ONE-04
(Black Sabbath | Paranoid)
Two days later. My chess idea had been well received, but the invitation to play had so far gone unanswered. Merde. But – in the meantime, something much bigger had come up: the prospect of a live meeting. Gekko had announced in the film group that he would be in Germany between Christmas and New Year’s Eve instead of October. Conveniently, a real must-see film was being released at this time: Star Wars VII – The Force Awakens. Gekko, myself, the Capo and a few others quickly agreed on a date to go to see the movie together, followed by dinner – in my hometown! Somehow I had managed to organise this really cleverly: as it turned out, everyone else – including Gekko – had a much longer journey and would be staying in a hotel so that the meeting could be properly celebrated. This had the potential to be my most exciting Christmas present in a long time.
But we hadn’t talked about it privately yet. The weekend came and went without queen, king or check and my nerves were on edge. It’s Sunday afternoon, October 18 and it’s been a year since our initial banter during my Halloween countdown in the film group. I curse myself inwardly, but I just can’t manage to keep my fingers still any more:
LEELOO: So just one more time โฆ IF there should really be a desire for a game of chess at some point … I am registered at this online thingy with this email: ***@*** … have a nice Sunday ๐
GEKKO: Oops, right, I saw that. But the tab was gone after some resets. I’ll message you when I’m home after dinner.
Ta-daa. Always listen to your gut, Leeloo! Sure enough, about half an hour later, my messenger goes *PING* again:
GEKKO: Your turn. ๐
LEELOO: Do you want to set a time limit?
GEKKO: Midnight Bangkok. ๐
LEELOO: Ok ๐
You noticed my move, right? Just to be sure? ๐
GEKKO: No, thereโs no update. I just see my move โฆ
LEELOO: F5? Not the position, but the key LOL that is if youโre playing on your pc
GEKKO: Good god, how complicated. It redirects me to the homepage and then I need to reopen the game there? Do you know a shortcut? ๐
LEELOO: It doesn’t update automatically for me either … so just let me know … I just wanted to say that although I like to win, I’m also a good loser โฆ the funโs in the game ๐
GEKKO: I still can only see your move pawn c7-c6 โฆ
LEELOO: After your knight I moved another pawn g7-g5
GEKKO: Iโd like to believe you. But every refresh only shows my knight move โฆ
LEELOO: fuuuuuck
sorry sorry sorry
Now?
GEKKO: But that wasnโt your fault.
LEELOO: Maybe I shouldโve clicked on โsend moveโ โฆ
GEKKO: Oh. Right, yes, that would advance the game. ๐
LEELOO: *ashamed*
GEKKO: I’m still very much in beginner mode. But at least it’s fun again. Winning or losing is not so important to me as long as both sides have had fun.
LEELOO: Great. Like I said my last game happened about twenty-five years ago โฆ
GEKKO: Not for me, but before that there was an even bigger gap. ๐
LEELOO: Barely imaginable. ๐
GEKKO: Iโm older as it seems.
LEELOO: Better than the other way round.
GEKKO: Yeah. Actually I know a lot of otherwayrounds, some oft hem even within my circle of friends. Collegues too, but thatโs not as surprising.
LEELOO: Everythingโs to do with astrological reasons โ you were born under a lucky star so to say. ๐
Hey – you need to tell me, when itโs my turn again!
GEKKO: Then everything is fine. Apart from that, I actually think I’m a kind of lucky child. But that’s another story.
LEELOO: Interesting. -> your turn, mister
Even if I hate to admit it, my clairvoyant abilities leave a lot to be desired โฆ
YOU NEED TO TELL ME WHEN ITโS MY TURN AGAIN ๐
GEKKO: Your turn again ๐
LEELOO: Sorry. Iโm just not used to apps who donโt self-actualize โฆ
GEKKO: Me neither โฆ
Your turn.
LEELOO: Canโt see any difference โฆ
GEKKO: Right โฆ but now.
LEELOO: And your turn again ๐
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Werenโt you supposed to say โgardezโ?๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: Iโm familiar with the expression, but never used it. When playing here with Tom we wonโt use it either.
LEELOO: So probably my dad only used it just for the sake of being nice. ๐
GEKKO: I guess so. Your turn. ๐
LEELOO: Your turn.
Oh crap! Only five minutes left โ now, that itโs getting interesting ๐
GEKKO: No problem, letโs continue tomorrow. Your turn again.
LEELOO: Canโt see anything? ๐
Gekkooo?
oh, now โฆ
GEKKO: Youโre not the only one chatting with me on Sunday evening โฆ ๐
Now.
LEELOO: *g* โฆ ok โฆ tomorrow Iโll be sitting at my desk the whole day โ I will notice when youโd like to continue ๐
GEKKO: Perfect! ๐
LEELOO: Ah well, good move. Couldโve been one of mine ๐
โฆ good night ๐
GEKKO: *laugh*
Good night.
It’s 7 p.m. for me, so still a long way from bedtime. I go to feed the dogs and back at the PC I realise that I have a new chat request waiting for me. Oh, nice, it’s someone from the group who had also confirmed joining the Star Wars meeting. Wants to ask something. We realise that we have some mutual acquaintances from the dog scene and end up chatting about all the world and his wife. Funny thing this internet. Just a big village somehow. But now off to bed. First thing next morning, Iโm at the digital chessboard again …
LEELOO: Good morning. ๐ Your turn again. Just let me know when you continue.
GEKKO: Done.
LEELOO: Guess what? The Mayor (another member of the film group) chatted me up yesterday evening and I found out that his first wife is an astrologer as well. ๐ Iโll wait and see how clever it was, to make my first move before finishing my first coffee oft he day.
Your turn.
GEKKO: Heโs got multiple wives? ๐
LEELOO: Yep, heโs at number 2 โฆ and just let me know that his Moon is in Gemini, like mine. I hope he manages to shut up while watching the movie ๐
Heโs
He’s somewhat frighteningly communicative … now heโs sent me his birth details … maybe nowโs the time to ask the Capo for his too, seems Iโm on a roll at the moment โฆ
GEKKO: If not, youโll both be placed elsewhere. ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: You will NOT hear me talking during a movie!
Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
Well, now a bit of life comes into play ๐
My courageous monday was just rewarded by the Capoโs birth dates ๐
GEKKO: Until I need to head to the next meeting.
Your turn.
Wow. ๐
LEELOO: I need to take the dogs for a walk and to drive tot he bank ๐
But first let me cause a bit of collateral damage on the board โ no risk no fun โฆ
Your turn.
