That's What Friends Are For [Hector] {Casual} FIN

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

To say that ex-Mayor Richard Plantagenet was in a bad mood would be an understatement. After everything he'd been through, after everything he'd done to gain Edward's throne, as it were, here he was, back in his old job, his old office, brooding, as though nothing had changed.

But of course, everything had changed. Edward was dead. Edward had been murdered. Edward's spirit refused to leave him be, as did the voice of his conscience, a voice he'd refused to listen to for years, indeed never even heard before. Hector Tormei sat in Edward's seat now. No, not Edward's any more. His. Richard's. Hector had taken his place, usurped him when he had been at the height of his power, when he'd at last had it all.

Pride before fall.

Richard laughed bitterly as the words of his brother's ghost (if indeed it had been a ghost) swam to the forefront of his thoughts once again. His eyes were drawn to the headline of one of the newspaper clippings in particular that he was poring over: RICHARD PLANTAGENET WINS ELECTIONS. Of course now the name had changed. It was HECTOR TORMEI now. HECTOR TORMEI WINS ELECTIONS. Was it any wonder Richard was furious?

...untimely death...upcoming elections...change the face of New York...Thus far the protests have not escalated into violence but many suspect it is only a matter of time...

Richard pushed the papers aside with a growl of displeasure. He knew it would do him no good to dwell on the past, yet how could he not? This was just like before, only it felt much worse. He'd never liked Edward, they had only pretended to get along...it wasn't as though he and Hector were friends, not in the normal sense of the term..but that wasn't to say this didn't feel like betrayal.

He knew he sounded over the top, even inside his own head, but he had every right to be. If Hector knew he had killed his own brother to gain the mayoralty, he wondered, would things be different?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

Richard attempted to change tack, turning his gaze from the newspaper clippings to the framed picture of Anne he had on his desk. This did not work as he intended; now, rather than thinking about the murder of his brother, he recalled with alarming clarity how he'd cruelly dispatched of Anne's husband and his father.

Plantagenet slammed his good first on the desk, as a means of venting his frustrations. Ordinarily it wouldn't worry him how he faced death at every turn, but ever since his rapid fall from grace and the appearance of his conscience...he couldn't help but be worried. Hector was in power now, Hector had the upper hand. Never mind that it was Richard who had got in touch with Hector to cover up Edward's biggest scandal, never mind that the entire acquaintanceship was Richard's fault. In Plantagenet's opinion it was Hector who was in the wrong...and if he found out just how he'd gained his power in the first place...

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector knew that he had to move quickly to get Richard on his side. He also knew that Richard was probably going to be absolutely livid about his loss. Not really concerned about proceeding with caution (Richard was just a cripple) Hector couldn't resist purchasing something for Richard. Hector dropped by a local bakery and purchased a gift basket of mini-muffins. Hector snickered as he walked to Richard's old office, the gift basket swinging by his side. Oh the look on Richard's face....

Hector walked through City Hall to Richard's old office where he knew to find him. People he passed were curteous, greeting him and congratulating him as he made his way through the building. Stopping in front of Richard's door, Hector knocked and let himself in.

"Hello Richard," Hector greeted, strolling right up to his desk. Hector sat the mini-muffin gift basket on top of the newspaper clippings and seated himself. "I brought you a little present. I was hoping to talk to you,"

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Richard was interrupted in his brooding by a sudden knock on the door. This alone startled him, but not as much as the unexpected arrival of none other than Hector Tormei himself, carrying what looked to be a gift basket of sorts and smiling. The look on Hector's face was enough to make Richard's own expression thunderous, but this was nothing compared to the fact that Hector strolled up to Richard's desk, sat the basket down on top of his pile of papers and took a seat.

Plantagenet recoiled from the basket on his desk as though it were a nest of vipers rather than a container of baked goods. He then turned his attention to what Hector was saying, his expression becoming all the more angry with every word Hector spoke.

"Hello Richard. I brought you a little present. I was hoping to talk to you,"

Richard couldn't help a laugh, though he was anything but amused.

"If you think you can win me over with a gift, Tormei, I'm afraid I must tell you you're mistaken."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"If you think you can win me over with a gift, Tormei, I'm afraid I must tell you you're mistaken."

