13661/Fiction... because real life is terrible

Fiction... because real life is terrible
Date of Scene:	24 July 2021
Location:	Rain Day Books, South Point
Synopsis:	Cameron has much data to analyze.
Cast of Characters:	Archangel, Cameron

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Archangel has posed:
Outside Rain Day Books, under the awning, but just barely, there was a black chalkboard like sign that said 'Fiction... because real life is terrible' with an arrow pointing towards the book store. The owner frequently liked to put up amusing phrases like that to help draw in foot traffic. Yesterday it had said 'Treat yo' shelves', and the day before that 'Real books don't die (or update the NSA on your reading preferences)' with the image of a depleted battery beneath it. So when Warren saw that, he had to give it a look. He wore navy blue pants and a mauve polo shirt, with silver accents on the shirt, and a silver belt holding the pants up.

Cameron has posed:
Cameron had been out and about for once No family in sight. That is because they were dealing with other things and metal wasn't needed. Or perhaps it wasn't welcome. It didn't matter to Cameron except she wasn't able to watch over her charge but she had started to become accustomed to the situation with the Connor family. Even if she didn't like it.

Thus she had found the book store and opted to go inside. When Warren entered, the young woman was already there though she was at one of the first sets of shelves near the main desk, easily able to see the door. A brief glance at the man entering, an analysis of his height and build to determine if he fit the specs on any terminator models. He actually could fit some so she opted to keep a closer eye on him as she moved to the next aisle of books. She was working her way toward the non-fiction since that was where here interests lay.

Archangel has posed:
Warren did have an athletic physique, he was tall, but not too tall, and would fit in well in most society, providing the right clothes and mannerisms. Of course, his body was unusually light for his muscle mass. When he moved, his footsteps made less of an impact than they should have. Few could tell that, especially from a glance, but if they did, it would be as curious as an overly heavy being for their dimensions.

He noticed the girl, though she was too young for his interest to linger very long. He was in his mid to late twenties. A few years ago, and he would have definitely taken interest in her, but that was then, and this is now. He walked without an overt purpose, seeming to browse the selections, fingers brushing against the spines of a few books, as he approached the chess sets.

Cameron has posed:
The chess set looked like it was in the middle of a game. Apparently it had been abandoned when the folks playing had to leave for whatever reason. "You're welcome to play," came from the owner of the shop. "That was a couple of kids playing around. Good to see kids taking an interest in the game." Then he want back to his reading.

Cameron paused in her perusal of the books as she picked up on that indiscrepency. He moved as though he was light. How was that possible. With his build, he should have heavier footfalls and even movements should require more effort. Yet he moved like someone of her size.

It did not compute and she shifted her movements to take her a little closer to where he was, trying to see if her scanners were picking up anything unusual.

Archangel has posed:
Taking an interest in the chess set as it was currently laid out, Warren contemplated it, the situation, trying to see who he thinks would, or should, have won. He may not be as smart as Beast when it came to science, but he was a businessman, and came from an upper class background. Chess was something he had played all his life. He picked up a piece, and moved it, but without a partner, he couldn't continue the game. Interestingly, he picked the side that was supposed to lose in his own assessment. He liked a challenge. Noting that the girl had taken an interest in him, following, looking in his direction, he asked, "would you like to play?"

Cameron has posed:
It wasn't like she was being subtle in her observations. So it was no surprise he noticed. But when he did, Cameron shifted into her normal-girl routine. She seemed utterly human in her expressions and mannerisms.

"Been a while but sure, I'd like that." She smiled at the stranger and moved closer, sliding into the 'white' set side of the board since that was the opposite of the piece he had played.
Shehe eyed the lay of the board and calculated multiple possibilities. This was something she did with John a lot, in the future and the present.

She finally opted to move her bishop then grinned over at him. "But I still think I can beat you."

Archangel has posed:
She should beat him, she had a more advantageous position. The possibility of him winning was less than twenty-five percent, unless she made an error, or underestimated him. With chess, she could play the board, or the opponent, but not both at the same time. He moved a knight and took a pawn, leaving the knight vulnerable to her Queen.

"My name is Warren," he didn't bother with last names, since people often picked up on who he was with it. As a celebrity, even a minor one, he tried to avoid that kind of attention in settings like this.

Cameron has posed:
"Cameron." She eyed the positions on the board and didn't take the bait. Sure, she could take his knight but in two moves he could possibly take her queen. Better to keep her in a safe position for the moment than put her in a vulnerable position.

"I came in looking for something new to read in the history section," she continued, since people tended to be more likely to open up if one gave information first. "You?"

Archangel has posed:
He moved his Bishop, a seemingly innocuous move. There were no real immediate advantages to be seen. Although that could change as the board changed. "I'm looking for a specific book, All the Countries We've Ever Invaded: And the Few We Never Got Round To by Stuart Laycock as a gift for a friend. And whatever else might catch my fancy. What kind of history are you studying?"

Cameron has posed:
"Weapons and Tactics of World War II."

Okay, that might seem a little odd. Cameron shrugged a little. "Have a report due and thought it would be better to use a book instead of online only. Too many sites just quote other sources and a lot liked this book so figured what the heck." Yes, she said heck. Instead of cursing.

She moved the bishop over to take one of his pawns.

Archangel has posed:
He did raise an eyebrow at her choice in books, but the explanation worked. Her programming was good. She seemed every bit the teenage girl she appeared to be. Even the heck. It was a good choice. He smiled at her, moving a Rook in another seemingly innocuous move. In fact, he seemed to be playing erratically, as if it were purely by whim. "What's the focus of your report? That's a fairly broad topic. Which theater, campaign, which part of the war?"

Cameron has posed:
"I haven't actually decided yet. Everytime I think I have it pinned down, I find a different campaign that seems far more impressive to report on. You have any knowledge on the subject? If so, please give me a suggestion. Figured that book will have them all and I can pick out the one that's best for me," Cameron said.

She studied the board, not making a move yet.

Archangel has posed:
"Sergeant Leo Major and the Battle of Zwolle in the Netherlands." He smiled at the memory of when he learned about it. "It's an interesting story, and if there's an oral part of the paper, your classmates will surely appreciate it." He didn't know if she just had to write it for the teacher's eyes, or if they would talk about it in front of the class, or the papers were published somewhere.

"The short version is that fifteen hundred Germans held the city. Sergeant Major and Corporeal Willy Arsenault were sent to scout it, and things kind of escalated from there." He didn't want to give it all away. "Kind of sad that they haven't made a movie about it yet, but that probably means fewer of your classmates will have heard of it."

And at that point, he made a move, a very good move, and an unexpected one. He would checkmate her in four moves. And then his phone beeped. He checked the text. "Alas, we'll have to play again sometime." As he got up, he would hand her a business card, "let me know how the report goes." This one had a direct line to him. It seemed that Warren Kenneth Worthington never truly did grow up.