"Dominique_Coniglio, it's your turn."

She studied the chess board with a scrutiny which suggested a well rehearsed knowledge of the game. Whether or not that was true was yet to be known, it was clear though that she enjoyed the experience either way. The pair were sat in an outdoor social space huddled among the bustle of Pasadena's central marketplace. A stream of footfall landed around them, a storm of motion challenging the senses to focus on any individual person's path or objective. At least, as far as Tess was concerned.

The sun was shining, enveloping the streets in a warmth she enjoyed in an emerald green dress. The young woman twitched her unkempt shoulder length locks, a mousy blonde which clearly hadn't been prepared before she left the house. One of her hands hovered over the heads of the pieces, while her chin remained slumped in the other. Her fingers traced the tops of each one while Dom pondered his move.

"Which one do you like best?"

She seized one, the Queen, and studied it. She didn't appear to notice if Dom minded her listless commitment to the game, as it was unlikely she noted the location the piece previously rested on the board. After a moments contemplation a look of disdain fell on her face and the Queen was quickly returned to a location roughly near where she was plucked from. Her inquisitive gaze shifted over the rest.

"Are you a king? A leader of men and keeper of... people? A castle? A... horse?"

Her failure to correctly name the pieces seemed innocently genuine.

"You're not a pawn are you?" A thought struck and she sat upright "Am I a pawn?"

The notion passed almost as soon as it had arrived and she raised another, waving it around.

"What about a Bishop?"

Dominique pondered her questions with a slight smirk, reaching over and nudging the queen back to it's original position while surveying the board again.

"Some would probably consider me a king, or leader of men, but I don't fancy that title too much personally," he answered aimlessly as his fingers reached for one of his knights; over one, up two. A striking Rook, er, Castle as she had called it, removed. His King was safe again, for the moment at least.

"I'm certainly no castle, though I'm attempting to build a Kingdom of sorts with Ravenwood Plaza..." He shrugged as he looked up at her, a smile on his face. Her carelessness was nice, it was different for a change of pace. It wasn't often enough that he could play a game with someone who seemingly just needed the company instead of masterminding every move. It was relaxing, and that was a luxury as of late.

"And last time I checked," he chuckled softly, "I'm not a horse... And I'm certainly not chivalrous enough to be a knight."

"However, I wouldn't call either of us pawns." He paused and smiled at Tess, shaking his head as she waved yet another piece around. The Bishop. Her last question made him ponder.

"I might fancy myself a Bishop of sorts. There's a certain tradition to the way things are done, and I like to adhere and preach those. Even if they're a bit newfangled than some of the -OLD- traditions."

Shrugging again, he chuckled. "But, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I am just a pawn, a soldier, in someone else's bigger game?"

Reaching up and taking the piece from her hand with a smile, he placed it back on the board. "Ya know, most people don't just move the pieces around or inspect them without taking note of their position. The game really does open your mind out to strategies and long plans. Teaches you to see your opponents possible moves, and calculate the most plausible outcome..."

"Anyway, which one's your favorite?"

Looking at the board, he snickered quietly, "And, it's your turn..."

Fin, who up to this point had been tending to errands in the market for their soon-to-be restaurant, sauntered up just in time to over hear the last of the conversation. Setting a brown paper sack brimming with market-fresh veggies carefully next to Dom's seat, she leaned in a kissed the top of his head affectionately, slipping a small bunch of folded contracts into his breast pocket. 

"Ye shouldnae talk so poorly o' yerself, mio. Yer my knight," she stuck her tongue out playfully at the overly affectionate statement, ruffling his hair with a chuckle. "But in all seriousness," she continued, smoothing it back down as she eyed the board, "Yer tha best o' us in a lot a ways... everythin' that an up-an-comin' oughta aspire ta be." Tilting her head ta one side, she grinned, "Yer a bonnie paragon, if ever there was one in our ranks." 

Smirking, she reached for the board, sliding one of the knights across to the King. "Check!" she chirped happily before heaving the bag of groceries back onto her hip. "Shall I go get these settled an' check in on tha progress? Or do ya have more that needs doin' in tha market before I head off?" 

Her foot twitched on its heel, rising and falling while her mind worked. It seemed there was always some part of Tess moving, shaking, fidgeting or rocking. Whatever the explanation, it appeared to help her think. She lifted her hand to grasp the Bishop, before hesitating as Dom's comments on the pieces positions finally reached her conscious thought. 

"Well, you sound like a Bishop. I guess I don't mind being a pawn. Pawns can grow, can't they? I wouldn't mind being a horse."

Tess's attention returned and she rested her head in both hands now. When a hand appeared and shifted the horse, she sat upright, as would a mechanical switch would when triggered.

"Did,... did I win?"

Her eyes flitted between Dom and Fin.

Jaw dropped and staring as Fin slid TesslynFall 's knight into position, which he was certain the girl -wasn't- going to do, Dominique stammered...

"Now why would..."

"What in tha hell were..."

"C'mon, it was tha perfect set up!"

His gaze shifted to Fin, glaring in silence as his jaw finally centered itself and closed in a begrudging form.

"Did,... did I win?" he heard Tesslyn ask.

"That..."

He spat out, salty at Fin.

"... was fucked up."

Looking back to the board, then up at Tesslyn, then back to the board, Dominique slowly placed his finger on his King, and tipped it over. "Yeah... Ya won." He shook his head, finally stepping back from the seriousness of the incursion on their game and laughing.

"As for ya otha questions, yeah. Pawns can grow. Everyone starts as a pawn. Ya can't walk inta tha world as a someone, less ya born inta it." He looked at Fin with a 'Don't you say a fuckin' thing' look before smiling.

"I bet ya can make somethin' big'a yaself, Tesslyn. Oh, by tha way, this 'ere is Fin. She's mine. Helps me wit' taken care'a Ravenwood Plaza an' all it's bidnesses."

He stood and pulled out a cigarette case, knocking it open with a thump and pulled one out. He offered one to each of the ladies before producing his Coniglio engraved zippo and lighting up.

Taking a glance at the contracts, and then the quality of the veggies, he turned back to Fin.

"Ya got Eggplant?" He chuckled and shook his head. "Didja get seeds for everythin' so I can grow it all on tha roof?"

As Fin nodded, he smiled, then turned back to Tesslyn.

"Anyway... Restaurant bidness..." He chuckled. "So, I neva asked ya... Why L.A., doll? An', how ya comin' along wit' work an' such? Need any jobs? I obviously got a lotta plantin' ta do for Giovanni's fresh vegetable garden on tha roof... Could use a hand if ya think ya good wit' plants."

He smiled.

"If not, I know I can finds ya somethin'. Unless ya good an' all."

Fin rolled her eyes. He WAS born into it... twice over. And that was an amazing move. 

Shaking her head softly, she patted him with a knowing smile, "Yeah. Yeah. I gotcha seeds. I also procured starter plants for all tha things we'll need in bulk up front, an' contracts with three o' tha local farms ta supply us in tha interim. We jest haveta pick up tha starters by tha end o' tha day an' be available fer deliveries Wednesday mornings. I got enough here ta test yer recipes an' solidify a regular menu. And YES. I got eggplant cuz I gotta soft spot fer eggplant parmesan. I gotta mind ta make ya fix me some fer a private sitting."

Turning to Tesslyn, Fin offered her hand, "Finnleigh Finnegan. Pleased ta make yer acquaintance. An' may I say, congratulations on yer victory," she chuckled playfully with a wink.