xp_logs | Bishop and Manuel - Backdated to April 11th

Bishop and Manuel have their weekly chess match. They talk about women and investments.

It was time for one of their weekly chess games and, despite not feeling very social, Bishop kept the scheduled meeting. He had set up the board already, sitting on the black side, and killed the time until Manuel arrived by staring out of the window. He had been thinking about a number of things lately, to include how he dealt with his life. He knew his opponent would pick up on what was happening and he wasn't looking forward to that. He would almost certainly ask about things too... and bring up women. For everything he knew about people he still wasn't good about managing women.

Manuel picked up on the emotions immediately once Bishop was within range, but he made no hurried moves to get there quickly, nothing to rush the situation. In fact, he knew it probably had something to do with one of two things, work or Lillian. Considering Bishop talked little of work and more of Lillian, he have a very good idea which one it was.

"Good morning," he said and casually took his seat across from the bigger man. Staring down at the board, he was thoughtful before he made his first move. There was only twenty or variations of beginner moves on the board, none of them new to Bishop and the way Manuel played.

"Morning." Bishop tended to lead with the same strategy, finding it defensive and versatile. He had been know to do something different on occasion but it wasn't often. Consistency had benefits, even in a game like chess. Knowing how a person opened didn't mean much if it was a good opening without immediate counters.

"Typical," he said, dismissive to the first mood, mostly because Bishop was becoming redundant in his play. At least for the beginning. "So, how was your week?" he asked almost too cheerfully. They both knew he meant the opposite of how he sounded. Possibly how Bishop felt.

"No reason to change a good thing." Was Bishop's reply to Manuel's dismissive statement. "It wasn't anything special." He knew the other man would get the word, or figure things out, or ask. "How about yours?" It was all pleasantries. They focused on that more than a typical friend set probably would. It worked for them.

"It depends who I am talking to. I do not enjoy feeling the emotional baggage people carry around on them," he paused to move his knight, a pointed look passed to Bishop before he carried on. "I am curious. No doubt."

"We're talking about me now, I'm pretty sure." Bishop always prepared his pawns first, which took up his first few moves. "You'll probably be glad to know that Lil and I aren't going to be spending much extra time together anymore. We had a talk and she isn't ready to leave her husband."

He leaned back in his seat, drumming his fingers once beside the chess board. "Why would I be happy about that? Though I might add that Lillian needed to decide what she wanted. I believe she is lying to herself, but if she is to take a step back in order to take a step forward, who are you to wait?"

"I didn't think you cared for Lil much." Bishop continued his idle moves to set up his defenses. "But I agree, she does need to decide what to do. I probably need to decide on some sort of serious relationship in my life too. Instead of scooping up the most unavailable women around." He mused to himself a bit while watching the board.

"Lillian and I have a special relationship, it seems. She hates me outright in front of everyone and I secretly know her true feelings because she cannot hid them from me. It is a.... mutual tolerant relationship." He moved another piece, maneuvering to an attack, instead of letting Bishop set up. "Normally I would tell someone not to set their standards so high. An unattainable Jennie, a married Lillian, however you are not lower than them. Between us, you should be setting your standards much higher than merely having to fight to start a relationship or fight to keep it going."

"So, you're telling me to not go back to hitting on Jennie, I take it." He said with a slight laugh, moving a piece to respond to the attack aggressively. When he pushed Manuel's pieces back he could continue his preparation. "I don't know what a higher standard would be, though. My job makes it hard for good, stable relationships."

"Must you look in the mansion for the attainable? There are many more options, ones with less baggage outside these walls." He frowned, pausing in thought to scratch the stubble that was growing on his chin. He probably should have shaved this morning. " I hear Wanda is available, Adrienne perhaps?"

"Work relationships don't usually work out well and, to be honest, I wouldn't mind being with a mutant. It seems like we'd have something very important in common and the mansion has their... team." He didn't know what would be a better word. "That would be something that would help them deal with what I do." He was never specific on what he did. He had a feeling Manuel would know but most people assume he meant law enforcement.

Manuel knew, but he would never press the issue. "Did you have someone specifically in mind? Because I do not think Lillian will be over her thing with her husband anytime soon." That may take a year, or years, depending on her. Years sounded more likely.

"Yeah, probably years." Bishop made his next move. "No one in mind. I'm not really to well versed on the women at the mansion and I don't have the benefit of abilities that would help me choose one over another. I'm sure I'd be drawn to the most unavailable women."

"Why not let them come to you?" He raised his brows at the move and eyed his queen, contemplating her move verses a knight that would be put in jeopardy. "Or not bother at all? Women are work, men even more so."

"Letting come to me doesn't tend to happen often." Bishop watched the board as Manuel decided his approach. Playing against someone that was willing to sacrifice pieces proved difficult for most people. "And being single is fine for now, until I get old and worn out, but then what?"

"You are not the worn out type." He moved a pawn instead, shifting behind a spot where he could have placed his knight. "If anything, you should stop looking. However, my advice has been bad as of late, therefore, do not listen to me."

"I'll probably just buy Jennie more gifts. Then I feel like I'm moving forward, at least." Bishop laughed softly at his own ridiculousness, making his next move aggressive as Manuel took the more defensive route.

Manuel put his knight in place, allowing Bishop to take his pawn. "Substance my friend, Give her substance, not gifts. It is a boring man that showers a woman in luxuries and it will empty your wallet faster than winning her heart."

"We've done a date or two. I don't think any were particularly memorable." Bishop continued the assault, pressuring Manuel's defense instead of relenting after a minor victory. "It would probably be a better investment to buy a good club. Caveman club... not dance club." He clarified.

He was about to ask about said investment when it was clarified and smirked. "Or a country club. I hear they make plenty of money. Speaking of investments, I've put in for a share as a silent partner to a corporation. Small company to start, however I can see them taking off in three to five years." He didn't mean to change the subject, but he felt they would go around in circles about Bishop's prospects.

"I hope you have a good eye for investments. I don't trust companies to tell the truth. They don't have any incentive to." Bishop let the subject drop, it wasn't going anywhere but into banter.

"This first one is risky, however another one I put in for two weeks ago should have better prospects. You may not trust them as people but when it concerns business, I require to trust their business sense and that is laid out in a plan." His queen took down the Bishop, baiting the black queen where a knight could take her.

Bishop exchanged his queen for Manuel's without hesitation. "I hope it works out for you." He had no trust or love for corporations or the stock market. It was like gambling to Bishop and everyone knows that the house always wins.

"It's a poor time for investments however they are small enough that not all will be lost if they fail." He nodded his thanks and moved his knight in for another kill. "A shame you cannot look at women the same way."

"Even if I wanted to, I'm pretty sure we're in a community small enough that multiple investments wouldn't go unnoticed." Bishop moved his assault around the knight, making him pay for each kill with a piece of his own.

He was playing sloppy today but he also noticed, Bishop was too. "I am not sure what it is about you that they find a repellent. I believe if it is too simple, women do not want it. You could always pretend to be immeasurably complicated."

"But then I'd have to pretend to be so incompetent that I couldn't hide that. I think that would give me away." Bishop said with a laugh, moving in for his final assault on the chess board.

Manuel watched as Bishop placed his final move, cornering his King. "I do not think I could stomach another round. Valentia should be just finishing up. Lunch then?"

Bishop nodded and stood. "Lunch it is."