[ sena sets down his bag and the green tea latte, the reward, onto the other table and settles into his own seat to analyze lelouch's move on the get-go. he's already on the offense and sena hasn't even made a move yet - so ruthless, but that's how they'd usually roll back in the day, right?
already pumped up, he moves a pawn and leans back, a knowing smile in his face. starting off small and working his way up before completely annihilating the other has always been his strategy in casual chess matches... but something tells him that this isn't any other game. hmm. ]
So why exactly did you decide to play with me today, Lu? Did you really miss me that much?
[ it's said with a lazy grin, an idle hum, and Lelouch lounges in his seat like he owns it, like he's an emperor surveying his domain. he's not a gambler, that very much is mary's domain, but even he knows that sometimes, risks have to be taken to generate a greater reward. ]
Of course I do. [ he's teasing, kind of, although his gaze is sharp, assessing, looking for weaknesses while masked with a veneer of indifference. ] It's been a while since I've sat across from you in this manner, hasn't it?
But there's something else.
[ and with a casual, elegant flick of his wrist, he pushes another pawn forward two spaces, starting to lay out the terrain the way that would be most optimal for his own victory. ]
Lelouch vi Britannia - 99th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire.
[ it's unnecessarily dramatic, but that's how lelouch rolls, apparently, leaning back in his chair. it's your move, sena. ]
I am playing with the old captain, aren't I? You know I have to keep my guard up.
[ so yeah, he's going for the defense for now. he does move another pawn, though. so far, so good. they need to set up a proper battlefield first before sena can come in for the kill -
but then lelouch namedrops the weird title and sena can only throw him an odd look. right, he mentioned about britannia last month, didn't he? ]
What the hell are you going on about? You, an emperor? But Britannia isn't even a damn country here.
[ is this lulu's way of distracting sena from his game? to throw him off his groove? because he has another thing coming. ]
[ when sena switches to move to defense instead, it's definitely something that causes him to straighten, watching him closely, and there's a hint of a smile on his lips.
he's always enjoyed playing with (and against) sena, because he's good, and there are only a few people who can ever give lelouch a run for his money when it comes to the chessboard.
he watches as sena moves yet another pawn, and in the span of the next few moves, somehow manages to shift the balance of power on the board, capturing a few of sena's pawns and then also shifting his knight to its outpost position.
so far, he has the advantage. the weird namedrop actually isn't a part of manipulating the game that way, but well-- ]
I remembered that when I was talking to someone about famous historical figures. A title. [ a casual shrug accompanies his words, but his tone is completely serious. ] And Britannia isn't a country, true, the same way your... previous school doesn't exist here.
[ retrospec memories, he's trying to say, except that lelouch has always opted for being dramatic because that's in his nature. ]
An emperor. [ he echoes again, and when he studies the board on his next turn, he's going to pick up his king. ] At some point, I became the emperor of the very country, the very empire I wanted to destroy in another memory.
[ and he moves the king. it's not one of lelouch's usual moves. ]
[ thanks for the unneeded dramatics, lu. not like sena does it sometimes. he manages to hold his own a few moves later, capturing some of lelouch's pawns as well, but the ex-captain clearly has the upper hand. sena doesn't want to be too sour about this, but apparently he's still taking that loss against ritsu last july pretty hard. probably because the so-called strategist doesn't look like a chess genius at all. ]
I'm all too aware that both your country and my school don't exist here. I just think that that emperor title of yours is way too extravagant, don't you think?
[ leans back on his seat to heave out a sigh, twirling a lock of his silver hair around his finger - a telltale sign that he's thinking on a exceptional chess move that can turn the tables on his favor.
but he listens to more of lelouch's casual musings nonetheless, because as much as he hates excessive talking during a chess match, he's still pretty curious about lelouch's bizarre past. ]
I mean it depends? Why did you even want to destroy that country of yours again --
[ he gets cut off at the sight of lelouch moving his king piece. that's a pretty unorthodox move and it makes sena sit up straight again as he stares at the board with wide eyes. holy fuck?
he counters it with his own knight. ]
What the hell are you trying to do here, Lelouch?