GEKKO: And yours.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Last one for now.
LEELOO: *laughs* thatโs what comes off from playing on an empty โฆ shitshitshit โฆ ok โฆ guess I need some time to recover โฆ ๐ right, lโll be on tour for some time now ๐ Your turn.
โฆ of course all these horoscopes were totally distracting me โฆ crap, I need to work on so much โreal workโ today โฆ
GEKKO: Well, this should be something โฆ ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: Ok โฆ last one and then Iโm away-from-keyboard for about two hours โฆ or so โฆ
Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn. ๐
GEKKO: And yours.
LEELOO: *sigh* that’s not the way this is going to work โฆ Iโm off to the forest now.
Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Loosing my queen earlier was really unfortunate … female multitasking skills are apparently urban legends โฆ ๐ Your turn.
GEKKO: ๐ Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn. Different timezones are *grmbl* โฆ Iโm off to the office now โฆ
GEKKO: All right, until later.
Almost forgot, your turn.
LEELOO: โฆ laaaaaaaateeeeerrr ๐
ok โฆ afk now for real โฆ your turn โฆ ๐
GEKKO: Your turn. And now Iโm off too.
LEELOO: Hi, quick move from the office โฆ befor heading home again โฆ whenever youโve finished eating thai delish or other activities -> your turn ๐
GEKKO: First dinner, thai curry, then gym.
Check. Your turn.
LEELOO: Dammit ๐ โฆ itโs Monday, innit? I thought I hadnโt moved that ******* king yet โฆ AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH
ok โฆ then only this move is possible โฆ your turn.
GEKKO: If you thought about castling, that was possible, because the king was in check. You hadnโt moved it before. Your turn.
LEELOO: No, it was NOT possible! Because the stupid computer refused!
GEKKO: Err, I wanted to say โโฆ that /wasnโt/ possible, because โฆโ
LEELOO: I see shit *laughs* โฆ So, itโs stupid rule subtleties that were erased from long-term memory …
GEKKO: ๐
LEELOO: Check. Your turn. ๐ I wanted to say it at least once before you pull me over the barrel ๐
GEKKO: Hm. Your turn. ๐
LEELOO: Iโm doomed โฆ your turn.
*damndamndamn*
โฆ I hope my thinking out loud is not distracting for you โฆ
GEKKO: Not at all โฆ
LEELOO: you did notice that itโs your turn, right?
GEKKO: positive that you hit โsendโ?
LEELOO: Yep.
GEKKO: Hm.
LEELOO: *YOU* didnโt tell me it was my turn again โฆ Stupid ๐ now itโs yours again โฆ
GEKKO: Oh. ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: Damn. Iโm feeling like The Fugitive here ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: LOL your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
Check.
LEELOO: Iโm so so stupid โฆ youโll refuse to ever play chess with me again โฆ I need a Schnapps right now โฆ
GEKKO: ๐
LEELOO: Apricot brandy. Double.
GEKKO: Chรกi yรณ
LEELOO: Right. Throw random words around that sound like thai food. On top of my sorrows now Iโm also feeling hungry โฆ ๐ Your turn.
GEKKO: Thatโs just thai for โCheersโ ๐
LEELOO: Imagined something like that. Makes me hungry anyway, some Thai restaurant in Berlin, I frequented rather often in the past, was named like that โฆ and it also sounds like the name for te vietnamese spring rolls: cha gio โฆ
GEKKO: Ah. ๐
LEELOO: Yeah. ๐
GEKKO: Your turn. ๐
LEELOO: Don’t you feel a little mean? ๐
GEKKO: Let me put it this way, I understand the fun of the cat โฆ *g*
LEELOO: *hiss* Iโll be staying put, head held high and will be taking down your last knight at least ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: Checkmate โฆ ๐
LEELOO: That was a good game ๐ *cheers*
GEKKO: *cin cin*
Yes, it was fun. And not because of the end, but because of the play.
LEELOO: Hopefully thereโs a chance for a rematch? Despite my obvious attention deficit?
GEKKO: Of course, with pleasure!
Youโre not the only one making mistakes like that โฆ
LEELOO: *g* You only say that as a consolation.
Ok โฆ now Iโll take care of this mountain of work that needs to be finished before I can head off to the film festival tomorrow. If theyโll be showing only crap, Iโll get back to you for a rematch, if thatโs ok.
GEKKO: Of course, and have fun!
LEELOO: Thanks ๐ โฆ I will also report in detail in the film group to shorten my trial period there ๐
GEKKO: Good girl. Have fun!
LEELOO: Thank you!
So the next day, I got in the car and drove to a film festival alone for the very first time. The last time I had been there was 17 years ago, and the 10 years before that I had only ever been there as a โlovebirdโ together with my husband. It felt a bit strange, but it was actually really great. No compromises. I could choose all the films exactly to my taste and if one didn’t meet my expectations, I would just get up, walk out and have a drink or something to eat – whatever I felt like. Liberating.
My hotel was right in the city centre within walking distance of the various cinemas, I checked in and made my way to the festival office to pick up my pass, the catalogue and the programme. The hotel could have been converted directly into a museum of the 70s and I also felt like I was in a time warp … practically nothing had changed in just under two decades. Unfortunately, this also applied to the opening film, which had always been a German movie of the complicated boring moral kind. Sigh. No matter. I spent the rest of the evening putting together my schedule for the following four days and shortly afterwards had a thick packet of 18 tickets in my pocket. Finish one film, quickly head into another cinema and into the next and again and again and again. In between, I’d grab a bite to eat and a glass of wine to take to the cinema. These were my plans for the next few days.
The first โrealโ day of the festival was October 21, โBack to the Future Dayโ, so it was absolutely fitting to start with this year’s retrospective. It was dedicated to a British cult director who had presented his first film at this very festival at the end of the 70s. So – apart from me – there was another time traveller present, very funny. As he told the interested audience, Radio On had been filmed โbetween London and Bristol on Ilford and Guinness.โ In a supporting role, Sting – still completely unknown at the time – appeared as a singing petrol station owner. After that, a French comedy about a man in midlife crisis was on my schedule. Maybe I could learn something from that … and then there was a documentary film about bands at Coachella – great for broadening my musical horizons. Dinner and then a women’s film from India, very colourful but also very tragic, and something new from Hollywood to round off the first day.
