[ota] Rhymes and rhythms

[is_to_art]

Back from his trip to Krabi - which was as bewildering as it was relaxing - Nicholas is, nonetheless, back in his office, keeping his usual hours.

He has also begun to frequent the training grounds more; today, rather than kendō, it's knives. Tossing them one, after another, at a set of targets with an impressive amount of accuracy.

Comments

[rough_karat]

Don't mind if he smokes, d'you Rhodes? Of course you don't. Who else smokes like a chimney and won't dare say a word about it?

"So, I see we're following stereotypes of the Sharp Suits again."

And he makes a note, fencing tomorrow. Rumor has it a Six is looking at him.

[is_to_art]

If he did mind, would it really matter? No, of course not.

Still, he pauses, sliding a look in Vasiliy's direction: "Somehow I suspect this isn't a commentary on my spectacular aim."

[rough_karat]

Nope, it's so nice that someone just gives as much of a shit about 'manners' as he does and knows just to roll with it. Refreshing. He'd share his smokes but there was some muttering last time Nicky bummed one off of him.

"Suspicious. I make a remark on practicing the Sharp Suits' Deckal past time and you're getting suspicious. Ah, Niko, Niko, you make me sad." Of course he waits for Nicholas to comment that Vasya didn't say yes or no.

[is_to_art]

"It's part of the job, to never take things at face value."

Though, really, Vasiliy was excellent at being honest to the point of transparency while also managing to rarely give things away.

"So, to what do I owe the honour of this particular visit? You're not finally deciding to jump Suits, surely?" He'd never give them the satisfaction.

[rough_karat]

"So you're psycholazing me for free? Such a good man you are."

Smoke curls around him as he picks up one of the knives. There aren't many high ranking Sharps who aren't good with knives. Vasiliy is one of those who are 'good' with knives but 'mundane' with his former peer group.

And that gift of honesty while saying nothing has always been a blessing.

"Of course not. I have the luxury of a New Queen who is not new at all. I don't have to hold my tongue about this individual ambition thing." Crisis was over, back to normal until the next crisis. He swung pretty good with change. "Besides, I could never be a Spade. I know too much."

He considers for a moment, "Grapevine is talking about you, you know."

[is_to_art]

"I believe we stopped coming for people in the night sometime during the last decade or so." Or rather it was a lot less obviously public, which amounted to the same thing more or less.

Besides, it wasn't as if the Diamonds were entirely without blood on their hands.

"If this is about that damned rag -- " He is not, nor will he ever, become involved with the King of Diamonds.

[rough_karat]

"Bullshit. You're just finding bloodless ways of doing it." He tests the knife's weight before hefting it at the target. Not quite a bullseye but good enough that it could be a bullseye in a matter of months.

Back in the old days, Rhodes. Back when they were sharper than sparkling.

"Why, no. Silas is a big strapping man of over 40. He should be wise enough to know what he's doing getting involved with you." He takes a drag of smoke. "Rumor has become all but fact you're playing patty cake with... how old is she? 19?" He knows Lasandra's age. 25 in less than 2 months.

[is_to_art]

"She's twenty four," he corrects, unconcerned. The truth is this has probably been coming for some time now, though it would be Vasiliy that did it. "Twenty five in November."

Not that this really makes it much better, he supposes. "Just out of curiosity, did you have this same conversation with Victor Fox when he started things with Zoë Kattalakis?"

And if so, why hadn't he been invited? Honestly, what he would not have given to be a fly on that wall.

[rough_karat]

"So you do know how to count." From what he's heard, no one has. God knows why it hasn't with a couple of the dirty old men of the Spades. "Hope you get her a lovely birthday gift."

He pulls a drag and shakes his head, smoke from nose and lips, "I didn't even know Ms. Kattalakis on any level until recently and that's professional. I like Sandy, she's a good kid."

No doubt Zoë was t a good kid too, and yeah, he might of had words with Victor if he was friends with Zoë. Probably would of had words with other gentlemen too if he had known, too.

Sorry, Niko, you're just gonna be the victim.

[is_to_art]

Story of his life, honestly.

"Given the rather long line of people lying in wait for me to so much as breathe on her in a way that could be construed as threatening, I don't think you have much cause for concern."

[rough_karat]

"Yeah, well, here's where I'm different, tovarishch," And he does mean it, 'friend', 'comrade', he doesn't use that term so much. Family still stuck in Imperial Russian mind set, after all. Nicholas is a friend, "I don't think you'll purposely hurt her. You're not like that despite what rumors like to float around."

He eyes another knife, "But answer me this: how much does she know? How much can you accidentally hurt someone, anyone, really? The challenge is to name five High Tier members that don't have an issue floating around 'em. And then name two that's a Diamond or a Spade."

Vasiliy can't say he knows exactly what Niko's issue is. But there's something. Four years difference, but they shared a few ranks for a while there.

[is_to_art]

"We're all entitled to our eccentricities."

Which, again, is evasion at best. He's well aware, however, that there is no way for him to really be sure that he won't do something to hurt her - intentional or otherwise. One of the down sides to his "issue".

"However." He pauses. "I certainly intend to do my best to be mindful."

[rough_karat]

"We are. Nice to let people know about them."

He feels a ping of glee and he knows he shouldn't, but he likes it when he makes people feel uncomfortable. Man, that's got to be something, right Mind Doctor? Of course, Vasya thinks the best way to 'help' her doc, is to tell her.

"Of course, you got what? The whole Molyneux family on your ass, the Jack of Clubs, and I'm sure some unhappy Aces and rising Spades."

Pause. "I'm only saying this because I like both of you. I hate to see this end in a mess that neither of you recover from."

[is_to_art]

Come now, Vasiliy, surely you've figured out by now that his greatest sin is probably apathy - not that he wasn't capable enough should the need ever arise.

His storied Challenge record was evidence of just how vindictive he could be.

Still, if nothing else he can recognize the importance of this conversation. It is, at times, difficult to remember that awareness and an ability to self-check is not always an adequate substitute for the real thing. He is getting better, though. With her. But like all good things it takes time.

"With any luck it will not come to that."

[rough_karat]

"Massive amounts of luck, Niko. Be a grown up and I think it might be okay. Who knows? Now excuse me, I gotta go consider the drudgery of everyone being excited over a change that amounts to nothing."

The likely picked among the Diamonds have been picked. Nothing that would spark change. Just... the same. Except the King the Diamonds got? He's pushing limits with Vasya.

"You keep your nose clean, eh, doc?"