"What about this?" Rruyshah indicated the box she had grapsed. (No, she was NOT pitying it! She was only trying to shut it up!)
>That? I don't know. What is it?>
Rruyshah opened it. Objects of various colors and shapes came out. The box itself unfolded to form a flat surface somewhat larger than the being. "Is this familiar to you?"
>Yeah...it's a game that we play on Earth. Well, not we. I don't play it. It's for geeks.>
"Geeks?"
>Never mind.>
"Well, what is it? If we're going to be stuck here with only this for entertainment I want to learn how to play."
>Errgh...you've got a point. Okay. This thing is a castle, and it moves, like, up and down.>
Rruyshah picked up the object he indicated and lifted it into the air, then dropped it.
>Not quite. Um, I don't really know how though. My dad taught me when I was younger, but...I forgot.>
"Really."
>Yeah!> it said defensively.
"Mm. Okay. And what about these?" Rruyshah indicated the tallest objects. One was black, one white.
>Those. Um, they go one square at a time.>
"Square? These objects are placed on this surface?"
>Yeah. So the kings go-> The being clambered onto the board and shifted the pieces around. It was exceptionally emphasizing that it was not very knowledgeable of this game, and that it didn't play regularly. Rruyshah was not convinced.
"So these move in a rectangle?" Rruyshah indicated a piece he referred to as "horse".
>Yup. Two by three squares>, it said, more authoritatively than Rruyshah would have expected. Er, no, maybe it's three by four? Or three by two?
"You said three by two the first time."
>No I didn't, I said one by-no, two by three.>
"Two by three is the same as three by two."
>It is?>
"Yes, it is."
>I don't believe you. You're just a dumb alien.>
"Dumb? Excuse me? I am an-"
>Exalted of the Kelbrid and don't I forget it, yeah, yeah. How about it. We play a game of this-chess. Whoever wins is right.>
"Accepted."