Brilliant. After all that time, I was immediately back in my element. When I finally returned to the hotel after the late night film, the lights had of course long since gone out in Bangkok, but I enjoyed these days with the concentrated film input and also my temporary singledom enormously. I was mentally on a similar โhighโ to my fangirl days. Only this time I was hyped without any applause, a completely new experience. A really good one. Empowered – that’s what it feels like.
I was back at 11 pm on Saturday evening, none of the late night movies had really interested me. After a look at my mobile phone, I discovered that Mr Gekko in faraway Thailand had apparently just turned night into day and was still posting music videos at 4 am.
LEELOO: Do you ever sleep?
GEKKO: Will do. Right now. ๐ But five to six hours is enough for me.
LEELOO: I need a bit more ๐ โฆ are you up for a rematch tomorrow in the afternoon (my time)?
GEKKO: Nope. But tonight your summertime changes back to normal and instead of five Iโll then be six hours ahead of you. ๐
LEELOO: Right. Shit.
GEKKO: And on Sundays closing time is at midnight. ๐
LEELOO: 3 pm then?
GEKKO: Works for me.
LEELOO: Great! So tomorrow I’ll race home in my little Swede, dash through the forest with the dogs, have lunch with my mum and then I’ll get back to you ๐
GEKKO: Sounds tough. Donโt be too hard on the little Swede.
LEELOO: There are already winter tyres on it, so it won’t go faster than a comfortable 180 kmh… I’m a cautious girl ๐
GEKKO: That sounds credible on paper.
LEELOO: *g* โฆ honestly โ sometimes I know my limits ๐
GEKKO: Good to know. ๐
LEELOO: So itโs good night from here now โ I don’t want you to lose tomorrow because you haven’t had a good night’s sleep ๐
GEKKO: *laughs*
Good night to you too then.
LEELOO: ๐
So the prospect of a chess date at the end of a great week. Perfect. I collected the seven things scattered around my hotel room, set the alarm clock and went to bed very happy with myself and the world. On the motorway on Sunday morning, I was the only car for miles around and therefore got home much quicker than expected. Wonderful. Dogs, forest, mum, Sunday roast … and I was already sitting at my PC:
LEELOO: hey โ everything went smoother than I thought โ so I just started a new game. Whenever youโre ready: your turn ๐
GEKKO: As soon as I get home. Went squashing with Tom today, now itโs suppertime. ๐
LEELOO: I donโt want to stress you โฆ still checking my business E-mails โฆ ๐ enjoy your meal โฆ and no, Iโm not envious at all and absolutely not interested in what youโre having for dinner right now *sigh*
GEKKO: Tandoori Chicken, so, better that you didnโt ask in the first place.
LEELOO: oh my โฆ indian restaurants here are the worst โฆ I canโt recall my last time having a decent indian meal โฆ
GEKKO: No problem over here in โLittle Indiaโ.
LEELOO: right, just add a bit more fuel tot he fire โฆ ๐
GEKKO: Thatโs one of my core competencies.
LEELOO: Would never imagined that. I can’t do that at all ๐
speaking of โฆ Iโm still poking at your horoscope a bit โ if I asked you about the moment when things at your workplace went pearshaped and become somewhat unbearable โ was that around end of 2010? This would fit right into โit takes a long time to get me off of my assโ ๐ Iโm just asking out of left field because itโs great to discuss stuff like that with someone I donโt know in person. But as always, you don’t owe me an answer either ๐
GEKKO: The trigger for my latest dissatisfaction was a reorganisation within the company. As a result, I had lost my responsibility for the Asia-Pacific region after 13 years. This was transferred to Singapore, but the previous colleagues, including myself, were not offered the opportunity to move to SGP too. This happened in mid-2012, and it wasn’t until the beginning of 2014 that I was offered the position in Thailand. After that re-organisation, I was naturally quite frustrated at first.
LEELOO: So you wouldโve wanted to move to Singapore back then?
GEKKO: Of course. SGP is a great city.
LEELOO: โฆ despite being in a relationship in Germany? I can hardly imagine doing something like that, because Iโve been living the opposite for decades ๐ all right, sorry โฆ I donโt want to make a fuss about it โฆ ๐
GEKKO: No problem. We are both mature enough to manage living like that. We actually started our relationship as a long-distance one. It helps that my company is rather generous when it comes to travel costs for family members.
LEELOO: In my relationship, this point was only reached after 25 years ๐
GEKKO: At that point we both had already changed our marriage partners. ๐
LEELOO: Well โ we have a different solution for this. ๐ So how long did your first marriage last?
GEKKO: 12 years until we separated, 17 until we got a divorce. Wiser taxwise.
LEELOO: *g* โฆ right, financial aspects are not to be underestimated. Because of this the ring bearer and I will probably stay married for the forseeable future ๐ You may start playing chess, in order to elude my bottomless curiosity โฆ ๐
GEKKO: skyping with my daughter, just a second.
LEELOO: no stress ๐
GEKKO: OK, your turn.
LEELOO: ?? sure ??
GEKKO: think so โฆ
LEELOO: Your turn.
My head is still full of movies, this is great to calm down a bit ๐
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
dammit โฆ does it takes ages to refresh for you too at the moment?
GEKKO: Always does. Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Check. Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn. Is there some movie occupying your mind too or did I just not get your evil masterplan yet?
GEKKO: still skyping with my daughter, was a bit destracted
LEELOO: So a sort of movie. Dearest Gekko โ playing chess isnโt as important as a father-daughter-chat. Finish that properly and even if that takes until midnight, thereโs no harm done ๐
GEKKO: Thank you, we are just finished. ๐
LEELOO: Well your Queen is too ๐
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
IS THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD PLAYING CHESS RIGHT NOW OR WHAT??? NO REFRESH โ AGAIN! AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHH sorry
GEKKO: sam here โฆ
LEELOO: crap โฆ and I donโt dare to be write cheeky stuff anymore because you just lost your queen โฆ donโt want to wake up your inner Aries/Ram/Mars ๐
GEKKO: Nonsense, that was my fault entirely. Shit happens. I can see the a refresh over here now.
LEELOO: Hm. Right, I happen to know someone who made that same mistake just recently.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: You shall not let me win! ๐
GEKKO: Thatโs not what I have in mind ๐
LEELOO: Oh crap. So there is a masterplan.
GEKKO: Same as always. To win.
LEELOO: ๐ Your turn. I just realized that attacking with a certain readiness to make sacrifices might be the best defence.
GEKKO: Hm. Your turn.
LEELOO: It. Is. Not. Refreshing. Again.
GEKKO: ๐
LEELOO: This is NOT FUNNY!
