Miracles Don't Happen|{open}{INACTIVE}

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

He never could comprehend why so many people were so totally enchanted by nature. When Hector looked at a flower, he didn't see a miracle, he didn't see unsurpassed beauty.

He saw a flower. Just a flower. A pollen pillow and pretty colors. It was just a flower that he could crush beneath his boot. Hector thought that if something could be mauled by such a nonchalant motion, it wasn't a marvel...it wasn't a phenomenon. Man wasn't a miraculous creation, neither was a flower.

A man is just a man, and a flower is just a flower. But there were many who would disagree with him.

Hector stood tall in front of a thatch of daffodils that had been tenderly nursed by the garden's staff. They were vibrant and lively, unlike his tastefully charcoal suit with razor thin, light blue pin stripes. Where Hector was muted and somber and severe lines, the daffodils were bright and soft and beautiful. Hector was silent as he stood and looked at the golden buds, his hands delved deep in his pockets. One hand was nestled comfortably in the silk lining and the other fondled the smooth, silver lighter that was always on his person. Hector's broad fingertips traced over the harshly slick and cool metal pocket that barely contained the spark and fuel that could destroy so much so completely. The destruction of fire was a miracle.

Flowers are consumed by fire and the miracle happened when something survived. It was a miracle that Hector had survived his childhood with no more than memory loss to show for it. He had walked through the fire that his father had created with his anger and with his fists and had escape with no harm except the lack of memories.

Was it really a bad thing that he didn't remember the beatings that had left him with years of nothing to recall?

Hector's eyes narrowed at the thoughts of what could have happened to him. The daffodils blurred in front of him and the contemplative ease he had been lulling in bubbled and churned. That steady flame of fury that was always flickering somewhere inside of him, like that poor fool who was lured by the Cask of Amontillado and walled away, flared up violently and demanded attention.

The man walled up could still scream and the fire, both inside him and within the lighter and the fire his father forged, could still blaze. And it did, whenever Hector's wander-lusted thoughts turned to his father and mother, the fire took on a new life. It became a beast that surfaced when Hector let down his guard, which wasn't often. The beast was hidden and chained away but it was always there.

It was the result of a damnable miracle.

[KATHERINE MINOLA]

Katherine walked along the paths flowers to the daffodils. She didn't really know what had enticed her to come here instead of her usual pre-weekend alcohol shopping. She always had a bottle of something on hand to make the weekends more interesting, and to mute the occasional Bianca or father related tantrum. Today was usually the day she went to buy that bottle of something, but instead had stopped here and began walking through the gardens. It was soothing and pretty, but she had never really had a fascination with flowers or nature, so this wasn't any special experience for her. Nonetheless, she was feeling decidedly calmer now than when she first came in. Looking down at her ballet-flat clad feet and then at the flowers in front of her, she observed her new - and first - pair of jeans and remarked to herself for what seemed like the 20th time that she looked like a walking promotional ad for anorexia with her stick - skinny legs. She had compensated for that by wearing a baggy white T-shirt that hid the rest of her tiny frame. Her hair hung loose in a long ponytail as she continued to walk through the garden.

As she turned the corner, she noticed a tall, dark man in a somber business suit standing by the flowers, a silver lighter in his hand. He seemed deep in thought, and didn't seem to notice Katherine coming up behind him. "Enjoying the grounds?" She asked him, hoping to snap him out of his daze so he could move out of her way and let her pass...

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector had heard the woman walking the path behind him since the area was mostly deserted and wasn't very shocked when she spoke him. He knew that he was blocking the path but it didn't really matter since he had assumed that he was going to be alone in his musings. Hector turned his calmly to survey the woman before answering. She was very thin and the large t-shirt she wore, probably to hide her size, made it even more obvious how thin she was. Paired with her long, dark hair, the woman seemed more like a walking ghost than a human being.

Hector raised an eyebrow and answered her question in a sardonic tone. Yes, he was enjoying the grounds and was rather fond of his view of the daffodils. Hector slid his lighter back into his pocket and placed both hands deep into the trouser pockets. Then, once settled, Hector stepped to the side so the woman could pass and he could get back to dealing with that monster inside him. That monster that threatened to burn him up from the inside out.

