[ota] it,s the end of the as we know it. and feel fine (not really)

[heartafterheart.livejournal.com]

There were few times when a formal audience was called, at least these days. Fewer still when the King of Hearts sent out request to each suit that they send someone to bear witness...without saying why. Hadyn and Jordan's presence was required, in a way to did not give them room to deny their King.

And Ceiro, for once, looked the part of a King. In the few months since his illness began, he seemed to have aged. His face was drawn, lacking the customary kindness that so many of the Deck had always known him to possess. On his eyes were hood, and his face was drawn as the crown on his head seemed to weigh him down more and more. He sat on the aged, rarely used throne as people filed in, ignoring the hushed murmurs that seemed to rush people as they entered. Instead his eyes stayed focused on some spot ahead of him, hands folded and pressed against his lips as his elbows rested on the arms of the chair.

It seemed as if hours passed (though they hadn't) before Laureline Novak was escorted into the room, a guard on each side as they held on to her arms.

"What is the meaning of this, your....Majesty." Her tone seemed to shift even in mid-sentence, and she hesitated as she looked at the scene in front of her.

"Madame Novak," Ceiro spoke after a moment, his voice an eery mix of calm and anger. "You stand before us accused of treason against your Suit and the Deck, of attempted murder, and..." He paused then, before adding one last charge. "And the murder of your husband."

"W-what?" Laureline started to gape, before she scoffed. "Murder, your highness? I hard-"

"Silence, Madame!" Ceiro said in a booming voice. "You are guilty by your own words!" He hit the button that began the record in exquisite detail, in her own words as she admitted to her crimes. Slowly Laureline's face grew hard, as she looked to her sons, to Jordan.

"How...how could you!"

But before Jordan could answer, Ceiro stepped closer to her. "A mother who loved her children would not ask how. She would never have placed them in the position they found themselves in- pitted against the love of their mother and love of their suit. To force them to choose, to make drastic decisions in order to....protect her from herself."

She started to speak but Ceiro cut her off with an uncharacteristic lack of kindness. "I have no patience for your excuses!" He snapped, be it true anger or the poison in his system talking. "I strip you of your rank, Laureline Novak, and of your suit. You will find no solace in the arms of the Hearts, these so called 'weak people'. You are banished, least some other suit might well step forward to defend you."

And then he turned to the boys, Jordan and Hadyn who stood side by side just to the right of the thrones. Hadyn was watching his mother with an expression caught between regret and attempted apathy. Ceiro knew as well as any that he'd sacrificed to do what was right. And Jordan, despite what he'd done to help Ceiro, was stony faced...even if only on the outside. The King of Hearts suspected that was not truly the case.

"This is my last act as King." He said, standing up taller as he looked at everyone gathered one by one. "Though it breaks my heart. An ill king does no better than a dead one, and I do not seek to inflict more suffering upon the Deck." Enough people had died, had they not? Death haunted too many of them, too many of the suits. "I leave to get well- so that I might live for my wife...for my son. For those that need me."

He stepped then toward Jordan and Hadyn, continuing to speak in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "And for that, I have you both to thank. Had you never spoken, there might well have been another king to set in the ground. I cannot express you to, Jordan, how much of a service you have done my family. You have earned my love and respect." He clapped the younger man on the shoulder at that, "and you deserve the love and respect from other."

When he turned to Hadyn, the newest Nine gave him an almost skeptical look, before offering a slightly humorless, weak smile. "And you, Hadyn. You too have earned my love, my respect. My thanks. And I hope that someday you kind your way life- the way you want it."

He offered them both a hug before he turned and looked at Laureline, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If any would speak for the accused- they should speak now."

[ooc: This is Ceiro's final post. After this, he will be leaving the Deck to seek advanced medical assistance. He will, eventually, make a recovery and will return at least in an NPCly fashion. As for Laureline, this too, is her last post for some time. Assuming that no one steps up to speak for her- she will be escorted from the Deck lands without- well...anything more than she has on her back. Ceiro, of course, is not entirely cruel. She has just enough money to get her started on a life outside the Deck- but that's about it.]

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[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

A lot could be hidden behind a stony stare, and Jordan had worn his constantly since Ceiro had sent word. It was over, it was ending. He doubted his mother would die, but this was the end of their relationship. He'd ended it when he stepped into her apartments and recorded every word. Still, he couldn't really let anyone know how he felt, and that he knew was part of his problem in the Hearts.

But he couldn't. And the only time his mask cracked was when his mother turned on him. It was only brief, though, and then he slammed it back in place. He let Ceiro hug him, even embraced him back slightly, and then linked his hands behind his back.

And no, he was not speaking for Laureline Novak.

[somuchheart.livejournal.com]

Blythe approaches him after Laureline is escorted away, arms crossed over her chest in a familiar defensive gesture from months ago. After a long pause, she asks softly, "How... are you?" It was too familiar - maybe not exactly what Laureline said, but the anger and harshness behind it.

