Party at Spade Castle?!!!

[maidenthespade]

Twenty-four years ago today a certain Butler breathed his first. Katya is not knowing why Declan seems obsessed with fours, but she knows the fact that it is his twenty-fourth must make it significant to him. And because it is important to Chives, it is important to her. And not just to her, she thinks as she oversees the arranging of Spade Castle

Comments

[oneirophiliac]

Wow. That is a lot of cupcakes. It's a very tempting lot of cupcakes. She's just itching to take one. "Can't snag one until birthday boy's appreciated the full spectacle, huh?"

[maidenthespade]

Katya smiles at her excitement. "Once he has had chance to appreciate display, you can dive in."

[oneirophiliac]

"Awesome." She isn't going to ruin it for him- and that means not lingering in front of the cupcakes. It had already been weird enough that morning when she got caught sneaking her gifts into his room. "Although I think he might freak at the mess we leave- unless we let him take up a broom afterwards."

[maidenthespade]

"Then we will not be leaving mess. Or, if we do, it will be very small and only enough to allow him to enjoy himself."

She would prefer he not work on this day, but that would be like telling him not to breathe.

OTA

[headfollowheart]

One doesn't really drag Victor anywhere, even when he's on crutches. Maybe especially then. But one does give him a It-is-Chives-birthday-and-I-baked-508-cupcakes look, and that seems to work to get him away from the security camera installation project for an hour or two. Or however long this is going to be. And really, she's dragged him to more heinous parties, like the assorted celebrations related to Irene Berthier's wedding.

Also, she's kind of worried she's about to induce a panic attack in their butler, and her boyfriend is a soothing presence. Don't ask how that works.

"Well, we wanted a tower of cupcakes." It's unclear whether she's talking to herself or someone nearby.

Re: OTA

[maidenthespade]

"They are...daunting. We should snap photo before locusts descend." Katya is self-appointed crowd patrol, mingling with people here to wish Declan well and reminding them--sometimes subtly and others not--that they are not to overwhelm him.

The baked goods are enough to do that, she frets. She had wanted the Four, but perhaps she has gone too far. She shoots a wry smile Zoe's way. "Thank you for overseeing this. It will be close thing--" Closer than she had wanted. "--between pleasing and dismaying him." Somehow 508 cupcakes did not sound as though they would take up quite so much room. No. Chives will weather this and in the end be pleased. She feels it.

[headfollowheart]

"It's almost as if we've armed ourselves for a pastry battle." What was the enemy of the cupcake? Handpies? Celery?

She had probably spent too many hours with cake flour. "I hope he likes it," she says quietly. "I didn't expect the pile to look quite this big, either."

[maidenthespade]

She doesn't quite conceal her brief flash of smile. "There will be no Three Stooge battles here. Declan would be killing us all." Or snap and need to be carted away in straight jacket.

The levity quickly passes. "We will keep close watch on him. I will ask the Club--Dafydd?--I will ask if he can put away refreshments. If Declan is looking too overwhelmed, we will request tea. That is good plan, yes? Routine and chance to escape at once?" She is sure Zoe has had same thought. She and Chives are close.

OTA

[takerofthings]

The usual little snags of large-scale catering had appeared: they'd run low on icing at one point and he'd needed to take a break from the assembly line to mix more up according to the recipe, the truck had needed a bit of maintenance before it was operational and one load of cupcakes nearly got sent down on carts to Town before they'd realized it was Spade Castle after all.

But getting through those had just been a matter of routine and now Dafydd's whisking around the tables, making sure it isn't too warm for the icing, nothing's smeared, no crumbs on the table, not to mention ensuring the beverages are in place. He doesn't realize it, but Chives would approve wholeheartedly of the attention paid to Presentation. He's only here to fade into the background today, as a good catering manager should, whether or not it will work.

[maidenthespade]

Katya spots him lurking in background. Julien's old sword prodigy. What was his name? Daniel? David? No. Welsh. Ah, Dafydd, then.

"I understand you are one of three I must thank for making this possible."

[takerofthings]

Dafydd looks up and straightens immediately at seeing the Queen of Spades. "Milady," he greets her with an appropriate dip of his head. "Cooper Thane is the head chef of the Hearts, but he allowed me to take the lead on this, even in his kitchen. I was a pastry chef on the Outside."

[maidenthespade]

"Your hard work has not gone unnoticed. Thank you." Katya's voice drops a little. "And so I dislike asking more of you. It is odd request, I know, but I would like you to remove the coffee and tea. Other refreshments may remain."

