[OTA] A Mother's Love...

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

There was nothing that said she had less than perfect love for her children. She, at least, had something that came close to the appearance of love for them. She devoted her time to their education, she devoted her skill to their training- indeed, she had given up husband and suit for their protection. Or, rather, for Hadyn's.

And yet he repaid her love and devotion with abject folly and indiscriminately poor choice. Was this the son she had raised? Had she not given him milk from her own breast, nursed him through illness, kissed his head when he laid down and slept? All she had ever asked from him in return was the pure, unquestioning obedience of a son. She asked of him perfection, and dutiful study. In her hands Hadyn's future could reach for the stars- but only so far if he chose not to listen.

First the medical studies- a swift departure from the theatre. And perhaps she could have been persuaded to it except for the eventual truth- he would be forced to study Outside. And what would the Outside teach him? With all their sins and disregard. They did not have respect for their parents, they did not have respect for anyone. So then how could she trust these beast, foul and loathsome, to teach her son? And once more- what if they taught him other things? Other...ideas.

She would hate for her hand to be forced. But then- death was not always the worst fate for man or animal. There always came a time when putting them down was more kind and useful than letting wallow in their pitiful lives.

Still- if the boy could only think to amuse himself with quick, useless displays of force, then perhaps she had failed in her teachings. Such trivial, vile behavior was left to the dogs on a hunt. He was to be Ace, not some mindless drone who reacted with no small pleasure to the breaking of bones. The girl had hardly been worthy of his skill, and simply ignoring her would have likely been as effective- and much less likely to display his vast collection of martial skill.

So perhaps it was little surprise to those who knew Laureline for who she really was, that she was sat on a bench, quietly reading her book while Hadyn was standing some feet off in a most uncomfortable of positions. Should he fall- he would get up, and start his exercise over. Should he make it through the exercise? He would begin a new one much more challenging than the last. And he would continue to do them without break until she was satisfied that he would not make the same mistake twice.

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[starscrownher.livejournal.com]

Urania rarely wandered over to Hearts. It had more to do with the fact that so much optimism and kindness in one place had a tendency to make her want to get out a knife than avoiding anyone in particular, but it was true enough that conversations with her former trainer were not necessarily high on her list of priorities.

This particular Three of Hearts was, after all, the woman her parents had once referred to as the perfect Spade. Wariness wasn't exactly unwarranted when you were dealing with that assessment. Neither was relief at the fact that the cast had already come off.

"Mrs. Novak," is all Urania said, though, as she smoothly came to a halt next to the bench and turned to watch Hadyn's exercises. Punishment for breaking their freshly demoted Two, no doubt. Not that Amy hadn't deserved it. "Good afternoon."

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

There were times when she wondered if fear was the only means by which a Spade could live. Fear of the unknown, fear that tomorrow might be the last- fear, fear and more fear. It was a sad state, if you asked her. Death was inevitable- one could not fear the inevitable if they wished to achieve anything.

And was that not why Urania had become a shell of a Spade? Something less than hoped for- because fear ran her life?

"Miss Apollonides." Laureline said, lowering her book as she turned her head to regard the small, slender Spade. "An unexpected visit."

[starscrownher.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it was. Urania wouldn't argue with that assessment, though - possibly - that had as much to do with the fact that arguing with Laureline Novak's assessments was a pointless endeavor regardless of one's opinion of them. Her life was run by fear; no doubt Calypso had been turned into a Heart-in-Spade's clothing by living on the Outside. The children were undoubtedly already half-ruined.

Predicting Mrs. Novak had once been something of a necessity, and not one that any of her pupils particularly excelled at.

"A business call," Urania said easily. "With your human resources department." In regards to the situation that Hadyn was undoubtedly paying for at the moment, though Urania's face didn't indicate any such thing.

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

"A business call?" She could imagine the sort of business the newly made Six of Spades was here upon. Looking back at her son, her face managed to not look so disappointed.

"I am sure Ms. Merrick is free to speak with you. She seems to have all the time in the world for sure things." Or rather, pretended to.

[starscrownher.livejournal.com]

At least the Head of Spade HR hadn't come to deal with it. A mere Six was probably better than the Queen, after all. But Urania supposed it was the fact that there was a situation at all that mattered.

Twenty was apparently a terribly rebellious age in the Deck.

"I do hope so. I'd hate to waste the trip." A smile. "But if you're certain, then I imagine she'll have a few minutes." It would undoubtedly be a distraction, at least, from Blythe's challenge with Laureline's other son.

Because, quite obviously, this needs to happen.

[is-to-art.livejournal.com]

He'd heard all about the Sinclair incident, of course - it would be difficult to not have heard some variation on the tale by now - and was actually here to visit one of the involved parties, to sate his curiosity among other things.

However, he will pause, inclining his head as he watches Hadyn moving through positions. "Ah, to be young and foolhardy again."

<33 Of course it does, bb

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

"Mr. Rhodes," she said softly, looking up from her book with a fond smile that was oft reserved for only her children. But then again, she had always looked fondly on Nicolas Rhodes in a way. No, he was not Julien nor her children, but he was something else that was altogether joyful to watch.

Or at least- as close to joyful to watch as anything was for Laureline.

"I dare say that being young and foolhardy are not two particular ideals I would strive for." She paused for a moment, before tipping her head to the side. "Would you join me?"

