A Game of Lies || Roderich

[Elizaveta Héderváry]

INFINITY (n.) the state of being limitless Parties. Elizaveta hated parties. This thought seemed to resonate in her mind as she adjusted her midnight blue dress for the last time in the mirror and tucked a dark blue flower into her hair. Perhaps if she hadn't been basically forced to attend, Elizaveta wouldn't have minded as much. There were nice parts about parties. The food, the drinks, the ornaments, the music. The music was usually good. The people and company though? Terrible. And the fact that Elizaveta had to pretend to be nice and kind to people who only cared about using her? She wasn't excited about having to play that role. She could be kind normally, but with her job and everything, Elizaveta didn't exactly specialize in it. Elizaveta walked into the party, waving and greeting people that she'd met from time to time. She remembered their names only so that she could actually pretend to care about them. She laughed a little at something one of the female politicians said and Elizaveta chatted with them a little before excusing herself. She lifted a glass of champagne off a server's tray and began to scan the party. When her mother had phoned her, informing her that her presence at the next party was required, Elizaveta had attempted to squirm out of it. Naturally though, her mother wouldn't take no for an answer. She was the Governor after all, and Elizaveta was her daughter. There was supposed to be some interesting, official announcement. In fact, Elizaveta could certainly see a few reporters mingling around. It would only be appropriate for Elizaveta to be present and support her mother. Like she'd ever support the filthy witch. However, an important announcement almost certainly meant that one certain person would be there. Elizaveta had met him several times before during parties or with her mother. She didn't really care for him—he was a politician like the rest after all—and they'd never really spoken other than the respectful "Hello" and "How are you." However, he was the legal advisor to the Governor. Maybe even more than that, Elizaveta never really knew with her mother. And she didn't really think too highly of the other politicians. Most of them would do anything for success. Roderich Edelstein didn't strike Elizaveta immediately as that sort of person, but he was so high up and Elizaveta's view of politicians were skewed. Even she admitted that. At parties, he was polite, but never too friendly. Maybe Roderich wasn't as manipulative as her mother, but Elizaveta certainly got the vibe that at his center, he was most certainly a politician through and through. Which probably meant that he wouldn't be the easiest to get information from. But he was also basically her mother's right hand man. And Elizaveta wanted information. Any information. Elizaveta didn't want to be too direct. No, Roderich was a smart man. The two of them almost never talked, even though they had had many opportunities to. Other than business, Roderich didn't seem like the social type. Maybe she'd be able to use that to her advantage. Of course, it could also completely blow up in her face, but that seemed like a minor concern. One of the few things Elizaveta knew was that even if things went wrong, she was still the Governor's daughter. As much as she hated the fact, she would use it to her advantage tonight. Elizaveta spent a little time socializing with the various politicians. All of them complimented her on her dress, her hair, her makeup, her eyes. It was sickening, how eager they were to get on her good side for hopes that she would inform her mother. How despicable. At least the guards in the Underground recognized that you had to earn Elizaveta's respect. The music started up and Elizaveta danced with some businessman who after the dance, wanted to take her out for a drink. She politely declined. It would be rude to leave before my mother's announcement. Oh look at her, playing the perfect little daughter. Wasn't she a good girl? Finally, she spotted him. Roderich. It looked like he wasn't doing anything particularly important. Elizaveta smiled. A perfect opportunity to pretend to rest her feet and ask the advisor a few questions about her mother. Taking a glass of champagne, Elizaveta headed over and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hello Roderich," Elizaveta smiled brightly. "Do you mind if I join you?"

words 740 tags #@auskuchen notes I had Eliza approach Rods since I doubted he'd approach her...hopefully this is okay! ;;

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[Deleted]

R oderich was most definitely in his element. The clean ballroom was filled with the sound of tasteful music playing, the food looked rather expensive, and polite chatter filled the room. He could perhaps name every person of note here, they were mostly colleagues and underlings. He attracted some glances, but Roderich kept an ear to the wall on office gossip about him. Most of it wasn't true anyway. Bored people do like to amuse themselves, which is why they throw such lavish parties. Roderich was sure that the money for this could have gone to updating hospitals or increasing someone’s pension but he was not the financial advisor and suggesting that the government do a little more for the welfare of the common people wouldn’t be a wise move. Roderich didn't make moves that weren't wise. Like many of the people in this room he sold principle for promotion. Maybe that’s why, despite the whole being in his element, Roderich actually detested these affairs. In some ways he could find something false about most of the people here, fronts and masks that they put up for the whole world to see. This was exactly the time when most made connections and networked. If you looked closely enough at the chatting attendees of the party you could see a bribe or two in process and the rest of the attendants scanning the room hungrily for something, someone to give them an edge. And that was why Roderich couldn’t miss these garish and needlessly expensive parties. If he had to put a front of being merry to get a great leg up over the rest and stay in the Governor’s good graces, so be it. So far his exchanges had been merely pleasantries. While that left him to sip champagne alone in the corner, it wasn't very productive. He did, however, have a very good view of the Governor. She was going to announce something that had been briefly discussed with him earlier, so he wasn't sure on the full extent of her decision. Honestly, Roderich wanted to go home and lean back with a cup of coffee and some good opera records. But his comfort had to take the back seat just this once, as the Governor could very well call attention to him. For now, he leaned back on one of the tables with wine glasses, content to sip out of his own. A stare broke his contentment as he saw some minor official glancing at him periodically. The brown-haired man’s lips pursed in disappointment; another status-grubbing fool not at all worth his time. “Funny,” thought Roderich in the back of his head, “I used to be just like him.” He handed his glass to a waiter and made to disappear into a crowd of merry people, blending in with dancing notables until the minor official could no longer see him. A tap on his shoulder ended his attempt at concealing himself and he spun around to gaze at a smiling Elizaveta Héderváry. "Hello Roderich, do you mind if I join you?" Elizaveta Hedervary was very much a stranger to him. The past few years serving under her mother had definitely enabled him to hear some more unsavory things about her, as told by her rather acerbic mother, but Roderich didn’t know the Head Guard personally. Pleasantries aside, he had little need to promote himself to the governor by talking to her daughter and he was intelligent enough to figure out that such an avenue wouldn’t work. So it was with surprise that he found himself staring down at Elizaveta. She was fairly pretty, though his informants at the Underground told him that the Head Guard ran a tight ship and was highly respected by her workers. Like mother, like daughter Roderich supposed. You could say many things about the Governor but one of them was that she commanded both fear and respect. Roderich could only guess what she wanted from him, his boss's "rebellious daughter". Privately, Roderich heard her mother mutter about her daughter being her bane, how she spurned her mother and worked in the Underground. Personally, Roderich couldn't blame the young woman for wishing to be free of her mother's influence and the society that allowed it. But as Roderich an instrumental part of both those things, it brought him to the question of why Elizaveta, who had been comfortable merely exchanging greetings with him for years, would seek him out now. He bowed his head to her, offering an open palm to take her hand and adopting a sweeter tone to his voice than usual. "Why, Fraulein Héderváry, you look absolutely radiant tonight. You may join me of course; do you wish to talk or dance?" Whoever said flattery got you nowhere hadn’t met Roderich.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Elizaveta Héderváry]

