(no subject)

[pitythetrumper]

There were very few things that could keep Freddie from the chessboard for long. In fact, until the first time it had happened, he hadn't thought there was anything that could keep him from the rec room and the board. And then Prior got sick. He was still adamant that it didn't make things different, but he couldn't help but be a little bit of a mother hen. He hated the thought of Prior being sick and his only options were either ignoring it entirely or doing something about it.

Fear suggested the former, but common sense demanded the latter.

Prior had a fever and so Freddie left the front door open in the hopes that they could get a breeze through the hut. That was the one problem with living out here. There was no air conditioning outside of the Compound, at least as far as he knew.

"What else can I do?" He was hovering and he knew it, but Prior was in no position to argue.

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[chesspolitik]

Anatoly wasn't sure which surprised him more - Freddie smiling at him or Freddie thanking him. They were both firsts, no matter how he looked at it and so he resolved to behave himself for the rest of his time here. If Freddie could be civil, then so could he.

"I would love to play," he said. "Where is the board?"

[priorlives.livejournal.com]

Prior settled back against the couch and closed his eyes. He didn't want Freddie to have to carry him back to the bed, and he was fine here, really.

"Go on," he murmured. "I'll be fine."

[pitythetrumper]

Freddie pulled Prior in close and tucked him along his side. "Neither of us is going anywhere," he promised. "Which means you may sleep through one of the only games where we don't end up throwing pieces at each other." He nodded to the board by the side of the dresser. It was more like a handful of boards glued together with the spaces colored in. The pieces were stones with the piece name taped on top. He actually looked a little sheepish.

"I need a better chess set."

[chesspolitik]

It was a very makeshift board, it was true, but Anatoly carried it over to where Freddie sat as if it were made of the purest gold. It was made to play chess with and therefore it was special. All the same, he thought Freddie deserved a proper set. Somehow, he would find a way to get him one, even if it meant making it himself.

He sat across from Freddie and carefully set the board down, white side facing the other man. "It has a charm all on its own," he said then sat back and waited for the game to begin.

[priorlives.livejournal.com]

"Protect your queen," Prior mumbled, curling up against Prior's side and closing his eyes, fully intending on going back to sleep.

[pitythetrumper]

"I already am," Freddie murmured, brushing his fingers through Prior's hair. He leaned forward a little and moved one of his pawns.

[chesspolitik]

With that, the game was on and nothing registered to Anatoly but the board and the man across it. It wasn't a game played for a title and watched by millions of people, it was true, but he approached it as if it were. He knew no other way to play against an equal.