[OTA] Diamond Sharp

[uncutclarity]

The Diamonds focus more on intellectual challenges. You're more likely to see chess than a MMA challenge from Diamonds rising through the ranks. Poker before sword-fighting. Debate before boxing. But Avery's usually been an outlier that way. She had her fair share of non-violent challenging - baking, singing, mah jong - but largely she's risen in

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[so_complicit]

Davin is there mostly due to some business arrangements he was making with a fellow Eight, though of Diamonds. As he's leaving, though, he's passing by the Diamond training fields on his way back to Spade Castle and his steps will slow as he realizes Avery is out there as well.

And, well, he's curious enough to pause in his walk and watch, if perhaps a bit critically.

[uncutclarity]

The Nine she's sparring with has a somewhat conventional fighting style, and it's most of what has Avery frowning - though, the wedding aside, it's shaping up to be one of those weeks that make her want to curse human resources to the heavens. "If you're really planning to challenge one of the Tens," and that's the word, and why Avery's sought this particular Nine out for practice, "you need to stop relying entirely on competitive fencing rules and forms."

She steps back and is about to tell Kylie to try again, but then she sees Davin, and waves a watching Eight in her stead before walking over, pushing slightly damp blonde hair out of her eyes. "Come looking for me, darling?" she says. Still with the usual impish grin, though her eyes still have steel in them from the sparring match.

[so_complicit]

"Not specifically," he waved back at the Castle, "there was business to attend to, I'm afraid. But," and maybe its her imagination or maybe he's looking her up and down in a way that has nothing to do with checking out her sparring form, "I'm not at all disappointed to find you anyway, my dear."

[uncutclarity]

She'd gotten that look before, of course, just...not very much from Davin. He usually had that cordial if flirtatious mask firmly in place, after all, and that expression has an eyebrow climbing momentarily before her lips quirk up further at the corners into an even brighter smile. "I think I'd be hurt if I ever proved a disappointing surprise," she said as she hung the sabre on one of the racks at the edge of the field. It wasn't her own personal one, since her decision to blow off some steam had been something spur of the moment.

"I'd have to reexamine my entire existence, and that seems like it might be generally tedious."

[aceofsorts]

An order of business with the Diamond armoury is what has him on their grounds. An interest in the weapons themselves (and an appreciation for fine bladework) has him taking the route that will take him by the training grounds back to Spade Castle. And he sees a usually-bubbly, Zombie-Club-approving Jack of Diamonds looking rather liney in the face. He puts an elbow to the fence surrounding the practise area, has the good grace to wait until the end of her latest round to speak up.

"Is this the sort of training that's meant to improve someone else's skills, or improve your mood?"

[uncutclarity]

"It can't do both?" Avery returns. She's still sparring, of course, but her partner's a Six that needs serious work, and the sparring match will be over...

Well, now, apparently, and she sighs as the man hits the ground. "Work on your blocking with Christina," she orders, before turning to Olly.

"Some stress relief is all," she says. "It was that or massacre the paperwork, and I don't think Rachel would approve."

[aceofsorts]

He'd just been curious as to her primary motive. It would appear that his latter guess had been correct. Idly, he watches Christina clamber to his feet and drag himself off.

"I thought things were just starting to look up for the Diamonds." Unless, of course, it wasn't a Suit concern. But perish the very thought. Oliver simply looks at her innocently.

[uncutclarity]

"Things are fine with the Diamonds." You know, other than Säde's relentless picking at Avery for behavior she considers unbecoming to a Diamond Face Card - and that she one, exaggerates and two, is the only person bothered by. She raises an eyebrow at Oliver. "And no, nothing with my personal life either. You know I prefer to keep that kind of thing uncomplicated."

[bitchwithabite]

She really didn't think poorly of most of her assignments. She didn't. It's just that she usually despised running all over the Deck to deliver things. With a sigh, she followed about four different people's instructions to find Avery finally out on the practice fields -- not in the Jack's office, not in the kitchens, not with the King, but on the practice fields. Fine.

