Post by Hiroki Wakamoto on May 19, 2012 18:56:46 GMT -5
(Ooc: I hope you don't mind if I join this board? I just joined and this seems like a good one to start in because everyone is making their introductions. Also, there's not much dialogue to this post, sorry. Really, the only significant paragraphs are near the end.)
Completely oblivious to the ongoing conversation was a short boy, sat in the corner of the rooftop and engrossed in a small black device clutched in his hands.. It was a smartphone and all his attention was concentrated on the tiny screen, brow wrinkled into a deep frown, before he jabbed gleefully at it with his index finger. What an observer couldn't see was that it displayed a tiny chessboard and using his finger, Hiro was directing the pieces. It was an electronic chess game against an online opponent and it looked like he might be about to win. A joyous occasion if you knew how often he lost. Hiro scrutinised the pieces then picked his remaining knight, a grin spreading across his face. Checkmate. He was actually going to have checkmate! Hiro hesitated then moved it, taking the queen. Now the king was cornered. He had nowhere else to go. Hiro had- Where did that second Queen come from?
Hiro watched in horror as he realised he'd forgotten about the pawn that had been upgraded a few turns ago. Well, no matter. He moved his bishop. Checkmate again, he thought with a smug smile of satisfaction. No, the queen took that too. Hiro felt his toes curling in shock as he made a few more moves, panicking as he tried to gain control of the game once more. Just-just a bit more? When the bright, angry checkmate sprung up, he slouched back against his chair, closing his eyes. All his pieces destroyed and the battle lost.
With a sigh, he checked the screen for the time. Still a bit of time before lunch was over. It was then that he noticed the other people crowded at the other end of the rooftop. When did they come up? Actually, how had he not noticed them before? Hiro watched them curiously for a few moments, taking in their somewhat unusual appearances. It didn't seem like they'd noticed him and he got up, deciding to approach them and say hello before quickly leaving so they could have the roof to themselves.
Slowing his walk down as he neared them, Hiro frowned as he caught the tail end of the conversation ,suddenly apprehensive. They were just casually discussing being in the Mafia, as members of rival famiglias, even. It was something his own mother had guarded from him and they were discussing it in school as if discussing some club activity. His face blanched when one mentioned being a member of the Shimon Famiglia and he felt himself edging a little away. That particular group was very famous indeed and dangerous.
Honestly, Hiro would do best not to talk to any of them. Sure, Hiro planned to join a famiglia one day, but not yet. Not while he was still young and inexperienced. He gulped and slowly made his way past them, keeping his head down. Even so, he ended up edging a little closer to try and catch the rest of the conversation. It was no good. He was too curious. Hiro snuck another glance at them as he eavesdropped, trying to grab snips of the conversation. From what he could make out, they were discussing about some kind of rings. No, not some kind of rings. The Mare Rings. With a clatter, he dropped his phone to the floor.
“Darn” Hiro muttered, face flushing red as he bent down to pick the phone up and his fingers trembled as he checked for cracks. The boy was going after those rings. He must be mad - he'd be killed before he got near a single one of those rings. Curiosity hit Hiro like an old lady's purse. Why did that guy want to find the Mare Rings? It was such an ambitious target. There must be some motivation there. Hiro turned to the group as he straightened with an uncomfortable smile on his face.“Hi” he said, quickly shoving his phone back in his pocket, “Sorry, thought the roof was empty. I'll just er let you get on with your conversation then. Something about rings and horses.”
Completely oblivious to the ongoing conversation was a short boy, sat in the corner of the rooftop and engrossed in a small black device clutched in his hands.. It was a smartphone and all his attention was concentrated on the tiny screen, brow wrinkled into a deep frown, before he jabbed gleefully at it with his index finger. What an observer couldn't see was that it displayed a tiny chessboard and using his finger, Hiro was directing the pieces. It was an electronic chess game against an online opponent and it looked like he might be about to win. A joyous occasion if you knew how often he lost. Hiro scrutinised the pieces then picked his remaining knight, a grin spreading across his face. Checkmate. He was actually going to have checkmate! Hiro hesitated then moved it, taking the queen. Now the king was cornered. He had nowhere else to go. Hiro had- Where did that second Queen come from?
Hiro watched in horror as he realised he'd forgotten about the pawn that had been upgraded a few turns ago. Well, no matter. He moved his bishop. Checkmate again, he thought with a smug smile of satisfaction. No, the queen took that too. Hiro felt his toes curling in shock as he made a few more moves, panicking as he tried to gain control of the game once more. Just-just a bit more? When the bright, angry checkmate sprung up, he slouched back against his chair, closing his eyes. All his pieces destroyed and the battle lost.
With a sigh, he checked the screen for the time. Still a bit of time before lunch was over. It was then that he noticed the other people crowded at the other end of the rooftop. When did they come up? Actually, how had he not noticed them before? Hiro watched them curiously for a few moments, taking in their somewhat unusual appearances. It didn't seem like they'd noticed him and he got up, deciding to approach them and say hello before quickly leaving so they could have the roof to themselves.
Slowing his walk down as he neared them, Hiro frowned as he caught the tail end of the conversation ,suddenly apprehensive. They were just casually discussing being in the Mafia, as members of rival famiglias, even. It was something his own mother had guarded from him and they were discussing it in school as if discussing some club activity. His face blanched when one mentioned being a member of the Shimon Famiglia and he felt himself edging a little away. That particular group was very famous indeed and dangerous.
Honestly, Hiro would do best not to talk to any of them. Sure, Hiro planned to join a famiglia one day, but not yet. Not while he was still young and inexperienced. He gulped and slowly made his way past them, keeping his head down. Even so, he ended up edging a little closer to try and catch the rest of the conversation. It was no good. He was too curious. Hiro snuck another glance at them as he eavesdropped, trying to grab snips of the conversation. From what he could make out, they were discussing about some kind of rings. No, not some kind of rings. The Mare Rings. With a clatter, he dropped his phone to the floor.
“Darn” Hiro muttered, face flushing red as he bent down to pick the phone up and his fingers trembled as he checked for cracks. The boy was going after those rings. He must be mad - he'd be killed before he got near a single one of those rings. Curiosity hit Hiro like an old lady's purse. Why did that guy want to find the Mare Rings? It was such an ambitious target. There must be some motivation there. Hiro turned to the group as he straightened with an uncomfortable smile on his face.“Hi” he said, quickly shoving his phone back in his pocket, “Sorry, thought the roof was empty. I'll just er let you get on with your conversation then. Something about rings and horses.”