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Any luck? I have found they know what they like but it is harder to get them to express it. [Katya grins.] Though hardly difficult at all to get a child to tell you when something is stupid.

They know what they want, Queen Katya. What I'm afraid is being able to do it all. [A pause as she listens to the excited Chinese and carefully writes it down.] They all want a playground, that's for certain, but what they want specifically varies.

Daiyu here would love to have a swing set while several children made it clear they want some sort of treehouse or fort. I might need to grab a few carpenters at this right. None of the Cards I've gotten to help me know how to build constructions.

Baby steps. It is like building house, yes? First foundation, then studs and beams. If you put together list of carpenters from other Suits, I will make inquiries. The Suits often share skilled labor. But I think it wise we know who will be coming in and out.

Do you have...hmmm...is blueprint correct term for garden? Landscape plan drawn up or are you still at drawing stage?

I'll see what I can do, Queen Katya. I know some from the Clubs. [While not on the best terms with her family, the Cards she knew liked the idea of the garden too and were willing to help.] I'll give you a list soon.

Ah. Blueprints? I have the latest revisions here. Please wait. [She said the same thing to the children, in Chinese and French, before going through her messenger bag to pull out the notebook that was now dedicated to the project. Flipping open to a page, she showed the designs to Katya with some nervousness.] They'll need to be changed of course, giving the list of suggestions I have. But hopefully the space I've decided where it'll be is acceptable.

It won't bother the adults when they're out but keep the children in sight as well. Do you have any suggestions for the plans here? Did the best I could do.

[Katya smooths the blueprints and peruses them.] Ah. I like this. You are leaving room for growth. A garden is living thing, yes?

[She smiles at the gathered children.] And how many of you will be helping with plantings and building? That will be much fun, yes?

I would suggest bare bones to start with bits added over time. Use annuals for now while perennials grow into place. Vines can make fun hide holes. [She looks at the blueprint.] But I see you have already thought of them.

[Has to bite down on her lower lip when the nearest child, struck senseless that the Queen of Spades was talking to them so casually, hid behind her skirts and squeaked out a yes in French.] Poor things. They're so shy. /Don't worry, little one. The Queen is a gentle person. Firm but gentle./

[While the children finally got the courage and replied enthusiastically to Katya's question, Andrea looked over the sections the Queen had pointed out and her smile turned a bit sad.]

If there's anyone to thank for this, it would be my ex-husband. Half of these ideas? His when we were debating on having a child and the conversation somehow lead to us discussing how a play area would be built for our child. [Points to another section, a small spot on the blueprints. A small place where there could be a lake of sorts.] His idea as well. We could possibly put fish here for the children to feed when they go there?

[She's...here for some sort of reason, clearly. Though why the gardens of all the possible places is anyone's guess.

She clears her throat, hopefully alerting Andrea to her presence.]

[It gets her attention. With the Club children so shy around a Spade from a family like hers, their voices were quite soft as if they didn't want to set her off.]

Oh? Oh! Tegan. Hold on for a moment, please. [Looks back at the children, smiling sweetly at them.] Thank you for your input. You can go now~

[While the children scampered off, Andrea struggled to get the sketches and blueprints away as Rudy watched from a nearby tree branch.] Is there something I can do for you?

Actually, I was about to ask you the same thing.

[No, she absolutely wasn't ducking out for a smoke break ~~and to otherwise avoid everyone and everything~~ before she got a start on packing.]

Just talking to the children. [Oh dear. This means she's going to have to take out the blueprints and sketches again... Trying to keep from everything spilling is a go.] Queen Katya and I spoke about this children's gardens and I couldn't get it out of my head. So I've been planning to build one since December.

Then I remembered I needed the children's input on this too so I'm going castle to castle to ask for their suggestions. [The Spades and the Hearts have been more than willing to talk about their wants. The Clubs? Not as much and Andrea was steeling herself for a trip to the Diamonds.] What do you think of the flower gardens here?

Here, let me...[She reaches forward, catching a few wayward rolls of paper. They're obviously going to have to get her some kind of carrier bag or, hell, an assistant to help carry all these piles of paper.]

Our gardens are...well, they're lovely. [It wasn't anything personal, she expects. It's just that the tension between the Suits - and particularly the Clubs and the Spades - has been running fairly high and the children seem to have picked up on it.

Even so, perhaps once they've gotten used to her things will change.]

Probably not as well tended as they could and probably should be but...[She shrugs in a 'you know how it goes' sort of way.] Well, you've seen them.

[A carrier bag would be nice. An assistant not so much. She had her hands full with Rudy the Northern-Cardinal-Who-Thinks-He's-A-Magpie.]

It's not too bad. I mean, at someone is taking care of them. [The Spades gardens were fine but it just didn't have a lot of love in it among the gardeners. Which reminded her--] Tegan, have you seen the people with the follow names... here?

[Shows the notebook that was scribbled down with a list of names of a few Clubs.] Jessica Mason, Charles Burns and Samuel Western? I need to talk to them about building a playground and a tower for the kids.

Have you tried the Four Suits?

[That seems to be the favourite congregating space for people these days.]

I don't go there besides to get drunk and cry. Have a bit of a spotty reputation with the others there as a result. [Mostly because when she cries, she curses and she curses in Chinese. Apparently very scary.] But I'll try there when I have the time.

How are you, by the way? Are you out on a break?

[Well, she's sort of nominally banned -- only on poker night, of course, for reasons that are probably best kept to herself for the moment.]

Just getting all the last minute things in order. [Her assistant was practically salivating.]