#iforgottagsman

The Outerworlds

Maximillian Desoto X Captain Dottie

Summary: Dottie is teaching Max chess. After getting her hands on a old game board she paints it, transforming it into a chess board. She takes old service awards and paints them two different colors with little drawings of each piece from the game on top. After designing the board and pieces, she begins to teach him. One another begin to get to know each other and bond over their game.

Note: I am not following the prompts (if there are any), I am kinda just doing what I want. I also missed day one. So, yeah.

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"Do you understand?"

"Yes, quite the intellectual game," he spoke as he admired the chess pieces, watching as she put some of the pieces back to ready for a match.

"Okay, you can move first, Vicar," Dottie spoke, and he scooted a piece down the board.

She watched, and quickly moved hers in retaliation. Max had been curious of the Captain as she hopped around the system taking up "little orphans" (as she called her newly found crewmates), and helped someone who seemed to be a madman. He didn't even know much about her as she did so, and she wasn't exactly forthcoming with the information either. She seemed to be protecting the notorious Welles, who was known to The Board and everyone else, as a criminal. A madman who was a well known thief and criminal who was commiting crimes against the colony. She wouldn't even allow people into her room, not even SAM. Well, not until now.

They were further into the game now, and she was beating him. He mumbled a curse word as she took one of his pieces, once again, off the board.

The Board.

The Board was definitely a soon-to-be problem, and she wasn't helping it either. Between bouncing back and forth between there good side and bad side, he wasn't sure the "peace" between The Board and the Captain was going to last for long.

"You thinking awfully hard, Vicar," she watched the board, not looking up at him.

"Just thinking about you, Captain."

As soon as the words hit air, he realized that he didn't mean it that way. He was just being honest, and now he was worried she took it that way. If she where to bring it up, he would try to play it off, like he never said it. Because how he felt for her was complicated, and that was it. He was frustrated with himself, because it was the last thing he inteded to have happen.

For Laws sake it was even intent.

It was a mistake, just like the sentence, yet here he was with odd harbored feelings that was so complicated for him.

"And here I was thinking your mind was boggled about chess," she nervously laughed, as she leaned back in her chair, eyes never leaving the board.

He peered up at her from his seat, and watched as she ran her fingers though her hair. Her eyes showed focus as he assumed she had thought that he meant that.

Law, was she nervous now. She couldn't bring her eyes off the board now, especially right now! She invited him into her room, and this was what she got? Not him bombarding her with questions right off the bat, but hitting her with that? Lovely...Law she needed to stop this. He was the ship's Vicar for pete's sake, and here she was thinking he flirted with her. In her room!

"I am worse than a teenager..."

"Well, you are quite secretive. This is the first time anyone has ever been in your room, and we have no idea what you affiliation with Welles is," the Vicar stated, and she gazed up at him.

"It's only fair you have questions, I guess. I mean, your traveling with someone who didn't even know what a Sprat was..." she spoke, and his eyes followed her.

They both watched each other for one moment. One moment they looked up from the board, and when there eyes met she smirked.

"I win."

His eyes darted to the board as she looked at him with pride. He found himself frustrated with the loss, and this was visible.

"How? I looked away for a second, how did she-?"

"You where never focused, Vicar. It takes a while to be able to think about perplexing, beautiful things such as moi, and play chess," she laughed, and he glared at her for a moment.

"You do that on purpose," he accused her, and she cocked a playful eyebrow.

"Do what, Vicar?"

"Use the French language to poke at me," he huffed, fixing the board back in place.

"That I do, but don't worry. I only know small things, and at least you don't know what they all mean," she chuckled, as she opened up a Purpleberry Punch.

He was tossed a candy, which fell in his lap, "A candy for effort, Vicar."

"You know I don't have a sweet tooth, Captain," he sighed picking up the candy and examining it.

"To bad, Vicar. Maybe that's why your so bitter," she joked, and he rolled his eyes.

"Maybe that's why your sweet with every person you meet, Captain. That'll get you hurt one day, you know," he replied, and she rolled her eyes.

