Criminal Connections|{Richard/Hector}FINISHED

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Edible chemicals that alter the protein structures, liquid nitrogen to flash freeze things, and other high-tech gizmo's that I don't get. Paupillo, the owner, tried to explain it to me once but most of it went way over my head," Hector chuckled and waved his hand just above his hair to mimic his words. "The truth is, I don't care what they do to the food as long as it tastes good. And it always does here,"

Menus were delivered by the same waitress who brought Hector his usual and Hector flipped open the menu. He already knew it by heart since he had to dine there almost every week but it didn't hurt to look to see if the chef had changed anything.

And he had. Beet balloons filled with tziki sauce served alongside Ahi tuna carpaccio. That sounded yummy.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Richard smiled and nodded at Hector's words, accepting the menu offered him with a similar if somewhat less enthusiastic gesture.

"That sounds fascinating, I must say," he said, opening the menu and flipping through it, eyes widening a little at the variety of unusual choices on offer. Even Hector's explanation had made little sense to him but he wasn't about to admit it.

Having made a decision he set the menu down and took another sip of the wine.

"You have good taste, Mr. Tormei, and I trust your judgement," he said, raising the glass again in a gesture of appreciation. "Therefore I think I'll go with the dish you already mentioned."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Good choice, Richard," Hector smiled and sat his menu to the side as well. He sipped on his wine appreciatively and twirled the glass by the stem thoughtfully. That was a quick change in dynamics. From a moment of icy cold examination to comfortable discussion about food. Hector credited to the fact that both he and Richard were able to keep a persona that was more agreeable than what was really inside them. They both were master actors in their own respective manner.

"Now, business aside," Hector said smoothly. "Has there been anything of interest happen to you recently? My life has fallen into a rather drab routine as of late and even though I'm busy all the time, I'm bored out of this devilishly handsome skull. I need something to entertain me," Hector smirked dryly. His life was always full of work but never full of actual living it seemed.

And wasn't that a depressing thought.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

It was strange how the pair of them could go from calculating to casual in such a manner as they did. To the majority of people such a transition in mood and emotion would come off as contrived or fake, completely obvious. But the rapidity and fluidness of the transition in both Plantagenet and Tormei was exemplary; homage to their acting skills if nothing else. Each man in his life plays many parts, as a great man once wrote. Both Richard and Hector constantly fooled people into believing they were someone they weren't, hiding behind masks, keeping their true thoughts secret. Outwardly they seemed like two friends or associates at least, sharing a meal. In truth they were anything but.

"Has there been anything of interest happen to you recently? My life has fallen into a rather drab routine as of late and even though I'm busy all the time, I'm bored out of this devilishly handsome skull. I need something to entertain me,"

Richard chuckled and set down his wine glass. His laughter abating he simply smirked. Oh yes. Lots of things of interest had been happening as of late. Edward's diagnosis. The outing with Anne Lancaster. Edward's upcoming dinner party...and his impending death.

The comptroller decided it was best not to tell Tormei about the latter. He didn't reveal his plans to anyone. Besides, the matter was in the hands of himself and Faustus. Hector would find out what had happened soon enough after the deed was done. No need to spoil the surprise.

"Most of the exciting events in my life as late have been covered by the New York Times," Richard said wryly. "But you're a busy man, and as you may not have had time to peruse the articles in question, I'll fill you in. Besides, the Times doesn't know the half of it."

His smirk never left his face as he raised his wine glass to his lips once more and, having set it down again, continued.

"I have no doubt what I'm about to tell you will interest, if not entertain you, Mr. Tormei," Richard said, still smirking. "My dear brother Edward was recently diagnosed with cancer and given a few months, at most, to live. He decided, as is his wont, to live it up while he could, and is in fact hosting a dinner party at Plantagenet Manor in a couple days time."

He paused again to allow Hector to absorb this information. He wondered briefly about leaving it at that and allowing Hector to respond, but here was an opportunity to brag a little about his brilliance without revealing any of his plans.

"Not only this but I've reconciled with an old friend recently too...Anne Lancaster...you've heard of her, I presume...the widow of Edward d'Anjou, one of the ringleaders of that attempted coup on my brother's mayoralty awhile back...pleasant woman..."

