"Make your move."
"I'm thinking."
The Bostonius was definitely the most comfortable form of transport Elaine had been on. Comfortable and sailing through the skies with ease (and hopefully staying like that, with no incidents because of Descole's tinkering if Raymond's story was of such was true), it was certainly relaxing and even felt a little luxurious. However, it was still a good thing there was a game of chess, draughts and a pack or two of cards on the ship. Unless you planned to look out the window for an entire trip, to observe the admitably impressive bird-eye view non-stop or had nothing to talk about or to, it possibly could have been slightly tedious to fly for so long.
That's why when Descole offered a game of chess to pass some time the following day, Elaine had accepted with no hesitation. Having never played a game with Descole until now she hadn't been certain what to expect.
There was no total annihilation or defeat as of yet. The current game was on its nineteenth round and Elaine was still considering her next move. She could move her queen to take his remaining bishop and catch him king in check, but then his knight might take out her lone rook that was one of her king's current defences. She could try and move one of her few remaining pawns that had gotten across the board that one final step and declare it a queen so she could take out Descole's other knight, but with a rook in the top left square, that queen's life would be short lived.
"Ready to admit defeat?" Elaine glared at Descole.
"When 'ave I ever done that?"
"That would be true, I suppose." Descole admitted. Seeing no other route for that round, Elaine moved one of her safer pawns. Maybe it would be a good distraction.
"Very poor move." Descole tutted, moving his own queen to the bottom of Elaine's side of board (the second last row to be more precise), at a spot she wouldn't be able to attack on her go. A threat to her king if the rook died, which would lead Elaine to either take the queen with her king, moving it out in the open more and perhaps increase the chance of losing it. If the queen was another row down, Elaine probably would have taken it with her rook, but would that have still left her king vulnerable?
"From what I could see, I didn't 'ave much of a choice." Elaine replied back, moving a bishop closer to one of her pawns.
While it didn't necessarily look like it at first, Elaine did feel at peace. The scene just seemed so tranquil. The setting evening sun, and a friendly game of chess between her and Descole as they sat on the couch in the Bostonius, nearing they're destination closer and closer as Raymond sat at the controls.
Descole frowned a little at the board, and almost seemed unsure. But that left his face one he made Elaine one bishop short.
"You're going to lose."
"Not over yet."
"You really are a stubborn one."
"You are as well."
"Maybe that's true, but considering you willing starved yourself for about a week in the beginning, I think it's safe to say that you are capable of taking it to a higher level," Descole remarked, before smirking. "Or perhaps you just act very childish."
"I think you'll find that I'm not childish one 'ere, monsieur. Considering you're 'ere." Elaine countered after making her next move. "I 'ave every intention to win."
"Then how is it…" Descole moved his bishop to take Elaine's queen. "That I have you in checkmate then?" Elaine opened her mouth to counter but as the looked at the board, she frowned when she saw the positioning of Descole's black pieces. Descole gave an amused smile and chuckled at Elaine's reaction.
"Oh, you're not disappointed are you, Elaine?"
"Oh, shut it." Elaine sighed. "I'm better at draughts then chess anyway."
"Now, now. Don't be upset. If you like, I'll let you win the next game." Elaine rolled her eyes at Descole's offer.
"Do I 'onestly look petty to you?"
"No, and that's good. I was lying anyway."
"Yet you made the offer," Elaine mused before asking, "Did you ever play chess with Johanna? Or Lucy?"
"Why are you asking?" He didn't sound upset about the question, though he seemed a bit hesitant. Elaine had to admit herself that the question did out of the blue.
"I was curious. Is that a crime now?"
"Because of people like you and Layton, some degree of curiosity could be considered illegal." It was said with a level of seriousness, but he soon followed with, "If you're dying to know however, Lucy and I did play chess now and then, though she preferred card games. She was actually very good at blackjack. As for Johanna, I had been planning to teach her chess, before the 'unpleasantness' of Targent. She knew how to play draughts though. She was getting quite good at it too." The last remark was made a bit more quietly. After a second or two, he asked,
"Did you play often with any of your family member?"
