Y'know, this always happens.

[fishesandfights]

Just when I get comfortable? I'm somewhere else. It's getting so that on every quiet day I walk around arm. Like...Pavlov's dog or whatever. Carter'd know.

But anyways, point is? Pick something and stick with it already, for crying out loud. And can it be something fun? Nothing all dark and serious and blah blah blah. You know the score, none of the overly dramatic stuff. I wouldn't mind just avoiding the whole 'villain hell bent on conquest' part. Now, as for that whole 'cast mates' thing. Let's aim for that, shall we?

Comments

[fishesandfights]

[He picks up one of his pieces]

No, that wasn't low. I think the word you're looking for is 'effective'.

[He puts it down in a new position]

Check.

[He smiles, and it's a mix of impending triumph, and also of genuine friendliness. He won't be lording this over Daniel]

[hi_there_aliens]

[Daniel is scowling at the board. And at Jack. And then back at the board. Yeah, smile while you can now, Jack, he'll get you back later. He can smell the impending defeat. His own. ]

No, I'm pretty sure I meant low. Dirty. Sneaky. Possibly with a side of unscrupulous.

[Daniel's now just reacting rather than thinking his moves out, and the check he does pull off isn't even a good one.]

Check.

[fishesandfights]

[He counters, trading off a knight for a bishop]

Oh come on, just distracted you a little. Completely valid tactic.

[And hoo boy are you going to have to get used to it with Vala. Enjoy that, Daniel. Heaven knows he'll enjoy watching it happen.]

[hi_there_aliens]

I don't do that to you! And guess what, I don't have to resort to it!

[Daniel's a sore loser when it comes to chess. Don't even talk about Vala, she has been trolling him forever at the place he came from. Starting with breaking a one of a kind mummy right in front of him. HE COULD GO ON.]

[fishesandfights]

It was a trap within a trap - making doubly sure you might say. I've learned a few tricks over the years.

[And he moves again, somewhat solemnly]

Checkmate, I believe?

[And it's Vala. He'd be surprised if she didn't do that.]

[hi_there_aliens]

[yeah, tricks in how to be a prick in chess, which Daniel wisely decides not to say out loud. Definitely a poor loser, since he's used to winning so much against Jack before. He slumps back, considering the board]

Yeah, it's a checkmate. Congratulations. Can you do it again without the distraction tactic?

[the proposition for sex he can handle. Kind of. Okay, not really, at least smoothly, but breaking a priceless specimen in front of him, he doesn't even know where to begin. Grudge of the century, Jackson style]

[fishesandfights]

[He nods.]

Probably. One way to find out.

[Of course, there's the other secret of having had years of playing against Daniel. He remembers his tactics. HE remembers when Daniel started shifting them, too.]

Another round?

[As for Vala...he'll forgive her. He always does. In the end, she knows how to work at Daniel's mind. And he, in turn, is the only person she listens to at a more than superficial level. Frankly, he thinks she's good for Daniel.]

[hi_there_aliens]

Round two. No cheap tactics outside the chess board.

[She's good for him. Intriguing and frustrating, always keeping him on his toes, although he's still not sure what she wants from him when she's expecting Action Jackson. But he may secretly never let go of the mummy thing. Look, it was one of a kind. The last of it's kind even.]

[fishesandfights]

[He leaned back, smiling]

Don't need 'em. It was just fun. Consider it good practice.

[Of course he won't. Jack can foresee them being a couple forever. And that would be their 'old married couple' thing. That thing that comes up in every single argument ever, held from now until the end of time.]

[hi_there_aliens]

Sometimes you're a real prick, you know that? I'm being nice too.

[a smile flickers across his face, to take the sting out]

[fishesandfights]

[He looks at him for a long moment, then nods]

You are really bad at losing someimes. And they install a unit to make you that way when you reach Colonel. Little known fact about the air force.

[He folds his hands behind his head]

Ready for another whupping?

[hi_there_aliens]

Well, that explains everything.

[Daniel's already setting up the board]

Keep thinking that, Colonel.

[fishesandfights]

Oh, it's General now. Be afraid, Daniel, be very afraid - gave me one of the ol' stars.

[He smiles, gesturing at the board]

You start this time.

[hi_there_aliens]

Jack. I think you just put true terror into my life just now.

[Seriously, Jack as a general. They'll never be safe again. Or at least, Daniel's sanity.]

I don't need the pity-go-first turn. You go first.

[he folds his arms]

[fishesandfights]

Fine, [he held up his hands] never let it be said I wasn't polite. Pity-go-first, geez. If it was pity I'd spot you a few.

[He moves, and it bears no resemblance to the previous game. If you were hoping for a pattern, you aren't going to get it.]

[hi_there_aliens]

But you're not polite, even on your good days.

[Daniel's making up for his lose by being even more of a pain. Daniel's a little more cautious this time.]

[fishesandfights]

[He makes another move, seemingly at random]

Caught that one, huh? I can be, though. Save it up for special occasions.

[hi_there_aliens]

I think you mean being "even more impossible", because I've never seen you polite.

[fishesandfights]

Tsk, tsk, Daniel, you've not been paying attention.

[He smiles, leaning back. Ah, he'd almost forgotten about the beer.]

You just haven't seen me relaxing with people I actually like.

[hi_there_aliens]

I'm paying attention. Don't tell me how to play.

[That right there is an actual glare, although he thinks he's not serious, just trying to distract him, there's a little hurt in there too, tiny part of him has to wonder]

So that must mean you don't like anybody. Teal'c's going to be devastated.

[fishesandfights]

Ah, I was talking about me. Not the game. Give it nine years, you'll be done even with the post-graduate level of knowing me.

[He smiles at the last part]

That 'logic' [And note air quotes] was supposed to distract me, wasn't it? Try talking about Homer next time, might work.

[Three to one Daniel leads with an 'Iliad' quote]

[hi_there_aliens]

[Three to one says you'd be right about the incoming quote]

'A generous friendship no cold medium knows'. Nine more years and I think I'd have gone crazy from you before it's up.

I have talked about it with you, I think you ignored me completely once you found out it had nothing to do with the Simpsons.

[fishesandfights]

'A penny saved is a penny earned.'

[He shrugs, giving Daniel a look as if to say 'what'?]

And who says you don't?

[Note smile as he makes a move]