INFINITY (n.) the state of being limitless Elizaveta kept her smile bright as Roderich turned around. She took in his looks for a moment, allowing herself to reaffirm the details of the man who worked so closely with her mother. He was dressed in an expensive suit, very well-dressed indeed. A pair of glasses set on his nose...he did look very much like a politician. There was a certain air of power about him, not unwarranted with his position. And this was what Elizaveta was interested in. Roderich was a careful man; he had to be, working so high up. Elizaveta expected to learn little from him, but she might as well try while she had him here. Roderich seemed a little surprised to see Elizaveta, though the emotion only flashed through his eyes for a brief moment before it morphed into a formal smile. He dipped his head towards her respectfully before offering her his hand. "Why, Fraulein Héderváry, you look absolutely radiant tonight. You may join me of course; do you wish to talk or dance?" Roderich's tone was sweeter than the past few times they'd interacted. Oh the flattery. All politicians knew how to properly flatter someone. Elizaveta had yet to meet an honest politician who didn't bother with flattery. It was, after all, their job to manipulate people to agree with them. Roderich was no exception to this. She was surprised he wasn't working the floor more, creating contacts with people. Then again, perhaps he felt that he was in a position that satisfied his ambitions at the moment. Or perhaps not...politicians were so rarely satisfied. "I should return the compliment—you look particularly handsome as well." Elizaveta gave him a smile and took his hand. "Oh, I'd love to dance in a bit," she said, squeezing his hand lightly. "But if you don't mind, I'd like to rest my feet for a moment." She gave a small laugh. "So why don't we just talk for now? Company has been a bit lacking these past few days." Elizaveta thought briefly about how to approach the subject of her mother with Roderich. The two of them did not talk much; he would be suspicious that she had chosen to approach him. Then again, at parties, Elizaveta was sociable in her own right. It wasn't that much of a leap, was it? Still, she had to think this through properly. Roderich had probably heard from her mother of their mutual distaste for each other. To be asking about her mother's wellbeing would no doubt be suspicious. She sipped her glass of champagne delicately. "How have you been doing, Roderich? I'm surprised that you aren't standing with my mother right now." At this, Elizaveta cast a glance towards the woman, who was currently talking with someone. She kept her face neutral, not revealing her inner thoughts. "I heard she had an important announcement that she was going to make." Elizaveta gave Roderich a small smile. "Care to give me a quick sneak peek? I don't think Mother will mind too much." Undoubtedly, Roderich knew all about her mother's announcement. Elizaveta did not expect him to tell her. Even as the Governor's daughter, she was not entitled to that without the Governor's approval. But if she could get Roderich to open up, to maybe start on the subject of her mother...if he thought that was all she had come to him for, mere curiosity, who knew where their conversation could lead? Elizaveta finished her drink and placed it on the tray of a waiter. When was her mother's announcement? That would tell Elizaveta a little more about exactly how much time she had to talk to Roderich and would possibly dictate how much she'd be able to get out of him. The party had been going on for a while now—no doubt the announcement would happen soon. After that, Roderich would likely need to speak with the Governor and Elizaveta did not plan on staying for much longer either. A new song came on and Elizaveta smiled. It was a classical piece, which seemed to be favored by the politicians of Archadia, but with a slightly quicker beat, a little more upbeat than the typical song. It was a familiar song, a song that Elizaveta enjoyed dancing to. Perhaps this conversation would be more productive if the two of them could become a little more comfortable with each other's presence. "I think I'd like to take you up on your previous offer. This is a beautiful song to dance to. It would be a waste to allow it to slip by, don't you think?" She smiled and gave a small, airy laugh before taking Roderich's hand. "I know we don't talk much, so we might as well make good use of this opportunity."

words 802 tags #Roderich notes It's not great, I'm sorry. ;n;

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