houseofcards_rp | [for Hector, but OTA] I cannot see when the stars are gone

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[for Hector, but OTA] I cannot see when the stars are gone

A great deal about Säde is largely inferred rather than directly known. Her personal life, in particular, is largely a matter of conjecture, and fifteen years is enough time to build up a large enough store of data to deduce several things. For example, the thing with Hector, the former Jack of Diamonds.

And today it may be assumed that her agitation has to do with that very man. She keeps her Diamond mask on, but at the edge of her smile is something brittle, fragile, less the rage reserved for something gone wrong and more the anger of a wounded animal.

Not, all things considered, the best mood to leave the Deck in. This may be the first day that Leigh sees something similar in her guardian to the people who came before. Not the physicality of an action, but the light in the eyes that comes before it. It will keep her wary for days until Säde talks about it suddenly, no warning and no regard for the age of the girl she's speaking to. Then there's just an uneasy, pitying accord.

[ooc: Hector first. Anyone else talking to Säde would be coming in on the aftermath of their argument.]

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Astrid wasn't the most die-hard Swede in the Deck by any means. She rarely wore blue and yellow in combination with one another, and while their family had always celebrated Lucia Day, it was more as a lead up to Christmas than because it was it was the Swedish patron saint's nameday. That and who argues with cookies?

No one sane in Astrid's opinion.

Likewise, Säde Pekkanen's Finnish heritage had never registered as a problem on Astrid Magnusson's side. Some people weren't fortunate enough to have been born in Stockholm, after all, including her darling little girl, and Astrid certainly had no problem with Avery. If Säde was ever twitchy over their countries' rivalries, then Astrid was only minorly bewildered by it, but she never let it show. Not until, of course, Ava became the Jack of Diamonds and Säde started making her daughter's life difficult enough that she actually talked about it in vague tones when she came home for Sunday dinner. Astrid had no idea what Säde's problem with her daughter was - Avery only made vague comments about unacceptable behavior - but it was enough that when the two of them crossed paths, Astrid made certain to give Mrs. Pekkanen-Winston her most serene smile.

The infuriating one. "Good day, Lady Säde. I do hope you're well."

Oh. How nice.

Astrid is echoed in her daughter's looks, if not personality. The additional fact of her nationality had really been the biggest factor in their few interactions, a minor irritation that coloured her expressions if not her words. That was before Avery had become Jack and Säde had really discovered how unfit the girl was in her behaviour.

So, no, the smile is not appreciated. It's exactly Avery's own smile.

"Good day, Astrid. Come to visit your daughter again?" Her voice is markedly even, the only thing betraying her smile a narrowing of her eyes.

Astrid, personally, has always been of the opinion that the behavior that counts in the behavior one engages in professionally. In that area, Avery has always been warm, friendly, and approachable; indeed, as far as she could tell, Avery was the only approachable Diamond Face Card during her tenure as Jack. Certainly, Säde for all her presumed advantages as Ace will never be someone one actually wants to take concerns to.

Unless one has to.

"Not at all," she says easily. "I brought Isaac a tea blend he enjoyed when he was at our house the other day." Pacing past it in an agitated manner. "My daughter is more than capable of taking care of herself, after all." Even with Säde, presumably, considering neither one of them had resorted to violence yet.

"Soon enough she'll be back to her old self, I presume." Not as cutting as it might have been; certainly less of an edge to her voice than the last time they spoke. "And I am sure Isaac will appreciate the thought. Especially your..." Her voice cracks suddenly, unwarranted, and she swallows to get past it, "...your coming all this way."

It only takes the impression of possible pain to soften Astrid's sharp edge, and she watches Säde carefully before she continues. The Ace isn't the type of person to accept comfort, unfortunately. "The doctors gave her a clean bill of health," she says, instead. "The sling comes off next week, and this month will always be a wash, but her short-term memory is back at full capacity." Which, she thinks, should relieve the Face Cards at least somewhat.

"And it's no trouble at all."

Säde's telltale twitch isn't appearing between her eyebrows yet, but it's only a matter of time. "That is... good to know, Ms Magnusson. She should be able to, ah, handle her duties- I believe she is already coping well with what she's been given. Ambassadorship is not as exalted as Jack, but no less important."

No, she doesn't accept comfort. Nor does she wish to show vulnerability in front of anyone she's not close to, least of all a non-Diamond and a parent of Avery's.

"She'll be very good at it. Ava has always been diplomatic." Which she certainly didn't get from her father. "And certainly, she's always worked hard for your Suit. Sometimes her father and I wonder what would have happened if she'd stayed in the Hearts, but she wouldn't have been happy there."

Astrid doesn't understand Diamonds. But then, she only has to try to understand one.

