I Am Myself Alone|But Not For Long [OPEN, INACTIV]

[erin]

Ophelia was about to speak much too quickly. That would have been a catastrophe all in its own. Although it only appeared to be small talk, it was more than that. This comptroller would have a lot to mull over with information that Ophelia might accidently leak. Then what would Harry think of her? Surely that she was a no good, rotten girl.

"N-no one really." She quickly recovered while thinking of something believable to say. "Its just from the mindless gossip that you read in articles and this magazine stating this or that and the next thing. It just seems quite tiresome." Ophelia believed it to be a well rounded answer, at least well enough for her. Honestly, she thought it didn't make sense one bit.

Her eye contact broke from Richard after she stated the fact while her mind was searching endlessly for something else to say. She had a feeling that losing eye contact though was only going to make things worse. So, she boldly returned her eyes to his, awaiting his response.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"N-no one really."

Richard raised an eyebrow, not only at Ophelia's stammer but her words. He chose not to speak yet however, waiting for the rest of what she had to say. It seemed she had given her words a great deal of thought...was she being entirely truthful?

"Its just from the mindless gossip that you read in articles and this magazine stating this or that and the next thing. It just seems quite tiresome."

"Mindless gossip indeed," Richard said as Ophelia turned away. "The media do love sticking their noses in where they aren't wanted. It's a habit they seem to have no hope of kicking, however."

He paused, realizing his usual complaining about the media wasn't going to help him discover any new information.

"I find it somewhat strange that you say you know no-one," he said at length, reffering to Ophelia's earlier comment. "I was under the impression you were well acquainted with Harry Chandler of Hamlet Enterprises..."

Richard was curious about this Chandler fellow. He'd read a lot about him and the business but had never actually had the pleasure of meeting him. Maybe someday soon.

[erin]

"Well whatever interesting story they can get their hands on they take without any hesitation." Ophelia shrugged while hoping that her normal tone being restored was enough to set him off. What came next however surprised her immensely. He did know that her and Harry were, for lack of a better word, acquainted?

Ophelia's eyes returned to Richard's. "My father works for Hamlet Enterprises so I have met him a few times at some gatherings they have there. I don't know him nearly that well..." It wasn't a complete lie. She really didn't know that much about him other than a few mindless details that one could stand to not know.

She was more acquainted with Harry than she would let on though. In fact, probably better than most. Ophelia smiled slightly as she thought of this. "And of course I've run into him now and again," She added casually. "It is a small world we live in after all. No matter how massive New York may seem." And that was also a half truth. That day at the Botanical Gardens, at the Starbucks, and then at the Capulet Ball. The Capulet Ball however was a bit more planned than the others.

What Richard didn't know wouldn't hurt him...or Ophelia...Or Harry's reputation...

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"Well whatever interesting story they can get their hands on they take without any hesitation."

Richard nodded; that much was true. It was what Ophelia said next however that was of interest to him. So...her father worked for Hamlet Enterprises? No wonder she knew him. But then...hadn't she been on his arm at the Capulet Ball? Surely they must be better acquainted than she was letting on...

Richard wasn't even sure why he was after this information; he could easily find out everything he wanted to know at The Hall of Records. But for some reason he felt like testing his investigative skills; it wasn't as if Edward and George were hard to figure out.

"It is a small world we live in after all. No matter how massive New York may seem."

Richard smiled wryly. Ophelia certainly had an interesting take on the world.

"New York is a city like any other," he said, after a brief pause. "And then it's so unlike the others as well. It may seem massive, as you say, but it's not all that imposing once you're used to it. It just takes time to get used to...that and a great deal of patience. But something tells me you have that virtue, Miss Knowles."

[erin]

She blushed a bit nervously as he correctly assumed that patience was one of her virtues. "Well you have me there. I've been told that now and again." Ophelia hoped that a change in where the conversation was heading was following shortly. She knew that Richard may try to figure out more about Harry's personal life through her and she knew that eventually she may spill more than she had bargained for.

Her mind now scanned over various topics that may amuse Mr. Plantagenet and keep her in the clear of saying anything she probably should not have. Then she ventured back to past conversations with Harry. Maybe she should find out what makes this comptroller tick.

"So have you always wanted to be a comptroller?" She asked, her tone laced with curiosity as he probably was not expecting the tables to be turned. She might regret her decision to pry into his life but then again, it was a glum day with two strangers meeting at the oddest of locations and there was nothing left to do but stir up a conversation.

Ophelia of course had a forever innocent appearance so Richard would not expect her to be delving for information. In reality, she was not either. She wouldn't know what to do if she did gain that much knowledge. A simple middle-class girl holding secrets of the high society? Quite unlikely.

Her sapphire eyes turned and looked towards his, innocently of course. "It just seems like an odd occupation for one to want to hold since one could decide what they wanted to be. I mean, certainly it has its perks but its just so...I'm not sure how to describe it."

