing around it, the man had saw what he saw. "It's alright--yes I do have a tattoo."
Well, that gave Seto as little information as he had feared. For a moment, Seto remembered Aidan, standing with hooded eyes, holding his sleeve up, and wished the other man were here. But, he reminded himself, the vast majority of the population sported tattoos because they wanted to be noticed.
"Have you had it long? I know a woman who has a rose in the middle of her back, she had it done when she turned thirteen, likely to outrage her parents."
"Well I've had it for three years or so, and it was planned for the most part, however I didn't plan on it being initially as extensive. Considering the duration of the tattoo at the time, I would have gladly wished it was a simple as a rose." Marik wondered why Seto would be interested in things such as tattoo's. It didn't seem to fit the business persona, but at the same time he had no right to talk seeing as he himself was an hypocrite to that ideology. " Are you interested in getting one?"
The surprised chuckle that emerged from Seto was low. "The thought had honestly never crossed my mind." He scooped up his towel and headed for the shower. When Seto returned, toweling his hair, he found Marik waiting for him, unsurprising as they had planned on eating lunch together at the club as well.
The dining room was large, but sparsely populated and Seto's reserved table was isolated from any neighbors. They received their menus, and once the waiter faded off Seto sat back in his chair to regard Marik with a speculative look. So, we eat again, he didn't say. Seto was very careful with his flashes of humor. "You played well," he said instead. "I've rarely had such a stimulating opponent."
Taking in his surroundings Marik noted that this club favored in the ways clubs of this nature were depicted via cinema or literature. Settling in his seat Marik grinned hearing the compliment awarded to his skills. " Thank you, it was quite the effort on your part as well Seto. I'll know to always keep on my toes if we are to play again in the future."
Although not forgotten the short converse before arriving in the dinning hall about tattoo's resurfaced to the front of his mind, but he would not speak of it unless Seto's own curiosity brought it forth again. Looking down at the menu gripped in his right, he scrolled down the list of endless appetizing choices. " I'd have to say, I'm pleased about food being so quickly accessible. One can really work up and appetite after such sport."
"Indeed," Seto said, giving his own menu a cursory glance. He was well familiar with the food available.
Seto was not exactly a poor loser, he had the gracious acceptance necessary drilled into him from youth, but he was still a highly competitive person, and kept replaying the game in his mind to see where he could have done better, what would have turned each point in his favor. It was obvious that Marik had the edge over him in skill, was just that small amount better.
"Do you play chess?" he asked suddenly.
Marik looked up from his menu and met Seto's gaze " Actually I do-- why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you would care to game with me, after lunch. An exercise for the intellect, after one for the body."
" I would be my pleasure" Marik said a with a grin. Chess in itself was a game he enjoyed, and it seemed like one that simply fit everything Seto stood for. Discipline, accuracy, cleverness--" do you have a favorite piece?"
The question surprised Seto, it was something he'd never thought about before. The pieces were simply what they were, how could one have a favorite? Seeing the waiter approaching, Seto answered, knowing the man would wait discretely to approach. "Each piece in chess has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. The essence of the game is to find a way to use each of them in support of the others, to craft a strategy which utilizes each ability to best advantage, while keeping the overall goal in mind."
After giving their orders, Seto continued speaking, watching the lines of the waiter's back as he walked away. "Is it common for a player to have a favorite chess piece? What is yours?"
"I don't know if it's common or not for a player to have a favorite piece, but perhaps one that seems to work best in their favor. I actually don't have a favorite piece despite I being the one to ask the question. Though I think I'd know which one you would be--at least to me."
Leaning back in his chair, Seto regarded Marik with arch interest. "And what piece might that be?"
Marik grinned knowing what he was about to say could possibly come across with a bent. " Actually I would consider you the Queen over any other piece in the game."
"Fascinating," Seto replied. To a layman, the most valuable piece in the game, and undeniably the most versatile. The queen was dangerous and often the key to a successful endgame strategy. Held in reserve or ruthlessly aggressive, the queen had the ability to menace more pieces than any other.
Marik nodded assuming that Seto was either pleased with his answer or breaking it down strategically, and if he had to guess he's assume the latter. He could feel the twinge of hunger biting the edges of his stomach, and as if on cue he noticed their waiter heading towards their table tray in hand. "Soups up " he said with a small smile.
