(no subject)

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly had his routine for chess. He played his games in the rec room until he was gently reminded of the need for eating or for taking a break. This afternoon he had set up his board on a table outside of his hut - not only to take advantage of the sunshine but to shield himself and his opponent from the prying eyes of one Freddie Trumper. Yes, he might be Jonas's protege but that did not mean he had to be present at every game, especially for this one.

"Black or white?" Anatoly asked as he faced Jonas, an easy smile on his face. They had played many times before but there was nothing quite like the thrill of anticipation, of waiting for the first move and the game to start properly.

Comments

[thinkimstrange]

If he was honest, Jonas was grateful for the change in scenery for their game. Not that he was avoiding Freddie per say but the other chess master seemed to enjoy making Jonas blush more then help improve his game lately so a chance to concentrate on chess was very welcome.

He considered the possibilities before reaching for the black pieces with an easy smile. "Black, if you are giving me the choice."

[chesspolitik]

"Then I shall play white for a change," Anatoly answered as he took the white pieces and began methodically setting them in their proper places. It felt strange to consider which opening strategy to start with, he preferred black, but this was good. He needed the shake up to keep his edge.

He ran through a number of variations in his head as he considered the board then began by moving his pawn. The game was in motion.

[thinkimstrange]

In a way, Jonas was doing the same thing. Freddie seemed to prefer white so this was his chance to play the other side for a change. Of course, he had a feeling that Freddie's preference for white meant Anatoly preferred black and it would give him a small advantage. And if playing with Freddie had taught Jonas anything, it was to take any advantage one could get.

Jonas took a moment to consider his own game plan before choosing a pawn to move. "I really appreciate these games, Anatoly." He said, by way of friendly conversation. "You, Freddie and Florence all have such different styles. It's fascinating."

[chesspolitik]

"This is very much why I love chess," Anatoly answered as he considered his next move. "It is the personality of the player that matters as much as the moves. It keeps things very interesting."

Jonas was still a bit of a mystery to him but he wouldn't be for much longer, Anatoly was certain. And while it was true that he had some skill (especially if Freddie was willing to teach him), the end result was still the same - it just might take a bit longer, that was all.

[thinkimstrange]

"I wonder if the mechanics could be modified into a more translatable version that could be easily taught to other cultures as a way of judging them on a more then superficial level..." Jonas said to himself, more as a way of thinking out loud. Despite having been on the island for so long, he couldn't help but keep thinking about way to help the SGC when he returned.

Then he grinned bashfully up at Anatoly. "Sorry. That was my way of agreeing with you on the personality part."

[chesspolitik]

Truth be told, Anatoly hadn't quite followed Jonas's train of thought, being more absorbed in planning his next set of moves and formulation back up plans should Jonas choose one strategy or another.

"For all that people say it is just a game, it can be so much more than that," he murmured thoughtfully.

[thinkimstrange]

Jonas didn't mind Anatoly not listening to him. Thinking out loud was a bad habit he'd picked up on Earth and couldn't seem to break. Not that he wanted to either. He kind of liked it. Except when people took him seriously when he was doing it, like Freddie at Mardi Gras, a memory that made Jonas frown slightly.

As he made a move, he decided to venture a question to Anatoly. "Anatoly? Can I ask you something about Freddie?"

[chesspolitik]

"Of course," Anatoly answered, very much curious as what to Jonas wanted to know that he wouldn't ask Freddie himself. "What is it?"

[thinkimstrange]

"Is he always on the offensive?" Jonas asked curiously, trying to get to the root of why his usual chess teacher seemed so defensive. "I feel like I'm going to be attacked for the littlest things when I talk to him."

Maybe attacked wasn't the right word but he couldn't think of anything else. Freddie seemed to like to latch on to things and nag at them until Jonas couldn't take it anymore. He considered himself a patient man but even his patience got worn out after too long with the American chessmaster.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly couldn't help but laugh softly. He wasn't surpised by this, not really. Freddie would hardly pull back for anyone, let alone a protege. "Yes," he answered once he had settled down a bit. "Yes, he always is. He can never let anything go and he is always fighting."

[thinkimstrange]

"But why?" Jonas asked as he considered the board and the topic at hand. "Why does he feel like he has to push everyone away?" He shook his head. "I just want to be his friend but he treats everyone like they are the enemy." It was almost worse then it had been with Jack. At least Jonas knew why Jack didn't like him.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly paused for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to answer. He didn't think Freddie would take too kindly to him discussing his personal life with someone else. He himself preferred not to talk about it but he couldn't shake the sense that this was different. Jonas wasn't asking out of a desire to indulge in gossip or report a story, he genuinely wanted to understand how Freddie worked.

"I do not know all the details," he said quietly, "But he did not have a very good home life growing up. Sometimes, an experience like that teaches you that showing anything, feeling anything is a weakness, it opens you up to attack.

