"Let's say black," Natasha says, raising her brows. Letting him lead gives him the advantage of setting the tone of their game, but it will also better allow her to get a sense of his playing style—to see how he opens a game, given the choice.

While in some ways this visit is a distraction for herself, that doesn't mean she's not actually interested. Joscelin has had centuries to develop his strategy, likely remembers styles of play Natasha has rarely been exposed to. She's looking forward to what she might be able to learn from the challenge.