There was much more Richard could have said, but he decided it was best to let Hector have his say. Shame, he thought, how Hector had so little going on in his life. Well, he did have that festival in Greece coming up...surely that was something. Much less criminally inclined than what Richard was up to, but probably just as enjoyable.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"I'm sorry to hear about your brother," Hector really wasn't all that sad to hear about Edward's impending death. To be brutally honest, he couldn't stand the man. Hector thought that he was a sad excuse for a politician and an even worse mess of a man. He was surprised that he and Richard were even related given their vast differences. If the roles had been reversed and Edward had approached the mob boss to take care of something Richard had done, Hector would have refused.

It was his policy never to work with or for people he hated.

"Not only this but I've reconciled with an old friend recently too...Anne Lancaster...you've heard of her, I presume...the widow of Edward d'Anjou, one of the ringleaders of that attempted coup on my brother's mayoralty awhile back...pleasant woman..."

Hector knew who Anne Lancaster was, and the exact nature of her relationship with Richard as well. He wasn't unaware of the scandalous situation as the reporters called it. Hector's men were all too fond of the gossip column and Richard's and Miss Lancaster's outing was certainly the star story. He had heard enough from them to gather what had happened. And, as interesting as it was, it was all a little too much like a soap opera for his taste.

"It sounds much more interesting than my life at the moment,"

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"I'm sorry to hear about your brother,"

Richard barely managed to hold back a splutter of laughter at Hector's words. He disguised his barely concealed laugh as a cough, realizing that to be seen laughing when discussing Edward's death, if noticed by any of the other patrons who may be eavesdropping or observing the pair of them, would be very unwise.

"I'm afraid I don't believe-" Richard stopped himself mid sentence, knowing it would be an unwise thing to say. Clearly Hector was only saying he was sorry to keep up appearances (he hated Edward and Richard knew it); why had Richard let the act slip, and in so blatantly obvious a manner?

"Thank you, Hector," he said, in a more subdued manner, having inwardly berated himself all he cared to for the time being. "I appreciate your sympathy on his behalf, I really do."

Then again, he was surprised he'd managed to keep his elation at the whole affair hidden for so long. Was it any wonder, in a moment of weakness with a man who seemed a kindred spirit, that some of his joy at his brother's impending demise should make itself known? Bottling up his happiness and keeping it hidden for himself only wasn't always the most entertaining solution.

"It sounds much more interesting than my life at the moment,"

Richard somehow managed to look sympathetic, strange after his sudden burst of incredulous happiness moments before.

"I'm sorry to hear your current affairs are lacking in interest, Mr. Tormei. But I'm sure things will get more interesting soon enough. You have this festival you're going to after all; would you care to elaborate?"

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector smirked when Richard dropped his facade, only briefly. Richard had something up his sleeve that was making him too comfortable in the world, it made him drop his guard. It was a little worrying to see the comptroller not have control all the time but at the same time, Hector knew it would benefit him. To have his most powerful...associate on the way out could mean an opening for Hector. In an ideal future, Hector would get political so he wouldn't have to maintain contacts with annoying politicians. Not that Richard was annoying, no, it was just easier to do things himself rather than using a middleman for it all. Fewer opportunities for screw ups and fewer chances for someone to get in when they weren't wanted.

It was safer.

"I'm sorry to hear your current affairs are lacking in interest, Mr. Tormei. But I'm sure things will get more interesting soon enough. You have this festival you're going to after all; would you care to elaborate?"

"The festival's no big deal really. It's just something I remember from my childhood that I figured I might as well check it out," Hector shrugged and sipped on his wine. He hadn't had a real reason for wanting to go to Greece, just a passing fancy that he decided to indulge in.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Hector's smirk un-nerved Richard. He knew he'd dropped the act, and it was an obvious break from character at that. Hector was bound to notice. And yet the fact that he'd made that known, the smirk itself (although only brief), was enough to convince Richard not to do so again. True, he respected and admired Hector, but he didn't trust him. This had only been one slip up, but no matter how minor it may have seemed to an outsider, it meant everything to the man who's made it. He couldn't have Tormei exploiting it, that was for sure.

