Dinner's On Me, The Diplomacy's On You (Ricky) FIN

It was by now a well established fact that Richard did not have friends, in the conventional sense of the term. He had one man who one less aware of Richard's true nature could assume was a friend - the Count of Monte Cristo - but the rest were, in Plantagenet's mind, at least - acquaintances, associates and colleagues. Zander Devereux III was one such associate - perhaps on better terms than the others if only due to the fact he had supported his campaign and Richard was paying him to keep his mouth shut about the stock market - good reasons for a friendship of sorts is ever there were some.

The Devereux clan had been pro-Plantagenet for years - Zee had supported Edward during his time as Mayor, although in truth they had never seen eye to eye in any regard besides politics. He had also supported Richard and his own ideas for governance, and so it made sense that Zander continued the family tradition. When Richard had rigged the election after Edward's death in order that he would gain a majority over George, Zander's was genuinely one of the truthful minority of votes that had been in Richard's favour.

That wasn't to say the man was entirely brainwashed by the youngest of the Plantagenet brothers, nor his political methods. No, he had been smart enough, monetarily, to discern just what - or rather, who - had been instrumental in the recent stock crash. Needless to say Richard had been stunned - to have someone unravel one of his plans and, come to that, a plan intended to discredit Hector Tormei, was something he had never foreseen happening. A mixture of blind panic (mostly kept inward, but his paranoia was evident) and anger at being discovered led to a large payoff for the CEO of Devereux Industries - and a particularly discontented Richard Plantagenet III.

Paranoid about being discovered and fearful he was losing his touch - after all, until this not one of his criminal dealings had been known to anyone but himself and those who were involved in them (and Anne admittedly, although in truth she usually did not want to know) - Richard kept in touch with the CEO as regularly as he had done before the payoff, if not more so.

But then, not really. The circumstances had changed.

Zander knew it was Richard who had influenced the stock market, that much was true. But as yet he was unaware of the reasoning behind it - namely, his attempt to get revenge on Hector for his usurpation, as Richard still adamantly termed it. When the elections had been going on Richard was busy enough himself dealing with them and Zander...Richard didn't know what Zander had been up to. In all honesty they had only really got back in touch when Zander informed Richard of his knowledge of the reason behind the crash - there were questions still to be answered, gaps in knowledge to be filled, on both sides.

That, presumably, was why Zander had arranged this dinner. If he was perfectly honest, despite the fact he found himself now slightly wary of the CEO (a ridiculous notion that Richard hated himself for feeling), Richard found the idea of this evening preferable to an evening spent at home, either alone and brooding with his thoughts or with Anne, having yet another argument. That was all they seemed to do since Richard had lost the election - but Richard refused to believe the fault was all on his side, considering the façade his wife was maintaining about seeing someone else.

Resolving not to dwell on that and instead focus on his other problems - namely, keeping Zander in check - Richard accepted the CEO's invitation and had his driver drop him off at the restaurant at approximately five minutes to seven. Ordinarily Richard would have preffered to be earlier but as things stood he'd had a document of particular importance with regards to his underworld dealings with Hector that required his full attention - that seen to, he would now be able to focus more clearly on this meeting.

He made his way to the table Zander had described to him, pleased at the privacy such a location within the restaurant afforded. As he approached his associate he managed a small smile - not as easy a feat these days as it had been before.

"Good evening, Zander," he said, all politeness. "A pleasure to see you again."

“Hello, Richard. Please, sit – the server will be here in a moment, I am sure.”

Richard did as Zander requested with greater grace than was usual with him, not only in that he had left his walking stick at home but in that he felt he owed it to himself to make the best impression on the CEO. He did not want to appear weak when such a man as Zander already had a degree of power over him, however slight, with his knowledge of what had occurred.

“So, Richard – how is retirement treating you? Doing anything to keep busy?"

Richard raised an eyebrow. Retirement, indeed. Just because he had lost one election it didn't mean he was going to retire from politics - besides, even if he had retired, he would still have been working tirelessly to try and avenge himself on Hector - and working, of course, to hide the fact.

"I presume you are reffering to my no longer being Mayor of the city, for I have by no means retired from the political arena. My position in office as New York City's comptroller is enough to keep me busy."

Plantagenet was not entirely sure he liked where this conversation was heading. If Zander was going to berate and question him about their lack of communication as regards the elections, Richard was unsure just how easy it would be for him to keep his opinions and feelings about Hector in check.

