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 Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2024 7:47 pm
Prompt: Nerys discovers Ryo playing board games alone.
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2024 9:16 pm
   The little fire drill in the middle of the night had taught Nerys one very important thing. She very desperately needed to start figuring out where everything in the building was. Being unable to find the main hall on her own had been a problem. Gods forbid if something similar ever happened again. The smartest course of action would be to prepare. To learn where things were. So that she would never be stuck so lost again.
Which was how she had come to wander the halls during their downtime, trying to learn how to get to the main hall, the ballroom, and the classrooms they used every day. So far she had gotten the main hall figured out. Her diligence had been rewarded with the ability to get to breakfast on her own without having to follow the herd of students.
The other rooms she didn't quite have the hang of yet. Partly because of just how impressively large the school was. Mostly because she didn't have a very good sense of direction and couldn't just learn a path after navigating it once. It had been a contributing factor in why her time working as a maid as a child had gone so disastrously bad. She was always getting lost and missing deadlines on tasks. But she was no longer a child or a maid. She could do this.
Trying to remember where the history classroom was, Nerys slowly pushed open the door she'd found herself in front of. The door wasn't the full way open when it became apparent that she had made a wrong turn somewhere. Books and games lined the walls. Intrigued, she stepped into the room only to discover she wasn't alone.
Wide eyes met a man, seated playing a game with... A doll? A very creepy doll at that. Her eyes flicked away from him, focusing instead on the game he was playing. It wasn't one she recognized. To be fair she only knew the few card games the women would play to pass the time between clients.
"Oh, um," Giving a quick curtsy, she continued. "I do apologize for disturbing you, my Lord." On instinct, she started to turn. He was clearly trying to enjoy his afternoon peacefully on his own. Getting in his hair would only anger him. That was not something Nerys was interested in. However... She hesitated, glancing back at the odd man and his toy. More importantly, whatever the were doing between themselves.
"I'm sorry, my Lord, but what game is that?"
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game room ❅ ryo ❅ dress
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2024 7:49 pm
 
"Ryo" "Bubby"
After the explosion, Ryo was finally starting to feel more comfortable at school. It wasn’t necessarily that he was making more friends but more that he was finally comfortable with himself. Having Bubby around made it so that he could always have someone to talk to and today was no exception. Many people might have found it weird to play a game against one’s self but seeing as he only other person that would join him was his brother? There were no other options. No offense made to his brother, Ryo loved him very much, however, Clint just wanted to move the knights which made for lame gameplay.
The thing he liked about playing chess was that there were so many potential outcomes. The main struggle he faced at Utopia was finding an opponent to play against, most people were afraid of him and those that weren’t, he was afraid of. There were a few exceptions of course but he was still scared to ask them to hang out with him in case they said no. Possible rejection was something he always feared, more so because it caused him to lose control of his powers than anything else but ultimately not worth the potential risk.
Ryo had no problem playing by himself for the time being. Sometimes he would even manage to crack himself up with his own cleverness. Being so focused on the game with the puppet he didn’t even notice the girl happening upon him at first. ”Bishop to b7.” moving his piece and then looking up and seeing her. At first glance, the girl looked prepared to flee, her wide blue eyes seemed shocked at the sight. Eye contact appeared to be difficult for her as well seeing as she was quick to look away once he did look at her. Instead, she was now focused on the game he was playing, or was it the fact he was playing with a doll? It was hard to tell based on initial glances.
"I do apologize for disturbing you, my Lord."
Surprised by her manners, he wasn’t sure what to say to her. Looking her over her clothes seemed too elegant to be a part of the help, it was possible she was a duchess but even the duchesses at Utopia seemed to have a twisted sense of confidence and self-worth despite being lower than the potential kings and queens around them. Everyone here had different backgrounds, so her demeanor might have been just a survival tactic, similar to his use of Bubby.
Standing up, Ryo did a quick bow, ” Y-you’re not not disturbing me. I apologize for scaring you,” sure that Bubby had scared a person off once more. Preparing to return back to his game once she looked more closely at the two. However, it seemed more like she was investigating the game board between the two, was it possible she played as well? It would be fun to have an actual person to play against, even if he didn’t know her.
"I'm sorry, my Lord, but what game is that?"
It seemed as though she was investigating due to curiosity, still, it was a conversation. Her formality was a pleasant surprise, not used to being called a lord unless it was by one of his own servants. Most tended to just glide by and avoid eye contact. He glanced at the game and his own companion, ”You mean chess? It’s a popular game from my kingdom.” Looking back at the girl he wondered if this was his chance to play against a real person for a change. ” W-wwould you like to learn, my lady?”
