[OTA] Casual Sketches

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

Elisha isn't in his office. He's not in his rooms, either, or his studio for that matter. If someone was looking for the King of Clubs, they'd have to go through all the usual suspects and some of the more unusual ones - the training rooms, the kitchens, the offices of the other Club Faces - before they came across him in a secluded corner of Club Castle's vast library. It's not the worst place to do paperwork. But he's not doing paperwork, of course. More...doodling. Faces instead of shapes, this time. There's one of Eileen, one of Hadyn, and maybe a few other random and not so random people. As like as not, they won't ever develop into anything more than this, but it's relaxing.

It gets his mind off everything else for a few moments, at least. At least, until someone finds his hiding place. Or, hey, maybe the library will sprout a picturesque cottage. Anything, apparently, is possible.

Comments

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

"That we know it's worrisome, but we're working on a solution." He picks up his charcoal again and shades in a wave in Hadyn's hair. "And I generally add something about knowing that it's difficult, but the one thing I don't worry about is the Clubs' ability to handle the adversity."

Which was usually enough to stop them in their tracks. Clubs weren't the most proud Suit, but they had their pride.

"Why don't you sit down, Elani?"

[elani-songbird.livejournal.com]

She stares at Elisha for a second, having another wavering moment but you know. He's her King. It's not, really, a request.

So she sits down, looks at him expectantly. "Yes?"

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

He moves the pile of paperwork, already mentally calculating which needs him and which can be done by Pete or by the Tens before he looks back up at her.

"I know this is a serious situation," he says after a moment. "And we're all doing our best to fix it, but it's come to my attention that you're heading towards getting run down."

[elani-songbird.livejournal.com]

She looks up at him, a little surprised, mouth opening as if to protest that she's fine. But you know, she's not. Not as fine as she ought to be.

Instead, she changes tacks, "I can manage. It's just been a bit steeper learning curve than I expected." With the stuff that happened with the borders and all.

Elani certainly doesn't want him to say she's failed, that he's choosing someone else. And it's quite likely something of that fear shows on her face.

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

"I'm not asking if you can manage this. I know you can." Elisha's voice is quiet. Authoritative in a way he hasn't often been since he left the military. "But you have to manage the next thing too, no matter how big or small it ends up being. There's always something else around the next corner, Elani, and you can't expend all your energy in the right now."

He picks up a file from the pile and flips it open briefly before looking at her again. "Being Jack means you have to be prepared for something else following this. And that means mentally as much as any other way."

[elani-songbird.livejournal.com]

"What do you want me to do?" She's quiet, not because she's breaking but more that she's listening. Trying to work this out and get it settled in her mind. To make sure they're both on the same page.

At least she doesn't disagree there will always be something. She's seen it in action over the years, after all. This is just the first time she's felt the weight of it on her own shoulders.

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes you can't please everyone," he tells her. "And you can't bend over backwards to try to solve a problem alone. We're trying your ides. If it doesn't work, we'll come up with another idea." Calm down. Have a little faith.

And also: "I would very much like it if you didn't eat dinner in your office," he says. "As, I think, would your parents and Mr. DeWitt."

[elani-songbird.livejournal.com]

She nods, slowly. Takes a long breath, lets it out. "Okay. I'll-..."

And she wrinkles her nose at that. Caught! "-...do my best."

Which is about all any of them can promise, right?

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

"Mmhmm." He can't ask more of her since sometimes Hadyn has to drag him home at night - though he's generally beating Hadyn to the apartment lately, so long as the play's running.

"But don't blame me if an English teacher decides to toss you over his shoulder."

[elani-songbird.livejournal.com]

That brings something of color back into her cheeks and she looks down slightly. "Okay, I won't blame you, Elisha."

She can just blame Alasdair, right? Right.`

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

It's perfectly acceptable to him, at least.

"If there's nothing else?" She should get on that work-life balance thing. And he'll get to work demolishing the paperwork she brought him.