Scene #804: Stratagems

Owner	Pose
Sir Bedivere	Autumn in Dun Realtai is a dreary season. It isn't too far from the grey and wet weather of the British Isles of the modern age. The sky has been leaden for days, raining intermittently, and every so often a thunderstorm will pass through in the night, shaking the castle to its foundations. Both the village folk and the castle's residents have been confined indoors, unless they want to chance the weather and the threat of illness. Today, the rain has fallen in a steady drizzle, just enough to discourage the thought of going outside. Thanks to considerable pre-emptive warnings from his companion, Sir Bedivere has wisely elected to stay inside. Most of the morning had been spent in light duty, going over the ledgers and making adjustments to the finances as necessary, or the study of modern law to oversee Heaven or Hell's finances; when he needed a break, he would get up and go sweep out the castle's unused chambers that still need some attention. Eventually, he had elected to settle down in the great hall beside the blazing hearth, wearing his usual commoners' attire. A table has been pulled over, and on it is a wooden board, painted with black checkered squares, and sixteen pieces to a side of rough-hewn wood, recognisable as chess pieces -- eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, king, and queen; in dark wood and light wood. He's just setting them meticulously on the board as thunder rolls in the distance, bringing him to look up absently before returning to his careful placement. There's enough room on the table left for a small tea service. Kagenashi was left an invitation some time prior, although he had received no answer. Only later did he realise that she probably couldn't read the note he'd left her, and instead left her a spoken message on her radio device. So, here he is, waiting. Nobody else is here, just yet; Gawain is off doing whatever it is Gawain does when he isn't in Dun Realtai, Psyber is not visiting. Inga is no doubt attending to the crises in Kingsmouth. Arturia had elected to rest for a while, and (he hopes) perhaps even to sleep, and recover some of the mana that sustains her very existence; a thing he still feels somewhat guilty over being unable to supply. The knight finishes patiently setting up the pieces, leaning back into his chair to stare at the fire, eyes half-hooded; almost trance-like.
Kagenashi	Bedivere is kept waiting for some time before Kagenashi shows herself. When the nogitsune finally strides into the hall, she's wearing the usual low-cut black yukata she tends to wear around the keep, lacking her mask, weapons, or any finer adornments. Her steps are careful and quiet, followed by the slinking grace of Munashi just behind her feet. Once she reaches her chair, she doesn't take a seat in it yet, but instead leans forward to rest her folded arms against its back. Silver eyes are lifted to Bedivere as her lips curve in light amusement. "Thank you for realizing your mistake earlier. I was quite willing to try translating your message, but you saved me enough work that I could instead spend my time trying to research this game of yours." Her gaze shifts down to the board next, flitting back and forth between the various pieces. "It is not one I am personally familiar with, I admit, but it seems simple enough." Kagenashi straightens up, then, slipping around to take her seat in the chair opposite Bedivere. As she leans back, crossing one leg over the other and folding her hands in her lap, her curious gaze focuses fully on the knight again. "Oddly cordial of you to invite me out simply for a game, as well, after preferring that I not get involved in your other festivities. Is there something else you had in mind?"
Sir Bedivere	Those violet eyes open only marginally when the knight senses a foreign presence. He knows the tread and sign of all his friends' approach, all his allies, simply by the way they place their weight and the subtle little signs they give. At times, he can even pick out the presence of someone by the sound of their breathing if the room is quiet enough. Yet... that very study in details is what gives Kagenashi away to him. She gives none. There's no sound of her footfalls, no sound of her breathing, and the only thing he has to go by is that 'sixth sense' that someone's standing behind him, watching. His head tilting faintly, confirming his suspicions, just as she drapes herself over the back of her chair. Her smile, just a little smug, is returned with an expression of carefully-schooled blandness. "I have no doubt that you would have eventually deciphered the note. Still, I am to understand that most multiversal cultures include a game much like this one, somewhere in their history, though the details differ from region to region." He gestures to indicate the board. Lifting his eyes, he studies Kagenashi for a moment. He seems tired; there are faint shadows under his eyes. "I am dreadfully bored, I should not like to disturb my lord by venturing upstairs to rest, and I am extremely limited in the work I can do about the castle keep," he answers truthfully. A faint motion of his chin is given to indicate his right shoulder, which is still a tangled skein of bandaging. "The only thing left I can do faithfully is to balance the ledgers, and I cannot write for very long before I lose control. Also, I have already seen to them this morning." "If you prefer something less droll, perhaps we might make a wager on the outcome of this game." His eyes drop to study the pieces, thoughtful for a moment. "If I should win, I will ask you to answer to me one question, honestly and straightforwardly, with no tricks, no obfuscation, and no vagueness. Name your terms, if you like, and we shall see if I agree to them."
Kagenashi	The fox woman's thin brows raise slightly at the indicated shoulder. Her sigh is a soft one, though punctuated by the faint shake of her head, it may as well be louder. "Really, Bedivere, you put yourself in danger far too much for your own good. What did you run afoul of /this/ time?" Still, there's that light smile; clearly his propensity for getting into trouble is something she finds amusing more than truly concerning. That proposal, however, casts a seriousness over her expression. This, for her, is not a joking matter. The vestiges of a frown play over her her visage as she considers the outcome: he could, if he so chose, ask a question that would ruin her attempts at hiding her intentions or obscuring her history. And if he did, then who is to say he would not simply tell that information to everyone who wondered about it? ...but, if she were to win... Kagenashi's eyes gleam like knives, but her tone remains one of unmatched serenity. "Well...that would certainly be advantageous for you. Perhaps even destructive for me, depending on what you chose to ask. What could I come up with to match something of such severity...?" Her gaze shifts aside to the fire as she falls into thoughtful silence, considering the prospect for a few moments. "...if I win, you will truly owe me a single favor of my choosing, at a time of my choosing, regardless of your feelings toward the favor itself." She looks back at the knight, then, as Munashi curls up around her feet. "I will agree to your terms, if you will agree to mine."
Sir Bedivere	"A particular magus' pet cat has particularly sharp claws." Interestingly, 'magus' is not the word Bedivere uses, but 'filidh,' the word for his world's bards, lorekeepers, poets, musicians, and magicians; the old world's analogue to magi. He looks over the board, thoughtful, although his hood-eyed regard is anything but sleepy. "Incidentally, if you should see a peculiarly petulant white cat with red eyes, I would avoid the creature, were I you." He watches her mull over the wager, but indirectly, never quite looking directly at those silver eyes. His attention seems to be fixed on the chess pieces instead, narrowing slightly as he considers her counter-offer. "I would like to modify those odds. I will not ask you anything that is in violation of what you appear to be so careful to guard. That is to say, I will not ask you of your purpose, or your intentions, so long as you ask me not to act against my knightly virtues. For I could not, and I should not like to be thought of as an oathbreaker, but those virtues..." He shakes his head. "It is more important to me to abide by them than even personal honour, if I must choose between the two." Reaching out, he rolls a pawn around by its top, its base still touching the board. "Are those terms more amenable to you, then?" It's in his nature to be cautious. Maybe, in another time and place, he might have made a good fox-guardian...