Looking over at his wooden companion, he figured it was best to move him, grabbing Bubby and placing him on the chair by him. ” If you sit here I can teach you.” gesturing at the now empty chair. Insecurity had yet to get the best of him so far meaning Bubby remained dormant for the time being. He could only imagine what would happen once he did reveal himself. It was better not to think about such things, manifesting the insecurity would just make it appear. Standing over the board, Ryo started resetting the game board having the white start on her side and black on his. Hoping for her to join, he did his best to seem approachable faking a a soft smile. It felt forced due to his level of comfort, but it would have to do for now. Sitting opposite the empty chair, he wondered if the girl would join him. Looking at Bubby, he wouldn't blame her either way, while he found his best friend to be a source of comfort, he knew most found him to be intimidating.
OOC:
Wearing: x
Thoughts: Who are you?
Location: Game Room
With: Nerys and Bubby
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Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 2:19 pm
Maybe the first few people she had met were the strange exceptions who weren't interested in manners. That clearly must have been it. Despite his gloomy features and his doll, the dark haired man before her didn't try to correct her when she called him 'My Lord.' Neither had Lord Haruka on the night of the explosion and evacuation. Enzo... well he hardly counted when he knew so many intimate details about her. Regardless, she was finally meeting people who made sense.
Watching as he raised to give he a quick bow, she dipped her head to him in a show of respect. Being on the receiving end of such polite gestures still felt strange. For the last year she had been playing at duchess, but not really. Not with how Aneirin had always liked to treat her. A pool of dread expanded in her stomach at the thought, knowing there were things she had already done here that he would have something to say about when she returned home.
”You mean chess? It’s a popular game from my kingdom. W-wwould you like to learn, my lady?” Feeling lost, she found herself raising her gaze to meet his once more before dipping it back down to the game. It seemed complicated, all of the pieces being carved into different 'characters.' Would she be able to learn? Yet he glanced back at her with a glimmer of hope. Like he didn't want to be stuck here playing with just the doll. How was she supposed to know what the right thing to do in this situation was?
Before she could say anything, he was moving the doll. ”If you sit here I can teach you.” He made a sweeping gesture at the now clear chair in front of him as he placed the beaten up plaything in the chair next to him. It was a bit cute, watching an adult man care for a clearly loved toy in such a way. It made him seem less threatening as he stood over the board between them and sending a smile her way. Sitting had made him look so much smaller, but he had to be at least a foot taller than her. The realization made a jolt of unease course through her.
Not sure what else to do, Nerys stepped forward. Delicately, she ran the backs of her hands over the back of her dress, smoothing it out so that she sit properly in the chair the doll had vacated for her. Folding her hands into her lap, she didn't know what else to do but watch him reset the board. Each little character seemed to have a spot they belonged. Each side had all the same pieces, though she did note that her pieces were white and his were black.
"Thank you." Finally pulling her gaze back up to search his face as he sat, she noticed he was looking over to the toy whose seat she'd stolen. Did he regret inviting her to play with him? If it had only been a request out of politeness Nerys had just made a terrible faux pas. "I- I've never seen this 'chess' before My Lord, I pray you can forgive my mistakes going forward." Absently, she twirled her fingers together in her lap, hoping he wouldn't notice the nervous action. It seemed rude, especially after he had gone so far out of his way to be inviting.
The rules were annoying in instances like these. Nerys had wanted to ask what kingdom the game was from. How could she when it would be asking him to reveal his own kingdom? After saying the game was from his kingdom the question that danced on her tongue had died before she could speak it. Silence filled the space between them, a heavy blanket she wasn't sure she how to navigate. "I do apologize, My Lord. I didn't introduce myself." Hesitantly, she looked up at the dark haired man through her lashes. "I am Nerys. May I ask you name?" The question felt bold, yet it was still safer than anything else that had sprung to her mind.
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game room ❅ ryo ❅ dress
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Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2024 7:06 pm
"Ryo" "Bubby"
It was hard to tell if the stranger decided to sit down of her own free will or out of fear. The bags under Ryo’s eyes tended to make his offerings of companionship much more intimidating than he intended. Few understood that outside his family and those that did still tended to keep their distance. There was no one to blame really, Ryo couldn’t change the way he looked, sure, he could listen to his advisors and toss Bubby to the curb but what kind of a person would he be if he threw his first friend in the garbage?
"Thank you."
It looked like she was comfortable, or as comfortable as she could be after being drawn into a chess game with a complete stranger. Was it possible he had accidentally taken her hostage without realizing it? The annoying voices of his counsel were already starting to ring in his ear over the incident. Well, if that was the case Ryo would do his best to make the experience comfortable for her, if that was possible. The vibes in the air were riddled with anxiety and it wasn’t coming exclusively from Ryo for once, it would seem like he would have to be the calm one for this interaction.
