( Kylo snorts, and for once it isn't lacking in actual humor, though the color of it barely reaches his eyes as if it's as out of practice as the rest of his attempts at being anything other than disagreeable and hostile. Maybe because he recognizes that turnabout is fair play. Maybe because of her implied attitude toward his overall style - especially when Kylo himself is critical and aware of his unpolished edges, his distinct lack of finesse and innate skill lacking when it comes to something as crucial as, say, saber combat - offers the undeniable possibility of a good ego stroke. Maybe still just because he thinks it's funny. Whatever the reason, he doesn't take offense, though he does take the opportunity to correct her. )
I prefer chess.
( His father had not preferred chess, enjoying the carnage of dejarik over the perceived boredom of moving black and white pieces across a black and white board, but Kylo had always seen a remarkable amount of symmetry in the latter and had understood its value as something beyond him, where the violence of dejarik hadn't interested him even as a child who would later go on to take pleasure in wanton destruction and horrific brutality. Leia had played with him once he was old enough to be a worthwhile opponent, on the occasions she had time to indulge the both of them in that way, though not long after she had sent him away. He and Hux had tried to play once. The board had ended up embedded in the far wall and several of the pieces had crumbled by the time they were each seven moves in. )
It's more challenging, the games can be much more drawn out, involved, and there's more strategy required, somewhat. Not to say that dejarik doesn't have its methods and tactics for winning, but - ( He glances up at her across the board, and there's a ghost of something that looks like a grin hanging around his eyes if not his mouth. Some things, at least, change with time, if his apparent interest in the game is anything to go by. ) - as you said, rough around the edges. I assume that's why your co-pilot is so good at it. ( He presses a button on his side and its twin ignites on Rey's end of the table. Kylo gestures at her to press it in the interest of getting the game under way, although the decision as to who will move first is still to be made. ) I learned at a young age. I'm sure you can imagine how without my getting into the details.
( He wonders how long they'll dance around the topic, how long until the deep well within him opens up to something deeper and darker, until they're standing at the edge of another chasm, screaming into the hurricane between them. )
/turns it into a thesis
I prefer chess.
( His father had not preferred chess, enjoying the carnage of dejarik over the perceived boredom of moving black and white pieces across a black and white board, but Kylo had always seen a remarkable amount of symmetry in the latter and had understood its value as something beyond him, where the violence of dejarik hadn't interested him even as a child who would later go on to take pleasure in wanton destruction and horrific brutality. Leia had played with him once he was old enough to be a worthwhile opponent, on the occasions she had time to indulge the both of them in that way, though not long after she had sent him away. He and Hux had tried to play once. The board had ended up embedded in the far wall and several of the pieces had crumbled by the time they were each seven moves in. )
It's more challenging, the games can be much more drawn out, involved, and there's more strategy required, somewhat. Not to say that dejarik doesn't have its methods and tactics for winning, but - ( He glances up at her across the board, and there's a ghost of something that looks like a grin hanging around his eyes if not his mouth. Some things, at least, change with time, if his apparent interest in the game is anything to go by. ) - as you said, rough around the edges. I assume that's why your co-pilot is so good at it. ( He presses a button on his side and its twin ignites on Rey's end of the table. Kylo gestures at her to press it in the interest of getting the game under way, although the decision as to who will move first is still to be made. ) I learned at a young age. I'm sure you can imagine how without my getting into the details.
( He wonders how long they'll dance around the topic, how long until the deep well within him opens up to something deeper and darker, until they're standing at the edge of another chasm, screaming into the hurricane between them. )
Would you like to go first?