[ota] to have fair kingdom...

[bitchofhearts]

Laureline was a careful planner. She kept most things to herself, as well- leaving a smaller chance of discovery to worry about. Not even her sons truly knew what was going on, though Jordan might well suspect. But the less he knew, the less likely he would be caught in the backlash should the unexpected occur

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[fiddlerjohnny]

Johnny knew who Laureline was, of course, but they didn't particularly run in the same circles. Still, when he accidentally almost bumps into her at a hallway-crossing, he will at least apologize politely. "Oh. Uh. Sorry about that, Ms. Novak."

He'd been visiting Ceiro and now that he wasn't in the King's presence, the worry's pretty obvious on his face. Maybe other people haven't noticed how far downhill he's gone because they see him more often, but Johnny was gone for a while and the friend he came back to is a pale imitation of the man he left when he'd gone off to Brazil. But what could you do if he wouldn't see a doctor?

Just hope, he supposed.

[bitchofhearts]

"Lost in your thoughts, were you?" She asked, curious as she tilted her head to the side and reached out to pat Johnny's arm gently.

Let them see her as harmless, she thought as she regarded Ceiro's close friend. Let them all become so lost in their own worries that they don't they failed to see the reality as it were.

"It is no matter. No harm was done."

[fiddlerjohnny]

"A little," he said, sheepishly with a wry smile he manages to muster up. "You...looking for somebody?"

It seemed a reasonable thing to ask, down here in the Royals' wing.

[bitchofhearts]

"I was delivering reports the king requested, on the educational development of the younger students. It seems he has something in mind to work with the Jack of Clubs on the matter of educational equality."

Which was as good a reason as any for being about in this area.

[uncutclarity]

It's relatively rare that Avery found herself in Heart Castle so late at night - but not unknown. The Ace was her best friend, after all, and she was leaving Wren's rooms in the Royal suite when she met Mrs. Novak.

It was probably telling that her first association for the woman wasn't as Jordan or Hadyn's mother but Davin's sister. "Mrs. Novak," she murmured, and inclined her head in a regal way that would have pleased both Rachel and Säde. "How are you this evening?"

[bitchofhearts]

Laureline turned and regarded Avery Hamilton with no small measure of disdain for the briefest of moments. Avery might well have been Jack of Diamonds, but holding such a high rank was not the only means by which worth was measured.

"The evening finds me well, Miss Hamilton." She said, with a slight inclination of her head. "And how does it find you?"

[uncutclarity]

The expression was mutual, though in Avery's case she held it a moment longer than Laureline did. She might have been Davin's sister, and certainly Davin was fond of her, but Avery was Hadyn's friend too. And Laureline was responsible for no small amount of Hadyn's misery.

She was the woman who couldn't be told no, after all.

"Oh, quite well, Mrs. Novak." Her smile was Diamond-bright and not the least bit sharp. But then Avery's smiles never were. "I hear Hadyn will be favoring us with the Prince of Denmark this year."Another thing Hadyn didn't particularly want, she thought.

She couldn't possibly guess who pushed that one.

[bitchofhearts]

"He is. Hamlet has long been a role he'd coveted." Though he seemed less enthusiastic about it than he would have been before this whole 'medicine' business. It was a waste of talent, if Laureline's opinion was asked.

"I do hope you'll be attending. Perhaps with one of your many gentleman friends?"