"I- I've never seen this 'chess' before My Lord, I pray you can forgive my mistakes going forward."
The gears in Ryo’s head continued to spin as the girl spoke, remaining silent as he thought of what to do next. Was it best to comfort her or just smile? Social interactions were proving taxing and the prince could already feel his battery draining. To no fault of the girl’s, it just was not something he had prepared himself for, despite the many times his mother had trained him on how to make friends. In moments like these, it was hard not to recall how his first marriage went before Ryo had even spoken, the sight of him was enough to send the girl away screaming.
” Mistakes are a part of the game my lady. You just have to hope you are better at recovering from yours than your opponent.” sounding more factual than sensitive as he spoke. Sometimes it was just easier to be rational in these situations, not that Ryo would know. His random mood swings were famous amongst the kingdom, it was no wonder he was considered an initial suspect in his father’s murder. If it wasn’t for the fact that he was able to pay off the investigators to make it officially ruled a suicide, he probably still would be.
"I do apologize, My Lord. I didn't introduce myself."
Oh no. Neither had he, this was probably considered a social misstep. Thankfully, Nerys was quick to rectify it, bravely introducing herself first. No mention of her title or homeland, but looking her over once more, Ryo felt confident saying she was either from Hyouden or Stilicidium. Despite knowing the dangers of assumptions himself, it was hard not to be curious. Especially with all the rules set in place here, it seemed rude to ask her without revealing his own. ” No apologies necessary, it was me so rudely forgot to ask before having you sit down. I’m Ryo. Thank you for joining me Lady Nerys.” Doing his best to offer a kind smile.
Where was he to start? Explaining the pieces felt like a safe bet but what if that was too much information all at once? It seemed like Lady Nerys was one of higher intelligence based on her mannerisms but that was Ryo going on assumptions once again. Picking up one of the pawns on his side he started his talk, ” So, these pieces are the pawns. They can only move one space forward. U-unless it’s their first time moving then they can, um, move two spaces forward like this,” moving the pick in his hand two squares forward before returning it to its space.
Ryo felt like his brain was going a million places at once. Maybe it was better to explain the goal of the game first. The excitement and anxiety of getting to teach someone who actually wanted to learn was proving to be too much for the man to handle. Taking a deep breath, the prince decided to start over, ” The goal of the game is to get the opponent’s king while protecting your own.” picking up his king as a demonstration, " The rest of the pieces move differently around the board to try and capture your opponent's pieces. It, um, makes more sense as you play." He feared he was speaking too much and started to feel winded from speaking so much. What if he was boring her? Would she be too polite to say anything?
OOC:
Wearing: x
Thoughts: Sorry I am talking so much
Location: Game Room
With: Nerys and Bubby
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Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2024 11:33 pm
  Relief slumped her shoulders ever so slightly at his comment about mistakes being part of the game. It was truly a blessing to find such a kind lord completely by accident. However, being called a lady had her shifting in her seat. Was it right of her to accept the title? The question faltered in her mind as she watched him offer her a smile. No, she wouldn't question this now. Not when he was being so polite with her.
"No, I thank you Lord Ryo." Nerys twisted her fingers in her lap. What was the polite thing to do with her hands right now? "It was gracious of you to allow me to join. And for offering to teach me." Something about this felt comfortable. Ryo had an understanding of what proper behavior was, and it made navigating the conversation with him easier. When he recognized that she was beneath him it was easier to react.
Finally she settled for lacing her fingers together on the table, where Ryo could see them. Hiding them in a game where the little pieces were meant to come off of the board seemed... deceptive. Watching him intently as he picked up the "pawn," she nodded at his instruction. A smile pulled at the corners of her lips. It was cute watching him get excited and light up trying to explain the game to her. The way he spoke with her was refreshing. It was like he had so much to say but didn't know where to start.
"If I may be so bold, would you like to show me while playing?" Pausing, Nerys waited for any indication that her suggestion was unacceptable. When he didn't offer one, she continued. "Is there anything I need to know to start? Does the color of the pieces mean anything?" Pausing, she brought a hand to her mouth. Oh dear this was going all wrong. Had she asked too many questions? It felt like it.
Letting her eyes fall back on the doll, Nerys couldn't help the doubt creeping over her. He would have been better off continuing to play with the puppet at this point. "I suppose at this rate your friend would have been a better opponent, Lord Ryo. I do apologize." The soft edge of a laugh she couldn't quite get out was on her voice. He had barely begun to show her the game and she was already feeling useless. Letting herself look back at Ryo, she offered him a smile. "It's a shame I cannot have someone on my side to help show me the ropes and take some of the burden off of you."
