Had some lovely confusion at work today when I said I liked the "penultimate" image when we were looking at cover images for the September issue of one of our magazines, and I just got a digital proof from the printers showing a different cover. A much worse one. Had to pay to have it changed, because by the time it reaches the printers you're not supposed to make alterations and it causes them delays, etc…
Asked Sales Manager how this happened, and she admitted she didn't know what penultimate meant but didn't want to appear dumb by asking me, so guessed one cover out of ten. I'm like, "Why didn't you Google it…?"
Her face goes blank. "Oh yeah. I didn't think of that…"
Fuck my life. I guess that's what I get for not making things abundantly clear, though. Really ought to have said "I like image number 9" or something. Or maybe just described what's on the image instead.
Cover Art: Jack Wayne
Chapter 27
Jaune woke in a panic on his couch, and he only realised it was his day off after he'd stumbled into his work pants and had the kettle already going, by which point he was too alert to go back to bed. Or couch in this case. Ruby was sleeping in his bed. It was only fair since she was his guest and all. The clock on the wall told him it was ten past six. Early, but he'd probably have to wake Ruby up soon if she wanted to make it back to Beacon on time.
The night had been… interesting.
There were a few times when he'd been younger where he slept over at a friend's house, or they at his, but that was years ago and before his last friend had turned on him after Jade turned him down. As if it was somehow his fault his sister hadn't returned the guy's feelings. Hormones made everything complicated, especially when you had seven sisters who were all beautiful in their own way. There were a lot of guys who tried to get into their good books by pretending to be nice to Jaune.
This was probably the first proper sleepover he'd had, and definitely the first with a girl, and with the two of them alone. His mother would have been frothing at the mouth to know what went on, and then equally disappointed when he said nothing.
Ruby and he had just stayed up reading, blushing, and laughing in equal measure over Blake's books. It wasn't that they were badly written, but it was hard to take them seriously when Ruby would giggle whenever it got to the action, and then she'd set him off too and it would all descent into madness.
Also, he was fairly sure if he tried any of the things her books suggested, he'd break his back. Some of the things described in there just didn't seem anatomically possible, and Jaune failed to see how a `raging fourteen inches of raw masculinity` would make it any easier.
And I'll never be able to look at Blake the same way again. Great.
The clock struck half-past and Jaune rapped a hand on the door to his bedroom, earning a grumble from within. He didn't give up and kept knocking, forewarned by Ruby that to accept her calls of being awake as fact was to condemn her to sleeping in until noon. She was only awake when she was on her feet and moving around.
"I'm up!" she cried mournfully.
He kept knocking.
Something soft hit the door – likely a pillow – before he heard bare feet touch wood and a startled gasp. Yeah, his floorboards were like ice in the morning. At least that would wake her up. A muffled curse came from within before Ruby staggered to the door, his own blankets clutched around her, and peeked her head out.
"It's half-six," he explained.
"Ugh."
"Wednesday."
"Ugh?"
"Beacon."
Ruby sighed. "Ugh…"
The door closed again, but he could at least hear her opening her bag for some fresh clothes, so he went back to preparing a quick breakfast. He was so used to waking up at Ungodly-O-Clock that it was sometimes hard to sympathise with people who weren't.
A door opened and closed, followed by another, and a few minutes later the shower started running. A distant part of his mind pointed out that a girl was naked in his shower and that this ought to have been an arousing thought.
He was kind of glad it wasn't. Ruby was too awesome a friend to lose over stuff like that. He munched on a slice of toast instead, letting it hang from his teeth, slowly being drawn in with each bite, while he fried some eggs on a pan and put some bacon beside them. Coffee was eschewed for once – because it was his day off and to hell coffee on his day off – and a bottle of fresh orange juice came out instead. By the time he had everything ready and on the small coffee table in the front room, Ruby came out of the shower fully dressed and all smiles.
"Morning!"