[is-to-art.livejournal.com]

He dips his head respectfully before joining her on the bench. "He has great potential, your son." It's already immediately apparent, though he can't say he's all that surprised. She had always had such exacting standards.

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

"A toad has potential, as well- but potential alone does not make one great." And how far had he fallen in that regard? Her most prized Son turned willful and weak because of a simpleminded fool? It was laughable.

"Such things a mother is left to clean up," she went on, this time in regards to Amy. "He thought it funny, to have so easily broken her arm."

[is-to-art.livejournal.com]

"Violence, particularly in these situations, is an inelegant solution." He could almost see the appeal, though - almost.

"Unfortunately there are some that seem to understand little else and Ms. Sinclair appears to be one of those people." Regrettable, but then her demotion had at least minimized any further damage she could do.

[acethatmatters.livejournal.com]

He'd been coming over to inform Hadyn about his new, modified training schedule when he finds the boy with his mother, already enduring some sort of punishment/training. His step slows a moment as he takes in the tableau before him, watches Hadyn critically, then mentally shrugs. It doesn't change anything, save he'll speak to Laureline first.

"Laureline."

The last time they'd seen each other, she'd spoken to him with scorn about the shell of the man he was. But today, he looks himself again. Calm and centered in who he was and what he was here for. And no longer willing to let something like Athena unbalance his world.

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

"My Lord Ace," she said, turning her head just enough that she could spare him a glance before finally deciding to close her book and set it on her lap. "And to what might I owe the pleasure of this meeting?"

Though she was pleased, truly, that he seemed much calmer- much better- than their last meeting.

[acethatmatters.livejournal.com]

Though he was keeping Hadyn in his peripheral vision, he didn't actually look at the boy as he addressed his mother. There was no need, after all.

"I came to speak to your youngest but as I see he's currently...otherwise indisposed, I thought it would not go amiss for me to greet his mother."

Yes, Laureline. No outward sign of the nearly broken man you found in the Spade training room.

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

"Ah, and would you be here to speak with him about his...recent choices?" Because if he were here for that, Laureline would approve greatly. Let the boy hear it from more than her- and perhaps he would listen.

She blamed the Club for this. The Club and the Dead Doctor.

"I see you look better this time," she commented after a moment, "have you, then, put thought to my words?"

[acethatmatters.livejournal.com]

"I would be. As well as some changes to his training schedule that seem....pertinent."

Useful.

After all, Hadyn wasn't working with the doctor anymore so it wasn't like he didn't have the extra time,right?

As for her other question, he just nodded. "I have. You provided me with quite a bit of food for thought."

[somuchheart.livejournal.com]

Blythe stills as she comes across Hadyn practicing, watching from a distance. She doesn't see Laureline for a moment, and as such, she lets the slight confusion and concern wash over her face for a moment.

Just a moment, though, and as soon as Blythe catches the sight of the older woman, her face goes decidedly blank. Oh joy. "-Good morning, Miss Laureline."

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

"Ms. Merrick," Laureline said, lowering her book to offer the girl a thin, but pleasant smile. "You seem well today." It was a pleasantry more than anything else.

[somuchheart.livejournal.com]

"I--" Blythe stuck her hands in her pockets, then nodded slowly. "I suppose. And you?"

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

"I am well, Ms. Merrick, I am very well." She tilted her head to the side, "will you join me then? You seem troubled."

[somuchheart.livejournal.com]

It only took a moment's hesitation for Blythe to quietly take a seat next to the other woman. Her eyes don't meet hers - instead, they gaze slightly past her shoulder. "I'm not troubled, Miss Three, though it's kind of you to be concerned."

[7waystobetray.livejournal.com]

A flash of brighter-than-day red hair went by, then pivoted and returned as Delilah's curiosity overtook her. She was watching Haydn now, and his mother as well, out of the corner of her eye. She'd stopped within speaking range if either of them raised their voice, but seemed mostly content to watch for a moment, and not ask why.

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

Laureline was reading, but that did not mean she was not aware of others around her. She kept watch over Hadyn, if only in the most bored of ways. And in that same token, she watched Delilah for a long period of time, carefully minding her reading all the while.

"I find it curious that you've been staring for some time, Dearest," she said after some long moment had passed. "Was there something I could perhaps assist you with?"

[7waystobetray.livejournal.com]

Delilah turned and then smiled with a hint of surprise, as though this whole time she'd only noticed Hadyn.

"It's an interesting exercise, is all."

[bitchofhearts.livejournal.com]

"It teaches control and patience. Each movement can be done rapidly, and perhaps with more ease." She said, regarding Hadyn and his movements. "By slowing them, he can focus on every motion, threw patience he perfects the steps." The control came from fighting the exhaustion, from dampening the frustration when a motion was fumbled, and so forth. Interesting, yes. But useful.

[gardenplots.livejournal.com]

The lovely weather has inspired the gardens to new heights. She would cut delphinium and baptisia later to brighten up the public areas and her own home. For now, though, she'll enjoy her walk and the breath of new life on the air.

She'd heard about the altercation at Spade Castle, naturally. She's not surprised to see Hadyn performing an exercise she'd done many times herself. Not under these circumstances. Her training had been very similar to Laureline's after all.

"Good morning, my dear. I see you're enjoying the lovely weather."