[ota] my crown is on my head, not in my heart

[ishineon]

Well. She can't say she wasn't half-expecting this, but she certainly wasn't expecting how it would go. She'd sought out Silas with some questions- small, important, needing only the approval of the King or Queen. Instead he'd set a small stack of paperwork in her hands and left without a word.

The first sheet is titled: Ascension to Position of

Comments

[cipherspeak]

Elisha's message to the new Queen of Diamonds is not quite as prompt as Eileen's. But it arrives shortly after the message from Diamond Castle does, and says nearly the same thing. An audience with the Queen. Silas has made a wise choice, though he didn't doubt that he would. They hadn't spoken of it at brunch Sunday, but he'd known that it was weighing heavily on the Diamond King's mind.

Like many other things just now.

[ishineon]

This audience will be a little more formal than Eileen's. Elisha was better prepared to take his throne, she thinks, but then, Elisha had wanted the throne. Had planned for it.

Well, neither of them were the first to ascend in their ways.

"Good day to you, King Elisha."

[cipherspeak]

His way had been better for the Suit. The Clubs wouldn't have been able to take the loss of another King well, even less than fatally and even with as unpopular as Alexander had been.

And he'd been doing much of the work of a Royal for some time, certainly.

"Good day, Queen Säde. I'm sorry your new title has come to you under these circumstances."

[ishineon]

"There have been worse ways to become Queen. We are all thankful Rachel remains among us, both spiritually here and physically Outside." It worries at her, whether Rachel will heal, but the Suit comes first, always.

[cipherspeak]

"We all are, I think." Which is very much true. Rachel is an admirable woman, loyal to her Suit, loyal to her friends, mentally strong - even if Elisha suspects she has depression. "I apologize for bringing business to you so quickly, but Argine and I have finally decided on an ambassador to your Suit."

Part of the delay, of course, was that Argine had fallen ill again. Soon, when business slowed, he was going to need to take her aside to speak about it.

[ishineon]

That, at least, is a small form of relief. "That's good to hear. They know of their appointment already? I'll have the Twos get their space ready."

[cipherspeak]

"I've spoken to them already, yes." The plural rolls off his tongue easily, but then, he's known Kir a long time. "Kir Sargeant, Five of Clubs. I think he and Lindsey were close."

[ishineon]

There's a thoughtful pause as she thinks over the name, and then she nods. "Yes, they were. Kir spent Lindsey's last days with him; I think that made his passing either. A fine choice."

[cipherspeak]

"I know Kir hopes they did," Elisha says. "They should be here next week to present themselves."

[ishineon]

"I shall look forward to that, then. May I ask about your other ambassadors?"

[cipherspeak]

"I've sent Drew Montgomery to the Spades." It was, of course, at Monty's request, because Monty is even more of a troll than Elisha. "And Caoilinn Kennedy to the Hearts. Another Five, and a Four."

He pauses. "And you've sent Avery Hamilton and Danielle Tung, I believe?"

[ishineon]

"Hamilton to Spades, Tung to Hearts. How does Mac Mathghamhna suit you? He's been all right so far?" The Six is not the most assertive of Diamonds, but he has enough connections with the Clubs that his appointment had seemed right.

[cipherspeak]

Other than than the complete unpronounceability of his name for much of the Suit - though Elisha has enough experience of Asian languages to manage it well - he's been well, and Elisha nods. "He's a quiet sort, but that works with my Suit well enough. And his cousins are glad to see more of him."

[ishineon]

"That's good- I'd worried he might be a little too docile. We hoped he would prove himself with this appointment."

She drums her fingers a little, picking her next words delicately. "Argine is... well, I presume?"

[cipherspeak]

Argine is hardly ever well, as Elisha is sure Säde knows. And that, of course, is the problem he's been dealing with, in part, since he became a Ten.

But all of that stays behind a calm facade. "A little under the weather of late, I'm afraid."

[ishineon]

"How unfortunate." But not unexpected. Sometimes she wonders when a female Ten of Clubs will take pity on the woman and challenge her- or when Argine herself will admit her inability to continue to rule. "Well, I hope you'll give her my best wishes."