"Morning to you as well," he said, hiding his amazement. The transformation from zombie to Ruby Rose was a frightening one indeed. "I made us some breakfast. If you're going to have to catch a Bullhead back to Beacon, you might as well not have to queue at the cafeteria."
"Mhmm, smells good. I could get used to this, you know. Having someone cook me breakfast every day. Can we be roommates?"
"Could you wake up at six every day?"
Ruby shuddered. "Ugh. Never mind."
"What? You're saying my breakfast isn't worth waking up for?"
"It's good," Ruby allowed, already digging in. She grinned suddenly. "But not that good."
"Mean!"
The two burst into laughter a second later. The rest of breakfast passed with quick chatter between them, Ruby telling him all about the lessons she'd have in the day – which she assured him weren't nearly as exciting as they sounded, especially Grimm studies – whereas he told her what he'd be doing on his day off.
"Just wandering around, I think. I'm stuck inside while I'm working and then I sleep here at night, so it's nice to just get out in the sunlight, even if I don't have anything planned."
"You should pick up a hobby."
"What, some kind of sport?"
"Yeah, sure. Something to get excited about that you can only do on a Wednesday. Just to give yourself something to look forward to."
"It's not a bad idea…"
He had no idea what he'd want to do, but Ruby had a point. He couldn't just wander aimlessly all day every day off or he'd go insane. Back home in Ansel, he'd spent his free time reading and playing video games, mostly RPGs with fantasy storylines.
It didn't really appeal now. Not if it kept him stuck indoors even more.
"I guess I'll have a look around," he said. "Nothing comes to mind now, but maybe I can find something if I keep my mind open."
"Tell me what it is later," Ruby said, waving her scroll.
"If I find something."
"You have to find something," she teased. "Because I'll be giving you a test on it tonight."
"Brat." He swatted her head good-naturedly. "Make sure to take all your smut with you when you leave. I don't want anyone to see it here and think it's mine."
"Blake's smut," Ruby stressed. "Blake's smut. Not mine."
"Sure. I'll pretend I believe that."
Ruby gasped in wide-eyed horror.
/-/
Jaune was awesome.
She'd thought it before, but last night – and this morning – confirmed it. Best. Friend. Ever. Sure, Dad would freak if he knew she'd spent the night with a boy, and he probably wouldn't believe they'd not done anything, especially after they'd stayed up reading poorly-disguised porn. Still worth it. Jaune was herfriend, and his friendship with her team, which was great in and of itself, was all because she'd introduced them.
There was no `maybe he's Yang's friend and only putting up with me`, or the annoying `sees me as an immature hanger on with the rest of the team` nonsense. Jaune knew she was fifteen, didn't care, and acted the same around her as he did Yang. Or not quite the same; more relaxed around her, which was even better.
Ruby was in so good a mood that she didn't notice the shadow come up behind her as she wandered toward Beacon, humming a happy tune. She didn't notice it come close, though she certainly noticed the arms hooking under her armpits, lifting her feet up off the floor.
"I've got her!" Yang cried.
"Y-Yang!? What the heck? Put me down!"
"I've got her," Yang shouted again. "Quick, tell Weiss to bring the handcuffs. We can hold off on the emergency broadcast."
"Weiss isn't going to bring anything," Blake drawled. "And the `state of emergency` you called earlier was pretty much ignored by everyone." The faunus sighed and looked to Ruby, offering a sympathetic smile. "Morning, Ruby. I'm sorry about what's going to happen."
"W-What!?"
"We tried to stop Yang, but… well, you know how she is. Easier to just let her get it out of her system."
Get what out-? And Blake wasn't even going to try and help her? Traitor! Mutiny!
"Hurry, we've got an hour before lessons start and Ruby will hold out for fifteen minutes before she cracks. I need to know everything that went on. Details. Blake, do you have the morning after pills I asked you to get?"