So it is easier not to care, not to let anyone in. The only thing that is safe is chess. The rules do not change, the pieces do not change - everything follows an order and a pattern. When you win, it is your victory. No one can take that away from you."

If he realized that he could be talking about himself as well as Freddie, he didn't let anything show.

[thinkimstrange]

"I understand. I think." Jonas said with a sigh. And he did. How many people did he know who had thrown themselves into the war effort, because it was easier then dealing with their own lives? That dived into the science of war to the point that they needed someone like Jonas to justify whether it was ethical or not? Was it any wonder that Kelownan personal lives were so closed off?

"I guess...It's been so long since I've been around someone from your planet that acts that way. It's more familiar coming from a Langaran." He moved his knight almost without thought. "I just wish he knew I wasn't an enemy."

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly noted the position of Jonas's knight and frowned as he realized that he would need to reconsider his strategy. He wasn't upset, on the contrary - this sort of thing was exactly what he needed to keep him in fighting shape.

"I think," he said slowly. "That is how he shows he cares. If he didn't fight you or try to irritate you, it would mean you were nothing to him. Why would he waste his time on an inferior opponent, after all?"

[thinkimstrange]

At that, Jonas couldn't help smiling. That sounded about right, he supposed. He watched Anatoly move and actually considered his next one. "He is the personification of hurting the ones you love."

"I guess I can live with being an opponent. Or try anyway." Except Jonas didn't want to fight. He never had. He would, without hesitation...but that didn't mean he liked it.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly snorted wryly at that. "Trying to live with Freddie as an opponent is certainly an exercise. It keeps your life interesting if nothing else."

[thinkimstrange]

"An exercise in patience." Jonas agreed with a wry grin. "Was it easy or harder back home?" Jonas had heard Freddie's side of the story but he was curious to hear Anatoly's.

[chesspolitik]

"To deal with him, do you mean? Or something else?" Anatoly asked distractedly as he puzzled out his next move.

[thinkimstrange]

Jonas chuckled as he leaned on his crossed arms as he waited out Anatoly's next move. "Yes, that's what I meant. Is it easier here without the distractions of home, or easier?"

[chesspolitik]

That was a good question and Anatoly leaned back in his chair to consider it, absently toying with a pawn as he did so.

"I do not know if I can answer that because it is so different here then at home," he answered slowly. "Here, there are no cameras or reporters shadowing our every move. We must deal with each other face to face and it is just the two of us.

At home? I know this will sound like bragging but the whole world was watching us. There were cameras, reporters - we were supposed to be representatives of our respective countries and it was all rhetoric. Anything - everything we said or did was analyzed and dissected and of course, you could never speak your mind."

He paused for a moment then smiled wryly. "At least I could not. I can assure you Freddie said everything that crossed his mind."

[capable_of]

"And he still does, unfortunately for the rest of us." Lex said as he approached, baring food and announced by the happy barking of Aeneas. "The game must be truely boring if he is your topic of conversation."

He walked over and gave Anatoly a quick kiss and waved hello to Jonas. "Will you join us for dinner after the game, Jonas? I brought enough."

[thinkimstrange]

Before Lex and Aeneas appeared, Jonas thought carefully about what Anatoly described. And he couldn't help a wry grin, since he knew exactly what Anatoly was talking about. Politics had been part of his job back in Kelowna after all.

And before he ventured too far down that train of thought, he was more then glad for the interruption. He reached down to pet the small dog who clamored up to him, no doubt eager to get to smell of Lyre all over him. "I don't think the game was so bad. Anatoly was just indulging my curiosity."

[chesspolitik]

At Lex's arrival, Anatoly looked up and happily returned his kiss. The food was a welcome sight as he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten. This was a regular occurrence with him, sadly enough, and he was grateful all over again that he and Lex had found each other.

"He asked about Freddie and I answered," Anatoly explained. "I may be the only one who knows him well."

Florence could also make that claim, of course, and rightfully so. There were some things about Freddie, however, that only a fellow grandmaster could understand and in that situation, there was no one else but him.

[capable_of]

"And I still question how that was deemed a proper topic of conversation but you two can stand him more then I can." It was the truth. Lex and Trumper usually just ended up in blows, whether in blows or verbal depend on the situation.

"But I repeat my question. Would you like to stay for dinner? I think I brought enough even for you extra terrestrial appetite."

[thinkimstrange]

Jonas knew all too well about Lex's encounters with Freddie, he'd heard about them from the other end. And it really only increased his curiosity, not that he would say that in front of either man. Maybe he'd bring that up with Anatoly next time he was alone with the man.

"And I would love to stay for dinner. Though Lyre might come looking if I stay too late." The large blue cat was oddly over protective of his owner.

[chesspolitik]

"Wonderful," Anatoly said happily, beaming at both men. While he enjoyed the simple domesticity of eating with just Lex, it was nice to have another dinner companion every once in awhile, especially one who also knew the joys of chess.

"I am sure we can find an extra bite or two for him before he takes you home."