Challenge for King of Clubs

[cipherspeak]

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[somuchheart]

It's one of the more tense challenges Blythe has attended. She's literally on the edge of her seat for most of the time, alternating quickly from grinning with approval at the winning riddle to clapping her hands over her mouth when Elisha draws blood. And when the challenge is officially over, Blythe is practically bouncing in her seat before she actually gets up to move and find Elisha.

"Congratulations, Elisha. That was such a marvelous challenge, really. Loved the riddle." She grins up at him, holding out her hand for a proper congratulatory shake.

[cipherspeak]

Elisha grins back as he shakes Blythe's hand. "I figured he wouldn't know that one," he says. Which is, perhaps, unkind, but Alexander has never been one to value intellectual thinking. And now he's a Ten and doesn't need to; he can go back to doing what he does best.

[somuchheart]

"It took me a moment to wrap my mind around it," she admits. "Then again, I've always sucked at numbers. But it was a great choice, really." Her smile takes on a more mischievous look. "So now am I expected to curtsy, Your Majesty?"

[cipherspeak]

He grinned a bit. "You curtsy to Ceiro much, Blythe?" He asked. "No. And you can still call me Elisha; I don't mind." Besides, he knew people who were going to be titling him in every sentence. It would be nice if he occasionally got to hear his name.

You know, for kicks.

[butlebattler]

Karin keeps her distance from the Challenge, watching from the edge of the crowd quietly. It wouldn't be becoming for her to root Elisha on vocally--she's a servant of her Suit and her Face Cards, and until Elisha wins, that means Alexander is her King.

But then the challenge ends. And so does the counter-challenge.

And Karin has a new King to swear her fealty to. But she doesn't approach immediately. See, the Butler doesn't bring her issues to a King, or her thoughts. It's the King's will, to summon or dismiss a Butler. The Butler's job to be flawless and quick to serve the King's needs, as though psychic.

So, Karin takes the time to grab a bottle of water to offer before finding her way toward Elisha, silent and efficient.

[cipherspeak]

When Karin comes over, Elisha is getting his injury - slight though it is - wrapped by a medic, and he smiles at her as he takes a bottle of water. "Thank you, Karin," he says easily as he opens it. There's already that formality between them now, and as a man used to seeing and reading nuances, he recognizes it. The friendlier relationship between he and Karin is to be replaced by a more official one.

Likely he will need to find her a new Nine or Ten.

"I was wondering if you could come to my office next week."

[butlebattler]

"Yes, Your Majesty. Do you need help rearranging the office to suit your needs?" It's a logical assumption. Elisha's taste in decoration is decidedly not Alexander's. And she is his butler, ready to suit his whims.

There's a hint of sadness to it, though. Despite everything, Elisha was a good friend. She hates to let him go.

[cipherspeak]

"I might." Though he expects the armor and shields will be emptied out before the day ends, and a couple of twos will likely be by to move his magenta couch and the art into the King's office.

"But I actually, I was wondering if I could discuss a few of the Nines and Tens with you." Gavin had security, and wouldn't be a bad choice. But there was also Larisa, the Nine in Event Planning, and Sarala, the Ten who ran the historical preservation and curation department.

[castsalight]

Her feet had barely touched the ground when Margo had found herself swept up in the Clubs' excitement over the approaching challenge for the position of King. The Daily Trump had published news of the event throughout the week. In spite of her long absence, she was granted a front row seat during the challenges so that she would be able to capture their progress and end results. The Daily Trump had to be prepared for all eventualities, including a likely counter involving some form of physical combat; Margo had come with the equipment to accommodate this. Mounting her camera on a tripod worked during the game of riddles but a static position would not do a fight justice. She was given permission to move around the edge of the fighting arena during the second challenge

[cipherspeak]

"Thank you...Margo, isn't it? Karin's sister?" He hadn't introduced himself when she'd arrived because there was simply so much else this week, between Sieben's death and Avery Hamilton's car accident...and his own personal romantic drama. Plus today, of course.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Margo, and welcome home."

