Pomp and Circumstance (OPENOPENOPEN)

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector was mayor. His plan to infiltrate the government had worked and his empire was swelling in size and power beneath his feet. To celebrate, he was throwing a dinner party. It was less formal than the gala event had been and far more personable. There were as many people invited, but of course the one's who were invited were among the most important.

Hector sat at the head table, the seat on either side of him empty. One was reserved for Penelope once she arrived, the other for Claudius who Hector insisted attended (though it wouldn't have been an issue if Hector hadn't insisted). Hector had extended an invitation to all those whoo had openly supported him as well as to all those who were in influential positions. Charitable, giving people were also invited, rounding out the list of 150 that could fit into the restaurant that Hector had reserved in its entirety. Like the gala event, Hector was funding the entire dinner with his own money, not the city's money.

It wouldn't be appropriate for a newly elected mayor to waste his city's money on a dinner. He just got the job, Hector wasn't ready to damage his image just yet. Then again, his date to the event was a fair deal younger than he was. That was more than enough to excite the press.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

Claudius Chandler was feeling very much like the cat who'd got the cream, and he wasn't even the one in the supreme seat of New York City's power. No, Claudius Chandler wasn't Mayor of New York but, to his knowledge, he was the next best thing - Mayor Tormei's greatest friend. And this meant he would be reaping the benefits of Hector's new found power; a good reason to be pleased if nothing else.

In celebration of his victory in the elections Mayor Tormei was hosting a dinner party and had invited all those who had supported him to attend. He'd specifically sent Claudius (among others) a personal invitation, but Claudius would have come even if Hector hadn't asked - he wasn't a man to miss a party, especially not on an occasion like this.

As it turned out Claudius was one of the first to arrive, due mostly to his eagerness more than the fact he wanted to be punctual. He spotted Hector at the top table and immediately made his way over, extending a hand of Hector to shake, all politeness.

"Mr. Mayor," he said and then, in an undertone; "Told you so, old buddy. Told you so."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector was a bit surprised when Claudius waltzed in so early. He never knew the man to be overly concerned with punctuality but then again, Claudius Chandler was a quite like mercury. Unstable. Claudius must have been excited about the ordeal then, to have showed up so early.

Hector met his friend halfway, clasping his hand warmly. "Claudius, glad you could make it, surprised you did so early," He heard Claudius's added, softer words. Told you so, indeed. "I never had any doubts myself, though the victory is just as sweet," Hector stepped back and gestured to Claudius's chair.

"Have a seat and order a drink, but for God's sake, try not to get hammered tonight," Claudius had a mild drinking problem even if he didn't want to admit it. Hector had encountered a drunk Claudius too many times in the past month to think otherwise.

[JACK THE RIPPER]

Victor had decided that he quite liked the new mayor.

He had voted for him purely because he didn't want Plantagenet to win, but he liked the man. They'd met before, of course, or else he probably wouldn't have been invited to the gala nor to this banquet. Sure, Griffiths was a tobacco giant, but not one that people thought about when they heard the word 'ritzy'. Where he was placed in society had nothing to do with his class or work, really, and more to do with the skillful way in which he climbed the social ladder. He knew whose name to say to get into these parties.

Tormei was clever. He told the people what they wanted to hear, and though Victor could clearly see through a ruse like that, he admired him for his neat way of executing it. Besides, what did he have against the Mayor? It wasn't as if he himself didn't have something to hide, and God knows anything was better than Plantagenet...

Walking into the restaurant, he straightened his coat. He was happy to hear that it was not as formal as the gala had been. It showed that Tormei knew when overdoing it was overdoing it, and also that he liked to have a good time, which he didn't overdo either. In short, he was classy, and Victor liked it.

He put on his best friendly smile and made his way through the sparse milling crowd of punctual guests, toward the man of the hour. The first sincere congratulations he would give to someone since... God knows how long. "Mayor Tormei!" he greeted once he'd reached him, holding out a hand to shake.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Mr. Griffiths!" Hector took Griffith's hand in a firm shake. Another punctual guest. Hector knew that a great number of his guests would arrive 'fashionably late' and the ones who arrived on time garnered a great deal of respect from the mayor. Punctuality is very important to Hector, even if it wasn't important to others. in his job, before being mayor and now during, being on time was a very strong tool. Being a mob boss, if you arrived late people lost respect quickly. Hector made a point of being early then, so that his workers would feel guilty about keeping him waiting. That was a lot of power, guilt. Hector had learned long ago to weild it properly.

"I'm glad you could make it. How have you been, Mr. Griffiths?" Hector said warmly. "Feel free to sit anywhere, there isn't a seating chart to follow,"

((sorry for le suck. I want to get this thread rolling!))

