James Theodore Morganstern (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
holdsmyheart) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
houseofcards_rp2013-02-20 04:42 pm
holdsmyheart) wrote in houseofcards_rp2013-02-20 04:42 pm
ota {a heart-stopping moment}
The King of Hearts was not a man prone to panicking. Quite the contrary, Theo usually presented a calm, unruffled demeanor to the rest of the Deck, a comfortable solidarity more than willing to offer a hand, shoulder, or whatever else was needed, anytime, anywhere. Even his ascension to the Kingship hadn't proved too stressful; he'd simply taken everything in stride as he always did, taking care to make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone.
Today, however, Theo was panicking.
Oh, not in the sense of running up and down the hallways, screaming and waving his arms like a lunatic. Subtly, like the tenseness in his usual smile, the quickness in his stride, the tightness around his eyes (now that the bruises had faded), and the clipped conversations which ended far too quickly than they normally did.
The reason for this was not, ironically enough, due to the troubles currently plaguing the Deck, or the many other issues which sat on his desk, patiently waiting. No, this morning, Margret had arrived in his office, along with Theo's morning coffee (despite his years in the Deck, Theo'd never acquired the taste for hot tea, and his coffee was even black, instant--oh, the blashphemy) and she'd very succinctly informed her King that she'd finally gained entrance to the Immunology graduate program at Johns Hopkins Medical and would be leaving in two weeks to get settled and ready for summer classes.
--needless to say, Theo'd dropped his coffee mug in surprise. In retrospect, however, he couldn't be anything else but delighted for her; she'd earned it, after all. It was simply the enormous hole her absence was going to leave in his staffing, both in the Suit and his own practice. Margret had been his intern for years; as well as continuing her own education, she'd been his right hand in damn near everything, could run a clinic by herself if needed and somehow always remembered to use Splenda for the coffee, instead of raw sugar.
So he'd congratulated her, hugged her tight, teased her that everything was just going to fall slap apart once she left, then, after she'd went back to her duties in the infirmary, considered falling to the carpet in a heap himself, but opted to simply pace, instead. So, he'd closed his office door and headed for the grounds, hoping to divest all the anxiety through exercise, belied by his eventual dragging up at one of the picnic tables on the Green, sitting with elbows on the table and puffing on a cigarette from the "emergency" pack he always kept hidden in his desk.
[ooc notes: hoping to either boost the Heart ranks by having a character apply as PA for Theo, or place an existing one in the spot, either'd be awesome. <3]
Today, however, Theo was panicking.
Oh, not in the sense of running up and down the hallways, screaming and waving his arms like a lunatic. Subtly, like the tenseness in his usual smile, the quickness in his stride, the tightness around his eyes (now that the bruises had faded), and the clipped conversations which ended far too quickly than they normally did.
The reason for this was not, ironically enough, due to the troubles currently plaguing the Deck, or the many other issues which sat on his desk, patiently waiting. No, this morning, Margret had arrived in his office, along with Theo's morning coffee (despite his years in the Deck, Theo'd never acquired the taste for hot tea, and his coffee was even black, instant--oh, the blashphemy) and she'd very succinctly informed her King that she'd finally gained entrance to the Immunology graduate program at Johns Hopkins Medical and would be leaving in two weeks to get settled and ready for summer classes.
--needless to say, Theo'd dropped his coffee mug in surprise. In retrospect, however, he couldn't be anything else but delighted for her; she'd earned it, after all. It was simply the enormous hole her absence was going to leave in his staffing, both in the Suit and his own practice. Margret had been his intern for years; as well as continuing her own education, she'd been his right hand in damn near everything, could run a clinic by herself if needed and somehow always remembered to use Splenda for the coffee, instead of raw sugar.
So he'd congratulated her, hugged her tight, teased her that everything was just going to fall slap apart once she left, then, after she'd went back to her duties in the infirmary, considered falling to the carpet in a heap himself, but opted to simply pace, instead. So, he'd closed his office door and headed for the grounds, hoping to divest all the anxiety through exercise, belied by his eventual dragging up at one of the picnic tables on the Green, sitting with elbows on the table and puffing on a cigarette from the "emergency" pack he always kept hidden in his desk.
[ooc notes: hoping to either boost the Heart ranks by having a character apply as PA for Theo, or place an existing one in the spot, either'd be awesome. <3]
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"It's all about balance," he hummed, exhaling a puff of clove-scented smoke to the side. "Just like you want everyone else to delegate so that they don't fall apart, you need to do the same. Share the load and things will go far smoother." He'd learned that lesson hard just a few short months ago, when he was working himself into a rut to prevent himself from thinking, or feeling, or doing anything that would allow him to reflect on the losses at that time.
"It gets better."
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"Tunde was a fan of 'doing things himself', ergo, nothing much got done, and with no one to 'ride herd' on 'em, the high cards sort of...wandered in all different directions." Theo's expression became extremely saturnine.
"Although yanking a few chains back in the right direction has worked pretty well so far." He winked. "Been a bit of a shock to the poor Hearts, their new King so ham-handed."
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"I know the feeling. Poor kids are probably incredibly confused, though. Were I you, I would call them all to session and lay things out: what is acceptable and what isn't, what changes you're putting in place and what will be allowed to stand, and how discipline will change. It might be a good wake up call for those who need it." Because, doubtless, there were those who needed it more than others.
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"As soon as everyone gets settled in their new quarters, there will definitely be a gathering of Hearts, barring the world coming to an end." Theo had Plans for his Suit, and there were a few changes in the works, yes, indeed.
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Things could definitely be worse than they were, regardless.
"If you need anything, you have my personal cell phone number. Call me and I'll provide any support I can, of whatever variety you need."
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