When I was [sixteen] I learned survival

[chesspolitik]

To say that Anatoly was feeling overwhelmed was to put it mildly. He had gone to sleep after a night out in Moscow and had woken up in a strange hut with a strange (if undeniably beautiful) woman. She had tried to explain things but he was not sure he understood anything past he was not in Moscow. It seemed impossible to believe but here he was, on this strange place.

He had managed to make his way to the Compound but he had found little in the way of explanations. Barely anyone spoke Russian here and his English was only of the barest, most limited kind. Trying to make himself understood was an exercise in frustration and out of desperation, he had retreated to the kitchen to make some tea and try to come to terms with it all.

He sat at one of the tables, hunched over his cup as he put in spoonful after spoonful of sugar in his tea. Rationing did not seem to be something that was done here so the prospect of being able to use as much as he wanted was perhaps the only bright spot about being here.

Someone entered the kitchen and he looked up with a faint tremulous smile. There was no reason for him to forget his manners, even as flustered and out of sorts as he was.

Comments

[chesspolitik]

"You teach? You can just - go and teach what you like?" Anatoly asked curiously. He couldn't imagine being able to simply settle in and make a life here - he was used to everything being ordered and being told what to do and when. The prospect of complete and utter freedom was exciting but more than a little frightening.

[loveofmasters]

"So long as you know what you're talking about. I teach Women's Literature, 20th Century History and Chess." She knew that the last part would be the only part he cared about. He was nothing if not predictable that way. It was interesting, sitting here and talking to him without the baggage of their history behind them.

[chesspolitik]

Some things didn't change and the delight in Anatoly's eyes when Florence mentioned chess was one of them. He sat up straight and beamed happily. He spoke excitedly in Russian before he remembered himself and started again in careful English.

"You play chess too? That is wonderful! I thought I would be the only one and now there are two."

[loveofmasters]

"There are a lot of people who play. Would you be interested in a game?" It would certainly be interesting playing him at this age. He won almost all of the time when they played while they were together. In fact, about the only time she ever won was when she found some way to distract him.

[chesspolitik]

"I would very much," Anatoly answered quickly. He ducked his head bashfully, hoping Florence didn't think him too ridiculous for his enthusiasm.

"There is a board in the other room," he said. "I could bring it over so you would not have to walk?"

[loveofmasters]

"I don't mind the walk. I'm not that far along." Standing, she picked up her tea and made an, after-you, gesture. It was sweet of him to consider her, but she had to wonder. What, if anything would he remember of this? She wasn't exactly hiding her pregnancy from anyone, but she hadn't gone out of her way to tell anyone either. Especially either of her ex-lovers. To be honest, she didn't believe it was any of their business anymore, but perhaps she should have said something. To find out like this would be a bit of a... shock she supposed.

[chesspolitik]

Considering the future hadn't ever been a strong point for Anatoly and his younger self was certainly no exception. The only thoughts running through his mind as he led the way to the rec room were of the upcoming game. He didn't know anything about how Florence would play but he would learn and that was so very exciting.

"Would you like black or white?"

[loveofmasters]

"I can take white, unless you'd like it?" She smiled, waging he wouldn't. She'd never cared which way of the other, she could play strategies for both, but all the other professionals in her life seemed to prefer one or the other. She guessed it was just in her nature to support the preferences of those she worked with.

[chesspolitik]

"White is good," Anatoly answered happily. "I like very much to start with black. It is not always disadvantage."

[loveofmasters]

Heading into the rec room, she saw that the chess board was already on the table. It would just take a moment to set up. "You're right. It's all in how you play the game, not in how you begin it."

Florence sat in one of the chairs and began expertly setting the board. "Do you want to play a timed game?"

[chesspolitik]

"I would like that very much," Anatoly answered. Playing with a timer was not particularly his favorite thing to do as he felt it got in the way of the purity of the game but he was happy to do it for Florence. He would be happy to do anything for her.