[ota] always tests

[theacethatmatters]

Supposedly, it was just sparring. That's what the young Seven had said he was interested in, to learn. But Julien could see the gleam in the younger man's eye that suggested it was more than that. More about seeing if the Ace who was now proven to be fallible could fall even further.

At least, in sparring among Spades, it's not unheard-of to beat your opponent black and blue. Bruises to remember the lesson by. More unheard-of is Julien helping the young Seven back to his feet, apparently all courtesy. Though the hissed come back when you're worthy is rather less than courtesy, but for the boy's ears only.

Of course, it was only the first of many such tests and lessons Julien expected he'd be getting in the near future, looking for weakness. And in this particular case he was fairly certain the boy had been put up to it by a supposed friend to be the punching-dummy, as it were.

He shakes his head, flexes his hands, wipes the sweat from his face. Then he raises his eyebrows at the small audience that seems to have gathered in the practice room. "Anyone else? Because I'd really rather go have some tea."

Comments

[theacethatmatters]

Julien looks at the towel curiously, then at the one that's already slung around his neck from where he wiped his face.

"What, miss Joker, is that for?"

[jokeswithknives]

She looked at the towel, back at Julien, back at the towel, then back to Julien. And scoffed.

"It's clean. Better than dirty, right?"

[theacethatmatters]

"And you think I need another one?"

What he needed was a shower. And that tea.

Being cordial about the favor has not occurred to him.

[jokeswithknives]

"You smell." Truth hurt, didn't it? And hey, she was being nice. Again, she waggled the towel. And smiled, her little-girl-with-scissors sort of smile.

The smile Uncle Cynric always liked.

[theacethatmatters]

"While I thank you for your concern, Miss Joker, I believe a towel is unlikely to stop one from smelling. A shower would likely be called for."

He'll pause and raise an eyebrow over at her. "And I can assure you for that I don't require any more assistance."

One never quite knew where the whims of a Joker might take them, after all.

[jokeswithknives]

Juliette just shrugged. "Oookay. If you say so." Tossing down the towel, she then dug around in one of her pockets and procured a handful of wrapped candies, holding them out.

"Want?"

[theacethatmatters]

"I'm afraid I never developed much of a taste for sweets."

It had been, quite literally, beaten out of him.

"But," he sighs, "I appreciate the offer."

At least he's been trying turn over a new leaf, a bit. Even if the thanks doesn't actually sound all that sincere.