"...yes. She has. Whatever her rank." And that is more than just a statement of agreement. That's an echo of the shouting between her and Hector barely half an hour ago. Her lips draw tight, now, and she takes a deep breath. It would be easier to ask her mother rather than Avery herself.

"I've been... hard on her." The tone isn't quite a question, isn't quite an assertion. It's just... an opening.

It's often easier to ask a person outside the situation, Astrid watches Säde evenly for a moment before inclining her head.

"She believes you feel her personal preferences overshadow any of her other skills," Astrid finally says into the silence.

She crosses her arms in front of her, an instinctive defence. "She has... mentioned as much. And she has not shown any inclination to change her ways until recently. I hesitate to say that it is due to her accident, but..."

Of course, there's another factor to that. But Säde hasn't thought of that. She's still adjusting.

Much of Säde's problem with Avery is likely Astrid's fault. She raised her little girl to be like her, a free spirit, and while she became a free spirit Diamond instead of a free spirit Heart, it does mean that her upbringing just didn't put as much emphasis on what other people think. It put an emphasis on not giving much of a damn about what other people think, and holding your head high regardless.

But her accident is definitely not why Avery's behavior has changed, and Astrid looks contemplative before she speaks. "My daughter," she says, "would likely prefer I not tell you this. But I think you need to understand her if you're to work together." And even as a Ten, Avery with need to work with her Ace.

"When Sieben Dietrich committed suicide, he sent Avery a letter. It was a long letter, discussing his feelings and how he wished he could feel more for her. He told her he wished he loved her." She paused. "Ava didn't wish she loved him, not that way. Mr. Dietrich was a friend and nothing more than that - and there's nothing wrong with that. But suicide notes are affecting to those who get them, and I...suspect that the reason for her accident was because she was still dealing with that letter. And if her behavior has changed, Lady Säde, it's because that letter has convinced her that it must."

Her jaw sets as Astrid speaks, and her eyes flick over Astrid's face, lips twisting to the side. Ah. That is... well, it's no wonder Avery reacted so badly to her when she visited the one time following the accident. "Avery's quite... headstrong, as am I. I had no idea until now how much she had been holding back in deference to me."

Her arms loosen slightly, dropping to wrap around her waist instead. "Is there anything else you're willing to tell me?"

It was not a good time for her daughter, Astrid thinks. She'd lost her rank, and while Astrid had never understood ambition, Avery had always dreamed of being Jack, or Queen, or Ace. Jack had been the only one within reach, and now it was out of reach again, because unless the new Jack did a spectacularly bad job, Avery wouldn't challenge her. She'd lost a friend, and at the time there had been no indication that she'd ever be fully functional again.

The only thing she has left to say is something that's hard for any woman to hear. "Avery used to admire you very much," she says. "That's paled recently. Now she thinks you believe her unworthy to be a member of your Suit, and I imagine relations are mostly strained because of that."

"No one is unworthy to be a Diamond," Säde says sharply, instinctively. She bites the inside of her lip, cutting back any further words until she's reigned her temper in and marshalled her thoughts into something closer to what she ought to be, ought to present as the Ace of Diamonds. "If I have ever believed her unworthy of anything, it is the rank of Jack. I did not set out to establish this in my head when she first took on the rank, I assure you, but the closer we worked together, the more her behaviour reinforced that belief."

She's silent for a few moments before going on, voice forcedly even but brittle. "And the more it was reinforced, the more I've communicated that to her. It is, I think now, a failing of mine as both an Ace and... and as a person." And hadn't Hector said much the same?

Astrid remains silent until Säde winds down, and then she inclines her head with a slight smile.

"I think," she says slowly, "that you and Avery were not ready to work as closely together as Face Cards must work. Her work in the kitchens must have been largely separate from much of the work the Face Cards do, and she'd only managed human resources for a brief time. I think that while it's hard to find any silver lining in her accident, and I am sure Avery doesn't think there's any at all, if there is a silver lining, it's that you now have the opportunity to work together as Ace and Ten in a way that you hadn't been able to before she was named Jack, since she'd barely become a Ten when Lady Helena resigned.

"I hope that you both use this opportunity, because if I know my daughter, her current belief that this fall from Jack means she should be satisfied with being a Ten forever - it's not going to last." And someone would face a challenge, whether it was the yet-to-be-named Jack, or Avery's mentor.

She nods slowly as Astrid speaks, the tension draining from her bit by bit. "I certainly shall. And I- I thank you, for your advice. It will be something to think on while I'm away." Something to stew over, advice and argument both, while making nice with her stepson and daughter-in-law, introducing Leigh to them, going through the motions of a christening and godmotherhood.

She'll decide to apologise, but it won't crystallise fully until she's back in the Deck, soaked in memories of Juuso and how he'd talk, how he'd brag and laugh so full of life.

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[for Hector, but OTA] I cannot see when the stars are gone

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