[ and the folding of a house of cards. it begins like this: the backwards step that reverberates along the hardwood floors of alhaitham's apartment. in chess, the pieces cannot go backwards. it is a rule as ironclad as the game is old, more law than regulation; for all that you can discuss and prod and pry answers from era-defining plays and the psychology of players involved, there are certain things that are immutable. kaveh takes a single step back in the face of an advancing pawn, and alhaitham thinks -
that the walls of this apartment are not large enough to encompass the both of them. it would be the last time he thinks this, but the realisation comes first. there is always a first. a child saying yes to a stranger with a lifeline had his first. every other assent that comes after, then, are merely stones that follow the first, each laid down through relentless hands. kaveh looks away, and alhaitham looks - first at the line of his neck in the hallway light, and then, once again, back down to his board. ]
Order two portions from wherever that seems will deliver the soonest. [ in the shadows of the living room, alhaitham pulls out his credit card. he places it on the other side of the chessboard.
the sound is a soft rasp of plastic against wood. alhaitham's head lowers. ] Use my card.
no subject
that the walls of this apartment are not large enough to encompass the both of them. it would be the last time he thinks this, but the realisation comes first. there is always a first. a child saying yes to a stranger with a lifeline had his first. every other assent that comes after, then, are merely stones that follow the first, each laid down through relentless hands. kaveh looks away, and alhaitham looks - first at the line of his neck in the hallway light, and then, once again, back down to his board. ]
Order two portions from wherever that seems will deliver the soonest. [ in the shadows of the living room, alhaitham pulls out his credit card. he places it on the other side of the chessboard.
the sound is a soft rasp of plastic against wood. alhaitham's head lowers. ] Use my card.