villainy commenced [[1x1 w/ the-nug-king & hexspecs!]]

[the-nug-king]

"Yes. Aurion, Val, the chess club. Professor Ulik. And DarkBoard, of course. So did you... did you try to make friends in your first year here? Did you talk to anyone other than Lazarus much?"

[grey matter]

"...I didn't. I was just ready for it to be... me, alone, again. I did a lot of binge working back then. Or planning for duels. Or trying to work so far ahead I could maybe try to take a break. I was... not doing so hot. Lazarus managed to convince me into getting some normal sleep in because he wanted a fair fight, and, in my utterly childish spite, I took the bait and... he managed to trick me into decent self-care. I'd probably be in much worse condition if it weren't for that Lazarus... How... how did you make friends? Genuine question."

[the-nug-king]

"That's good. He did well there. And I'm glad you're doing better now. I was... also expecting to be alone. Aurion and I were hallmates, and he's the cleverest person in our year - don't tell him I said that - and we ended up partnering up in projects whenever we could, and studying together because we both appreciate having someone else smart and driven to work with. And then... Xi was my RA, so it always felt acceptable to go to them for help. Or just to talk. And they ended up convincing me to join the chess club. Have you ever considered joining?"

[grey matter]

"I've never played chess. I'd be... quite the failure. I'm better at UNO and... I've played a few tabletop RPGs... general board games, not... not stuff as strategic as chess... well, no, that's just me doubting myself. If I can play those, maybe I could play chess. How... serious is everyone in chess club?"

[the-nug-king]

"Well, you do have to beat an existing member to get in. But it's fun! I think you'll have less trouble than you believe. It's a very chaotic game, honestly. You make the rules and effect the world of the game as you play. You just need to make rules your opponent can't easily counter. If I have the free time, I could try and teach you some more strategic board games to, if you wished. But that's up to you. Do you want more friends?"

[grey matter]

"Yes... I think. And I am very intrigued by the game now. I.. want to learn it now. I want to get in. This is giving me the intense and chaotic desire to start creating. It's like when I'm around Lazarus, but not in a destructive way or a "let's do things just to be chaotic," way, but... I don't know. I like the feeling though. I like the control. I feel like... Lazarus might enjoy this too, maybe. I'd invite him to it but in all honestly I wouldn't know if he'd enjoy it but we'd be on par with one another so we could- Oh, I'm scheming again! About chess! How invigorating... all that aside, it'd be nice to have an enjoyable activity to do with my free time. I think board games are going to end up connecting all my friends with me if I do end up joining. So. Tell me more about the chess stuff. Er- in question format. That's my question despite being a statement."

[the-nug-king]

"Well, DarkBoard provides a virtual reality for the game - they created it, you know - and the players shape that reality between them. So, for example, one player could put forward that sight is an illusion and then the players won't be able to trust their perception of the board, as seen through their eyes. Human players, that is. You should pay attention to who you're playing against too, and what kind of rules will work on them. If you were playing against someone with a more advanced optic system, who could see without having to send information from their eyes to their brain, and then decode that without even being able to process every colour, they'd be at a big advantage after that rule. And then, after a rule like that, you might try and regain a true impression of the board through your bishops, by stating that faith is blind. Does that make sense?"

[grey matter]

"Confusing but kind of. Hmmm... wanna... play a test match? I think trial and error is a... fun way of doing things in a case like this!"

[the-nug-king]

"I'd enjoy that but... later, maybe. Is it all right if I ask another question, first?"

[grey matter]

"Go ahead."