Two can play at that game (Matrim)

[Matrim Gallagher]

“Alright, I’ll play your game,”

Good, cus now I can actually have a little fun.

“Why the sudden change of heart?”

"What you mean like Mathew and them? People thinking they are the bad guys?" Matrim laughed and smiled, "Don't worry I'm not gonna spoon feed you anything. Honestly I don't know their angle. And yes I say their, not our. I was barely at 259, from what Leon told me Mathew's a real bastard. Linda's a dragon, that's all I know about her. From what I've seen of Jester he's pretty psychopathic, and creepy. The guy kind of freaks me out, so if this is him with a change of heart, I really don't want to see what he used to be like..." Matrim said with a smile on his face.

"As for me, I had a change of heart of my own, but it has no relevance to pillars. Still, it applies to the question. I think you lack experience, I think you have good intentions, but you are going about this all wrong. You're meths are a bit... dramatic. Finding out someones endgame is more of a finesse job, like getting one of the enemy alone so you can interrogate him and get under his skin, figure out his secrets," Matrim winked at him, "Like you're doing with me right now."

Matrim then moved his piece, "Who are you associated with, gang wise?"

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[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel enjoyed his response a tad bit more than he had expected it would seem as though he may have been wrong to jump to assumptions perhaps Matrim wasn’t the man he’d pinned him for maybe the man was more like Gabriel than he had imagined perhaps better that’s what scared him.

“Finding out someone’s endgame is more of a finesse job, like getting one of the enemy alone so you can interrogate him and get under his skin, figure out his secrets," Matrim winked at him, "Like you're doing with me right now."

Gabriel smiled slightly this was another game of wits, it was like poker whoever could out play the other person would inevitably win, or perhaps Gabriel was pinning these things to easily on something he could relate to perhaps so he could better understand the way of things. It vexed him not being able to read a man easily enough. Matrim was easy enough to read on the surface but then again something he could easily relate to slept just below that exterior.

Matrim then moved his piece, "Who are you associated with, gang wise?"

The question startled him a bit Gabriel hadn’t expected that, he was prepared more for the other more obvious questions like, what are your plans, who is associated in your take over scheme. But that was a different story. Militia, it was an easy enough answer but things had rapidly changed and would it prove to complicate things if he were to reveal his allegiance, there was a possiblitiy. For the first instant Gabriel was thrown off his game a bit at a loss for words deciding what to say he paused to move his piece.

“Currently, I’m in a bit of a reconstruction phase…but since we’re feeling so trusting today I’ll let you know.” he paused to look over the board once again, “I am part of Militia.”

“Now Varsity Captain I would like to know where do your allegiance’s lie? Hmmm? With the students or the Reapers?” it was a philosophical question that could affect how he viewed the man he had the choice between power or humanity.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

“Currently, I’m in a bit of a reconstruction phase…but since we’re feeling so trusting today I’ll let you know. I am part of Militia.” The guy said, and Matrim wasn't surprised. He sort of just nodded in agreement, stretching out as the kid asked his question, one that would make Matrim smile, “Now Varsity Captain I would like to know where do your allegiance’s lie? Hmmm? With the students or the Reapers?”

"Neither," Matrim said, sticking his tongue out at Gabriel. "My true allegiance lies with the people I care about, they take priority. Are one of these people a Reaper, yeah sure one of them is. But to be fair I didn't know they were a reaper till not too long ago. Besides, some of those people are in Militia. More so then there are Reapers, and as for the students, sure the kids at this school are great, and yeah I'd help them out if they were in need. But when it boils right down to it, my true allegiance goes to the people in my life I care about."

Matrim lifted his left hand, which would show a black venetian glass ring on his ring finger, "Ya know?" He said with a smile on his face, making the move on the chess piece and coming back with a question of his own, he would not need to know Militia's goals or end game. He could find that out from more then Gabriel, with less interrogation. Which really gave Matrim everything he needed to know. Still, he had a question alright, "What brings you to this point? What major events in your life has shaped you into the person you are now?"

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[Gabriel Seran]

"Neither,"
Gabriel grinned cocking a brow up and focusing a bit of attention now waiting to hear a clever word from him.

"My true allegiance lies with the people I care about, they take priority. Are one of these people a Reaper, yeah sure one of them is. But to be fair I didn't know they were a reaper till not too long ago. Besides, some of those people are in Militia. More so then there are Reapers, and as for the students, sure the kids at this school are great, and yeah I'd help them out if they were in need. But when it boils right down to it, my true allegiance goes to the people in my life I care about."

Gabriel turned his face down averting his eyes away before giving the Varsity Captain a generous nod of appreciation, “Good, I hadn’t expected that of you.” Gabriel could sense truth in his voice his mistrusting personality found a weakness for once or perhaps a twinge of mercy. Most likely for the best if a man like this could work to change the history of this school there would be a golden age ahead.

