thecutdiamond | iron sharpens iron

She's stepped down from Head of Defense for a few years now, but she's still a Ten. It's a kindness, she knows-- the old guard didn't have the heart to Challenge the former Queen who had sacrificed so much of herself to the Suit, and the new guard didn't have the courage. Besides that, Eileen Eicheln is still very much (and once again) the Ace of Clubs, and while Rachel doesn't care quite so much for her Rank, these days, everyone knows that her niece will likely take some offense.

With Edgar moved into the Hearts castle, Rachel and Elliot had decided to move to a smaller place in Town closer to the Diamonds. It was easier for Elliot to get to the Wild Cards (though even he had begun shifting more to supervising than actually doing as much of the work) and for Rachel (who, after all these years and a few more injuries, was permanently on a cane, now) to get to the Diamonds castle.

Just as well, really. Rachel still devoted so much of her time to the Diamonds, even if it was more in emotional energy than physical, now. Even if that emotional energy was focused, rather largely, on helping guide some of the younger members of the Suit down their path.

She's had no small number of mentees, over the years. She has to confess to herself, though, that the young man with the name of one of her former Kings and who is about the age of her son, has been one of her favorites.

And it's always nice, to meet young Horatio Hornblower in the castle for tea.

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"Because I was starting to hate it."

There's a brief frown that touches her lips at the memory.

"It's-- the Suit. Something I loved more than--- my own life. I was tired and starting to resent the work I had to do for them, and that was when I knew something was going wrong. If I had been taking care of myself properly, things would have been-- balanced enough, between my needs and theirs, that it wouldn't have felt so draining and unfulfilling."

All of which, really, could be rather applicable to Horatio's love life as well.

It's a powerful crystallization. Even as he listens, it begs a good deal of questions and quiet calculations.

Would he ever start to hate the work he was living for? Would he ever start to find the sacrifices he was making bitter and heavy in his heart, like the unpleasant poison he had taken into his own heart? Would he ever ask too much of Archie and lose the other young man, only to discover that it hadn't been worth that most excruciating loss?

Would Archie ever get tired and start resenting the work he had to shoulder to keep their relationship alive?

His breath comes a little uncomfortable for a moment before he evens it out, fingers skittering across the table to be close to Rachel's again. "But... you think balancing would... have worked?"

She takes his hand again easily, patting at his sympathetically.

"I do," she says, "Perhaps not-- indefinitely, but I would've been better. I would've known better when I needed to step back and let someone else take charge and not-- feel so guilty about it. And I wouldn't've-- impacted my personal relationships quite so much, so I would've had a better support network when the time came."

Not that all her personal relationships had been damaged, or that all of the fallout had been strictly because of her. Still, though.

Squeezing her hand helps keep his features in check. It also brings the reality into her words more firmly.

"...thank you. For telling me."

Even now, even for a good cause, it can't be such an easy thing to share.

A fond tsk.

"You earned my trust and honesty a long time ago, Horatio."

That gets him cracking properly. It's impossible not to let his features flicker with honesty for a moment, simultaneously startled and clearly beyond pleased.

Clearing his throat is a nervous tick, but it helps bring him back into himself.

"--thank you, ma'am." There's half a beat before he hazards. "Lady Rachel."

"You're welcome, my dear."

So one more final, gentle pat to his hand and a broad smile before she pulls back and lets them both settle again. Her tea is lifted to her lips and drunk before she queries.

"So. Tell me what you're thinking for Seven, farther down the road."

It's amazing what a little affection can do for a soul. Even with the weight of his own thoughts--of what he'll need to say to Archie, of how he'll need to begin adjusting his life; their lives--his lips twitch back toward a smile at the gentle gesture.

There's nothing quite like finding a family, even if he's not sure he'd ever put the emotion into those words.

"German whist."

"A good choice."

And there's the proud, approving smile again.

"And something of a specialty of yours, as I recall."

"Thank you, ma'am." His attention drops to the tea only briefly. It's not such a bad cover to offer to freshen her cup. "And I would-- hazard to say that it is."

It begs a moment of consideration. Bragging doesn't come naturally at all.

Neither does trust and openness. Between Archie and Rachel, at least, he's beginning to find a bit of that voice. "It's something I... brought with me."

There's something lovely about that, if he's honest. It sits well in his heart to think something his first family taught him has value here with his new one.

"I dare say you must be quite good at it, then."

And now her smile is more kind and certainly a touch more teasing.

"It's-- nice, though, I imagine. To be using something you brought with you."

Something from the life he'd had to leave behind.

"It's..." He needs a moment. He needs a bit of careful breathing. "...it's gotten to be nice again."

He's been infinitely glad for friends like Henry, at the end of the day. There's always something particular about having a friend who had come from Outside to lean on, now and again.

"That's good."

She imagines it must take time. She can understand loosely, from her switch from the Clubs, but she doubts it's even close to the same thing.

"Anyone in particular you've a mind to Challenge?"

"I-- did."

He had expected it would be a bit upsetting. It's oddly not difficult to keep his voice even as he speaks.

"But we'll have to see, I suppose, how things have shuffled later."

Because it can wait. Because other things can come first.

Archie can come first.

iron sharpens iron

i still don't know if that's good or bad ; ;

neither does Eileen honestly

fair

;; <3

<3

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