Two can play at that game (Matrim)

[Gabriel Seran]

A cool breeze swept over the school, as dawn rose in its cherry red blossom Gabriel’s emerald eyes roze to meet them, this wasn’t the first time he’d found himself on the rooftop, many of his important meetings would take place here only the few have been finished here and many more soon to come. It was symbolic in the sort that he could see everything from up here, the harbor, the bridge, and most importantly the school.

Gabriel’s actions were far to erratic to be checked chaos had broken out as he’d expected though what was to be his next move, he’d found organization through the madness of human nature and now was one of the many steps towards greatness towards a future born anew. Regrettably his actions with the pillars hadn’t gone exactly to plan but still there were prizes to be gained from his failure. There was often a silver lining to every battered situation.

-Matirm
You up for that beating you promised me. Head to the rooftop building 3
-Gabriel

He was stirring up the pot now, simply asking for trouble when he’d gotten in that man’s face, was there success to be had from infuriating a giant, a pillar who could certainly out power him if it came down to a fight. But that wasn’t what Gabriel was looking for was it, a challenge yes but not that of the physical sort, he wanted to tempt fate and stretch the limits of the pillars find their skills their weaknesses, and even where their strengths lied perhaps so he could find holes in their bullet proof defenses.
Gabriel sat calmly in a chair a mahogany desk strewn out before him with a board atop it. Just another game of his, another game where the prizes stretched beyond a simple victory.

[Matrim Gallagher]

-Matirm
You up for that beating you promised me. Head to the rooftop building 3
-Gabriel

"Sure.... who the hell is Gabriel? I promised him a beating?" Matrim thought about it, but didn't question it. He put it in the back of his head, and made his way to the rooftop of what he hoped had been the right building. He didn't really care much for naming stuff, he knew where his classes were, where they kept the food, and the best place for a nap. Aside from that he just stuck to the sports gig.

Getting to the correct rooftop, mostly due to luck, Matrim looked at the kid, it was the psychopath who burnt up the school lawn. He suddenly realized who Gabriel was, and slowly approached with his hands in his leather jacket's pockets. He stopped a bit away from the kid and said, "No fighting on school grounds. If you wanted to fight me, you did a piss poor job of picking the location. Now, unless you want to waste my time by arguing who's the good guy, and who's the bad guy, I suggest you tell me if there is another reason I should sit here and chat."

God forbid he break into a speech. I'd probably just walk off in the middle of it... Because quite honestly this guy's a psychopath from what I've seen....

[Gabriel Seran]

"No fighting on school grounds. If you wanted to fight me, you did a piss poor job of picking the location. Now, unless you want to waste my time by arguing who's the good guy, and who's the bad guy, I suggest you tell me if there is another reason I should sit here and chat."

Gabriel’s attention shifted as he brought his emerald eyes up towards the varsity captain. He had a wide brimmed grin on. No he wasn’t thinking of fighting the Captain, lest not on his own turf if it came to that Gabriel would have to have the sway of power be in his favor before he was dumb enough to pull a stunt like that. His game was the sleight of hand, in the one hand he showed the Pillars with exactly what they wanted to see him as a Psychopath, while with the other less visible hand he constricted an army and trained them bitterly. It was a suicidal attempt at control but it bought time for his followers to grow, much like the pillar’s attempts at #259, though organization had failed them and the militia crumbled.

Now Gabriel sat before one of the very people he sought to overrule. Not a trace of anger or passion on his face, everything was calm and within his control. He would play the pieces of this game much like he would in the real life scenario.

“Care for a game, Varsity Captain?” Gabriel said in a smooth velvet voice only giving him a brief wisp of attention as he uncovered the chess board before him.

[Matrim Gallagher]

“Care for a game, Varsity Captain?” The guy said, revealing a chess board. Matrim looked at it, showing no reaction on his face. Right now he wondered why the hell this kid had a chess board, why he wanted to play Matrim at chess of all things.

Yeah sure, I'll spend my time playing chess with a mentally deranged pyro. I love spending my time playing chess with people who should be wearing straitjackets...

"Sure, whatever," Matrim said, walking over and sitting down. (OOC: magically a chair appears? Let's pretend there was one there for Matrim) He looked at the kid, he knew the game well. The old man played chess, always managed to kick Matrim's ass. Something about Matrim having a tendency to always use his stronger pieces and throw them out there in a wild attempt to get a checkmate. Never focused on the defense as much, something he had to learn how to do.

