houseofcards_rp | Intended for onlytolerable

Entry tags:

Intended for onlytolerable

On Monday morning, Christopher Kahl informed the principle of his agreement with the Lord Jack in tutoring the Lady Ace for the rest of the year. While there had been dead silence at the time, whispers somehow to manage to float about in the Faculty room by the time the day ended. He managed to keep it from the students until the day after Valentines because the last thing he wanted to do was add to the chaos of a School Party Day.

When he finally announced to them Wednesday morning turning Morning Meeting, the children took it very well. They were Deck-born for the most part or Deck-raised. If a Face Card asks, you do it, it's how it goes. A simple shrug, worries about their substitute that would be coming within a week and a half, they didn't quite understand. Lancelot was a parent, but understandable.

Christopher said yes to tutoring Eileen because he wanted to. After a decade of telling so many others, 'no'.

They don't know how hard it is and nor do they don't guess. Practiced smile, reminder there will still be an essay due next week, a promise to keep up with Chess Club, and it's all fine. Teachers are truly the best lairs because not one can even guess how much this is eating his stomach. When his students leave at 2:55, he continues his work on getting the classroom prepared for the substitute and for a visitor. He'd rather this conversation not be over heard. Not until Fin was done with the book.

(ooc: While intended for Sophie, others who want to talk to Christopher can.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The shy smile and a slight pinkening of her cheeks at his comments turn into concern. She reaches out and nearly touches his arm before folding her hands together instead.

"I know it's hard not to think otherwise considering what happened to Andrew, but...but the Deck's not so horrible, is it? I know good people from all Suits and, yes, bad from all. In the end, we're all just people, aren't we?" She can't state her thoughts any better. But she's Deck born, and if the Deck is horrible, then she's horrible. She doesn't want him to think that of her. After a moment she sighs.

"Under the circumstances, no. You shouldn't ask Eileen. It's a shame, though. I'll leave it up to you to talk to the Clubs. Lady Sade's been researching, but so have I. She hates inefficiency, so I'm sure she'll agree. Jordan...." She won't tell him Jordan was a Spade for nearly half his life. "I suppose he's the best one to ask. As for the Spades, if Fin can't give us a name, I'll ask my friend Zoe. She just switched Suites from Hearts to Spades. She'll find out for us if she doesn't know the answer already."

He notices the gesture and his smile warms. “I shouldn't have said the 'Deck'. I think it's just been a long few days for me. Yesterday was an utter nightmare. School parties are horrible things and I hate myself for introducing them eight years ago. “ But then the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. “It's not so much just the Deck, but it often seems that kind people are the ones to suffer for it. No group is entirely bad.” He hears the soft anxiety and for a moment he just realized he insulted her and his home. “The Deck is no different than anywhere else.”

“I refuse to breach trust like that. I'll find someone. I can be a pest when necessary and I'll have to talk to them more. I won't have much choice in the next few days.” He's aware of the Novaks, despite his joke with the Spades, he'll trust Jordan. If only for the fact they have extra have copies to send to the Hearts, just in case. Though if he had to be honest, his best students were often Spades. “That would be wonderful, Sophie.”

"Bet your students loved you for it, though." Her smile fades. "People are people everywhere. And even the kind ones bite when pushed." Does that make her a kind person? Probably not. She'd systematically planned her challenge to occur at the worst possible time. Maybe all that sparring hadn't released all her anger like she'd thought it had.

"Oh, no! Of course you can't approach Eileen. It's not just about abusing trust. I imagine it's important to maintain the teacher/student relationship, and that could become difficult if she never knows when she's supposed to be Eileen the Ace or when she should be Eileen the student. It will fall together, and probably with much less effort than we're using to plan it out."

"Well, the love has been equally distributed in recent years. Ms. Saunders does it better than I do. So professional that it hurts." And with that he gently flicks one of the paper hearts. "They do, it's logical. Kind doesn't entirely mean you allow someone to walk all over you." He considers that as 'nice'.

"Exactly, I don't want to approach her with matters of being an Ace. It's not my job nor my place and I don't think anyone would be too upset if I speak to them about Deck matters instead of Eileen. And if someone disagrees well..." He shrugs again, "If it's not her Mother or Lancelot, I'll simply nod and thank them for their constructive criticism."