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"Well you have me there. I've been told that now and again."

Richard noticed Ophelia's change in colour at his words but decided not to comment, simply pleased with the fact that, once again, he seemed to have figured someone out without much information to go on. That was always entertaining.

"So have you always wanted to be a comptroller? It just seems like an odd occupation for one to want to hold since one could decide what they wanted to be. I mean, certainly it has its perks but its just so...I'm not sure how to describe it."

The youngest Plantagenet was surprised at Ophelia's query; the conversation had taken a sudden change in direction, veering sharply towards his own life rather than that of Harry Chandler. Either Ophelia knew what he was up to, or she was tired of the current thread of conversation and wanted to change it. Either way the question was an intriguing one.

It wasn't often that people wanted to know more about him. The majority of people who met him already knew him, either through the media or through having talked to his brothers, and had thus formed a negative impression and disliked him on sight. Others, even if they weren't acquainted with him, tended to deviate towards negativity anyway and wanted little to do with him; he was nowhere near as affable a character as Edward or George.

And yet Ophelia had asked about his life. Whether she was truly curious of whether it was just a means of starting a new conversation Richard had yet to discern. But he was pleasantly surprised all the same.

"I think the word you may be searching for is dull, Miss Knowles," Richard replied with a rare chuckle. "Or boring maybe. You're working with money and God knows we all love to have cash, but it's not yours, it's the city's. Having come to that conclusion the excitement of the thing seems to fade to nothing. In truth it must be said, the job has its rewards-" such as putting me in line for the mayoralty "-but you'd be correct in the assumption that it's an odd occupation for one to want when one is of the age to decide one's job prospects."

Richard paused, having made this little speech, seemed at last to notice the wide-eyed, innocent look that Ophelia was giving him. The sort of look that seemed to say 'I am most certainly not digging for information, I'm merely curious'. The comptroller was inclined to distrust the look, despite the fact he and Ophelia seemed to be getting on.

"In truth, Miss Knowles, I always wanted to be a soldier. I got my wish some twenty years ago now, though the result wasn't quite what I'd hoped for."

[erin]

She was all ears to Richard's story and was in fact quite interested by it. In fact she was a bout to finish the sentence off as dull but in fear of offending him, she refrained from doing so. Ophelia was in a sense wise beyond her years and always seemed to have more stimulating conversations with those older than her than her peers.

The conversation was something she did not expect to have today. After meeting him, she assumed one of them would part saying they had other things to do and then leave without another moments hesitation. However, something had brought these two strangers together to converse merrily, well seemingly so, with one another. Maybe the day had turned out not to be quite as bad as it had seemed to begin with. The sky after all was showing signs of the sun attempting to peek through.

Listening to him say how he had wanted to be a soldier, and was in fact so, she looked towards his cane. Her eyes returned to his once more. "So why didn't you follow through? You know, maybe change fields into the behind the scenes line? I'm not that familiar with the military field but I know that there are also other things you can do besides be right up in the action that are just as essential."

Although, Ophelia could see why he might have left the military. Just the knowing that he could no longer follow his dreams to the fullest and see others doing the same would be hard. "I mean we all have one life to live so we should all live it to the fullest." She said while shrugging her shoulders.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Richard watched Ophelia intently as she listened to his words. It was strange, he thought, how a man like him and a woman like her had come to meet, and have so much to talk about into the bargain. It was very strange; Miss Knowles seemed wise beyond her years, the fact that she was able to hold a conversation with him was proof of that.

He noticed Ophelia's eyes flick from his face to his walking stick and back again. Somehow he'd anticipated that reaction, but Ophelia's words were in contrast to the look.

"So why didn't you follow through? You know, maybe change fields into the behind the scenes line? I'm not that familiar with the military field but I know that there are also other things you can do besides be right up in the action that are just as essential."

Richard laughed again, although this laugh was more to his usual standard of bitterness and displeasure.

"Believe me, Miss Knowles, I wanted to. To stay and fight more than anything, although I would have taken a behind the scenes job if it meant I could stay...but they said the injury was too severe and packed me off back here, my protests falling on deaf ears." He paused, realizing what he'd just said might not have made much sense without context. "Gunshot wound in my left leg," he said curtly. "Never been the same since."

He resisted the urge to say something uncouth about his fellow officers, the doctors who'd treated him for the injury...anyone and everyone who'd played some part in sending him back to New York, back to a time of seemingly perpetual peace. He was a man of action, a man of war. He couldn't survive in a time where nothing happened, where everything went as it should.

Hence his plans for Edward. The usurption of the mayoralty. He was going to alter perceptions, turn things on their head, shatter perfectly crafted worlds into pieces. He knew this. It pleased him, to know that he could do something, make changes, make choices. Life and death decisions.

