[OTA] Time to Breathe

[cipherspeak]

He'd called Carmella into his office earlier, and told her that he and Eileen had chosen her to be Queen of the Clubs, and then after dropping that news on her - it wasn't exactly a bombshell since the Nine had expressed interest - asked her to sit down and talk to him about candidates for Jack of Clubs. The list had still been long, after all;

Comments

[elani_songbird]

It's not often that Elisha actually summons her to his office. They usually have discussions elsewhere in the Castle, in passing, along the way. But actually getting called to the King's office.

Well...that was rare. It actually has her a little nervous, since she can't imagine what, precisely, he's asking her to come see him for. Perhaps Eileen.

Jack doesn't even enter in as a possibility. Not when there are so many eligible candidates for the position and all.

But she'll show up in good time, smile politely as Pete shows her in to the office. "You wanted to see me?"

[cipherspeak]

He's almost got the damn thing solved - and he's determined to solve it, because he suspects that Victor did before he gave it to him, frankly - when Pete shows Elani in. So he sets it aside and motions her to a chair. Pete doesn't have to be reminded to close the door.

"I did, thank you, Elani. Tea?"

[elani_songbird]

Elani will glance over at the toy for a moment, bemused, before focusing back on Elisha again as she settles into the proffered chair. "Tea would be nice, thank you."

And she'll even wait for him to hand it to her and to stir in some sugar and cream before asking, "I...admit I thought the summons was a little...uhm...curious?"

[cipherspeak]

He's sure she was. He still fixes his own before he speaks. "I've chosen a new Queen," he says after a moment. "Carmella Montenegro will be crowned later this week.

"We've discussed the matter of Jack, though," he adds. "And if you'll accept the position, we would like you to take on that role, Elani."

[keeping_faces]

Carmella arrived in Elisha's office, formally dressed. As one of the household staff, she had not worn a uniform but all of her clothes had followed a monotone theme. Now she is wearing a pastel blue pant suit and white jacket. Coronations required a lot of planning. However she would settle for a simple affair, if it helped the Clubs set things in order quicker. She had come to speak to Elisha about setting a date, and about the new Jack.

"Good day, Elisha." She stops abruptly, considering the phrase before continuing, "I still find it odd, being on first name terms with you but I suppose now is as good a time as any for me to break old habits."

[cipherspeak]

He'd nearly gotten the thing solved when Carmella knocked, but he looked up with a smile as she stepped inside. "Carmella," he said, rising out of his seat. He couldn't remember, really, the last time Argine had come to visit him.

But she did seem better now, now that she'd retired.

"If it makes you feel better, it took a month for me to stop calling Argine 'Your Majesty,'" he said.

[keeping_faces]

It was for the best that Argine had decided to step down. Had she held on much longer, opportunists may have seen fit challenge her. Carmella could not say for sure that she was above taking such opportunities.

"I shall endeavor not to make the same mistake when I next see her. That would be terribly awkward," she laughed uneasily. "Do you have a moment?

[cipherspeak]

It wouldn't have necessarily been bad to do so; Elisha had done it himself, with Alexander, to try to reverse the path he'd been taking the Suit in. There was a reason they were allowed to challenge the Royals, after all.

"I do," he said as he set aside the small toy. "About the coronation?" His own had been quiet, but some pomp and circumstance might be good here. Argine had been Queen far longer than Alexander had been King.

[lowtohigh]

This is going to be a good thing, right? They're going to have all the Face Cards--mostly all the Face Cards, given how a person counted the Ace. Whichever way you did, at least, Elisha wouldn't be lacking in half the support any King should expect to be able to depend on.

Which should all be good things.

So don't mind the slightly gloomy twelve-year-old loitering in your doorway, Elisha. She'll probably flit away if you ignore it long enough.

[cipherspeak]

It's going to be a very good thing, but that doesn't mean it's going to be difficult at first. As much as Argine needed to resign...she's still Eileen's mother, and she'd long been their Queen.

He glances up when the shadows settle in that way that means someone's waiting, and offers a slight smile.

"Come in, princess."

[lowtohigh]

All transitions are. Even the incredibly beneficial movement from Alexander to Elisha had been a bit rough around the edges. And, of course, peaceful though these transitions are, there's still an underlying discomfort at the general transition.

"I'm not interrupting?"

She's still absolutely slipping in, moving to settle by his chair rather than her original post across the desk from him.

[cipherspeak]

"No," he tells her immediately, and smiles as he scoots aside to give her the room she needs.

"Just trying solve this," he says, tapping the hedgehog game. "Victor brought it back from Prague." There are official things to discuss, of course: Carmella's idea to have a joint coronation with the new King of Hearts, for one.

But it can wait.

[maystillcrow]

After Elani leaves, Pete will let him into the office and close the door behind him and smile slightly at Elisha.

"Well, that seems to have gone well enough."

[cipherspeak]

"I wasn't exactly expecting a fainting spell," Elisha says dryly, picking up the game again and watching Pete as he shut the door, his brows lifting.

You've got the floor, Pete.

[maystillcrow]

Pete shrugs, "you never know. I'm sure I'd faint if you'd told me the same thing."

He grins and leans against the chair in front of the desk. "Just thought you'd want to hear about what the Arcana left behind, also." They'd neither of them had a moment of privacy, really, since Pete's trip out there the other day and it certainly wasn't exactly high on the list of priorities. But now, at least, maybe they can discuss it.

[cipherspeak]

He finds that doubtful, but he just tosses the game in one hand as Pete speaks.

"I assumed you didn't find much of note." Because if he had...well, time could be made for that kind of thing.