Seto spared a smile in return before they tucked into the excellent lunch. By the time they were lingering over coffee and desert, Seto continued the conversation. "Would you be interested in hearing which chess piece I would attribute to you?"
Marik welcomed the returned questions with a smile "absolutely" he said leaning back cupping his hands around his mug enjoying it's warmth.
"The knight," Seto answered promptly. "It appears to move in a straight line, and then takes a sudden turn." His eyes dropped to the table before him, a small slice of chocolate cake still on its stark white plate. "It's the most subtle of the pieces. The only one able to move two directions in one turn." His eyes flickered up to Marik's and he offered a sudden, sly smile. "The queen can mirror the move of any man on the board except that one."
Not once did Marik think of the Knight piece under those terms. Most often the first reaction to be given the title 'knight' heroics would come to play, and he was certainly not that. He had received an exceptional compliment in terms of character whether Seto intended it to be so. Grinning a slightly devious grin back at his companion he responded "Invaluable--truly."
Marik took a sip of his coffee and looked down at his own desert of carrot cake and then back up to Seto with the same devious grin as before "well I suppose we'd better finish here so we can go flex our royal muscles."
The two men were of one accord in this, and shortly after they found themselves in one of the side rooms of the club, chessboard between them. Seto studied Marik as much as he did the game as he made his opening move.
Moving the initial pawn two spaces, Marik shuffled around possible strategies in his head while examining both his and Seto's side of the board. When his eyes wandered across the ebony queen piece protecting the now safe King he chuckled.
Countering with the requisite move, Seto began playing in earnest. His strategy initially relied heavily on his knights, two pawns and a bishop, but Marik's game was sharp and Seto found himself evolving that to meet the challenge.
Noting the level of intensity rising, Marik met Seto's every move using his current strategy of pawns to swarm, and meticulous moves with his rooks and Queen. Marik had yet to play someone who was quite as talented in Chess. This much like the tennis match early was going to be close.
The time flowed around them, as if they were in a pocket of isolation, shielded by concentration, attack-and-counter. The game became for Seto an almost physical thing, as if they were fencing. Feint, lunge, bind, disengage, cross and counter-riposte. The pieces became an extension of his will, intellect manifest, drifting across the board in deceptive casualness. Queen. Pawn. Rook. "Check".
Queen..Pawn...Rook...DAMN Marik placed two fingers on the bridge of his nose silently cursing himself, and fighting off the instant headache in realization of his carelessness. He took a long moment and realized that there was nothing left to do, so instead of going out with no fight Marik claimed one of his remaining Knights, and waited for Seto to end it.
The game was over in three more moves, the outcome inevitable. "Checkmate," Seto informed Marik softly, and then sat back in his chair, invigorated by the game. Marik had the edge earlier, Seto had evened the score, and something in him hummed in satisfaction at the balance.
Marik took a moment and let the loss sink in. Seto for today was indeed a better player, and that simply meant he would have to be all the wiser next go around. With a small grin he took his eyes from the board and focused them on Seto "marvelous game."
An answering smile curved Seto's lips. After a nod of his head, he stood, indulging in a small stretch. "Thank you for a quite enjoyable afternoon," he told the other man. "I'll walk with you outside."
Standing to his feet Marik smiled in return " the pleasure is mine." Taking the lead Marik headed towards the exit where is car would be inevitably waiting, thanks to the wonders of valet parking.
The evening had shaded into night, and Seto stopped on the steps to wrap his coat more tightly around him. "Until we meet again," he said, holding out his hand to Marik.
Marik extended his arm and shook Seto's hand "Jazilan,Masaa El-Khair" he said with a grin.
Seto raised one eyebrow. "Ich werde Sie warten," he replied, having no idea what Marik had said, but rising to the challenge. Carefully, he stored the syllables for later research, hoping he could decipher how to spell them.
Unknown to him, much like Seto he planned to figure out exactly what Seto had said in return. Smirking he tilted his non-existent hat in Seto's direction, turned and walking to his waiting car by the curb.
There were a few nice days left in October, and Seto took advantage of one of them to invite Marik for a game of tennis.
Seto was a member of The Willow Ridge Country Club, a social necessity in his circle. It had been quite awhile since he'd been on the tennis court, and as he waited for Marik in the front of the building, Seto realized how much he had missed it.