"I mean we all have one life to live so we should all live it to the fullest."

"How right you are Miss Knowles," Richard replied, his bitter tone replaced by one which he hoped was a degree or so more jovial. He most certainly planned to live life to the fullest...even if it meant some people around him wouldn't get the chance to do so. "And you've heard about my past ambitions...what of yours? How do you plan to live life to its full?"


(ooc: I changed the colour to beige; the yellow wasn't cutting it for me anymore. XD Hope that's OK with you!)

[erin]

Her eyes shown pity as Ophelia couldn't help but feel sorry for him upon hearing this. Having something you love so close yet so far away just had to be awful. That would be like her and flowers. If she were allergic to all the beauties she adored, she would simply die. The plastic and artificial creations that are used to substitute flowers hardly qualify as flowers at all in Ophelia's eyes. Richard must ahve been so devastated to be unable to preform in the line of duty anymore.

She stared at the cane once more and then back to Richard. "Clearly it is not that severe though if you are still able to walk just with minor assitance. I mean, that shouldn't affect your ability to preform behind the scenes should it?" Ophelia inquired this with pure curiousity lacing her words. Her mind wandered off as to how different his life may have been had they enabled him to continue working for them.

It was not as though she knew a whole lot about Mr. Plantagenet, but she heard what the media spoke about him. All his cunning and sly plans and such, as well as his outstanding duties as a comptroller. Not all of it was mindless gossip, but she knew what a man of his position was capable of. With the right information, he could bring anyone down to their knees. Those thoughts were soon pushed aside as her mind ventured back to the current time and place.

When Richard asked as to what she did to live life to the fullest, she blushed profusely. "Well," She began in a timid manner while wrapping and wrapping her hands, as well as enlacing and unravelling her fingers, repeatedly. "It may not be much but after I finish college, I plan on opening my own florist shop. I suppose you could think of it as starting my own business although not nearly as competitative or tedious as an actual high-ranking and high-standard cartel. It is within reason and would be very satisfying to myself." Although Ophelia knew she could be capable of much more, she would much rather do something she loved and got her by just enough than something she hated but had much more benefits.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

He noticed the look of pity in Ophelia's eyes and found himself quite startled by it. People feeling sympathy for him...it wasn't something he was used to. That wasn't to say he wouldn't mind more of it. If people were sympathetic towards him it would be all the easier to twist them round his little finger.

"Clearly it is not that severe though if you are still able to walk just with minor assitance. I mean, that shouldn't affect your ability to preform behind the scenes should it?"

Richard smiled then, another bitter sort of smirk, before making his reply.

"It wasn't always this minor of a complication, Miss Knowles. Believe me when I say it used to be much worse and has taken some years to degrade to this level of inconvenience. I agree it shouldn't have affected my ability even at it's worst but...I wasn't the one to make the decisions."

As Ophelia endeavoured to reply to his query, Richard noticed the change in colour of her cheeks, the nervous wringing of her hands. Was she embarrassed? Nervous? He couldn't really tell.

"It may not be much but after I finish college, I plan on opening my own florist shop. I suppose you could think of it as starting my own business although not nearly as competitative or tedious as an actual high-ranking and high-standard cartel. It is within reason and would be very satisfying to myself."

Richard nodded as Ophelia finished speaking, his smile much less harsh now, more encouraging than anything else.

"I can't say I know many people employed in the florist business, Miss Knowles. If you don't mind my saying so, it seems like a profession well suited to you. Of course the fact that the job would make you happy is all the more reason to take it up. Better to do something you enjoy rather than something you don't."




ooc: "Not all of it was mindless gossip, but she knew what a man of his position was capable of. With the right information, he could bring anyone down to their knees."

Just couldn't post without saying how much I loved that. XD Dramatic irony, as I'm sure I've mentioned before, is one of my favourites. <3

[erin]

Ophelia could not stop herself from feeling even worse about Richard's condition as he wenr on to say that it was a lot worse intially. It just goes to show that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Ophelia had at first upon meeting Richard, but she realizes now that he is misunderstood. Many people, mainly within the media, have cited him as a cruel and heartless man only out to take the position of mayor out from under his brother. Right now, Ophelia was not seeing that side of him.

The encouraging smile she received from Richard was very unexpected. How many people received more than a sarcastic grin from him? He probably was shocked with himself for being so kind today, considering the weather. To Ophelia, the weather usually reflected your mood. When it was sunny and bright, you feel refreshed and joyous. But when the clouds come rolling in and the sky is dark and foreboding, you have a sense of misery and a much lower level of tolerance.

When he said the profession seemed well suited for her, she blushed at the compliment. She could swear that her cheeks were as red as the hair atop her head. "Well thank you Mr. Plantagenet. If I do say so myself, it has been quite a pleasure talking to you on such a lovely evening." She was sincere in her words, but the last few were laced with a tad bit of sarcasm as it was clear to see the day was anything but lovely.

