"Perhaps I would've, had I not be only half Libertonian." She now moved a second pawn out of the way, setting it as bait for a rook to capture should it be taken.
''True, but I am unfamiliar with Kusari social norms.''
The game progressed fairly rapidly, less talking and more thinking. He took the time to examine his playing partner inbetween moves. He quickly came to the very obvious and basic conclusion that yes, in point of fact, she was very pretty, but with an odd scar under her eye. With the game rapidly coming to a conclusion he restarted the conversation again ''How did you get that scar?'' he asked, while taking her last pawn.
"Hm? Oh this lil' thing? While I was out at the market getting that sake, some bum tried to mug me, though, slashing me to begin with wasn't wise. I ended up.. well violently disarming the man. I was a bit more than annoyed that my cheek had been slashed. Nothing serious, this scar should heal over time, I hope." She rubbed it gently, feeling the light, but noticeable dip in her skin where it was.
"It's nothing really, compared to being knocked around, hit by missiles, and shot up quite often. Though space fighting doesn't tend to leave scars like this." Now facing certain defeat, she now studied her opponent himself, and his.. charm. It was appealing to her, doubly so with the mysterious factor being one she enjoys.
''Then I apologise for the fact that you got it while getting something for me. Although I'm glad nothing came of it. Keep yourself safe, that's far more important than a bottle of sake......Checkmate, by the way'' he said moving his queen into position.
Nicole seemed rather stumped, being beaten. "Oh no, no apologies, it was way beyond any iota of your control. Honestly that guy should be happy I didn't draw my side arm. Instead... I turned his knife against him. Being a black belt martial artist helps." She studied the moves made in the game, but quickly came to the conclusion she's not at the point to reasonably understand them, so abandoned the idea, for now. "Besides, I wanted to, a gift for a friend."
He was surprised she would say the word 'friend'. Most wouldn't count an intelligence agent as a friend, but perhaps that was just her. ''Your gift is appreciated, however your company is more important to me than any amount of material gifts.'' He poured her a glass of the sake she had bought before continuing ''so please, don't take any unnecessary risks...although I am glad you can defend yourself. Which martial art? If I may ask.''
"Judo and Jujutsu mostly, and a little karate, but mostly it's all to protect myself and keep myself fit." Nicole smiled at his comment. "It's not so much trouble, besides, I needed to see home again anyways." Taking a sip from her drink, she cleared the hair from her left eye. "Do you practice any martial arts?"
''Oh I've had my fair share of training. But fencing is my past time'' he said taking a sip ''Proper fencing that is, with the proper blades, not the toothpicks. But aside from that, no. A skilled operative wins battles long before they start. So avoiding confrontation is probably by greastest strength. But that's just me, tell me, how long have you been practicing your art?''
"Fencing hm? I remember doing that in my downtime at the Academy, though only with the 'toothpicks', not a true blade. I've been practicing for roughly 8 years now, started when I was 16. Really hones one self, centers them. But maybe that's just me." She took another drink, enjoying the taste of it.
![[Image: K21Vaai.png]](https://i.imgur.com/K21Vaai.png)