“I see. I can imagine that Comptroller does keep you busy, far too busy for keeping in touch,”

Richard did not like Zander's tone. They had not been in contact from awhile before the elections began - he had naturally regained his old title after that. Not to mention the fact that losing said title had had a knock on effect to pretty much every aspect of Richard's life - and he considered attempting to right these words more of a priority that talking with Zander.

He would have said something here in an attempt to explain himself, even though he felt there was no need for him to do so, when Zander spoke again.

“See, if you had kept in touch, I would have been much less surprised when Mayor Hector Tomei showed up in my office.”

Richard inwardly rolled his eyes as Zander chose to use Hector's full title, but then he thought over what he had said again and found he was surprised. Granted Zander was an CEO and Hector the Mayor, it made sense they would cross paths...but for Hector to visit Zander in his office...what was the occassion? Richard was naturally curious.

"What was the reason for the Mayor's visitation?" Richard asked, not only wanting the question answered for the sake of curiousity but attempting to steer the conversation away from the behaviour of his that had so upset Zander.

As Zander made his rather unorthodox reply, Richard would have said something back, most likely about it having been a serious question, but was prevented from doing so by the precense of the waiter asking for his order. He placed it, as well as one for a glass of red wine, before refocussing his attention (not that he had allowed it wander for long) on Zander.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Heck, I hardly believe it m’self. Though had you told me you’d lost the position of mayor, the meeting would have been more manageable.”

"Would I not?" Richard replied somewhat coldly, the manner fitting, he thought, to the derisive way in which Zander was treating him. He chose to ignore the latter comment about his not having informed Zander of his change of title. "I have seen and heard a great deal in my time, Zander - I'm not a man to shock easily."

It was at this point that a waiter turned up with Richard's glass of wine. Having tasted it and pronouned it to his liking, the waiter nodded and left. Richard took another, longer sip from the glass, taking the oppurtunity while doing so to reflect on the meeting thus far. Certainly Zander wished to know why he hadn't been in touch - yet Richard wasn't the only one here who was witholding information. What was so unbeliveable about Hector's visit? It wasn't as though Richard cared about Hector's personal life or what he did outside of City Hall, or the mob, for that matter. But he couldn't help but be curious, considering his position in relation to Zander - not to mention his dislike for Hector which was all too clear to the CEO sitting in front of him.

“Tell me Richard – how much do you know about Hector? Specifically, how much do you know about his family?”

Although Richard was not a man who was easily shocked, that wasn't to say he wasn't liable to be surprised. Intruiged by Zander's query, having set down his wine glass he gave him a rather quizzical look. He knew that Zander knew he had information about the mayor, but little did he realize how much he knew. Then again, Zander didn't know about Hector's mob connections, but he did know about his true family, as it were. Richard had no idea why Zander was aking him, or just what he was insinuating.

"I know a great deal about Hector," said Richard, having mulled the question over, and not wanting to give too much away. "But as for his family, I must confess I know very little. Hector is a very private individual." He has to be, in his position, when any information could be used against him, used in an attempt to bring him down. "Why do you ask?"

Zander snorted again and Richard resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Really, sometimes the man could be so childish. And what had been so amusing about what he had said? He wasn't a man to shock easily and Zander knew this. Why was it amusing? What did he have to say?

“Well, you can’t fault me for being curious after the meeting. According to Hector, he and I are brothers.”

...Well.

All Richard's petty concerns about Zander fled his mind at these words. Hector and Zander - brothers? Plantagenet could have laughed, so incredulous was he - Hector, mayor, mob boss, the brother of Zander, of all people? This information certainly was a turn up for the books, and would undoubtedly prove useful, but... He shook his head in demonstration of his disbelief, attempting to form an appropriate response but failing. Luckily for him, Zander had continued talking.

“I’ve known I was adopted since Daddy passed, but to learn I had an older brother, and that he was mayor, was a bit of a shock. He apparently just learned about me, as well, and was probably curious. I can’t think of what else he could have possibly wanted.”

So...Hector hadn't known he had a brother either? This situation just continued to get stranger as it was explained to him. Speaking from personal experience, Richard would have been perfectly content not knowing he had brothers - then again, Zander had been adopted. His case was different - very different- to Richard's own.

“So, you can see why I would want your take on the situation. I doubt anyone, aside from Hector himself, would know more about him than you do. Especially since he is apparently the new mayor, too. I still haven’t forgotten about you keeping that to yourself.”

Somehow, Richard managed a small laugh.

"Surely that matter is of little consequence now, Zander, considering what you have just told me?" he said, with a smile. "Hector Tormei and yourself - brothers! Who would have thought it?"

