Checkmate (Martin & Naomi)

Martin had been gathering some books to do some extra reading after finishing his homework in the library when he noticed what appeared to be an intense chess match going on. At first he didn't realize it was Naomi playing, as he was so focused on the board that was clearly set at one of the higher if not highest level but the player was holding their own. As he walked closer and looked to see who it was he flinched slightly upon noticing Naomi. Part of him feared he'd get his head bitten off for asking, but he loved chess and she was clearly a skilled opponent. Steeling his nerve, he walked closer and took a seat at the table next to her, not too presumptuous as to just sit down.

After she'd made her next move was when he chose to break the silence, knowing better than to interrupt her during a move. "Umm, hey Naomi. If you aren't interested just say so but..I was wondering...would you be up for a chess match?" he asked awkwardly, knowing he'd made a mess of his sentence structure but not worried about that at the moment. Part of him feared she'd just tell him to go away angrily or walk out like he'd never spoken to her.

Martin smiled slightly when she asked if he was any good at chess, knowing it was one of his better games. The logic and planning involved was right up his alley. "I hold my own pretty well, though I haven't had anyone to play with in a while. People stopped playing with me when I wouldn't take it easy on them, but I'm guessing that won't be a problem in this case." he said, his eyes looking at the board and trying to figure out what her next move was going to be. Right now she had the game in hand, but it could easily tip back the other way if she made a mistake. "Playing against a board is all well and good, but I always find playing against a tough opponent much more rewarding, don't you?" he asked her, suspecting she wouldn't turn down his challenge though not positive by any means. Naomi still confused him, even more than most girls.

Martin was slightly annoyed when she told him to just ask if he wanted to play. "I already asked to play, and you countered with your own question instead of giving me an answer." he pointed out. While it was a relevant question it annoyed him that she would berate him for not asking when he literally had a few moments before. He knew people had short memories sometimes, but that seemed a bit much. Maybe her mind had just been too focused on her game against the board to have been paying too much attention to their conversation.

Nodding when she told him he could start, Martin thought for a few moments before moving the pawn in front of his knight on the queen's side up one space. With that he could either choose to be aggressive, or expand his pawns around it to play defensively. Now, he just had to wait and see what type of game Naomi would be playing today. "Your move." he said quietly, though it was rather obvious.

Martin frowned when she simply mirrored him, more than a little disappointed she wasn't using her own strategy. If she was doing it simply to make some point he had no clue what it was, other than that she knew multiple ways how to irritate him. Deciding to play for now, he hoped the mirroring wouldn't continue for the entire game. Moving the pawn next to the rook on the queen's side up two squares, he looked over at her. "Back to you. How are things going with you?" he asked, making an attempt at polite conversation with her. Part of him knew that it was doomed before he tried, but he really hadn't intended to piss her off so much the last times they'd met. Most people didn't get through his calm exterior, but Naomi was an exception to that. She'd immediately known how to get under his skin and from what he'd seen seemed to enjoy doing so until he tried to turn the tables on her. He doubted he'd gotten under her skin, from her reactions though he knew he'd done things to make her kind of angry at him.

Hearing her sigh before eventually answering his question made him smile slightly, thinking that maybe he was irritating her as she had him with just copying his first move. After all, if she wanted to do things that would annoy him it was only fair he do them back, wasn't it? She had yet to make her second move, but he wouldn't be surprised is she used the same tactic of copying him. The question of wanting a game of chess he decided to address first. "Yes, Naomi I did want a game of chess. Instead of using your own strategy though, you simply mirrored my move. It's highly unlikely we had the exact same one planned. So if you aren't going to take it seriously, I decided to try for conversation." he told her bluntly, trying not to let too much of his annoyance show in the tone of his voice but some of it still slipped through. Instead, he decided to address her answer to his question of how she was. "I understand, there are places I would rather be as well." he told her, and was about to make his move when she actually asked how he was, causing him to pause.

Her question of how he was made Martin pause, wondering if it he'd really heard her say that or if he was going crazy. His brain told him she had though, so he decided to reply. "I enjoy the library here, classes are okay but the wide variety of books on subjects not even covered in classes is quite impressive. Honestly, though, I'm ready to get out of here and go home. As you've probably already guessed social situations aren't my strong suit, they make me anxious more than anything. So I'm okay, I guess, too. but...in all honesty just ready to leave." he admitted. She could make fun of him for any of that if she wanted to, but he'd given her an honest answer.