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game room ❅ ryo ❅ outfit
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Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2024 4:41 pm
"Ryo" "Bubby"
His excitement was overflowing as she was taking all the information in. There was so much he had to cover they would have to meet more than this once if she wanted to have a full grasp of the game. Not that he wanted to trap her in a conversation. Nerys seemed like a gentle, kind person and Ryo didn’t want to be too intimidating like he knew he could be. Well not him, him, Ryo’s eyes looked over at his wooden companion and nearly choked on air.
Her enduring smile as he continued bumbling over what to explain next was so heartwarming. Only be followed by her questions, it was a refreshing alternative to Clint’s pretend playing with the pieces. The ask about whether or not the colors mattered was a good one. They did after all but there was just so much for him to cover, if only he could puppet her to help guide her through the first few games. But alas that wasn’t the way things worked, people weren’t puppets. At least that’s what his royal council was always whispering in his ear whenever he had to pretend to be a social creature.
"Yes, that is a fine idea. As for the colors white always goes first but that’s the only important thing you need to know for now." Still soft-spoken, unsure if she had actually heard him at all. Maybe it would be better for her to watch a game or two first before having her actually play. It was impossible for him to decide given he had never had the opportunity to teach someone the game before.
Noticing Nerys’ eyes land back on the doll, the prince braced himself for the potential questions or insults. Either way, Ryo would be sure it wouldn’t be anything he hadn’t heard before. It was best to get this out of the way and move on before Bubby decided to take the reins. Unless that was what she was asking for? Her inviting smile and comments seemed like that may be the case but there wouldn’t be a way for him to tell unless he let go a little. Taking a deep breath, as if he was breathing life back into Bubby as his hallow eyes stared at the girl, " I believe it’s me that you are looking for."
Dusting off the pretend dirt on his old suit, Bubby stood up and jumped onto the girl’s lap to make himself comfortable. Looking up at the bluette, Bubby did his best to give an inviting smile, " Nice to meet a woman as lovely as yourself on this dull day. Looks like I’ll be aiding as your chess tutor this afternoon." Ryo could already feel himself starting to fall into his seat. How was Bubby able to communicate with people so… effortlessly?
If Ryo had tried to climb onto her lap in an effort to teach her he could only imagine the consequence. The mere thought had him chuckling before he was able to recover himself and settle. His face returned to a more calm, stern one, " My apologies. Bubby can be… excitable but I promise he’s harmless." He hoped that the girl wouldn’t toss the puppet, only fearing how his best friend would react to the action. Not that he would blame her, what was she to do with a talking dummy on her lap?
OOC: crying I tried
Wearing: x
Thoughts:
Location: Game Room
With: Nerys and Bubby
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 1:40 pm
The earlier assessment that it was cute to watch Ryo was an understatement. There was a gentleness to him as he explained, offering her new pieces of information and taking her questions in stride. It was nice. Being allowed to ask something when she didn't quite feel she understood. Normally when she had a question there was a whipping. Or if she refrained from asking and tried to do her tasks to the best of her understanding there was still a whipping after. Having him take her questions in stride was refreshing. The way he looked when she had asked about the colors of the pieces had Nerys looking away, trying to hide the small surge of pride that she was able to impress him.
Absently, her eyes had landed back on the doll. Partly because there was very little in the room of interest outside of the game, but also because there was something endearing about it. He was worn, clearly very well loved. Ryo seemed to be older than her, so it was possible the puppet was as old as she was. And yet it was still in one piece. Loving little repairs on it here and there. While she hadn't been a maid for very long before she was sold, she did remember what it was like. One little tear in an expensive gown had it thrown out. Things that were no longer trendy were tossed after being destroyed so 'the poor couldn't scavenge them.' Everyone here was of that upper echelon of society. Knowing that he could have so much love for an object despite his status? The idea brought Nerys comfort.
Until the head of the doll moved and met her eyes.
As the doll stood and leapt into her lap, a small scream climbed out of her throat. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth and muffle the sound. Frost was dancing on her fingertips, swirling patterns dancing over her temple, but she did not freeze. Surely the temperature of the room dropped a few degrees with her shock, but she could not feel it. Ryo's small chuckle gave her courage and her eyes flew up to meet his before dropping down to the puppet, no, to Bubby's once more. Swallowing down a breath, she forced herself to be calm as her hands dropped away from her mouth.