He was amused, to be certain. But he wouldn't be Richard if he wasn't already planning on how best to use this information to his advantage. It was then that he came across an interesting conundrum. He was, in essence, in both the brothers' power - paying Zander to keep quit about the stock market, and in Hector's pay with his work for the mafia. His smile faltered a little at this, but then he devloped the thought further. Did Zander know? If he did, how had he reacted to the news? And if he didn't, would he ever find out?

Richard wasn't exactly about to ask about such a matter, particullarly due to the fact he would incrimiate himself in doing so (not to mention get himself in Hector's bad books). Instead he took another sip of wine, still contemplating the information, before saying;

"Am I to presume, from your asking me to tell you more about him, that your brother was not forthcoming with the details of his life before he found you?"

“It makes me feel better to dwell on it. And I doubt anyone would have guessed it. He certainly knew he was taking me by surprise, but he came with documentation.”

Richard resisted the urge to laugh again. The fact that Hector knew he was taking Zander by surprise - then again, how could he not, with such a revelation? - was amusing. Richard didn't care to dwell on the fact that he himself had been surprised by Hector when he chose to enter the mayoral race - that wasn't relevant to this conversation. He was a man to laugh at others misfortunes, and having Hector for a brother...well.

“Oh, I did ask. Or at least I tried. Hector did not seem to feel as if having a brother was anything more than a severe inconvenience and I felt it was better not to ask everything I wanted to know. So whatever you can supply would be welcome.”

Here Richard was unable to hide a smirk. Feeling as if having a brother was a severe inconvenience was, as the phrase went, the story of his life - and he had two brothers. But he felt it was best not to let Zander in on how he truly felt about Edward and George - no-one save the family even had a hint of his true feelings towards them.

“Tell me, Richard – did I watch far too many happy family sitcoms as a child? Or are brothers normally like Hector?”

Really, Richard was not the best person to whom that question should be asked. Although Edward and George were ultimately good people - far better than their younger brother, at any rate - they had not always been entirely kind to him in his youth. Then again, Richard had done little to deserve their kindness, even if they were related.

“Because if that is the case, I am thankful for my sisters.”

Richard was personally thankful he didn't have sisters - two brothers were enough, and even in death Edward persisted in troubling him.

“And now, I have no idea what to do with the knowledge Hector is my brother! Any thoughts?”

Having had time to process all of what Zander had said, Richard attempted an appropriate response.

"I would not go so far as to say all brothers are like Hector, but then again, my case is different to yours, and your case is quite unique." He paused. Then,

"As for what you should do with the knowledge that Hector is your brother - I would exploit it, if I were you. Use it to your advantage. How often does one discover one's brother is the most powerful man in the city, after all?"

Although this was said in a surprisingly light-hearted manner, considering Richard's usual tone, even as he reffered to Hector's being the most powerful man in the city, his grip on the wineglass in his good hand tightened slightly.No matter that Hector had been in power for months - Richard was still bitter.

Needless to say Richard was pleased when Zander laughed - it seemed to focus had shifted from Richard's failings to the absurdity of Zander's new and unexpected connection to Hector. That and Richard was glad Zander was no longer snorting with derision.

“And just what would I do, Richard? Walk into city hall and demand to borrow the big gold key to the city for an hour? Or perhaps I could start name dropping and start getting my meals put on Hector’s tab?”

It was Richard's turn to laugh - that hadn't exactly been what he had meant, but then he had been vague in his words. The idea of Zander marching up to Hector and demanding the key to the city was a particullarly amusing one if only for the mental image it conjured rather than the possibility of it actually occurring - the look on Hector's face, Richard suppossed, would be priceless.

“I suppose I meant that I needed ideas for what to personally do now that I know Hector is my brother. I don’t particularly want anything to do with him right now, but you know me. In a month or a year or even five years, I could regret not having anything to do with him.”

Having not the slightest idea how best to repond to that at present, considering the fact Richard himself wanted as little as possible to do with the one brother he had that he hadn't murdered, Richard used the slight pause in the conversation as he attempted to think of a response to take another sip of wine.

“Oh God. Richard, when my mother finds out...” Zander groaned, taking a swig from his drink. “She will throw a dinner party. You know she will.”

Really, there was no need for such an overdramatic reaction. Richard could not deny he was amused by Zander's theatrics, however. He knew how Zander's mother's dinner parties went, if only from the stories Zander had told him. The thought of Hector at one of those events was laughable indeed.

"Surely that would be an oppurtunity to get to know your brother better?" Richard said, a smirk in place. He was joking with Zander, teasing - he knew how much Zander disliked such affairs.