Re-arranging his expression to appear as it had done before, with his usual formality but an air of relaxation due to his affable company, was more difficult than usual, as he was tempted to put up more barriers, make the act all the more convincing. But he somehow managed it and made to reply to Hector's comment.

"The festival's no big deal really. It's just something I remember from my childhood that I figured I might as well check it out,"

This rather sentimental reason for visiting Greece surprised Richard. This man, a crime boss, visiting his home country to indulge in and relive childhood memories? Here Richard was planning to kill them off.

"I see," Richard replied, following Hector's lead and taking another sip of the admittedly excellent wine. "Reliving childhood memories. Pleasant ones, I trust."

This was accompanied by a smile, one of his more pleasant ones.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"There's no such thing as a pleasant childhood memory for me," Hector drawled. Of course, Plantagenet wouldn't know that. But, Hector assumed that people would just come to the conclusion of a bad to okay childhood considering his current job. Most people with happy, fulfilling childhoods didn't get into the underground world. Happy children didn't turn into part time hit men by their late teens. Happy children went to college and became doctors and lawyers or teachers or something.

"I'm going mostly just to get my mom's voice out of my head. It was all she talked about when I was little. I figured if I actually went, she'd shut up for once," Hector didn't like the fact that, after the living hell his mother had allowed for his childhood, he could still hear her talkingnagging him from beyond the grave. He hated that woman, dead or alive. Hector didn't know he decided to share that bit of information with his lunch companion. Probably for the same reason he was going to Greece in the first place. To get his mother to shut up, and now Hector was trying to get Richard to drop the topic.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"There's no such thing as a pleasant childhood memory for me,"

Richard really should have known, considering Hector's occupation, but surely if he was investing time and money in this venture if his it would be to relive good times rather than bad?

Then again, he could agree with Hector, to a degree, about unpleasant childhood memories. True, Middleham had been pleasant, but most everything else...not so much. However, the comptroller got the impression that the subject was not one that Hector wished to linger over.

"I'm going mostly just to get my mom's voice out of my head. It was all she talked about when I was little. I figured if I actually went, she'd shut up for once,"

"Aha," Richard said, with a small laugh, though not an unkind one. "I often have trouble getting my own mother to shut up, to be honest. But I hardly think our dear mothers are entertaining in terms of subject matter."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector didn't bother pointing out to Richard that his mother was really dead, and that it was her voice was what was following him around; like a fuzzy memory that he couldn't quite place but knew existed.

But I hardly think our dear mothers are entertaining in terms of subject matter

"I agree," Hector chuckled. "But there's little else to discuss that's entertaining right now, don't you think?" It was a small joke, accompanied by a small, wry smile that held no bitterness or cruelty like it had earlier. Hector had managed to push that part of him back and away from the table. A part of him was ashamed that he had let his demons, so to speak, come to the surface of him...that he hadn't been able to control them. He had been able to quell them in the past. Hector has always had to; from his abusive, amnesia inducing childhood to his current profession, Hector had always had a darker side of him that was kept under lock and key mostly.

Of course, Hector was a dark individual, he always had been and probably always will be. But his innerworkings, the ones tarred and blackened beyond recognition, weren't on display.

And yet, he had slipped and allowed Richard Plantagenet a peek at them. In between his words with sharp glances and ice filled smiles, Hector had let his true being shine through for one terrifying moment before he could regain control of himself.

Richard had seen it, Hector could see it on his companions face. The flash of doubt, of worry, that now Hector felt inside.

But Richard would never know that.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"I agree. But there's little else to discuss that's entertaining right now, don't you think?"

Judging by the chuckle and the joking tone in which the query was made, Richard interpreted Hector was attempting to humorous. He decided it was best to go along with it (it had been rather funny after all) and yet Richard was not so quick to forget that moment of cruelty that his dining companion had displayed earlier.

A slip-up, just like Richard's. Perhaps for the two of them, being in company of a kindred spirit wasn't the wisest of plans; it made them too comfortable. too at ease, more liable to let things slip that they wanted to keep hidden.