Kagenashi	Kagenashi's head tilts slightly to one side as she considers that offered modification. It seems to relax her expression somewhat, at least, even before she responds. "I can accept that, yes. I was, admittedly, not planning on having that favor be something like..." She pauses for a moment, then shrugs lightly. "...asking you to kill Arturia for some reason, for instance. I doubt even you would adhere to a pact with that sort of result." The nogitsune leans forward, elbows coming to rest just beside the board as her fingers interlace as a perch for her chin. That faint smile returns again. "Very well, then. You will ask me something I am sworn to answer trutfully and plainly, so long as it does not reveal something I guard too closely, or I will have a favor from you in the future, the conditions of which are my choosing, should they not go against your virtues. That is acceptable." A glance is given back to the board. "I believe you may as well start, considering you proposed this in the first place."
Sir Bedivere	Bedivere's expression never changes, but something in his eyes seems to grow incredibly cold at the example given by the fox woman. As much as he tries to remain calm, that example is a personal nightmare for him, in many more ways than one. It's a fate he has however indirectly lived through, when he failed to protect his king, and he is even now struggling to pick up the pieces. It will be years before those nightmares let him go. He stares Kagenashi down for a few moments, as though he were either mulling over his response, or studying her. "I would sooner fall on my own sword than fulfill that order," he says simply. "There is no force on heaven or earth with which you could force me to bring any kind of harm upon my king." The words are spoken with the conviction of a man absolutely certain. He wouldn't willingly harm Arturia in any way, and it would be foolish to order him to. It goes so strongly against his nature that if he were a Servant, it would probably take two or all three command seals to force his obedience in such a thing. As a mortal... well, there's just no hope of that kind of obedience. He would sooner face personal dishonour, willingly. "Indeed. And I will extend you the courtesy of choosing to refuse, and thus I may ask you a different question, instead. I will extend to you a favour, so long as it does not act contrary to my knightly virtues." He pauses, rubbing at his jaw with his left hand and frowning. The motion betrays his command seal for a brief instant, but he doesn't seem to notice. "That is agreeable to me." His eyes fall to the board, and after a moment's thought, he reaches down to pluck and place a piece. A simple pawn; an opening gambit of very little significance. He doesn't move it far from his battle line, either. Testing how she might react, perhaps. "Surely Azuma must have such games," he adds, regarding the board thoughtfully. "This one in particular is known by many names. I believe it is called 'chess' in the modern area, though I do not know how it earned such a name. I have known it as 'king's-men.'"
Kagenashi	Kagenashi simply smiles at his frigid, determined declaration. It's not so much a smile of coy amusement, though, like before. Perhaps it's approval? "Good. You would be a terribly poor knight and...ah...'companion' if you were so easily swayed against your 'king.'" Pointed wording, there, but at least she doesn't seem to be trying to tease him for once. Her eyes drift closed, then, before she gives a soft sound of amusement. "An unnecessary courtesy that would only make things too soft. If I were to dodge every question you threw at me, the only one I finally accepted would be one I would answer anyway, wager or no. Then what would be the point of your victory?" The nogitsune gives a brief shake of her head before her eyes slip open again, silver slits peering thoughtfully at Bedivere from across the table. "No, if I have faltered enough to be beaten by a human in a game of wits and tactics, then I believe I deserve to allow you your choice." Her gaze shifts to the board when she sees him considering his first move. It's the sort of thing she expected from him; cautious, somewhat defensive, testing his opponent's reactions rather than proceeding aggressively. Not unlike his own fighting style, she thinks. It's not much longer than a moment before she moves, lifting the knight closest to the king in a leap just in front of the pawns. Her fingers interlace again as a perch for her chin as she looks back up at Bedivere. "I suppose the closest would be shogi, the 'generals' game'. It has more pieces, however, and a somewhat different format. No queen, but two gold and silver generals, among other changes. Perhaps I will have to challenge you to that sometime." Her head cocks to the side slightly. "And what are those markings on your hand, by the way?"
Sir Bedivere	If at all possible, Bedivere's expression falls even further. If it were coming from anyone else, that focused wording might make him embarrassed; coming from Kagenashi, somehow it just irritates him and makes him feel even more defensive, as though to protect that secret on Arturia's behalf from the treacherous fox. Not that there's anything to protect. Kagenashi discovered that rather handily for herself. It's hard to keep a secret for twenty years when it eats you alive every waking moment of every day... while it causes him no pain, here, it's still difficult to shake off that instinct to keep it secret. More than that, it seems it just isn't something he can reasonably expect himself to remain calm about. What irony. For twenty years he had been so calm and so controlled that the people of Camelot had even suspected /him/ of the same inhumanity as his king, yet here... Bedivere dismisses his thoughts with a shake of the head and a snort. His eyes fall to the board, listening to her talk about the wager and evidently finding nothing worth responding to. If she wants to change the terms in a way that doesn't directly favour her, then he has no qualms about that. He gave her a fair chance in spite of how disadvantageous it could have been to him; honour compels him to remain fair, even when he may not necessarily want to be. He wonders, briefly, if Lancelot ever struggled with chivalry and practicality, as the king's spymaster. One pale, silvery-blonde brow lifts at the leap of the knight. It isn't altogether surprising. She seems to favour bolder tactics, but, to his mind, only when she thinks she can get away with it. In this case, it doesn't cost her anything, and as she looks up to study him, he looks down to study the board. "I see. That sounds interesting. Truth be told, I enjoy such games; it was important that I keep my mind sharp in Camelot, and I see no reason to neglect that here." He reaches out his right hand as though to consider another pawn, but seems to think better of it, withdrawing his hand; his fingers are visibly trembling. "Hmm." And then she asks him about the markings on his hand. The marshal blinks. For a moment, he almost doesn't know what she's talking about; he's grown used to the tattoo-like knotwork. Pity it isn't blue or black, either, for there's no mistaking it as something supernatural. He doesn't so much as skip a beat. "Perhaps if you win, instead of a favour, you may ask me about them." Bedivere smiles serenely, and then moves a different pawn forward.
Kagenashi	"It is not a game I had very many chances to play," Kagenashi remarks, referring to the subject of shogi. "That is probably not surprising to you. Still, it is something I doubt I would have much trouble picking up again." A glance is given to the board again. "I suppose I would have to find pieces with distinct shapes. We simply used chips where we wrote the names of the pieces." She peers at him as she sees him pause, considering how he reacts to the question of those command seals. Something in his response curves her lips with faint amusement again, but she says nothing, merely lowering her gaze to the board once more to consider her next move. "I tend to find other ways to keep my mind sharp," she remarks, idly drumming her fingertips against the back of her hand. "More physical training was always the most effective way. Or studies in written works, if they could be accessed. History can be an excellent teacher." Her hand slips free from beneath her chin, slender fingers weaving carefully over the many pieces she has in front of her. "Now, however..." There. Slowly, she plucks up a pawn in front of the king, placing it forward just one step. Again she returns to that relaxed posture, folding her hands beneath her head and smiling calmly up at Bedivere. "...I suppose my mind stays sharpened through interactions with others. Never a moment for it to dull." The nogitsune hums thoughtfully, glancing down at the board. "Really, if you play games like this so frequently, I wonder that you are not a higher leader. Such exercises in tactics and planning are the perfect training for leadership, even beyond that which you already have. A shame you refuse the title of 'lord' so vehemently."
