Challenge for King of Clubs

[cipherspeak]

Comments

And a one~

[maidenthespade]

Once Katya learns of challenge issued by Elisha, his days spent closeted with Julien become clear. It is too bad of him. She had intended to tease him about budding romance. She has every confidence in him. Riddles were good choice for his Suit, she thinks, declaring more than anything else Ilyusha's desire to return them to what they were.

Alexander's counter is neither surprising her, nor is his loss. Her friend is well versed in martial arts, skills that come in useful in bladed fights. That coupled with Julien's tutelage (to her mind at least) gave him edge.

She waits for the Club well wishers to thin out before making her congratulations.

"It is about time," she murmurs for their ears only before speaking up for all to hear. "Well played challenges, my Lord. Shall I give you first piece of advice given to me when I became queen?"

Re: And a one~

[cipherspeak]

He smirks a bit, dipping his head down. Elisha had more than bided his time with this one - initially because, frankly, he had no desire to be King - but Alexander had finally been doing enough damage that he'd had to make a move.

And while he'd considered just eliminating the man, this was the better option.

"I think you'd better," he says. "Otherwise I'd be left floundering."

[maidenthespade]

"Hah! It is not such good advice, but very true I have been finding. Become accustomed to never hearing given name again--or at least very rarely."

Katya normally is not one for leaving enemies behind her, but in Elisha's situation, it is wise move. Alexander would do well in Outposts, though there may come time when Elisha need defend his monarchy once more. But Clubs have had enough upheaval. It is good this one had been peaceful.

"So you see, I have no real advice. You know well what needs to be done and are more than capable of accomplishing same. Well done, my friend."

[cipherspeak]

"Did that come from Victor, by any chance?" In some ways he still didn't know much about his best friend of nearly seven years, Elisha thinks, but in other ways...

Well, he could spot his wisdom from a mile away.

and a two~

[gardenplots]

Maggie is fond of Elisha and not at all fond of Alexander (who insists on calling her "that Spade" even though she's been a Heart for thirty years) and so she attends the challenge. Riddles are always fun, and both deliver good ones. At her age, fighting challenges are old hat, most ending in various amounts of blood or damage or death, She only stays for Elisha and for the kingship on the line.

She's only a Seven. She waits in the crowd smiling and chatting pleasantly with friends until she has a chance to slip away.

"I'm so happy you prevailed, Dear, for both you and your Clubs. Well done."

[cipherspeak]

"Thank you, Maggie Mae," Elisha says, with the same charming grin he's been giving her since they met - when he was at a lower rank than her. "And for coming." The crowd is large, of course, but it's a royal challenge versus a King who had been extremely unpopular.

"Now to get used to the title."

[gardenplots]

"My Dear, may you never grow used to it. I've long thought that the best Royals have been those who don't wear their titles easily and who never take their position for granted." She shrugs. "Then again, I grew up with Domitian and Erzsébet as examples.

"I'm afraid your time will be even less your own now."

[cipherspeak]

"I know," Elisha says. He doesn't quite sigh, but the inclination is there. "It's part of why I waited so long. It's not really a position I've wanted."

And a THREE~

[threecardmonty]

Eventually Monty saunters up. "Reckon I'll need to polish up my manners, huh, Your Majness? Now how does it go?" He executes a ridiculous and effusive bow, cowboy hat he'd worn just for this occasion nearly scraping the ground.

His gaze, from where he peers up at Elisha is full of mischief--and relief. He gives the new king a wink before straightening. "How's it feel to be a tin hat?"

[cipherspeak]

Let him golf-clap for you Monty, but his lips twitch up into an amused grin. These are the new Clubs - closer to the old ones, though he'll never be Andrew, and thus never a pacifist. But he can give the Clubs both strength and the ability to be themselves.

And that's what Alexander never got. "I really should get the crown from Alexander," he says. "Do you think we could use it as a frisbee?"

[threecardmonty]

He ponders that a bit. "Not sure how aerodynamic the dang thing is, My Liege."

[cipherspeak]

"Worth trying, at least." Given he doesn't really care if it gets dented.

[washtheblood]

Johnson was there, of course, the entire time. A game of riddles did not surprise him. He knew only what he could gather from Elisha all those years ago, but what he gathered was something of a mind. Not, of course, that he was incapable of physical work. Inevitable as ever, that was what the challenge came down to. Counter-Challenge. This was what Johnson watched.

Every little detail, every single move, every way that body worked its feet and wrist. The entire mechanics of swordsmanship consumed.He was interested in this, of course. It might be predictable to Kagan that he would be.

The doctor could not be bothered with the rush of cards swooping in to speak to their new King. He pulled out a cigarette and slowly turned from the challenge, calm as ever. He would wait until Elisha was well and over with the praise to approach him and when he did it was flavored with a bow. Not deep. Kagan was not his King, and that was a topic all it's own

[cipherspeak]

"Johnson," Elisha said in reply. Oh, of course he'd heard Eli was back. Eli would have probably been disappointed if he'd been a surprise. "Back from the Outside, I see." The Deck had been in near constant flux while he was gone.

But that was this year for you.

[washtheblood]

"Don't sound so disappointed." Tone matching tone. Yes, he would have been. Where did the allegiance between Clubs and Spads lay now? He would guess, now that Kagan takes the crown, that little network was about to thin. For David's side, at least. No need to keep a crutch when you can walk on your own again.

[cipherspeak]

David had already taken the borrowed spies away. Which was just as well, though unless the King of Spades planned to retire each and every one of them, Elisha would know to watch them. And the others he suspected of passing information to David.

He was a smart man. David knew that; he had to know that Elisha would have been watching.

"I would have been far more disappointed if you'd missed this."

[lowtohigh]

It's hardly as if Eileen's never seen a violent challenge. It's hardly as if she hasn't been asked to sit in the 'blood splatter' seats before now. It's certainly not that she's not a big girl, much older than she's meant to be in this many years of life, hasn't been too old since the age of four and older still since the age of six and every single year since hasn't been at least a decade. And it's hardly as if she hasn't cared deeply about people she's watched before in their Challenges, been afraid for the lives of people she adored

[cipherspeak]

The Ace is meant to give the King a hug, she means. Because that's what Eileen will get when she slips through to the crowd to his side, even if it's one-armed at first. "Princess," he murmurs. Because, of course, she's still his princess, even if he's now her king.

"Did you get the final riddle?"

[lowtohigh]

Maybe it's not about what the Ace is meant to do. Maybe she's still his Ace just the way she's always been, and he's still Elisha before he's her King. Maybe none of that matters the moment she's close enough for him to reach out and hold her, for him to murmur a sweet little 'princess' rather than suddenly switch to her title.

Whatever it is, Eileen is absolutely going to cling as carefully and tightly as she knows how against Elisha's side. The Ace of Clubs can congratulate the new King of Clubs in a moment, once she's breathing regularly and her heart rate's back down to something approaching normal.

"It was overly showy, going to 31 places like that. 14 would have been just as good and probably wouldn't have put him in such a mood."

Such a mood that, you know. Both men were bleeding.

[cipherspeak]

He squeezes gently and smiles. "Maybe I miscalculated a little, though I expect he would have countered in any case. One doesn't want to give up Kingship easily. But it's okay. Neither of us is seriously hurt." Of course, Alexander could have been. Alexander could be dead, and he'd been seriously tempted.

But the girl squeezed up against his side had seen enough death for one lifetime, let alone for one year. So Alexander, troublesome and tiresome though he was, would live.