(Untitled)

[maidenthespade]

Shhhhh. Katya knows secret and is dying to talk about it. A certain butler who shall remain Chives secret is having his 24th birthday next week, on April 16 to be exact. And Katya is determined to make day very special for him

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[quicktocut]

First she found the Queen rifling in the supply closet; now she finds her humming happily down the halls. Something is going on...

"Is My Lady having a pleasant day?"

[maidenthespade]

She looks up from her perusal of the pantry--a pantry in an oddly deserted kitchen.

"Hmmm? I am finding day very pleasant, yes. And you?"

[quicktocut]

A shrug as an answer. The day was... the day. Like any other. "I can't complain. May I ask what you're doing in the kitchen?"

[maidenthespade]

"Surprise inspection." A lie, naturally. She had run those last week. "...perhaps. Or perhaps I am thinking of desserts. Do you have favorite?"

[is_to_art]

On his way back from Town -- still dressed in the customary paint-stained jeans but otherwise looking every inch the immaculate Nine - Nico tips his head in greeting, his smile cordial if not warm. "My Lady Queen."

[maidenthespade]

"Niko! I had heard you were back! And you did come see me. I am...bereft? That is right word?"

Apparently she has been sorting an array of throwing daggers into fours.

[is_to_art]

He ducks his head. "I do apologize. I'll admit I was rather distracted by the newest addition." More specifically, how such a thing could possibly find its way onto the Deck -- he'd heard the rumours, of course, but seeing was believing.

"My congratulations on your appointment, incidentally." Belated though they may well be, he is genuine - as genuine as he is capable of being.

[maidenthespade]

"Thank you." Katya would rather have remained a Ten than have the upheaval to their Suit, but by now she has learned to say her thanks graciously.

Her smile does dim a bit at the thought of the Arcana. "It is very distracting. Also ugly. I prefer old skyline." The new castle is not ugly at all, but that does not mean Katya must like it. "Are you settling back in?"

[wiredspade]

"Milady," Meghana begins, "How are you today?"

She's in a break while cracking that second laptop, no word yet Katya.

Then the tall Ten looks around, "And what are you humming about? Is this a good hum or a bad hum?"

[maidenthespade]

"Well enough, thank you." Though one look at that second laptop is almost enough to wipe smile from her face. Almost. Katya has never been one to show her thoughts. The look she throws at Meghana, however, is wry.

"And it is good hum. I have remembered surprising thing."

[wiredspade]

She will open it. That laptop is a bitch but she's going to make it her bitch. Meghana looks a little less unpolished for a ten. Jeans, shirt, circles under her eyes. But her long black hair is still sleek and braided beautifully and there's a finished cup of tea. Chives has been here not too long ago.

"Good. I'd like not to see someone wounded on the hallway if I'm ever allowed to leave this fucking place again. What's the surprise?"

[maidenthespade]

"Do not be silly. Chives would have mess cleaned up long before you poked head from office. Speaking of, I see you are in good care of our butler. Did you know he is having birthday next week?"

There is no sense in wearing suit and heels when one is pulling all-nighter. Well, perhaps heels. They are good for grinding things underfoot.

[washtheblood]

You could not pry Eli's fascination with Chives from him if it was going to save a life, or five, or a hundred or for any other reason in the world. However you can catch his attention with your humming. Although, and maybe he's been the only one who has noticed this, as a Spade their Queen has never been a constant cut-throat bitch for lack of better words. She did, after all, go down the halls with pots and pans shouting pleasantly. So to be quite honest? This behavior is not all that odd, really.

But he is out and about and you are out and about in his general area so he will nod at your passing. "High spirits today, Your Highness?"

[maidenthespade]

Pfft. Of course she shouted pleasantly. Torturing hangover victims is fun. She nods greeting, one corner of her lips lifting into a half-smirk, half-smile.

"It must be spring weather. Soon be hitting halfway point for April. Hard to believe. And how is day finding you?"

[washtheblood]

He could not agree more on that, indefinitely. In a matching tune to her half-smirk/half-smile he will gently chime, "Must be."

"Quite well, thank you. " What with torture and so on. Hopefully being back in office so he can execute his skills that vaguely human side has. Although convincing Vince otherwise might be a fun trial. Really the more he thinks about it the more entertaining he thinks 'patching up the image' could be. Oh, the lies.

[maidenthespade]

"I am glad to be hearing it. Upcoming Monday will be even better if I am having anything to do by it."

She knows celebration will derail attention focused on Victor closeted with Elisha, to King and Queen, Ace and Jack stalking hallways and looking grim. She does not wish to use Chives so, but her position will allow no less.

[headfollowheart]

...Humming. Was slightly more common in her last Castle, and Zoe pokes her head out of Sieben's office with a raised eyebrow.

"...Your Majesty?" What is this madness.

[maidenthespade]

What? Cannot the Queen hum in her own castle? Raised brows are all Zoe has in reply for a moment. Finally, Katya relents. If she is not mistaken, Zoe might very well know her secret.

"Next Monday is the sixteenth, yes?"

[headfollowheart]

It's just that one doesn't expect Spade Castle: The Musical to materialize at any point in the near future. The question, though, has her straightening and stepping outside. "Yes, it is, Your Majesty." April Sixteenth. "An auspicious day, I think."

Almost everything can be found in files. Except Victor's birthday, apparently.

[maidenthespade]

Katya slants a smile her way. "Very auspicious. I would like to mark occasion."

Chives cared for them all, not just the Faces. A celebration would not only show their appreciation, it would reassure lower Numbers that all was well at Spade castle white at same time divert attention from the rumors about Andrea's stupdity and the Arcana.

"But it is very difficult to organize without him knowing."