Line #27 Fanfic/YouWaitAndYouWonderWhoWillTakeOnYourOdds


1	[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/29410344?view_full_work=true ''you wait and you wonder who'll take on your odds'']] is a ''Series/TheQueensGambit'' fanfic by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/paperclipbitch/pseuds/paperclipbitch paperclipbitch]], an author on Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn. The story is complete.
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3	In the wake of her victory at the 1968 Moscow Invitational, Beth takes some time away from chess to organize her life. As she tries to maintain her sobriety and re-enter the tournament scene, she finds herself plagued by endless speculation on her marital status in media coverage and fan mail. Someone suggests she get a fake husband and despite her vehement rejection of the notion, Beth is convinced by Benny that they should enter into a {{Marriage of Convenience}}. The story follows the ups and downs of their marriage with all their friends in supporting roles.
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5	----
6	!!Tropes:
7	* TenMinuteRetirement: [[spoiler: Immediately following a disastrous match, Beth retreats to Kentucky to lick her wounds.]]
8	* AFriendInNeed: Townes helps Beth [[spoiler: handle media damage control after a big disaster.]]
9	* BeachKiss: Happens at [[spoiler: Coney Island.]]
10	* BelligerentSexualTension: It is obvious to everyone that Benny and Beth have more feelings for each other than a fake marriage should necessitate and they refuse to admit it.
11	* BetaCouple: Mike (one of the twins) and [[OCs Susan]] act as the more stable foil to the main couple.
12	* BirdsOfAFeather: Beth and Benny have a lot in common in terms of chess and the way they view things.
13	* BiteOfAffection: Several hickeys are featured.
14	* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: [[spoiler: Beth thinks she has to do this at one point.]]
15	* CakeToppers: [[spoiler: The white king and queen chess pieces]] are used on the wedding cake.
16	* CareerVersusMan: The media and general public expect Beth to marry and become less career oriented. This is averted as she becomes even more career oriented post marriage. [[spoiler: By the end of the fic, she proves to herself that she can have both.]]
17	* CaretakerReversal: [[spoiler: Beth and Benny take turns in caring for the other when they are incapacitated.]]
18	* ClothingSwitch: [[spoiler: When going to a concert, Beth wears Benny’s jeans and he wears her eyeliner.]]
19	* CondescendingCompassion: Beth gets letters from Disapproving Older Ladies who worry for her well being and happiness if she remains unmarried.
20	* {{Continuation}}: Canon compliant follow up.
21	* DoubleStandard: Beth's gender and marital status make up the majority of press coverage about her when it's irrelevant for any male chess Grandmaster.
22	* DuetBonding: Carpool karaoke.
23	* EatingTheEyeCandy: There is much appreciation of each other's wardrobe and appearance.
24	* EveryoneCanSeeIt: [[spoiler: Beth's friends tell her they've noticed improvements in her demeanor and Benny's.]]
25	* ExiledToTheCouch: Subverted. [[spoiler: After a fight, Benny offers to take the couch, but Beth tells him not to be ridiculous.]]
26	* FakeRelationship: Beth and Benny stage displays of affections for the benefit of the media.
27	* FamilyOfChoice: Beth spends time with people who care about her both in Kentucky and in New York. Jolene is referred to as Beth's sister.
28	* FinishingEachOthersSentences: Beth and Benny do this in interviews, like a lot.
29	* FlashbackNightmare: Happens once near the end of the fic. [[spoiler: Beth relives the car crash from Episode 1.]]
30	* {{Foreshadowing}}
31	* ForgottenFirstMeeting: Averted. [[spoiler: Benny confesses to remembering their first meeting in Cincinnati in 1963.]]
32	* GrandRomanticGesture: [[spoiler: When Benny flies to Kentucky to bring Beth back home.]]
33	* GreenEyedMonster: Beth is upset when [[spoiler: she hears Benny with another woman and angrily wonders who he bought condoms for when she stumbles across them in his possessions.]]
34	* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler: By the end of the fic, Beth realizes she's happy in her marriage with the help of observations by others.]]
35	* HaremGenre: Subverted. The media falsely pairs Beth with every male character she is publicly seen with.
36	* HerBoyfriendsJacket: [[spoiler: Beth briefly wears Benny's hat.]]
37	* HiddenHeartOfGold: [[spoiler: Benny quietly sends Jolene African-American literary works.]]
38	* HisAndHers: Beth and Benny have [[spoiler: chess libraries that contain mostly the same books but with their own notes in the margins. They also have matching trophy collections.]]
39	* HoldingHands: This happens in several scenes.
40	* HollywoodKiss: This is done several times for the benefit of cameras.
41	* HonorableMarriageProposal: Benny proposes they get married partly to salvage Beth's reputation from all the salacious rumors pairing her with their friends.
42	* IGaveMyWord: [[spoiler: During the struggles in their relationship, Beth often thinks back to a handshake agreement between her and Benny. It fuels her resolve to not let their marriage fall apart.]]
43	* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Benny enters into a marriage of convenience with Beth [[spoiler: despite still having feelings for her.]]
44	* InconvenientAttraction: This applies to both Beth and Benny towards each other.