Which is why the shield Qi came out of nowhere... though that has changed since then... lately I'm more of the type that everything I touch turns to dust and ash. My Qi truly is a suiting one.

"You don't strike me as a leader. Call me crazy but what you did seems like you getting angry and acting out against orders. Otherwise I'm guessing you might have done something sooner. I don't know what your beef is with pillarship, but as long as I've been around, I haven't seen them do a single bad act. Which gives me the impression that you are a commy anarchist nazi with malicious intent."

Matrim meant that pretty much as a joke, but he didn't laugh. The truth was, the kid needed to explain himself. Matrim would then, if the kid placed Matrim as white, turn the board so the kid was white. Otherwise he would wait for the kid to move. Matrim didn't go first usually. He knew what he would do, but he just wanted the kid to go first.

[Gabriel Seran]

"Sure, whatever," Matrim said, walking over and sitting down. (OOC: yes that’s exactly what happened >_> *chair appears*)
Gabriel cocked a brow, he didn’t quite expect that from a man of this one’s background, from first appearences he looked to be instable and reckless. He showed a faint grin though one that wouldn’t reveal his intentions the game of chess was played at two different facets, the appearance and the goal much like the intent he held out towards the school’s future.

"You don't strike me as a leader. Call me crazy but what you did seems like you getting angry and acting out against orders. Otherwise I'm guessing you might have done something sooner. I don't know what your beef is with pillarship, but as long as I've been around, I haven't seen them do a single bad act. Which gives me the impression that you are a commy anarchist Nazi with malicious intent."

Gabriel laughed a bit, again showing off another face if you will. He had to keep his appearance changing keep it flip flopping. The world looks down on hypocrites but it’s the ones that do it well enough to succeed often do so. The world was full of them and it didn’t make Gabriel bad, just another person staying ahead of the curb.

“What if I told you, I’m not interested in Pillarship?” He grinned faintly making his first move on the board.

R-Rook
kn-knight
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[Matrim Gallagher]

“What if I told you, I’m not interested in Pillarship?” Matrim heard him say, making his first move. Matrim thought about the move and knew the one he was going to make. First he'd do some talking of course, didn't want to look rushed at all. God forbid he have to dumb himself up even more. The best offense was a good defense, or maybe it was the other way around. All he knew was he would let this kid play with his pawns while he set something else into motion.

"I'd tell you get to the fucking point," Matrim said, moving his knight into it's new position. He looked up, leaning back into his chair. "What the hell are you so interested in?"

Geez what the hell is with this kid. I hate guys like this, always plotting, always ulterior motives, always with the self interest, never with the honesty. Always standing in that grey area......

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[Gabriel Seran]

"I'd tell you get to the fucking point," Matrim said, moving his knight into its new position. "What the hell are you so interested in?"

Gabriel had to laugh a bit not only at his move but the response he gave, the man seemed rather impulsive, easily startled off to one side or the other. His mouth seemed to betray him though Gabriel already knew the side he was on, few would guess which side Gabriel was on. Traitor? Terrorist? Crazed Looney? He felt he was none of the above though he would rather show them then have to tell them so, power was hardly ever realized through words but through the actions. His words betrayed him last time though he wasn’t the only one.

Emerald eyes traced Matrim sizing the man up in a second, debating the kind of person he was, from first appearance he would seem a brute large strong probably the kind of person his title called for, but beneath that the side he probably showed to no one there was something he could poke at, a weakness he’d just have to find the chinks in the man’s armor, he’d just have to press hard enough….

“Always so hasty, jumping straight to the end of the book always leaves you disappointed…” Gabriel taunted with a sinister grin as he made his move, “Now, Matrim was it tell me about yourself…do you like sports?”

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[Matrim Gallagher]

“Always so hasty, jumping straight to the end of the book always leaves you disappointed… Now, Matrim was it tell me about yourself…do you like sports?” The kid said. Matrim was studying his move. The thing about chess was you had to think several moves ahead, not just taking each move at face value. There was always something around the corner. Matrim took his time, searching possibilities.

"Yeah sure, soccer, baseball, even think I'll be boxing someone before too awful long. And just so you know it's not that I jump the end of the book, it's more like..." He thought about it, his eyes never leaving the chess board, "It's annoying is all. I still don't get you. You're the type of person I hate, but at the same time I am not feeling justified for my hatred towards you."

