24 Apr 2023, 23:53
The Chess Rivalry
Interacting with @Lisa Langley
Reducio
The game of chess was an old one, with many versions from different times, communities, and cultures. There's the classic, as well as variations from China and Japan, and versions where you can have more than two players. But the best type, at least in Nora's opinion, was wizard chess. The rules were basically the same, but the animation of the figurines brought a new level of competitiveness and excitement to the game that was only possible through magic. With each capture, a piece meets a violent end in the hand of the other side, which takes the now deceased's spot for its own. It was riveting.
Nora used to play chess with her dad, before coming to Hogwarts, but they only ever played muggle chess. Which was all good and well, Nora supposed, but she wanted to play real chess, wizarding chess, not some dulled copy. It was always that way with her father, preferring to only expose her to muggle ways, and tuck magic out of sight, out of mind. But it didn't work, and as soon as Nora could, she owled her Grandfather for a set.
Staring down at it from the entrance of the great hall, she approached a nearby table to get a better look. Nora slid onto the bench, and lifted the board onto the table. It wasn't ridiculously heavy, but it had enough of a weight to it that she could tell it wasn't cheap. Next, she pulled the bag of pieces from her pocket, and gently shook them out on to the table. They were marble and ebony wood, but the edges were worn like they had been made a many years ago. This was in sharp contrast to the board, which to Nora at least, looked nearly brand new. She wondered if her Grandfather had found old chess pieces, but gotten the board new. They certainly had enough knickknacks in that place for hundreds of unfound treasures like these.
With a smile slowly spreading on to her face, Nora began to arrange the pieces. Every so often, she would stop and stare, just admiring the piece. The ebony queen was by far her favourite, and looked the least worn out of the bunch. It had the most animated expression, like a fierce huntress. The king, on the other hand, was hardly recognizable, with a face so worn she didn't realize that was what is what until shed was almost done. Once set up, she admired her board, but felt a string of defeat tug at her, knowing she couldn't play without a partner. Oh well, she thought, blowing a hair from her face, I might as well just enjoy my peace.
438 words. #420c55.
Last edited by Nora De Carie on 6 May 2023, 23:36, edited 2 times in total.
27 Apr 2023, 19:44
The Chess Rivalry
Interacting with: @Nora De Carrie
Lisa idly skimmed the pages of her novel, the words barely registering in her brain. She had read this exact novel numerous times before. It had never failed to be a perfect comfort read. But today, as she sat in the Great Hall, her legs draped across an arm of her chair, she just couldn't focus. Maybe she should go do her homework. She had been procrastinating for the entire day, after all.
Lisa closed her book shut with a soft sigh, pulling herself to her feet. Her focus was drawn to a girl whose attention was lasered on arranging a chess board at another part of the table. She had noticed her before, but she hadn't given her much of a thought, too lost in her thoughts to pay attention to anything.
The girl carefully arranged the pieces, placing them gently onto the board. Sometimes, she would just stop and stare at them, as if in awe. Lisa wondered why, they were just ordinary chess pieces, although maybe she had lost her appreciation for such things.
The girl finished setting up the board, and blew away of a strand of hair back from her face.
Lisa had decided. She had absolutely nothing better to do. (Well, besides homework, but who's asking?)
She strolled over to the girl, stopping when she was right in front of her.
"Nice chess board" It was. There was no point in denying it.
"So" Lisa placed her palms on the table, leaning forward. "Do you actually play or are you one of those people who use chess as a status symbol?"
Word Count: 268 words
Last edited by Lisa Langley on 29 Apr 2023, 17:32, edited 1 time in total.
29 Apr 2023, 16:47
The Chess Rivalry
Interacting with @Lisa Langley
Reducio
Sitting alone wasn't half as boring when you had a chess board, but it still wasn't the most exciting experience. But Nora sat there anyway, admiring the board and thinking about the homework she should be doing. It was something to do with gargoyles, but since she hadn't paid much attention to the class, all she knew was... basically nothing. That's what textbooks were for, right? At least, that's how she used them.
Nora glanced around, her lazy gaze passing over, then re-focusing on a girl nearby. She watched the girl get up, stroll over, and finally stop right across from the board. So much for peace and quiet. "Nice chess board," the girl said, with an edge in her voice. Reluctantly, Nora opened her mouth to say a quick 'thank you', but was cut off. "So," the girl prompted, leaning forward with her hands on the table."Do you actually play or are you one of those people who use chess as a status symbol?"
A status symbol? Who did that? And why the hell was this girl acting so aloof? Probably one of those self-important purebloods, Nora thought, rolling her eyes internally. They always thought they were so much better than everyone else, as if the 'pureness' of their blood really mattered. Of course, the girl could also be just be awkward or even someone who thought that that was a genuine way to start a conversation, but Nora doubted it. God, people like that bugged her.
Usually, Nora was a very calm, and humorous person, but her personality could be flicked liked a switch if the situation called for it. Someone was rude to her? The conversation would quickly turn from light-hearted banter to an every-man-for-themselves kind of scenario. And it would happen fast.
"Yes, I play," Nora's voice turned to steel as she replied, the last word said as if it was violently underlined, "Let me guess-- you're one of those purebloods who think of themselves as all-powerful, or something?" She scoffed, raising an eyebrow, "I bet you've only ever played against people who let you win."
335 words. #420c55.