[ota] beware, be canny and careful

[lowtohigh]

She doesn't regret it in the slightest. What's to regret?

Eileen is fully capable of making her own decisions. She's allowed to decide to leave Kevin behind and go visit the Spade dungeon. And someone--she's not certain who--is also fully capable of infinitely childishly telling Kevin exactly where he or she saw his theoretical charge slipping off to while he was turned around. And Kevin is not just capable but essentially required to tell her mother things like where her daughter was this past weekend.

Which means Eileen Eicheln has, for the first time in her life, seen her mother actually angry. It also means, for the first time in her life and very likely one of the first times in history, the Ace of Clubs is grounded.

Mr Kahl is allowed to bring work and keep her up to date with her studies. A student from Mr DeWitt's class is allowed to spend a bit of time letting her know what's she's missed. The King and Jack are certainly permitted to speak to their Ace at their convenience.

But everyone else? Is getting Kevin's most sympathetic smile and a firm shake of his head. "Seems house arrest is catching."


[ooc; Except probably anyone with half a reason can talk to the moodiest tween about how she done wrong. Kevin is secretly easy. Or just come shoot the shit with Kevin, I guess? o/]

Comments

[lowtohigh]

"...I don't understand."

Maybe it's blindness. Maybe it's the last piece of herself that's still genuinely a child, unable to see things with the cynical clarity with which she sees the rest of the world.

"Was... I supposed to stop him getting into this difficulty?"

She does love him. It's a simple love, just now, uncomplicated as it will likely become. It's the best she can comprehend.

[thecutdiamond]

"No, little one."

She won't understand, Rachel knows-- she hadn't at that age, after all. She just hopes she understands enough to trust.

"That's what your mother and Elisha and Kevin are trying to do for you."

[lowtohigh]

Of course she trusts. Of course she knows they love her. Of course she knows that this punishment is out of love rather than malice.

It doesn't make her less exhausted.

Her attention falls back to the journal as she nods quietly.

[thecutdiamond]

The silence stings, but she tries not to let it cut too deeply. Tries to remember that despite being an Ace and despite having lived through more things in her life than any thirteen-year-old ever should, Eileen is still a teen.

She wants to get up and lay a gentle hand on her shoulder, but she isn't sure if it's welcome, and it would be too disruptive to move.

She can sit with her niece in quiet for a little while.

[lowtohigh]

It wouldn't have been. Would have prolonged the tension, the displeasure, the unhappiness stuck between the girl's shoulders.

As it is, the tension eases just a little on its own.

"...Edgar spoke... German, right?"

It's something else to talk about. It's removed from the point of pain they're personally currently sitting at. They can move this way when other ways are blocked.

[thecutdiamond]

"He did," she answers after a moment, "He helped me learn, as a matter of fact."

[lowtohigh]

"...do you still?"

It's not quite an invitation. It's not not. It might be good, just for now, to not... be alone.

That's all.

[thecutdiamond]

"Not well," she answers, "But I can try to help, if you like."

It would be good for the both of them, perhaps.

[lowtohigh]

It takes a moment before her head bobs sharply, chair shifting to make room.

"Thank you, Auntie."

[thecutdiamond]

"Of course, little one."

As if she could do anything else but move closer to her, bend over the fragile documents and try to will her memory of German back to the forefront of her mind.

She'd do far more, for his daughter.

[lowtohigh]

It won't be instantly comfortable. It can't be. But it's a good step toward feeling normal again.

Eileen needs that.

[thecutdiamond]

And, as always, anything that her little one needs, Rachel will try to provide.

[lowtohigh]

Less clear, the older she grows, but something she'll always trust.