lyrium_dreams | a friendly game. (for aceso)

[ Most days Christine is exhausted at the end of her shift and only has the energy to drag her tired limbs back to her tent before collapsing in a dramatic heap upon her cot. Thankfully today has been different. With most patients well on the road to recovery and less new patients, Christine spent the day organizing their stock of supplies and now has to be reminded it's time to leave so the next shift can rotate in. Her mind being abuzz with thoughts on how best to label bottles and jars means she can't lay on her cot right now. She really should eat.

But the evening meal does nothing to distract her from her racing brain. She needs to put it to good use. As she leaves the dining hall and feels the mountain breeze brush across her skin, her eyes focus on the Commander's tower and she remembers his invitation to play chess. A chance to let her mind focus on something intellectual for awhile is too good to pass up, so she makes her way over. Besides, this will give her an opportunity to see how he's bearing his withdrawal. It's been some days since she's seen him from even afar.

At the door she hesitates. He has so many doors to his office. Do people knock, or just go in? Being a rather polite person, she opts to knock, just in case it's past his working hours and this could be seen as a disturbance. ]

[ The knock on the door startles him. Often people just waltz right in, including the Inquisitor, so the propriety is refreshing. ]

You may enter.

[ The door opens to reveal Christine, who is raising a brow in silent question as she enters. It sometimes still feels like she should be walking on eggshells with people. Her freedom may only be temporary and who knows what will happen once Corypheus is defeated? She's hardly a Loyalist, but she's Orlesian and even when you don't want to play the Grand Game, you've witnessed it enough to pick up a few things. She knows to watch for people having a problem with her and when to back off. So on first entering, she tests the waters. ]

Am I disturbing you, Sir?

[ Cullen looks a bit surprised to see her, but not unpleasantly so. ]

Christine Delacroix.

[ His Fereldan accent butchers her surname, but hey, he remembered! ]

No, no, not at all. To what do I owe the pleasure?

[ She closes the door behind her and walks up to his desk, quietly pleased at being remembered. Of course being her, she has to look him over to see if he looks unwell, but she doesn't outright ask. At least not yet. ]

I wished to see if you felt like playing chess.

[ His eyes light up when she mentions the game. ]

Oh! Truly? I... wasn't sure you'd take me up on that offer, to be honest.

[ He looks a bit sheepish. ]

I thought perhaps you'd come to prod me about my past... behavior. For which I should certainly apologize. I wasn't myself last we spoke.

[ The admission of guilt takes her by surprise and she gives a slight shake of her head. ]

I'm quite used to patients not wanting magical healing, Commander. Think nothing of it. That said, how have you been feeling?

[ It seems a natural segue to talking about his health, so she may as well grab it while she can. ]

Er... I suppose I meant the entire episode, but yes, I think that was the peak of my rudeness.

[ Unless there's more he doesn't recall. Which is possible, unfortunately. ]

Ah, so you are here to prod me about it, then.

[ His words are playful, though it does allow him to duck the question. He stands, shuffling the papers on the desk together and putting them aside. ]

You're just in time. The tedium of today's work was about to kill me.

I'm here to play chess. But I thought while I was here, I may as well.

[ She folds her hands in front of herself as she watches him move things around.]

What is the phrase? Two birds, one stone.

That is the phrase, yes.

[ A pause. He stares at the papers without seeing them. He knows he shouldn't be resistant, that she's just doing her job, following up. ]

I'm feeling better, thank you. Eager to put the experience behind me.

[ He moves to the bookcase, taking down the chess board from where he stores it. ]

Where would you prefer to play? I find the gazebo in the gardens to be a nice spot.

[ Well, that settles that, she supposes. And who is she to deny anyone the comfort of wishing to move past it? Christine can be quite the nag when she's feeling stubbornly determined about something, but this is not one such occasion. ]

Outside?

[ A smile touches her lips. She enjoys being outdoors, because it was so rare in the Circle. In the old days they were sometimes allowed out with supervision, but then Uldred laid waste to the Fereldan Circle and things were far more strict for them afterwards. ]

Yes, that will do nicely. Though you don't find it harder to concentrate with people walking by?

[ He's grateful she doesn't pry, and is pleased when she seems to like the idea. ]

Yes, it's quite lovely there this time of evening. And no, I'm used to concentrating when surrounded by others. Back during Templar training, I shared a hall with dozens of recruits. I grew proficient at blocking out the chatter and roughhousing.