GEKKO: ๐ Right.
*giggle*
LEELOO: You know that I’m twisting your neck right now and you can live with that, right? I used to be more patient.
GEKKO: Over this distance, I can live with that, yes.๐
LEELOO: Lucky devil.
STILL โ ISNโT โ REFRESHING โฆ
Iโll go and pour me a glass of wine โฆ hope itโs working again when Iโm back โฆ
GEKKO: Do that.
LEELOO: I only wanted to play chess and not lessons in Zen-Buddhism โฆ *sob* itโs still not refreshing.
GEKKO: Despite the wine?
LEELOO: You are really lucky to be this far away from me right now๐
GEKKO: Possibly.
LEELOO: Possibly.
GEKKO: ๐
LEELOO: grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
GEKKO: Which wine are you having?
LEELOO: Elbling. Would you provide me the birthdates of your spouses for further studies? Actually I didnโt wanted to ask that but as the game still isnโt refreshing โฆ I thought โcarpe diemโ
GEKKO: Nope. Thatโs personal data and off limit.
LEELOO: Ha! Now!
Thought so. But also that asking couldnโt hurt. ๐
GEKKO: Right. ๐
Your turn. ๐
LEELOO: Care to tell me their signs? I assure you that I don’t have a magic cauldron here that spits something out because of it ๐
GEKKO: Scorpio (first wife), Virgo (my current wife).
LEELOO: Just as I wanted to ask water or earth signs? ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: What was what again?
LEELOO: Scorpio = Water / Virgo = Earth
GEKKO: Your turn.
Err, check.
LEELOO: Meh โฆ and itโs midnight.
Just continue when thereโs time: tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, whenever?
Your turn.
GEKKO: Exactly, me bed now. ๐
LEELOO: Good night ๐
GEKKO: For you too, later. ๐
LEELOO: Thanks ๐ Iโll be catching up on Doctor Who now ๐ your turn โฆ tomorrow or whenever ๐
The next afternoon at 1.30 pm โ me, up to my neck in work in my home office – Bangkok time: 7.30 pm, closing time! – his next move arrives:
GEKKO: Your turn. ๐
LEELOO: Did I already mention that the winter time difference is even more stupid? I’ve got about an hour now … ok?
Your turn.
GEKKO: What do you mean by โabout an hourโ?
LEELOO: An hour during which Iโll be sitting in front of a computer and not raking leaves, or driving in my car, taking money to the bank, or going shopping, because the ring bearer didnโt do any of that during the last days. *grrrr*
GEKKO: Did he have that in writing?
Your turn.
LEELOO: Nope. I actually didnโt ein. I didn’t really expect it either. More like hoped for it. ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: Risky strategy.
Not your way of playing.
Your turn.
LEELOO: Thatโs me. ๐
Your turn.
Iโm glad he fed the dogs. They were happy too, to be able to hop into my bed yesterday. ๐
GEKKO: It’s a mystery to me why people bring critters into their beds. The cats have tried it exactly once.
Your turn.
Check.
LEELOO: *g* โฆ the cats we had years ago slept in our bed too. But I admit that there are advantages to not having critters in bed. ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: Advantages? What disadvantages would that have?
It’s just updating itself to death here again, I’m at the gym now. ๐
LEELOO: Disadvantages at the moment would be cold feet ๐
Yes, itโs not working here too … I’m going to rake leaves now ๐ feel free to get back to me later, I’ve just postponed drivng to the bank … forgot that they close earlier today ^^
So I put on gardening gloves, drag our 5 large sacks for leaves out into the street and rake leaves from the two large poplar trees until my arms almost fall off. The neighbours will hopefully leave me in peace for another two days now. Then I realise that there is no more wine in the house and go shopping. In the supermarket car park, the mobile in my pocket goes *PING*
GEKKO: Footwarmers, goodness gracious โฆ ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: This isnโt funny either! I’m currently loading my trunk full of wine and will be back in front of the computer soon.
I can hear the next *PING*, choose to ignore it, stoically push my shopping trolley back without looking at my mobile again and drive home. Unload the stuff, lug it into the house, pour me a glass of wine and get back to the PC.
GEKKO: Yes, it is.
LEELOO: Cold feet pose a VERY serious problem ๐
GEKKO: You should try socks.
I do, for example when Iโm snowboarding ๐
LEELOO: Let me put it this way: in some situations I prefer more sensual solutions ๐ now let’s see what you’ve done on the board …
GEKKO: Uhm, I wouldn’t have subsumed dogs under this heading.
LEELOO: Well I just canโt count on men for things like that right now. ๐
Your turn.
Oh and I wanted to tell you that your โfavorite LP covers from your schooldaysโ challenge is a really good one. I have all 9 covers together and Iโm just renewing my love for The Cure ๐
GEKKO: The Cure are really good. Just past my schooldays.
LEELOO: Well, old man โฆ not for me ๐
GEKKO: The grace of early birth. I lived through the 70s and was able to have fun with the 80s right from the start. *g*
LEELOO: I guess one can see it this way โฆ thanks to the ring bearer, I know a lot of stuff from the early 80s too ๐
GEKKO: The transition was rather fluid.
LEELOO: But in the late 80s there was also a lot of crap โฆ not only talking about the clothes here, but as my favorite color was black (apart from red boots) I was spared the worst embarrassments ๐
GEKKO: Black is never wrong, but if weโre talking about real colors, nothing beats blueberry.
Du.
LEELOO: Blueberry.
GEKKO: Yes, or ultramarine. Not babyblue.
LEELOO: Are you serious?
Your turn.
GEKKO: With my move or the color?
My motorbikeโs nickname is BlueberryBitch.
For reasons.
LEELOO: For reasons of alliteration? ๐
GEKKO: Yes, UltramarineBitch would sound a bit off.
LEELOO: Yes. UltramarineBitch *giggles*
GEKKO: What?
LEELOO: What what?
GEKKO: What you could possibly be giggling about. ๐
LEELOO: More like laughing out loud ๐
GEKKO: Still no refresh, I canโt see your last move โฆ
LEELOO: Time will tell. But yes, blueberry is a nice color. Oh and I wanted to tell you that your reply, that the problems in your job arised in 2012, was really helpful for my understanding of transits. ๐
GEKKO: What are transits now?