Hector laughed. He had been trying to hold it in, the look on Richard's face being so amusing. "Rest assured, Richard, that I am not trying to win you over. Console, perhaps," Hector gave one last laugh and composed himself. He ran his hand down his tie, smoothing it out, and crossed his legs.

"I have a proposal for you Richard, oh don't give me that look," Hector's mirth was replaced with cool edge that he had come to associate with business. When striking a deal, one couldn't afford to be personable and well liked. Especially when his business was organized crime, the nicest mob boss never made it far. A resolve of steel and an unshakable demeanor had made Hector's success possible. The older families couldn't break him down or make him doubt his strength, they didn't trick him into giving away a weakness because Hector didn't let them sway him. The same attitude had to be brought to Richard today, the disgruntled cripple had a tendency to overreact. That would get them no where.

"I know you're probably sore about the election results but that doesn't mean that you're to be cast off. As I mentioned, I would like to work with you,"

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Richard had been expecting Hector to react, certainly. But he hadn't expected him to laugh. Hector was laughing, honest to God laughing, at him. And for what? Richard had every reason to react the way he did - who was Hector to mock him for it? His glare intensified even as Tormei's laughter subsided and he spoke again. It wasn't as though Richard hadn't been laughed at before (this had occurred far too frequently, to be honest) but the fact Tormei insisted on mocking him now was not doing anything to improve his distemper.

"Rest assured, Richard, that I am not trying to win you over. Console, perhaps,"

The ex-mayor shook his head, partly in disagreement and partly in bewilderment at what Hector was coming up with. He was trying to console him?

"Rest assured, Tormei, it isn't working," Richard snapped, not at all in the mood for a discussion with Hector right now.Then again, his current temper considered, when would he ever be? It wasn't as though in few months he would forget about all this. No, as had been seen in the cases of Edward Plantagenet, Edward d'Anjou and Doctor Faustus, Richard was a man to hold a grudge.

"I have a proposal for you Richard, oh don't give me that look,"

The change in the mayor's tone did not go un-noticed by Richard, but this didn't concern him as much as his turn of phrase had. Don't give me that look indeed; he was treating him as though he were a child! His reaction may have seemed like over-reacting to Hector, but it was justified and Richard knew it.

He was reminded eerily of his conversation months ago with Doctor Faustus, when he had tried to get him back on his side. He'd told the doctor he had a proposal for him, Faustus had curtly informed him to tell someone who 'wants to hear your BS'. Richard had to admit he was tempted to tell Hector something similar, but then reasoned he didn't want to stoop to Faustus' level. That and, despite the fact he was furious with him, Richard knew Hector was not a man to cross.

"I know you're probably sore about the election results but that doesn't mean that you're to be cast off. As I mentioned, I would like to work with you,"

Richard inwardly scoffed once again. If all Hector had ever worked for had been destroyed in one fell swoop, he would probably be sore about it.

"I was a worthy opponent and my mind will not be wasted, wasn't it?" Richard replied scathingly, without any hint of interest in what Hector had to say. Deep down he was intrigued, how could he not be, but his feelings towards Hector rendered it near impossible to show this (not that he wanted to). He would not be swayed easily, and that was for certain.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Richard really was in a foul temper and Hector was growing tired of it. Hector didn't have time to mess around with his childish mood. "We both knew that when I decided to run that I would win, Richard. But we both also know that I wouldn't jeopardize our business relationship. The scope of my power has tripled, Richard. Much more is possible now, for both of us," Already Hector's profits had increased greatly, now he was nearly $6 million richer since the election. More people were working with him over seas, seeing his position in public office as a guarantee for business.

Plantagenet was not a law abiding man, he was cruel, jealous, and greedy. Hector was the same way. Both men were of keen mind and ruthless intelligence, but Hector had something over Richard. Physicality. Plantagenet was no more than a cripple. Hector, being the large and intimidating man he was, could use that to his advantage so easily.

Not to mention the mobster in Hector had eyes for Richard's young wife. It would be so easy for Hector to call up one of his men, tell them to grab Anne whats-her-face, and to make a point. Hector would try and refraind from that until he was left with no choice.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"We both knew that when I decided to run that I would win, Richard..."