Sir Bedivere	"Very little surprises me," Bedivere admits, eyes falling to the chess board. He studies the layout of the pieces with all the intensity of a bird of prey, his seal-inscribed left hand rising to curl a forefinger in front of his upper lip. Much as Arturia sometimes clasps her chin between thumb and forefinger, it seems to be an unconscious gesture of contemplation for him. His eyes narrow slightly as he regards the board. It's still too early in the game to devise a solid strategy, but he might be able to count on her overextending himself. On the other hand, there's no real questioning that she expects him to play the defensive game. It may well come down to having to defend himself against multiple fronts, although that's something he feels confident he can do... but she's had hundreds of years to hone her wits. He's had a mere thirty-four. "Practising one's skills is an excellent way to keep one's mind sharp. It is also an excellent way to honour the knightly virtue of /Exercitium/." Still, his statement is distracted. He frowns, watching her open a space before her king. Reaching for another pawn of his own, he hesitates, before ultimately deciding not to move it, instead moving one of the knights forward; a move that she perhaps won't expect, given his cautious nature. He settles back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest, although he's careful in how he arranges his right shoulder. Everything is still in various states of healing, and all it takes is a slight jostle for his healing wounds to start clamouring again. "As for interaction with others, I could not afford that luxury for many years. My king would at times challenge me to such games as these, though; I suspect to ensure that my mind remained sharp. At times Master Merlin would, as well. He is the only one I could not best." His mouth twists at her observation. "I was Marshal of the Realm, in Camelot. Generals answered to me. It was a strictly military title, and a lord is something else entirely. Perhaps it is a difference in culture..."
Kagenashi	Kagenashi's brow lifts slightly in interest as she watches him. "Really, that is one of your virtues? Interesting. I suppose it makes sense, however; little is more useless than an unfit warrior." She ponders for a moment, staring at him in curious contemplation as he works over his next move. "I wonder if further training against those you would not normally have met in your world would benefit you much." The black fox shrugs slightly, then, before her attention turns back to the board. With her relaxed demeanor, it's difficult to tell if she's even bothering to plan or strategize, but anyone who knows her well enough can tell that she's either good at hiding it, or she's simply good at adapting on the fly. Either one makes her a formidable opponent in confrontations like this...but not invulnerable. Gleaming eyes stare at the board, flitting between pieces and considering her next course of action. Even then, she seems more than capable of holding a conversation at the same time. "Merlin? The magician, correct? I have been curious as to whether or not he might show up sometime. Was he some sort of ally of yours?" Her gaze shifts up to look at him again, glinting with coy interest. "Perhaps. Or, perhaps, it is simply my own mindset conflicting with your own. I find my thoughts frequently fail to match those of others, particularly those that are less long-lived. Maybe it is simply the nature of youkai interacting with humans." Her hand sweeps down; the other knight is cast over the pawns, mirroring the first one's motion. Somewhere between aggression and defense, it seems.
Sir Bedivere	"Heh. No... it was noblemen and their hubris. Eager to be the first to reach their impossible quarry, they would ask too much of their horses, and then they would both be killed when the horse lost its footing in the underbrush. Although, at times, I am to undestand that there were some who did not exercise caution, and they were gored by the frightened beast's horn. No... such creatures were better avoided. If there were otherworldly kinds like your demons, they avoided humanity, and wisely. Or perhaps they blended in, and none were the wiser for their presence." He considers as he leans back in his chair, folding his arms almost defensively over his chest. He seems tired, and thoughtful; and the faint shadows under his eyes are only accentuated by the flickering firelight. "Some say Merlin was half-demon. I do not know, myself, but it would have explained much..."
Sir Bedivere	"Indeed," Bedivere confirms. "The virtue of Exercitium encompasses proficiency, skill, training, and practise in its many forms. It is to take pride in one's skills, and to hone them to the best of one's ability. To honour the virtue of Exercitium is to show pride in one's work, and therefore honour one's station and training." Leaning back in his chair, Bedivere watches the chess board with feline disinterest, although he's alert for the slightest movement of the pieces. "There are seven other virtues a Knight of the Round Table is expected to live his life by: Militia, Fortitudo, Fides, Generositas, Pietas, Humanitas, and Ingenuitas. Only when a man exhibits all eight of these virtues together will he be deemed worthy of upholding the values of the Round Table, and acting in concert with one another for the good of Britain." "At least, that was how it was meant to be." He seems to withdraw, eyes hooding as he regards the board. Silence takes him for a few moments, brooding and almost melancholy as he remembers the ideal of Camelot; the ideal that they had all fallen short of. "As to that, I have considered it, once my wounds have healed." It wouldn't do to undo all of Inga's hard work and destroy his right arm again. His shoulder is still healing, and with the nature of the wound, it would be altogether too easy to rip apart important tendons in his arm and shoulder and ruin the use of his right hand. Unlike Arturia, he never trained himself to wield a sword in either hand; to lose it would be disastrous. "I dare not test the limits of its healing quite yet. As it is, I should have lost the use of my hand through such injury, but..." Well, he'll let Inga introduce herself to Kagenashi if the two should ever meet. He shrugs his good shoulder, dismissively. Much like the fox, he seems capable of carrying on a conversation even as he studies their tiny wooden battlefield. Often he had delivered and received reports while devising battle strategies, and often this had been done while on or very near to the front lines against the Saxon host. Bedivere is no stranger to the art of multitasking. "Yes, the magician, although he was more the open secret of the court." It's nothing that she wouldn't find in any history book, so there's no harm in telling her some of the details. "Ostensibly, he was advisor to my king, not a magician. And for such a master of the otherworldly arts, he had an unbecoming mischevious streak. His advice never led my king astray, but I never trusted him for as long as I served." Bedivere shakes his head, eyes half-closed for a moment. "He had an unsettling aura about him." That's to say the least. Merlin was skilled, but perhaps more importantly, Merlin's goals were his own. He played the long game, longer than anyone would have thought, and his allegiances ultimately belonged to him and him alone. No one ever knew what his angle was. "I would not know about that." He shrugs again, shaking his head and watching as she casts her other knight forward. He himself settles for bringing another pawn forward, shoring up the jagged wall of defense. "Such beings were passing rare, in Camelot. Even the divine beasts, the fantastical creatures, were not easily sought out. Or wisely, for they were powerful; more powerful than any man. I had heard tell of unicorn hunts, on occasion. In many cases, few of the hunters survived, although not necessarily because the beast itself dispatched them."
Kagenashi	"I do not know the exact meanings of those terms, but I believe I understand the general idea. Such high standards your knights are held to." There's a hint of approval in Kagenashi's serene tone, though it's only the briefest lilt. "I suppose that explains why there are so few of you, by comparison. One could not form an army of such people from one world, because there simply are not enough who have the will to uphold those." Her eyes narrow slightly in thought when she notices that slight retreat. His silence is filled by one quiet remark that comes from her. "...I suppose even those counted among those ranks must struggle with them as well." A slow, calm breath is released as she leans back in her seat, folding her hands in her lap as she continues to peer at Bedivere. Her gaze flits aside to his shoulder again as if trying to study the covered wound. "A shame I am not more powerful. When a kitsune gains its seventh tail, it can manipulate the essence of life itself. It makes healing much more efficient than some medicines may be, though...I suppose it comes at the expense of something else." Of course, the nogitsune doesn't elaborate; she lets the fact that life must be taken to be given remain unspoken for Bedivere to figure out on his own. Her attention returns to the board again, even as Bedivere elaborates on Merlin's role. Slender fingers drum against the back of her other hand as she ponders her plan. "He sounds more like a youkai than a man. An excellent ally, but one that does not come without risks. You were likely wise to mistrust him." Ah, there. She plucks up the bishop beside the king, allowing it to slip through the narrow lines of her defenses into a more threatening offensive position. With her move taken, she leans back again, smiling faintly across the table. "Such foolishness is rare in Azuma," Kagenashi remarks, her sigh one of disdain toward the noblemen Bedivere describes. "Humans are, physically, far more frail than most youkai, and so they wisely avoid them if possible. The kitsune have made that easier, for other youkai rarely choose to venture into territories the kitsune protect. But..." Her gaze shifts aside toward the nearby fire. "...there are some who are more benevolent toward humans, even beyond the kitsune; the tanuki, the mujina, the kawauso. Many, both malicious and benevolent, can also take on human forms. While rare, it is not unusual to hear of halfbreeds wandering the land with strange powers from their mixed heritages." Her head doesn't turn, but the nogitsune's eyes shift back toward Bedivere. "I understand the Union is not lacking in such individuals. Kirika, I believe, is one such halfbreed whose nature I would be more familiar with. Are there many others?"