Ruby's face turned bright red. They thought she- and…!? With an indignant squawk, Ruby started to kick her legs madly. "Yang, I'll kill you! Nothing happened. Let me go!" She saw someone who might save her. "Miss Goodwitch, he-mrbl!" The rest was cut off as one of Yang's hands fastened over her mouth.
"It's for your own good, Rubes. We need to- OW! You bit me!"
Yang released her and waved her hand in the air, wincing at the red teeth-marks in the flesh there. She looked up to complain but yelped as Ruby struck her around the midriff, dragging Yang to the floor and pinning her down.
The two started to wrestle angrily.
Weiss arrived with a heavy sigh, took one look at the mess, another at the curious and amused students watching, and turned to Blake. "Want to abandon them and get some breakfast?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
/-/
What did people do on their days off?
Like the slave to efficiency he'd become, the question plagued Jaune. He was walking down the sidewalk, it still being early enough that there were relatively few pedestrians. The only other people active – and he meant active, not just technically awake and walking to work like a robot – were the shop-owners and workers. Those like him who woke early to have their stores open for when the masses finally woke up.
The early hours of the day belonged to them, and it almost looked like the city did, too. They smiled and exchanged greetings, some recognising one another and others asking after loved ones and family, sharing little tales and the day's news.
In an hour, the streets would be a sea of people on their way to work. They wouldn't smile, wouldn't look up from their scrolls and certainly wouldn't talk to one another. Oh no, they were on their way to work, likely lamenting the fact they had to be at their desks by nine.
Nine! Jaune laughed. He dreamed of the day he could start work at that time. Except that he didn't because he was normally ready by half-six and if he had to wait any longer to get going, he'd go insane.
Corporate slaves, some called them. Jaune wasn't sure if that counted for him or not.
But that wasn't the issue at hand. He had a day off, and no premade plans courtesy of the Malachites with which to let it slip away. He was left instead with the burning question that had haunted him ever since Ruby had to go to school.
What was he supposed to do?
Relax?
Obvious answer was obvious, and not exactly helpful. Yes, relaxation sounded nice, but how? Stop for a cup of coffee? Ha, no.
No coffee on a day off.
The park?
Maybe…
Bereft of any other ideas, his feet carried him in the direction of one of the larger parks in Vale, a beautiful one that looked over an artificial lake. More of a pond, really, but everyone called it a lake because it sounded nicer. It was certainly big enough for it.
On weekends and evenings, he'd been told the park was bustling, but early morning weekday it might as well have been a cemetery. There were one or two elderly couples, retired and enjoying the day, and some birds coming down to feast on scraps left by litterers overnight. The bins were overflowing and ready to be emptied within the hour, and the benches were covered in graffiti. Typical city stuff.
Knowing better than to sit on one, Jaune stepped onto the warm grass and sat down on the embankment, looking down on the lake.
Yep. Looked nice. Now what?
Now, I relax.
A few seconds passed.
A bird landed nearby and picked up a cigarette butt, flying away to catch cancer. An insect crawled onto his boot and ignored all his attempts to flick it off. When it was finally knocked off, it clambered back on and sat there, taunting him.
A bigger insect came and killed it a second later, beginning a buffet on Jaune's foot until he kicked both off and sighed.
Days off were hard.
He had a feeling a lot of people would disagree with him there, and quite violently.
His eyes caught sight of someone on the opposite bank, a girl his age or a little older. She was far enough away that she wouldn't think him looking as odd, but her attention wasn't on him anyway. It was down at a large notepad open and resting against her knees, which she appeared to be drawing on.
An artist? Probably just someone who liked to draw. The area was nice enough for it, litter notwithstanding. He'd be in the shot now, and a part of him wondered if she'd draw him. He'd be little more than a shadow across the lake if she did.
Still, it was a hobby. He needed to pick one up.