"I played chess and draughts with my father mostly when I was younger. I remember one time when I was nine, I was so close to beating him at draughts for the first time. Just one piece away." Elaine smiled at the memory. Still clear in her head like it was yesterday.
"What happened?"
"'E 'accidently' flipped the board to the ground. 'E said it was an accident but 'e was laughing so I'm fairly certain 'e did it to tease me."
"Perhaps I should have done that. You probably would have been more upset with me doing it then you were your father." Descole mused.
"I'd beat you with this pillow if you did that," responded Elaine as she held up said pillow before dropping it back down on the couch.
"That's hardly a threat," Descole scoffed. "I would think you'd be more original."
"I'm 'ardly going to slap you or kick you for flipping the board," Elaine shrugged. "So, will there any place near where we're going? Or is it just going to be some uninhabited area?"
"I think we'll be near a small town called, 'Froenburg' I believe. However, I'd prefer to avoid the town during our visit there. Maybe a later stage though."
"Froenburg," Elaine repeated to herself. "Sounds like it could be pleasant."
"And I'm sure it is." Descole shrugged. "Just remember we're here to find where the clues have led us, and we'll work out what to do from there."
"And what 'appens afterwards? When, all of this is finished?" Elaine questioned, sounding a bit unsure about asking as she shifted in her seat. There was only so much of the Azrans discovered and known. For all the world knew, whatever this next discovery was could very well be the last thing of Azran origin discovered. That would lead to the end of use she had been when she had first been kidnapped, but with what was now between the two… It just seemed so uncertain. More so then the future already was. Descole frowned. Possibly the same line of thought had occurred to him now or sometime earlier but had never really thought about it.
"I think I know what you're implying and to be honest, I'm currently unsure myself. However, I don't think it's anything we can't work through when the time comes." Descole glanced away for just a moment before he went on. "I… I had always intended on letting you go after the end. I truly did. The option is still open actually." Elaine glanced away herself momentarily.
"Maybe we should stop thinking ahead so far and just enjoy the moment."
"I won't stop thinking, but I think I can comply to the later," Descole remarked as he began to lay back on the couch and laid his head on Elaine's lap. Elaine raised a brow and questioned,
"And why, pray tell, are you laying your 'ead on my lap?"
"I wanted to see if it would make a good pillow."
"And…?"
"It's acceptable." Descole smirked up at Elaine as she flicked his chin and reached up to poke her cheek teasingly. "That was just rude, dear."
"So is lying your 'ead on my lap, without my permission," Elaine retorted as she lightly swiped his hand away from her face.
"Oh? So would the case be same if you laid your head on my lap?"
"No. I would get away with it." Elaine replied with a light smile. "You wouldn't do anything to retaliate."
"Wouldn't I?" Elaine thought this over carefully.
"Well… I suppose since it's you, there would be retaliation."
"Naturally. I just haven't thought over what I would do just yet."
"Then there will never be a retaliation," Elaine insisted with a small smirk as Descole scoffed and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.
"Don't be silly. I said I currently couldn't think of one right now. That can't be carried on into the future."
"Maybe I think I could." It felt like Descole was giving Elaine a look now.
"Are you always going to disagree with me in most conversations?"
"If I feel you're wrong or I want to mess with you, perhaps." Elaine shrugged as she tapped his nose twice. "You did say I was stubborn, so would it be shocking?"
"I would have thought I'd earned at least some more of your respect by now." Descole gave a low sigh.
"… You 'ave some. It just vanishes when you don't deserve it," Elaine told him. Looking to his boa, she asked, "Does that thing ever get itchy for you?"
"No. Why would it?"
"You wear it so much. I was just wondering if it ever got irritating."
"Not enough to make me take it off except when I need to."
"Master, we're close to Froenburg. We should be there within less than an hour," Raymond spoke up from the steering wheel.
"Thank you, Raymond," Descole spoke back before poking Elaine's cheek again.
"Enjoy the next hour, Elaine. We'll be busy after we land."