milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Teja and Urquhart are playing chess again, slowly and grimly, but with much less tension than the last time.

Urquhart's nose is still somewhat swollen and discoloured.

Teja would not pass judgement on that; he is far too dignified to smirk at the man's suffering.

Instead, he takes a knight with his bishop, calmly.

[[OOC: Please say in your tag which of them you want, or you might get both. Thanks!]]

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"Indeed," Teja says. "I am Teja, son of Tagila; I was the last king of the Ostrogoths in Italy and died in battle, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, in the year 552 of Christian reckoning."

Urquhart rolls his eyes a little, and moves a pawn.

"Here, I am a member of Security, and work in the forge."

Dinah watches the move, because she's interested in the game like that, before answering.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm a florist from the twentieth century." Which is decidedly not that interesting.

"I didn't think you two were on playing-chess terms."

This, mostly to Urquhart, but open to the both.

Teja looks at the board, brooding.

"We first did it instead of duelling," Urquhart says, "and ended up with a stalemate. So our argument is settled, but we still need to find out who's the better man at this."

Teja moves a knight.

Dinah blinks in surprise, then laughs. Mostly at herself, because she gets it. She knows this system of honour, even if it's something she could never explain to the Justice League.

"Then I promise not to help any of you with moves," she says fondly. "Do either of you want something to eat?"

"We do not plan to draw out the battle so badly that provisioning and supplies would be at issue," Teja says, actually smiling. "But tea might help."

"I'd prefer coffee," Urquhart says.

Dinah grins cheerfully at Teja, and leans back from the game to flag down a rat.

"One coffee, one tea and for the love of everything keep this dim sum coming," she says, before returning.

She's watching Teja's approach to the game for now. Urquhart, she knows. The goth's battle tctics could be telling.

Teja plays defensively, waiting for Urquhart to make a mistake. He is slowly setting up a trap, and easily defensible position, just as he'd done in his last battle.

"What is Dim Sum?" Urquhart asks. He's always curious about new food.

"Chinese food in individual portions," Dinah says. "Want to try a dumpling?"

"Oh yes, thanks," Urquhart says. "It looked good."

She grins at him.

If anyone ever asks again why they're friends, she's just going to say a mutual love of good food.

"I can't get enough of it, honestly. Shrimp dumplings are amazing."

"I shall be glad to have my tea," Teja says. "And keep it at that, rather than accept more distractions."

Urquhart shrugs, and moves his queen.

Dinah presses her lips together. Mostly to hide a smirk.

On the one hand, she appreciates Teja's dedication to the task at hand. On the other... he's turning down food for the sake of a chess game. Someone takes himself very seriously.

She glances sideways at Urquhart.

Teja always takes himself very seriously. And everything else, too.-

The rats return with the order, and Urquhart pays proper attention to the coffee while Teja ponders his next move, then moves a knight, seemingly at random.

Dinah - who technically can play chess very well but has issues with long term strategies, is quiet for a while as she tries to work out why he played that.

Well, that and offering Urquhart a dumpling to see if he likes it.

Urquhart does like the dumpling, and he's taking his time to eat it while it's his move, letting Teja wait.

Dinah studies the table, then each of the men in turn, watching their individual tactics.

Eventually, "Do I want to know what the original quarrel was about?"

"Urquhart accused me of 'hounding' him, as he was ever close to to breaking the third rule with his 'friends'," Teja says. "If I won, he would not do it again; if he won, I would leave them alone. Neither won, so we agreed to do both. But still, we need to find out who is the better player."

Dinah gives Urquhart an oh-so-disapproving look. She can't take it too
seriously; she's been single far too long.

"That matters, huh?"

"Of course it does!" Urquhart says. "I want to be able and kiss Saffron or Alfred when I feel like it!"

"And I am sworn to uphold the rules here," Teja says, "and the way they touch and roll on the sofas by the fireplace is close to breaking the third rule."

Pause.

"Will you please make your move, Scotsman?"

Dinah grins.

"I meant, who's better at the game matters? Are you timing moves?"

"No, we don't," Teja says. "But it is his move, and he is stopping the game by not making it."

Dinah smirks and leans back in her chair, waiting to see oif Urquhart will make the move she would.

He finishes the dumpling first.

Then, he does.

Dinah smiles as she takes a bite of her own. Urquhart apparently has the same tactical approach as she does - reckless.

"Told you they were great."

Teja castles.

Then, sips his tea.