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Llewellyn hummed lightly, staring intently at the chessboard sitting in front of him. He’d been doing so for a while now, and it was clearly starting to annoy his friend if the sound of a foot tapping under the desk were anything to go by.
The man felt slightly bad, but not bad enough to rush his move. After all, Llewellyn wasn’t accustomed to sitting still for such a long time himself, and if George wanted him to be his opponent for a game that tended to be long and drawn out then he was going to have to be patient.
He’d never really played chess all that much over the years, and his scattered focus had already cost him dearly as far as the match was concerned. The collection of pieces George had taken was growing steadily every turn, and he only had managed to capture a few meagre looking pawns. So another slow-down was clearly in order if he was going to stand a chance at winning.
Or at least losing less horridly.
“Oh, I see. You’re cheating on me!” An amused, teasing tone broke through the silence and prompted both the men to look up from the board. Nina, George’s sweetheart, strode up to the desk, heels tapping lightly as she went. “Very disappointed, George.” She grinned lightly, clearly the very opposite of disappointed. She stopped next to Llewellyn’s shoulder and giving him a particularly curious look that he couldn’t quite work out the meaning behind.
Regardless of his confusion, Llewellyn was fond of Nina. She was an open-minded and passionate individual. A woman who never failed to speak her mind, and was quite unapologetic of being who she was in a world that tended to judge her rather severely. It was quite admirable, brave even if he were to say, so it was always nice to see her.
“Miss Bloom! You play?” He turned, from where he was currently sat, arms propped on the back of the chair he had turned around to kneel on top of. A few people had commented that he should sit in it properly, but doing that wasn’t comfortable. He certainly didn’t see the sense in doing so just to satisfy everyone’s expectations of how furniture should be used.
Her smile shifted to something softer, less teasing at the question, “My father taught me.”
George, ever proud of her, was quick to chime in. “Miss Bloom is by far the finest player I’ve ever encountered.” It made Llewellyn smile, there was something about seeing his friend happy that made him feel better in turn. Even if he were alone, and lacked that particular sort of relationship... It was good to know that George had it. He’d seen his friend lose Miss Bloom once before, and it had been a worrying time.
His attention shifted back to the conversation as Nina spoke up again.
“Chess is one of our pastimes,” That cheeky grin had returned, “I didn’t think he cared to share with others.” She looked between both men in amusement, though neither reacted with more than a vague wave from Llewellyn as he returned his attention to the board. Really, they were both entirely oblivious.
Of course, that might be just as amusing as their reaction would have been had they understood what she had been alluding to since she had arrived.
Her brows raised, noting just how poorly the man was doing against her beau. He barely had any pieces left! The game would be a short one if he didn’t do something soon... So with a quick glance to study the board and a small huff of a laugh, she leaned down to hold a hand over Llewellyn’s ear to whisper something into it conspiratorially.
Move your rook from H6 to A6, he’ll really have to think to counter that~ ...
Llewellyn glanced up questioningly, slightly uncertain himself before he turned back and slid the rook across the board. Oh, if the look on George’s face (an awkward frown, eyes darting between pieces in confusion) were anything to go by then it was absolutely the right move.
“Let’s see you wiggle your way out of that, George.” Nina spoke with a light laugh as she watched Llewellyn’s expression turn to one of delight. Her expression slightly curious once more, and just a touch knowing.
Llewellyn missed it entirely, too focused on the game.
The man felt slightly bad, but not bad enough to rush his move. After all, Llewellyn wasn’t accustomed to sitting still for such a long time himself, and if George wanted him to be his opponent for a game that tended to be long and drawn out then he was going to have to be patient.
He’d never really played chess all that much over the years, and his scattered focus had already cost him dearly as far as the match was concerned. The collection of pieces George had taken was growing steadily every turn, and he only had managed to capture a few meagre looking pawns. So another slow-down was clearly in order if he was going to stand a chance at winning.
Or at least losing less horridly.
“Oh, I see. You’re cheating on me!” An amused, teasing tone broke through the silence and prompted both the men to look up from the board. Nina, George’s sweetheart, strode up to the desk, heels tapping lightly as she went. “Very disappointed, George.” She grinned lightly, clearly the very opposite of disappointed. She stopped next to Llewellyn’s shoulder and giving him a particularly curious look that he couldn’t quite work out the meaning behind.
Regardless of his confusion, Llewellyn was fond of Nina. She was an open-minded and passionate individual. A woman who never failed to speak her mind, and was quite unapologetic of being who she was in a world that tended to judge her rather severely. It was quite admirable, brave even if he were to say, so it was always nice to see her.
“Miss Bloom! You play?” He turned, from where he was currently sat, arms propped on the back of the chair he had turned around to kneel on top of. A few people had commented that he should sit in it properly, but doing that wasn’t comfortable. He certainly didn’t see the sense in doing so just to satisfy everyone’s expectations of how furniture should be used.
Her smile shifted to something softer, less teasing at the question, “My father taught me.”
George, ever proud of her, was quick to chime in. “Miss Bloom is by far the finest player I’ve ever encountered.” It made Llewellyn smile, there was something about seeing his friend happy that made him feel better in turn. Even if he were alone, and lacked that particular sort of relationship... It was good to know that George had it. He’d seen his friend lose Miss Bloom once before, and it had been a worrying time.
His attention shifted back to the conversation as Nina spoke up again.
“Chess is one of our pastimes,” That cheeky grin had returned, “I didn’t think he cared to share with others.” She looked between both men in amusement, though neither reacted with more than a vague wave from Llewellyn as he returned his attention to the board. Really, they were both entirely oblivious.
Of course, that might be just as amusing as their reaction would have been had they understood what she had been alluding to since she had arrived.
Her brows raised, noting just how poorly the man was doing against her beau. He barely had any pieces left! The game would be a short one if he didn’t do something soon... So with a quick glance to study the board and a small huff of a laugh, she leaned down to hold a hand over Llewellyn’s ear to whisper something into it conspiratorially.
Move your rook from H6 to A6, he’ll really have to think to counter that~ ...
Llewellyn glanced up questioningly, slightly uncertain himself before he turned back and slid the rook across the board. Oh, if the look on George’s face (an awkward frown, eyes darting between pieces in confusion) were anything to go by then it was absolutely the right move.
“Let’s see you wiggle your way out of that, George.” Nina spoke with a light laugh as she watched Llewellyn’s expression turn to one of delight. Her expression slightly curious once more, and just a touch knowing.
Llewellyn missed it entirely, too focused on the game.