Matrim made his move and looked up at the kid, "Actually, to be more precise you are the type of person I tend to kill. Or at least try. State your purposes already, tell the truth about who you are. Hell, better yet, tell a complete lie. Say you're the opposite of what you really are. Then your true friends will oppose you at all times, and your true enemies... will, they'll confront you in a friendly manner in private or in person. The only trouble with that is... it'll be hard to convince people the truth about yourself."

He leaned back in his chair having made his move. His eyes went up towards the clear sky, "Or how about better yet you just tell me straight up what the hell your endgame is so I can either try and stop you or get out of your way.... you treat me like an enemy when I've been at 42 longer then I was ever at 259. Didn't have enough time to make allies or enemies so I don't really get your beef with me."

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(OOC: By the way, we need to fix this system. it's flawed, we won't be able to tell who's pieces are who's unless we pay a huge amount of attention. So pretty soon we should start using colors on the text for our own pieces. Possibly have one go blue and one go red?)

[Gabriel Seran]

"Actually, to be more precise you are the type of person I tend to kill. Or at least try. State your purposes already, tell the truth about who you are. Hell, better yet, tell a complete lie. Say you're the opposite of what you really are. Then your true friends will oppose you at all times, and your true enemies... will, they'll confront you in a friendly manner in private or in person. The only trouble with that is... it'll be hard to convince people the truth about yourself."

Gabriel cocked a brow, he did know those type of people in fact that was the kind of game Gabriel was playing of course he wouldn’t reveal his sides till the very end and even then he’d keep his share hidden from view. The next question was…Was Matrim a friend or a foe.

"Or how about better yet you just tell me straight up what the hell your endgame is so I can either try and stop you or get out of your way.... you treat me like an enemy when I've been at 42 longer then I was ever at 259. Didn't have enough time to make allies or enemies so I don't really get your beef with me."

Gabriel leaned back not even bothering with the board now this transpired simple moves and tactics apparent stratagems and the leader’s prides, this was just like his reference back at 259, he’d met Unfettered as a neutral warrior without purpose, peace was his only concern but soon enough he had a purpose a pride that needed to be fulfilled. Gabriel smiled slightly at the nostalgia making his move before leaning back into his seat crossing his arms and letting a hand move to his jaw line.

“You really aren’t looking too far ahead are you?” Gabriel mused pleasantly, “Don’t you see? It’s like our chess game, people are moving about the board making friends foes, and every here and there are little slip ups.” He smiled pleased, “Now when the big pieces make a slip…we extort them, it seems as though your soldiers aren’t in the best conditions as they once were…” not Gabriel was musing metaphysically searching to rancor at his head perhaps distract the man enough from one side of the game enough to buy time for other plans occurring in his overall scheme.

“What’s to say that you aren’t the reason they crumble?” Gabriel now gave a bitter glance, “Do you want to be the reason they slip? I don’t think so Matrim you’re much smarter than that aren’t you,” He continued on looking at the board less intently in fact Gabriel wasn’t noticing it all he was pressing Matrim for focus for answers to a few of his own questions.

“Now we can say they won’t blame you but every side needs a scapegoat,” Gabriel would stop there letting him put the pieces together himself, the fact that Gabriel was referring that he’d be the scapegoat for the pillars fall and if he didn’t aid in their down fall he’d lose everything, though there was always another way out.

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(OOC: phew yea I just realized that lol what a pain haha)

[Matrim Gallagher]

“You really aren’t looking too far ahead are you? Don’t you see? It’s like our chess game, people are moving about the board making friends foes, and every here and there are little slip ups. Now when the big pieces make a slip…we extort them, it seems as though your soldiers aren’t in the best conditions as they once were…”

I never did think chess was the greatest game out there.....

“What’s to say that you aren’t the reason they crumble? Do you want to be the reason they slip? I don’t think so Matrim you’re much smarter than that aren’t you.”

Only so many possibilities. They really need a new strategy game, something that really shows someones ability to maneuver their way around a board. Something with more then just two sides, two people. Maybe a team game of some sort.

“Now we can say they won’t blame you but every side needs a scapegoat.”

Matrim made his move on the board. He didn't say anything at first, he was focusing on the game a little, sure, but the fact remained that he had been thinking about what the kid said. It was terribly flawed logic though, in fact, it was god awful, "Again, another person who has it all wrong..."