Sir Bedivere	"I will explain them if you like." Those violet eyes lift briefly to regard Kagenashi, but there doesn't seem to be any acidity or sarcasm in Bedivere's statement. There's nothing particularly clandestine about the virtues that he tries so hard to live by, and most knights are willing to educate the uneducated about them. "The terms themselves are Latin, for the language of the church is the common language of the people. Languages differed from place to place, but Latin could be spoken and understood in most regions where the church could be found." He falls silent, almost brooding as he watches the fire cast flickering shadows over the board and its pieces. For a few long moments it almost seems like he won't answer her quiet remark, but at last he does speak, softly. "Those among the ranks must especially struggle with them. We are held to higher standards." Perhaps more accurately, he holds himself to a higher standard than his brethren, although that isn't hard to infer from his behaviour and his mannerisms. If he feels any discomfort at her pointed study, he doesn't show it, eyes lingering on the board and pieces, though whether he's thinking about battle strategies or reflecting on days past, it's hard to say. "I would not accept any healing from you, in any case. Anything out of you comes at cost, and such a thing would be higher and more dear than I would be willing to pay." He says it matter-of-factly. It's no secret that he doesn't trust her, and the feeling is certainly mutual. Still, it's good to know that she may eventually be capable of such a thing, in the event that she needs to slink away and mend her own wounds. "I prefer to let time do its work." He has no way to know the exact cost, but such a thing wouldn't surprise him. Nor would it surprise him to know that she would wait for him to come to that realisation on his own. So, Azuma's humanity stands at a permanent disadvantage against the otherworldly. That isn't surprising, for it was not so different in his own world. The otherworldly stood head and shoulders above the capabilities of nearly all of humanity. If he could believe Aoko Aozaki's account, such things had in fact retreated during the march of the ages, and magic itself had faded away from the world, to be replaced by inferior thaumaturgy and the rise of technology. "I would not know," he murmurs. "I have not dealt with Lady Kirika personally, save in passing. As to the Union, I do not deal with them directly very often, in truth. I have been occupied with matters here. If you seek to gain more understanding of the opposition you face within the Union, I will be of little help to you." He considers the board thoughtfully, before reaching down and plucking his second knight, placing it in a defensive position just out of the way of the bishop's line of fire. His battle line now bristles with pawns out of their orderly line, and both his knights ready and waiting.
Kagenashi	Another soft sound of amusement at the knight's observation. "Really, anything? The bamboo did not come at any cost to you. Nor will whatever answer you choose to demand from me should you win our game. And if there /were/ a price, what if it were so trifling as to be nearly inconsequential? You should consider these things more carefully." The nogitsune's hand lifts, fingertips lightly running along her lower lip in thought as she regards the board again. So, he's building up defenses, it seems. Not unexpected; no doubt he expects /her/ to be more aggressive in turn, and his blockade would then prove to hinder that. Kagenashi may be willing to make sacrifices for victory, but even she has her limitations in that regard if the sacrifice outweighs the reward. So, rather than proceed forward, she instead makes a strange maneuver. The king is picked up and moved two spaces toward the closer rook, with those spaces opened up by the removal of the knight and bishop. Then the rook is picked up and placed on the king's immediate other side, walling the king in with a barricade of pieces and one open space to move. Content with her defensive choice, she sits back and folds her hands in her lap again, lifting her eyes to regard Bedivere. "If I wanted to understand my opposition in the Union more, I would probably be better off investigating for myself rather than asking any of you," she replies calmly, still faintly smiling. "I know none of you trust me, and I would be foolish to expect that you would at some point. It is merely idle conversation, nothing more." Her eyes drift closed, then, a light shrug offered in the lift of her shoulders and the rise of one hand. "But, if you have no interest in that kind of conversation, perhaps I would be willing to hear your explanation of your knightly virtues. There may be interesting similarities to be seen there."
Sir Bedivere	"Nearly anything," Bedivere corrects himself, not bothering to look over to the nogitsune. His eyes are locked firmly on the chess board, observing the tide of battle between pieces of light and dark. Thus far they seem to be evenly matched. Perhaps his defenses are exaggerated, though; she doesn't seem as interested in overly aggressive strategies as he might have expected her to be. Still, that works to his advantage. Taking a defensive position has never served him wrong. Indeed, it was the hallmark of his fighting style, both in personal combat and in the tactics of Britain's armies. Even when he faced superior numbers, he could be relied on to adopt a strategy that would result in a minimum of losses. It was not simply efficiency for efficiency's sake, but personal guilt -- he felt responsible for every life lost under his watch. In this case, though, it's simple, brutal efficiency to yield no quarter. Even if she defeats him, he has every intention of selling that victory dearly. Violet eyes narrow in thought as she falls back to castling, adopting a more defensive strategy in exchange for the pieces cleared from the back ranks. A move he would have done had he cleared out many of his own pieces, but he seems reluctant to play his hand too quickly, or to move his pieces too hastily. "Investigation or no investigation, it is not a question I can answer, because I do not know the answer." Bedivere shrugs his good shoulder, little more than a twitch; a suggestion of movement. "There are a few that I have worked with on more regular occasions, but they are not any you have not already seen visiting the keep. Perhaps there are other half-blooded individuals within the Union, but if there are, I do not know them, nor do I know of them." His eyes drop further to regard his own pieces, and then to hers, head tilting faintly as he considers the battle before him thoughtfully. There's a certain nostalgia in playing a simple game of chess. It's not unlike the small clay or wooden models he had once used as mock-ups for the battles against the Saxons, when they had made raiding a regular business, before the decisive battle that had finished them. He would arrange pieces on the board painted to look like their isle, and he would mutter to himself as he walked himself through various strategies, agonising over what would be the most efficient and brutally effective against those sea-wolves. Chess isn't so different -- though he's more careful to keep his mutterings and his strategies to himself. "Very well, then, I will tell you of the virtues," he says, plucking up a pawn and marching it forward. They, much as the peasant-soldiers he had once commanded, are perhaps the most valuable to him; the most often underestimated... and capable of great deeds just as much as the mighty rook or the gallant knight. "Which do you prefer to hear of first?"
