houseofcards_rp | [ota] this is just a tribute

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[ota] this is just a tribute

So apparently there are a zillion things going wrong with the Deck these days. Murders and Challenges and hijinks and all the sort of thing which really, well, if the denizens don't expect it by now, they're just not the best at denizen-ing this particular location of denizenship, are they.

So you know who isn't concerned? This Joker.

And you know who is still riding a high from his weekend get-away with his super-best-friend Johniel? Also this Joker. So you know who is ready to talk your ear off about elephants and dyeing silk and macaroni on a stick? Yes, still Cynric. He is, at least, playing very energetically while he babbles.

Seriously, though. Mac and cheese. On a stick. You know you have hours to listen to him talk about that. Don't be shy.

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She'd been drawn in by the music. She'd stayed for the discussion about the elephants. And now, somehow, she found herself contemplating macaroni and cheese on a stick. Not the easiest thing to get her head around.

"Wouldn't that be rather difficult to eat? Especially if it's very cheesy?"

"Admittedly, it very much was, but more than worth it for the fact you're eating pasta on a stick."

Because be real, Rowan. Everything is better on a stick, yes or very much yes.

"Go on with you. You know you're already plotting to come with us next time we go, dearheart. You can admit it."

She is still a little dubious. Okay-- a lot dubious. But she's had a fair amount of carnival food to consider the concept.

"Suppose I wouldn't mind the trip. If only to try this macaroni on a stick thing."

And also to enjoy the company of a certain fiddler and his friend. Maybe.

Who is the best wingman? Cynric. Apparently. Johnny owes him. Possibly can pay him back in macaroni. Or in a bed for the night.

Cynric is the best wingman until the part where he takes over Johnny's place at random.

"You won't regret it. I swear it up and down, my cardiac Queen."

A very good wingman, indeed. Other than that one little bit. But she doesn't know that fact quite yet.

"I'll take you at your world, then, Mister Joker," she says with a smile.

Edited 2013-07-06 03:22 (UTC)

Alas, the pet Joker is something a woman simply has to consider when considering Johnny for more than an evening. Because the pet Joker is absolutely not relinquishing the (slightly unusual) friendship for any woman. Or man.

Maybe violin. He might understand if Johnny had to go be with his violin.

"You won't have to. You'll see for yourself. And you'll enjoy yourself to boot." His fingers reach to tug at a loose strand of her hair, overly familiar in the way Jokers are inclined--and typically suffered--to be. "I'm keeping you to it, Lady."

Second fiddle to a fiddle. She'd probably be hurt if she knew.

The overly familiar way is, of course, suffered with a smile, "I'll look forward to it, then."

"You don't really have to wait, you know." This is a completely safe glitter and spark in Cynric's eyes. Don't get reasonable on him, Rowan. "We've got plans, you know. Has Johnny told you?"

A raised brow.

"Not yet, no. Should I be concerned?"

"No. You'll love it." Maybe. Not necessarily. But it lights up the Joker's face like a normal human being who's actually just excited about something, not the deviant gleam of his profession. "Have you spent much time in trees, Lady?"

Which is a comforting, even pleasant, thing to see.

"Not nearly as much to be able to stay in them comfortably, but certainly enough to get by."

Enough to help her climb into windows or get away from crime scenes, for example.

That's enough. That's ideal, almost.

"Johnny promised he'd help me put proper hammocks in a tree." Cynric tended to sleep in natural dips of branches, but more normal human beings might need, you know. A properly safe place to rest to be encouraged to spend real amounts of time there. "Will you help test them out?"

A hammock. She's fairly certain she's never actually been in a hammock before. She's not entirely certain that qualifies her to be a tester.

Ah, well. First time for everything, right?

"Suppose if it doesn't interfere too much with Queenly duties."

"It'll bring you joy, Lady Rowan. And joy will make you a far more effecatious leader than you already are. Really, you ought to play more-- to minimize unhappiness interfering with your duties."

It can be serious and not at the same time.

Truer words have never been spoken, and her there's a glint of something like respect-- or at least acknowledgement of the wisdom of his words-- in her eyes as she nods.

"I quite agree. We all could benefit from taking a little time off to enjoy ourselves."

It absolutely gets him puffing up just a hair with contentment.

"Got to keep you on the up and up. Who else is going to keep the Hearts on the straightish and narrowish?"

"Isn't that what we've the other Faces for?" she jests.

But really, they all need to be in their best conditions.

"What, and me out of a job?" Clearly, the point of a Joker is this. "I've absolutely got dibs on looking after you lot."

"Ah, and now we discover the true purpose of the Jokers," she says with a grin, "You've helped me solve an age-old mystery, sir."

"And what will always be an age old mystery to me, dearheart, is why no one's ever asked."

Other than the obvious fact asking Jokers things tended to lead to aggita rather answers.

"Oh, I'm rather certain they have. It's just that we're never given any straight answers."

Because Jokers were just as good at evasive twisting and turning of words as the rest of them.

"Suppose no one else was quite clever as you are at asking the right questions." There's a brief tilt of his head before he amends it to shrug. "Or maybe you're just pretty. I hear pretty people get things handed to them."

"What about both? Both would be nice," she says with a glimmer in her eyes.

She'd hate not to be either clever or pretty for only being the one.

"The pretty is obvious." And the tilt of his head is just a little reminiscent of earlier conversation. Just a little too sharp in the way Jokers sometimes get when they know something you don't know.

Which, to be fair, is true 90% of the time and a bluff the other 10%.

"Clever I suppose you've been proving."

"I'm very glad to hear it," she answers with a small smile on her face, even if the glimmer in his eyes is a little suspect.

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hamelinic - 2013-07-21 11:51 (UTC) - Expand

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