Compromise and bargaining

Lexi's lips and throat feel dry. She swallows and moistens her lips. "I don't wish to seem ungrateful, but this feels a bit one-sided." Hecate's lips purse. The ends curling into a cute, mischievous little smirk. "In what way?" The tone of her teenage voice making it a little condescending. Lexi sets Merona's piece back on the board next to Jacob's piece. Jacob's piece is in the king's position. She notices that David's piece is the pawn on the left side of the board, known as A2, making it the furthest pawn from the king.

(Author's note: A2 points out that Lexi is playing white and will be taking the first turn.)

Her head tilts to the right slightly as she mentally shakes her head. 'Wow, is this a David and Goliath reference? I get that he isn't well known yet, but this feels a little too on the nose.' She spot Solace's piece, the right side knight at G1, making it the furthest from the queen. 'I wonder if this is to help balance out the strength difference between Jacob and Merona.' Hecate leans in a little. A playful giggle escapes the silly grin on her face. "Don't keep me waiting. In what way is this one-sided?" Lexi shakes her head. "Um, right."

"Since I don't know what the information pertains to and since Gloria would be with you for a few days if I were to lose. It would be prudent to get more in return for such a risky wager. Heck, I don't even know if Gloria would be okay with being by your side for the allotted time. So there is a lot of backlash if I were to lose." Hecate pouts. Her form morphing to an older woman for a moment. "Hmm, it will be fine, but..." Her form shifts to her adult form. "What else do you want? Don't be shy. (Her form shifting back to the elderly woman mid-sentence.) I will be sure to tell you if it is too much or not."

Lexi nods. Focusing her attention on what she wants in addition. "Much appreciated." She runs a finger along the back of Merona's piece. "I would like to be friends with you. That, and I would like to know why I've been given this gift. I haven't been able to find an answer and from what I've seen my development is considered abnormal..." Hecate's form changes back to an adult. Letting out a very heavy but short breath. "Being friends sounds nice. So consider that done, but the latter is a tall order since it is out of my area." As she said, "considering that done" a friend request appears in the center of Lexi's view.

Hecate would like to be your friend!

Accept or Decline?

Lexi blinks several times, but uses a mental command to hit, 'Accept'. Upon doing so, a small chat bar appears in the bottom left of her view opens along with another one on the lower right with a friends list. The only friend listed is Hecate, Goddess of the Crossroads. Hecate leans in slightly. "I'll tell you what." Her form becomes elderly. "If you win, I'll look into the matter personally and get back to you as soon as possible. Will that suffice?" Lexi glances downward. Taking note of Hecate's aged hand extending toward her.

She nods slightly, taking Hecate's hand to warmly shake it. "Yeah, I think that'll do, Hecate." Hecate's withered hand quickly grows firmer with vibrant youth as her form changes to a teenager's once more. "Great! I haven't made a deal like that in quite some time!" With that said, a notification appears in the center of Lexi's view.

A chess match with Hecate!

If you win, you'll obtain the following:

- Jacob's promotion to Apostle and David's promotion to Saint

- Completion of Evelyn's Phylacteries with optional bonus

- Information that you've forgotten you wanted

- Delayed information about why you've been chosen by Gaia. ETA: 3 days.

If you lose, you'll suffer the following:

- The sorrow of Merona, Solace, Jacob, and David

- Failure to complete Evelyn's Phylacteries. (This may be retried after 3 days.)

- Loss of contact with Gloria Trapp for 3 to 5 days.

She stretches slightly before taking her seat at the table. Her form changing once more to that of an adult. "Our followers and I are ready. Are you?" Lexi nods. "Yeah." Said while taking her seat. As soon as her bottom touches the chair, David's pawn moves from A2 to A4. Hecate glances at Lexi. "Move your piece. Then, it'll be my side's turn." Lexi glances at Hecate. Her eyes filled with confusion before realizing that this is what Hecate meant by tandem. Each side would be making two moves a turn, but only one of those moves would be made by them personally. 'This is more of a gamble than I thought...'

She thinks for a moment, realizing that her moves would change how her followers can move too. 'I know they have faith in me. I shall repay that faith by having faith in them.' Her hand touches the pawn on E2 and moves it to E3. This opens the way for Jacob, her King and Merona, her Queen pieces to move. Of course, Solace's knight can move freely despite the pawns being in his way, but that is a different matter. Three of the pieces of Hecate's side of the board look like people. The pieces in question are a pawn at B7, a bishop at F8, and the queen at D8.

B7 moves to B6. This causes Hecate's smile to turn into a cute smirk. "That's cute. He's being cautious." Her hand touches E7 and moves it to E5. To Lexi's surprise, Solace's knight at G1 moves to E2, blocking the opening she had just made. 'What are you doing!?' Hecate giggles as her eyes glance at Lexi's face. "Yeah, they have a mind of their own. It seems your knight likes being defensive too." Lexi nods slightly. "So it would seem..." Hecate softly sighs while reaching a hand to Lexi's.

Her hand is warm, gentle, and reassuring. "This is the silent price we pay for our prestige and privilege. Sadly, they do not see the board as we do. We can only respect their wishes and do what we can for them and their faith in us." Lexi places her other hand on top of Hecate's. "Thank you. Being a deity is more stressful than I had imagined. And this is just the tip of the iceberg, huh?" Hecate nods before moving her hand back. "You mustn't keep them waiting." Lexi tilts her head slightly while looking at the board. Moving G2 to G3.

Will things go in her favor? Or will things take a turn for the worse?