Richard started a little at this. Was that what Hector had thought all along? He had expected to win from the beginning? Just who did he think he was? True, Richard hadn't exactly made the best impression during his time in office, but opinions change. People are fickle, as Machiavelli often re-iterated. Who was to say they wouldn't soon tire of Hector? He wouldn't be so smug then.

"...But we both also know that I wouldn't jeopardize our business relationship. The scope of my power has tripled, Richard. Much more is possible now, for both of us,"

Well, of course the scope of his power had tripled. Look at the position he now had, the new-found power he now wielded! What did he expect?

At Hector's last words however, inwardly at least, his scoffing, mocking tone faded a little. Richard was a man motivated by a thirst for power, and Hector seemed to be suggesting that, with him in office, Richard would be able to reap the benefits.

But then, Richard reasoned, he had always planned alone, plotted alone, schemed alone. He wasn't about to tag along with Hector, not only with his own pride called into consideration (and this meant a great deal to him, what there was of it) but simply because of who Hector was. Hector was a mob boss and Richard didn't want to be seen as one of those politicians who was manipulated by the mob. He was formidable in his own right, surely. Of course, Hector wasn't to know all the details...but if he knew, would his opinion of him change? Hector knew he was greedy, cruel and manipulative in his own right, but he didn't see him as a murderer. Would telling him something of his former plans even the odds?

While Richard was thinking this all through it must have looked to Hector as though he was mulling over what he had said. And he was, in a sense. What, specifically, did he mean when he said much more is possible?

"Care to elaborate?" he said at last. He still sounded disgruntled, but it was clear he was listening as he looked at Hector.


ooc: ...Wasn't expecting that last part. Just goes to show; don't underestimate your opponent! =/

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"You want power, Richard, I can give you power," Hector folded his hands in his lap. "I can also give you money, respect, and what ever ele you desire. It would entail only one thing: you have to take orders from me," Hector knew that Richard was going to resist. How could he not? His pride had been injured with the loss of the seat at City Hall not to mention his silly obsession with betrayal. Plantagenet's mind would be painting Hector as the villian in his story, everything that had gone wrong in the past few weeks would be blamed on the mayor.

"You see, Richard, now that I am mayor I am not going to be able to monitor some of my overseas contracts. I work rather exclusively with a few militias in South-Eastern Europe and I don't want to hand off their accounts to one of my men. While they are loyal and good at what they o, they simply don't have the head for business it will need. I want you to manage those and help me come up with policies at City Hall. You will, naturally, get a cut of whatever we make, as will I. 40% for you, Richard. Now, that may not sound like a lot b ut consider that the weekly pull from these expenditures is roughly $1,000,000.

Hector pulled his pocket book out from his suit jacket pocket, flipping it open. "I'll write you an advance, if you'd like. Perhaps you can get something for the wife. How is she doing recently? In good health I hope," Hector met Richard's eyes, the threat quite evident in his hard look. It was unspoken that if Richard didn't accept this offer that something would happen to his precious Anne. In true mob style, Hector would be obligated to send Richard whatever was left of his wife if it came to that.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"You want power, Richard, I can give you power. I can also give you money, respect, and what ever else you desire. It would entail only one thing: you have to take orders from me,"

As Hector spoke (at least at first) it was as though Richard's dislike of the man dissapeared; after all, it did seem that working with Hector would be a lucrative opportunity. Much as Richard despised him for his usurpation (as he chose to term it) he could not deny that Hector spoke the truth. He wanted power.

It was as Hector mentioned taking orders that this sudden interest vanished. Richard's expression turned from one of mild interest to one of utter shock and his good hand clenched into a fist. He couldn't help it. He could deal with Hector being smug about the elections and lording his new status, but he would never accept Hector wielding power over him...not like this...

"No!" he blurted, before he had given himself time to form a proper, well worded protest, shaking his head furiously. "There is not a chance in hell that I would ever-"

It was there that he stopped himself; something was telling him to hear Hector out. So instead of continuing to protest he simply stared at Hector, obviously still furious despite the fact he was paying attention once more.