[mephi]

Damien hadn't felt the need to be formal.

He hoped the woman on his arm didn't mind either. He had convinced Dahlia to come only by saying that it was a good chance to help him be "nice" to people. Ha. What a load of bullocks. He really just wanted to have a good time, and free food was always a good thing. And he wanted to spend time with her. A public place was a good idea, since she often went all saintly on him whenever they were alone. Perhaps she'd put on an act like he did. He doubted it.

He saw the newly elected Mayor Tormei greeting a dark haired man who he vaguely recognized from another social event. He decided to seat Dahlia first, then greet him. He hadn't voted for the man, in fact he hadn't voted at all. He didn't feel the need to when he ruled himself most splendidly. But if he had voted, he'd vote for Tormei, simply because he knew who he really was.

It would get on his father's nerves, for sure, voting for a rival mob boss. Just attending this dinner was sure to make him squeel. He grinned internally as he made his way toward the Mayor to congradulate him, though he waited patiently until he was done with the other man, by a corner in the shadows. He leaned casually and observed the man the mob boss was talking to. He couldn't put a finger on it, but he knew he had seen him before. Maybe he was a part of Tormei's circle...

[dahlia]

Damien wasn't going well. She'd known that he would be hard, but not like this.

The good thing was that he liked her. If she could somehow drive that splinter deeper, she might very well be able to gain more influence over him. And she knew that that would require being around him more often, which he seemed to be all for. He was hard to be around, but it did help that she could see his boyishness underneath all of his hate and sin.

She'd been told that there was no need to dress formally, and she had taken advantage of that. Keeping within her usual limits, she had gone to her favorite thrift shop, and after some very careful looking had found a simple, but beautiful dress. Damien had told her- rather rudely, which she'd corrected- that it became her figure, and she agreed, which was rare. It wasn't often she noticed, let alone acknowledged, when she looked nice.

She allowed him to lead her into the restaurant, and she looked around, instinctively checking her hip for the weight of her notepad, which was in a small over-the-shoulder bag. Not that she would be 'speaking' much to people, but it was always inconvenient when someone tried to make conversation and she had no way to talk back. Actually, it was inconvenient when someone tried to make conversation anyway.

Without any protest, she sat in the chair he pulled out for her, turning to face him with her hands on her knees. She watched him watch Mayor Tormei for a moment, but soon enough, her eyes were drawn to the tall, dark-haired man the Mayor was talking to. Something unsettling began to churn in her stomach, and she tasted the faint but distinct tang of blood in her mouth.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

"Claudius, glad you could make it, surprised you did so early,"

Claudius chuckled at Hector's response, genuinely amused by his words.

"See, so was I, at first. But I figured I shouldn't be late to such an important shindig as this one."

"I never had any doubts myself, though the victory is just as sweet,"

Chandler raised an eyebrow, although it was evident that Hector wasn't making a joke.

"Of course you didn't. You're not the type, are you?"

"Have a seat and order a drink, but for God's sake, try not to get hammered tonight,"

Despite the fact Hector was being serious (and Claudius very well knew it), the Hamlet Enterprises CEO gave the newly elected Mayor a look of mingled shock and hurt.

"How could you think I would do something like that-" he began in a wounded tone before switching to his usual lighthearted voice. "Me? Hammered? Never."

So saying and with another chuckle, Claudius took the seat Hector had indicated and ordered a glass of red wine. The whisky could wait till later.

[JANE EYRE]

Even though Jane felt that Mr. Tormei's invitation wasn't well thought out, Jane had conceded to attending the dinner anyway. She used some of her new money to purchase, for the first time ever, a party dress to wear to the occassion. She didn't dress up that much mainly because she doubted that she would know anyone at the event. Jane figured she might circulate a little but counted on sitting in her seat the whole time, engaging in polite conversation or staying to herself. If anything, Jane considered the experience one to learn from, now she could start to adjust to her new position.

Jane entered the restaurant hesitantly. There was already a line of people waiting to greet the new mayor so Jane decided to sit down and wait for it to die down before she offered her thanks. She took a seat somewhere in the middle of the who set up, almost right across from Dahlia, the woman from the thrift store. Jane gave her a smile and a wave before letting herself look around. At the head of the table, Tormei stood and a familiar face was sitting at his side. Claudius Chandler, from the museum. Perhaps he was friends with Mr. Tormei. Jane caught his eye and gave him a little wave.

A waiter walked up to Jane and asked what she would like to drink.

"Water, please,"

"What brand?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said, what brand?" Jane hesitated. She wasn't aware that there were different brand of waters.

"Um, which ever you suggest...?" The waiter nodded stiffly and walked off. Jane slumped down in her chair a little. That didn't go so well.