Kagenashi	That correction just earns a soft chuckle from Kagenashi, perhaps the clearest sort of laughter she's given in some time. It's a soft, throaty lilt, but only brief; her hand lifts high enough to let a finger curl over her faintly smiling lips, almost a mirror of Bedivere's own pensive gesture. "A shame," the nogitsune remarks, glancing over the board as Bedivere continues to study the pieces. "I would hope that you would be more acquainted with your allies, but I suppose you have not had much involvement with the majority of them yet. I should not really expect you to be as familiar as I am, considering how much longer I have been here." There goes another pawn. Not the boldest tactics he's using, but Kagenashi isn't very surprised by that. If her first battle with him was a sign of anything, he wouldn't attack unless first provoked, in the meantime building up a defense for that inevitability. Plenty of time for her to prepare her own defenses with minor threats in between, until her turn came to strike. "Hm...first? I suppose..." She isn't looking at him as she murmurs, but rather at the board. She considers both his question and her next move, letting her hand fall from her lips to weave carefully over the board. Finally, she takes a piece: the bishop, sliding along diagonally to gently tip over a pawn. Once the small piece thuds onto its side, she sets the bishop down in its place, plucks up the pawn, and sets it down behind her side of the board. A bold move that no doubt puts her piece at risk of capture, but it seems to be something she's prepared for: one knight's strange leap guards that bishop in case it does get captured. The nogitsune smiles again, leaning back in her seat as she peers up at Bedivere. "...Generositas, perhaps?"
Sir Bedivere	Although he quirks an eyebrow, studying Kagenashi with some skepticism, he doesn't ultimately comment on the matter of his own allies. What could she possibly have found out? It sounds as though they regard her as anathema, so he can hardly expect that many of them bother to socialise with her. He might even be willing to wager money on the fact that he's the only person she spends the effort bothering on such a consistent basis. Or one of the few who's civil with her, to go by the reaction of some. Then again, even one's mode of combat can say much about a person. He had trained himself to look to even the slightest clues to build a mental image of a person and pass judgment on their character. It was necessary in Camelot, and it is necessary here. "I have little reason to involve myself in their struggles. I am mortal. Most of that which they pit themselves against is not. Therefore, it is more sensible for me to focus on providing aid to those who are in need, and other such pursuits." His smile is both distracted and somewhat lopsided as he regards the board. "I think it is blatantly obvious by this point that I am not well-suited to such combat." His eyes turn down to the board, watching as she takes hold of a bishop and claims a pawn. In spite of the loss, he doesn't seem particularly distraught. It's still an acceptable margin of loss, as far as he's concerned, and something tells him that sacrifices in this battle are going to be necessary. "Generositas," he declares, eyes briefly returning to Kagenashi. "Charity and generosity. A knight is required to give alms to the poor, and to never refuse offers of hospitality or charity to anyone in need; for it is not only against the codes of the Round Table and the spirit of Generositas, it is also a breach of Brehon Law to turn away those in need. A knight must also never demand that from others which they cannot reasonably give." Violet eyes settling on the board again, he seems to spot his move, reaching out and nudging a pawn forward with confidence -- and knocking over one of Kagenashi's, from a diagonal attack. Blood for blood, it seems, but not yet for the bishop. He will prepare his defenses... but he won't let her challenge go /completely/ unanswered.
Kagenashi	"And yet, you seem dedicated to involving yourself anyway." Kagenashi's remark comes with a smirk of amusement and a brief, dismissive wave of her hand. "You must eventually admit that you will involve yourself in matters for the greater good, even if it leads to you lying in pain for a week afterward because you took on someone whose strength or abilities far surpassed your own. Perhaps you will not involve yourself in /everything/, but your focus on dealing with /me/ seems clear enough." More action continues on the board, then. A pawn is knocked aside; somewhat surprising, but, in retrospect, something she also should have expected. It would take more than that to threaten Bedivere and coax him into boldness, and, eventually, failure. She'll just have to try harder, then. Her hand falls to her leg, fingers idly drumming along her thigh as she considers the board. Only briefly do her silver eyes flit up toward Bedivere again in acknowledgement of his explanation. "A virtue you certainly seem to embody, to a fault," she comments. "I suppose that should not be too surprising. And what of...Pietas, was it?" Rather than attack, she settles for moving the pawn in front of her unmoved rook two spaces forward before settling back again. More preparation, it seems.
Sir Bedivere	"Ah, you are correct in that." Although he hears the smirk in her voice, there comes no amusement from the knight. His attention is reserved for the game board before him, and the array of pieces locked in their desperate struggle. "I prefer not to involve myself, but knightly virtues compel me, from time to time. In the case of the last incident, I chose to accompany Master Shirou. He has a poor sense of tactics and a will to fling himself at every crisis that develops." In other words, Bedivere accompanied Shirou strictly to make sure Shirou didn't get himself killed. He doesn't say it in so many words, but it's pretty clearly implied. Most of his involvements in Union matters could be described that way. The pale-haired knight seems to have little desire to go on the offensive, though, instead choosing to pull one of his knights back to a more defensive position. "I also owe the Union a debt. When I had nowhere to go and no one to serve, they offered me a second chance. A little blood is the least I can afford, for that, although I prefer to choose my battles." "Pietas," he announces, voice both clear and yet that same gentle tone. "Piety, loyalty, responsibility, and a sense of duty. It is faith, at its core, a faith that all knights are expected to show. It is devotion to the Lord God in all His aspects, devotion to the values of the Good Book, and responsibility for one's actions. We are to devote ourselves to these values, and to devote ourselves to our service to others; for we serve God, King, and Kingdom. But, ultimately, we are the servants of the people, not the other way around. We are to conduct ourselves with piety and humility. None are below our assistance. It is regard, compassion, and humility for our fellow man, be they peasants or be they princes."
Kagenashi	Kagenashi's head tilts slightly to the side in vulpine curiosity, her attention lingering on the knight across the board from her. "Nowhere to go and nowhere to serve...was that before or after you found yourself reunited with your Arturia?" Despite her earlier comments on the topic, her tone is not particularly mocking or teasing. It seems like an honest question, spoken calmly in anticipation of an honest answer. Her attention turns to the board next. No further attacks come her way just yet; perhaps Bedivere expects her to make further use of that guarded bishop before his own offense comes. Rather than proceed with that piece, however, she instead lets the rook freed by the earlier pawn's movement slide forward, now guarding the knight closest to it. With the king decently defended, it seems her focus now is pressing her line forward. "Another virtue you seem to embody," she adds, leaning back again and lifting her gaze back to Bedivere with a light smirk. "I must wonder if you simply already held these traits or if you had to build them through years of effort. Commendable either way, however." She pauses for a moment, considering the conversation. "And what of Fortitudo?"