[ uh oh, first-name basis. his voice has gone stern as well. ]
[ a shrug. retrospec hasn't seen fit to give him the full extent of his memories yet, but he does have some kind of idea, and lelouch really isn't the kind to jump to conclusions without full context.
most of the time. ]
Why not? [ there's a ghost of a knowing smile on his features, like he's privy to an inside joke that sena isn't in on, but well, all things considered--
that's pretty accurate, actually, considering that sena's literally the first person to know about these memories. ] You seemed to think I was fine with being a leader of a terrorist organisation. Why not an empire?
[ Another chuckle, vaguely self depreciating, before he looks up at Sena again with an almost smug grin. ] Testing a theory of mine out. If the king doesn't move-- [ and here he moves the king piece again, trapping sena's black knight between his own knight, queen and king. ] --how else does he expect the other pieces on the board to follow, to sacrifice themselves to keep him safe?
[ and on the next move, because lelouch plays a brutal game and also doesn't see the credit in drawing it out lest sena somehow manages to make a comeback, to turn the tables on him. that won't be the first time it's happened. it's the queen that takes the place of sena's knight, and lelouch picks up the captured piece.
first major blood drawn. only a few moves left to checkmate. ]
Your knight is dead, Sena. [ and then, deceptively light. ] By the way, you were right about the terrorist organisation, too.
[ funny how that works out. ]
It was called the Order of the Black Knights.
[ the dramatics are fucking unnecessary, but he does it anyway. ]
[ at the mention of his knight being dead, sena's eyes glaze over for one hot second as his consciousness goes back in time yet again -
this time he finds himself at some sort of garden terrace, seated in front of a chessboard and across the table is a boy his age, also wearing the yumenosaki school uniform. blond hair, blue eyes, with very pale and frail disposition and yet exudes so much intimidation because he just moved a piece and declared checkmate on him. sena found himself arguing with this young man until he says:
"I'm moving the knight piece... Can you kill this one? Just like you did long ago?"
to which the young man says, "You should already know that I can kill anyone if need be." calling himself the Emperor, the young man explains his own side and sena is about to zone out of this until leo's name is uttered from the so-called emperor's lips, mentioning that this guy ruined him? what?!
"Hey, Sena-kun... Why did Tsukinaga-kun break? Who was it who killed Cock Robin?"
sena snaps back to the present time, clutching his head from that information overload. the fact that lelouch hasn't dropped the act at all doesn't help matters either, and he looks up to shoot an angry glare at him. ]
Will you just stop with the overdramatic bullshit, Lulu? I know what I said about you being an emperor-slash-terrorist in your past life but --
[ he winces, the words of that emperor in his memories still ringing in his head. leo breaking? what does that mean?! ]
he doesn't quite drop the act yet, mostly because it's proving useful for the most part, still, to manipulate sena into making mistakes and putting his pieces into more vulnerable positions.
is this what it looks like when memories are triggered? he has some, but he's never seen them actually happen in person, so by the time sena's snapped out of it and levels an angry glare at him, lelouch looks rather unflinching, but instead of just looking almost predatory, he looks almost thoughtful.
he still has sena's knight piece in his hand, his fingers still idly brushing against the detailing. and it's something that's easily missed, probably, but lelouch picks up on it anyway. ]
He? [ there's the barest hint of a frown, and lelouch sets the piece on his side of the table, aside from the rest of the captured pieces, just off the board. ]
It's your turn. [ it's smooth, but if sena's listening closely, there's a slight note of doubt in his tone. most of the conditions have been cleared - sena just has a few pieces in the way, but once he deals with them, it's easy to push through with a win.
but then again-- ] I'm interested to see how you turn this around.
[ another pause, and then said somewhat offhandedly, although he's also watching closely for sena's reaction, since he's. also rather aware that he's dropped several bombs on sena within the past few minutes, actually. and there has to be something behind the agitation, right? time to push a little further to try and find out what it is, then. ] You're not bothered by the fact I was both those things?