45	* InsatiableNewlyweds: Averted due to platonic marriage. [[spoiler: Near the end, Benny proposes a second honeymoon so they can be insatiable newlyweds.]]
46	* InterruptedIntimacy: [[spoiler: Occurs in a studio dressing room.]]
47	* ItDoesntMeanAnything: [[spoiler: Beth's reaction to acts of intimacy between her and Benny.]]
48	* ItsNotYouItsMe: [[spoiler: Beth believes herself to be incapable of romantic love.]] [[spoiler: leading to her considering divorce at the end.]]
49	* KissKissSlap: Make out session leads into an argument.
50	* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: Based on the way they bicker and know each other.
51	* LongDistanceRelationship: [[spoiler: Beth goes to Kentucky while Benny stays in New York after Vegas.]]
52	* LoveConfession: [[spoiler: This happens with Beth and Benny at the end of the fic when they're in Moscow.]]
53	* LoveHurts: True for both main characters.
54	* LoveInformant: [[spoiler: Two days before Beth and Benny go to Russia, Townes calls Beth and informs her that Benny loves her.]]
55	* LoveIsAWeakness: [[spoiler: Beth thinks she can't play chess well if she's in love.]]
56	* LoveRevelationEpiphany: [[spoiler: After finding out about Benny's feelings for her, Beth begins to realize her own feelings for him.]]
57	* ManipulativeBastard: Benny tells Beth [[spoiler: how he managed to purposefully psyche her out in Vegas (episode 3).]]
58	* MarriageOfConvenience: Beth is experiencing period-typical sexism after her success in Moscow and quietly struggling to maintain her sobriety. Benny has a gambling problem. He proposes a fake marriage so they can train together and manage each other’s addictions while getting good press.
59	* MatingDance: Happens several times. [[spoiler: Benny takes Beth dancing and they both get ''very'' into it.]]
60	* TheNicknamer: Played with. [[spoiler: Benny calls her pet names, claiming it's to help sell their lie but really he just likes to rile her up.]]
61	* NotGoodWithRejection: One of Beth's letter suitors confronts her in person at a chess tournament and injures her hand when she turns him down.
62	* NowWhat: Now that Beth has finally defeated Borgov, what's next for her?
63	* PlatonicKissing: Occurs on several occasions on behalf of the audience.
64	* PlatonicLifePartners: In line with marriage of convenience. They end up knowing each other better than anyone else. [[spoiler: Averted by the end.]]
65	* PowerOfTrust: When Jolene objects to Beth fake-marrying Benny, Beth reveals that [[spoiler: she trusts Benny because they think alike and want the same things.]]
66	* RecoveredAddict: Beth.
67	* RejectedMarriageProposal: Beth gets offers of marriage in letters sent to her and she disregards them.
68	* RememberThatYouTrustMe: When Townes tells Beth something, she decides what she must do by herself and keeps it a secret from Benny. [[spoiler: He figures it out anyway and is upset about the secrecy.]]
69	* RoadTripPlot: The fic features several road trips, some light hearted and some heavy.
70	* RomanticFakeRealTurn: [[spoiler: By the end of the fic, Beth and Benny get together for real.]]
71	* RudelyHangingUp: [[spoiler: Benny does this on several phone calls.]]
72	* SelfMadeWoman: Beth gets an agent and a studio contract in order to fund her career and control her publicity.
73	* {{Sequel}}: The story follows canon and acts as a follow up.
74	* SickeninglySweethearts: Applies to Mike and Susan, the Beta Couple.
75	* SleepCute: Happens a few times. [[spoiler: Beth and Benny fall asleep on each other's shoulders on planes.]]
76	* SmoochOfVictory: Happens when [[spoiler: Benny wins the Boston tournament.]]
77	* TheGamblingAddict: Benny.
78	* TheInsomniac: Beth and Benny.
79	* TheLadysFavor: [[spoiler: Beth gifts Benny some cufflinks.]]
80	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: When Benny tells Beth that [[spoiler: she broke his heart when she chose getting drunk in Kentucky over him.]]
81	* ThereIsOnlyOneBed: [[spoiler: In Vegas.]]
82	* UnableToSupportAWife: Averted. [[spoiler: Beth earns considerably more than Benny and on a steadier basis. She also saves money and prevents him from gambling his earnings away.]]
83	* UnconventionalWeddingDress: [[spoiler: Beth wears a white pantsuit instead of a dress.]]
84	* WeUsedToBeFriends: Beth and Benny at the start of the fic.
85	* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: [[spoiler: Beth has trouble realizing what being in love is like.]]
86	* WillTheyOrWontThey: The question of whether or not their marriage will become real remains unanswered until the end.
87	* WithThisRing: Averted. [[spoiler: Benny can't afford an engagement ring.]]
88	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: This applies to both Beth and Benny who are overly critical of themselves.
89	* YouAreNotAlone: When Beth is overwhelmed during an episode at her house, [[spoiler: Benny shows up and she realizes she doesn't want to stay there alone.]]
90	* YouGoGirl: In an epistolary extract, a journalist notes that Beth has proven women can play chess just as well as men. [[spoiler: Benny also tells her this in a phone call.]]

Context Fanfic / YouWaitAndYouWonderWhoWillTakeOnYourOdds