Post by Irene Karlsen on Nov 20, 2017 15:46:22 GMT -5
As they had in more peaceful times, the two masters sat across from each other playing chess. It was an unpredictable game, but one to pass the time and train the mind. Amadeus wore his ever-present grin, while Irene's poker face was unchanged. The old master had insisted on one final game before he had to go, and there were still words left unexchanged between the two that would have to be exchanged soon or possibly never. For now, however, there was only the silent chess game between the two equals and an uneasy atmosphere in the room. The elder master played as white, while the younger played as black, and the game began.
Knight to F3. Pawn to D5. Pawn to G3. Pawn to G6. Bishop to H3. Bishop to H3. While Irene hadn't put much force into it, the bishop made a sound as she set it down. "First blood is yours, kiddo." Amadeus pointed at her, still in a good mood, and took his own bishop off the board. "I missed this, ya know? At least, like, for the little bit I was alive again before you showed up. Before that, I can't remember a darned thing." Rook to G1. Knight to F6. "It's a good thing that bear thing's keeping me around after this. Being dead wasn't really that fun. Hope you kept the place nice for me while I was gone." He chuckled, making his next move. Knight to A3. Bishop to G7. Another clattering sound as Irene set down the piece. Her focus was on the chess game, but the old master's statement had distracted her.
"Mr. Amadeus. We have discussed this, I believe. I have taken your position. I am the best at my trade." Amadeus moved again, unfazed. Pawn to C3. "Of course, of course, kid! I just figured you'd maybe have a position open. Two heads are better than one, if you catch my meaning. Don't tell me you don't have any room for old Amadeus. It's me, Amadeus, for crying out loud!" He gestured at himself with mock indignation. Irene castled, her expression unchanging, as Amadeus's grin evaporated. "You're being for real about this, huh? Is it something I did? Something I didn't do? I knew I should've gotten that puppy for you after all..." Queen to B3, as he quickly returned to his usual demeanor, smirking. "Nah, but for real, kid, I don't remember doing anything to piss you off. Mind telling me?"
Pawn to B6. "I ask you to remember the circumstances behind your demise, sir." Pawn to C4, as the old master scratched his head. "Can't say I do, considering I was kind of dead for it. Mind filling me in again?" Pawn to D4. "You were beginning work for the morning. You had misplaced your spectacles, and were uncertain of their location. You recalled having left them in your workshop. However, a discarded wooden car left behind by a careless child halted your path. Upon beginning your journey down the stairs, your vision failed you, and its placement proved fatal. Your path to the workshop was accelerated, resulting in collision with the floor and lethal blunt trauma. I discovered the scene upon my own awakening that morning." Irene stated the events factually and unemotionally, as if she had been reading from a police report of the incident.
Amadeus whistled. "Hell of a way to go. Who would've thought some kid not cleaning up would get me killed?" Queen to D4, and he lost a knight. "Big mistake forgetting my glasses down there, let me tell you! You never seem to forget yours though, so no need to worry there!" Knight to B5. Queen to E5, again louder than it should have been. "I am the best in my craft. I do not make mistakes." Irene stared from behind her goggles, her blank expression no different. "The best do not make mistakes, Mr. Amadeus. You were surpassed." Knight to A3. Amadeus had a well-meaning look of confusion frozen on his face, waiting for her to finish. Knight to G4. "In truth, you taught me little. Your techniques were imprecise. Time-consuming. They have been refined such that they are incomparable." Pawn to D3. Queen to C5. Bishop to F4. There was silence while the pieces were moved, several quiet minutes, as they considered their moves and their words carefully.
Queen to F2, taking a pawn. King to D1. Queen to G1, taking a rook. King to D2. Queen to A1, the other rook gone. "So... What exactly are you trying to say here, kiddo?" King to C2. Knight to C6. Queen to A4. Queen to B2, taking another pawn. Check. King to D1. Knight to F2. King to E1. Knight to D4. King to F2. "Looks like you slipped up a bit there. Playing too aggressive, I think." Amadeus looked at his fingernails, feigning disinterest. Despite the words said thus far, he seemed mostly unaffected by them. Queen to E2, taking another pawn. With nowhere else to go, the old master moved the king to G1. Queen to E1. Checkmate. "I made no mistake. Irene Karlsen does not make mistakes." The old man shrugged. "Whatever you say. Good game." He extended his hand for a handshake, which Irene accepted. He started to clean up the board. "You are obsolete, Mr. Amadeus. Please understand." The smile left the man's face for a moment, as he raised an eyebrow, something on his mind. He shook his head. "You're the boss lady now. Make the best of it." With one last good-natured smile and a thumbs-up, the latter of which was reciprocated by the young master, they parted ways.