Drawing probably wasn't it. His mom did have a collection of his drawings from when he was younger which she cherished, but she did for all her children and that was definitely a "only your mother could love it" kind of thing. He was not artistically inclined.
A hobby like that would be nice, though. Maybe something he could sit down and get lost doing, but which would preferably be outdoors. Something that didn't require much strain, either. Despite what it may have seemed like working inside, spending all your time on your feet and serving tables was not an easy task. His legs were killing him as it was.
So, water-sports are out. As are any sports. I can't draw for anything, but… maybe painting?
He'd tried that in school and been about as good as any other student, which was to say not at all, but then again it probably wasn't about being good. Not unless he intended to sell his works. This was just to help him relax and waste a little time.
"Jaune…?"
The voice was familiar and yet not. He looked back over his shoulder to find a tall woman stood behind him. She looked surprised to see him. "Cinder?"
/-/
Cinder moved a piece on the chessboard. It was a stone thing with a stool on either side, not the most comfortable of seats but enough that she wouldn't have to sit on the grass with her bare legs. It was Cinder who suggested the chess, but he knew the rules well enough.
"I didn't recognise you at first," she said. "It was the hair which gave it away. You're not working today?"
"We're closed on a Wednesday," he said, making his own move. "I need at least one day a week off."
Cinder chuckled. "I suppose so. I heard you regained your sword."
"I hear I've got you to partly thank for that."
"So, Roman told you? It was a small trifle." Cinder placed a pawn in the way of one of his, and he took it quickly. He knew it was probably a trap, but he couldn't see how. His pawn was utterly safe. "Have there been any other attacks since the first?"
"Not that I know of. Things have been peaceful for a change."
"Hm. That's good."
Cinder never did take his pawn, continuing the game elsewhere without so much as a glance toward it. In time, he moved it on and the trade was forgotten. They played in companionable silence for a few minutes.
Eventually, Cinder spoke again, "You come from outside the city, don't you?"
"Yeah. A small village called Ansel. Did Roman tell you that?"
"He might have mentioned it. Does your family live there?"
"Yeah. Mom, Dad and seven sisters." He delighted in the momentary widening of her eyes. The number always caught people off-guard. "Yeah, seven. It's a big family."
"It certainly sounds it. Do you visit them often?"
"Well, not much… I only started working here a couple of months ago and things have been busy. My dad visited a couple of days ago, so I sent back a latter for my mom and sisters with him. I call occasionally, too."
"But it's not the same as seeing them in person."
Cinder brought her bishop forward to threaten his queen. Checking to make sure his King wouldn't be in danger and finding it not, Jaune moved the queen to safety.
"No. I guess it isn't."
"Do you intend to visit them?"
"Yeah, in time. When things are a little more settled."
"Hm." Cinder pushed again for his queen, forcing him to retreat over and over, until he could hide her behind his rook and a pawn, providing a shield Cinder would need to break through, and take losses in doing so. She backed away. "The Vytal Festival is beginning in a month or so. Have you made any plans surrounding that?"
"A few. There's going to be a lot more foot traffic, so I've applied to have seating outside in the sun. You should come and see it when it's up."
Cinder's hand paused over her queen. There was a long moment before she moved again. "I'll have to see if I can. The festival is a big event and I might be busy. It's not all it's cracked up to be, however. I'm surprised you don't hire an additional member of staff to help out and take the time off."
"At what's going to be the busiest time of the year?"
"It would let you afford someone to take your place. You could go and visit your family."
He wasn't sure he understood where the conversation was going or why. The Festival would be way too busy for him to take time off over, but he hummed a response anyway, mumbling that he'd consider it.
As for the game? It wasn't looking good. He and Cinder had lost the same number of pieces, but his remaining ones were trapped on his side of the board, huddled to the bottom left, while hers were spread out and in commanding positions.
And this was even with her promising to go easy on him? Sheesh.
"I think I've lost this one."
"In four turns, yes. Five if you make the right play on the third."
