[ota] sleeping under strange skies

[thepupthatmatters]

He's ready for this. Of course he's ready for this.

He wouldn't be here if he weren't ready. Holló wouldn't have sent him through without being prepared. This isn't, after all, the sort of place a person gets sent without it being purposeful. Even the people who wander here 'by chance' are the people who need to be here, he's been told.

So it's the right time for Aleksei Volkov to be stepping out into the cold sunlight barely warming the walls of the Castle Spades, newly minted and processed and told he'll have to start working his way up from Two now.

The few things he'd brought with him have been settled into the cramped quarters he'll be sharing with a few other recent arrivals. What's stuck from his grandmother means he'll be starting off under the apparently quite severe Spade kitchen staff.

Hopefully it isn't the end of the world that he needs to pause when he's sent out to Town to pick up a few extra bottles of truffle oil and vanilla extract. Hopefully being 'ready for this' doesn't mean he can't take a moment--take a deep breath--as he lets settle into his bones the fact that he's here.


{ooc; He can be bumped into at the castle or being lost in Town. Also tag plz?}

Comments

[theacethatmatters]

[ooc: You can haz tag!]

New arrivals weren't so notable as to be something Julien had ever paid particular attention to, unless they'd done something to earn it. As such, Aleksei only registers as a new face among the kitchen staff.

Hence the raised eyebrow when he catches the boy obviously on a kitchen errand and just as obviously pausing in the middle of it. "Iollan Chives would not be pleased to see you dawdling," he comments, mildly.

[thepupthatmatters]

{ooc; Danke!}

He had the good grace, at least, not to jump when addressed in the midst of his reverie. Looking up even came with an only slightly delayed snapping from thoughtful stillness into an attentively straight spine.

"I wasn't-- dawdling, sir." Because he'd seen the other Twos, even the ones who had been here for years. This man didn't hold himself remotely like one. "Just-- thinking. On the best way to find where I'm going."

Iollan Chives didn't inspire a person to ask for directions when given a command, after all. Just to jump into the doing of it.

[theacethatmatters]

Julien tilts his head slightly at that, "and where are you trying to get to?"

It's possible, just, that he is being given some leeway for being so very new.

This first, and then the one who doesn't cause stuttering.

[headfollowheart]

Hopefully, he's not so distracted that he doesn't hear the sound of high heels clicking against marble floors. But even if he does, Zoe's lived in Spade Castle long enough to take her eyes off her phone and see a boy in her path. "Oh, excuse me," she says, stopping short. "I didn't see you there."

She's about to go past when she pauses, light blue eyes settling on his face. She tilts her head. "Are you new?"

I might have to add more dork-faced icons. (There are a lot of options.)

[thepupthatmatters]

He hadn't been raised to take every sound as a possible threat, the way many Deck-born children were, but a general awareness of the world had been instilled from a fairly young age. He does quite a good job hearing that the steps aren't swerving, feeling the close approach from behind. Turns just slightly to glance over his shoulder and shift out of her way.

In a second, clearly. Those are... very blue eyes.

Which shouldn't matter. He's here because it's time for him to be--and he's literally here because he's got somewhere else to be. Keep focus. "Yes?"

I would imagine there are.

[headfollowheart]

Zoe's lips curve. The phone gets dropped into her bag and she extends her hand. There are a lot of Spades who believe you need to scare the ever living daylights out of the new blood. She knows, because some of them were stupid enough to try it with her.

"I'm Zoe," she says. She glances at the kitchens and her grin deepens. "You must have been put in Mr. Chives' domain?"

[wilderhearts]

Jake was up and about early, as he was most mornings, taking one of his horses on a brisk ride down through Town. It was a treat, the animals liked a bit of variety in their routine, and Jake always enjoyed it when there were yet few people milling about. It was Lizzie Bell's first time through Town since she'd arrived a few weeks ago; Jake was already in love with the beautiful mare. Her gait was smooth, she was smart as a whip, but prone to nervousness, hence her outing this morning.