[ His tone is light, with a bit of fondness, and it isn't until after it occurs to him she might not want to hear about the Templars. ]

...Yes, well. Shall we go?

Mm. Yes; let's.

[ She makes no comment on his fond Templar memories, but she also wears an unchanged expression that doesn't give a clue on whether or not she cares to hear about such things. Truthfully, the bad Templars have done much to destroy the reputations of the good, but Christine supposes the same could be said of mages. If there's one mage she can say she honestly hates, it's Anders for what he did to destroy all that the mages had been building towards in the Circles.

She opens the door back up and waits for him to join her. ]

Any recent wins I should know of? Are you on a winning streak?

[ He's not sure how to interpret her silence or her neutral expression; perhaps it's best not to get into the subject again. He certainly would have some choice words for Anders if she mentioned him.

He falls into step beside her and heads down the stairs. ]

I don't know if I can call it a streak. As I've said, Dorian cheats. Catching him in the act and thwarting his efforts is a victory in itself.

True. I confess I am... out of practice. It may take a few games to remember all the rules. I do hope you'll be patient with me.

[ She exhales a soft laugh and shakes her head. ]

I once played with someone in the Circle library who was so angry when I won that he upturned the whole chess board. It took forever for me to pull the last piece out from under the book case.

It's all right. We can start with a practice game or two if you'd like a refresher on the rules.

[ He chuckles. ]

Well, that's not very good sportsmanship. I can only assure you that I don't get worked up about such things. There's bigger troubles in the world.

Please.

[ She does so hate being at a disadvantage. ]

Indeed there are. All the more reason to find something else to occupy our minds from time to time, yes?

[ Now they're entering the main hall and through it, the gardens. ]

I haven't been over here since they first started cleaning up and replanting things.

Yes, of course.

[ He says this like he isn't prone to overworking under the guise of the threat being too great to ignore. He's trying to be better. And avoid a scolding.

He holds the door for her as they enter the gardens. ]

Really? That's a shame. Like most of Skyhold, it's come a long way. I find it quite beautiful.

[ He passes through here fairly often, to and from the shrine of Andraste to pray. He doesn't mention that, apprehensive of how she might interpret his continued religious piety, even as an ex-Templar. It's not something he does for show, either. In his experience, people who brag about their devotion to the Chantry usually have something to hide. ]

Over here.

[ He leads her to the gazebo, where a table and chairs have been set out, and he starts setting up the chess set. ]

[ She can get caught up in work too, but she loves having a purpose and rising to challenges. Sometimes she needs to remind herself that there's more to life than work, which is why she's here doing something else. ]

I can see that.

[ There's an impressed tone to her voice as she walks over and takes a seat. Oh, there's where they're growing elfroot for potions. Though the rest of the place looks lovely too. Very peaceful. ]

Do you always play as the same color?

[ The place does have a calming quality to it. Perhaps that factored into his decision to use it as a recreation spot. ]

Not usually. Do you have a preference?

Not at all.

[ But she sits up primly and clears her throat before closing her eyes and hovering a hand over the pieces. ]

I'll let fate decide.

[ She waves her hand lightly back and forth before dropping it down on what happens to be a black knight. Then she opens her eyes. ]

Black it is.

[ He smiles, finding her process rather endearing. ]

That's one way to do it.

[ He adjusts the chair across from her and leans over the board, placing the pieces in their requisite spots: black for her, and white for him. ]

Do you need a review of the rules, which pieces do what? Or do you remember all of that?

Let's see...

[ She looks over the pieces, humming to herself a moment before pointing to the rook. ]

I seem to remember some rule about the rook, but I can't recall what that was.

Ah. So...

[ He picks up the rook and demonstrates sliding it across an empty part of the board. ]

The rook can move anywhere up and down or side to side as long as there's space for free movement.

[ He replaces the rook in its original position, then clears the pieces between the rook and the king. ]

It can also switch places with the king once per game, granted it's the first move for both pieces, and there's nothing between them. [ He slides the king to the rook and moves the rook to the other side of the king. ] That's called castling.

Does that make sense?

[ Oh my god I don't actually know how to play chess I sure hope the YT tutorial I just watched wasn't lying to me ]

[ Christine watches his hand move the pieces and smiles faintly as the memory comes back to her. ]

It does. Thank you for the refresher. I think I know all the rest.

[ Now to actually show off that knowledge. ]

I believe black always goes first? Or at least that is the rule in Orlais.

[ Don't you worry. I plan on being vague as hell! C: ]

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