[ota] this is just a tribute

[hamelinic]

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.

Comments

[gotyourheart]

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."

[hamelinic]

"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.

[gotyourheart]

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."

[hamelinic]

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?"

[gotyourheart]

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

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

[hamelinic]

"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."

[gotyourheart]

"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."

[hamelinic]

"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.

[gotyourheart]

"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.

[hamelinic]

"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."

[gotyourheart]

"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.

[hamelinic]

"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."

[gotyourheart]

"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.

[hamelinic]

Where's the trust, Queen of Hearts. Where's the love.

"Keep us on our toes, dearest of Hearts. It does us all good."