To show it, Cinder moved his pieces for him, showing a bizarre series of events in which he took her queen, but left his ranks open, allowing her rook to slip across the board and place his king in check one turn, and then checkmate with the aid of a bishop the turn after.
"It's been a long time since I played," he said.
"You weren't terrible. Your problem was an attachment to your stronger pieces, particularly your queen, and perhaps a reliance on numbers to judge who was winning." She tapped one of her taken pawns with a finger. "While each piece may be worth a given value, the game is ultimately not decided by points. Sometimes, it's better to trade a queen for a pawn. Sometimes, it's better to trade a pawn for no points at all."
"I thought it was a trap," he admitted. "I just couldn't see how you'd punish it."
"Because you were looking for a counter-attack. In reality, all I wanted was your pawn to step out of the middle-ground, to weaken your position on the central ground." She pointed to the four centre squares, which two of her pawns controlled. "In chess, the centre-ground is like controlling the high ground in real warfare. It interrupts all your attempts to cross through the centre and lets me control what you can and cannot do."
"I see." It sort of made sense and he could see the trap now that she explained it. Since his pawns could only move forward, if she allowed him to take one of hers and step off the centre two lines, he couldn't move another back onto it. "I've heard people say chess is like warfare. Is that true?"
"Not as much as movies and books would like to pretend," Cinder said, snorting in clear dismissal. "War is complicated. Chess is a game of memory. None of the pieces have their own loyalty, motivations or limitations. Each player can see every move of the opponent, not to mention the moves are made in order and both sides are equal in strength and position."
"I guess it's not the same at all…"
"It's used in movies to make it clear the player is intelligent, to tell the audience they're smart because they play chess. It's just a tool to explain who a character is without having to say it, often using visual cues. There are some lessons which can apply to both," she admitted. "Such as positioning and the importance of a steady formation, or maybe even the importance of mobilising your stronger troops as quickly as possible to control the battleground." She gestured to the backline.
"If there is a lesson you can learn, it is the necessity of sacrificing your pieces for better positioning. They're not alive. They have no feelings. Sometimes, a pawn serves as nothing more than a block on your own rook. Get it killed so that you can move more freely."
In chess terms, that made perfect sense. "I hope no one in war thinks that way…"
Cinder laughed. "Like I said, chess and war are two different things."
"You know a lot about war."
"No more than any other person," she said with a half-shrug. "I like to read, and history is fascinating. There are real-life examples of people being sacrificed for the benefit of the whole. They don't call it such, and it doesn't always work out like that, but whenever a smaller force is sent to fight a larger one, it comes with the expectation that it will suffer. But if it can buy time for a victory to be won elsewhere, it's often seen as an acceptable trade."
"I can see the logic there, but…" He sighed. "I guess I'm glad I only have to worry about running a coffee shop. I don't think I'd make a good military commander."
"Not a bad thing, given what we just talked about. I don't think anyone will begrudge your unwillingness to sacrifice the lives of others." Cinder leaned her chin on one hand, elbow on the table. "It takes a very specific kind of person to be prepared to do that. To put aside any feelings they might have and work towards a goal to the exclusion of all else."
"I'm not sure I'd want to be that person…"
"Sometimes," Cinder said. "I'm not sure I would, either." She stood with a sigh, picking up the bottled water she'd brought with her. "Thank you for the game, Jaune. It was a… pleasant distraction."
"Same for me, and no problem. You should come around and visit sometime. You don't always have to rent a private room if you want a drink and a chat."
"I shall… That sounds nice. Thank you."
Cinder turned away with a soft smile and a nod. She took a few steps before she paused. She didn't look back, but she spoke, knowing he would hear.
"Consider what I said as well, Jaune. You should take some time off, and the Vytal Festival is not always something you want to see first-hand. It… It brings out the worst in people. Go back to Ansel and be with your family. Take a holiday."
This again?
