Home is where the Hearts are

[spysinspades]

[The Green.

After so long, so much work returning to the Deck, he hated the very land for a moment.

It had landed him in the Green. Alone, in public view, in midday, amid a swath of empty grass. It was one last petty cruelty, he thought, for the Deck to display his shame in full public view. Even the very earth of his home betrayed him like this.

David had meant to sneak in, silent as a shadow, coming through the woods.To wander halls of all four castles, to be the ghost from people's nightmares brought to life. An avenging shade to feast on their guilt. These people, who didn't even have the decency to let him die with honor and instead left him to slowly rot as a vegetable in a hospital bed.

But no. He washed his hands of that. He would... not forgive. It was too big to forgive. He would accept the reality of his situation.

He returned because there was no where else he could imagine going, and because he would make them look him in the face - his pale, gaunt face - and understand that there were consequences to the choices the made.

They should have killed him.

He wished he thought that in anger.]

Fuck.

[Walking was really his only option here, leaving him wide open to anyone catching him out.]

Comments

[threecardmonty]

"Hope so. She's at that difficult stage: half girl, half young woman." He studies the octopus before shaving off a bit more wood. "Missed her birthday, but that's to be expected when you're gone." He nods at the lunch pail sitting next to him and the metal thermos.

"Clubs packed me up four sandwiches. Help yourself if you're hungry. Got coffee." It's the mannerly thing to do. He'll talk about the travel if he's asked. But he's Monty, and he'll make the man ask.

[spysinspades]

Since the coma, there had been something wrong with his digestion. He'd tried to figure it out, but the eventual conclusion he'd come to was that he needed a doctor.

David had no plans of returning to the doctor.

"No, thank you. I don't suppose she got my gift," asked with a statement. Maybe Monty wouldn't make him push too hard for that.

For the King, ignoring the travel trouble would have been detrimental. For the Joker, it was simply a different set of priorities.

[threecardmonty]

It's possible David might notice the mucking big tower in the middle of the green, not to mention the broken trunks where majestic trees had stood prior to the Magician's magic.

"Suit yourself." He pours coffee into his cup. "Don't know about any gift, but reckon she might not talk about if she had. She was more upset than she let on when you left. You could ask her, but--"

[spysinspades]

Thankfully, new architecture was someone else's problem as well. Until it somehow became his, then he'd have to think about it.

Eileen. Probably hated him, now. Probably believed what everyone else believed, and would be just as hurt as Ethan and Amy. Seemed that Ace in his pocket wasn't there anymore.

Hands tucked firmly into his pockets, David just looked up towards the sun and blinked. "Yes, I can imagine." And he wouldn't even defend himself when she accused him.

[threecardmonty]

He'd given some thought to telling the man Eileen was under house arrest--what she probably thought of it; grown-ups just said grounded--but thought better of it. She'd gotten into her current mess by sneaking out and visiting Julien. Last thing she needed was the former Spade king sneaking in to see her.

Kevin didn't need that kind of headache neither.

But he'd tell the guy if he'd asked. He rubs the little mollusk with a soft cloth and relents. "She'll be happy to have you back."

[spysinspades]

"You think." It was supposed to be a question. It came out more as dry disbelief. Ah, well. The King mask wasn't useful any more anyway.

David threaded a dry smile across his lips and let it linger there. "I'll just see what kind of bribe I have to offer."