[castsalight]

"That's right," she said, shaking his hand firmly. She had not yet spoken to many of the fresh faces among the Clubs, let alone the other Suits.

"Likewise-- and thank you, it is good to be back.You fought well, I'll send you some of the photos if you'd like."

How did I miss this. :|

[cipherspeak]

"I would like, actually." He smiled. "I saw you with your camera during the riddles, but not during the swords." He'd been a little distracted, though. Swords weren't his forte, despite his victory today.

"Are you a professional?"

[lenire_feris]

The woman in the back isn't hiding, but she certainly isn't trying to be conspicuous. The idea of this is still alien to her, and while she's only mildly amused at the riddles, it's the counter-challenge that makes her lean forward. It was nice to know some arts were still practised.

She lets herself be swept into the crowd gathering around the new king. Her congratulations can be made when she nears him.

[cipherspeak]

Perhaps he should have expected Arcana to attend. They did show up for these bigger events, after all - Lindsey's funeral, the festival - and so there's a brief flicker of surprise when he sees the dark haired woman. "Lady Silke," he murmurs. Yes, he knows her name. No, they haven't been introduced.

But that's usually how Elisha operates.

[lenire_feris]

A little over a month is long enough for the Deck to learn her name, if not always her face. So there's a deliberate lack of surprise at being recognised, as she inclines her head in acknowledgement. One equal to another, no more, no less.

"Indeed so. My congratulations on your ascension, King Elisha of Clubs. May your reign be a long and fruitful one."

[cipherspeak]

"Thank you, milady. I hope it will be," Elisha murmurs. And while he's not the envoy - technically they don't have one anymore, he'll have to talk to Tegan about that - he's not exactly one to not offer a question when given the opportunity.

"I imagine that challenges are not how things happened in the past?"

[ishineon]

Alexander meant well, Säde had always thought. It was simply that the way he went about things- the way and the speed with which he tried to change his Suit- was not what the Clubs wanted, not what anyone in the Deck expected. So when at last a Ten of Clubs takes initiative, Säde isn't going to miss this challenge. No matter the winner.

Even if the fact that the challenge was to be held with riddles made her shake her head in private. Whatever works.

"Congratulations, milord," Säde says, a slight warmth colouring her Diamond-sharp smile.

[cipherspeak]

Riddles were more about...proving a point than anything else. Certainly Elisha could have challenged Alexander in something the last King would have preferred; he'd won his last two challenges, fighting. But that wasn't the Clubs.

So riddles. And then swords, of course, but that was to be expected.

"Thank you, Lady Säde." That will take adjusting, the milords from people who were ranked above him oh....about twenty minutes ago. "Thank you for coming." He doesn't say that he realizes the Diamonds must be in upheaval, what with the loss of a Jack. But he knows how that goes; it wasn't that long ago that they lost Lancelot more permanently than the Diamonds have lost Avery.

[ishineon]

It's longer ago that the Diamonds lost Hector for what they eventually assumed was permanent, and it's at least a blessing that Avery is alive and whole. In one aspect, anyway. (Helena ran away, a coward's trick. It was hardly a loss.)

"You're quite welcome. I believe my king will be along shortly to offer his congratulations as well." She cocks her head. "Your swordsmanship was exemplary, your choice of challenge... unorthodox, but well-thought, in my opinion."

[cipherspeak]

Helena had hardly been a Jack, in Elisha's opinion; but then, his only experience with her had been a meeting last fall where she'd been less than impressive, to say the least. But Hector was a good man, and a good Jack. And Avery was smart. She would, he expected, persevere.

"I wanted the Clubs to see that challenges in our Suit don't have to be martial," Elisha says with a faint smile. "A philosophy I believe both your king and queen agree on." Not that he planned to forbid such things - the Clubs could be part fighters, and part intellectuals. Alexander's mistake had been trying to make them all soldiers.