"My- My deepest apologies, Lord Bubby. I'm afraid you startled me." Nerys had been about to mention that she hadn't expected a doll to move, but the words dried up in her mouth. Would that be rude to say to a puppet? As much as this was a new situation for her, she didn't want to be rude to either of them. The careful stitch work to mend Bubby's suit was even more on display in her lap than it was from across the table and it solidified her opinion of the man sitting opposite from her. If she was rude to the doll, surely she was being rude to the man too. "I do hope you can forgive my outburst." If Ryo said he was harmless, she would trust him.
Tearing her eyes away from her new companion, she met Ryo's. "My Lord- Oh." A single hand flew up this time, her fingers pressing against her lips as if she could catch the mistake and start over. "I suppose I must call you Lord Ryo now, seeing as Lord Bubby had joined us. Would this... Would this not be unfair to you My, um, Lord Ryo?" Heat bloomed across her cheeks, the realization that she had just mistakenly called him hers dancing on repeat in her mind. If the gods were kind he would ignore it. Or better, he wouldn't even notice it. "While I am sure I would be a handicap for Lord Bubby, I would not wish to play to your detriment."
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game room ❅ ryo ❅ outfit
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2024 8:34 pm
"Ryo" "Bubby"
Thankfully for Ryo (and Bubby), Nerys seemed difficult to scare off. Normally this would cause the prince to start going into a tailspin of paranoia about why she wasn’t afraid of the talking wooden creature on her lap but he was feeling too excited about finally having someone to play with. It felt slightly childish almost how giddy he was at the idea of being able to pass his skills to someone who seemed genuinely excited to learn. Such interactions were few and far between for Ryo given his scary exterior and paranoid tendencies.
That being said, it was hard for Ryo not to laugh as Nerys attempted to navigate Bubby talking control and settling himself on her lap. Until he saw the small amount of frost on her fingertips, she was doing a good job at saving face but she was… scared. She was not scared enough to leave or scream but her body was betraying her and this left Ryo unsure on what to do next. Normally Bubby was the more favorable of the two, if Bubby was enough to cause her to almost use her powers, whatever they were, Ryo didn’t want to cause her to be that distressed. Despite doing it quite often, the prince didn’t find joy in scaring people.
Wanting to crawl deeper into his seat and never show his face again, Ryo fought the urge to apologize once more. However, he was instead met with an apology. What did she have to apologize for? It was Ryo, well Bubby, that was out of hand. " Please don’t apologize Lady Nerys. Bubby could use a course in manners." His words were immediately met with a look from the mannequin as if to say “ Whatever did I do wrong? You’re me.” Thankfully for Ryo, those words never came out.
Nerys’ nervous ticks were so adorable to watch as she tediously thought about what to say next, choosing her words carefully. " Finally someone here who hasn’t forgotten where we are. And who we are." He thought happily to himself, as he stared blissfully at Nerys’ face, hoping to provide some reassurance to her nervousness. Her worries about her being a handicap were just so… cute? That didn’t feel right to say having barely known the woman but there wasn’t another way to describe it.
" You worry far too much, my lady," Bubby’s last words felt almost forced out of his mouth but Ryo wanted her to feel more at ease and it seemed like manners and niceties were a good way of getting there. Thankfully for the prince, he wasn’t raised in a barn, like most of the royals here. Sometimes Ryo questioned if it was common for royal families to send their children to farms given the way they acted more like his cowboy brother than a member of the royal court. Ryo couldn’t remember the last time he had smiled this much talking to another person. " Your company is much appreciated here Lady Nerys."
Oh no. Was that too forward? The worst thing he could do was come on too strong and scare her off especially when things were going so well. His face started feeling hot with embarrassment as he lightly tugged at his collar to give himself some air. He needed a distraction and thankfully his best friend was there to help him, " Perhaps we should start playing now, my lord?" Still flustered, Ryo attempted to cough a few times into his sleeve to catch his breath, " Uh-hem. Yes! Bubby, why don’t you show Lady Nerys where to start?" Focusing on Bubby would allow him to breathe a bit longer, it felt strange to be talking this much to a stranger. But not unwelcome, he just was so unsure of what to do with himself it was either to focus on the game at hand.
There were a few options for white to begin with but the most common was e4 but there were some that liked to start with d4. Ryo never much liked those people though. Still, it was good to give the girl options. After all, it wouldn’t be any fun for him to just be playing against himself. " You have a few choices my lady," Bubby grabbed both middle pawns off the table and showed them to the lady, " You can either move this guy forward two or, this guy forward two. We could move another piece but we are trying to control the center at the start and these allow us to move other pieces later in the game." Bubby stated matter-of-factly as he looked to Nerys for her response.
