[OTA] A Sudden Bold and Unexpected Question

[gotyourheart]

When King Theo had called her to his office, she had gone in fully anticipating he was going to tell her he was making her Head of Security at last. Which he did.

What she wasn't expecting was for him to offer the position of Queen. She'd been hesitant, at first, but as he explained his expectations and hopes for her and the rest of the Suit, she found herself feeling more comfortable as she recognized that they were the same. At the end, she'd accepted, and taken her leave to go get things in order in her office. Eventually, though, it properly sank in exactly what she'd committed to, and while she didn't regret it, she certainly needed a little bit of liquid courage to deal with the news.

Which is why, late in the evening, the new Queen of Hearts will make her way down to the Four Suits to indulge in a (surely well-deserved) drink.

[tag for Rowan ♥ ?]

Comments

[falsepretences]

Hypocritical. Don't forget hypocritical, it's the most important trait.

"I'm certain you are," he says. "Loving, concerned, model of virtue that you are, Queen Rowan." Maybe if he needled her enough, she'd start resembling a different Queen of Hearts.

That might be fun times.

"So, your first step, obviously," he continues, "simply must be using your newfound position to beat down...pardon me. Protect the innocent Hearts from the last remaining Spade influences. Will you start with Hadyn, do you think, or Maggie St. John?"

[gotyourheart]

Her jaw clenches, but she doesn't strike out much though she dearly, dearly wishes to. She doesn't want to give him the satisfaction.

"I will start, Mr. Novak, with ensuring that anything or anyone that proves a threatening force to the Hearts is taken care of in a way that limits that threat. And I hope mostly for their sake that you aren't suggesting your brother and Maggie are such a threat."

Even though she may have thought it, at least in Hadyn's case.

[falsepretences]

"Oh, I don't think so. But we both know what you think of my opinion." He takes a sip of his drink and tilts his head to one side.

"And we both know that you're prejudiced against my family. Oh, except my cousin. The King of Spades was acceptable to sleep with, wasn't he? But his cousins - his younger cousins - no, certainly they shouldn't be treated as valued Hearts."

But if she's hoping Hadyn will follow Jordan to the Spades - well, that's unlikely. She's just giving him a reason to be exactly what she thinks he is. Giving them both that reason, really.

[gotyourheart]

"Who I sleep with, relative of yours or no, is none of your concern," comes the slightly more heated reply, "And perhaps you would have been more valued had you ever given an indication you actually wanted to be a true part of the Suit."

But maybe that was something of a chicken-and-egg scenario. She doesn't want to think about that.

[falsepretences]

He gives her a disbelieving look. He turned in - and trapped - his mother for the good of the Hearts. Well, at least partially for the Hearts, and partly to break free.

But he'd been breaking free because he couldn't countenance killing Ceiro Ryan.

"Perhaps you were hoping I would throw myself on my sword after I saved your former King from being slowly poisoned to death," he murmured. "Alas, that's really not my style."

[gotyourheart]

"And what a pity at that," she mutters, only barely under her breath. It's good for both their sake that she glances up, then, and spots Iggy hovering and trying to beckon her over. Finishing her drink, she smiles coldly at the Spade as she gets to her feet.

"I'm terribly sorry to end such a lovely conversation, but I'm being called away. Goodbye, Mr. Novak."

She wishes this would be for the last time, but she imagines that won't happen so easily.