Knight to F3. Pawn to D5. Pawn to G3. Pawn to G6. Bishop to H3. Bishop to H3. While Irene hadn't put much force into it, the bishop made a sound as she set it down. "First blood is yours, kiddo." Amadeus pointed at her, still in a good mood, and took his own bishop off the board. "I missed this, ya know? At least, like, for the little bit I was alive again before you showed up. Before that, I can't remember a darned thing." Rook to G1. Knight to F6. "It's a good thing that bear thing's keeping me around after this. Being dead wasn't really that fun. Hope you kept the place nice for me while I was gone." He chuckled, making his next move. Knight to A3. Bishop to G7. Another clattering sound as Irene set down the piece. Her focus was on the chess game, but the old master's statement had distracted her.
"Mr. Amadeus. We have discussed this, I believe. I have taken your position. I am the best at my trade." Amadeus moved again, unfazed. Pawn to C3. "Of course, of course, kid! I just figured you'd maybe have a position open. Two heads are better than one, if you catch my meaning. Don't tell me you don't have any room for old Amadeus. It's me, Amadeus, for crying out loud!" He gestured at himself with mock indignation. Irene castled, her expression unchanging, as Amadeus's grin evaporated. "You're being for real about this, huh? Is it something I did? Something I didn't do? I knew I should've gotten that puppy for you after all..." Queen to B3, as he quickly returned to his usual demeanor, smirking. "Nah, but for real, kid, I don't remember doing anything to piss you off. Mind telling me?"
Pawn to B6. "I ask you to remember the circumstances behind your demise, sir." Pawn to C4, as the old master scratched his head. "Can't say I do, considering I was kind of dead for it. Mind filling me in again?" Pawn to D4. "You were beginning work for the morning. You had misplaced your spectacles, and were uncertain of their location. You recalled having left them in your workshop. However, a discarded wooden car left behind by a careless child halted your path. Upon beginning your journey down the stairs, your vision failed you, and its placement proved fatal. Your path to the workshop was accelerated, resulting in collision with the floor and lethal blunt trauma. I discovered the scene upon my own awakening that morning." Irene stated the events factually and unemotionally, as if she had been reading from a police report of the incident.
Amadeus whistled. "Hell of a way to go. Who would've thought some kid not cleaning up would get me killed?" Queen to D4, and he lost a knight. "Big mistake forgetting my glasses down there, let me tell you! You never seem to forget yours though, so no need to worry there!" Knight to B5. Queen to E5, again louder than it should have been. "I am the best in my craft. I do not make mistakes." Irene stared from behind her goggles, her blank expression no different. "The best do not make mistakes, Mr. Amadeus. You were surpassed." Knight to A3. Amadeus had a well-meaning look of confusion frozen on his face, waiting for her to finish. Knight to G4. "In truth, you taught me little. Your techniques were imprecise. Time-consuming. They have been refined such that they are incomparable." Pawn to D3. Queen to C5. Bishop to F4. There was silence while the pieces were moved, several quiet minutes, as they considered their moves and their words carefully.
Queen to F2, taking a pawn. King to D1. Queen to G1, taking a rook. King to D2. Queen to A1, the other rook gone. "So... What exactly are you trying to say here, kiddo?" King to C2. Knight to C6. Queen to A4. Queen to B2, taking another pawn. Check. King to D1. Knight to F2. King to E1. Knight to D4. King to F2. "Looks like you slipped up a bit there. Playing too aggressive, I think." Amadeus looked at his fingernails, feigning disinterest. Despite the words said thus far, he seemed mostly unaffected by them. Queen to E2, taking another pawn. With nowhere else to go, the old master moved the king to G1. Queen to E1. Checkmate. "I made no mistake. Irene Karlsen does not make mistakes." The old man shrugged. "Whatever you say. Good game." He extended his hand for a handshake, which Irene accepted. He started to clean up the board. "You are obsolete, Mr. Amadeus. Please understand." The smile left the man's face for a moment, as he raised an eyebrow, something on his mind. He shook his head. "You're the boss lady now. Make the best of it." With one last good-natured smile and a thumbs-up, the latter of which was reciprocated by the young master, they parted ways.
