Buildup

"Well? Like the new look?" Ursha asked as she and Svetlana walked.

"Why did you mess up your hair so badly?" Svetlana growled.

"It's called a mullet. And it's pure chaos atop my head," Ursha retorted as she popped a cigarette in her mouth.

"Why dye it silver?"

"So I'm matching you."

"... Shave it off."

"Sheesh, girl. Didn't know you hated it, but you want me bald, I'll shave it all off, even though bald's like control style primo."

"Control what?"

"You know, when the dicts want to strip everyone of individuality n' make them all nice n' orderly bots, they shave their heads, make em dress all in white. I like chaos. But hey, you wanna get dom n' sub with me, I'll shave my head n' let you dom me."

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"So why you want me to shave off the new do?"

"I don't like that you dyed it silver, and... it's hideous."

"Latter's the intended part, but the silver? If I dyed it... neon green?"

"I guess you could keep it."

"Oh, so you just hate the silver... That's good."

"I hate more that you're trying to copy me."

"That's good too."

"I still don't get your obsession with me, but I'm tired of being nothing but a bird in a cage, so show me this chaos you're always speaking of."

A grin lit up on Ursha's face. "Then follow me round. We're gonna destroy every authority center on our way- Wait, this thing only works once a day... Oh, but you-"

"Despite what I said about wanting to break free, the one iron rule I must never break is playing someone I'm not approved to play. Tournaments... are the only exception..."

"So you couldn't just play me?"

"Only if it's unrated and on physical boards."

"No WWCF cards... Respect, respect. I'm weary of this shit myself."

"So... you'd humor me?"

"Sure."

"Then..."

"Ursha nodded as she heard Svetlana's request. "Yeah, nothing to worry about. Let's get us two physical chess sets we can haul around, just so we can play each other."

...

A few months later...

Svetlana and Ursha watched from afar as Peter and Okisato walked through town.

"Just gotta get those two to separate. Oh! One's heading to the bathroom," Ursha grinned as she spied Peter heading into a restroom.

"Then we take the boy, the... oni-tiger?" Svetlana asked.

"I take him. You sit back n' chill."

"I'm authorized to eliminate threats to the league-"

"I'm taking this guy out for me, to prove I'm better than the so-called biggest threat to the league!"

Svetlana's gaze narrowed as she noticed Ursha's arm shaking. "It's rare for you to want to go after someone like him. Is he related to some influential politician or religious figure?"

"Think just some yakuza boss. But he's trying to get rid of the DESPERs. I need my DESPER in order to bring forth chaos, so he's gotta go," Ursha snarled as she leapt out and charged for Okisato.

"Come to settle this in some chess?" Okisato growled as he spun around and pulled out his WWCF card.

Ursha scowled and aimed her DESPER at him. "Yeah!"