LEELOO: Do you ever listen to me? ๐ These are the aspects that the planets make from their current position to the position in the individuals birth chart. But I’m probably always explaining things far too confusingly …
GEKKO: Mostly. Canโt remember reading about it. And such a weird term would usually have stuck in my mind. It’s still updating, by the way …
LEELOO: The singular would be โtransitโ. The one mentioned a while ago with Saturn is just such a transit. In about 3 weeks‘ time, things could get a bit โlivelyโ for you. But let it come to you … you can’t change anything anyway ๐
GEKKO: Then I’ll just wait and see. Because I’m good at that๐
LEELOO: Yes, it really looks like that … in the sense that you really need to get hurt before anything happens.
GEKKO: It’s like that. And it doesn’t always make sense.
LEELOO: That’s clear. But that’s the way I see it. There’s no aspect between โfeelingโ and โactingโ … a detour is necessary first – and that’s why it takes longer.
GEKKO: Thatโs not consoling. ๐
LEELOO: I know. But self-knowledge is the first step ๐
GEKKO: As they say.
LEELOO: We all keep demons in our closets ๐
GEKKO: So true. Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: You need to say check, right? ๐
GEKKO: Ah crap, of course. I wrote it in the comment section, but you probably canโt see that.
LEELOO: ๐ Your turn.
GEKKO: Itโs stuck again. In ten minutes Iโll be gone. ๐
LEELOO: Better than me ๐ โฆ I at least intend to put up a little more resistance this time ๐
GEKKO: Is that so? ๐
LEELOO: Yes. Stupid ๐
GEKKO: *g*
LEELOO: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr โฆ itโs not really helpful that the screen gets blank ever so often and I canโt mull about the board properly โฆ gmbl
GEKKO: Yep, not helpful at all.
LEELOO: Whatever. Then letโs continue when you find the time ๐
GEKKO: Good night then from this side. ๐
LEELOO: Yep. Good night to you too โ Iโve just uploaded a suitable lullaby ๐
GEKKO: Right. ๐
I had uploaded โLullabyโ by The Cure shortly beforehand as part of the music challenge currently running on his profile. Yes, it was more of a musical Halloween countdown, but in a way it was also, well, a lullaby. So while Mr Gekko went to bed in Bangkok, it was only 6pm on my side of the world and I reached for my Viola, who had been rather neglected over the last 4 weeks, to coax a few weird sounds out of her. Ever since I’d read Sherlock Holmes as a teenager, I’d wanted to be able to play the violin, but the opportunity had just never arisen. The fact that violas even existed and how great they sounded (to me) in comparison to violins had only been revealed to me by chance 9 months ago and this time I had acted without hesitation. As part of my discover your creativity activities, I had given it to myself as a present for my 45th birthday and since then had been taking lessons once a week and practising for about an hour every day. So while I was croaking out the theme tune from Pirates of the Caribbean and my head was still processing our chat, I suddenly had to laugh out loud. Gekko would read the reason for this the next morning:
LEELOO: I just put away my viola and had a massive flash of laughter because I thought of the UltramarineBitch and in my head it turned into UltraviolinBitch. *laughs*
Good morning ๐
GEKKO: LOL
Not that bad either. ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: In 7 minutes itโs a full moon โ you should be able to see it already ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: Yep, nice and round. ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn. And Iโm off to the gym now. ๐
LEELOO: Almost frighteningly sporty ๐
Itโs your turn when youโre back again ๐
GEKKO: Your turn.
And it’s not that bad, only one hour four times a week.
LEELOO: LOL … but squash is still on-top, isn’t it? I’m far too lazy for that ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: Yes, but that’s more for working out. Gym during the week is a balance to sitting at a desk.
LEELOO: All right … after all, Iโm walking the mutts every day ๐
GEKKO: ๐
LEELOO: As a reward for their foot warming services ๐
GEKKO: Dogs are so simple … *g*
LEELOO: Easy to please, you mean? A bit of food, a friendly greeting, fresh air every now and then … they don’t really need anything more than a man ๐
GEKKO: Well, the men I know also need beer, a motorcycle and the occasional steak.
Does the refresh takes forever today?
LEELOO: No update here โ I checked on two different devices.
They get steak too. The canine equivalent of the rest would be: eating horse droppings in the forest and running after a rabbit … Oh yes, and it’s not updating here either … I’m seriously thinking about buying a small magnetic chessboard right now ๐
GEKKO: What for?
LEELOO: To place the pieces there too, so I can always see the state of play. ๐ That is, unless you rule out further games ๐
GEKKO: Why should I? ๐
LEELOO: Still waiting fort he screen to show to show me something again โฆ
Your turn. ๐
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
Darn it, I forgot to say check. If Iโm not completely stupid I should add checkmate, or is there an escape route for you left? So your turn โฆ maybe?
Ah crap โฆ of course there is one โฆ
GEKKO: ๐
LEELOO: I. Am. So. Stupid. And totally distracted! Because I’m just finishing payroll accounting here. ๐
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Argh, and now itโs stuck again โฆ whatever, I guess I know your move anyway โฆ this might end as a โLast Man Standingโ game ๐ Your turn.
GEKKO: A bit annoying at the moment โฆ
LEELOO: WHAT?!
GEKKO: No refresh โฆ ๐
Better than โDead Man Walkingโ โฆ
LEELOO: Oh OK ๐ I’m working on a festival report for my blog in English today … also a nice challenge ๐
GEKKO: I like to think so. Why in English?
LEELOO: The whole blog started off in English … because of all the English & American fangirls for whom it was originally intended … and since it’s fun, I’m sticking with it. Some comment in German, of course they also get German answers ๐
GEKKO: Ah, that’s why. Still no update here …
LEELOO: Yes, I can’t explain it any better without becoming horribly esoteric. But I can live my esoteric side very well on the blog ๐ Let’s put it this way: I’ve paid off something like a karmic debt in the last six months. ๐ I hope the Capo really heeds my warning not to read more than the movie things there ๐
GEKKO: I was wondering about that already โฆ
Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: I have no problem with such thoughts, I just can’t understand them for myself. But there are so many different life plans and they all have the same right to be realized.
LEELOO: Thank you โ I can relate to that โ and I can also relate to BlueberryBitches, beer and steak ๐
GEKKO: Bit more grounded. ๐
And I also drink wine.
Your turn.
LEELOO: Hey, I can see what youโre up to!
I still remember the rules so far ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn.
Re. grounded โ your Moon is in Taurus, it likes to be down to earth. ๐ โฆ while my Moon in Gemini is a bit different. Thereโs a Dr Jekyll as well as a Mr Hyde side ๐ Do you know any Gemini?
GEKKO: When would they have to be born?