Nothing. [ he lowers and clutches his head in one hand, massaging his temples. he hopes that maybe it's a different tsukinaga, but the last time he'd thought of that he and keito connected the dots. the fact that he's getting a lot of memories about leo the most proves it as well.
leo was important to him, or at least to his past self. why else would a kid emperor talk about him so highly? and why were they talking as if it was the end of the world? did that pale-looking guy really kill someone? just what the hell is that school?!
he's overthinking too much, and he can tell because he's been navelgazing for a few minutes now. shaking his head, he looks up at the chessboard again, scrutinizing the moves that they'd both made so far. lelouch was on a roll, and if sena isn't careful, it really would be a checkmate against him for sure. but even though the only consequence in losing is giving up the drink, sena still can't give up. it really is as if he's fighting for his life here.
after a few more minutes of rumination, he smiles. ]
I wasn't bothered at all. After all, I did see it coming, didn't I? Just like this formation.
[ he only has five pieces left, and he's going to put them all into good use. he pushes his bishop to eliminate the queen that killed his knight. ah, revenge. so sweet. ]
Let's save the memory bullshit for later. Right now, I have a match to win.
[ he doesn't look convinced, and for a moment, lelouch wants to push the issue further - ask maybe what's happened to force sena into that navelgazing, and when sena returns his attention to the chessboard and their game, lelouch is still wearing a frown on his features as he looks upon the board, concentrating.
it's sena's smile that makes his brow quirk upward, the doubt being replaced by curiosity and well. to his credit, lelouch doesn't flinch or look too concerned when he loses his queen.
he inclines his head slightly and pushes his king forward instead into another square, protected by a rook and a knight. the action is almost regal. ]
You owe me an explanation later. [ he says - it sounds pleasant enough. i do too, is what goes unsaid, but lelouch is fairly certain that sena is more than capable of reading between the lines to understand that. ]
I wouldn't be so confident, if I were you. [ and with good reason, too. without his queen, lelouch has lost his trump card - so even if he can't fight to win, he's going to at least push for a stalemate, manipulating the pieces such that they can at least force each other into check.
a draw is more palatable than an outright loss, in any case. ]
[ sena's mind is still a little out of it, from lelouch's machinations to that acquired memory he just got to this chess match in hell, but he has to defeat him nonetheless. playing chess with yet another emperor - guess some things just never change in between alternate universes.
noticing that lelouch is going for a stalemate, sena works towards that goal as well. they can have another intensive match some other time, when they're not being bombarded with shitty memories and regains. so after an hour or so sena leans back in his seat and breathes out a sigh of relief, staring back at the chessboard where two kings stay standing. this is for the best, he muses. but he needs to address one more thing - ]
So who's taking the drink?
[ because it's still sitting there, waiting to be consumed. ]
[ that was. way too intense. sena's always been a good opponent, that much is true, but for some reason, sena's play style is giving him a sense of deja vu, especially of the nameless opponent that he's seeing in these dreams? visions? memories? whatever they're supposed to be, at any rate.
but now that it's over, lelouch is just kind of flopped over his seat like a semi-contented cat. ]
... Split?
[ a wry grin. nothing like the emperor that sena was probably battling against. ] We did draw.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
adoringpast) wrote2017-04-26 10:17 am
no subject
already pumped up, he moves a pawn and leans back, a knowing smile in his face. starting off small and working his way up before completely annihilating the other has always been his strategy in casual chess matches... but something tells him that this isn't any other game. hmm. ]
So why exactly did you decide to play with me today, Lu? Did you really miss me that much?
no subject
[ it's said with a lazy grin, an idle hum, and Lelouch lounges in his seat like he owns it, like he's an emperor surveying his domain. he's not a gambler, that very much is mary's domain, but even he knows that sometimes, risks have to be taken to generate a greater reward. ]
Of course I do. [ he's teasing, kind of, although his gaze is sharp, assessing, looking for weaknesses while masked with a veneer of indifference. ] It's been a while since I've sat across from you in this manner, hasn't it?
But there's something else.
[ and with a casual, elegant flick of his wrist, he pushes another pawn forward two spaces, starting to lay out the terrain the way that would be most optimal for his own victory. ]
Lelouch vi Britannia - 99th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire.
