Meeting Alexander

[ishineon]

[Säde waits in the Club castle foyer, hands held behind her as she examines her surroundings, matching them with what she remembers of her last visit. She has caught a nearby Four, sending him to summon his King. No hurry. She came unannounced, after all.]

Comments

[livebytheclub]

[When Adrien knocks urgently, Alexander bids him enter. Hearing his message, the King considers how best to receive his guest. From what he's heard she is no delicate flower, but does have a strong sense of decorum. He decides to meet her in the great study, larger and more open than the office he actually uses, and more befitting a visitor without being too formal. Adrien bows quickly and leaves with the order]

[ishineon]

(ooc: I sort of mix her actions with third-person narrator comments, if that makes any sense. So in the brackets, part of it is what she's doing and part of it is me commenting on what she's doing. But anything that needs to be said out of character, especially with regards to the plot, is said with parentheses.)

Isn't that the point of plotting, that secrets are kept from others? Perhaps the conspirators in your court seek to manipulate you rather than include you in their plans.

[A little kinder than she ought to have been. But her guard is lowered from her weariness, and he's new to the job, so he might well need the advice.]

[livebytheclub]

[Another laugh]

"Always possible. Hopefully I can catch on in time."

[He takes her comment as genuine discussion, not a snide remark. She must not know how the rest of the city seems to feel about him. How, he wonders, will she view him when she finds out?]

[ishineon]

Hopefully. I'm sure you weren't so obscure as a Ten, though.

[She only has the facts about him. Public opinion is another matter, and what he knows- or thinks he knows- about his Clubs' view of him will be useful.]

[livebytheclub]

[He pauses for a knowing smirk - knowing on his own part at least]

"Infamous perhaps. Certainly not obscure. Not to those who were here before your time at least."

[ishineon]

[That much is true- she did get through the ranks faster than usual, versus his languishing in one rank for years. She hadn't started paying attention to the other Suits 'til she was a Six.]

No? Your exploits must have made you many friends. [And enemies, but that goes without saying.]

[livebytheclub]

"Oh I don't know about that. As you've risen from an unknown to an Ace in the time I've been away, I expect you know that accomplishment seldom gathers a retinue of smiling admirers. Often shining marks you as a threat to lesser specimens."

[ishineon]

How one rises often determines the opinions of others, too. We cannot help a certain amount of jealousy, but how we perform our roles- and how we've acted before that- certainly would enable a greater respect.

[livebytheclub]

[He sees this turning into an ideological fence. That doesn't bother him. He sips his drink]

"Ah, but that presumes upon the judgement of those who give or withhold that respect."

[ishineon]

[a snort of amusement] Perhaps. But that depends on the temperament of the suit as well, and yours is none too forgiving, from what I've seen. [Tut, Säde. Getting a little personal there.]

[livebytheclub]

[She thinks she's taking a swing at him, but her words hold a more complimentary truth to his ears, though her intent does not go unnoticed]

"Some see only honorable friends, others only intolerable foes. The wise man extends one hand with the other on the hilt. I have little interest in forgiveness; only in fair judgment and wise response.

Furthermore, one can expect only so much leniency in the hearts and minds of those who have just experienced the assassination of their beloved King."

[ishineon]

Mmmh. Andrew was very much loved, for a King. [Compared to how all the Kings she'd seen during her time in the Deck were talked about, anyway...]

Of course, focusing too much on one area of governance has always been the downfall of any weak king. [Which one is she referring to?]

[livebytheclub]

[He doesn't miss the double meaning. Her possible prod isn't totally unjustified, but he is learning. In a moment of inspiration, he lets her comment prompt him to defy its implication. Let her think him a one-trick brute

He waives his hand dismissively and pretends to only see what she could have meant about Andrew]

"Of course. Civilians often forget that a strong arm bearing a sword is the final word when it wants to be."

[ishineon]

[Hmph. Violence is the answer for this man, clearly. Such pettiness does not become a king.

How this shows on her face is in the narrowing of her eyes, and the very slight tilting back of her head.]

Naturally, if one will not obey, one can be made to obey. It's a pity only we of the Deck understand this.

[livebytheclub]

[He feigns surprise, raising his eyebrows]

"Do we? And here I thought I was the only one - well, the only one save for an as-yet undiscovered hatchetman."

[ishineon]

[She shrugs.] I don't mean that we go so far as to execute the disloyal, but a firm hand is needed. Appearances must be maintained, of course. Constantly bandaged Numbers are unappealing.