[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

Jordan is in the same defensive gesture, though he likes to think people would have found it casual if that hadn't heard exactly what what Laureline had said about both he and Hadyn. As for how he is, he huffs out a laugh.

"Tired."

That seems to cover all sorts of things.

[wiredspade.livejournal.com]

She sits in the back quietly watching. She says not a word. She has no love for Laureline Novak though she understands in a strange way.

And she watches others speak to Jordan and she? She takes a breath. Meghana can't react right now. She has to bury it.

Maybe later, when she can talk to Jordan like a mature adult when his whole world isn't crashing down.

[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

At least she knows now why he's looked so worn down every time she's seen him since last Friday. That tape is why. And he can't talk yet. Not when Uncle Davin is disappearing with Avery, when his mother gave him that look, and when he has to stand tall.

But later, he comes to find her, and he has a bottle of expensive whisky in hand, because some things...some things just require drinking.

[sirforawhile.livejournal.com]

Iggy steps up beside him as the trial ends, once Jordan has returned to the crowd. He's silent for a few moments, hands in his pockets, solemn and thoughtful, studying the other man. "Hell of a load to carry."

[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

It takes a moment for Jordan to look back at Iggy and acknowledge the other man's there. They're not that far apart in age, and Iggy had long been the library's best patron as well as being one of Jordan's contacts at his family's publishing company. But for all that, he's never been that close to him. No one has, of course, and that's long been his problem.

"Yeah," he finally says. "I...had to do it, though."

[so-complicit.livejournal.com]

Davin hadn't been, quite, sure what he was coming to witness when he'd heard about everyone being called in, about Laureline being brought in under guard.

So he's here. And he hears everything. And the floor drops out from under him.

He should say something, he knows. She's his sister and he loves her and he should defend her. But there's no defense for this. There's nothing he can say that will prevent her banishment. So he watches, face drawn and pale, as she is escorted away.

And he'll vow she is not left wanting Outside.

[uncutclarity.livejournal.com]

Avery is the Head of Intersuit Relations, and she's an ex-Heart - so of course she's one of the Diamonds to attend the audience. And really, she hasn't an ounce of sympathy for Laureline Novak, who brought this on herself with every deliberate action, with every nasty, cruel word. Her sympathy is all for Laureline's sons.

And, of course, for her brother.

It's to Davin's side that she drifts to first. Hadyn will soon be surrounded by his friends, and while she wants to be there for him...she can't really stand to watch Davin stand there by himself. So she approaches, and lightly touches his arm. "I'm sorry," she says simply.

[so-complicit.livejournal.com]

He looks over at her, expression stark.

"You didn't do anything."

Which is, you know, better than pointing out that everybody's sorry but that doesn't change his sister's treason, attempted murder, and that she's banished.

Or that almost any other Suit would have seen her imprisoned and possibly executed for this crime.

[cardpuncher.livejournal.com]

Well.

Rowan wasn't expecting anything like that. If Ceiro hadn't been as strong and imposing as he had been chances were she would have done something stupid, so she was glad that didn't go that way.

She wasn't glad about the rest of the King's speech though, and it left her silent and toughful.

And silent and thoughtful she was going to stand there for a while.

[maskofhearts.livejournal.com]

"You couldn't look more thoughtful and disturbed if you tried." Hadyn said after a moment, trying not to look as out of place as he felt all of a sudden. "You should try to look more...something. In general I think."

Though it was starting to remind him of how the suit felt when they'd first arrived in the Hearts.

[cardpuncher.livejournal.com]

"In all seriousness, I don't do thoughtful and disturbed. Gives me nasty neck pains." She did get his point though; she felt like a lot of, well, nothing. It wasn't a good feeling.

"I'll get over it soon. I hope. Are you getting over stuff?"

[heart-the-art.livejournal.com]

She breathed in slowly before glancing at her aunt.

Sunnae's eyes were distant for a moment but quietly shook her head when she realized her niece was studying her. "It wasn't as if others didn't see the signs, Sandcastle." She murmurs quietly.

"Signs?" She asks, hands tightening together.

The older Molyneux smiled slightly archly. "Mrs. Novak is a teacher-trainer and high ranked among the Spades." Sunnae lightly swatted at Zharok who sat her other side while he made the 'too much talking' hand flapping gesture, "Or was. Both her children climbed the ranks so incredibly fast. All warning signs. We just thought Jordan or Hadyn would challenge and not... do something so incredibly risky."

Sandy merely nods and quietly watches with the feeling there's more to this than anyone wants to admit. But for now, she will approach Hadyn to see how he's doing when she can.

[maskofhearts.livejournal.com]

Hadyn stared, because he didn't know what else to do. He watched, silently as his mother was escorted out of the room, and then stared at the door as if he wasn't convinced she was really gone. Or maybe he was, and he just didn't know how to deal with it yet.

Either way- he blinked a little, before he turned and looked at Sandy and offered her a dim, brief smile.

"Hey," he said, "looking down again."