"You see, Richard, now that I am mayor I am not going to be able to monitor some of my overseas contracts. I work rather exclusively with a few militias in South-Eastern Europe and I don't want to hand off their accounts to one of my men. While they are loyal and good at what they do, they simply don't have the head for business it will need. I want you to manage those and help me come up with policies at City Hall. You will, naturally, get a cut of whatever we make, as will I. 40% for you, Richard. Now, that may not sound like a lot b ut consider that the weekly pull from these expenditures is roughly $1,000,000."

True, forty percent did not sound like a lot...but $1,000,000 certainly did. Richard was not adverse to the monetary side of this enterprise, of course he wasn't, but to take orders from Hector...he wouldn't do it. He couldn't. Hector should be able to understand that.

"I'll write you an advance, if you'd like. Perhaps you can get something for the wife. How is she doing recently? In good health I hope,"

The threat was obvious in Hector's eyes. If Richard hadn't known his true profession he might have brushed this off as Hector simply intimidating him...but as he was a mob boss Richard knew full well Hector would follow up on his threat.

In Richard's mind he had lost enough to Hector to warrant giving in at this point. But although he professed he truly loved Anne, although he insisted she had changed him...was he lying to himself? Was he truly capable of such emotions? Anne thought he was, at least, believed he was. But was it possible if he himself didn't believe? Besides, giving in to Hector now...that would be weak. And Richard wasn't weak.

"Anne is in perfect health, thank you," Richard replied, giving Hector a hard look of his own. But even as he spoke he found himself regretting it. Hector would follow through with his threat, surely, and what then?

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Anne is in perfect health, thank you,"

Hector was impressed that Richard rose to the challenge, the old cripple actually standing up to a mob boss. A cripple who didn't care about his wife all that much apparantly.

"And yourself Richard? Your conditioned hasn't worsened has it?" Add personal pain to his wife's pain and there was a persuasive argument. Hector had no qualms about taking the violence to Richard himself. The man was barely functioning as it was. It would be easy enough to remove one of his still functional appendages. Hector finsished scrawling the check and his signature. Tearing the page free from the booklet slowly but deliberately, Hector held the check out for Richard.

It was unspoken that if Richard took the check, he'd be agreeing. Hector counted his acceptance of the check and an unbreakable contract. If Richard tried to back out in any way, Hector had two things to destroy.

The wife and Richard himself. There was Richard's empire to destroy as well, his legacy and his power to ruin. If there was anything that Hector knew Richard valued more than his working hand, it was his power.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"And yourself Richard? Your conditioned hasn't worsened has it?"

Richard knew very well what Hector meant by this; if threatening Anne didn't work then he would threaten Richard. Plantagenet knew to take this seriously; he was, as Hector knew, a selfish man. The mayor had already wounded him emotionally and he would clearly have no qualms about harming him physically - he was a mob boss after all. This in mind he knew he should back down. But even with such a threat as the one Hector had just given hanging in the air, Richard was unwilling to admit defeat.

"No," he said simply, watching Hector closely as he finished writing the check. "No, it hasn't."

As Hector tore the check from the book and held it out, Richard knew this was the moment of truth. He could accept the payment, admit defeat and take orders from Hector, emerging from this encounter unscathed save for his wounded pride. Or he could refuse and suffer the consequences Hector doubtless already had planned.

The decision was more difficult than Richard would have first thought (considering how he valued his physical as well as emotional well-being) and even after his choice was made he got the impression it was the wrong one.

He took the check from Hector with his good hand, sat back in his seat a little and seemed to study it, for all intents and purposes looking as though he meant to accept it. Having done so, with an inward grin (not daring to risk a real one), he crumpled it up and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. He realized almost as soon as he had done so that it was a bad choice to have made, but he was a stubborn man who refused to be swayed even by threats.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector had a feeling the moment Richard took the check that he would declain. Hector could have handled that but the way Richard refused got to him. It was so disrespectful. Moving quickly (an amazing feat for someone his size) Hector was on his feet and reaching across Richard's desk before the check stopped bouncing on the floor. Hector hand caught Richard's shirt, jerking the older man towards him sharply; his other hand dropped to the desk, feeling for the letter opener he had spotted on his way. Small blade in hand, Hector straighted up and back, dragging Richard over the desk with him.