Even if the pillars fell, it wouldn't be because of Matrim. And the way things were now, he wouldn't be the one blamed. He was the one always getting injured, he was the one following orders and doing as he was told. He knew the pillars, well, one of them at least. The fact was, if they blamed him he wouldn't give a shit. He wasn't their friend. He was their colleague and nothing more. Not to mention, if someone could take out Linda and Mathew? Then they would be too tough for Matrim to have done anything. Besides....

The would only prove that it was truly possible to do it.

Thus creating yet another challenge. Every part of Matrim was excited for what was to come.

"That's the problem with the chess analogy," Matrim said. He was actually quite intelligent, he only put on a mask to hide his inner most thoughts. He hid them from everyone, even Gabriel here right now, "Chess is boring.... that's why I like sports. More players, and hell, some of the sports have more then two sides. Then it gets really interesting. In chess, only two teams, no fighting. Most boring shit ever."

There are more then two sides to what you are proposing Gabriel.... and all the pieces in the world won't be able to stop one that is used to it's full potential. One knight, one pawn, and already I'm making you sacrifice a piece.

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[Gabriel Seran]

(ooc: sorry for the delay, spring break)

"Again, another person who has it all wrong..."
Gabriel cocked a brow, Matrim was vexing the kind of person he could tell was hard to get to, loyal and strong, what irritated Gabriel most was that he wasn’t on his side. Gabriel didn’t show the anguish however he held it inside like a torch armed and ready to be let loose.


"That's the problem with the chess analogy," Matrim said, "Chess is boring.... that's why I like sports. More players, and hell, some of the sports have more than two sides. Then it gets really interesting. In chess, only two teams, no fighting. Most boring shit ever."

Gabriel moved a hand to his head without looking worried he massaged his temples slightly, it was almost as if talking to a wall this one. He had enough respect for the man not to degrade him, though in fact he did deserve the brutalization after assaulting the cripple, the truth behind Gabriel’s anger was his own measly renegade squadron. They were strong in heart but that meant nothing to these heathens they were all about brute strength and though even now as they preach being good, someone could challenge the system just as Gabriel was doing now. He was on their turf and they had now will or no courage to force him out what system allows the prisoners to run amok throughout their cities and incite rebellion. A poor one.

While Matrim thought that he was using his unit to its fullest potential he was also condemning it to death forcing it to make a sacrifice. For the greater good? No for a coward who hid behind his pawns and soldiers.

“Though we aren’t truly playing a game are we, so was I truly using chess as an analogy?” Gabriel played his words out through a silver tongue whispering velvet to the winds, “Think about it captain, you are a smart man, what use does chess prove vital? Or shall I tell you as well?”

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"Chess doesn't mean squat. It's a way to get the hamster in the cage rolling. Allows you to pick at my brain when I'm too focused on the game to give a shit about what you ask concerning me," He said, making his move rather quickly. He was all for sacrificing pieces in chess. Something that was different between him in real life. In real life he had lost too many people. In chess they were just pieces.

"You still haven't said your endgame. Quite frankly I'm tempted to beat it out of you, see, I have this thing. It's sort of a grudge really, and it's not against people so much as a thing," Matrim said. He was getting too old for this stuff, and as he leaned back breathing in the nice air around the rooftop, he suddenly missed the Alaskan air which was a bit cleaner then San Fran. "I've seen enough war in my life time. If I knew your endgame perhaps I could tell you a way to achieve it without war. Or maybe persuade you to abandon your cause for another one more worth your time with less trouble."

He stifled a yawn and scratched at his stomach, looking down a the board and planning his actual attack. Up until now he had been playing re-actively, letting the opponent make their move and catch them in a situation. No the opponent had their Queen on the field while Matrim was about to lose his knight. But at least the guys other bishop was still out of play, and his knights were too far away to do any damage. Not to mention Matrim had a bit easier access with one of his rooks.

"Or I could just kill you and be done with it," Matrim said very casually. It was the truth, he would do it too. Or at least put Gabriel in a situation where he wouldn't physically be able to do anything. "Don't worry, I make death threats to everyone that strikes me as a threat. Sort of routine for me. I don't usually have to follow through with many of them."