[KATHERINE MINOLA]

Katherine was about to walk on when she caught site of the stranger's face. It was Hector Tormei, notorious New York gangster and a known client of her employers. She'd seen him around the offices, but had never spoken to him. She muched preferred to keep legitimate clients. They at least kept you safe from the cops and other angry gansters. The man was much taller than she remembered, emberassingly so. She barely came up to his waist, and he was heavily built to boot. Adding in his current broodiness and he was extremely intimidating. Not a great person for a 5-foot 1 finacial consultant to come up against. Nonetheless, she smiled at the thought of this bad-ass mobster roaming around a flower garden.

"Odd place to be conducting business Mr. Tormei." Katherine quipped as she started walking past him.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"It's rather hard to conduct business with daffodils, considering I'm not a botanical Dr. Doolittle," Hector drawled. The woman recognized him, but he didn't know her face. She probably realized who he was from seeing him conducting business at various, legal institutions. He had deals running with financial consultants, stock brokers, lawyers, and other such Wall Street types and this girl, at first glance, certainly fit that description. She looked awkward in her jeans, like she had never really worn a pair before and Hector could relate a little to that. He was always wearing suits so when he did get a chance to pull a pair of his favorite Levi's, it felt weird.

"Who are you exactly? Not many know me by name without an introduction," That was a lie of course. The entire underground knew who he was by sheer reputation. Most of the legal world did too for that matter.

[KATHERINE MINOLA]

Katherine smirked. "I'm not stupid. Anyone with an IQ knows who you are by name, Mr. Tormei. Or d like Hades better? It suits you, King of the Underworld." Katherine looked him over once more, decided being brazen standing right next to him wasn't such a good idea, and backed off a little.

"As for who I am...I don't think that's really important right now. Best to preserve my reputation - and my life - from the likes of you, don't you think?" Katherine smiled wickedly as she leaned against the plaque by the daffodil garden. She wasn't normally so sharp with someone so intimidating. She always had a keen sesne of self-preservation. But today that seemed to leave her. Indeed, Tormei could be just as sarcastic as her, as his sarcasm showed. She liked trading quips, and if she could, she would stretch this game out further. It was too enjoyable an opportunity to miss. This was going to be a fun little game of Cat and Mouse...

"So, is the Don looking to extend his business to the botanical gardnes of New York then?"

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Or do you like Hades better? It suits you, King of the Underworld."

Hector was quite familiar with Greek mythology and the reference to the God of the Underworld was not a new reference to him. When he was just starting out in the world or crime, that was a name that many knew him by. He arched an eyebrow at the petite woman as she tried to be witty with her words. There was something familiar about the simple fact that she could shoot such sarcastic words so fast. One of his associates had mentioned working with a viper of a woman who had a sharp tongue and impeccable work manner. What did he say her name was again....Minola? That sounded right. Minola. He couldn't recall her first name.

"Unfortunately, Ms. Minola, it's rather difficult to protect a reputation quite as infamous as yours," He was smirking as he said this, because the sight of her stepping back, in caution no less, was a sight to behold. If she truly knew who he was, then she'd know that he seldom carried any sort of weapon on his person. For instance, that day he had decided to leave his flat unprotected, much to the annoyance of his number one man who was hellbent on keeping his safe.

"And refrain from referring to me as 'Don'. It's such an archaic, outdated term that's only used in films. This isn't "The Godfather" or "Little Caesar", this is real life, Minola, keep your head in it,"

[KATHERINE MINOLA]

"It's called sarcasm. I wouldn't have used Don if it wasn't archiac." Katherine smirked, trying not be overly discomforted by the fact that Tormei had managed to recognize. The one time her tongue got her in derious trouble...

"I believe I have my head firmly planted in the real world Mr. Tormei. If I didn't, I'd have probably pursued my highschool dreams instead of becoming a banker." She arched an eyebrow back at him, knowing that he was probably laughing at her right now, a tiny slip of a woman trying to provoke a giant of a man. She was enjoying the game, although the fear of getting him angry was still in the back of her head. Best not to get too sharp with him or she'd get the wrong end of his fist. For once, though, she was sorely twmpted to ignore that voice that was telling her to stay away.

