(Untitled)

[arethebettermen]

Who: arethebettermen and YOU!
What: Conversations and Chess for everyone!
Where: Promenade Park
When: 10/11 (late afternoon-->evening)
Warnings: Unless there is VIOLENT CHESS, I'm pretty sure it's low key.

Comments

[blunderbussed]

Dobryn hadn't anticipated spending any length of time in the parks of this city, but admittedly, he'd been left curious by the glimpses of greenery he'd sighted from his other explorations of the city. He'd seen pictures in his youth of Robellian geography, of its vast wilderness and prim countrysides alike, but the desert clime and surrounding badlands of his home Harstide were something else entirely. So it was that he decided to finally indulge his curiosity, and oh, what did he find here...

He had heard Xavier make mention of wheelchairs in one of his earlier transmissions, but somehow it hadn't actually registered to Dobryn that the man was actually bound to one. He let his stare linger for some time before he caught himself and approached.

"Good afternoon, professor." He spoke with a light smile, almost entirely artificial, until he caught sight of the chess set, at which point it gave way a more genuine look of curiosity. "What is that?"

[arethebettermen]

"Mr. Tvarisch! Good afternoon." Charles responded brightly, trying to make up for the man's lack of genuine happiness. He had caught the look at the wheelchair. "Thankfully, it's not pink anymore." A tap to the arm of the chair meant he was referring to that.

"It's called Chess." He said, tilting his head slightly. "They don't have it in your world?"

[blunderbussed]

Truth be told, Dobryn had never seen a contraption quite like it, but he only allowed himself one more glance at the wheelchair before answering his question.

"No, not that I am aware." He picked up a black piece, gingerly turning it over in his gloved hands. "It's some manner of game, I presume?"

[arethebettermen]

"It is." Charles nodded. "It's a game of strategy and trying to plan further ahead than your opponent. Each piece is built to represent the medieval system of my world."

[blunderbussed]

Strategy. Now that sounds familiar; he knew of similar games played amongst others in the military, though he'd rarely been afforded the opportunity to try anything like it for himself.

Here, though...

"And you know how to play, yes?" There was no masking his look of interest, just as genuine as his earlier curiosity. "I'd be interested to learn."

[arethebettermen]

"I certainly do." Charles smiled and motioned for Dobrynin to take a seat across from him. "It's a bit of a past time for me."

[blunderbussed]

Dobryn set the chess piece back down before taking the seat, slightly bowing his head as he did so. "Thank you." He looked over the board once more, carefully analyzing each piece for its physical detail. "I hope my having to learn won't present any great inconvenience to you..."

[arethebettermen]

"I wasn't planning on playing, to be honest with you." He said. "It was more thinking and reminiscing."

[blunderbussed]

"Reminiscing?" That spark of interest returned to Dobryn's eyes, and he took the opening. "On what, might I ask?"

[arethebettermen]

Charles looked up at him with his eyebrows raised only slightly. "About things that happened before I came to the city." Though he supposed 'kidnapped into the city' was the proper way of putting it.

"Things before events that led up to this," he tapped on the arm of the wheelchair again.

[blunderbussed]

After a moment's pause, he cast his gaze downward. "I see..." He then carefully picked up another piece, closely examining it just as before.

"I suppose any further inquiry of mine would simply be intrusive, hm?"

[arethebettermen]

"Not entirely." He answered honestly. "Though some details I would be rather vague on. Just as you would be."

[blunderbussed]

Dobryn spent another moment contemplating that. "Of course." Then he set the piece back down and lifted his gaze once more.

"Speaking of which, there was in fact a matter I wished to discuss with you."

[arethebettermen]

Charles blinked a few times, honestly surprised. He sat up straight in his wheelchair, folding his hands together and nodded. "Yes?"

[blunderbussed]

"Are you still in need of instructors for physical combat?"

He watched Xavier carefully, gauging his response.

[arethebettermen]

He shook his head side to side. "No, unfortunately. There's someone else int he city who offered that we've managed to work a deal out between the two of us. And he already knows one of the students of mine, making it a bit easier."

Not that Charles trusted Eames right away, which was clear on his face. However, the man had lost an ability and Charles knew how that felt. He was going to do what he could to help Eames regain it, regardless if Eames was going to be able to teach Sean and Alex. Maybe not Raven, now that Erik was back...

Then he gave a small shrug. "That doesn't mean I won't keep having our conversations, however, Mr. Tvarisch. And if this deal falls through then I most certainly have you at the top of the list to ask."