He kept her up on the bit and tuned to his heels and hands, letting her walk briskly down the paved streets sussing everything out. Mojo was nearby as always, sniffing bushes and anything else that caught the pup's interest. Jake waved to the folks he knew, turning in his saddle to wave back to one of the shopkeepers who'd just stepped outside, and jolted a bit when Lizzie balked, planted her feet and snorted. He slewed around to see what she was spooking over, spied someone on the sidewalk not far away, and sighed, already marshaling apologies.

[thepupthatmatters]

In all fairness, he wasn't certain how a person was meant to expect to round a corner and see a horse trotting along down the way. Karcag had been small, but not that small that non-motorized transportation had moseyed comfortably down the street.

So, in all fairness, it's probably the sharp bark of "Jézus--" that had the horse jittering in the first place.

One arm had gone up in instinctive (if probably not helpful) defense. It stayed exactly where it was, despite the fact the horse didn't seem ready to, say, attack vehemently.

[wilderhearts]

Lizzie Bell snorted again, shaking her head despite Jake's calming hand on her neck. The boy eyed the other, though, finally ducking his head and offering a quiet, "...sorry," by way of apology.

Mojo, however, had no such fear and bounced over enthusiastically, tail (and butt) wagging happily, looking to meet this new person he'd never seen before. How you do, stranger?

[maidenthespade]

Poor zaichik. New ones always looked so lost in early days. Katya stops beside the new Card whose mind appears to be far, far away. Bad habit in Spade Castle, but he would learn that if he meant to last long.

"It is confusing at first, yes? Corridors all look same."

It is perhaps pity Deck royals do not wander about wearing crowns. For him. For Katya, it is good way to take true measure of newcomers.

[thepupthatmatters]

Maybe there's something in the water, that all the women he's been meeting have such captivating eyes. Maybe it's hormones hitting overdrive from finally being out of the all-boy's prep. Who knows.

It's that more than anything overly regal about the woman that has him briefly stumbling over his tongue, even as he shifts to stand taller.

"More-- candlesticks here than I would have thought. I thought finding it would help me find the stairs, but..."

A rather defeated gesture is made--toward all three visible stairwells flanked with candelabras.

[maidenthespade]

"Oh, we are having our fair share of torches and pitchforks," she assures him with perfect straight face. "Though former congregate in great hall and latter in stables. You are--" She pauses and places his accent. "Uhorska? Hungarian? Üdvözöljük a Ásó Vár.

"I should warn you my knowledge of your language is sparse. Consider me your native guide. Where are you trying to go?"

[Hungarian: Welcome to Spade Castle.]

[falsepretences]

Jordan's not buying truffle oil. He wouldn't really know what you really did with truffle oil, actually, but contrary to what most people think - he can cook.

A little bit.

He can cook enough to pick out a box of portabello mushroom ravioli out of the refrigerator section and then try to decide what of the ten olive oils on the shelf he should use with his ravioli.

He just picks one up at random, and glances over at the boy. "Unfortunately they don't levitate off the shelf when we stare at them."

[thepupthatmatters]

He'd been proud of himself, getting here with the light touch of direction from a few higher Spades. He'd been pleased to navigate largely under the radar between the Castle and the Bazar.

But Aleksei was having to admit defeat when faced with apparently innumerable bottles of extract. A piece of him wanted to say that they were probably all the same, and he should just grab one that fit the exact change he'd been handed. A bigger piece of him was already certain that Iollan Chives used a Specific Brand and that he was going to catch it for not having asked.

So there's just a little more childishness than usually appropriate for boys his age in the wide-eyed way he shakes his head. "How can there possibly be this many?"

[falsepretences]

"I've heard you use them for different things."

Jordan carefully sets the oil in his basket next to the pasta and cheese and eyes the shelf. There are vanilla extracts from Madagascar and Mexico, whole beans in syrup and something called vanilla sugar. He's sure that if Ava or Tegan were here, either one could tell him off the top of their head what you used each of them for.

As it is, he can only rely on his fairly sharp memory, and he reaches out to tap a bottle from Madagascar. "I've seen that one in the kitchens before." Probably a good bet.

after he returns from errands?

[cutslikeaspade]

Normally the Castle staff kept the Royal floor very well stocked with coffee, tea and the sort of niceties one would expect in Spade Castle. This morning, however, the Ace took it upon himself to mosey downstairs with his almost empty mug--scandalous, yes, his younger brother would Frown most Ferociously--but he needed to stretch a bit and there was always the chance that said sibling would be available for a spot o'tea in a quiet corner.