[ it's unnecessarily dramatic, but that's how lelouch rolls, apparently, leaning back in his chair. it's your move, sena. ]
It's something I just remembered.
no subject
[ so yeah, he's going for the defense for now. he does move another pawn, though. so far, so good. they need to set up a proper battlefield first before sena can come in for the kill -
but then lelouch namedrops the weird title and sena can only throw him an odd look. right, he mentioned about britannia last month, didn't he? ]
What the hell are you going on about? You, an emperor? But Britannia isn't even a damn country here.
[ is this lulu's way of distracting sena from his game? to throw him off his groove? because he has another thing coming. ]
no subject
he's always enjoyed playing with (and against) sena, because he's good, and there are only a few people who can ever give lelouch a run for his money when it comes to the chessboard.
he watches as sena moves yet another pawn, and in the span of the next few moves, somehow manages to shift the balance of power on the board, capturing a few of sena's pawns and then also shifting his knight to its outpost position.
so far, he has the advantage. the weird namedrop actually isn't a part of manipulating the game that way, but well-- ]
I remembered that when I was talking to someone about famous historical figures. A title.
[ a casual shrug accompanies his words, but his tone is completely serious. ] And Britannia isn't a country, true, the same way your... previous school doesn't exist here.
[ retrospec memories, he's trying to say, except that lelouch has always opted for being dramatic because that's in his nature. ]
An emperor. [ he echoes again, and when he studies the board on his next turn, he's going to pick up his king. ] At some point, I became the emperor of the very country, the very empire I wanted to destroy in another memory.
[ and he moves the king. it's not one of lelouch's usual moves. ]
Funny, isn't it?
no subject
I'm all too aware that both your country and my school don't exist here. I just think that that emperor title of yours is way too extravagant, don't you think?
[ leans back on his seat to heave out a sigh, twirling a lock of his silver hair around his finger - a telltale sign that he's thinking on a exceptional chess move that can turn the tables on his favor.
but he listens to more of lelouch's casual musings nonetheless, because as much as he hates excessive talking during a chess match, he's still pretty curious about lelouch's bizarre past. ]
I mean it depends? Why did you even want to destroy that country of yours again --
[ he gets cut off at the sight of lelouch moving his king piece. that's a pretty unorthodox move and it makes sena sit up straight again as he stares at the board with wide eyes. holy fuck?
he counters it with his own knight. ]
What the hell are you trying to do here, Lelouch?
[ uh oh, first-name basis. his voice has gone stern as well. ]
no subject
[ a shrug. retrospec hasn't seen fit to give him the full extent of his memories yet, but he does have some kind of idea, and lelouch really isn't the kind to jump to conclusions without full context.
most of the time. ]
Why not? [ there's a ghost of a knowing smile on his features, like he's privy to an inside joke that sena isn't in on, but well, all things considered--
that's pretty accurate, actually, considering that sena's literally the first person to know about these memories. ] You seemed to think I was fine with being a leader of a terrorist organisation. Why not an empire?
[ Another chuckle, vaguely self depreciating, before he looks up at Sena again with an almost smug grin. ] Testing a theory of mine out. If the king doesn't move-- [ and here he moves the king piece again, trapping sena's black knight between his own knight, queen and king. ] --how else does he expect the other pieces on the board to follow, to sacrifice themselves to keep him safe?
[ and on the next move, because lelouch plays a brutal game and also doesn't see the credit in drawing it out lest sena somehow manages to make a comeback, to turn the tables on him. that won't be the first time it's happened. it's the queen that takes the place of sena's knight, and lelouch picks up the captured piece.
first major blood drawn. only a few moves left to checkmate. ]
Your knight is dead, Sena. [ and then, deceptively light. ] By the way, you were right about the terrorist organisation, too.
[ funny how that works out. ]
It was called the Order of the Black Knights.
[ the dramatics are fucking unnecessary, but he does it anyway. ]
no subject
this time he finds himself at some sort of garden terrace, seated in front of a chessboard and across the table is a boy his age, also wearing the yumenosaki school uniform. blond hair, blue eyes, with very pale and frail disposition and yet exudes so much intimidation because he just moved a piece and declared checkmate on him. sena found himself arguing with this young man until he says:
"I'm moving the knight piece... Can you kill this one? Just like you did long ago?"
to which the young man says, "You should already know that I can kill anyone if need be." calling himself the Emperor, the young man explains his own side and sena is about to zone out of this until leo's name is uttered from the so-called emperor's lips, mentioning that this guy ruined him? what?!