All she knew about the folder in her hands was that it needed to be taken to Avery. She hadn't been told what it was, as usual, but there was a small box in her hands. She waited for the other woman to put her sword down and break away from the pack before approaching.

"Lady Jack, I've been sent to give this to you." Please take it so she could go.

[uncutclarity]

Avery hangs her sabre on the rack, giving Amy a considering look. She knows her, of course; they're only a year apart, and Ethan had been one of her friends before he started being sent off-Deck more and more often. And then, of course, he'd left for good. It hadn't been that much of a surprise once she thought about it; if you were gone a lot, home became less home eventually.

But she doesn't say any of that, of course. "Thank you, Amy," is what she says as she took the box and opened it. The contents have her lifting her brows - but at least it isn't a signal of more serious problems at the outposts; just a key and directions to the house where the envoy meeting will be held.

"Would you mind taking a message back? To Victor, not Julien."

[bitchwithabite]

"I'm here to do anything that furthers my suit, milady," she said calmly, but there was just the slightest of furrows between her eyebrows. She'd blame it on the light, if asked, but it was really just because titles rather than names being used in any sense other than mocking was still...really rough for her, actually. She'd been doing a good job of it, but it was still annoying to remind herself on a regular basis that she was the lowest of the low. "If there's anything I can do to streamline communications and heighten functionality, I'll do it gladly." And Julien would deal with the lack of haste because he'd sent her on this errand in the first place.

[uncutclarity]

"Avery is fine." The Diamonds were a formal Suit - the formal Suit, really, with a deep and abiding love for protocols and titles, but Avery had always been a relatively unusual Diamond that way. And sometimes she liked remembering her name was not actually Lady Jack.

"Tell Victor that Diana will be the Diamond involved with the event we discussed earlier, and that the Hearts will be sending Johan." Tegan hadn't gotten back to her, but she suspected it would be Elisha. Still, it wasn't wise to make assumptions, because then she was the one looking like an idiot.

[lightsthejewels]

There are some things certain departments should never tell Face Cards. Be it drama or issues or situations among workers. Sometimes it was thought the Cards didn't really need to know about it. It is a Rule well learned. While Danielle was a famous stickler for rules. This was something she felt like should be brought to the attention of the Diamonds Face Cards soon as possible.

"Your Lady Jack Avery." Keeps a steady distance and gaze, the Blackberry somewhere else. "Could I be allowed to ask permission for advice from one of my esteemed Face Cards? I thought you'll be the most compassionate and in terms of the situation due to experience."

[uncutclarity]

Well, possibly not the most auspicious way to begin a conversation, Avery thought as she hung up her sword and turned cool blue eyes on Danielle. Danielle was one of their best and should be challenging her supervisor soon, but this clearly was not that conversation.

"Of course, Danielle," she said, brushing back damp hair. "How can I help?

[lightsthejewels]

Not auspicious at all. But Avery deserved the respect she gave to the Face Cards before. She did it for Hector, for Helena and even Lindsey. Avery was, until Silas' taking over as King, the admittedly most approachable of the Royals in the Suit and was a capable Jack.

"It's about Rosaline Dupin." One of the IM's more intelligent dedicated workers. Actually competent in her work and a fellow Seven of Diamonds. "She's been wishing to retire early for some time despite being in her early twenties. To care for her sister in the town. Others have been telling Lady Dupin to not do it so they won't lose her and others are encouraging her. Sir Jones is trying but."

Might not be emough for once. "Considering the lack of Piquets to pass responsibilities as it is but Lady Dupin's reasons for her leave. I was wondering what your stand would be on this matter, Lady Jack Avery."

[uncutclarity]

"If her sister needs her, then she should move to Town to care for her." There was a thoughtful pause, Avery crossing her arms over her chest. "It depends upon how ill Rosaline's sister is, of course, but perhaps Sir Jones should speak to her about reducing her employment to part-time. That would give IM time to train a replacement. I'd recommend Caroline Faust. She's only a Six, but a bit wasted, I think, as Irene Berthier's assistant in the Art Acquisition and Control department."

And if that pissed off Sophie's Nine of Diamonds little sister, well...

Oops?