"Well, Mr. Tormei, since you have managed to come up with my last name - nd my reputation no doubt - I guess I must say Touche. But I hate being thought stupid, and I know when a person doesn't take me seriously. I may not have been terribly witty, but I'm not an idiot. I know what you are, what you do, enough to know to stay away from whatever work you involve my business in. Though I'm sure I'd like the challenge, staying out of jail pleases me more." Katherine kept her voice steady and unemtional as she stepped toward him. As long as she was doing this, she might as well through all caution to the wind and face him head on. Her eyes were hard and stealy, but a smile ws creepinf onto her face. She hadn't had a good verbal sparring in a while. Most people got intimidated easily by her, but not Tormei. There was no telling where this was going to go.

"Ever met your match in a woman Tormei? Or do you just bed them, cover them in diamonds and wear them around your arm then throw them away when you're done?"

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Ever met your match in a woman Tormei? Or do you just bed them, cover them in diamonds and wear them around your arm then throw them away when you're done?"

Hector rolled his eyes and scoffed. "You, a slip of a woman, are making horribly dull and cliche assumptions about my love life. Obviously, you do only know me by name Minola. You best check that tongue of yours, before get's you into trouble," This woman was testing his patience. And on a day where he did absolutely nothing to warrant any attention from anyone, let alone such a cut throat woman. He been watching the bloody daffodils and she came in, minute wit blazing.

"Now, unless you have pressing business to discuss with the daffodils here, I suggest you move on. You're making a fast enemy, Ms. Minola," Hector didn't let any of that emotion, all the frustration, annoyance, and more importantly, the desire to strike out with his fist (at a woman of all things) show on his face. It remained a cool mask of relative composure and his tone stayed nonchalant and even. He couldn't hide his hands curling into tight fists by his side.

Those feelings to be released somehow before they could feed the monster.

[KATHERINE MINOLA]

Katherine scowled at Tormei. She was making an ass of herself in front of him. The mental sparring wasn't going as planned. Best to leave before things got out of hand. She backed off and turned to go, turning back once with a small smirk on her face to watch Tormei.

"I have things to take care of myself, Mr. Tormei...but I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you nagain somehwere soon." She said as she turned and coninued to walk away. She hoped she had queezed everyone ounce of sarcasm she had into that last sentence. She wasn't going to let him get off so easily.

She continued walking rapidly until she came by the roses. Bad memories came flooding back. Bianca had always gotten the bouquets. Katherine was lucky if a guy paid her nay attention. Early on, she let go of any notions that she could win men in any way, let alone by beauty. She did discover that her rapid fire sarcasm had earned her a certain noteriety among men. They liked to try and match her, beat her. It usually ended in the men running away after ab hour, or, if she was lucky and in the mood, a rough tumble in the sheets. But she was never the girl that got any kind of positive reputation. Oh she knew what people called her behind her back, "viper" and "shrew". She consoled herself by siding with Machievelli. Better to be feared than loved, right? Still, she couldn't pretend that the lonliness that came with her frigid demeanor didn't get to her sometimes. Katerhine sighed to herself. She was realyl going to need that drink tonight...

(feel free to stop me from leaving. I'm enjoying this a lot, but I thought it best to let Hector cool off for a bit. I'm not sure how I've been doing here, But I'm always up for another round XD)

[hamlet]

[hope you don't mind me jumping in here. I got a ton of muse and no where to put it for this character ]

Wishful thinking.

It was such a funny concept for Harry. He'd found himself at the gardens once again, knowing Ophelia was in class and that he should be at work. But he was here. The place reminded him of Ophelia and it was better to be here, wishfully thinking, than in the office plotting, brooding and grieving. Because of Ophelia, unbeknown to her, the gardens became a form of escape, that is, when he wasn't numbing himself with alcohol. A proper escape was hard to come by these days. After all, how could one escape that which was plainly in front of you? How could one escape that which was haunting you? How could one escape a prison*?

