[ota] in neat squares- or not

[ishineon]

The new additions sprouting up everywhich and where are troubling, yes. No one's yet been able to work out a pattern in what will pop up next where and when.

It doesn't mean they can't try. Or that the maps kept for documenting purposes can't be updated.

So Säde's out and about inspecting the damage new land. It ought to be safe to assume the

Comments

[wavekissedheart]

Mano's just coming out of a building across the street, on his way back to Heart Castle with vague ideas of passing the shrub in his arms off to one of the gardeners for replanting. Really, he's sure it'd like the courtyard or the Green much better than the middle of Mrs. O'Malley's kitchen.

Spotting Sade across the street, however, he pauses. Figuring out all the proper protocol for addressing other Faces and different Suits was possibly one of the more difficult things about his new position. Luckily, he'd always been a polite boy. Crossing the street to pause next to her, he eyes the rather ominous-looking building that's wedged itself in between two houses that used to be neighbors.

"Well, that one's not winnin' any neighborhood beauty contests anytime soon, is it?"

[ishineon]

"It would take rather more than a dash of paint to even get it eligible for one," she says as she turns to look at whoever's greeting her. "Mr... Higa, is it not? How nice to meet you at last."

[wavekissedheart]

"It is, Lady, but I much prefer Mano'ele," he nods at her agreeably, arms full of a rather large steel pail. "And the pleasure is mine, truly. I hope you and yours aren't suffering from all this too much?" He knows enough of her, and of Diamonds in general, to take extra care with his enunciation. There's a vague sense that certain aspects of one's behaviour were scrutinized a bit more closely when one became a Face. Maybe he just didn't want to let his own Suit down.

[ishineon]

"Mano'ele, then." She notably doesn't ask him to refer to her in kind; she'll reserve that for when they know each other better. Assuming he makes a good impression. "I doubt we're suffering more or less than any other Suit. The phenomenon doesn't seem to discriminate."

Or hasn't yet. Whichever.

[uncutclarity]

There's always a moment of steeling herself when she sees Säde. There probably always will be, and it's worse when she's not looking particularly Diamond-like. And since she's been working on helping clear the roads of the kind of debris that happens when a place shakes with tremors - not to mention keeps sprouting houses and trees - the Ace of Diamonds isn't particularly sparkly.

Oh well, she thinks. There's not exactly the opportunity to go home, change, and put on a nonexistent Armani suit. Her stint as Jack proved that dressing the part didn't do much, anyway. "Your Majesty," she says with a nod. "The surveyor should be here soon. I saw him around the corner."

[ishineon]

"Very good," she murmurs absently, marking something on the map before turning to face Avery. There's a brief flitting of dismay across her face, but no disapproval at all. It's not a time to fault practical dressing, after all. "What progress now? There've been several more complaints of people not being able to get their vehicles through the streets."

[uncutclarity]

Avery has already snapped at one snobbish old Diamond - not old in age, old in lineage - over the impracticality of Louboutins when the streets are as ripped up as they are. "More trees," she says, tilting her head to one side. We're collaborating with the other Suits to remove them, but since we can only work so quickly..."

She lifts her shoulders. "It may be a good time to remind our people that the Deck is walkable, even in these times." Even in the annual January freeze, which was the only normal thing currently happening.

[ishineon]

"We still ought to check on those non-mobile, see to it that they're able to care for themselves or have someone who can care for them. October was bad enough."

She folds up the map, tucking her pen into her pocket. "Hm. We might have to divert Twos after all. Perhaps recruit people in the Town as well. Their streets to use."

[keeping_faces]

Carmella had discovered a quaint abandoned house that had a very Victorian feel to it. Paint was peeling from the walls. She could not decide whether renovations would add to it or detract from its unusual beauty. Having spent her life between the Club and Heart Courts, she could not help but develop an artistic bent.

She walked beside her Diamond counterpart, "While the shifting boundary presents a challenge, I must admit that some of the new features of the Deck are worth exploring."

[ishineon]

Säde slowed her quick stride in order to keep pace with the other woman, looking up at the house as well. "With a light foot and a brave heart, I suppose. And a torch. We don't know if any of these are remotely structurally sound."

[keeping_faces]

"It is strange, yet fortunate, that the houses have not come with disorientated inhabitants. It doesn't seem as though they will be sorely missed, wherever they're from."

No one had left the buildings but Carmella knew that this didn't necessarily prove that they were completely vacant. "I'm sure we could convince some light footed Twos to search the places."

[ishineon]

"Only the desperate would risk living here." Which, unfortunately, some already had.

She and Avery had already investigated one, and Säde had no wish to repeat the experience. "Perhaps... once they're thoroughly investigated, those who've done the investigation can keep the houses if they wish. It'll be an incentive." Not necessarily a good incentive; there would be a lot of work to fix these up. But it might help.

[thecutdiamond]

It frustrates Rachel, just a little bit, that there isn't anything she can physically do to help with the Deck's current situation, but she isn't foolish enough to risk doing damage at this point in her recovery-- she may do something she isn't going to be able to recover from.

So she makes up for it by doing the walking her physical therapist has recommended to build her strength up outdoors as opposed to inside. And if it happens to have her wandering by the new additions to the Deck-- and her inspecting Queen-- well, surely it's just a coincidence.

"Lady Säde."

[ishineon]

She pauses in her work to give Rachel a smile. "Hello. Your practice is going well, then?"

She's been halfway through the Diamond district by now, and it might show a little. And she hasn't even been uprooting trees.

[thecutdiamond]

"It is, thank you," she says with a small smile of her own, "Are you examining the new additions?"

Exploring just a little, too, by the look of things. There's perhaps just a hint of approval in her eyes-- it's what she would have done, were she able and still in the position Säde was now.

[ishineon]

"And cataloguing. Seventeen houses alone, and I believe there are at least twelve more." She wrinkles her nose briefly. "Some people have already started living in a few- it worries me badly. No one was there for me to speak to, though. I had to leave notes."

And oh, wouldn't they be surprised to see those notes requesting them to meet with the Queen of Diamonds.