"Don't be a fool, Richard," Hector said calmly, dragging the letter opener over Richard's arm, pressing it into flesh. "What good are you if you aren't working? Hmm?" The tip of the letter opener was angled down into the skin, through clothe. "You don't have much of a purpose, Richard. Your mind is the only thing of worth," Hector stayed his hand, keeping the letter opener from breaking the flesh and making him bleed. "It's certainly all I need,"

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

As before, Richard had expected a reaction and again Hector's reaction was not what he had expected. Before he had even fully thought through just how foolish his decision had been, Hector had stood and reached across the desk, grabbing hold of him with one hand and the letter opener that had been lying on his desk with the other.

Richard attempted to prize Hector's hand from him but to no avail; his effort to fight back was not unlike the efforts of a fly to escape a spider's web - pretty much useless. It didn't help that within seconds of jerking him from his seat Hector had pressed the small blade against his arm, pressing it into his skin. Plantagenet winced, not just at this but at the unexpectedness and unpleasantness of his current predicament. He wasn't too blinded by shock (and fear, he couldn't help but admit to that now) to not hear Hector's words.

"Don't be a fool, Richard. What good are you if you aren't working? Hmm? You don't have much of a purpose, Richard. Your mind is the only thing of worth. It's certainly all I need,"

Richard inwardly grimaced as he acknowledged the truth in Hector's words. What he didn't possess physically he had more than made up for mentally, but that wasn't exactly helping him in this situation despite the fact it was the truth. There was also truth in Hector's final words; all he needed of Richard was his intellect, but Richard needed more than that. His good arm being a prime example.

His mind began to wrestle with a new question; he didn't want to be seen to give in, yet it was clear by this point that he had to. How could he get out of this situation without being seen as weak? He possibly couldn't. No, he couldn't. He just couldn't. Hector had the upper hand in more ways than one; if he knew what was best for him he would acquiesce to his request...at least for now. He'd get him back somehow. After all, he hadn't murdered Edward the first time he insulted him. He'd waited for the opportune moment. He could wait again.

"You're right," he said, attempting the to use the same calm tone as Hector but failing as it was obvious he spoke through gritted teeth. "Now let me go."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Now let me go."

Hector bit back a chuckle. He could see the wheels moving in Richard's admittedly brilliant mind. He knew how Plantagenet worked. He would give in now and then plot revenge. Hector would be ready for that, he was expecting retaliation. After all, he thought the same way.

Releasing Richard, Hector set the letter opener back on the table and returned to his seat, straightening his jacket as he went. "I think you'll find this partnership to be a lucrative one, Richard," Hector recrossed his legs casually. This wasn't anything out of the ordinary for Hector. Having to strongarm someone into cooperating was actually quite commonplace actually. As was the expectation of revenge. It was one of the reasons why Hector had remained a boss for so long, he had anticipated the worst at every moment.

Some people might call is paranoia but Hector called it survival.

"That check is still yours as long as you haven't damaged it too badly. I'm going to write another," Hector said, nodding his head in the direction of the crumpled check.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Once Hector had released him, Richard stumbled back to his chair, adjusting his shirt front as he did so in an attempt to make it look as though he hadn't just been unexpectedly threatened with a letter opener. He didn't sit down immediately though, as if anticipating Hector springing at him again.

"I think you'll find this partnership to be a lucrative one, Richard,"

Plantagenet nodded stiffly, but said nothing.

"That check is still yours as long as you haven't damaged it too badly. I'm going to write another,"

Richard nodded again, giving Hector his best apologetic look as he stooped to retrieve the crumpled check before retaking his seat and attempting to rectify the damage (with little success).

He had known almost immediately that his blatant disrespect had been a bad idea, yet despite the fact Hector had threatened violence, Richard had somehow been foolish enough to not expect it at that very moment, taking into account where they were and Hector's new status, among other things. But then, things weren't always what they seemed once behind closed doors. In fact, things were almost always different. Richard himself was, in fact, living proof to that end.

It wasn't like Richard to feel foolish and this, coupled with the fact he had (for now, at least) given in to Hector, made it difficult for him to try and adjust to the new role he had to play. Edward was dead and gone, he no longer had to act this way around him or about him, but Hector was different.