But they'd both caught each other on it; Richard had acknowledged Hector's lapse in friendliness with a worried glance, Hector had responded to his bout of barely concealed laughter and incredulity with a brief smirk. Clearly they needed a topic less likely to make them drop the acts they needed to keep up.

"That may be the case, Mr. Tormei," Richard replied at last. "But we can't very well sit here and say nothing." He cast about for an appropriate change of topic. Something in which they both could find common ground, but that wasn't illegal or immoral (in that Richard was pleased about Edward's impending demise).

"How are things at that book store of yours, Mr. Tormei? Have you had any interesting books in lately? I've nearly finished The Prince, you see, and was wondering if you might know of some similar material."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"How are things at that book store of yours, Mr. Tormei? Have you had any interesting books in lately? I've nearly finished The Prince, you see, and was wondering if you might know of some similar material."

"Business isn't booming. After all, I own a small, specialty store, but I'm not in the red," Hector shrugged one shoulder lazily. "However, I do have several books that you'd probably enjoy. There's a play, Tartuffe by Jean Baptiste Moliere, As well as an antique collection of Shakespeare. Everything he has ever written in twenty leather bound volumes from the 1860's. And, as always, I have Chekov's greatests pieces; they're seperate. Apparently not too many people like his work enough to buy it en masse," Hector grinned at the thought. He personally liked Chekov, he liked the frankness of his writing and the blatant reality that he always showed.

The waitress walked over to the table at that moment and, with a bright smile that was clearly faked, "May I take your orders now, Mr. Tormei...and guest?" Her tone was polite enough but Hector knew that it was forced too.

"Are you ready Richard? Or would you like to gamble with your lunch and have the chef prepare whatever he wants?"

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"Business isn't booming. After all, I own a small, specialty store, but I'm not in the red,"

"Ah," Richard said, with a sympathetic shake of his head. "Strange thing is, I've always found speciality stores of more interest, they tend to have rarer and more intriguing books for sale. I guess most people prefer the dull mainstream titles on offer."

"However, I do have several books that you'd probably enjoy. There's a play, Tartuffe by Jean Baptiste Moliere, As well as an antique collection of Shakespeare. Everything he has ever written in twenty leather bound volumes from the 1860's. And, as always, I have Chekov's greatests pieces; they're seperate. Apparently not too many people like his work enough to buy it en masse,"

Richard smiled and nodded at each new suggestion Hector posed. The man knew his tastes well; all sounded of interest. Richard was about to reply with the intention of thanking him for the suggestions and inquiring if he might stop by sometime soon when the waitress arrived.

Her smile and her tone were very obviously faked, at least in Richard's opinion. Clearly having an off day. He was, admittedly, somewhat surprised she hadn't recognized him as the Mayor's brother and comptroller but found he didn't much care either way. It was actually quite pleasant not be recognized for once.

"Are you ready Richard? Or would you like to gamble with your lunch and have the chef prepare whatever he wants?"

The younger Plantagenet laughed at Hector's words, although he wasn't sure whether Hector had meant to be funny or not.

"Entertaining as that would doubtless be, I think I'll go with the tandoori chicken with the nitrogen curry ice cream that you mentioned earlier," he replied.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector chuckled and ordered his Ahi tuna and beet ballon. He also ordered another round of drinks since he and Richard were almost out. Personally, Hector somtimes felt like Jake Barnes from The Sun Also Rises in the fact that he could happily go through three bottles of the Australian wine in a single sitting but he never did. Hector was never one of those men who found it entertaining or pleasurable to be drunk off his ass. He took too much comfort in being in control so he strove to be in that position all the time. Being drunk was not being in control so Hector only drank heavily when he was by himself, sequestered away in his penthouse.

"It doesn't really matter what you order, Richard. Here, it's going to be amazing no matter what," Hector nodded his head. It was a wonderful restauraunt that valued privacy and appreciated good food. It was the only place he could come to enjoy wine as well as not worry about the police or feds breathing down his neck. That was why most of his business meetings happened there, it was anonymous. And, considering that both he and Richard were as high profile as a person could get, it was very much a good thing.

Good food and no threat. A day couldn't get any better in Hector's opinion.