LEELOO: May 21 โ June 20
GEKKO: My daughter.
LEELOO: People with the zodiac sign Gemini are of course a bit different than if only the moon is in the sign, but it is a bit similar. Interesting ๐ then you may have your two suns opposite each other. Could be play out like โopposites attractโ or result in ego battles ๐
GEKKO: It was actually always a classic father and princess relationship.
LEELOO: Fits ๐ โฆ so her Sun might be next to my Moon, thatโs nice too ๐
GEKKO: Whatever that means. ๐
LEELOO: Mutual understanding โฆ if there are no other serious obstacles present. ๐
GEKKO: Your turn.
Well, well. ๐
LEELOO: Yep. Same goes for Moon opposite Sun. You see this is all totally serious. ๐
GEKKO: Absolutely.
Your turn.
LEELOO: And your turn.
Oh MERDE no refresh again! And itโs almost witching hour โฆ
GEKKO: Yep. Your turn.
At midnight Iโm gone. ๐
LEELOO: *sobs*
GEKKO: Last moves tomorrow. ๐
LEELOO: No update here โฆ all right โฆ good night ๐
Off to admire the full moon ๐
GEKKO: Good night! ๐
In my head Pink Floyd’s clocks start ticking and David Gilmore is singing „And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking…“ My *sobs* was the expression of a very real feeling. Irritating. I go to feed the dogs and then spend a few cigarette lengths and several glasses of wine sitting on the patio looking up at the full moon. It’s rising round and beautiful next to the large linden tree. In the east. Almost exactly where Bangkok is and a certain man is sleeping blissfully, presumably without a head full of thoughts.
It’s all completely stupid. Where is this actually going? How will our real meeting be in two months‘ time? And suddenly it’s there, the thought: How am I going to manage to hook up with him afterwards? … Leeloo? Hello, are you still in your right mind? You don’t know him at all and you’re one of the pickiest people ever. One of your great-great-great ancestors was probably the Brothers Grimm’s model for the princess, for whom no one is good enough, from their King Thrushbeard fairy tale. There’s a 99 to 1 chance that you don’t think he’s great at all live, because you haven’t even heard his voice yet! Or know what he smells like! And is he marri… *mmmbbbpfff* … I shut my consciences up forcefully, go back inside and make my next move:
LEELOO: Good morning ๐ Check. Your turn.
The answer comes very early:
GEKKO: Good morning ๐ Your turn.
LEELOO: *gรคhn* ๐ Your turn.
Whenever.
GEKKO: Check. Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn. Off to the forest with the dogs now. ๐
GEKKO: Until later.
Your turn.
LEELOO: Check. Your turn.
It’s a bit restless here today because I have to take the little Swede to a workshop appointment soon (and before that through the car wash, because otherwise nobody will touch it ๐ ) … but I have the tablet with me, so maybe I can make a few moves while waiting in my favorite Thai snack bar ๐ Although you are probably out eating yourself or doing whatever (at about 7:15 โ 9:00 pm your time) This time difference is stupid ๐
GEKKO: I got used to it. ๐ Your turn.
LEELOO: Donโt play and driveโฆ laters ๐
After driving across town to the Volvo workshop and dropping off my car there, I walk to the restaurant. I order a curry and open my tablet:
LEELOO: Right, now โฆ can already smell the curry ๐
Your turn.
Donโt you have a Chess-Date with your friend today? Wednesday?
Er, check.
I send him a picture of my Panaeng Gai. (Yes, I am one of those people always taking pictures of their food. ๐ )
GEKKO: Has it come to food porn now? ๐ I’m sure you don’t want to know how I could counter … Chess has to wait, Iโm on the road myself.
Too bad, that would have been great during the waiting time. After all, he’s obviously so hooked by now that he also checks his mobile for messages in between. Whatever. As the man in Bangkok is meeting up with his American friend Tom today – according to a quick glance at his profile – it’s only fitting that I briefly check in with my American friend Emilia, with whom I have a date the next day.
LEELOO: Just playing chess with Bangkok, while having curry at Thai Food. LOL (My carโs got a workshop appointment today)
EMILIA: Who won on Sunday?
LEELOO: Itโs still this game โฆ but I think Iโll win this one ๐
EMILIA: Fingers crossed. Looking forward to our Mobile-Sushi tomorrow!
LEELOO: What??
EMILIA: Well, youโll provide mobile, Iโll provide dead fish. Business as usual.
For a few years now, we’ve established that whenever I get a new company mobile phone, Em invites me out for sushi and then takes over my โoldโ one, which is then only two years old. So it’s an absolute win-win.
LEELOO: LOL sorry, I was totally on the wrong track โ this had already cost me my Queen on our first game ๐
EMILIA: Better than your virtue ๐
LEELOO: LOL
Youโve made the reservation for 12 PM, right?
EMILIA: yep, 1200, dos chicas.
LEELOO: Perfect! Until then!
Pick up the car. Drive home. Work. Feed the dogs. Notice that Gekko is still awake at 1 am …
LEELOO: Hey, had a nice boys night out? Good night ๐
GEKKO: Yep. ๐ Good night, last moves tomorrow.
LEELOO: no problem โฆ Iโm having a girlโs sushi lunch date tomorrow. After that Iโll be back at my home office ๐
GEKKO: Sushi is always a good idea.
LEELOO: Very true ๐
I see his next move as I sit shivering on the stairs in the hallway at just before 6 AM, waiting for the dog, who really, really needed to go out in garden, to come back in.
GEKKO: Ok, your turn again.
LEELOO: Dog in the garden โฆ.
Queen takes Rook.
Me -> off to bed again ๐
*yawns*
Your turn. ๐
Unfortunately, I’m now more awake than I wanted to be. After hitting send, I start to have doubts:
LEELOO: Actually I wanted to make a different move โฆ but with two Rooks you still seem to dangerous to me ๐
GEKKO: *laughs*
Your turn.
The smallest dog snuggles warmly against my back under the duvet, I fall asleep again and wake up far too late.
LEELOO: Your turn.
Are you playing an instrument?
GEKKO: I guess youโre referring to musical instruments. ๐
Well, Iโm not even able to read sheet music.
LEELOO: Interesting, with all that interest in music!
GEKKO: Why? Iโm not able to brew beer either. ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: Touchรฉ.
Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn and Iโm on the highway to Sushi now๐
GEKKO: At this time of day?
Your turn.
