sjen
in
springkink
Rules of the Game (Tales of the Abyss, Peony/Jade, PG)
Title: "Rules of the Game"
Author: sjen
Rating: PG
Warnings: BFF oyaji-bickering and chess innuendo
Word count: 758
Prompt: Tales of the Abyss, Peony/Jade: Control (power distance, manipulation) - "Are we playing this game again?"
A/N: Slightly late, this was due June 20.
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“Check.” Emperor Peony smiled triumphantly as he moved the piece, trapping Jade’s king in the corner of the chessboard with his rook. He was only one move away from winning the game.
Jade made a vehemently sarcastic sound of amusement. His eyebrow elevated suspiciously and he nudged his glasses frames up further on his nose with an elegant finger. “You’ve been practicing.”
Peony ignored the sarcasm and took the words at face value. “That’s right. All so I could have my way with you, just like this.”
“Just like this?”
“Yes, do you have a problem with that, Jade?”
“Well, Your Majesty,” Jade drew out the sentence, adding extra inflection upon the proper title Jade knew Peony disliked, “if this is your method of ‘having your way with me‘, it is rather weak.”
Peony scowled, studying the board and looking for an opening he had missed, “Weak? How?” An emperor should never be perceived as weak, and although Peony didn’t often care about such things, he had studied a lot in attempt to be on equal ground with Jade at this game. Peony knew how brilliant Jade’s mind was, but he thought for sure that if he worked hard enough…
“You show no commitment.” Jade was quick to cut to the conclusion of the conversation, but Peony would not have it. “Even though you’ve masterfully directed the game toward this point, it is merely a game if there is no follow through. How can you hope to succeed? I will move my king aside at the last moment, and sacrifice my pawn for the greater good of the kingdom’s welfare,” Jade made his next move exactly as he described it, and took Peony’s rook. “How can you, the Emperor of a great nation, not realize and understand this?”
It always happened this way between them. Jade would boast and find some deep inner meaning in things that would just confuse Peony. Well, Jade would not get his way this time. “Jade,” Peony fumed, “this IS just a game. A game of chess. Not some big metaphor for life. Why can things never be simple with you?”
When Jade declined to answer, Peony grinned. “Okay, fine. I’ll show you just how committed I am. I’ll follow through with this line of attack.” Peony used his queen.
“And what if I do this?” Jade eloquently moved his piece out of danger and took Peony’s queen.
Peony just glaaaared at Jade. His friend’s face held that ambiguous expression of amusement that it usually did, disguising any real feelings the solider might be having.
Jade shrugged. “Did I do something wrong, Your Majesty? These are, after all, the rules of the game.”
“Rules indeed.” Peony commented, putting on his best poker face. Jade could always read him too easily, and the Emperor took issue with that. “Well then… king takes knight.”
“What are you talking about?” Jade’s attention was captivated by the game board again, his eyes searching for a possibility that was not present. “That’s not a possible move--”
In one childish gesture, Peony swiped all the pieces off the table and snapped the chessboard closed. He let it clatter to the floor, looming over Jade like a pompous bully. “It’s a perfectly valid move in the game I’m playing.”
“Your Highness!” The Emperor’s sudden actions put a look of concern on Jade’s face, and Peony loved it when he could surprise the infallible Colonel. Jade collected himself quickly, “And what game is that?”
“The Emperor always wins.”
“I see. Well, perhaps you could enlighten me on the rules then.”
“Certainly,” Peony scooted over to Jade‘s side of the couch, leaving very little personal space between them. “You see, the Emperor, being me, always wins at every turn. Everything in his dominion belongs to Him, and is required to play to His wishes.”
“That doesn’t sound like a very challenging game.” Jade mused absently.
“Oh, but it is, Jade. It is quite difficult to appease the Emperor.”
“Is that so?” Jade ran a presumptuous palm up His Highness’s thigh and Peony tried not to squirm. “I’m betting it’s easier than you make it out to be.”
Peony blurted out his contempt at such an accusation, but Jade swallowed it with a consuming kiss. The Colonel pressed the Emperor back against the plush surface of the couch with deadly efficiency until he finally relented. Jade was good at this game too, it would seem. And for once, Peony really didn’t mind.