Marik pulled up in front of the building already in his tennis apparel and some loose fitting wind resistant pants against the cold until he hit the court. He had to admit he was a bit surprised to get the call from Seto about playing a game of tennis. It had been a while since he actively played on the court, and even more interesting that Seto was going to be his opponent. Spotting Seto in front of the building Marik walked over to him extending his hand to greet him " afternoon, Seto."
"Good afternoon, Marik," Seto responded, shaking hands with him firmly. He was not in his own tennis outfit yet, not wanting the other man to feel out of place if he came in street clothes. "I'm glad you could make it." Seto took them into the clubhouse, and to the locker room, where he retrieved his court clothes and quickly changed.
Marik stripped off his outer layer of clothes down, to his matching tennis apparel. He had recently gotten a new set and decided this was as good a time as any to break them in. Folding his clothes Marik leaned against a locker and turned to Seto as he finished changing. " It's been a while since I've played, I appreciate the invite"
"I was looking for a good opponent, and you came to mind," Seto replied enigmatically. "I must confess it's been over a month since I've been on the court as well." Retrieving his racket from his locker, Seto twirled it in his hand and smiled. "How long have you been playing?"
Picking his racket up and leaning against his shoulder he pushed off the locker standing up straight. " I've been playing for around six years now, but I haven't done anything competitive in some time. Yourself?"
Memories of an acerbic tutor flashed through Seto's mind. "Most of my life, off and on. Recently there hasn't been time." The two of them moved outside, to the court Seto had reserved for them. "How is business?" he asked, swinging the racket experimentally.
"Business is well, I can't complain. There is never a shortage of things to do." Keeping the racket against his shoulder Marik gripped the handle tighter twisting the racket eyes trained on Seto " I'd ask you the same question, but you do have an empire so asking how's business would be a bit broad. However I expect all is well?"
"As well as can be expected," Seto responded. Then there was no more time for talking, as Seto moved to the far court and the game began.
There were several things Seto enjoyed about tennis, things that he forgot until he was actually playing again. The soft fuzz on the outside of the ball as it fit into the cup of his hand. The solid thwock of the racket on impact. The stretch of his muscles as he leaned into a shot, or ran for an unexpected return. As they played, the smile he wore deepened to a feral grin as the game heated up. Marik was a good player, despite his statement of not having played recently, and the two of them seemed evenly matched.
And all his life sounded about right as Marik stretched back sending a fast return to the left side line. Small beads of sweat began to spot his for-head as the game continued. Marik grinned seeing as it was time to kick it up a few more notches. Though he had only been playing for six years four of them were tough competition. " I hope you're ready.." Marik said in a hushed yet audible voice as he reached up to serve intending to achieve an Ace.
Seto returned it neatly, but missed the volley and it was point to Marik. The game went that way for some time, point and counter-point, neither of them pulling ahead, until Seto began to feel his muscles burning. His fierce competitive spirit was engaged, and he returned one of Marik's vicious, beautiful backhands by a slim margin.
Marik was close to a full blown smile, which was rare, but he was having a good time with a worthy opponent. However he wasn't about to let up, his muscles felt the burn but with his constant training it was nothing he wasn't used to. Racing up to the net he sliced the ball so as to creep over the next, and backed up fast in case Seto made it before the second bounce.
The move was unexpected, and Seto had it... almost...
As the ball hit the surface the second time, Seto exhaled. That was game, and an invigorating one at that, even if he did have to remember how to lose gracefully. With a smile that was hardly feigned, Seto extended his hand over the net in the traditional handshake. "Well played. I can't remember when I've had a more enjoyable game."
Marik reached back over the net and took Seto's hand shaking it firmly. "Likewise, the game was indeed enjoyable. We'll have to play more often."
It was while they were clearing the court that Seto noticed Marik's back. More specifically, the black lines creeping along the skin of his back when Marik bent over to pick up a vagrant tennis ball. Marik's shirt was tight, Seto had certainly noticed that, so it was perhaps not unexpected that it would ride up when the other man was stretched out. Seto blinked, and bit down on a sudden urge to reach out and touch the dark markings.
When they achieved the relative privacy of the locker room, Seto pondered whether or not to say anything. It was hardly polite, would be something of an invasion of privacy-- and yet Marik had always been impenetrable to Seto, a blank, opaque wall. Truthfully, it was one of the reasons that Seto went out with him socially, to try to find the one chink that would let him understand the man. It was a challenge.