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[Gabriel Seran]

(ooc: sorry for the delay)

"You still haven't said your endgame. Quite frankly I'm tempted to beat it out of you, see, I have this thing. It's sort of a grudge really, and it's not against people so much as a thing," Matrim said.

Gabriel rolled his eyes seeing past the man’s attempts at letting out a helping hand, Gabriel was all for a peaceful solution but he’d seen what the pillars had done over this short span of time, how violent their moods swung. Matrim was no different, he’d done little to prove else wise the man talked and talked letting lose threats when he didn’t get his way and then backed down offering a token of friendship, if Gabriel was to let his guard down even once the end game would end horribly.

"I've seen enough war in my life time. If I knew your endgame perhaps I could tell you a way to achieve it without war. Or maybe persuade you to abandon your cause for another one more worth your time with less trouble."

Again Gabriel saw through it, he’d been in war just as many if not more Gabriel was raised on war, on the streets blood flowed in his past. Life was as brutal as anyone could suspect. He’d lost about all faith in humanity but an inch of him sprawled out for hope unfortunately it was through violence and a need to save those who couldn’t do so themselves.

"Or I could just kill you and be done with it," Matrim said very casually.

Gabriel laughed a bit, he dared to see the man try, death wasn’t his fear, there were many worse things in life. Being trapped in a cage, in the dark, like he had been for years at a time, beaten and brutalized, Gabriel’s body was broken but his mind was the weapon he sought in the darkness.

"Don't worry; I make death threats to everyone that strikes me as a threat. Sort of routine for me. I don't usually have to follow through with many of them."

Gabriel made his move willingly taking the knight, it was a sad figment that such a man would sacrifice his own without looking deeply into the situation though he’d opened room for a single warrior he’d done so by sacrificing one of his own, that was not a game to be played a life for a life killed off everyone.

“Not worried, in fact I’m rather amused,” Gabriel said eyeing up the board again looking a few steps into the future, “actions speak louder than words Captain…” he kept his dialogue short and cryptic looking up at Matirm with revere.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"Actions usually speak a lot truer then words as well," Matrim said, making his move rather suddenly. He had been thinking a few moves ahead, realizing that the current predicament left them even with each other, a piece for a piece. Matrim favored his knights over his bishops which made this a loss, but he knew how to use bishops and rooks just as well as his knights, so he didn't worry too much. It was just how easily deceived people were by knights, forgetting which moves they could make, it was one of the hardest pieces on the board to calculate in the midst of chaos because of how strangely it moved. Bishops, rooks, and really every other piece on the board moved in a straight line, one way, a certain amount of spaces given a situation. Knights, moved both directions in one fell swoop. Two away, one over. Or one over, two away.

"So Gabriel," Matrim said, "I'll be honest with you, if you be honest with me. How about, until we finish our chess game we play a game of our own. You ask me a question, I'll answer it honestly, completely. You have my word I will answer the question to the full extent of my knowledge, not withholding information unless it does not pertain to the question. In return I get to do the same. Each move we make on the board earns us a question. And as a show of good faith I'll let you make the first move, what do you say?"

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[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel watched the board with a trained eye as he casually peered up to see Matrim, trying to read him seeing the kind of man he was and which move he’d inevitably make it seemed as if this game may go one for one all the way unless Gabriel was to make some smart moves, the game he was going to play would be not to draw first blood he’d force Matrim into a situation where it would be a piece for a piece. Gabriel was not about to lose his own men, in reality he had numbers at his side Matrim did not.

"So Gabriel," Matrim said, "I'll be honest with you, if you be honest with me. How about, until we finish our chess game we play a game of our own. You ask me a question; I'll answer it honestly, completely. You have my word I will answer the question to the full extent of my knowledge, not withholding information unless it does not pertain to the question. In return I get to do the same. Each move we make on the board earns us a question. And as a show of good faith I'll let you make the first move, what do you say?"

Gabriel perked his eyebrows up curiously letting time drift by. He didn’t know what there was to be gained from this; he knew more or less that in the end Matrim and the pillars would be out of business and he’d be at the top however if he was to let information pass there could pose some trouble. However it did fancy his interest getting to know every facet he didn’t know already and for that reason alone he’d get under the man’s skin.

“Alright, I’ll play your game,” Gabriel made his move quietly as he looked Matrim in the face now, “Why the sudden change of heart?” He meant of course by the pillars strange timing of becoming the good guys and upholding righteousness.

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