Oh, I don't know. I bet they're awfully cute. [She's a little wistful. Gerhardt never celebrated any of the holidays. They hadn't so much made construction paper hearts. They'd learned the history surrounding them, naturally, but never actually celebrated. Kitty would have loved the lace.]

The best comparison to the Deck and Outside I've ever been able to come up with is the military, though we're more than that, of course. But we all live together, have ranks, that sort of thing. And I expect even a--a private?--even a private with important information to share would be welcome.

[She smiles at the paper heart and picks it up.] Do you need help taking everything down or will you be leaving the decorations up for a few days?

Until someone brings the cupcakes. Then Sweet Jesus, they're a force of nature akin to a hurricane. [Christopher has never met Gerhardt, and probably never will. It's just as well, there would be a clash of personalities.] But the smiles are worth it, and they do work hard. Besides, there won't be another reason for a parry until Spring.

[He laughs.] Well, I do respect the military. And it all depends on who is charge, but yes, a private could give important information to share.

I'm keeping it up for a few days. I'll probably take everything down by Friday night.

Spring? You mean Easter? [Sophie rests her chin on her hand and smiles. Christopher can complain all he wants, but it's clear he loves what he does, and probably his students, too.]

[She gives him an encouraging nod.] Exactly. I thought it might help if you looked at the situation that way. It's easy to get caught up by title and rank when you're part of the Deck.

Well, that's a month and a half. That's an eternity for a child and it's going - Was going to be a Spring Party because a few of my students have different faiths. [If he didn't love his students, he wouldn't have remained on deck or in this room.]

It all really depends on the Suit, too. And I have to deal with all the lower ranked families. It's not a bad thing but there is an imbalance of perspective. I suppose I'll see it from the other end, now.

I always thought it would be fun to dance around a May pole.... [Her cheeks glow pink.] ...until I read about the symbolism when I was older. I suppose parents might balk at that. What would you do for a Spring Party?

[She stretches out her legs a little, staring at her feet before looking at him.] We're all people. Some will stand on rank and position, but I suspect that's the same all over. The wisest realize that it's the person who matters, not the number.

It depends on what you read. [He grins.] Some people say it's simply the axis of the world is celebrated and others say it's for the worship of Priapus. I'll go with axis of the world, since it's Germanic in tradition and Pripaus is Roman... and we know how Romans and Germanic Tribes got along. Not entirely swimmingly.

But it wouldn't be the first time a holiday is sanitized. [He gently lifts a purple heart then smiles.] A garden party, quite literally. Lemonade, sugar cookies, and planting vegetables to give the next class a a headache to harvest next year.

Of course. I'm melancholy because of such a busy years, month... week. It's nice to sound it out. Thank you for letting me do that, Sophie.

That's, um, probably a good idea. I'll remember that. [Oh, dear. She lifts her hands briefly to her cheeks. She flounders for a change of subject. Spring. Parties. What--?] Bugs. Have a bug hunt? Only...don't keep them. We used to catch ladybugs. No one ever told us they're carnivorous. Poor things. [She gives him a shy smile.]

I--I'm glad you did. I think quiet people sometimes bundle too much up inside. It feels good to have a plan of action. Thank you for listening to me rattle on.

[He looks away, politely. He sees it as a clinical thing rather than... anything more than that. Simple words.] A bug hunt where we release them at the end of the day. [He smiles gently at her, and it's only a second later he realizes it's probably the same smile he gives his students.]

You're welcome, it was no problem. So... we should... plan something in the near future.

[It's not the subject matter that flustered her, but the company. She doesn't notice the smile. Her hands are more interesting.]

When my challenge is over. I'm being terribly careful. The judges haven't been finalized and I want to make sure I stay out of the path of any of the candidates. It...it's too important. I don't want someone crying foul after.

Of course. We can't do much until the diary is translated. And if we're still waiting for your challenge, I'll do photocopies of whatever Fin's written and make sure they're protected. And then I'm returning the book to you and begging you to put it somewhere safe.

Fin won't like it, but the diary should be locked up someplace incredibly safe whenever he's not working on it. If word got out--

[Christopher sees that, doesn't he? If the Arcana somehow learned of it? She starts to pick up the paper hearts that have spilled across his desk and the floor.]

I suppose there's no need to borrow trouble. Let me help you straighten this up so you can get home at a reasonable hour.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Intended for onlytolerable

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject