Redsand Canyon as the building continues to burn

like their companion, for renard, the games were just…how things went. how things had gone back at home, and how they continued to be. playing by your own rules was an advantage, and renard didn’t mind doing what they had to to come out on top; and, privately, there was a thrill in it that they were loathe to abandon entirely.

even if the case was that it became impossible to understand. assess your opponent’s moves, play your own; they were at opposite ends of a chess board, and neither was budging for fear of giving the game away.

and then, staring them right in the face, she moved the queen.

renard watched it go. dangled so tantalizingly in front of them. they could match answer with answer; they could let her make her move. she’d been so kind as to tip her hand –

so would renard. it was only fair – and they were in the mood to be entertained.

“why should i?” unblinking, they watched her, an eagerness in the predatory glitter of their eyes. now you’re getting it. now we’re getting somewhere. “if they become a problem, they can be removed.”