A Whole New World

[tidesnpc]

Characters: Anyone and everyone from all three ships.
Content: The clouds are gone, revealing the long-sought world below.
Setting: The edge of the continent, near the blast site.
Time: After all the monsters have been fought and the ships head southeast.
Warnings: What you bring with you.

Comments

[generaltroll]

Grumman paused, considering the chess board in front of him. His opponent had very cleverly placed him in a bind: in order to free himself from check, he would have to sacrifice either a pawn or a knight.

Normally there would be no contest, but that pawn was a critical part of his defense. With it out of the way, his front line would be unpleasantly vulnerable to attack.

"I must say, old friend, it's good to see that you made it through the chaos in one piece," he said, making idle smalltalk as he considered. "I would have so missed these games."

Deciding that the knight was worth less than the tactical position afforded by that pawn, he reluctantly moved his knight forward and to the right, blocking the path of the rook that was threatening his king.

[ooc: This thread is specifically for Iroh, but anyone who wants to do something else with Grumman can just reply to it!]

[generaltroll]

Grumman mentally cursed once more. He couldn't see a single good place to play at the moment: No matter where he placed a tile, Iroh would be able to turn it against him.

"Pass," he said, passing the turn over to Iroh. "Well, I'm not in any hurry to head on down. Things are good for me here, and I'm much too old to be playing explorer. Still, you never know!"

[myfavoritetea]

Iroh navigated his knight forward, further protecting his king from attacks from another direction. He'd already lost this game, he knew, but it would still be entertaining to see how many of Grumman's pieces he could take before formally admitting defeat.

He laughed a little. "Oh, come my friend, you are no older than I am. And I have little doubt I will be coerced into travel." Actually, considering who was probably likely to do the 'coercion,' he would find it quite pleasant. A smug little smirk can over his face.

[generaltroll]

Grumman slammed his Queen forward, taking a solitary pawn and threatening Iroh's King.

"True, true," Grumman said. "But unlike you, I have a vested interest in remaining in Ivona, if I want to keep my position. If I go Below, it will likely be on the campaigning trail."

[myfavoritetea]

"I would not say that I do not have an interest in Ivona, old friend. ...But I have the same level of interest in Vohemar. And Eurealia and the Badlands and... everywhere else on this continent of ours." It was the world as a whole he'd been fighting for.

Both games were essentially over, he knew, but Iroh placed the dragon tile down at a crossroad, further cementing his harmonies and destroying one of Grumman's. "Everything is in a delicate balance. Ivona herself would not do well were any one of the pieces that balance her be too badly affected."

[generaltroll]

Grumman wasn't as good at Pai Sho as he was at Chess, but he was good enough to know when a game was over. The deficit between himself and Iroh was now too great for him to possibly overcome.

"You win again," he admitted, pushing the Pai Sho board towards Iroh. "I retire."

[myfavoritetea]

Chuckling, Iroh simply beamed at his old friend, and extended his index finger forward to topple his own king, likewise conceding defeat. He would have been checkmated in two more moves anyway. "As do I, old friend. Good games, both of them."

Stroking his bead, he regarded both boards carefully before simply reclining back into his chair. "I do not think you'll be retiring any time soon, Eustace. You were quick enough to assume control of the Amestris, both times such a role became... available."

[generaltroll]

Grumman snapped open a fan and began waving it lightly into his face. "No, no," he admitted. "I still have the best years of my career ahead of me. Dear Ari and Deanna can keep the Amestris if they want, though. It's but a stepping stone for me."

[myfavoritetea]

Iroh considered this for a moment, a slow little grin sliding over his face, the same one that had been there earlier when he'd mentioned his lady friend. "One of them, I think, is only interested in the Captaincy as a temporary solution to a problem... but I could be wrong."

[generaltroll]

Grumman shrugged. "Then she can abandon it as she likes. It holds little value to me at this point. Frankly, given how the borders of international diplomacy have just expanded, Its mission seems a little redundant now anyway."

[myfavoritetea]

"That is a very good point. I hope to continue to keep informed about what Ivona plans to do with such... diplomacy." The last thing he wants, after all, is for Ivona to start invading -another- nation neededlessly. That wouldn't be good for the balance at all.

[generaltroll]

"Well then," Grumman said. "It's a good thing you're such good friends with the - future - highest military officer in all of Ivona, isn't it? I'm sure we can work out a little prid pro quo, hmm?

[myfavoritetea]

Iroh laughed again, but not in a manner that was making fun. "It is indeed. I wonder what it is you think I could offer in return though, old friend."

[generaltroll]

"Oh, I'm sure you can think of something," Grumman says. "You are a rather well-connected man, after all. I'm sure rumors find their way into your ears on a regular basis."

[myfavoritetea]

Iroh smiled knowingly, and did nothing whatsoever to dispute the claim. "As a part of those 'connections,' old friend, you would know. I am certain we will remain in contact no matter what happens." After all, they had done so throughout countless crises before.