LEELOO: Yup. High Noon Sushi ๐ Do you rather like a quick end or not? I’ll make the next moves dependent on that ๐
GEKKO: You should play the way that suits you ๐
LEELOO: Alrighty thenโฆ laters ๐
Your turn.
Change of scene. A stylish Japanese restaurant. Solid wooden benches and tables, black lacquered or natural-coloured, high glass faรงade with a great view of the even better glass faรงade of the museum next door. Chilled background music, hushed conversations. The โdos chicasโ greet each other with a hug and kisses left and right. Making room for the various bags, I simply lay my coat over the bench and settle down next to it. We both still have to drive, but a glass of wine is fine. Cheers. Glad that worked out. Shortly afterwards I have a fit of laughter when I spot the โBangkok Babyโ dish on the menu, which of course Iโll have to try. It’s Laab with duck โ and here I thought this was a Japanese restaurant? Apparently Thailand has somehow decided to follow my every step. Well, never mind, there are worse things and, above all, there’s also great sashimi here.
We enjoy our food and chat and I tell Em for the first time about the planned movie date with the group and that everyone will be staying at the hotel. โExcept for you. Because you’re living hereโ she says. โNot really clever, is it?โ Great, the chicasโ telepathy has worked smoothly. However, the unchaste thought now needs to be clearly expressed. โOn the one hand, it’s practical. Because of the dogs and all that,โ I say, waving my hands around vaguely. โOn the other hand, I’ve been thinking for two days about how I’m going to manage to hook up with him afterwards without everyone noticing. Well, and how I’m going to hook up with him in the first place.โ
The two guys sitting on the next bench suddenly get visibly longer ears, but that’s not my main problem right now. Because Em doesn’t have a โcunning planโ ready either, but sounds surprisingly almost like my conscience did the other day. But she does wish that โit would work out. somehowโ Well. We hug each other goodbye, I promise to keep her up to date and walk to my car as smart as before, but also in a strangely euphoric mood. Exactly two months until day X. When I get home, his next move is there:
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: I hope this experiment wonโt result in losing my head ๐
Your turn.
Four hours of radio silence. What? No!
Well, I could do with that right now. Really really, because I’m pretty behind with my work, but … yeah, but, yeah.
*PING*
GEKKO: Back from working dinner.
Your turn.
LEELOO: Your turn. ๐
โฆ probably tomorrow as itโs already past midnight?๐
โฆ I hope itโs ok if all of this takes a bit longer still? I somehow wasnโt in the mood for total carnage … and without real resistance it’s so boring ๐
No more answers. Crap. Feeding the dogs. Wine. Terrace. Smoking. Going to bed. Sigh.
5 o’clock in the morning. I’ve taken my mobile downstairs with me, now sitting on the stairs in the hallway again. Having older dogs with a weak bladder and/or a desire to track down hedgehogs in the garden at night arenโt much fun.
GEKKO: Good morning ๐
We’re going to go through with it now.๐
LEELOO: ๐ โฆ awake because oft he dogs โฆ
Your turn.
GEKKO: I would shoot them โฆ
Your turn. Check.
LEELOO: Well, well, that sounded like your Aries/Ram/Mars just kicked in. Whereโs the Sagittarian โlaissez-faireโ? ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: *laughs*
We used to have dogs ourselves, and compared to the cats, they required a disturbing amount of care. And I let them do their thing, I’m just glad I don’t have to care about it myself anymore. ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: I admit that I can get annoyed when one of them has been outside and – after I’ve gone back to bed – the next one arrives and starts whining …. ๐
I’m also afraid the next move requires a little more thought than there is time for right now … I’ll be back in 2-3 hours – I’m off to do some necessary โFriday stuffโ now ๐
Taking the dogs into the forest, driving to the office, doing my work there and then driving home again. Ta-daa. The playlist in the car has gotten more Gekko-heavy by the day, my mood is great, Friday, end of the work week plus the prospect of more chatting … then suddenly my mobile rings and my mood’s from 100 to 0 within 5 seconds … and – it’s already come to this – of course I have to tell HIM first and foremost and immediately:
LEELOO: Merde. Some Fridays feel like Mondays โฆ just got back home but got a call that I have to take over the final checkout shift in the store until 8pm today, as the flu epidemic has claimed another โvictimโ … *sighs* … no idea whether you’ll have time/desire to play today, but I’ve got the tablet with me anyway, as there’s usually not that much going on in the last two hours. Grmbl.
Your turn. Check. ๐
GEKKO: Oh my โฆ
Your turn.
LEELOO: yep. Your turn. Check. ๐
shit โฆ Iโm a bit distracted right now โฆ it really took me a while to realize โdamn it, he can move with the f****** ****โ โฆ aaargh ๐
GEKKO: You donโt need to asterisk โpawnโ โฆ ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: I was on a roll โฆ sorry ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: Whatever for?
Your turn.
LEELOO: Because. ๐
Your turn.
For the fact that I’m sitting here fuming because you’re off work and I still have to work for so long today. And I can’t even have a drink, even though it’s 5 pm, because I still have to drive … aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh … *Weltschmerz* sorrysorrysorry ๐ And don’t you dare laugh, because it’s NOT FUNNY! ๐
GEKKO: Well I started working six hours earlier than you. But I’ll have a Chang on you. Weltschmerz is really bad …
And of course thatโs funny.
*winking at the audience with my hand covering my mouth *
Your turn.
LEELOO: Already made my move.
Notifications worked for once
-> Your turn.
This *winking at the audience with my hand covering my mouth* is so charming, that I canโt be mad at you ๐
GEKKO: See, then it already worked. ๐
LEELOO: Indeed it has. However, I’m just wondering what devil possessed me allowing you to reclaim your Queen …
GEKKO: Thatโs a good question.
LEELOO: Yes. Indeed. And Chang is a sort of beer?
GEKKO: Yep. A rather good local one, like Singha.
LEELOO: *sighs* โฆ this has to wait today
Did you already make your move?
Ah, just saw it ๐
GEKKO: ๐
In one of the groups, there is a parallel discussion about foods that are a no-go. Gekko is obviously not a fan of spinach. I have to intervene immediately:
LEELOO: Why spinach? I even liked it as a baby. What supposedly led my grandma to say โThis child is not normalโ ๐
Your turn.
I’m on my way to the shop now, normally it takes about a quarter of an hour but on Friday evening all the young people in the village head for the city … *sighs again* ๐ … so maybe I’ll see you later ๐
GEKKO: Your grandma must have been very far-sighted.
I don’t know why, I just don’t like it, it’s on a par with kale.