[PENELOPE LAFONTAINE]

Penelope quietly stepped into the restaurant, slightly self-conscious at having been brought there in a fancy town car. But Hector had been pretty insistent about giving her the car rather than letting her take a taxi.

She smoothed out her her white dress:



She softly touched her hair to make sure the small purple daisy was still settled cleanly next to the twist her red hair was bound in. She was glad not have needed to buy another dress, this one having been a going away present from her parents. She had paired the dress with a gray clutch and gray open-toed pumps.

Penelope spotted Hector among a group of other people, including Claudius Chandler, whom she recognized from the party at the MoMa. She was also glad to see other young women around, dates presumably. At least she wouldn't be the only young person around.

"Hi Hector," She called out as she made her way to him and his group, "I hope I'm not too late."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Tag: Claudius, Damien, Penelope

[/right]

Hector rolled his eyes at Claudius's reaction and waved him off. "It's just for a couple of hours, you can survive without your usual, copious amounts of alcohol," Hector motioned for the waiter and gave him strict instructions that Claudius Chandler was only allowed two drinks; if he was given any more Hector would see too it that which ever idiot enabled Claudius would be fired.

Past Mr. Griffiths Hector could see a man he recognized vaguely, Damien Talbot, son of a rival mafioso. Hector nodded in his direction, making a note to talk to him later in the dinner, once the tables were cleared away and a dance space was created.

Off to the other side, Hector noted Jane Eyre, new heiress. Hector added her to his list of those he needed to greet once he began circulating.

Then Penelope walked in, a vision in grey. Hector smiled and extended his hand once she got close enough. "You're right on time," He bent forward and kissed her cheek. "I trust your ride was satisfactory,"

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

Tag: Jane

Luckily for Hector, Claudius didn't overhear what he told the waiter, nor did he notice Penelope's arrival and the way Hector greeted her. Initially this was due to the fact his glass of wine had arrived and subsequently it was due to the fact he'd spotted another familiar face not too far away.

He picked up the glass and moved to greet Jane Eyre, grinning broadly as he extended his free hand for her to shake.

"Jane, lovely to see you again," he said, still all smiles. "I see you've been putting your new-found wealth to good use (here he indicated the dress Jane was wearing). Very nice, Jane, very nice indeed."

[JANE EYRE]

Tag: Claudius

[/right]

The waiter brought back a green bottle and a glass filled with ice. He made quite a big show of opening the bottle at the table and pouring a measure in the glass. The bottle and the glass were sat on the table and the waiter disappeared. Jane thanked him quietly and looked at the bottle. Sparkling mineral water. Jane furrowed her brow. She had asked for simply water, why did he bring sparkling mineral water? Jane tasted the water skeptically. It just tasted like fizzy water and what was the point in that? Jane pushed the glass back a little and let her hands drop in her lap.

Jane was content to sit that way but Claudius Chandler decided to make a personal appearance, a gesture appreciated by Jane. She took his extended hand in her usual light grip. "Mr. Chandler, it's a pleasure," He was just as exuberant as he had been in the museum. Jane smiled and ducked her head a little when he complimented her dress. "Thank you, I chose to spoil myself a little," The dress didn't even cost that much but it was more than she had ever spent on a dress before. "You look very nice as well, Mr. Chandler,"

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

Tag: Jane

"Mr. Chandler, it's a pleasure,"

Claudius chuckled.

"The pleasure is all mine," he replied, letting go of her hand, his laughter dying a little at Jane's apparent embarrassment. It was as though the woman had never been given a compliment before! Of course, Claudius Chandler had to be the one to rectify this.

"Thank you, I chose to spoil myself a little,"

"Jane, you shouldn't choose to spoil yourself," Claudius exclaimed, looking rather surprised. "Like I told you before; you've got cash so why not use it?"

"You look very nice as well, Mr. Chandler,"

Claudius had the decency to look modest, for once.

"Thanks very much," he replied. "And again, like I said before, call me Claudius."

[mephi]

Tag: Victor

Seeing the new mayor preoccupied with this new woman who walked in, he started to head back over to Dahlia, to make sure she was comfortable, until he passed by the mysterious man who had been talking to. He could almost feel the negative energy coming off of him, and if there's one thing Dahlia has taught him thus far is how to read people.

"Excuse me, sir," he said, touching the man's arm. He raised an eyebrow. "Have we met, by chance?" He stuck his hands in his pockets. "I feel like I know you from somewhere... Are you in the restaurant business?" He'd often invest in restaurants he'd never even been to, but he'd see their owners in the papers. He vaguely recalled this man fronting one of them, though he surely must have been involved in some crime ring, if he knew the mayor so well. Perhaps he'd snuff out his business through "polite" conversation.