50th Chance

[faded_prodigy]

Hmm...Fifty entries already? I guess it makes sense. Had this journal for a year and a half now. Doesn't seem like it's been that long though. But a number of things don't seem like they've been that long. "Time flies when you're having fun" or some such poetic hyperbole

Comments

[hippy_coach]

Don't be such a downer on yourself. Look at me for instance. Do I look like I could ever match up against anyone at this international level? But a long time ago, I did, and I did okay. You never know what you're capable of until you try.

[faded_prodigy]

I have tried. Numerous times. I'm just awful at it. Which is why I don't like being forced to play doubles.
What about you, Watanabe-sensei? You say you played on an international level, but was there anything you were just generally bad at that you were made to do?

[hippy_coach]

You don't have to be so formal. Just Osamu is fine with me. And to answer your question, yes, there was something I was made to do that I was terrible at. For me that something was very very hard and at times seemed to be impossible for me. and the tremors and the flash backs didn't help matters but in the end I still managed.

[faded_prodigy]

...Should I even ask as to what exactly it was that you had such trouble with doing, Watanabe-sensei?

[OOC: Yes, he is ignoring Osamu's request. Because Kiraku hates being informal, for the most part. Formalities are dropped only for those he is close to. ...And for incredibly persistent people like Jackal, since he in turn hates being referred to as "Kuwahara" and went on a long rant at Kiraku for it. ^^;]

[royal_atobe]

The rumors are indeed true. Ore-sama has decided to put on a little International Chess Tourniment whiel we are in Russia between all the chess players amoung us. And for those like Sanada, I have decided to be nice and offer up Shogi too.

I have arranged for a board and pieces to be awaiting us in Africa. Perhaps, Ore-sama can give you a quick refresher course, ahn?

[faded_prodigy]

Excellent~! Then this shall definitely be something fun that I can look forward to~! I do hope we get a good turnout for it. I'm curious to see who all ends up joining us.

If it's not too much trouble for you, then yes. I think I would like that. I used to play chess regularly with my great-grandmother when I was still in elementary school, but then...she passed away...and my interests in the game waned as a result. But...I think it's past time I picked it back up again. Mamgu would be disappointed in me if she knew I had stopped playing.

[OOC: Mamgu - Southern Welsh term for "grandmother". Not sure if Atobe would be familiar with any Welsh or not though. But Kiraku's maternal great-grandmother was Welsh. So he's got a bit of European blood in him also. More snobby ways to bond!]

[royal_atobe]

I think we will. I've talked to a lot of the other countries players and there are quite a few who indulge in the game.

And it would hardly be any trouble for me. I don't have practices for tennis and I finish the school work quickly so I have little else to do. So I think I few games would be a good way to spend some time. my condolences for the loss of your grandmother

(ooc: probably a little Welch, and a bit of Gaelic too, to read all those old English epics. But yes. more snobby ways to bond. They can visit their ancestral homes. Kiraku to Wales, and Atobe can pop down to Austria while in Germany)

[faded_prodigy]

Wonderful~! Then that will make things all the more entertaining~!

Ah, in that case, I'll be happy to join you for a few games. But do you mind if I bring another, more reluctant player who needs to shake some cobwebs off his game also? Thank you. But it's been a number of years now. I've been past grieving for a while now. It just took me a while longer to go back to things that remind me of her.

[OOC: I'm actually planning on Kiraku trying to do exactly that. However...his great-grandmother became estranged with her family back in Wales, because before she ended up in Japan, she was actually already married, to a diplomat, and had a daughter with him. But it was an unhappy marriage of simple convenience for the diplomat. However, while traveling to Japan with her husband, she ended up falling in love with a Japanese businessman and left her husband for him. Kiraku's mother's family resulted from that. She tried to get her daughter to come and stay with them, but she refused, taking her father's side, and eventually grew up to

[madamadachan]

It's been that long...? Hmmmm... You're right, it doesn't seem that long.

Maybe you should practice doubles more? I know I have to... It's just a matter of time before they throw me with someone I don't know. I was going to ask Momo-senpai and Kaidoh-senpai if they'd help me. You should too.

I haven't played chess in years... I used to play with Okaasan... she always beat me. I'm better at tennis.

[faded_prodigy]

Mmmhmmm~~ And it's almost been a year for something else~ Though for that, it feels like its been a whole lot longer. ...So I suppose it's true that time can also slow down when you find yourself caught up in something truly wonderful~

Hmm... I suppose. And I'm not going to pretend like I don't know that we have a number of singles players who are far more suited for taking the win in a singles match than I may be able to. So best to make myself as useful as possible to everyone else on the team. But I think you're probably one of the safest among us when it comes to worrying about being shoved with someone else into a doubles match. They know you do wonderfully when you play singles, and they know doubles isn't a strong point for you. So why would they put you in a doubles match? It wouldn't make much sense to do that.

I think we all know you're better at tennis than most things, Ryoma, but that doesn't mean you can't play both. I got beaten everytime I played my great-grandmother well, except for one time, but I think she let me

[madamadachan]

It has... heh, you're waxing poetic, Yasuyuki...

It depends. You've been put in doubles when they should be placing you in singles. I've seen a few like that. How do I know the likes of me or Tezuka-Buchou won't end up in a doubles pair? I think they just pick names out of a hat...

You don't want to play chess with me. You won't have any kind of challenge.

[faded_prodigy]

I can be poetic on occasion~ Just need an excuse to be. And what better excuse than a lovable boyfriend~?

Yes, but I'm not you or Tezuka-san. ...However, strangely enough, I would be curious to see how the two of you would fair together as a doubles pair. I imagine it would be both very awe-inspiring and incredibly disastrous at the same time~ If they really do that, then I imagine this will eventually happen. So I'll start looking forward to it~!

Yes, I do want to play chess with you. And I'm not really in it for the challenge, I'm just doing it for fun. I highly doubt I'll be a very strong opponent to anyone, but that doesn't mean I can't still join in and play with everyone else. Come on, dearheart~ Do you really have anything better planned that you've got to do at the time when we get to Russia~? It'll be an excuse to stay indoors instead of out in the cold Russian winter.