"Ya know? What brings you to this point? What major events in your life have shaped you into the person you are now?"
Gabriel grinned once more looking the man over, “So rather than taking every advantage you can get you ask me about my life?” He laugher a bit, “Well isn’t that just a miraculous act in itself.” He said with a sobered grin. Gabriel shifted back as if he were in the mood for a long story, moving the piece he began, of course slight details would be altered for the sake of good judgment Gabriel didn’t exactly want to explain his other half.

“There are a few things that can change a man, make him into something he never intended to be I’m sure you can understand about as well as anyone else.” He made a nodding gesture towards Matrim again, “I was born into privilege, son of a Lord, unfortunately for me that also made me a target, I was abducted by a sadistic cult of Templers who spent years manipulating me and others like me into weapons. I was beaten, abused and horribly treated for more than a year, no sun for me.” Gabriel was in a heated passion now, “It made me precise…” Gabriel grinned now playing a swift hand over the pieces.

“How about you Matrim? Have a past?”

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"Sure do," Matrim said. "And technically speaking I could leave it at that, but I'm not gonna be a dick about loopholes. Son of a rock star, who was also the son of a rock star and so on and so forth. When I was a kid I was orphaned, heart thing in my family, only found out it wasn't so much a heart thing as a psychotic murderous doctor thing, gave me and my family bad medicine. Eventually I ended up being charged with murder during my travels across the world, I was innocent it was just a... a Qi incident. Anyway, I get sent to a sort of prison school. Staff there is psychotic, and I meet the love of my life. I plan a prison break, and it doesn't go too well. We nearly make it out, but get brought back in time for a war. More psychotic people, only these ones have guns and they got a grudge against the people in our school for various reasons. So we fight in the war, schools destroyed, and a less guarded version is made in Alaska. In a less populated town known as Point Hope."

Matrim made his move at this point, "I became School Captain there, became engaged to said love of my life, and I meet Leon Sudeki. Leon gets me interested in coming to 259, says the fighters there are tough. I was the best at Point Hope, I had no more challenges there. So, I sorta left Point Hope, and left Reira with a post it note saying I had gone for a short bit. Well, she found me at Point Hope. I was going to take on Pillars since generally they are the strongest, and it just so happened Reapers wanted me to take on Olesya. I figured, what the hell. I'll take on the title, and it'll get me into a gang. Not because I had any intention on helping them...."

Matrim laughed pretty loudly and said, "I just like knowing what's going on. I like to know things."

Matrim looked up at him and said, "I uttered the word Reira, it was a mistake of me to do so, if you know who this is and you plan to use her against me I will cut your head off before you can utter a single word, do I make myself clear?" Matrim said, "I'm all out of questions. Feel free to ask me any more, or tell me anything about yourself I might ask you but have forgotten."

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[Gabriel Seran]

War….yes war was a powerful thing it would seem as if the man before Gabriel actually had a lot in common with him, they had separated history’s different backgrounds but in the same essence were brought together by war. Gabriel could remember what war was like, dark and full of hatred for people much like you and in the same time so different it was an unmovable obstacle you could never avoid very painstakingly difficult to maneuver about. Gabriel sigh and nodded his head yes they were very familiar now, he knew just the man this character was now.

“I figured what the hell. I'll take on the title, and it'll get me into a gang. Not because I had any intention on helping them...."

Matrim laughed and Gabriel did as well, he could give him credit Matrim was turning out to be not too dissimilar from him. There was however a major difference that may forever divide them lest things were to warm up. Reven.

Matrim looked up at him and said, "I uttered the word Reira, it was a mistake of me to do so, if you know who this is and you plan to use her against me I will cut your head off before you can utter a single word, do I make myself clear?" Matrim said,

Gabriel hadn’t caught it before he brought it up, simply another name to him, though now it held certain importance, so this was the guy she now had such lackluster for. Gabriel grinned faintly not sinister nor plotting merely amused but from an observers standpoint it could be interpreted as a silent agreement. Leverage was such a powerful thing if the time came when he needed it Reven wouldn’t hesitate to use such a card, Gabriel however would.

"I'm all out of questions. Feel free to ask me anymore, or tell me anything about yourself I might ask you but have forgotten."
Gabriel stretched back in his seat feeling a bit relaxed it would seem as if the man before him was no longer a threat but a potential ally in the future should their paths cross again but for the time being he was still a slight obstacle. Though the Achilles heel was revealed and that was enough satisfaction to last a lifetime.

“You want more power, I see,” Gabriel pondered to himself not looking Matrim in the eyes rather making his move on the board, “Well see if we can put that to good use…” he said now in a low voice that was not his own.

“How do you generally feel about the Reapers?”

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"Wanted, got." Matrim said, in regards to the power thing, "It's over-rated. As to putting anything to good use, don't make any mistakes, I don't like you. Even if I'm not the enemy you thought I was, I still do not like you."

“How do you generally feel about the Reapers?”

"Not one way nor the other. During my time as a Reaper they haven't done anything to warrant my disliking them. But I don't know how long that'll last. But then again that goes for everyone."