Harry perused the roses, and considered buying a large bouquet for Ophelia - a surprise for her once she's done with her studies. He'd been trying really hard to impress her lately, as if his very livelihood depended on this woman believing that he was madly in love in with her. In a very real sense, it did. And as far as Ophelia was concerned, he could only think of the present because entertaining a future with her...he just couldn't do it. Not with what was haunting his mind every minute of every day. And if not that, for some absolutely irrational reason, he felt his days were numbered. His father was dead, how long could he possibly have now?

It was silly. Completely irrational thinking and possibly...crazy.

But it was what he thought about when he was alone in his office. It was something he couldn't help and something he needed to get away from, otherwise, he would truly go crazy.

Next to him, he noticed a woman looking troubled and he thought he saw her storm off from another man just a second ago. Harry definitely wasn't the one to pry, in fact, he didn't care all that much about whatever happened. But when he looked again, he recognized her. Not personally, but from the pool of notable names within the business circle of Wall Street. He knew about her impeccable business dealings, but also her fiery attitude. Harry knew, however, that word of mouth definitely wasn't something to be trusted. Hopefully she held the same sentiment, after all the Times just loved to talk about Harry's periodic episodes of "insanity."

Out of some sort of networking obligation (his father always told him the importance of business contacts in order to run a successful company like Hamlet Enterprises. But it wasn't like he had to worry about running the company now...), he felt the need to say something to her.

...and since he wasn't in a sociable mood, he probably could have come up with a better greeting.

"Something tells me you won't be buying flowers for that guy." I said to her with an amused smirk, referring to the man she just left. "You're Ms. Minola, right? Heard a lot of good things about you." He paused and extended his hand. "Harry Chandler from Hamlet Enterprises."

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[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector watched Minola storm off, sligthly bemused at her exit. The whole encounter had been relatively amusing, to an extent but it had also been exhausting. He had not intention what so ever of stopping her from leaving. After all, he had come to the gardens to become invisible for a moment in the day, not to match wits with a viper of a woman. Hector shook his head at the woman's retreating form and turned back to the daffodils.

His train of thought had been interrupted and he couldn't get back to that place where he had been. That elusive state of mental clarity and reflection that he didn't have time to find elsewhere. Hector sighed and turned. Walking towards the exit, Hector mentally cursed whicever Fate had sent Minola to the garden the same day he was there.

Perhaps, someday in the future he would run into Ms. Minola again and she'd learn that her cynacism, while greatly amusing, was not to be directed to someone of his stature. Especially when he was already in a bad mood. He'd let it slip this time, but not again.

[[References: Hades's helmet that granted him invisibility, The three crones that decided fate. I'm bowing out of this one now. Have fun rping guys]]

[KATHERINE MINOLA]

(Jump right on in XD...Hades had to go anyway, so it's good to have someone else to RP with )



Katherine snapped her head around to see who was talking to her. Behind her was a young man, hand extended, a smirk on his face.

"Something tells me you won't be buying flowers for that guy."

Katherine scowled to herself. It was just her luck that all the stories about her...temper got around so quickly. He was probably involved in the business world. He seemed young, but well put together, perhaps an intern or junior associate. There was something familar about him though...

"You're Ms. Minola, right? Heard a lot of good things about you...Harry Chandler from Hamlet Enterprises."

Her eyes widened at the mention of the Hamlet empire. The family had dealings with her company, and she'd recently been working on some of the accounts. So this was the late Chandler's son. He looked like his father, whom she'd seen around the offices before he died. According Dina and her seemingly infinite collection of tabloids, he was supposed to be as loopy as they came. He seemed sane enough now...

Katherine let out a frustrated sigh. It figured that the stories would get that far up the food chain. Normally she'd bite his head right off, but it wouldn't do to rebuff the heir to the Hamlet Empire. It was probably best to tone the sarcasm down just a notch...

"Please to meet you," she said shaking his hand with a firm grip. You really don't have to lie to me. My reputation is anything but good. I know very well that everyone thinks I'm a bitch. My little...squabble over there probably just proved that."