"I could do with a lecture, haven't had one in years," she laughed, and he gave her a serious look.

"Speaking of years, Captain...how old are you?" He asked, and her eyes widened.

"How rude! You never ask a lady's age!" She scolded him, and he looked at her to see she was serious.

"I apologise, Captain. That was rude," he spoke, a bit embarrassed.

"He hated that. He forgot it was rude to ask-."

"Maximillian, your to serious. I was kidding," she smiled sweetly, and it could've made his tooth ache.

Sugar sweet smiles that not even Rizzos could create was one other thing that helped made things complicated. Because he had feelings for her. Terrible, terrible feelings, that he knew was not in his path. He was here to kill Chaney. That was it. Then try to figure out this book. Find a translator, get off this ship, and get as much space between him and this ship's sweet, yet mysterious Captain.

"Go first, Maximillian," she said, and then popped the candy in her mouth.

Law, his name sounded lovely coming from her...

"Captain, are you ever going to reveal why you are involved with Phineas Welles?" He asked, while moving a piece.

"He woke me up from cryosleep on the Hope," she stated, and she moved a piece.

"You expect me to believe that?" He asked, and she shook her head.

"I don't expect you to. Honestly, it's hard to believe myself. I'm still thawing out. Like frozen peas," she spoke softly, which caused him to look at her.

"Say I do believe you," he began, "why didn't you just leave after being set free?"

"Well, I owe him. He got me out of that human meat freezer. Plus, it's the right thing to do, and I definitely don't plan on slaving away for Spacers Choice. Have you seen what they've don't to poor Martin?" She said, and he moved a piece.

"Well, I suppose I can see that. What did you work for before? You never really said anything about it," he asked, and she glided a piece on the board.

"I was a bartender. Always been good with people, and don't mind hearing them yap on. Plus, booze was at a discount, which was nice. I am also very good a splitting and ending fights," she explained, and he looked at her from his side of the table.

"Have you ever been prone to fights then, Captain?" Max asked her, his curiosity peaked.

"Never looked for trouble, but I never ran from it either. How about you, Vicar? You a brawler?" She asked him, and he moved another piece.

"I have always have been violently enthusiastic," Max replied, and she chuckled.

"Should've known. You seem the type," she shook her head with a grin.

"What gave me away, Captain?" Max chuckled a bit.

"Your anger. You have the attitude of a natural blindly angered fighter," she stated matter-a-factly.

"I wouldn't say that. I just don't tolerate stupidity," he shot back, suddenly defensive.

"Fighting is stupid if not done rightously. I know I've been and will be in stupid fights. But also rightous ones," she spoke.

"And what makes you the person to decide that, Captain?" Max growled a bit.

He didn't like being scrutinized, especially by her. Who was she to say these things?

"Righteous fighting is taking up for your family and friends by socking someone in the jaw or using them to mop the floor. But someone you don't agree with or you just don't like- like how you feel about Felix, Max. Just fighting them because you don't like or agree with them? That's stupid," she said as she opened another candy.

"Your right, Captain," he sighed frustrated with himself.

"I don't need to get mad like that, I need to be above that. I need to find peace in the Plan. And she's right, whether or not I want to admit that. Plus, it's just her opinion. Find peace in the Plan. Ask another question. Get out of this topic."

"When are we getting to Monarch?" Max asked, as she popped the candy in her mouth.

"Yes, talk about something important. Something far more important than anything else. It's in the Plan. His path. He is destined to kill Chaney. That's all he wants right now."

"Soon? I suppose soon. Just have to get that Navkey from Gladys. Once we get to Roseway everything should be smooth sailing," the Captain replied with a long, drawn out sigh.

Max looked up at her and she smiled sadly at the board.

"Something vexing you, Captain?" He questioned her.

"Honestly, when you leave, the ship won't be the same without you. I'll miss this. I'll miss you."

"Then make this time we have now, last. Alright, Dottie?" Max replied kindly to her.

Suddenly, he opened the candy. Then, popped it in his mouth, watching as she beat him again.

"I believe I'll miss you too...Dot."