[OTA] Diamond Sharp

[uncutclarity]

The Diamonds focus more on intellectual challenges. You're more likely to see chess than a MMA challenge from Diamonds rising through the ranks. Poker before sword-fighting. Debate before boxing. But Avery's usually been an outlier that way. She had her fair share of non-violent challenging - baking, singing, mah jong - but largely she's risen in

Comments

[aceofsorts]

An order of business with the Diamond armoury is what has him on their grounds. An interest in the weapons themselves (and an appreciation for fine bladework) has him taking the route that will take him by the training grounds back to Spade Castle. And he sees a usually-bubbly, Zombie-Club-approving Jack of Diamonds looking rather liney in the face. He puts an elbow to the fence surrounding the practise area, has the good grace to wait until the end of her latest round to speak up.

"Is this the sort of training that's meant to improve someone else's skills, or improve your mood?"

[uncutclarity]

"It can't do both?" Avery returns. She's still sparring, of course, but her partner's a Six that needs serious work, and the sparring match will be over...

Well, now, apparently, and she sighs as the man hits the ground. "Work on your blocking with Christina," she orders, before turning to Olly.

"Some stress relief is all," she says. "It was that or massacre the paperwork, and I don't think Rachel would approve."

[aceofsorts]

He'd just been curious as to her primary motive. It would appear that his latter guess had been correct. Idly, he watches Christina clamber to his feet and drag himself off.

"I thought things were just starting to look up for the Diamonds." Unless, of course, it wasn't a Suit concern. But perish the very thought. Oliver simply looks at her innocently.

[uncutclarity]

"Things are fine with the Diamonds." You know, other than Säde's relentless picking at Avery for behavior she considers unbecoming to a Diamond Face Card - and that she one, exaggerates and two, is the only person bothered by. She raises an eyebrow at Oliver. "And no, nothing with my personal life either. You know I prefer to keep that kind of thing uncomplicated."

[aceofsorts]

"Prefer to, sure. Doesn't everyone?" Not that he sounds like he doesn't believe her. Generally, he regards Avery as an honest person. And if she isn't telling the truth and her personal life has recently gone to shit, well, what's he meant to do about it?

"Not work, not personal. That leaves... someone generally irritating you, or a womanly hormonal outburst." He teases, don't hit him.

[uncutclarity]

"It's not the right time of the month for the latter." And that's Avery for you, never one to get offended at a feminine health joke. She shrugs, though.

She and Oliver are friends enough that she can probably bitch without it getting back to Säde, because that's just another headache in the making. "Well, you know how it goes. Another day, another discussion about my inferiority as Jack of Diamonds."

[aceofsorts]

He raises an eyebrow. Inferiority as Jack of Diamonds. All right, he isn't involved in the rank specifically (nor... anywhere near), but he knows how that one goes.

"Yeah? You get used to it eventually. Or break some thumbs. Whatever." He tips his head. "Someone else's opinion doesn't actually bother you, does it?"

[uncutclarity]

It's pretty much the same story, different title, really. Except the one tooting the inferiority horn in this case is the oh-so-flawless Ace of Diamonds. It's making her job a bit...difficult at this point.

"I'll get right on breaking Säde's thumbs. I'm sure Silas and Rachel will be thrilled." She breathes out. "Not normally. But how long is it going to be before her opinion spreads?" And then that'll be a mess. It's difficult enough to do her job sometimes as it is.

[aceofsorts]

"I don't know. Your peons are all fond of you, aren't they?" Säde's been a Face Card for a long time. Her opinion, particularly among Diamonds, is highly valued. Oliver is aware of this. He can understand how it can be more than just grating.

However.

"If a so-called 'superior' candidate wants to be Jack, he or she can fucking well challenge you for it, and everyone knows it. Her point is moot. Anyone with half a brain will be able to see it: move on."

[uncutclarity]

"They are." In some cases more fond of her than of Säde or Rachel - but then, as Olly's pointed out, they've been Face Cards a long time. Avery hasn't. Avery was one of them not that long ago. But Säde has been a Face Card a long time, and her opinion carries a lot of weight.

With, say, Rachel.

"Her brain is frozen on this particular point." This is the point that makes her want to stab things. "The point named Hector, specifically."

[aceofsorts]

"Whether her brain is frozen on that point or not, I'm fairly sure most people can see beyond that," Oliver says with a half-shrug, eyes tracking another pair of Diamonds on the field, mind already pinpointing weaknesses in stance and form. She can probably see it clicking behind his eyes. "Jack is a challengeable position. If Hector's still crying over his boo-boo'd shoulder-- or whatever it is-- it sucks to be him. But it still stands that he's doing nothing, and you're going nowhere. Don't listen to a thing."

Olly can be good at cheering people up, in that if you're really hating someone right now, he's hardly going to leap to their defence.

[uncutclarity]

See, and Avery appreciates that. Säde is an excellent Ace of Diamonds; she once would have said the perfect Ace of Diamonds, but she's too close now not to see it can be otherwise. The last think she wants to hear right now is how good she is.

"I think so." And then she shakes her head. "No, I know the Diamonds think well of me. So does Silas, and Rachel always has." The Queen had been her mentor, after all, almost from the moment she became a Diamond. "Säde is my only problem, and I suppose I should be glad it's just her."

[aceofsorts]

Oliver isn't about to go on about how good anyone is.

"Uh, yeah, having one person in your Suit have a problem with you in a professional capacity is pretty good going. Even if it is the Ace." The conversation is interrupted briefly as he gives a sharp whistle to catch the attention of one of the trainee Diamonds, who had just stuck the point of their sword into the grass as they stood by for a break, wiping sweat from their brow. Seriously, even training blades shouldn't be treated that way. He points at the blade and idly flicks his finger upwards before turning back to Avery. (He's a busybody like that.)

"I guess from here you either go about proving your worth, or go about proving the lack of fucks you give."

[uncutclarity]

Her lips will twitch up. "You and Cadogan would make a terrifying but excellent team," she says dryly. The Diamond armory is Cadogan's baby, lovingly maintained and developed like a fleet of particularly shiny Welsh children.

"I know. That's why I'm here, terrorizing the training, instead of doing something, I don't know, dramatic." As Diamonds go, Avery really doesn't go in for that sort of thing, and she only fantasizes about telling Rachel directly after a...discussion with Säde. It's more trouble than it's worth.

"I'm a good Jack. I manage all my work, plus the slack from our lack of Tens, and I don't complain about." Nor does she ever let any stress show. "If that's not good enough, Säde can fuck herself."

[aceofsorts]

"I shouldn't think so," he murmurs as he watches the Diamond pluck the sword from the ground; "I don't play well with others."

It's one of the things Olly's always liked-- well, not disliked, at least-- about Avery. No drama. Drama pisses him off no end. It's like people have a constant need to get bogged down in emotion over every little shitty thing that happens in their lives. Move the fuck on.

"Exactly. Keep that in mind and stop harrassing your Sevens on the field." Although his lips quirk up at one edge. "Feel free to keep beating the Sixes, though. Excellent stress relief."

[uncutclarity]

"You might be surprised in this case." Cadogan had a strange and wonderful ability to play well with absolutely everyone. The things he tolerated from their Ace alone.

She would have stabbed Säde by now.

"What about the Nines?" She nods at one that's...well, let's just say that he should put down the sword for the continued well-being of all mankind. "I'm not entirely sure his sword technique doesn't come out of The Three Musketeers. The Disney one."