Meetings and Open Office Hours

You taught me that, Malik started as his fingers moved to a pawn, not touching it, the rules of the game were if you touched the piece then that was the move you needed to make. Once one touched an in game piece that was the move you had to make -- it was one of the first rules he had learned, at 16, when he had first come under Malachai and Deme's instruction, after the failed raid on the Salvo compound in which he lost his father and his autonomy -- for a while at least. Until he had been shown that there was a better way to channel his anger, channel his energies in killing towards an actual goal and not just blindly striking out here and there.

Malachai had seen the potential in him. Deme had carefully cultivated it into loyalty and perhaps even, honor.

Yes, Malik moved the piece, resolutely now, One of the first things you did teach me with this game, that I will never be good at this game, if I don't first know my opponent and anticipate his moves. Deme would have him in check in four moves, if he didn't..

He set the piece down, blocking a bishop's path. There, that got him at least six moves till check, seven to check mate, Malik reminded himself as he ran the different scenarios through his mind, the affects of the wine giving him a clarity he might not have had otherwise. The throne is the prize, in the game. He quickly added as he nodded, once, happy with his move.

Dark eyes flicked up to the older man's face, I always protect my King. The meaning wasn't lost on him, Deme was the one he was protecting, for the past fifteen years, two more years and the man would have fathered him longer than his birth father had. Him and Malachai. The coming paradigm shift wasn't lost on him. In two years, he would be more theirs than he ever was Vrai Senior's. Your Fan Dance will still take my bishop, a good sacrifice towards a greater good, religion is too much trouble for all it's bluster.

@Demetrius Arvina