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

The King of Clubs listened in cold silence as Laureline was accused, convicted, and banished, and he knew that had it been his Suit the punishment would have been on the surface the same and in reality far worse. But it was not his Suit, and his concern was only personal.

He nodded to Jordan, speaking to Blythe, before making his way to Hadyn, whose mask was still in place. Perhaps he didn't have to speak to him here. He'd probably come back to Club Castle tonight. But it seemed important.

[maskofhearts.livejournal.com]

"You'd think there would be more dramatics," he said, not really looking at Elisha as he stared at the door his mother had left through. "But...she just left. She didn't beg, she didn't try to defend herself. She just left, like....she knew she was going to do that all along."

It was possibly paranoia speaking, but he wasn't sure how to feel.

[ishineon.livejournal.com]

Säde is one of those who comes to bear witness, partially out of duty and partially out of her own curiosity. Her lips are pressed into a thin line as she listens, paying particular attention to the expressions on the Novaks' faces. This is, she thinks, a bad time to lose another Face Card of any Suit, but it cannot be helped. Hopefully Judith will choose someone suitable; hopefully her youth and her love for her husband will not blind her to good choices.

[maskofhearts.livejournal.com]

Hadyn adjusted his jacket a little as he moved toward the exit, frowning a little. He'd go find Elisha again later, after the man had finished his business as King.

"Madame Ace," he said, after a moment realization that Sade was watching them all. He merely nodded, before turning back to leave again.

[maidenthespade.livejournal.com]

Katya listens as story unfolds. Laureline is Davin's sister and Julien's teacher, her son Ace's student, other her Ten's lover. Even though drama did not take place within her Suit, it will affect them.

She thinks Ceiro weak for banishing woman instead of finishing her. One does not leave viper alive to crawl back into nest. This is no outward mercy to be swiftly followed by unseen assassin's knives. No, Ceiro believes his is right and just approach. Perhaps it would be...for Heart. But Laureline Novak has proven she is not and never has been of that Suit. It is bad time to lose yet another Face. And what of Athena? With all her years a Spade, she never considered foul play? Perhaps she thought soft Suits incapable of intrigue. But Katya knows better. People are people, no matter outward seeming.

And because people are people, she wonders if Novak brothers will ever be accepted as true members of their adoptive Suit.

[headfollowheart.livejournal.com]

She should speak to Hadyn. She will, though perhaps not here. They're alike in a lot of ways, and Hadyn probably won't want her to offer comfort in public. Embraces will wait until they're alone, and until then, she can trust Elisha to take care of her brother.

It's still strange to have that thought.

So instead of going to Hadyn's side, she drifts towards her Queen, watching the scene with a pale face. At least, she thinks, Jordan and Hadyn didn't let Laureline do as she wished. At least Ceiro would live.

"It makes so much sense now," she says, "and yet I didn't really consider it before."

[acethatmatters.livejournal.com]

Julien is there, impassive, arms crossed.

This was not how he'd expected Laureline's time in the Deck to end but then, maybe it isn't the end. Banishment. His eyes follow her as she's escorted out of the audience chamber. Far too quiet.

He would have fought. The only way he plans on leaving the Deck for good is in a casket or a bodybag.

No, the only thing that's good, in his eyes, coming out of this announcement is Ceiro stepping down. Good riddance.

[fiddlerjohnny.livejournal.com]

Johnny is only there because Ceiro is his friend. Because Ceiro never calls these things. Both.

And to hear both about Laureline's treason and that Ceiro is leaving just leaves a heavy stone in the pit of his stomach. Of course, he has nothing to say to any of the Novaks, but he will move over to Ceiro once people start shuffling around.

"Think you'll like being a Ten better, anyway."

Which is better than saying damn you better get well you bastard.

[tearurheartout.livejournal.com]

It had been his decision and Judith certainly hoped it was for the better.
Because if it had been for her, Laureline would have been executed.
But it was for the better.
She had considered leaving Tristan with the nanny, but finally, he was in her arms, trying to reach for his father.
"He wants to go with you"

What is late >.>

[thediamondqueen.livejournal.com]

Intrigue is part of the Deck. Has been since its inception. But this level of deception is intolerable, impossible to forgive, especially not when it was directed at so good a man, especially when directed at the family of the perpetrator. For a few moments Rachel can't actually breathe for the anger.

If it had been her, Laureline would have died. Painfully, slowly, crushed until every semblance of that honor and pride she'd been so obsessed with was nothing more than a faint memory. Rachel was once Clubs; loyalty is something she treasures. Loyalty-- at least to the right people or causes-- was not something that foul Novak woman seemed to have.

But that's pushed out of her mind when Ceiro announces he is stepping down. And mentally she notes that-- save for David-- all those who were King when she became Queen or soon after have passed from the position. It leaves something of a bitter taste in the mouth.

So when some of the crowd has cleared, when Ceiro is alone, when there are not so many people clamoring for the attention of the (former) Hearts King, Rachel will approach him with an air of calm that reveals nothing of the turmoil within.

"Ceiro."

How odd to not say "King."