[ she had been expecting it, to an extent — she knows what he's like, of course, and knows he's not the type to make empty promises. if he says he'll do something, she expects it to happen...
and yet, it all takes her off guard. the tales she's not read before make her smile, and she reads each one several times until she's analysed every little thing, committed cultural references to memory; the talisman notes she sends to degar, who receives them with a bright quip but eyes sparkling with interest; and the boards...
he can't hear her laugh when she opens the app, but it's one of surprise, and then delight.
she makes her move, then, and the back-and-forth starts. it's surprisingly good — his careful consideration and sharp intellect clashes with her analytical mind and risk-taking feints that seem like mistakes but are looking ahead dozens of moves —
no subject
and yet, it all takes her off guard. the tales she's not read before make her smile, and she reads each one several times until she's analysed every little thing, committed cultural references to memory; the talisman notes she sends to degar, who receives them with a bright quip but eyes sparkling with interest; and the boards...
he can't hear her laugh when she opens the app, but it's one of surprise, and then delight.
she makes her move, then, and the back-and-forth starts. it's surprisingly good — his careful consideration and sharp intellect clashes with her analytical mind and risk-taking feints that seem like mistakes but are looking ahead dozens of moves —
about halfway through, her voice floats to him, ]
I hope you're not just indulging me.
[ and that he's enjoying it, too. ]