"I apologize for my forwardness," Seto began in sudden decision. Shake things up and see what happens. "I saw some marks on your back. Do you have a tattoo?"
Marik paused for a moment at Seto's words. In truth he would not have expected such forwardness from him, nor had he been aware that his back showed to that degree. For a fraction of a second he felt indecent, but that thought quickly left his mind. There was no point dancing around it, the man had saw what he saw. "It's alright--yes I do have a tattoo."
Well, that gave Seto as little information as he had feared. For a moment, Seto remembered Aidan, standing with hooded eyes, holding his sleeve up, and wished the other man were here. But, he reminded himself, the vast majority of the population sported tattoos because they wanted to be noticed.
"Have you had it long? I know a woman who has a rose in the middle of her back, she had it done when she turned thirteen, likely to outrage her parents."
"Well I've had it for three years or so, and it was planned for the most part, however I didn't plan on it being initially as extensive. Considering the duration of the tattoo at the time, I would have gladly wished it was a simple as a rose." Marik wondered why Seto would be interested in things such as tattoo's. It didn't seem to fit the business persona, but at the same time he had no right to talk seeing as he himself was an hypocrite to that ideology. " Are you interested in getting one?"
The surprised chuckle that emerged from Seto was low. "The thought had honestly never crossed my mind." He scooped up his towel and headed for the shower. When Seto returned, toweling his hair, he found Marik waiting for him, unsurprising as they had planned on eating lunch together at the club as well.
The dining room was large, but sparsely populated and Seto's reserved table was isolated from any neighbors. They received their menus, and once the waiter faded off Seto sat back in his chair to regard Marik with a speculative look. So, we eat again, he didn't say. Seto was very careful with his flashes of humor. "You played well," he said instead. "I've rarely had such a stimulating opponent."
Taking in his surroundings Marik noted that this club favored in the ways clubs of this nature were depicted via cinema or literature. Settling in his seat Marik grinned hearing the compliment awarded to his skills. " Thank you, it was quite the effort on your part as well Seto. I'll know to always keep on my toes if we are to play again in the future."
Although not forgotten the short converse before arriving in the dinning hall about tattoo's resurfaced to the front of his mind, but he would not speak of it unless Seto's own curiosity brought it forth again. Looking down at the menu gripped in his right, he scrolled down the list of endless appetizing choices. " I'd have to say, I'm pleased about food being so quickly accessible. One can really work up and appetite after such sport."
"Indeed," Seto said, giving his own menu a cursory glance. He was well familiar with the food available.
Seto was not exactly a poor loser, he had the gracious acceptance necessary drilled into him from youth, but he was still a highly competitive person, and kept replaying the game in his mind to see where he could have done better, what would have turned each point in his favor. It was obvious that Marik had the edge over him in skill, was just that small amount better.
"Do you play chess?" he asked suddenly.
Marik looked up from his menu and met Seto's gaze " Actually I do-- why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you would care to game with me, after lunch. An exercise for the intellect, after one for the body."
" I would be my pleasure" Marik said a with a grin. Chess in itself was a game he enjoyed, and it seemed like one that simply fit everything Seto stood for. Discipline, accuracy, cleverness--" do you have a favorite piece?"
The question surprised Seto, it was something he'd never thought about before. The pieces were simply what they were, how could one have a favorite? Seeing the waiter approaching, Seto answered, knowing the man would wait discretely to approach. "Each piece in chess has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. The essence of the game is to find a way to use each of them in support of the others, to craft a strategy which utilizes each ability to best advantage, while keeping the overall goal in mind."
After giving their orders, Seto continued speaking, watching the lines of the waiter's back as he walked away. "Is it common for a player to have a favorite chess piece? What is yours?"
"I don't know if it's common or not for a player to have a favorite piece, but perhaps one that seems to work best in their favor. I actually don't have a favorite piece despite I being the one to ask the question. Though I think I'd know which one you would be--at least to me."
Leaning back in his chair, Seto regarded Marik with arch interest. "And what piece might that be?"
Marik grinned knowing what he was about to say could possibly come across with a bent. " Actually I would consider you the Queen over any other piece in the game."
"Fascinating," Seto replied. To a layman, the most valuable piece in the game, and undeniably the most versatile. The queen was dangerous and often the key to a successful endgame strategy. Held in reserve or ruthlessly aggressive, the queen had the ability to menace more pieces than any other.
