(Untitled)

[somuchheart]

It's funny, how momentous news always travels in packs. Since Ceiro's resigning, there hadn't been anything to dull her growing optimism. In the space of three days, though, she can pretty honestly say her life has changed

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[maskofhearts]

He wasn't up to speed on what went on in the Castle. Truth be told, he wasn't even aware that Wren was gone. He, after all, had been looking for a place to 'live' in town, and mostly spending his nights in bed with a Club. Minor note being that it was the King of Clubs.

Still, a few of the Clubs had started to ask him when he was just going to move in- and not necessarily in the nicest of tones.

It left him in that awkward position, really, of having to force himself to actually spend time away from Elisha- someone he was increasingly trying to spend as much time around. And how in the world could people begrudge them their feelings? So stupid, he thought as he shook his head and knocked on Blythe's door before letting himself in.

"I just want to know- what does a guy gotta do to prove he isn't going to run--- What's wrong?"

[somuchheart]

"Oh god." It's really not the time. Nevertheless, she tries to compose herself quickly, taking a deep breath, then claspsing her hands together tightly as she gets to her feet. "I'm-- so sorry, um, it's nothing. I don't--" Another deep breath. She closes her eyes, covers her face with her hands again, then looks up at him. Her voice only trembles slightly as she asks, "Do you need anything?

[maskofhearts]

"Not really," which was true. He'd just wanted to complain about Clubs and crazy assumptions that...honestly were probably not that crazy. He'd been giving a suit change serious thought, lately. It was difficult to say why without sounding ungrateful to his friends, too. So it was easier to complain that people were reading too much into things.

"....You're still a terrible liar you know." He said, awkwardly caught between just leaving her alone and trying to make her at least stop crying. "Do you need anything?"

[somuchheart]

"No." No, she doesn't. She's very, very distraught, but he can't help that. She doubts that she could even help herself at this point. Beside taking deep breaths. In and out. "No, I don't need anything."

At least she's not crying. Only pale and on the verge of tears. Shaken enough to blurt out, "I'm Ace of Hearts."

And another Novak.

[heartsthespades]

The problem with Castles is they have thick walls and not-so-thick doors. Of course, Jordan heard...and he's not really as hurt by it as he might have expected to be, really. Maybe because Ace was always supposed to be Hadyn's, or maybe just because he knew neither Wren nor Judith would ever choose him for it.

In any case, it's what it is. There's no changing it, and Blythe is a really good choice, actually. But Jordan's congratulations die on his lips as he pauses outside the door. He can hear the sound inside, after all, and he knocks quietly before pushing it open. Not quite the reaction he expected, but he moves over to the desk.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

/o/ ♥

[somuchheart]

Blythe jumps as he enters, tucking her hair over one shoulder nervously. "I-- it's... it's nothing. That- that is, I'm so sorry." Because they had bitched together that night about Athena being chosen for Jack and maybe Blythe is actually more inadequate than she thinks and he's such a good Ten and would be so much better in this position as her.

\o/

[heartsthespades]

"About Ace?" He raises his eyebrows, and smiles a little bit. "Well, you know Judith wouldn't really pick me, Blythe. And," he shrugs. "I don't really want to be Ace." He wants to be King, but Ceiro's...probably right that he's not ready, really.

"You'll be a good Ace, Tiny," he tells her, sitting on the edge of her desk. "I'm sorry Wren had to go, and she'll be missed, but if someone else has to be Ace, I'm glad it's you."

[somuchheart]

Her breath hitches as she tries to speak, much too quickly- "I'm an Outsider and I'm young and I've made so many mistakes and I've only been here four years. How-- how does that make me qualified in- in any way?"

[headfollowheart]

News travels fast. And even during weeks like this - how many times does a building fall on the same day you request and get permission to challenge in something you aren't the most confident in, anyway? - Zoe's going to make time to go over to Heart Castle.

This isn't...exactly the scene she was expecting. Although maybe she should have been, considering their conversation earlier that week in the lingerie boutique. Blythe had wanted to be Ace once, but she'd been satisfied with Ten. And Zoe knows there are some things you can't say no to. You can't say no when the Queen of Hearts asks you to be your Ace.