LEELOO: My dad makes great kale with very fatty sausages. Traffic jam, dorks as far as the eye can see …
GEKKO: A traffic jam can’t be so annoying that kale would be the better option. Not even with weird sausage. My father liked it too, it wasn’t funny.
LEELOO: I didn’t like it as a child either ๐
GEKKO: I eat more varied food now than I did as a child, but I’ve managed to save a few good habits ๐
LEELOO: Ha ๐ Made it in time!
It’s also a bit embarrassing to be late when youโre the boss…
GEKKO: That’s the privilege.
LEELOO: Unfortunately, I’m a master at setting a bad example … and all hell is still breaking loose here ๐
Appropriate music on the radio โyou can’t always get what you wantโ I canโt even …
GEKKO: Well if it fits. ๐
One and a half hours later …
LEELOO: phew … now it’s slowly getting quieter here …
Are you still awake?
You turn. If you are. ๐
GEKKO: Sure.
LEELOO: Great. ๐
GEKKO: ๐
LEELOO: Oh, I can see you’re busy ๐ Child in Time & Locomotive Breath are pretty great songs ๐
GEKKO: I think so too ๐
Your turn.
Nothing compares to a solid 70s socialization.
LEELOO: I’ve got a few gaps there ๐
GEKKO: Nobody is perfect.
LEELOO: The closing line from my favorite movie ๐
GEKKO: Where was that the closing line? I think it’s great in Independence Day.
LEELOO: Billy Wilder’s Some like it hot ๐ A bit before ID ๐
GEKKO: Ah, I’ve probably only seen that one in the dubbed German version.
LEELOO: It’s brilliant in English!
GEKKO: I can imagine.
LEELOO: Oh man … was just advising people who want to get an old cat and an old dog used to each other … *sighs*
GEKKO: Why do you do that? That’s hard enough for old people …
LEELOO: Maybe they’ll manage with my tips ๐
GEKKO: That would be desirable. Could you give any useful tips?
LEELOO: Yes. And from experience. I’ve already done it twice *coughs*
GEKKO: Old dog and old cat? Yikes.
LEELOO: Well, old cats and young dogs. But with a dog that’s already learned a few things, it’s probably even easier. Unless he likes cats for suppertime, that is ๐
GEKKO: ๐
LEELOO: the game updated finally โฆ
Your turn.
GEKKO: Your turn.
LEELOO: Canโt see your move yet. This really is a crappy day โ except for this nice conversation โฆ
GEKKO: Really should help.
LEELOO: It does ๐
Chess isnโt easy too ๐
damnโฆ
GEKKO: You don’t say. ๐
LEELOO: Is it even possible to win, as stupid as I am?
I’m just thinking out loud again …
GEKKO: Then I don’t want to interrupt.
LEELOO: I’d like to hit you over the head … ๐
GEKKO: Why?
LEELOO: Because you’re supposed to interrupt.
Girls are complicated. ๐
GEKKO: Iโm supposed to interfere with your thinking? By Toutatis, I’ve never been asked to do anything like that. Your grandma was right.
LEELOO: You even listened once! That’s a plus ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: The gentleman ignores the โonceโ.
LEELOO: Do that. I’m going to end my shift here now ๐
GEKKO: I’m sure it wonโt take you as long, being on your way back way before the village youth ๐
Your turn, check.
LEELOO: I hope so. So, checkout done… and off ๐
There you go … just 10 minutes …
*g* oh dear… it’s already quite late for you …
if it gets too much for you, say something … I’ve got wine here now, I can take it all ๐ … and you
Er, I meant: your turn.
GEKKO: I still have beer, don’t worry.
LEELOO: *g*
GEKKO: When you wrote โ… and youโ, I first assumed a grammar mistake.
LEELOO: *laughs* I can stand you pretty well … with and without wine ๐ at least at a distance ๐
GEKKO: Fine. 10,000 km feel pretty relaxing ๐
Your turn.
LEELOO: I don’t know if โrelaxingโ is the right word right now … this damn Queen ๐
Your turn.
GEKKO: What would come to mind instead?
Yes, queens can be annoying. *g*
LEELOO: And now my left hand is twitching again ๐
GEKKO: Left?
LEELOO: I’m left-handed. Like, surprisingly, quite a few guitarists in the alternative rock movie I saw at the festival.
GEKKO: Ah. And why did it twitch?
I don’t know too many left-handed guitarists.
Your turn.
LEELOO: It twitched because of your cheeky queen remark … *slap* ๐ I’m still a bit on adrenaline today … excusez-moi ๐
GEKKO: Pas de problรจme … Or โmai bpen raiโ as they say here.
LEELOO: Holy shit! You can have TWO queens? I’m doomed …
GEKKO: But that you felt addressed by โqueenโ …
Uh, yes, you can. In chess that is.
LEELOO: OK …
NOW this 10,000 km distance is VERY helpful for you ๐
GEKKO: I don’t know why, but I appreciate it ๐
no offense intended.
LEELOO: *g* none taken … just experiencing sort of neck-twisting fantasies ๐
GEKKO: But only with chickens …!
LEELOO: With men too, believe me ๐
GEKKO: Well, I’ve never had such fantasies. I swear!
LEELOO: You don’t know me personally yet ๐
GEKKO: You mean that would inspire such fantasies?
LEELOO: Possibly. Your turn.
Child in Time is a really great song …
GEKKO: It is. But Deep Purple were always better live than in the studio. And โMade in Japanโ is simply terrific. Your turn. Check.
LEELOO: Your turn.
GEKKO: Somehow it seems that we reached the end of the game.
LEELOO: ??? How could that happen? ๐ Dammit, I guess me and my soft heart are to blame. ๐ just got the message โSo sorry, but you lost.โ again. *laughs*
GEKKO: *laughs*
LEELOO: I’m afraid the 3rd wine didn’t exactly stimulate my mind the right way ๐
GEKKO: Bedtime now.
LEELOO: Good night, old man ๐
GEKKO: Good night, young lady. ๐
LEELOO: You’re a sly devil and you know it, don’t you? Rematch sometime?
GEKKO: Yes, yes and yes. ๐
LEELOO: ๐
I’m sitting in my chair, grinning broadly and feeling quite electrified. Two weeks of โplayingโ with each other has obviously really helped to develop this conversation in the direction I had hoped for. Tomorrow is Halloween. And Saturday. So we’re both hanging out at home, have nothing else to do and he doesn’t have to get up early the next morning.
Smells like showtime, Bangkok Baby.
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