Sir Bedivere	When he's watched curiously, the knight regards the fox woman with some veiled suspicion. His eyes are half-lidded and his mien seems relaxed, but he's never truly relaxed around her. One can never quite put a name to what it is he expects her to do, exactly, but he knows that this strong-willed woman is without doubt his enemy. Somehow. Yet the question is asked with no games and no trickery in mind. The least he can do is answer in kind; more than that, it's a matter from his past, and therefore not as much of a pressing concern as something more recent. "Before," he states simply, and some of the life seems to go out of him at that. As though he were letting down a wall, just a little; but he gives nothing more away than that slight shift in tone, and whatever she might infer from it. If it were anyone else, he might scold her for referring to the king without the proper respect, but there isn't much point in doing so. Kagenashi wouldn't listen. If she did, it would be strictly for the purpose of mockery. "It was a different time, and I was a different person. I would never leave my king." He raises a brow at her. "Surely you of all people would know that I would not leave her side of my own free will; not when I have sworn fealty." In other words, of course it was before their reunion. Why would he have any reason to leave her after he had spent so long searching? To her smirking commentary on whether he's held these traits from the beginning or whether he's cultivated them, Bedivere just regards her with a bland, neutral look. She can guess that for herself; he's not going to give any of that away. Perhaps a little of both, with leanings towards the former. In many cases, it's just how he is. He can't shut them off any more than he can abandon the people of this keep. "Fortitudo," he continues, regarding the pieces thoughtfully. After a few moments of evident contemplation, he reaches for one of his pawns, nudging it forward in a decidedly non-threatening move. Perhaps he's setting up an eventual trap, or perhaps he simply isn't interested in pressing the offensive. Or, perhaps he's building his eventual fortifications. It's hard to say. "Strength, courage, and valour. Naturally, these are expected of a Knight of the Round Table, for we are held to greater standards than those who came before." He considers the board with hooded eyes, leaning back in his chair. "We are to act with courage in the face of adversity, and perserverance in the face of difficult situations. Ultimately, we are expected to keep a cool and level head at all times, and to remain even of temper, for it is a sin to let one be ruled by wrath. And it is disastrous to the morale of one's people, too, to see their soldiers, knights, and generals behave with so little self-control."
Kagenashi	"Of course," Kagenashi replies, amusement glinting in her voice. "Forgive me; I merely do not know the exact timing of your life's grand events, so I had to ask to clarify. Though...your response does make me wonder if you must consider serving the Union to be unconnected to your servitude to your king. Surely you could offer both, could you not?" Ah, but it seems she won't have all of her prodding questions answered directly. Bedivere's neutral stare is met with a look of faint disappointment from the nogitsune. But that, like her other gestures, is merely playful; she can hardly resist allowing her smirk to linger in the corner of her mouth before she shakes her head. "Oh, fine," she sighs in mock resignation. "I suppose I should expect even you to refuse answers now and then, even if you are remarkably open at times." She /does/ seem in a much better mood than she was a few weeks ago. A strange adjustment, seeing as how she hasn't had any apparent victories for some time. His pawn moves forward, and a few moments are taken for Kagenashi to consider the action. It doesn't seem particularly dangerous, or as if it's preparing for anything in the future. Indeed, she may even be inclined to think that it's merely a move to take up his turn, and nothing more. But if she knows him at all, then she also knows it would be foolish to assume something like that. Despite his peacefulness, he is surely a tactician. "I suppose that is the most primary of your virtues," she remarks, still considering the board. "Without courage, then few other virtues could have a foundation to work with. I suppose being quick to anger would also make things difficult. That level of patience is such an important thing." She smiles faintly, then, as if she had just thought of something deeply amusing. "Especially when dealing with someone who seems particularly skilled in finding all the right points to prod." The other bishop slips free from the back lines, placed in just the right position to protect one of her own knights and threaten a pawn in the process. "And what must Ingenuitas be, then?"
Sir Bedivere	"Perhaps someday I will tell you the complete story, for whatever good it may be worth. Perhaps not. I do not see what point it would serve, and surely it must be a terribly wearisome story compared to your own exploits and years." It's hard to say whether Bedivere's words are given in sarcasm or in seriousness; his tone is absolutely neutral, something he's surprisingly good at putting on the front of. "My life is hardly interesting, or worthy of note. I would expect Sir Lancelot of the Lake has a far more interesting tale to tell." That, too, is spoken without rancor. Although Lancelot had done many things, and won himself a great deal of recognition, there are aspects to his story that always seem to seize attention -- betrayal, secret love, and of course his office as the able Right Hand of the King. Bedivere's own story is far more even keel. Perhaps he had secret love, too, but it was of such secrecy that no one knew it even existed; not even the one for whom it was meant. And betrayal simply isn't a part of his character. It goes against everything he stands for. "Ingenuitas," he continues instead, one hand rising to curl his forefinger at his upper lip in thought as he regards the board. It's interesting, the position they've worked themselves into; she of cautious offense and equal parts defense, and he of a slight leaning towards a more protective strategy... but not without teeth, as that captured pawn attests. Yet it's still a bit more cautious than he might normally behave. "Nobility of character. Modesty. Candor. It would not do for pride to overrun the Knights of the Round Table, for they are to set the standard for how one of such station must behave. Therefore it was necessary that we did not allow our pride to blind us; indeed, or to influence us in the least. Knighthood is a service, not a privilege, and it means to serve the people regardless of what social class we may have originally come from. I, myself, am no more than a commoner," he explains. He considers for a few moments, before narrowing his eyes at the array of pieces. After a few moments of calculation, he takes one of his otherwise untouched knights, seizing the bishop with his knight. The knight is not unguarded, though, protected by a pawn on one side, ready to strike at whatever piece should avenge the bishop's loss. Calculated risk, of course -- it seems Bedivere does nothing without having some manner of contingency plan in place. Leaning back in his chair, Bedivere folds his arms over his chest, wincing slightly at the twinge of pain from his shoulder. "In essence, we are servants of the people, and the people do not exist to serve us. We are no greater than they, and they are no greater than us. It is humility, and modesty; and it is to cleave to these virtues no matter what might happen in one's life. And it applies equally to the king; who is likewise expected to conduct themselves with humility and modesty; with ingenuity in their every action and word."
Kagenashi	As Bedivere goes on about the dullness of his own life, at least in comparison to those around him, Kagenashi's expression shifts, growing somewhat more serious. Silver eyes narrow slightly, peering at the knight with a thoughtful fixation. "Interesting events form interesting people," she replies, "and I would not be a constant annoyance if I were not curious. I would suggest that you reconsider your thoughts on yourself." She pauses, then, offering a short, amused laugh. "Or perhaps you are right, and telling me your history would be so incredibly boring that I would lose interest not halfway through and find someone else to bother, as you insist I do. Who can say?" Ah, there goes a bishop. Kagenashi doesn't seem too perturbed by that result. She only drums her fingers thoughtfully along her leg as she stares at the many pieces, pondering every course of action she has available to her. "An interesting requirement to have. Though I suppose it is a reasonable one, as well." Her hand lifts again, hovering over her queen as she considers. "To ensure a position of such authority does not turn to one of tyranny, correct? Far more humble than some, I would imagine." No, not the queen. Instead, she moves the pawn ahead of the queen a step forward, in just the right place so that it can shift diagonally into another pawn on her next turn. With that done, she lets her hand come to rest in her lap again, her light smile cast back toward Bedivere. "But what if the king finds one day that the people must struggle for the sake of their kingdom? For their king? What if the king's strength falters?"