She only hesitates a second before she comes in, sinks down in one of Blythe's chairs. "Hey."

[somuchheart]

Blythe looks up as she enters, biting her lip hard as Zoe walks in. She's sort of gotten used to the lump in her throat that's been in her throat for at least a couple hours now. As long as she doesn't actually break down into tears, she'll be alright. Or something.

"Zoe." Her voice shakes too much on the simple word, and she gets out of her chair to lean against her desk, nearer to the other woman. There's a long pause, and Blythe finally says in a low voice, blinking determinedly, "Isaac might be-- Isaac's dying."

[headfollowheart]

"...Oh," Zoe breathes out. And that's it for a moment, though suddenly some things make sense. Why Chives was so strange last week, why Urania's been like a ghost.

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. Do you know...know what it is?"

[somuchheart]

Blythe swallows, crossing her arms tightly and looking away. "They think it's... a glioma. Brain tumor. That's what- what all the headaches were. So... he's Outside now. With a specialist." It surprises her that she manages to get out the words, choked as they are.

[threecardmonty]

He'd managed to free up his afternoon. Normally, that meant he'd be nosing 'round the embassy, but seeing as how that wasn't possible no more and he didn't feel like ending his day with Spades, Monty decided it would be a good time to pay a surprise call on Blythe and talk her into playing hooky for the rest of the day.

He raps on her office door, but walks right in. He's pretty sure of her schedule and doesn't think she'd have visitors. Even if she did, he'd think up a likely excuse for barging in on her.

"Hey, Little Bit, what say you'n I--" He clamps his lips closed on the rest of the sentence, takes one look at her face, and closes the gap between them in two short strides. "Here, put your head down," he murmurs softly, draping an arm across her shoulders and gently applying pressure to encourage her to do just that. "Slow breaths."

[somuchheart]

She doesn't listen to him, blindly getting to her feet and clinging to him, burying her face in his chest. She does try to slow her breaths down, though, and he'll be able to hear as her jerky, panicked breathing starts to smooth down. "I- I'm so sorry--" she starts, but she doesn't pull away from him.

Why no hugging icons? Why?

[threecardmonty]

He should have expected the armful of Blythe. To Monty's credit, he only oomphs a little before wrapping her in strong, warm arms. The hand around her waist rubs soothing circles along her shoulders. The other buries itself in her hair and holds her close.

"Shhh. Don't apologize. You do what you need to do." He's afraid to ask. Had Ceiro succumbed after all? Blythe's always felt things strongly, but she's good at holding herself together. He drops kisses on top of her head, genuinely concerned.

Having appropriate icons isn't the point. :|

[somuchheart]

The words spill at this point, frantic and nervous and needing him to listen. "Isaac's dying and I can't go see him because-- I've- I've been promoted to Ace of Hearts, Monty." Her fingers clutch tighter for a couple moments - then they flatten carefully, as she takes a tiny half-step back from him.

[dj_shuffle]

Teddy's bustling past with an armload of papers for his mother when he hears her. Now, DJ Shuffle may be a heartless ass, but there's something in him that can't stand to see women crying (or worse, holding back tears). We'll blame his mother and save the Freud for later.

For now, there's a soft, uncertain knock on her door.

"Um..."

[somuchheart]

By now, she's calmed down enough that her breath only hitches occasionally. After another long inhale, she speaks in a tremulous, yet determined voice. "Come in? Do you... need anything?"

[dj_shuffle]

"No, no, no. You look like absolute shit, and I'm a Two. What the fuck do you need?" He hasn't heard of her new Rank, but these comments would apply to a Ten--hell, they'd apply to a Three.

Of course, once he realizes how vulgar (how like Shuffle rather than Teodoro) that came out, he blushes and looks at his feet.

[somuchheart]

"... Teddy, right?" She hesitates, then shakes her head. "I'm sorry, but I don't need anything right now. It's just been... a really overwhelming day." She adds on wryly, "Though thanks for reminding me that I should probably go wash my face and brush my hair."