Power Play {Hector} [Casual] UNFINISHED

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

Claudius and Hector hadn't parted on good terms. The last time they had met, Claudius had hit on Penelope (who, he had discovered to his surprise and amusement, was Hector's date) and then, despite Hector's valiant attempts to stop him, gotten incredibly drunk.

It wasn't as though the wine was all Claudius was drunk on, though. No, his good friend's new position as Mayor of New York City meant that Claudius Chandler was fast becoming drunk with power. It was as though Hamlet Enterprises wasn't enough any more, as if it was only the beginning. With Hector's power at his disposal (the CEO presumed his old friend would forgive and forget) Claudius could achieve greater, reach higher...in essence, get more for himself. He had always been greedy.

Although the working day was over, that wasn't to say Claudius could relax. On the contrary, the financial market was looking rather worrying and he had gotten the idea in his head that Hector could help alleviate some of his worries with his supreme power and influence. Not to mention the fact that Harry had been getting on his nerves again - ever since their ill fated and alarming meeting at Hamlet Senior's graveside, his nephew had been acting more madly than before. Hector and Harry had never met, and Claudius didn't want to bother Hector with talk of him, but suffice to say his nephew's strange behaviour weighed on his mind almost as much as financial difficulties.

Still dressed in his suit, though without his tie and the top button of his collar undone in an attempt to look more casual, Claudius had his driver stop outside City Hall. Getting out and looking up at the imposing structure, Chandler ducked back into his car to retrieve his tie and hurriedly put it on again. He got the feeling that dressing casually, despite being who he was, was not a wise option.

Despite the fact he was well known, Claudius was not above the security check. This formality being done with, he inquired as to whether it would be possible to see Mayor Tormei, despite the fact he had no appointment. The secretary on duty looked dubious, but Claudius' winning smile and some choice flattering words got him the answer he wanted.

Standing outside Hector's office door, Claudius adjusted his tie before knocking, in a manner more exuberant than the situation warranted. God, he needed a drink right about now...

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Fiscal reports. Hector hated fiscal reports. They were always so depressing. Even in a good economy they were a let down. Businesses could always do more, perform better. Enough money was never earned. As mayor he could do little to change what was happening. The population, scared by the economy, wasn't spending. When spending stopped by the consumers, firms weren't able to hire labor which further decreased spending. It was a vicious cycle, one that even the great Hector Tormei couldn't break.

However, despite the rough times, his other business was flourishing. Demand for blackmarket goods had sky rocketed. Drugs were self-applied in order to sooth away the anxiety, weapons were bought black market so the extensive liscensing process could be avoided, loans were being taken out left and right at high interest rates just to keep a business afloat after a bank denied a claim. Hector's non-taxable profit had rocketed through the roof.

Either way, Hector was earning money.

It was the end of the typical business day, signalling a break in Hector's 24 hour enterprise. There wasn't an end to his work day. When his time at the mayorial office drew to a close, Hector had to go right back to being Don Tormei. He was exhausted. Hector sat at his desk, tie shucked off to one side, the top buttons of his shirt undone. He rubbed his face tiredly with one hand, digging in his desk drawer for his flask. Hector didn't usually imbibe at work, knowing how easily his reputation could be damaged, but he was safe now. The majority of the office was gone already and his secretary knew when to keep her trap shut.

Hector popped open the flask and took a deep drink. Smacking his lips and sighing, he tossed the flask back into his drawer. There was a knock at the door, loud and a little overly excited sounding. Taking a moment to compose him, Hector toned for whoever was knocking to come in.

((ooc: sorry for the wait!))

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

Claudius heard Hector's summons and, with a final adjustment of his tie, he entered the mayor's office. He was surprised to see Tormei attired as he was, but managed to hide his surprise fairly quickly in order to affix an apologetic expression to his face.

"Hey, Hector," he said, sounding somewhat sheepish. " Hope you don't mind me barging in like this..I just wanted to say I'm sorry for...you know. The dinner and all that."

The CEO of Hamlet Enterprises paused and cleared his throat, surprisingly nervous about the whole affair. Although Hector was his good friend, as mentioned their parting at the last hadn't been the friendliest...that and Hector's new position as mayor made him all the more intimidating than usual.

He glanced about the room a bit, taking in the splendour and vastness of it all. He couldn't recall the last time he was here; it had been years ago, back in Edward Plantagenet's heyday, for some purpose now long forgotten.

Claudius' gaze finally came back to rest on Hector. He gave him a once over before saying, somewhat lamely;

"How's it going, this mayor business? Is it all it's cracked up to be?"


ooc: Sorry for the wait and the lacklustre post - lack of internet and time as late. ):

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector gave a sigh when Claudius walked in. Of course it would be his old friend. "Evening Claudius," Hector greeted blandly. He was tired, he was ready to leave the office, and in walked the drunk. Who, surprisingly, didn't appear drunk at the time.

" Hope you don't mind me barging in like this..I just wanted to say I'm sorry for...you know. The dinner and all that."

Hector gave a shrug and motioned for Claudius to have a seat. The dinner hadn't gone as well as it could of, partially thanks to Claudius but mostly because of the bizarre tone the event had taken on. The underlying awkwardness between him and Penelope certainly didn't help matters.

"Being mayor is boring, I have to say," Hector admitted, waving his hand over the stacks of papers he had read through and signed today. That's what it was like every day.

Hector leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers in front of him. "Why are you really here, Claudius? You didn't come down here just to apologize, did you?"

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

As Hector simply shrugged at his apology, Claudius wasn't sure whether to assume this meant it had been accepted or rejected. The fact Hector was offering him a seat seemed to indicate the former and so, with a wider smile and a word of thanks, he sat down. He was clearly still nervous in contrast to his usual exuberance, drumming his fingers on his knees and sitting rather rigidly in his chair.

"Being mayor is boring, I have to say,"

Claudius managed an impressed whistle at the volume of paperwork, before his expression became somewhat crestfallen. Boring? How could having so much power at your disposal be boring? Then again, Hector was powerful without the mayor's seat. For him, that was just a bonus.

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, looking back at Hector, not sure what else to say at the present moment. Luckily, Hector broke the silence. Unluckily he'd guessed exactly what Claudius was there for.

"Why are you really here, Claudius? You didn't come down here just to apologize, did you?"

Claudius looked affronted; it was as though Hector's accusatory question had shocked him back to his usual self.

"How did you-" he began, before cutting himself off. Of course Hector knew what he was there for. He knew Claudius wasn't the type to turn up just to say sorry, even if Hector was his oldest friend. He should have known that Hector would know, as soon as he walked in, that he had an ulterior motive up his sleeve.

"No," he said again, after a pause, having the decency to look somewhat ashamed of his own ulterior motives. "No, I didn't. It'd be nice if that were all I had to say, wouldn't it? Course it would. But nope, the current economic climate considered, the Hamlet Enterprises CEO can't just go and say sorry to his old buddy then waltz off. No, I was hoping you might be able to...y'know...help me out."