She cannot offer Chives that escape if the items are already here.

OTA

[piquedbutler]

Well. Well.

He'll just be counting cupcakes, then.

Because Declán Chives has absolutely No Idea what to do with this--with any or all of this. The walk back to the Castle from handling the Dust Issues at Ethan's new residence had been oddly Foreboding. Coming back into the shadow of the stone walls had brought a more distinct scattering of Twos than usual. It's a matter of reading the natural Environment--the Twos know that their Five is going to be beyond the Norm when he makes his way properly into the Castle and finds 508 Cupcakes and even the slightest evidence of a Gathering in his name.

So it anyone needs the birthday boy, he'll be... well. Staring at the pile of cupcakes and mentally dividing them into sets of Four. That will help.

[maidenthespade]

Tonight is his night, and after the morning, Katya decided it is best if she is near. If it grows to be too much, she will find reason to take him away.

For now she watches his face for telltale signals, hoping his quick survey and calculation of the numbers will soothe him. She does not wish him happy birthday again. She acts--as will everyone she hopes--as if it is being perfectly normal to have tables full of cupcakes on display at Spade Castle.

Declan, for this one day, please accept the Offering of Appreciation from those who Care.

[piquedbutler]

Oh, it won't be a Quick survey or calculation. It will be Through. It will involve Recounting. It will keep his grip on his own fingers behind his back from gripping themselves too tightly. 508 is quite a number. He can mince it a million different ways.

And it will only be once he's minced them at least half a million ways that his head will crack to a Sharp Angle and his attention will snap to his Queen.

"...why?"

No inflection. No title. Just the Pressing Question.

[maidenthespade]

It is quick when compared to her own countings. And while Chives counts, Katya maintains close watch on those gripping fingers, the set to his shoulders, to inhalations and exhalations.

She moves closer. It had been her plan, and she will accept responsibility. "Because you are Important to so many and it is special day for you. It is a way to show we care."

[sevenbyright]

He's late. He's late, and it's because of Avery's suggestion that he involve Tamsin in his decorating plans. Sieben can't fault her for it, however, as it's resulted in the first real conversation he's had with his new assistant that had gone beyond squeaked monosyllables. Tamsin has an eye for color and a taste for subdued elegance, though a rather unfortunate liking for overly elaborate marquetry tables, but regardless, they'd become involved in a discussion of lighting fixtures and dark-stained walnut cabinetry and both had lost track of time.

Now Sieben's pausing outside the hall to ensure there are no misplaced wrinkles in the charcoal suit, no off-center seams, tie straight as an arrow, not a hair out of place. It's the least he can do to make up for his tardiness.

[piquedbutler]

He can also intercept the butler in a moment of being unnaturally frazzled. The Powers That Be have given Chives leave to run back and forth to the kitchen, which is helping a good deal, but there's something slightly Off about the state he's in. The opposite of their Old Game, perhaps--Sieben properly Immaculate, Chives looking like there's a single solitary hair out of place.

The bow as he slips again out into the hall to head toward the kitchen is rushed.

"Milord Jack."

[sevenbyright]

"Chives," Sieben answers, and there's just enough of an inquiring lift at the end of the sentence. He's never seen the butler this flustered. There's something oddly wrong with it. That won't do.

He takes a step to the side, out of the traffic pattern though there's no one in sight at the moment, and reaches out again. The tie doesn't need fixing, just smoothing, and Sieben uses the tips of his fingers to ease a few hairs back into place. "Happy twenty-fourth," he says quietly, picking the number and not the occasion. Perhaps it will help, if something is amiss.

[piquedbutler]

There's been Too Much Attention today. There have been Too Many Eyes and Too Many Words and he's never actually learned how to Handle this. Being thrown aside? Yes. Being treated as nothing? Of course. Being gently used by the few particularly lovely Spades he considered his Favourites? Entirely. Having what felt like the entire Castle grinning at him and wishing him a pleasant anniversary of birth? 508 cupcakes angled in his direction?

No idea. Well, no idea beyond counting in absolute silence behind a politely appreciative expression and hoping that he'd make it to the seventeenth without snapping one of his own fingers accidentally.

He's counting now, of course, as Sieben steps to the side and reaches out to smooth things down into place again. Twice in one day he's needed Adjusting. Twice in one day, the Jack has rising to the challenge with silent, self-possessed movements. Despite the fact that it's only piling onto the heinous amount of Human Contact he's had all day, it brings a touch of relief to Chives' shoulders. "...