Sir Bedivere	"If it would convince you to bother someone else for the rest of however long it is that your kind live, then perhaps it would be worth it to tell you that tale, and have done with it. I fear there really is very little of interest, though." Bedivere's eyes drop to the board, unfocusing slightly. He watches the board, but his attention is more firmly fixed on days past. "Sir Lancelot would make for a much more interesting story, I would think. Or even Sir Palomedes, the Saracen, from distant lands... I regret not asking him what his tale was. He was often involved in other matters, and was rarely at court in Camelot. Unless I had the responsibility of leading a battle, I did not often leave my king's side." The silver-haired knight contemplates the board, ignoring both her study and her laughter, perhaps with the pretense of focusing on the game, although there is a hint of distraction about him. Thinking of Camelot always invites distraction, no matter how much he might like to focus on the battle of black and white. "That was the essence of Ingenuitas, yes. That the king would not become a tyrant, and that the king's servitors did not become the same. I have heard of lands where knights are little more than highwaymen, enforcers of law simply because they have the strength of arm and the protection of their status; no more fair or just than a brigand toward those less fortunate than they." His expression twists into one of disgust. "Does it matter? Camelot is fallen. Sir Mordred's rebellion was successful in that, at least: If he could not have the king's favour and praise, then none would. So it was, and so it is. Camelot is no more than a memory." In spite of what might have been heated words, he seems more sorrowful than anything else. To cast Excalibur back into the lake, to say his farewells to his king... to acknowledge the death of the dream -- those things had all cost him, and they had cost him dearly. Only now is he beginning to realise how much, as he struggles to heal from the scars of Camlann. His eyes flick to the board, watching her pluck the pawn up and move it forward, and he can more or less assume that she intends to free her queen. Once she's done with that, he reaches for a hitherto-untouched rook, but hesitates for a moment. Instead, he reaches for the king, moving it over one space into a more defensible position; though not before checking to ensure it isn't walking into a trap. He settles back, elbows resting on the arms of his chair, fingers steepled before his face, eyes half-open and largely unfocused. "The people struggled only against the elements, and we made every concession we could for them. I did not keep an estate, and that is in part why: That I might give instead to those who had nothing, that they might survive the winter. And I do not think my king would sleep at night if she thought the people struggled for her sake. That was not her rule... and it is not her character, either." The faintest shadow creeps over his expression when Kagenashi mentions the possibility of her strength faltering; but it's so subtle, so fleeting, that it may well have been imagined. "Then I will be there for her, as the Left Hand of the King, to ensure that she does not fall. That is my duty, as it has always been. I am her marshal, her lieutenant, her able Left hand, as Sir Lancelot was her Right Hand. But her protection has always fallen to me. So it did in Camelot, and so it shall here."
Kagenashi	The more serious turn in their conversation does not go unnoticed by Kagenashi. Her coy amusement fades slightly, but her good humor still lingers in the pleasant serenity of her expression. For now, the nogitsune falls silent, simply listening to Bedivere's steady responses and looking over the board. Even once he finishes, she remains quiet, thinking over his words just as much as the pieces in front of her. "I believe it still matters," she finally remarks, her voice a calm lilt. "Camelot exists no more, but does that make Arturia any less of a king, or you any less of a marshal? Only three of your table's knights are now present, perhaps four if Mordred still counts, but are they knights of the Round Table no longer? And either way, why would you no longer uphold the virtues you so dearly cherished, simply because a rebel destroyed your kingdom? Surely you are stronger than that." She shakes her head, then glances aside to the rest of the Grand Hall. "Look around you. You call yourself a caretaker, but the fact of the matter is that you may as well be a lord in your current position. You reside in this castle overlooking a village that requires your guidance and leadership to return it to its former strength, or perhaps even something greater than it once was. It is not Camelot, but nothing will ever be Camelot. That hardly matters, for it is a settlement that needs the very same role you took in Camelot regardless." Silver eyes flit back to Bedivere, almost staring through him with their strange brightness. "Have you heard the people you watch over? You and Arturia may as well be their kings. You struggle for their sake, and it is because of your efforts that they have survived this unnatural winter. And yet it is your stubborn refusal to accept a name that prevents you from seeing your current importance. Stay humble if you wish, but at least have some pride in your position, Bedivere." The nogitsune's attention flits back to the board, finally. As may be expected, she shifts her pawn aside to take Bedivere's, opening up a path forward for her queen. The stolen pawn is sent back to her side, joining its fellow from before as Kagenashi sits back in her seat again. "Otherwise, you may underestimate your own importance."
Sir Bedivere	At that calm observation, the violet-eyed knight snorts. "Of course it matters." Bedivere leans slightly to one side, resting his left elbow on the arm of the chair, cupping his chin in that hand. His gaze drops to the board again, considering the quandary their chess match has come to, and how best to fish himself out of it with a minimum of loss. Although it seems to be an even match, at a glance, he wouldn't dare be so complacent about the odds. She's a creature nearly a thousand years old; he is, frankly, surprised he's lasted this long. "That is my point. I am still the Left Hand of the King, because I would not be so far gone as to simply forget about the virtue of Ingenuitas. Nor would my king. Nor would any of my brother-knights, those who are here." He watches the board, but he's listening to her as she makes her further observations. "Perhaps. But a caretaker is what I am. This is a temporary arrangement," he offers, eyes flicking up to regard Kagenashi almost languidly. In spite of his seemingly relaxed posture and regard, there is a quiet core of steel to his voice. "Once the magician has been delivered to Lady Alaia, this place will return to her care. I do not know whether I will be permitted to stay or asked to go, but the fact of the matter is that I am not the rightful guardian of these people. It is but a temporary role, and I seek to do no more than to better their lives in the short time that I am obligated to them." His knightly virtues would demand no less, after all. He considers for a few moments. "I do have pride in my position," he finally says, thoughtfully. "I take pride in my work, for it is a reflection on me as a knight and as a man. Yet I seek no status from it, nor do I seek any gain or reward. I would not dishonour myself by doing a poor job. I am proud to be in a position to help these people. But I am no lord. I am a commoner, nothing more and nothing less, and a foreigner besides -- here, just as I was there." Hm. Another piece of his past. "But that does not change the fact that my own importance is irrelevant. It always has been, and so it will always be." Neatly, he reaches out and moves his knight into play, the horseman that had been waiting in the wings -- and reclaims the bishop that had struck first blood, neatly placing the piece to the side. Nope. He sure hadn't forgotten about that.
Kagenashi	"Every arrangement is temporary," Kagenashi sighs, lifting her narrowed eyes back up to Bedivere. "That hardly changes the significance of it, does it? For now, you are of great importance. Even outside of this position, I believe you are. Surely there are some more important than you, but that is always the case. Particularly when one takes into account the many worlds that now exist, where a king in one place may be little more than a pawn elsewhere. Such is the nature of things." Her eyes drift closed, then, as she rests an elbow on the arm of her chair. Slender fingers curl as a perch for her soft cheek, letting the twin tails of hair in front of her ears dangle freely. "Of course, I suppose that is simply how you are. For you, position and status and importance and power are intertwined in a way, are they not? You do not view yourself as powerful, nor of particularly high status, so you deny that you are pleaced in the position you currently hold, or that you have any sort of importance on any scale. I suppose you would call that humility." A faint smile curls her lips again. The sound of shifting pieces makes her silver eyes crack open, peering down at the board where one of her forces has been taken after its earlier assault. Nothing too troubling, at least to her; such sacrifices are always planned for, always taken into account as a viable choice for the future. "In the end, I suppose it is not anything of great consequence," the nogitsune continues, her serenity undisturbed by the game's progress. "So long as you treat your station with the gravity it requires, it is hardly important in the end whether you accept a title or not. If 'commoner' is what you choose to be remembered as, then so be it. It is not really my place to insist that you accept some greater significance for yourself." As she speaks, her other hand lifts, letting her fingertips languidly dance over the board. She seems to be pondering her next move, or, perhaps, simply extending the wait for whatever her next action is, drawing out the motion that she no doubt believes will lead to her victory. And there: her fingers finally pluck up her queen, shifting it along diagonally out of hiding to a spot guarded by a knight and her remaining bishop. There, the queen finds herself perfectly placed to slip into a narrow crack in Bedivere's firm defenses like a dagger and strike at his king. A checkmate, as she obviously intends it to be, but as her hand falls back to her lap, she says nothing about it. It's much better for her, it seems, to hear him claim her victory, if it ends up beings successful. "Just make sure you do not underestimate yourself in your humility. That would, I imagine, prove disastrous."
