[OTA] When it rains....

[bitchofhearts]

She wasn't pleased by any means. Her youngest son had managed to throw everything she'd ever done for him back in her face, pushing back in a way he'd never dared to do before- before telling her to leave. In truth, as much as she wanted to blame this upon the King of Clubs, Laureline had her suspicions as to Jordan's hand in the whole mess

Comments

[civilizedpoison]

Laureline Novak in a temper, at least so clearly, was a sight seldom seen, Briony thought as she rounded a corner in Heart Castle. She'd been visiting Tobias, another displaced Spade, and hadn't really expected to see any of the Novaks - though something was certainly up, with Hadyn's sudden disappearance.

"Laureline," she said gravely. "I hope the day finds you well." Clearly it did not, but Briony doubted Laureline would be sharing the whys of that. She hadn't ever been that kind.

[bitchofhearts]

There were few people in the deck that matter outside of Laureline's own children and family. Few that would make the former Spade hesitate in her actions, even for the briefest of moments. And while she might not be the sort of share, she slowed her pace and regarded the young woman carefully for a long moment in silence. As if she was watching and gauging a reaction as much as anything else.

"It finds me well enough," she said with the same standard reply she often gave to people. "And yourself, my dear? How does the day find you?"

[civilizedpoison]

Briony's own expression remained calm and even and neutral -- her default when it came to most people - and she inclined her head. "Reasonably well," she said. "Business brings me over here; your new nurse needed to do some reordering." She paused a moment, giving Laureline a considering look. Certainly there was something off; she'd once been familiar enough with Laureline Novak to discern that much, at least.

"And how are the boys?" she asked. "I understand Hadyn's making the jump up to Nine soon."

[bitchofhearts]

"So he is. Writing his own play as well. I trust he will succeed, but he has been reluctant to share his work with anyone." Save his brother and Elisha. Neither of which she thought of as the best of influences at times. Still....

"Briony, perhaps you would stop by for some tea later?"

[so_complicit]

"You aren't looking particularly happy today, my dear."

Why is Davin there? Well, it's tea time isn't it?

[bitchofhearts]

"Children, it seems, can be quite the handful." Though it was not really what she meant. Frowning, she found her seat and motioned for Davin to sit as well.

"Hadyn will hardly speak to me," she said after a moment. "It isn't as if I lied to him, I simply didn't see the point of robbing him." Which, clearly, she assumed her brother knew precisely what she was speaking of.

[so_complicit]

He settled down in the seat she waved him and listened as she poured the tea.

Luckily, he does actually know precisely what she's speaking of, but then, she's rarely had to specifically lay things out for him. "Only now I imagine he does feel robbed," he replied. "I can't, quite, imagine what it would be like. To grow up believing one thing...only to find out that that belief was completely false."

[bitchofhearts]

"So I should...what?" She almost snorted at the ideas that came to mind. And there was a certain resignation to the idea that Elisha was not going anywhere. She should have ended that one long ago. Perhaps without the man's encouragement this would have gone much better- certainly more so before the boy had that damn motorcycle.

"I fear I am losing him, perhaps both of them." And no matter what her own mother said, she wasn't sure she was ready to let them go. What, ever all, did she have if they left her?