houseofcards_rp | [ota] the crown weighs on me

He hadn't expected some things when he took up the rank of King. And frankly all he could do is stare at the papers on his desk as if they were not there. He'd had a visit from his lovely Grandmother earlier that day, half-listened to her opinions on who he should name Ace in place of Julien, and half-listened to her congratulate him on his decision to remove the 'troublesome' factor. It was always a loving conversation with Vivienne Bernard, oh yes.

He and Michael had been avoiding each other rather well, all things considered. And for a man Clive owed an apology to, the King found himself completely devoid of words.

Instead he felt...he felt as if everyone was watching him with hungry eyes. Half to win his favor, the other half waiting for a sign of weakness before ripping him apart. Heh, maybe he was starting to under David a little too much. Paranoia was starting to creep into everything. And David was another thing that worried him, on top of it. He'd always respected the man, but there was certainly going to bad blood there- even if it wasn't outwardly admitted to.

Reaching out to the side, he picked up his glass of scotch and took a sip of it before leaning back in his chair. He hardly noticed when there was a knock on his door.

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He glanced up, expecting Chives again with food, when the door opened. He had a comment about being fine ready on his lips, but the world seemed to freeze for a long moment when his gaze feel upon David.

"My Lord," he breathed out, standing with enough clumsy speed that it had to look as if a fire had been lit under him. "I..." He didn't even know what to say, or how to say it.

"That's a rather silly form of address, don't you think? Considering current circumstances." David wandered in, hands tucked comfortably into his pockets and a bland smile as he took in the room.

"I was under the impression congratulations were in order, King of the Spades." The bow David offered with that was just this side of too big, elegant thought it might be. And that bow did nothing to hide the way his eyes managed to take in everything - from the paperwork to the scotch.

"Once a King, always a King- isn't that what they say?" He asked, blinking at the bow David offered him, and the congratulations. Somehow, he thought, he didn't feel any better to have the old King bow to him.

And being faced with David was merely a reminder that he was not, and ever would be able to fill the whole the man had left behind. For better or worse, Clive thought, the Spades loved David. Loved the man so much that he'd never be more than King that stood in the man's shadow at this rate.

"I...thank you." He said, after a moment, remembering himself as he glanced around the now orange, brightly decorated office. For a room that looked so warm, it certainly didn't feel it. "Is there...anything we can do to help you settle in?"

"Is it? Hm." Well, when they throw you out there's not much of a point, is there?

"I'm sure you'll manage well enough. You just have to learn all their names. Everything else... falls into line." At least, that had been the way he worked. He hadn't been a good King on a log time. He had no place to give advice.

One last glance around the office that had been his... what seemed like a very long time ago. "No need, your lady Queen was good enough to pass along most of my belongings.

"Doesn't seem to be so easy." He said, his shoulders falling a little as he looked down. After a moment his eyes came back up to David's and took a slow breath. "They loved you, well...most of them. Pretty sure the opinion of me runs the line of 'well, he's no David.'" It wasn't the most heartwarming comparison.

As for Katya handing over David's things, he nodded a little. That was...a good start he supposed. "Regardless, if there is anything I could do My-" he stopped himself, almost wincing. "David."

"No," David agreed, looking just past Clive. "It doesn't." Some things were much easier said than done, as well.

"You're new. Give them time to forget." Time for them to replace David the King with David the Joker, slot Clive into his proper role. Then everything would fall into line.

"The Deck shall supply, lord King. Jokers want for naught~" Have a blade of a smile, a joke on their traded title. And he'd never ask anything more from the Spades.

He'd look for the thing he thought to pick up at another time. For all he knew, they'd probably already ransacked the place and found it. He wanted to leave at that. Him without a care for the cruelty of Spades, but... ah. The poor man seemed so overwhelmed. And he'd loved them, once.

"You really only have to love them for their flaws, Clive. You now rule a Suit of outcasts." And David planned to watch over a Deck of them. Health of the whole and whatnot.

"Heh, that might be a long way off." He said, shaking his head. "You were a good King for them." Even if David was a Joker, and all. Even if Clive had never understood how the man could have just disappeared.

"Is that all? Some of their flaws don't see so...bad. And some just seem dangerous." He said, with a shudder. "I almost fear the day that Mr. Fox decides he'd make a better King than I. There is something utterly terrifying about that man."

"Oh... it only took a few years." And in the long game David had planned for the Spades, that had been no time at all. In the short term, though, it was very difficult.

"I believe Mr. Fox likes you more, Clive. Be a good King and you may not have to worry." Not nearly as reassuring as he could have been. Ah, well. Time to go. It didn't look like that mirror that used to sit behind the desk was there anymore. Pity, that.

"Just as well. He's always had odd appetites. Well, I must be off, Joker... things, you know. So time consuming." He didn't even try to lie well anymore. What a waste of practice.

[ota] the crown weighs on me

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