Sir Bedivere	The knight doesn't answer her when she describes the fleeting nature of things, or the matter of scale between worlds. He might be thinking of it as he regards the board through hooded eyes, or maybe he's just thinking of his next defensive gambit. His mouth doesn't quite tighten when she speaks on humility, but there's a subtle twitch there, almost the beginnings of a frown. Of course that's how he his. Is he not a knight, and is he not bound to live his life by the Eight Virtues? Still, there's nothing to worry about, there. He seems like the kind of person who would rather fall on his sword than treat something like this irreverently. He's serious-minded, almost to a fault, and treats almost everything with the same solemnity and gravitas. Bedivere exhales softly through his nose as she dismisses the matter entirely. It's not quite a sigh. There. See? Let her talk long enough and she eventually finds her own way through the conversation, one-sided as it seems to have gone. The knight is preoccupied, because she's just put him in check, although she didn't declare it. He can see the options in front of him, though, and they aren't encouraging. His eyes flick this way and that over his remaining pieces, and one can almost see the wheels turning furiously as he sorts through it. He's never played chess against a nine hundred year old entity before. Actually, he's probably incredibly lucky to have lasted this long. A deft move of his hand brings one of his remaining knights to the rescue, swapping places with the queen, which he sets down gently in his line of captured pieces. There isn't much left in his defenses, and for Bedivere it's an uncharacteristically bold and desperate move, but this can buy him one more round. "I will keep that in mind," he says simply in response to all of that, but the respectful inclination of his head suggests he's not just humouring her on the subject; his tone is genuine.
Kagenashi	Kagenashi does seem to like talking, at least around certain people. It never seems to be about herself, though, never directly. One might expect someone as proud as herself to always /talk/ about herself, but instead, she always prods and pokes at others, letting her mental investigations of their mindsets be spoken aloud. As Bedivere has already experienced, such voiced thoughts can often be effective tools for gaining a greater insight into what others may not normally reveal. Perhaps, then, it is wiser that he remains silent. All Kagenashi receives is a brief acknowledgement, and all that summons from her for now is a slight widening of her smile. Her gaze once more shifts to the board in front of her, where her single most powerful piece has been captured. A troubling fact; the loss of a queen would be a severe blow in any game, considering its power. Kagenashi, however, has already dealt with losses of power. The only reason she lives now is thanks to her cunning, and if nothing else, she is well aware of how to navigate around personal weaknesses. The nogitsune lingers in silence for another moment or two as she considers her next move. A thoughtful, musical hum rumbles from her throat, and soon her hand shifts back to the board. The bishop from before glides along, gently tipping over the knight that had taken her queen. There, her own knight guards the bishop once more, as its diagonal path slips back through the crack the queen had found before. And back Kagenashi's hand goes, fingers drumming along her thigh as she smiles back at Bedivere. "Check...?"
Sir Bedivere	Violet eyes drop to the game board, regarding the alternating squares and their pieces as they're currently arranged. The situation is precarious; perhaps he had taken that queen because he knows he won't be able to salvage his defenses. Ordinarily, such a bold move is beyond the marshal. He normally takes great pains to act with care and deliberation. He considers his every action and reaction, whether he's playing chess or plotting a military offensive against invading Saxons. Slowly, very slowly, he frowns at the state of the game. No, there's definitely not going to be any salvaging his pieces from this. He doesn't answer her questioning statement for a few very long moments, studying and squinting at the board, as though scrabbling to try and find some kind of alternative. Eventually he leans back in his chair and sighs, spreading his hands in a gesture of concession. "Checkmate. I see no way out. Well-played; you have brought down my defenses." His hands fold over his chest, and he sighs in evident resignation. "Not since Master Merlin has anyone been able to best me at this." Not even Arturia. "Congratulations." "As agreed upon, I will owe to you a favour at the time of your choosing... although I cannot guarantee cooperation if you ask me to act against the virtues. Or," he adds, uncrossing his arms and holding up a forefinger, "I will answer one question, truthfully and unconditionally." "Of course, it need not be now, if you choose that instead." He shrugs, faintly. "The choice is yours, in both regards; the nature and the time of your, ah, 'winnings.'"
Kagenashi	Such praises. It's enough to draw a small chuckle from Kagenashi as she shifts in her seat, leaning back and folding her hands in her lap. "You flatter me. Of course, you are quite skilled as well. I can see why you would be your king's tactician, all things considered. Perhaps you may find a day when you can prove victorious against me, given enough time and thought." The black fox rises from her seat, straightening out her clothes for a moment before she leans over to pick up the white knight she last captured. The piece is held between her fingertips and lifted for her silver gaze to examine, curious and thoughtful. "Your options are truly generous, but...I believe I will remain with our initial agreement. One favor, at least according to what your virtues will allow. I believe that will be much more valuable than anything I could possibly ask you. What exactly that will be, however, I do not know yet. The time will come, however; fear not." She smiles, then, setting the knight down in front of Bedivere before straightening up once more with her arms folded behind her back. "It was enjoyable, though, I have to admit. Perhaps we will have to make another attempt in the future. Maybe, then, you will be able to best me...and, perhaps, find an answer that you seem to want so dearly."
Sir Bedivere	Bedivere regards Kagenashi with a certain degree of reserve, as though he were trying to decide whether she's genuinely gracious with her victory, or if she's mocking him. How would a mortal stand a chance against a creature as old as her, with the unbroken experience of hundreds of years to formulate plans and stratagems? She's seen everything, tactically speaking. How could he, in his mere thirty-four years, hope to compete with that? Even so, he seems content to let it go. Not thinking about it is by far easier. "I would not mind a rematch," he comments, leaning back in his chair and looking to the fire. "Perhaps." That is, after all, the core of his strategies. Bedivere was never able to use brute strength to his advantage; indeed, he had always struggled to keep up with his fellow knight-aspirants when it came to raw combat ability. He had succeeded because he had used cunning and intuition, rather than overpowering force. He thought on his feet and he studied his opponents, as he still does now. Some... just require more study than most. To the matter of a favour, he only shrugs. That's probably as accepting of that as he's going to get. He's not really pleased with the thought of being indebtted to her, but he wouldn't back out of the agreement. A knight's word is above reproach, after all. He took a risk and he failed. It's as simple as that. Her smile is answered with a frown, though it's probably out of general principle. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that he doesn't trust her. "Perhaps." She took a risk, too, he reminds himself silently. She seems to guard the secret of her motivation with the same dedication as he guards his own king. "For now, I have taken enough of your time. Thank you for a chance to break the monotony of the weather." Scooping up the pieces, he arranges them neatly, as though for another future game. "I will leave this here. Use it to practise with, if you like. For now, there are other matters I should see to." Like a nap. It's that kind of weather. With that, unless she stops him, the knight moves to ascend the stairs up to his quarters. Yes, resting sounds good. It's too foul and rainy to do much else, and he's already been over the books...