Tess Holt (fairplay) wrote,
@ 2011-09-11 01:40:00

It's been a couple of weeks. Tess has been impressed by how quickly Steven's adjusted. Still, idle hands...

Tess's came through the communication system to Steven. "Flash? Gym, please. Now."

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	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 05:14 am UTC (link)
	He nods. "I love puzzles. As soon as it became an issue of reverse engineering the problem, it got easier. The second time through, it was also repetition... which helps. If I did it again, I could probably get it down to four and a half seconds or so, with the clock." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 05:16 am UTC (link)
	Tess listens with interest. "Four and a half? Let's see it. For efficiency's sake, if you could reset it for me before you hit the clock?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 05:21 am UTC (link)

He nods, taking a split instant to play out the sequence in his mind, turn it into a puzzle again, looking at each step like an individual problem which must be solved correctly instead of purely like a sequence of events. He resets the course in order to help get the sequence down, then hits the clock after returning to the starting area and getting her confirmation that she's ready.

He has to run upstairs to check the clock again, but doesn't wait quite the full two seconds upstairs, instead moving back down to the gym as the clock is ticking off the second second to save himself time.

The last obstacle slides into place, and he hits the timer stop at 4.47 seconds.

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 05:26 am UTC (link)
	Tess notes it. "4.47. Well, as a great man once said... Satisfactory." She smiles at him. "Have you eaten lunch yet?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 05:28 am UTC (link)
	"I'll work on improving it... though I have a feeling you'll change it up next time. And... lunch? Is it that time already?" He tries to recall. "Breakfast, I think. And a couple snacks. I'm pretty sure my last lunch was yesterday. You?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 05:31 am UTC (link)
	"My last lunch was yesterday, too," Tess agrees. "Let's go get some." She'll walk with him. "And your feelings serve you well. The only thing I'm sure I'll keep is the timer. It's from my chess-board. My family's really into speed chess." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 05:33 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah, in some lifetimes, Barry and my dad liked chess. Could never get the younger ones in on it. Too slow they said. And... sure. Here, or are we going out?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 05:36 am UTC (link)
	"Insert comment about the younger generations and how they won't be happy until it's strip chess. What's your opinion of Spanish food?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 05:39 am UTC (link)

"That would certainly inspire me to want to play chess more." he replies with that hint of impish grin. "I... huh, don't know. We went out for Spanish, but nothing really had taste, precisely. I've tried just about everything in the fridge... I know I like pizza, hot wings, marhmallows, Coke and caesar salad... and don't like olives very much. What's Spanish food like?"

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 05:43 am UTC (link)
	"Pretty seafood heavy, great rice dishes, some stuff not much different from pepperoni. What I'm really craving right now is their cold tomato soup." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 05:46 am UTC (link)
	"Hmmm, I'll have to figure out a way to make money. Trying one thing at a time everywhere I end up seems so limiting. I'll take recommendations though." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 05:49 am UTC (link)
	"Well, you could get a job with a courier service, but don't worry about money today. Lunch is on me. Can you get us both to Bowery?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 05:51 am UTC (link)
	"I could get you to Spain if you wanted. You ind being carried?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 05:52 am UTC (link)
	"I can live with being carried." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 05:57 am UTC (link)
	He nods. There's a sensation of her feet leaving the ground, and the world blurs - but the speedforce protects from disorientation, nausea and friction. When her feet touch down again, they're at the Bowery. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 06:01 am UTC (link)
	"Thank you," Tess says, getting back on her feet as if this was a perfectly normal thing to do, and walks with him to the cozy little restaurant. They're seated quickly and she asks the waiter for a water, a Coke, a Tapas sample platter and a bowl of gazpacho. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 06:05 am UTC (link)
	Steven studies the menu a few moments, adding a request for an additional glass of water, and the iced tea to go with the Coke - got to try all these wonderful options of things with flavor. The sampler, in particular, seems fitting to the purpose. "I like this place. I'll have to learn the language." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 06:12 am UTC (link)
	"It's a fascinating language," she agrees. "A lot of Arabic etymologies, interestingly enough." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 06:16 am UTC (link)
	"I'll have to go through the history section in the library tomorrow, possibly languages as well. I was looking at this afternoon to go through the files, and now I think I'm going to re-learn to master chess too." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 06:17 am UTC (link)
	"Oh? Think you could take me?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 06:20 am UTC (link)

"I think, no matter how much I studied the game, you would be the superior player. But if I'm going all out to give you a challenge, I can consult books, play a couple dozen games forward from any scenario, and consider all the permutations of a move by the time I need to make a move. Like I said, I love puzzles. I'll never be as good as you are in actual talent... but if I'm allowed to use every resource at my disposal... I think we might go back and forth."

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 06:23 am UTC (link)
	She smiles. "Fair point. I wouldn't mind levelling the playing field." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 06:25 am UTC (link)
	"That would be up to you, but as long as we're playing on a level field like that, I'm all for trying it. I won't promise not to envision we're playing strip chess though." he teases, regarding her earlier commentary. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 06:29 am UTC (link)
	Tess looks at the table. "Well, with that kind of distraction, it would hardly be playing fair." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)