OOC: heart
Wearing: x
Thoughts:
Location: Game Room
With: Nerys and Bubby
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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2024 9:08 pm
It was hard to say when she had started to hold her breath. But as Ryo reassured her, she let it out in one long sigh. Maybe she wasn't an interloper who had interrupted this man's idea of a good time. Even if it was starting to make more sense why and how he was playing against the well loved toy in her lap. A small affectionate smile settled onto her lips as the toy informed her she worried too much. "Perhaps I do, Lord Bubby."
"Your company is much appreciated here Lady Nerys."
Quickly her eyes darted up from the puppet to the man across from her. Just in time, as a warm smile seemed to fade into hot embarrassment, complete with a small tug on his collar and a cough into his sleeve. Warmth quickly flooded into her own cheeks, but her affectionate smile only grew as Bubby suggested they start the game. She wasn't sure if he had been able to read her mind, if she had managed to give her own anxieties away, of if he was simply the sort who knew exactly what to say and when to say it. It could have been any number of options, but whatever it was didn't diminish her appreciation for the comment. Waiting just a moment until she caught his eye, she silently mouthed her next words to him. "Thank you, Lord Ryo."
She gave a small nod as her new partner pushed two pieces into her hands. He was being polite enough to explain the logic behind these two being moved first, yet it didn't halt her hesitancy. "I... I see." She did not, in fact, see. It was hard to say which would be the better move in the long run considering she wasn't entirely sure how the rest of the game played. Was it okay for her partner to trust her with such a vital decision as the first move? But then, the entire point of this had been to teach her how to play and it had been her own suggestion in the first place. Leaving it up to chance, she placed one the pawn in her left hand back where Bubby had plucked it from and the pawn in her right hand forward two spaces.
"If I may, Lord Bubby?" As she'd begun to draw her right hand back it came to rest on the puppet's head, gently stroking his hair as if he were a child in her lap and not a doll. The hair was surprisingly soft, as if it were well maintained. Once again the idea that such a worn object could be cared for with such affection filled her with warmth. "If we are trying to take the center is there not risk for opening it up too much and making our own king more vulnerable?" Was she being too cautious too early in the game? They had only just made the very first move and she was worried that Ryo would be able to make the impossible happen and he would take her king on the first move.
Her free hand absently traveled back to her mouth, her index finger hooking as she pressed the knuckle into her lips to think. It would make sense if Ryo was kind, taking it easy on her to give her more experience as she was learning. However, she also wasn't sure exactly how long a game could go on for either. Maybe if she knew it would help prevent some of her overly cautious questions from interrupting the game. "Lord Ryo, is there a number of moves that is normal for this game? Or can it end extremely quickly?" Suddenly she caught herself, glancing down to give her seatmate an apologetic look. "Apologies, Lord Bubby. You've been so kind as to help me and I posed the question to Lord Ryo without thinking."
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game room ❅ ryo ❅ outfit
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Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2024 8:58 pm
"Ryo" "Bubby"
Ryo tried not to stare too heavily at Nerys as she decided between both pieces. He didn’t want to completely control her gameplay and tell her what to do. Where would be the fun in that? He wasn’t sure how much to tell her at a time. Chess had a lot of rules to it, maybe it would have been better if he had offered to play another game instead. Then again she seemed so willing to learn, the prince didn’t want to discourage that.
It was hard for him to watch as Nerys combed through Bubby’s hair, seemingly affectionately. It wasn’t jealousy that he was feeling but he couldn’t really explain what it was. Each day Ryo made sure that Bubby was looking fresh and well-kept, was she perhaps noticing that now? Or was she going to comment on the puppet’s lack of eyes? The prince often considered sewing new eyes on but he had grown to love the lifeless creature as he was. It was his best friend after all.
Finally, the lady had made her choice, the right one at that. Deep down, Ryo knew this was by chance but he wanted to believe it was a sign. As silly as that sounded, an even sillier smile grew across this face, " A great choice." He mumbled, sure the woman didn’t hear him. Now it was his chance to think about what to do. Ryo knew what he would normally do in a game against Bubby but maybe it was better to play a simpler game in order to help her learn more.
His train of thought was caught off by Nerys’ question, the silly grin still on his face as he spoke, " Another great question! We are trying to move our king by castleing. I can show you in a couple of moves what I mean. Or Bubby can." he jumbled the last line quickly, remembering that it was his friend assisting not him. Talking about the game just got him so excited, it had been so long since he had been able to talk to someone about it and they were eager to listen. For now, he would just quickly move his pieces so then he could help her know what all her pieces did.
Grabbing his center pawn that was opposite Nerys’ he moved it one space forward. He started preparing what to say to her but was met with another question. ’ Another question? And another good one at that…’ his silly smile had faded but replaced with a much softer one as he looked to Bubby for guidance. Was it better if he or Bubby replied here? Especially since she seemed so apologetic for addressing him first. Ryo knew how he would normally respond here but Nerys was different than the attention-seeking suckers that wanted to harass Ryo and his friend.
