Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

[3houseswatson]

WHO: John Watson and Sherlock Holmes
TONE: Was meant to be friendly and fun... but now tinged with concern.
RATING: PG-13 for potential language
WHEN: Friday, November 30th, after dinner.
WHERE: The Dining Hall
WHAT: Sherlock suggested meeting up to play a friendly game of Wizard's Chess, which John agreed to. But thanks to a tense conversation with a certain Slytherin, John's got a bit more to think about than a simple chess game.
STATUS: Ongoing



[To say that John had a lot on his mind would be an understatement.

Originally, this was just going to be him and Sherlock meeting up so the Ravenclaw could obliterate him in a game of Wizard's Chess. John had no problems with the notion of imminent defeat on the chessboard; he always seemed to have a good time when he and Sherlock were together, putting aside moments of occasional awkwardness when they didn't quite see eye-to-eye on certain matters. He fully expected that as long as he was in Sherlock's company, he wouldn't mind losing.

But then he had words with Jim Moriarty and between that and what he'd gleaned from Sherlock about the situation, a bit of suspicion and worry seemed all too rational. He wasn't sure if he could convince Sherlock of anything, but he could damn well express his concern.

Now that dinner had been cleared away and the other students had gone off to do other things, the Dining Hall was mostly empty. John scanned the room, wondering if Sherlock had already arrived.]

Comments

[3potionproblem]

[Bishop to d6]

That would be my greatest hope.

[3houseswatson]

[Pawn to A5.]

No promises, but I'll do my best to live up to it.

[3potionproblem]

[pawn to h4]

We'll start with basic form anyway. Unless you just want to grapple for a bit and learn via osmosis.

[3houseswatson]

[Pawn to A6.]

Er, probably the form stuff. People might think we randomly got in a fistfight otherwise.

[3potionproblem]

[Pawn h3]

With me?... Yes.

[3houseswatson]

[Bishop to G1.]

And have impromptu fistfights between you and other students been a regular thing?

[3potionproblem]

[Rook to g6]

Not so much anymore. I think most people have realized it doesn't actually do anything to make me behave in a more agreeable fashion.

[3houseswatson]

[Bishop to H2.]

That's...

You know what, no, I'm just going to be glad it's not happening so much now.

[3potionproblem]

[Rook to g2]

Agreed. As I said, I can take care of myself, John.

That's your bishop gone soon. Running out of peices it seems.

[3houseswatson]

Except where sinks are involved.

[Pawn to A7 and John shrugs.]

Can't say I'm surprised. I've already demonstrated I'm rather pants at this game.

[3potionproblem]

The sink was intentional.

[Bishop to Bishop at h2]

It's been fun systematically weeding out your defenses, though. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

[3houseswatson]

Intentional or not, the sink was a terrible idea.

[Pawn to A8, which transforms into a Queen.]

Hey, look at that. Looks like a check. At least I've got one after the, what, 90 you've put me in?

[3potionproblem]

[It makes Sherlock smile all the brighter and move his king to e7]

You were all for the sink until the last second. Admit it, you thought it was a good idea at first.

[3houseswatson]

[Queen to H8.]

Let's just agree that the sink was complicated.

[3potionproblem]

[Bishop to g3]

Only if we can also agree it was brilliant.

[3houseswatson]

[King to D2.]

Well. Maybe a bit. But don't get cocky; it's only because things turned out alright in the end.

[3potionproblem]

[Bishop to f4]

Better than alright, wouldn't you say?

Check.

[3houseswatson]

[John briefly glances down at his leg.]

Yeah, fair enough, pretty fantastic.

[King to E1.]

[3potionproblem]

[He just smiles. He's the best thing that's happened to you in years and you know it.

Rook to e1]

Check.

[3houseswatson]

[There were a few more moves like that in friendly silence. John's King to F2. Sherlock's rook to G2, another check. In the end, John's only option was to send the King to F3.]

[John smiles as well, warmly, though there's still a trace of something serious there.]

Just keep in mind that, if somehow the only way my leg could get better would be if the sink thing had to end badly for you, I'd keep the limp.

[3potionproblem]

[Bishop to d2]

Even after knowing me?

[It was mostly a joke.]

[3houseswatson]

[Rook to C7.]

Yeah, of course. Hell, especially so. Before it'd be saving a life, now it'd be saving the life of a friend.

[3potionproblem]

[Bishop to c3]

You are a facinating example of the Hufflepuff/Gryphindor divide.

[3houseswatson]

[Queen to H4.]

Check.

It's a far narrower divide than many people give Hufflepuff credit for. I'll never understand why my house is the butt of so many jokes.

[3potionproblem]

[King to d6]

Because Hufflepuff is the least discriminating and therefor seems to have lesser standards.