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Author: sjen
Rating: PG
Warnings: BFF oyaji-bickering and chess innuendo
Word count: 758
Prompt: Tales of the Abyss, Peony/Jade: Control (power distance, manipulation) - "Are we playing this game again?"
A/N: Slightly late, this was due June 20.
-----
“Check.” Emperor Peony smiled triumphantly as he moved the piece, trapping Jade’s king in the corner of the chessboard with his rook. He was only one move away from winning the game.
Jade made a vehemently sarcastic sound of amusement. His eyebrow elevated suspiciously and he nudged his glasses frames up further on his nose with an elegant finger. “You’ve been practicing.”
Peony ignored the sarcasm and took the words at face value. “That’s right. All so I could have my way with you, just like this.”
“Just like this?”
“Yes, do you have a problem with that, Jade?”
“Well, Your Majesty,” Jade drew out the sentence, adding extra inflection upon the proper title Jade knew Peony disliked, “if this is your method of ‘having your way with me‘, it is rather weak.”
Peony scowled, studying the board and looking for an opening he had missed, “Weak? How?” An emperor should never be perceived as weak, and although Peony didn’t often care about such things, he had studied a lot in attempt to be on equal ground with Jade at this game. Peony knew how brilliant Jade’s mind was, but he thought for sure that if he worked hard enough…
“You show no commitment.” Jade was quick to cut to the conclusion of the conversation, but Peony would not have it. “Even though you’ve masterfully directed the game toward this point, it is merely a game if there is no follow through. How can you hope to succeed? I will move my king aside at the last moment, and sacrifice my pawn for the greater good of the kingdom’s welfare,” Jade made his next move exactly as he described it, and took Peony’s rook. “How can you, the Emperor of a great nation, not realize and understand this?”
It always happened this way between them. Jade would boast and find some deep inner meaning in things that would just confuse Peony. Well, Jade would not get his way this time. “Jade,” Peony fumed, “this IS just a game. A game of chess. Not some big metaphor for life. Why can things never be simple with you?”
When Jade declined to answer, Peony grinned. “Okay, fine. I’ll show you just how committed I am. I’ll follow through with this line of attack.” Peony used his queen.
“And what if I do this?” Jade eloquently moved his piece out of danger and took Peony’s queen.
Peony just glaaaared at Jade. His friend’s face held that ambiguous expression of amusement that it usually did, disguising any real feelings the solider might be having.
Jade shrugged. “Did I do something wrong, Your Majesty? These are, after all, the rules of the game.”
“Rules indeed.” Peony commented, putting on his best poker face. Jade could always read him too easily, and the Emperor took issue with that. “Well then… king takes knight.”
“What are you talking about?” Jade’s attention was captivated by the game board again, his eyes searching for a possibility that was not present. “That’s not a possible move--”
In one childish gesture, Peony swiped all the pieces off the table and snapped the chessboard closed. He let it clatter to the floor, looming over Jade like a pompous bully. “It’s a perfectly valid move in the game I’m playing.”
“Your Highness!” The Emperor’s sudden actions put a look of concern on Jade’s face, and Peony loved it when he could surprise the infallible Colonel. Jade collected himself quickly, “And what game is that?”
“The Emperor always wins.”
“I see. Well, perhaps you could enlighten me on the rules then.”
“Certainly,” Peony scooted over to Jade‘s side of the couch, leaving very little personal space between them. “You see, the Emperor, being me, always wins at every turn. Everything in his dominion belongs to Him, and is required to play to His wishes.”
“That doesn’t sound like a very challenging game.” Jade mused absently.
“Oh, but it is, Jade. It is quite difficult to appease the Emperor.”
“Is that so?” Jade ran a presumptuous palm up His Highness’s thigh and Peony tried not to squirm. “I’m betting it’s easier than you make it out to be.”
Peony blurted out his contempt at such an accusation, but Jade swallowed it with a consuming kiss. The Colonel pressed the Emperor back against the plush surface of the couch with deadly efficiency until he finally relented. Jade was good at this game too, it would seem. And for once, Peony really didn’t mind.
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