Without thinking, Bubby was looking up at Nerys his eyes, or lack thereof, trying to stare her down, " It’s fine I suppose. I can’t blame you for wanting to speak to my friend here. He’s more well-spoken than I lady." Turning the attention back to Ryo for his time to speak. Normally he was trying to focus the spotlight away from him but it was nice to be Nerys’ focus for the time being, something he knew he shouldn’t get too familiar with but was warming his heart to think about. " Don’t worry Lady Nerys, Bubby can be sensitive but pay him no mind. I am happy to answer all of your questions whatever they may be."
He took a deep breath, preparing to speak more, " I don’t think there is a number of moves that is “normal” per se but competitive games will have timers to ensure the games don’t last too long. I hope that makes sense." Whew, he had made it through without tripping over any of his words. This was his chance to offer to her to just assist her himself but he was scared. What if he was misreading her kindness? The worst thing he could do was make her feel scared or uncomfortable, if she was responding well to Bubby now he would just focus his attention on that.
Controlling Bubby was as easy as breathing for him since he did it so often, opting to have him grab one of the knights and one of the bishops this time. Here was where the game started to get complicated if it wasn’t already for the girl. But given the questions she was asking it seemed like she had a pretty good head on her shoulders. " So we are still trying to control the center so there is this piece," Bubby held up the bishop in his right hand, "It moves diagonally, but then this one we call it a knight and it moves in an “L” shape and can move through pieces." Not the best explanation but he hoped it would make sense for the time being. Hopefully, this wouldn’t be the only time they played together.
~~~~~Some Time Later~~~~~
" Looks like that’s checkmate." Their game had gone on for about an hour but felt like it flew by to Ryo. Nerys managed to make every correct choice there was leading to quite a challenging game before the two. Sure, there was some “guidance” from Bubby about some of the choices but this was the most fun he had had in ages. Even if he had “lost”, it was still a grand time for him. Plus, Ryo wasn’t very competitive anyway.
He looked over at the duo across from him, impressed with how quickwitted and intelligent the girl who was a stranger just hours ago was. " That was quite a game for someone who has never played before." his smile seemed to be permanently glued to his face at this point, he didn’t know it was possible to smile so much during a game of chess but Nerys was such lovely company it was hard not to. Ryo didn’t want the fun to end but wasn’t sure what to say next without sounding too intimidating, " Would you like to play again? Or perhaps there’s another game you’d like to play, my lady?"
My Lady sounded too comfortable coming out of his mouth but he hoped such familiarity wouldn’t come off too offputting. There were plenty of games in the game room for her to choose from, maybe she would be able to teach him a game from her nation. His mind was already starting to wander with the possibilities of what she might know given how quick she was to pick up the rules of chess. Ryo was sure there was plenty the girl could teach him, he just hoped she would keep him company a bit longer.
OOC: heart Let me know if you need more
Wearing: x
Thoughts:
Location: Game Room
With: Nerys and Bubby
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Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2024 9:17 pm
Delicately she placed the piece down close to the king. Bubby had given her two choices, and from what she could tell over the last hour, they both landed in the same square. So at random she had picked the bishop to move there. "Looks like that’s checkmate." A small, cold shiver ran down her spine at his words. From what Ryo and Bubby had explained over the last hour, that meant that... She had won? Trying to keep her face as neutral as possible, she quietly brought her hand back to her lap to hide the swirling frost over the tips of her fingers. Reacting made it worse. Surely Nerys wasn't supposed to win, and any moment he would prove it.
Praise hadn't been what she expected. Daring to meet Ryo's gaze, the genuine look of bliss that he was directing at her was a surprise. One that took her breath away and made her heart seize. Needing a distraction, she gave a small smile down to the puppet in her lap. "Thank you, Lord Bubby, for your help." Once again, her fingers threaded softly through his well groomed hair. He was a bit crass, but such a boon to her as they had played. Surely she wouldn't have won without Bubby. "And thank you, Lord Ryo. I quite enjoyed myself." Peering up at Ryo through her lashes was all she could manage. When he looked at her like that it was hard to meet his gaze, especially when she had just assumed the worst.
Ever so gently, Nerys lifted the doll out of her lap and set him into the seat she had vacated. It had been her intention to excuse herself, not wanting to impose on Ryo any longer when he asked her for another round or another game. More importantly, that he had called her 'My Lady.' It didn't mean anything, but it didn't stop the flutter deep in her stomach or the blush that spread over her cheeks. Straightening, she couldn't help her smile as she met his eyes. "That sounds lovely, Lord Ryo. I don't know what they have in this room if you would like to look together. If we don't find anything interesting, we can try another round of chess." Pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear, she started to stretch her hand out to him. As if he would want to take her hand and look through the games with her.