Stepping through the archway, however, Ethan blinked to see a unfamiliar face busy putting things away. Ah, yes. The new Spadelet. He'd been meaning to send for the boy later in the day, but this would work just as well. "Morning," he said cordially, setting his empty mug on the counter. "Aleksei, yes?"

o7

[thepupthatmatters]

Somewhere, the Spade Head Butler was likely having paroxysms about the fact the Ace was fetching his own tea. Not here, however.

Here, there was just a boy already catching the hint to not be seen or heard letting his head bob up in surprise at hearing his own name. Thankfully, this wasn't accompanied by dropping anything--or a slowing down of his hands unloading the bag up onto the shelves where he had been directed.

"Sir?"

[cutslikeaspade]

Crossing his arms and casually leaning a hip against the kitchen counter, Ethan shook his head mildly. "Just checking." The new name had crossed his desk just this morning, notice from the Outposts to expect a brand new arrival.

"I see you've wasted little time in making yourself useful," he observed genially, nodding at the parcels from which the youth unpacked. But then Iollan Chives was ever quick with opportunity. "Welcome to the Suit and Spade Castle, by the way, just in case no one has, yet."

[longingforthenight]

He'll probably hear her before he sees her. As she rounds the corner in the store, she's speaking into a phone irately in hushed, but rapid Tamil, not looking very happy at what she's hearing. Casting a glance at the shelf, she nearly bumps into him as she grabs one of the many brands of vanilla essence off the shelf - then properly takes a look at him before pulling the phone away from her ear.

As someone's words come out of the phone, too faint and jumbled for either of them to hear properly, Kritika raises an eyebrow at the boy. "Need help?"

[thepupthatmatters]

He does hear something, but it's not recognizable instantly as English--or any of the Slavic languages his mind recognizes the patter of fairly quickly. As such, it doesn't quite break him out of the daze of being spoiled for choice with spices.

"...it may not be-- complete possible."

Because it was entirely possible Iollan had purposely sent him on an impossible task.

[longingforthenight]

"Don't underestimate me. I can make anything happen," she says with a grin before speaking briefly into her phone and hanging up. "Are you looking for something specific?"

[oneirophiliac]

Now, see, the problem with pausing in Spade Castle is that it can so easily be mistaken for idling. And idling is an easy target for pouncing on.

"Hey- are you tired out 'n' resting, or could you stand to do some heavy lifting? Well, I say heavy lifting, but it's more like, mid-to-light lifting. Just not single-person lifting." Annie raises her eyebrows at him.

[thepupthatmatters]

At least this isn't another tall pale apparition from the shadows. He doesn't feel nearly as inclined to jump out of his skin this time.

"Is-- it quickly heavy lifting?"

He suspects being overly late for helping a fellow Spade wouldn't actually go over entirely well with the kitchen staff.

IS IT TOO LATE, GRANDSON? IS IT TOO LATE FOR ME?

[old_dog]

Whilst any Chives would not tolerate any hint of idling, idling was exactly what Aleksei would find at the Ivy. It had been busier while they were preparing for dinner service, but things have quietened down after everything had been sorted. The calm before the storm, so to speak.

Michael was seated in a corner at one of the tables with benches, looking rather intently at whatever was on the screen of his laptop. There had been a neat tower of wallet, smartphone, cigarette box, lighter, keys and one cigarette at the top sitting next to the laptop on the table, but it was just a haphazard pile now, likely knocked over because of the now-empty glass on the coaster.

"We're closed," he said without looking up when he heard Aleksei open the door.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE FOR NOW. AND NEVER TOO LATE FOR THIS FAMILY.

[thepupthatmatters]

There was already a shopping bag nestled safely under one arm. There was already a more settled determination in his shoulders since finding his possible out from cutting his teeth in the kitchens. And there was only a moment's hesitation in the doorway before he pushed himself to finish taking the step inside.

"It-- is quick." His accent will take time to get rid of completely. At least the pace of his speech is picking up now. "I was told to see about oil here?"

And he doubted many people could really be closed in the face of a prime directive from the Spades kitchen staff.