Matrim got an idea, "Changing up the game a bit. Instead of every time we move a piece we ask a question, every time we take a piece we can ask one. I think I've developed a few more of my own for when I take a piece." Matrim made his move, getting ready for a question since most likely Gabriel would take the pawn. He might not though, he may be a little bit more determined to do something else.

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[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel mused over his small spat, they weren’t friends and Gabriel honestly didn’t expect them to be it didn’t rule out the fact that he could still be put to good use. All types of men had their weaknesses and he would find Matrim’s just as easily however it would take time. The Achilles heel of his was always a good start but he wouldn’t resort to his ace till the time called for such a hand.

"Changing up the game a bit. Instead of every time we move a piece we ask a question, every time we take a piece we can ask one. I think I've developed a few more of my own for when I take a piece."

Gabriel nodded in agreement he didn’t have too many questions himself, whatever he needed was said before the game even began and the things that would shake up his plans where problems to be dealt with in time.

He surveyed his opponent’s move looking as if he were desperate for questioning. In the short run perhaps it was for the best but Gabriel saw past little tokens and desired for the prize with as little blood to shed as possible. His move made Gabriel leaned back ready for Matrim to make a move.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

(OOC: You know we get exp for this right? lulz.)

Gabriel made a move but for the most part remained silent. Calculating the board, every scenario. He wanted to move pawns, but he saw something that made him laugh. He realized it may not be much, but it was something to be amused, a simple fact that Gabriel had yet to lose a single pawn. Matrim was tempted to take a pawn just for the hell of it, but wasn't in a situation to do so. Instead he would strengthen his own defenses by creating a lane for his rook.

Matrim stifled a yawn as he placed the rook in it's new home, trying to calculate the intentions of Gabriel's knight, determining situations with pawns, and thinking of ways to place a trap for the kid.

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[Gabriel Seran]

(ooc: for realz? lulz)

The game they were to be playing was becoming even more of a death trap as troops on the field came closer and closer fearing a misaimed strike for it would surely lead to horrible repercussions, Gabriel saw that he was looking to the next four moves deciphering which would be safest for his troops while in the same instant would apply pressure and slowly fit that noose around Matrim’s king.

He looked long and hard at the board taking his time now, before he was swift to move now he hoped to throw Matrim off by pacing himself or perhaps appearing indecisive but he found his move early on in the field of play the knight he’d been eyeing up so vividly. Gabriel avoided losing his troops, on any normal day he’d sacrifice his pawns more than willingly but this was early in the game, and like stated before he was playing two games the game within a game still ravaged on within his head. Save the pawns they’ll prove useful later…

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[Matrim Gallagher]

(OOC: Apparently. I was informed of that without even asking.)

Matrim and Gabriel both had remained silent for some time. Matrim was rubbing his chin and examining the move. He saw something he hadn't before, and he studied the move over a few times. He saw a focal point in a future attack Gabriel might be planning, but double checked his defenses. Now would be a prime time to make a move with his rook, but he saw something he hadn't before. A move with a pawn that would shake things up a bit.

A pawn taking on a Queen.... in a weird strange way it's almost suiting.

Matrim remained in silence, still studying the board, his eye daring over the board, looking at his other pawns, at Gabriel's pieces, and taking into account different situations in which he could place an attack.

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[Gabriel Seran]

(occ: o goody)

Quiet, it was a game of intense nerves now. Gabriel let himself calm and steady he could feel anticipation creep up rushed now in the back of his mind but refused to give in there was much to do and losing his queen was not the one thing he had in mind. There were a few possibilities but with the rook in such a dangerous position it made Gabriel feel uneasy about losing pieces, for now he’d retreat. Sometimes it was the best solution better to come back stronger than risk a dangerous situation.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

Gotcha!

Matrim smiled, making his move rather quickly. He had just won himself a bishop. And all without sacrificing a bigger piece. Matrim felt glad that this had worked, knowing that he had succeeded in utilizing his pawns attack. Something he hadn't been doing too much of. Sure a pawn, or possibly even two, died for this victory, but it put Matrim ahead in points, giving him more control over the places on the center of the board. Something his father always told him.

Control the battlefield area of the board, and you control the game....

Gabriel would get his question first, but Matrim would have a question of his own after that.

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[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel flinched at Matrim’s move; he’d overlooked the mobility of his pawns. Damnit, he thought a twinge of anger seething its way up into his face though never losing his calm features, it was all planned or so he was willing to stake. There would still be time to fix his mistake Matrim would give up his center position for a bishop it would prove irritating and break down some spirit but Gabriel could not lose his nerve. Not here.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

That's one question for him, and one question for me....

Matrim thought to himself as he took the bishop. He had set several things into motion, and the greatest of these things was disrupting any attack he had planned, as well as taking control over the flow of this game. He felt victorious, especially since the knight nearby wasn't a problem, his rooks were out of play as well as his second knight, and there was relatively easy access to the king.

"Don't forget to ask me a question, technically you took a piece first so I'll wait."

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