Her expression shifted to embarrassed as she quickly pulled her hand back. "Oh, I'm... My apologizes, My Lord." Why would he want to touch her cold fingers? This wasn't the deserts of Funkazan. There was no relief in her frigid grasp. Shifting her hand behind her back to grasp it's pair, she wandered over to the games to begin sifting through them.
The amount of different games they had were impressive, but then there were sixteen countries... No, seventeen with the newly founded Utopia. Right? That was a lot of places for different games to come from. It was easy to snuff out the tiny flame of hope in her heart that she would find a game she knew. The only game she could play before today was solitaire, and the name made it clear that it was not for two players. "Unfortunately," she started, moving a box with several children made of candy on it that looked so whimsical it felt straight out of Musique to find another box underneath that had several letters she couldn't read on tiles. Quickly snapping the box in her hands back down like it would make the letter game disappear so he would not choose it, she continued. "I don't know very many games, but is there anything you see that looks fun?"
Taking a chance to look back up at him, the next words tumbled out of her mouth before she realized what she was saying. "Maybe we could learn how to play something together. I enjoy your company, My Lord." Fussing on her lip, she flipped over a box that looked like it had several people investigating different objects to try to hide how forward she'd just been.
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game room ❅ ryo ❅ outfit
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Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2024 7:11 pm
"Ryo" "Bubby"
It was shocking how much Ryo found himself enjoying Nerys’ company. Normally strangers made him nervous but her nerves managed to make him more at least. Her face was just so endearing as she offered to play another game with him. There were just so many possibilities the idea of it just made him so exciting. Unfortunately, nothing prepared him for what was to happen next, her fingers reaching out to his hand. His heart started to race.
Oh, what was this foreign feeling? He had felt it a few times before but never this soon.
Only to be meant with a retraction and an apology. Had he misunderstood what she had wanted? Of course, she wouldn’t want to be touching some random stranger’s hand, they had only just met. What kind of sick and twisted ideas was he getting in his head? Of course, she wouldn’t want to hold his hand. He was the freak with a puppet, she was just being kind because she didn’t know better. But Ryo didn’t need her sympathies.
Ryo was used to being alone. Well, never actually thanks to his friends. Did she pity him? Was that why she was still entertaining him? It was nice to think that she actually enjoyed spending time with him but the chances of that felt so slim. He prepared to dismiss her when she noticed her scurrying through the games, she really did seem interested in them. Maybe she really didn’t care about the company but more of the games to be played. Ryo understood that given how much he appreciated Nerys being willing to try chess so he could play with a real person. " Uh- Don’t worry about it." he sputtered before coming to look at the game shelf.
Looking at her holding the beloved children’s game it was surprising to believe she hadn’t heard of it before. Even Ryo was guilty of wanting to eat Princess Lollipop’s palace. Thinking back the politics of the game were a bit confusing. Why were the Queen, Princess, and King living in different palaces unless they were all separate kingdoms? But that made no sense because they were all a part of the same kingdom. Ryo remembered his father telling him this as a child and he couldn’t quite enjoy the game afterward. Especially after he said Lord Licorice had the right to take over the kingdom considering how spilt everything was. It was just too much for a six-year-old.
" Well is there any games you do know?" Bubby piped up from the couch area. Screw the second nature that allowed him to just speak his thoughts so bluntly. Ryo didn’t know her experiences well at all but it appeared games were somewhat special to her. And who was Ryo to criticize something that made another feel safe? " I think what he was trying to say was that maybe there is something from your kingdom we could try." He looked closer at the stack spotting one with a block of ice.
Wait did she just say she enjoyed his company? It was hard to believe what the reason was. Probably just that he was a warm body to play against but Ryo didn’t mind after all he was enjoying himself as well. He just had to make sure he didn’t get too comfortable, it wasn’t like she wanted to be friends with him after this surely. Thinking such things was a waste of time. Still, he couldn’t keep himself from having a small blush, " She likes to spend time with me." Pressing one of his hands against his hot face he opted to try and inspect the game more closely.
" Does this game look familiar at all, my lady?" trying to hide his face with the cube-shaped box. The writing was Common and some foreign language that Ryo assumed was the Ice Kingdom’s. The bold bubbly letters and cartoon made the prince assume the game was a children’s game but maybe that would help spark some friendly conversation between the two. He wanted to learn more about her even if she was using him as a body. He liked being around her.
OOC:
Wearing: x
Thoughts:
Location: Game Room
With: Nerys and Bubby
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