"I'll consider it," he said.
Cinder nodded, paused for a second, and then walked away. She didn't look back, and Jaune was left wondering just why she kept pushing the issue. On the table before them, his king had been knocked down, but his queen remained standing.
Trapped and alone.
/-/
Pyrrha had been waiting all day for her chance to corner Russel. Wednesday was the best day, since Jaune had his day off, so the diner wasn't open. Miss Goodwitch had also personally warned her she wouldn't be pleased if Pyrrha skipped out again. Considering the teacher's stern nature, and the eye fixed on Pyrrha through the day, she thought it best not to test that.
And besides, Jaune would be around tomorrow and she could spend some time with him. One of Coco's biggest pieces of advice was not to push too hard, nor to try spending every moment of every day around her crush. Apart from coming off creepy and desperate, she'd also make him too used to her presence. Familiarity bred contempt and absence made the heart grow fonder.
Or, in its simplest terms, how was Jaune supposed to decide if he liked being around her if she never gave him the chance to notbe around her?
Coco was good at explaining things in a way that made sense.
Good to see Coco and Velvet back together, too, she thought, smiling at the pair. Coco caught her looking and swayed her butt from side to side with a teasing smile. Pyrrha laughed and waved back. Typical Coco.
Now, if only she could bounce back the spat between her and Russel in the same way, everything would be fine. Pyrrha had already broken the status quo by exchanging a few words with her other teammates that morning, which left them shocked, but tentatively willing to chat back about what their homework from Oobleck.
It was such a small thing, but they at least seemed willing to give her a chance. Then again, their relationship had always been… not cold. Just non-existent. They didn't talk and that was that. They all avoided one another as a result. It was her and Russel that were the main problems, with Russel choosing to avoid the issue by spending all his time with Cardin and Team CRSN.
It wasn't hard to spot them. Ren and Nora were side by side as ever, with Nora regaling him on some kind of dream she'd had. On the other side of the table, Cardin, Sky and Russel chatted away. Team CRSN might have looked as bad as her own team, but even if Nora and Cardin butted heads – and they really did – they were at least willing to argue it out afterwards. They did well on team tests and team combat simulations, mostly because Ren and Sky played mediators, each calming down their respective friend.
They were struggling, but they were trying, which was more than Pyrrha had done with her team ever since Beacon started. Instead of arguing things out like Nora and Cardin, she just gave up, accepting that things were not only bad, but that they would never get better.
Well, that changes today.
At some point…
Probably when she could find a chance to talk to him away from his friends, if she could find that chance. It might have been easier to corner him while he was at work, but then she'd be interfering with his job and that wasn't fair.
No, I need to talk to him in Beacon. No matter how difficult that is.
An opportunity was provided by Velvet, curiously enough. Though not in the way Pyrrha appreciated. Coco and Velvet were walking by lost in conversation, which meant neither noticed Cardin sticking a leg out. Pyrrha only did because she was watching.
Velvet, sadly, had no such hope. She fell with a shriek, dropping her tray and startling not only Coco, but everyone around her – including Russel. He spun on his seat but there was no hope of catching her and by the time he'd turned around, she was on her hands and knees, food scattered across the floor.
Cardin laughed, along with Sky and a few other people among the student body. Not all of them were racists, either. Some just laughed at the poor girl's misery.
Russel did not, Pyrrha noticed.
Coco didn't either, and immediately slammed her tray down on a nearby table, helping Velvet up with one hand before stalking toward Cardin. Velvet dragged her back, trying to stop her, and Cardin was no fool. Faced with the wrath of Coco, not to mention the critical glares from Ren and Nora, he stood, made some last-minute insult directed at Velvet, and walked away with a laugh.
Sky made to follow but hesitated when Nora met his eyes. Whatever went between them, Sky gulped and remained seated. Russel, however, stood and chased after Cardin, reaching him and leaving the cafeteria alongside him.