Marik nodded assuming that Seto was either pleased with his answer or breaking it down strategically, and if he had to guess he's assume the latter. He could feel the twinge of hunger biting the edges of his stomach, and as if on cue he noticed their waiter heading towards their table tray in hand. "Soups up " he said with a small smile.
Seto spared a smile in return before they tucked into the excellent lunch. By the time they were lingering over coffee and desert, Seto continued the conversation. "Would you be interested in hearing which chess piece I would attribute to you?"
Marik welcomed the returned questions with a smile "absolutely" he said leaning back cupping his hands around his mug enjoying it's warmth.
"The knight," Seto answered promptly. "It appears to move in a straight line, and then takes a sudden turn." His eyes dropped to the table before him, a small slice of chocolate cake still on its stark white plate. "It's the most subtle of the pieces. The only one able to move two directions in one turn." His eyes flickered up to Marik's and he offered a sudden, sly smile. "The queen can mirror the move of any man on the board except that one."
Not once did Marik think of the Knight piece under those terms. Most often the first reaction to be given the title 'knight' heroics would come to play, and he was certainly not that. He had received an exceptional compliment in terms of character whether Seto intended it to be so. Grinning a slightly devious grin back at his companion he responded "Invaluable--truly."
Marik took a sip of his coffee and looked down at his own desert of carrot cake and then back up to Seto with the same devious grin as before "well I suppose we'd better finish here so we can go flex our royal muscles."
The two men were of one accord in this, and shortly after they found themselves in one of the side rooms of the club, chessboard between them. Seto studied Marik as much as he did the game as he made his opening move.
Moving the initial pawn two spaces, Marik shuffled around possible strategies in his head while examining both his and Seto's side of the board. When his eyes wandered across the ebony queen piece protecting the now safe King he chuckled.
Countering with the requisite move, Seto began playing in earnest. His strategy initially relied heavily on his knights, two pawns and a bishop, but Marik's game was sharp and Seto found himself evolving that to meet the challenge.
Noting the level of intensity rising, Marik met Seto's every move using his current strategy of pawns to swarm, and meticulous moves with his rooks and Queen. Marik had yet to play someone who was quite as talented in Chess. This much like the tennis match early was going to be close.
The time flowed around them, as if they were in a pocket of isolation, shielded by concentration, attack-and-counter. The game became for Seto an almost physical thing, as if they were fencing. Feint, lunge, bind, disengage, cross and counter-riposte. The pieces became an extension of his will, intellect manifest, drifting across the board in deceptive casualness. Queen. Pawn. Rook. "Check".
Queen..Pawn...Rook...DAMN Marik placed two fingers on the bridge of his nose silently cursing himself, and fighting off the instant headache in realization of his carelessness. He took a long moment and realized that there was nothing left to do, so instead of going out with no fight Marik claimed one of his remaining Knights, and waited for Seto to end it.
The game was over in three more moves, the outcome inevitable. "Checkmate," Seto informed Marik softly, and then sat back in his chair, invigorated by the game. Marik had the edge earlier, Seto had evened the score, and something in him hummed in satisfaction at the balance.
Marik took a moment and let the loss sink in. Seto for today was indeed a better player, and that simply meant he would have to be all the wiser next go around. With a small grin he took his eyes from the board and focused them on Seto "marvelous game."
An answering smile curved Seto's lips. After a nod of his head, he stood, indulging in a small stretch. "Thank you for a quite enjoyable afternoon," he told the other man. "I'll walk with you outside."
Standing to his feet Marik smiled in return " the pleasure is mine." Taking the lead Marik headed towards the exit where is car would be inevitably waiting, thanks to the wonders of valet parking.
The evening had shaded into night, and Seto stopped on the steps to wrap his coat more tightly around him. "Until we meet again," he said, holding out his hand to Marik.
Marik extended his arm and shook Seto's hand "Jazilan,Masaa El-Khair" he said with a grin.
Seto raised one eyebrow. "Ich werde Sie warten," he replied, having no idea what Marik had said, but rising to the challenge. Carefully, he stored the syllables for later research, hoping he could decipher how to spell them.
Unknown to him, much like Seto he planned to figure out exactly what Seto had said in return. Smirking he tilted his non-existent hat in Seto's direction, turned and walking to his waiting car by the curb.