and every demon wants his pound of flesh

[exanimatus]

Who: Zelman & Galadriel (on a loss)
What: Playing games and being far too clever.
When: At some point when the sun is actually up.
Where: Out in the castle gardens.
Rating: PG.

Comments

[inafadingcrown]

Artanis doesn't mind the chill. She doesn't particularly like it, but she doesn't mind it, either. It's just something to make concessions to, concessions like the simple green cloak wrapped around her shoulders. It certainly hasn't stopped her explorations in anyway.

And it's during these explorations that she comes across Zelman. Much as he did when they first met, he catches her attention immediately with his rather unique presence. She doesn't announce herself right away, but rather stops and watches, concentration written across her face. He was hard enough to figure out with eight thousand years of experience; with less than one hundred, he's a fascinating puzzle.

[exanimatus]

He hears her before he sees her, a larger heartbeat in amongst ones that could only belong to birds or small animals. Strange, though, when he's trying to put his finger on it, he could swear that the one approaching him feels an awful lot like...

Glancing up, he catches her watching him, all concentration. He glances back down without another move, compiling--three observations add up to a conclusion that he would very much like to prove right. From there, he makes a couple of casual (but deliberate) moves on his board before a smirk finally spreads across his features.

"Good afternoon."

[inafadingcrown]

Caught. She offers a small nod, trying not to look embarrassed about her rather poor manners.

"Good afternoon."

She moves a little closer, examining him and the chessboard with that characteristic curiosity.

"May I ask what you are doing?"

[exanimatus]

At first he watches her right back, seeing as they've now reached an acceptable understanding. There's a stray piece in his hand--a pawn--that he shakes around in a loose fist while he thinks.

But then his gaze goes back down to his board and the few pieces scattered across it.

"I'm playing a game," he provides, "Though my opponent is little more than a puzzle, at he moment."

[inafadingcrown]

A slight smile spreads across her face- another thing that betrays her identity; not many can make an innocent expression quite so unnerving.

"A puzzle at work on a puzzle."

And she was fond of that sort of diversion. Figuring things out, be they people, items, or challenges, is rather what she does.

[exanimatus]

He looks surprised for a moment, such a comment entirely unexpected... but that's quickly replaced with a melodious chuckle and a generous smirk. He's charmed by the comment--perhaps more than he really should be.

"Been trying to figure me out, have you?" He leans back, pleased. "I'll warn you, I pride myself in being a challenge."

[inafadingcrown]

"I enjoy a challenge."

Emboldened by his apparent good humor, she seats herself across from him. Whatever strange things she may sense matter less to her than the fact that he means no harm to her. At this age, she's remarkably free of the suspicion that will mark her later years. She's still difficult to deceive, but she's less ready to expect such things from others; she's still an optimist.

"Does this challenge bear a name?" She grins and pushes a lock of hair out of her face. "I should like to be able to say whom I have bested."

[exanimatus]

"Oh," he chuckles again, "Confident, too."

With someone now across from him, he leans forward to pluck some pieces from their squares and rearrange them.

"The name is Zelman. May I ask yours, puzzle seeker?" It's more a gesture of politeness than anything, since he already knows.

[inafadingcrown]

"I am not without reason to be."

She watches him rearrange the pieces, almost more interested in his movements than in the end result of them.

"I am called Artanis." She confident enough here and now that that's all she says. "Daughter of the High King" tends to get added on when she's nervous, afraid, or has suffered an injury (real or perceived) to her pride.

[exanimatus]

Soon the pieces are all set up for a normal game, two neat rows. He's made unusually quick work of it, but now his hands are at rest on his knees.

"I'll believe that when I see it. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

He has the usual array of thoughts for encounters like these. Will she remember any of this when she's old again? How is her younger self different form her normal self? And what can he possibly get out of this?

"Would you like to play a game?"

[inafadingcrown]

"And yours."

She pauses, but only for a moment. It was perhaps not the wisest thing to stop and converse so freely with a stranger, especially one so very...well, strange. But, after all, everyone here is unknown to her. How is she to understand any of them, if not by interactions? And she is more than capable of fending for herself.

"I would be glad to."

[exanimatus]

Thankfully he has little intention of bringing her any harm, especially if she'll remember it later. Though he is confident in himself, he does not doubt that the Galadriel he knows is not someone he would make strife for just yet.

He smiles politely (though it still looks suspiciously close to a smirk). "Have you ever played it before, or would you like me to explain?"

After debating whether they have chess in Middle-Earth...

[inafadingcrown]

"I have played something quite similar. But mayhaps a short explanation would not be amiss, to be certain we agree on the same rules."

She leans forward and rests her chin against her hand, ready to listen.

a good thing to ponder!

[exanimatus]

He nods. Fair enough.

"The point of this game is to capture the king." He points it out, rolling the piece around on its base. "One piece moves a turn." From there he gives a short explanation for the way each piece is allowed to move, illustrating every one of them with a little tap to the top of the piece.

"The game ends when there's no way the opponent could move a piece and save their king from getting captured..." He finishes, "Unless the opponent gives up before that, of course."

[inafadingcrown]

"Simple enough." She scoots forward and better positions herself in front the board, flashing him a small smirk of her own.

"And I rarely give up."

[exanimatus]

Fantastic. "Then perhaps we are evenly matched."

He gestures over the board, making the motion almost like a bow.

"You may have the first turn."