[ota] The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

[bitchofhearts]

It was not a small order to have the results of Ceiro's blood test delayed. And slightly more complicated to have them intercepted and...adjusted. It wasn't as if the poison in his system was hard to miss in the results, and it wouldn't do for someone to discover the truth before he was beyond recovery. Or he'd given up the crown. And then Jordan

Comments

[heartsthespades]

The Hearts' guards weapons were...fine, he supposed, though on the limited side. Certainly their swords were of good quality and kept in good condition - and all of the guards were proficient with them. They just weren't carrying much else, and really, that wasn't acceptable. A man or a woman with one weapon was far easier to defeat than one who had several they could use, and so Jordan had gone to Diego's to see about ordering knives for the guards.

While they were being made, he'd see about making them proficient in them and cultivating some of the quieter ones to do other things. There was Jeannie, after all, who despite her nervousness had followed him from the library to security. Now, she'd never make a guard, but she'd make a good spy - if she opened her ears up and listened. And so he'd work on that.

That's what he was thinking on when he saw his mother stepping out of a Heart bakery with a loaf of bread in a bag under her arm, and he fell into step by her side. "Good morning, Mother."

[bitchofhearts]

"Why the long face, sweetling?" She asked as she looked at him side long for a moment. "Your grandfather Luka will be most disappointed if you arrive with such an expression at your weekend dinner." Which was, perhaps, only touching the subject. In the years Laureline had known Luka, he had smiled barely a handful of times. There was, in truth, little he wouldn't do to protect his family, and perhaps he loved them with more sincerity than Laureline's own mother and father- but he had a harsh disposition.

"Your brother intends to bring his King, it seems. I am certain that Luka will be delighted by that." She sighed a little at that, before stopping in front of a second shop and tilting her head a little. "If he pulls you aside to ask about it, remind him of the....benefits of having a kings ear." For what it was worth. She would deal with this king in her own time.

"Bring him a gift. I believe he had a taste for White Chocolate Parfait flambeed." She said, "There is a baker in Spade district that makes a lovely one."

[heartsthespades]

"Just thinking," though the idea of Luka being disappointed in a dour expression made him wonder if his grandfather was disappointed every time he looked in the mirror. That was the sort of man he was. "About training changes for the guards. They're too dependent upon swords."

Hadyn's date, though, has his eyebrows lifting. "Is he really?" he murmured dryly. It would certainly be interesting, at least. "I will," he added quietly. "And I'll ask Meghana. A Ten of Spades, at least, should be marginally more pleasing to him." Of course, he'd probably have to make it up to her, but he was also fairly confident he could manage to charm her out of any annoyance. He'd been doing it off and on since they were children.

"I remember the bakery," he said with a faint smile. "I'll drop by to pick something up. Should I remind Hadyn to bring something?" Especially since Hadyn would be irritating Grandfather with the Club King. A peace offering might be...wise.

[bitchofhearts]

"It would be wise to expand their talents. You should work to expand their roles as well. David and Elisha should not be the only men in this deck that have eyes and ears in every corner. The Arcana might be a distraction for now, but their novelty will wane. And then it will be once again the pursuit of power and advantage in the suit." He said with a smirk before she turned to start walking again.

"Meghana will be more acceptable. Be careful that your grandmother does not have too much time alone with her. She's been most anxious to see you married before she passes on." It was a good start, at least. As for making amends.

"Make sure he takes something to his grandmother. She will keep Luka from speaking too much of his mind. Afterwards, with your encouragement, he should come around to see the advantage of things."

[falseflourish]

Wren herself was out and about after having been to a dress fitting-- and hunting down accessories-- for the coming celebrations of King Elisha's coronation. She'd probably be snagging one of Laureline's sons for help later on, actually. As is, she smiles warmly at the Novak motherlord when she crosses her in town.

"Afternoon, Mrs Novak! Belated congratulations on the promotion of your eldest son."

[bitchofhearts]

Hadyn would have been there, happily no doubt. Elisha Kagan had some sort of hold on that boy that vexed Laureline Novak to no end. It was a shame, really, to watch all her hard work simply go to waste because of a...man.

"Ah, My Lady Ace." She said though as Wren caught her attention. "Thank you, though I must say that Table Tennis was a rather unusual approach to becoming Ten."

[falseflourish]

"Well, it seems to have worked, because he remains uncountered," she says lightly. In her mind, she's decided it's probably because Blythe wants to slow down and take the time to mature at Nine before hitting Ten. She's even an optimist. Nevertheless. "Maybe he scared her off with his ferocious smash-hit."

[bitchofhearts]

"One might be tempted to look at it that way, but I don't imagine it has anything to do with his skill at playing table tennis." She said after a moment, tilting her head just a bit. "I understand that the king has not been well of late. You have my sympathies, Lady Ace."