I thought Velvet said Russel wasn't like that. He doesn't show it well…
Sure, he'd not tripped Velvet and obviously looked as surprised as Velvet did, but he could have shown some solidarity in not chasing after Cardin like that. Pyrrha stood and made to head over to Velvet, only to be waved off by Coco.
Instead, she left the cafeteria, appetite lost. Maybe this was a bad idea. She already had Coco and Velvet, not to mention Jaune and a few other regulars at his place. She didn't need to befriend Russel or make up with him, especially not if it was going to force her to pick between him and Velvet. A competition he would always lose.
Maybe this was for the best.
"- said you wouldn't do that!"
"What does it matter?"
"It matters because you promised you'd stop!"
That sounded like Russel. Pyrrha drew a deep breath and slid over to the side, toward a turn in the corridor leading away from their next class and instead to the library. She didn't step around the corner but paused before it, breathing quietly.
Listening in like this is wrong, she thought.
So was what they did to Velvet.
Two wrongs might not make a right, but she felt they at least absolved her of some guilt. Pyrrha fiddled for her scroll as a few other students walked by, pretending for all the world like she was leaning on a wall reading a message. All the while, she strained to hear what Russel and Cardin were saying.
"Not worth your time, Russel."
"That's not your decision to make. I've told you I work with her."
"So what? She tells on you, I'll deal with her."
"That's not the point! I asked you to stop!"
"Alright, alright. Sheesh. You did, and I did. Not pulled her ears for weeks. Just saw an opportunity and acted without thinking about it." Cardin grumbled under his breath. "Sorry. Won't happen again."
"I'm not really the person you should be apologisin' to."
"Fuck that. I'm not talking to that animal!"
"Cardin…"
"Look, you've already asked a lot. Don't push it."
Russel sighed. "Fine. You know, I've told you a thousand times you're better than this, Cardin. You can be better."
"And I've told you a thousand and one times that I don't see a problem. This is getting old, Russel. Leave it be."
"I just…" Russel hesitated. "Alright, I'll let it go. Just lay off, will you?"
"I will. Geez. I told you I acted without thinking. Not sure why you can't just let this go. If you don't like it so much, sit with them instead."
"It's because you're my friend."
"I know, I know." It was Cardin's turn to sigh. "You're a whiny bastard, but I guess I can put up with you. If you can with me."
"Of course. I owe you enough for that."
"You don't owe me shit, idiot." Cardin snapped out, suddenly irritated. "Don't act like you do." He calmed down immediately, or at least lowered his voice. He sounded exasperated. "Now come on, I need to finish up Oobleck's essay and I know you haven't gotten started on it either. If I fail another one of his quizzes, the animal-loving bastard will have me in detention."
Pyrrha hid behind a pillar as the two men came back around, walking past her without really noticing her presence. As their chatter turned to more inane subjects like class, girls and comics, Pyrrha leaned against the pillar and considered what she'd overheard. No, what she'd eavesdropped on. Might as well not lie about it.
Russel wasn't as okay with Cardin's behaviour as he let on, and yet he still stayed with him.
And what was this about owing him?
Whooo, symbolism, chess games and secrets. Things and stuff.
I'm sure there will be some people chomping at the bit to tell me off for daring to suggest chess isn't high strategy. After all, some of the most famous games are between people like Napoleon Bonaparte and other famous Generals.
And yes, chess can help with critical thinking, but it still falters as an actual war simulation game. It's often just about memorising good openings and learning how to play various segments of the game, with even one of the more famous games between Bonaparte and another General just being a trick game in which Bonaparte purposefully got all his pawns slaughtered early so that he could bring out his back line and trap the opponent in checkmate while his king was stuck behind his own pawns.
Clever, but not exactly military strategy. Other than in a metaphorical "Use your best units" kind of sense. But then, most armies don't have their best troops trapped behind useless ones they can't walk through or around, lol.
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur