Business as Usual (Levi)

[hamlet]

"Ignite" was a mandatory networking event for the who's who in business - minus the big wigs who had no reason to go to any conference to network. Harry went to it every year, but this year was different. He debated for a good while whether to go or not to go, as he felt no motivation to do so. The unauthentic and gaudy excuses for 'small talk' sickened him now when they used to energize. The business world was simply dead to Harry, ironically like other things in his life.

But he mustered up enough motivation to go - for one reason and one reason only, to find out who Claudius had under his sleeve that Harry didn't know about. Why? A gut feeling.

No, not a gut feeling. Harry's dreams were becoming more vivid. His father's voice, more crisp and clear - waking him abruptly in the middle of the night in a panic. When he was alone, Harry swore that he could sense a presence with him. Unrested. And a single thought kept triggering in his mind, like a voice in the far distance telling him that Claudius killed Hamlet Sr. A single thought that no matter how much Harry tried to ignore, it always haunted him in the forefront of his mind...fueling his paranoia. He'd already had distrust in the idea of Claudius winning over his mother's favor to take the company, right under his nose. Disgracing the very essence of Hamlet's legacy.

So motivated by slight paranoia and suspicion, Harry went to the event, prepared to put on a show. Speaking with a grin and an insincere excitement in his light eyes. Sipping champagne with a few of his associates. Business as usual.

Lights, camera, action.

[notmyproblem]

Naturally, if there was a meeting of professional dealing, Levi was there. His plan was to promote, but the owners of the trade stand he wanted to use did not seem interested. In the end it took a couple of hundred dollars, and they succumbed, but not without making a stipulation on his own side. There were one or two trifling additions which he wished made to the advertisement, slides of the company's impressive sales and only the better responses from his dealers back in France.

He had just left behind a journalist who had asked him a long series of questions to which Levi gave even long answers, wearing a broad smile as he spoke, voice filled with great love and devotion for what he did. Having no whistled summons to accommodate his stand, he decided to look about, possibly snag another interview.

Out in the wooded murmurs of the crowd, he flicked the roll of his lighter and clasped a hand around it to avoid the flame flickering out. As he brought it to the cigarette sticking out of tightly pressed lips, his hidden sight, and mentalilty, connected with a tangle of dusky hair. He paused. This was short of abruptness, and briefly he stared, becoming graver by the second. He had a nerve. Drawing, he shook his head and breathed out in wisps, like the situation was truly absurd.

Regarding him silently, with an unchanged expression, Levi approached from behind and broke upon Harry's apparent peace. 'Nobody told me Bedlam was having a release day.'

[hamlet]

Harry had just finished speaking with an employee from Monte Cristo's company, strangely enough. It was a good thing, because that meant that Harry was slightly more engaged in the conversation than he would have otherwise. The conversation winded down and the man offered his condolenses to Harry in regards to his father, and Harry took it was a weak appreciative grin. How many times had he heard meaningless and insincere condolences from people? He couldn't even count.

Right when he was going to turn around and find others to mingle with, he came face to face with....Levi. Ophelia's brother. One person he didn't need to see right now. Harry had a feeling Levi didn't like him very much, possibly because his motor company was a potential rival of Hamlet Enterprises. Not that Harry cared that much about that. At the moment, he wasn't trying to win over anyone's favor but Ophelia's. A man's opinions were frivolous.

He said some bitting comment and Harry grinned his usual lopsided grin. "Yes, in fact. They've been particularly kind to me as of late. Now, is there something you actually want to say to me or are you going to try your hand at another dig?"

[notmyproblem]

Levi remained on the outside of Harry's scope, he had no want to get too close. As he stood he became conscious of a steady gaze levelled upon him from the man and, leaning his weight onto one leg, studied his face with a grave, intent questioning. For a moment he stared deeply at Harry; the rest of the figures around seemed to fade away, and he saw him with narrowed eyes, shorn of all the sense and awareness a man should be based with.

With no small dignity, he submitted, 'I'm mingling. I can't mingle?

It was an ambiguous voice, a voice with double chords to it, so to speak. Like some ready old machine, always in order, his irritability responded immediately and automatically to Harry's matter. 'You need a shovel to dig, Harry. If I had a shovel I wouldn't be digging, I'd be knocking some tact into you.' In this style, which used a meaning quick look and colourful gesture endowed with it, Levi was an expert. He carried it merrily on, leaving him at liberty, one of the great values of the style, to choose as he would how much or how little he meant.

[hamlet]

Harry kept his grin, blinking in a perplexed fashion at Levi's response, as if amused. Perhaps Levi had every right to distrust him, especially given Harry's act, especially given what has been written about him in the papers. He was simply a protective brother looking over his sweet, beautiful sister. He could not fault him for that, not in the slightest. Levi loved Ophelia, as did Harry. Love in any form could be an untamed beast.

However, Harry did not have the patience, nor was he in the mood to exchange pointless banter with him.

"I'm glad you've taken time out to think about the state of my tact." He replied, snarky. "I appreciate your concern. " He took a sip of his champagne. "Though your tact could use a good shovel too I think, given the needless insults you're currently throwing in my direction." He shrugged with a fake cordial smile. "So, I am logically assuming that eventually you will get to the point? Otherwise, I'll be off. Mingling."

[notmyproblem]

Dull with contempt, Levi replied in a tone that represented it well. 'I've insulted you? God I'm so sorry.'

He smiled faintly upon his cigarette, what vanity he had seeming to be further stimulated by Harry's remarks, but then it disappeared - knowing better than to overdo. He planned for more of it, seeing otherwise a dull evening ahead; and reverted, afterwhile, to a forbidden subject. 'Really though, I've been reading up on the news. A whole lotta news, Harry.' At that his face showed an increase of colour, again accompanying his words with minor premises. This time with a momentary grave look.

His eyes fell on Harry's glass of champagne, impulsively adding, 'You shouldn't drink that.'

[hamlet]

'I've insulted you? God I'm so sorry.'

With a smirk, Harry rolled his eyes at this comment. Apparently maturity did not run in the Knowles family. This is exactly why Harry tried not to give people the benefit of the doubt after Hamlet's death. He was so often proven wrong. This man, who Harry would have normally given him praises for building a successful company, clearly was lacking in manners as he excels in business. It was like talking to a child.

"Really though, I've been reading up on the news. A whole lotta news, Harry."

"Mm. That's nice." Harry said, not really interested in encouraging his antics. "It's wise not to believe everything you read, you know."

'You shouldn't drink that.'

Harry grinned. Another dig. He was on a roll today. So to that one Harry lifted his glass towards him in a small toasting gesture and took another sip. "And you shouldn't tell me what I should and should not do." He said with a sarcastically cordial smile. "You know what though? I have to say, you and your sister are nothing alike. But I bet you get that a lot."

[notmyproblem]

As usual, Levi was being none too gracious, all though he was gracious enough when all was well. Marked to not to provoke frequent comment, and whenever it was alluded to his hearing, his spine stiffened and his head went up in annoyance. It was quite evident to his family that the rift in the lute - whether caused by Levi or Harry - was serious, and strange to say, it was his father, who might have been expected to hail the signs, who was most concerned to see them. He expostulated with Levi many times during his life, regretting his attitude.

'Maybe.' Was his motionless comment about the news stories. 'But, then again. It's not exactly out of character for you.'

Ignoring his advice, Harry began to leisurely sip his drink. The move strongly agitated Levi, and at first he fenced with the idea of stubbing his cigarette in the man's eye. He turned to retort again, but feeling the weight of opinion against him, forbore. For his sister's sake, he crushed the feeling down to a sharp glance, and was glad he had not mentioned the circumstances under which the two had made each other's poor acquaintance. Though Harry felt the need to break in with it. Levi looked at him with narrowing eyes and stiffening lips.

'Someone has to tell you what to do, Harry.' His green eye flashed and his brow contracted with annoyance. 'And you should know better then to bring Ophelia into this.'

[hamlet]

"Well, no need to tip toe around the big elephant in the room." Harry replied dryly. He caught Levi's glance of course, and it was like the guy wanted to punch him square in the jaw. Harry did have his own way of pushing buttons. It often wasn't as direct as his last comment about Ophelia, but he couldn't help but point out what was plainly obvious about this little "encounter." The fact that Levi decided to provoke Harry instead of walking away told him a lot about his intentions - but when it came to Ophelia, Harry was in no mood to play games. He barely wanted to attend this event anyway, much less get into a spat with his girlfriend's brother. Definitely not on his list of things to do.

"I mean, that's what this is all about isn't it? You and your oh-so-clever, passive aggressive comments? Listen, I'm here for business. In case you haven't noticed, this is no place to play the role of over-protective brother - because I'm sure whatever I have to say just will not convince you that you have nothing to worry about when it comes to Ophelia. Am I right?" He grinned and didn't give time for an answer. "Right. So you can go continue mingling."