[ota] time to go another round

[theacethatmatters]

When one got right down to it, there were very few things Julien excelled in. It was just that he managed to employ them in many different ways. Violence, for instance. And cards.

And needling people until they erupt but that wasn't a particularly good choice for a Challenge.

Certainly, he'd cut his way up the ranks before though he had at least not left the servants with a body to clean up afterward. Cards had always seemed too cliché to him for use in Challenges.

There were, of course, other things he could do with weaponry than draw blood. Archery and targets, for instance.

But some part of him wanted to be a little more unexpected. To leave people wondering if there was more to the former Ace than the niche he'd carved for himself. Unfortunately, he hadn't quite decided what that would be, yet. Which meant he could hardly decide on who he'd extend the Challenge to and certainly he couldn't bring it up to either Royal, yet.

So that leaves him sitting with tea at hand and brooding over a piece of paper in front of him, covered in scribbled and scratched out ideas.

Really this was almost more trouble than it was worth.

Comments

[lowtohigh]

"I will." Not for any specific reason.

Or, well. For ridiculously specific reasons she felt no need to go into, even with herself.

"D'you want me to pick you up a souvenir from Rome?"

[theacethatmatters]

"I wouldn't say no, though I'm afraid I'll have no souvenir to give you in return."

The key word there is souvenir. He has gifts.

"Are you enjoying the trip, then?"

[lowtohigh]

It's always a question of key words. She keys into the right one, she's fairly certain.

"Very much. Have you spent much time in Italy? It's even lovely when it's chilly."

[theacethatmatters]

"I've been there a few times," on business, "I'm afraid I didn't see too many of the sights. Have you been visiting your philosophers?"

So to speak. Presumably there's tombs or statues or something, after all.

[lowtohigh]

There's the tiniest bit of a snort for that.

"The Basilica di Santa Croce is in Florence, you know. Not Rome." So no Dante and Galileo here. No Gentile and Barsanti and Alberti. No Machiavelli. "Besides, we're seeing museums."

This is Elisha taking her, remember.

[theacethatmatters]

"So you're saying you want to go to Florence," yes, Eileen, a note is being made.

"How are you enjoying Elisha's lectures, then?"

Yes, that wording was intentional.

[lowtohigh]

"Before I die, at any rate." And there's a properly contented sort of sigh, the rush of static which comes with nodding at a phone. "It's lovely. He's quite brilliant about art, you know."

And really, who wouldn't want to learn more about the brush technique of the masters for their fourteenth birthday? Or, well, who wouldn't want that but would also be Eileen?

[theacethatmatters]

"So I've heard," Julien says dryly. "Though I haven't had the pleasure, directly, of being exposed to his brilliance."

He doesn't mean to be openly snarky about Eileen's new father figure....it's just hard not to be. But then, it's not a secret that Julien and Elisha aren't the best of friends.

[lowtohigh]

The press of her lips is only brief. Not everyone in her life has to get along, after all--she'd loved David and Julien for years, after all.

"I'll dissect if for you when I get back. All right?"

[theacethatmatters]

"I'll be expecting you, then."

And that, at least, injects a thread of warmth into his tone.