"Hey, Sena-kun... Why did Tsukinaga-kun break? Who was it who killed Cock Robin?"
sena snaps back to the present time, clutching his head from that information overload. the fact that lelouch hasn't dropped the act at all doesn't help matters either, and he looks up to shoot an angry glare at him. ]
Will you just stop with the overdramatic bullshit, Lulu? I know what I said about you being an emperor-slash-terrorist in your past life but --
[ he winces, the words of that emperor in his memories still ringing in his head. leo breaking? what does that mean?! ]
...It's not over yet. He's not dead.
no subject
he doesn't quite drop the act yet, mostly because it's proving useful for the most part, still, to manipulate sena into making mistakes and putting his pieces into more vulnerable positions.
is this what it looks like when memories are triggered? he has some, but he's never seen them actually happen in person, so by the time sena's snapped out of it and levels an angry glare at him, lelouch looks rather unflinching, but instead of just looking almost predatory, he looks almost thoughtful.
he still has sena's knight piece in his hand, his fingers still idly brushing against the detailing. and it's something that's easily missed, probably, but lelouch picks up on it anyway. ]
He? [ there's the barest hint of a frown, and lelouch sets the piece on his side of the table, aside from the rest of the captured pieces, just off the board. ]
It's your turn. [ it's smooth, but if sena's listening closely, there's a slight note of doubt in his tone. most of the conditions have been cleared - sena just has a few pieces in the way, but once he deals with them, it's easy to push through with a win.
but then again-- ] I'm interested to see how you turn this around.
[ another pause, and then said somewhat offhandedly, although he's also watching closely for sena's reaction, since he's. also rather aware that he's dropped several bombs on sena within the past few minutes, actually. and there has to be something behind the agitation, right? time to push a little further to try and find out what it is, then. ] You're not bothered by the fact I was both those things?
no subject
leo was important to him, or at least to his past self. why else would a kid emperor talk about him so highly? and why were they talking as if it was the end of the world? did that pale-looking guy really kill someone? just what the hell is that school?!
he's overthinking too much, and he can tell because he's been navelgazing for a few minutes now. shaking his head, he looks up at the chessboard again, scrutinizing the moves that they'd both made so far. lelouch was on a roll, and if sena isn't careful, it really would be a checkmate against him for sure. but even though the only consequence in losing is giving up the drink, sena still can't give up. it really is as if he's fighting for his life here.
after a few more minutes of rumination, he smiles. ]
I wasn't bothered at all. After all, I did see it coming, didn't I? Just like this formation.
[ he only has five pieces left, and he's going to put them all into good use. he pushes his bishop to eliminate the queen that killed his knight. ah, revenge. so sweet. ]
Let's save the memory bullshit for later. Right now, I have a match to win.
no subject
it's sena's smile that makes his brow quirk upward, the doubt being replaced by curiosity and well. to his credit, lelouch doesn't flinch or look too concerned when he loses his queen.
he inclines his head slightly and pushes his king forward instead into another square, protected by a rook and a knight. the action is almost regal. ]
You owe me an explanation later. [ he says - it sounds pleasant enough. i do too, is what goes unsaid, but lelouch is fairly certain that sena is more than capable of reading between the lines to understand that. ]
I wouldn't be so confident, if I were you. [ and with good reason, too. without his queen, lelouch has lost his trump card - so even if he can't fight to win, he's going to at least push for a stalemate, manipulating the pieces such that they can at least force each other into check.
a draw is more palatable than an outright loss, in any case. ]
no subject
noticing that lelouch is going for a stalemate, sena works towards that goal as well. they can have another intensive match some other time, when they're not being bombarded with shitty memories and regains. so after an hour or so sena leans back in his seat and breathes out a sigh of relief, staring back at the chessboard where two kings stay standing. this is for the best, he muses. but he needs to address one more thing - ]
So who's taking the drink?
[ because it's still sitting there, waiting to be consumed. ]
no subject
but now that it's over, lelouch is just kind of flopped over his seat like a semi-contented cat. ]
... Split?
[ a wry grin. nothing like the emperor that sena was probably battling against. ] We did draw.