Katherine tilted her head to one side, studying Chandler closely. A moody young man if there ever was one. She had a music teacher like him once. He fancied himself a tortured artist, Orpheus with a flute. She ended up clubbing him in the head with that flute, broke it right in two.* Katherine smirked to herself as she remembered how that ended her father's attempts to train her in anything. She attempted to soften her grin to something more genial and tried to make conversation with him.

"So, what brings you here Mr. Chandler?...you're the second unlikely person I've seen here today. The last one just stormed off after giving me a good verbal licking."

*References the scene where Katherine clubs her music teacher (one of Bianca's suiters in disguise) in the head with a lute, breaking it.

[hamlet]

Minola took his hand and shook it firmly. Yeah, she was definitely a woman of wall street.

" You really don't have to lie to me. My reputation is anything but good. I know very well that everyone thinks I'm a bitch. My little...squabble over there probably just proved that."

Taken aback, Harry tilted his head and blinked a few times. Well, that was just perfect. Everyone around him must think he's a punching bag or something. Like it was Let's-Make-Harry's-Life-Completely-and-Utterly-Miserable Month. His family. His employees. People he just met. Harry calculated in his head if this woman deserved the 'act nuts and walk away manically' treatment, just so he can get out of a conversation he never should have entered in the first place. Besides, what would he care if Katherine had business with Hamlet Enterprises? That was his uncle's priority, not his anymore.

But no. No, he couldn't do that. Harry's father put everything into that company and destroying its reputation even further...needlessly...wouldn't be very intelligent. Especially when Harry felt that Hamlet was watching his every move, even in death. A ghost wishing for his son to honor him when the rest of his family couldn't. Until Harry figures out if his suspicions about Claudius had any merit...he would have to just....deal.

Well, Harry thought, hooking his thumbs in his pants pockets. Isn't she just a barrel of sunshine? Maybe he didn't have to be so sarcastic. But he was already irritated. I guess that's what I get for going the polite route. I have to remind myself the next time I decide to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"So, what brings you here Mr. Chandler?...you're the second unlikely person I've seen here today. The last one just stormed off after giving me a good verbal licking." Katherine said.

"Huh. Imagine that." Oh yeah, a bit of biting sarcasm slipped out of his voice when he said that. Totally unintentional...somewhat. Harry shrugged. "What am I doing here? Trying to be somewhere else other than where I should be. This place happens to be 'somewhere else.' And if that's confusing, just think of it as...buying something for a special someone." He grinned at Katherine, trying to make sure that she knew he was being at least half humorous...an attempt to take the edge off of the sarcasm he emoted just a second ago.

"And may I ask what exactly makes me unlikely to be here? You don't think men appreciate a few lilies and roses?" Again, another attempt at a joke. Maybe if he keeps it going she won't unleash some "good verbal licking."

[KATHERINE MINOLA]

The edges of Katherine's mouth twitched upward in the slightest of smirks. Melancholy ass. That's what he was. She caught the twinge of sarcasm and forced humour in his voice as he attempted to be sociable.

"And may I ask what exactly makes me unlikely to be here? You don't think men appreciate a few lilies and roses?"

Katherine grinned broadly. Okay, two can play at this game, she said to herself, mentally rolling up her sleeves as she spoke,

"In my experience men, especially businessmen, only ever visit flower shops and gardens with or for lady friends and wives, never for themselves. I suppose you fit into that category, but I bet you'd probably run out of here as soon as you've payed for your dozen long-stemmed roses. Then again, does anyone really ever stop to appreciate a flower anymore? Too busy climbing our ladders, don't you think Mr. Chandler?" She asked, a saccharine little grin on her face.

"Or maybe we just come here to hide for awhile, and disguise it as being romantic or taking a detour...personally I prefer my detours to end with a big bottle of Vodka and a carton of orange juice." Katherine smirked. Then, realizing what she'd said, she winced. She'd actually said that at loud to Chandler. Leave it to her big mouth to jump in with another sarcastic quip and make her sound like some angry drunk. Well, the verbal drought had to end sometime...