All in all, Ophelia was satisfied with having met Richard and gotten to know a little more about him. The side reflected is never truly known, but today it was. Although it may be by one, small and insignificant person who would have absolutely nothing to do with this knowledge other than to know it, it could make a difference to Richard. Perhaps it was a release of letting one know his feelings towards his past that could help him be less bitter. A bit of wishful thinking on Ophelia's part as she was quite naive, but a dreamer at that.


(ooc: I'm glad you liked it ^^ I'm so sorry this is over two weeks late. I am back in full swing though until vacation so hopefully nothing will get in the way of us finishing this thread!)

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"Well thank you Mr. Plantagenet. If I do say so myself, it has been quite a pleasure talking to you on such a lovely evening."

Ophelia certainly seemed sincere, if the colour she'd turned was anything to go by, but it was clear from her tone at the end of her words that she wasn't as pleased by the evening as she professed, though Richard interpreted her dissatisfaction as being with the weather rather than the conversation.

In truth, he himself found that the evening's conversation with Miss Ophelia Knowles had been, as she said, pleasant. Unexpected, off to a rocky start, but pleasant overall. Unusual. If he'd met Ophelia any other time he most likely wouldn't have looked at her twice, let alone hung around to strike up a conversation. But despite the fact his main intention in doing so, when the topic steered that way, was to manipulate her to talk about how she knew Harry Chandler, he had found himself pleasantly surprised by his own enjoyment of the conversation.

Maybe this was due to the fact that, despite their initial dislike of each other, he'd managed to win Ophelia round and make a good impression (or so he hoped). The fact that she thought he was simply misunderstood and was sympathetic to his troubles only served to intensify his feeling of elation at their by chance meeting. It had been most pleasing to vent his frustrations and problems to someone who seemed to sympathize; a most unusual and therefore greatly appreciated occurrence, for a man who went to such lengths to hide his true thoughts and feelings from others.

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Knowles. It is surprising, isn't it, how this has turned out, considering our non-too-friendly first encounter? But we'll let bygones be bygones, shall we not?"

He paused, and adjusted his grip on his walking stick before continuing.

"I wouldn't pronounce the weather to be as pleasant as our conversation, however. But then the weather shouldn't outline or shape one's mood, should it? Unless we're talking about pathetic fallacy, of course, but then that's generally reserved for literature and the theatre. Are you interested in theatre at all, Miss Knowles?"




ooc: I'm sorry to say the temporary internet access I've had this week ends tomorrow, so I may be slow in getting you replies unless I get a connection at the next place we stay. Apologies in advance for the inconvenience! D:

[erin]

"I do say you are completely right about that." Ophelia responded in reference to him stating how it all began and then stating the old proverb 'let bygones be bygones'. The phrase held true in every scenario it has been used in as it is the age old song and dance almost everyone lives by in some way, shape, or form. She had not ventured out today seeking a friendship, but indeed she had found one in one of the most unlikely people.

Ophelia was even surprised with herself on how their rocky start had aged into a pleasant conversation between two strangers meeting for the first time. She was attentive once more to him as he spoke that the weather shouldn't determine one's mood. Something that she could so easily disagree with at the same time but in this case she agreed that it shouldn't be the only determining factor.

He asked if she was interested in theatre to which Ophelia had to think about. "Hmm...Well it depends to be quite frank. I do enjoy my fair share of it on occasion but a majority of the time I can't be bothered running about to see the latest movie or play. How about yourself Mr. Plantagenet?" Ophelia asked her commonly casual manner but still holding a sophistication in her tone. She was after all talking to someone of very high class.

(ooc: It's okay! I've given you so many late post surely you can make me wait for a few =) No hard feelings at all!)

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"Hmm...Well it depends to be quite frank. I do enjoy my fair share of it on occasion but a majority of the time I can't be bothered running about to see the latest movie or play. How about yourself Mr. Plantagenet?"

Ophelia, Richard noticed, had needed some time to think the question over. But despite the fact her answer and queries were quite casual, there was something in hers choice of words and tone of voice that revealed her familiarity in dealing with higher classes. Granted, this probably was not something she did often, but nevertheless Miss Knowles had a degree of sophistication about her.

"Doubtless your time is quite full of other intellectual pursuits, Miss Knowles," Richard said with a smile. "You are a student after all. When I find the time I do enjoy a trip to the theatre and do, in fact, sponsor a number of established companies as well as a few who are up and coming. I did consider becoming an actor when I was in my teens, but then my interest in the military became more prevalent."

And, as Richard understood it, Harry Chandler did the same. But bringing the conversation back to him would no doubt invoke suspicion in his young companion.


ooc: I have an internet connection; all is well. (: