Maintaining the Status Quo | [Gilbert]

[Roderich Edelstein]

Tread  carefully, now The was little initial judgment in Roderich's first glance at the old cannery that was to become the new KNP plant. It was older-looking, though no longer in a state of disrepair. Very little physically distinguished it from the rest of the industrial district by the docks - a factory was a factory, as it is, but yet this one was something special. This one was important. Roderich certainly felt out of place as he crunched gravel beneath his fine-leather loafers, moving to enter the building. Such surroundings weren't his place either, but the importance of his task here at KNP put any discomfort away as he walked into the main administrative building, giving his name to a receptionist and reminding him that  he had an appointment scheduled with a Mr. Gilbert Beilschmidt for noon in a couple minutes. He then sat down to wait for the man to meet him, flipping through the notes he'd typed out on his phone as he waited. KNP - a large company, headquartered in New York, being interested in Archadia as a site for manufacturing, well, that wasn't what Roderich was here for, even if it was good muse. Businesses interested in their area were generally welcome for the added tax revenue and employment they'd provide. No, the importance of this meeting was because KNP had proposed an experiment of sorts, one that could honestly solve quite a bit of their problems. Mutants. It always came back to them, didn't it? A permanent headache for the Governor, for the citizens, and of course, Roderich - a potential way to....shove them aside for now, wasn't that just lovely? No more bored mutants languishing in the Underground with nothing to do but fester like some infected wound in society, less proximity between them a humans, less chances for them to do harm. If KNP was successful, they would have a new way of dealing with mutants, permanently relegating menial industrial labor to them for mere fractions of the typical price they'd have pay human workers, with none of the turnover that human workers had. Best of all, in Roderich's mind, was the potential for a real separation between the two species. Having meaningful work would perhaps appease the beasts, and keep human beings out of harm's way. There were dangers of course, anyone could see that. Keeping such a large number of mutants together was a serious risk, what if they collaborated? Keeping them in cells, pitting them against one another, it helped stop any widespread riots from happening, and yet that breakout had happened anyway... Roderich wanted to sigh openly. They had suffered so much in the past few months, between the Breakout, the disappearance of Officer Ren Kondou, and, of course, the Zwingli MIA scandal. Perhaps they were one catastrophe away from people beginning to call for the Governor to resign - what a silly thought! But so much unpopularity was horrible for public relations so this, this could very well be the ticket to restoring the government in people's eyes. Just some specifications to how the mutants would be treated in this factory, some added tax breaks to convince KNP that letting them meddle was worth it, and enough publicity about the opening would seal this as a win for Archadia, and the Governor, of course. They could even have a ribbon-cutting opening, invite the press... The thought of things perhaps going so smoothly made Roderich's lips twitch in excitement. Oh, he hoped this Beilschmidt (why was that name so familiar?) was the agreeable sort of person and eager to work with them, because that would make this so much easier. Just some changes to the ways things were to be run and some increased government oversight wasn't that much of a problem - he hoped. It would be so...unpleasant if he had to argue today. Roderich glanced at his watch, noting that it was promptly noon on the dot and his meeting was scheduled for this time. Gripping his briefcase, he craned his neck to see if the man had come down yet, letting impatience show itself quite plainly on his face. 701 Gilbert Beilschmidt     let the battle of wills begin!

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS

[Feliciano Vargas]

It's always an odd feeling, going out in public wearing one of the cute outfits Gilbert had purchased for him. Not because Feliciano was uncomfortable, far from it, actually. Rather, the looks and words he sometimes received from other humans around him made even short outings to the grocery store more awkward than they needed to be. Thankfully, though, Feliciano was in too much of a rush to reach his destination to pay anyone, or anything else much mind. Once again, Gilbert had forgotten his lunch, and Feliciano wasn't going to let that stand this time. Gilbert spent far too much time working these days, and Feliciano knew his efforts were admirable and in this society, one must work to survive. That didn't mean he could ignore his health and needs, though. Now that Gilbert had taken to working at the factory office rather than his study at home, if the older man forgot to eat lunch, Feliciano had to pull on one of several disguises and march down to the riverside ports to deliver it personally.

A journey that crosses through the entire city from Gilbert's large home, located on the outskirts closer to the forest than the river. Feliciano can only be glad he didn't run into any messes that might ruin his outfit. Gilbert never told him how much the dress coat cost, but the soft wool was high quality all on its own, let alone the expert stitchwork holding everything together. He was fond of the outfit, and made sure to wear it often in order to show his appreciation, as both a dress and a coat. The wool was thick, perfect for the icy weather, with a wrap-around front and a wide collar that can either be left open or buttoned up. For Feliciano's purposes, he almost always wore it buttoned close to this throat, sometimes even with a soft scarf tucked underneath the collar for added insulation. There was no such thing as too many layers, not when they're available to him now. He never had to be cold in the winter again. Maybe chilly, but not cold, or freezing; nothing like that. The very thought made Feliciano wonder if he should buy some sweets for Alfred once he dropped off Gilbert's lunch.

While Feliciano knew he could pair the soft pink with white, in winter, the bright color was too difficult to keep clean. In order to better fit in with the humans around him, the mutant had taken to reading fashion blogs in the spare minutes between all the other new things he had freedom to try. Therefore, to offset the pale color of his dress, he had chosen black gloves to match his ankle boots, and a long brunette wig which he covered with a wide-rimmed, floppy black hat. Feliciano had gone out of his way to add a matching pink ribbon to the hat. In his own opinion, Feliciano now looked nothing like the photograph of himself still-plastered all over the city. Therefore, this little adventure to Gilbert's workplace was of little risk.

Eventually, the bus pulled to a stop near the port, and Feliciano exited with practiced grace, brushing off dust from his dress. While he had never before been to the new KNP factory site, traces of Gilbert's smell were more than enough to lead the way. Wrapped-up lunch in hand, the 'long-haired' brunette made his way to the correct building, ignoring anyone he might pass by along the way. Feliciano had a mission.

There was another person in business attire waiting outside Gilbert's office by the time Feliciano reached the waiting room, alongside a lovely woman working behind a desk--assumedly Gilbert's secretary. Feliciano couldn't help but laugh quietly at the idea of Gilbert being important enough to require a secretary, less in amusement and more with wonder. Ignoring the man sitting near the door, Feliciano stepped over to the woman behind the desk, almost shy as he brushes long strands of hair over his shoulder. He had hoped he could just walk in and deliver the lunch and leave, but that would be rude. He could at least make sure Gilbert wasn't in the middle of a meeting.

When the secretary confirmed that Gilbert was not currently in a meeting, Feliciano beamed. The expression didn't dim even with the warning that the other man in the room had an appointment with the elder Beilschmidt and that Feliciano would have to wait until it was over. "Don't worry~" He reassured her cheerfully, lifting the sturdy cloth bag in gloved hands. "I won't take long." Without waiting for her response, and ignoring her protests with ease, Feliciano finally turned to face the professional-looking man sitting near the door. He looked important, and Feliciano was lowkey dazzled by the quality of his suit, but delivering Gilbert's lost lunch was much more important. "I'm very sorry, sir," Feliciano apologized, aiming that warm smile his way now even as he dipped forward in a little bow, "I just want to give Gilbert his lunch. I'll be right back!"

Feliciano smiled one final time before stepping over and opening the door to Gilbert's office. He was careful to close it behind him before heading in. "Vee, I have a delivery here for Mr. Beilschmidt! I brought lunch~!" Feliciano grinned at Gilbert, waiting for the other to reply and make a space for the disguised mutant to set that lunch down. Hidden in the cloth bag in his hands was a large, securely-fastened container of thick vegetable and spicy sausage stew, two neatly wrapped calzones, a little container with a salad, and even some of this morning's apple strudel as a sweet treat (since Feliciano didn't have time to make something else before leaving this morning). "You have someone waiting for you outside, too, I think." Only then did Feliciano's frown dim as he cast a worried, yet stern expression Gilbert's way. "I told you not to take meetings during your lunch break, Gil. How're you going to eat if you're talking business with someone?" He sighed, shaking his head. Honestly, if he could just get Alfred and Gilbert under the same roof and working from home, he could actually make sure these two take care of themselves. It's like they wanted to work themselves into the ground.

---

Gilbert Beilschmidt  and Roderich Edelstein here have this massive blurge I hope this is okay I swear only one more post and I'm gone ;;

[Gilbert Beilschmidt]

  If I'm going to hell...
       I won't be going alone...

Gilbert Bielschmidt was a warrior at heart. He was always a competitive soul, it was that very trait that had brought him to the top of his class, to the height of the business world, to a position unheard of for someone his age. He loved the battles, the jockeying for power, the back and forth of negotiation. Business and war were more alike than most realize, but Gil knew. He lived for it, thrived in the challenge and the thrill of it.

Gilbert looked up at the buzz of his phone, recognizing it as the signal that his noon appointment was currently waiting outside. He grinned to himself, feeling the familiar thrill of adrenaline racing through his veins. How long had it been since he’d actually had a true business opponent? Nothing more. After so many battles of life and death, it was nice to imagine such a thing. So of course, he played it like a true businessman. Can’t let the appointment think he was that important, after all, even if he was a member of the government.

He’d just turned back to his paperwork when the door opened and a familiar face blew in with the force of a hurricane. He glanced up and smiled up at the brunette who had been kind enough to bring him his lunch.

“Schatzi! You are too kind.” He was careful not to use Feli’s name, just in case any unintended ears might be listening in. He made a show of getting to his feet and picking up the petite male, spinning him around with a grin. “And don’t worry, no meeting is worth letting your delicious cooking go to waste, Liebling!” He gently set Feli down, hand brushing Feli’s cheek gently as he lowered his voice. “Feli… you didn’t have to take such a risk to come here. I could have ordered out, you know?” He couldn’t help but smile though and bent to kiss Feli’s forehead gently. “Sorry, I have to put on a show… I have a certain… reputation… and that actually kind of helps us now. Just follow along and pretend to be my girl and everything will be fine.” He grinned almost apologetically. “Do you think you can keep up the act for a little bit? Just for a few minutes, we need to play like we’re a normal couple so the Official doesn’t get suspicious, okay?” He smiled and squeezed his hand before he looked at the basket, garnet eyes sweeping over the contents eagerly. He didn’t even realize it but suddenly smelling the enticing aromas made him almost painfully aware of his hunger. Without warning, he felt his stomach let out a large grumble and he finally released Feli to tear into his lunch, biting into a calzone with relish. He couldn’t finish it of course, but at least he got a little food in him before his newest meeting. He’d be sure to eat the rest later.

“Ach… Liebling… as always your cooking is to die for.” He murmured, raising his voice to a more normal level for the benefit of those waiting outside. He took a few more large bites before swallowing and wiping his face with a napkin and stepped over to his phone. “Alana? Can you send in my noon appointment now? Thank you.” With a wink to Feli, he leaned back against the desk, the very picture of confidence. Hopefully this new official would buy into it.

word count: 578
tags: Roderich Edelstein , Feliciano Vargas
notes:

by worldie for kat

[Roderich Edelstein]

Draw  the  Lines He’d been checking his watch again when he noticed a newcomer in the waiting room talking to the receptionist, a young and pretty woman with long brown hair that cascade down her back. Roderich raised an eyebrow at the sight, wondering what such a woman was doing there? Perhaps an employee? Suddenly, the woman turned to him and Roderich couldn’t help but slightly blush, his cheeks dusted with a pale shade of pink to match that of the woman’s dress? Coat? Regardless, the woman was very attractive, in Roderich’s eyes, so his generally austere expression softened as she spoke to him. “I’m very sorry, sir.” She smiled apologetically at him, and Roderich found it endearing enough that he almost smiled back, except he opted to watch the little bow she gave him with a puzzled expression. “I just want to give Gilbert his lunch. I’ll be right back!” Roderich blinked, trying to reassess what was going on. The charming woman who just spoke to him was most likely not an employee, but given that she was delivering Beilschmidt’s lunch, a more likely guess was a girlfriend, a fiancé, or a wife – granted it could that she was his sister, but Roderich’s instinct went more with the girlfriend option. He pursed his lips while wondering what kind of man Beilschmidt was to luck out with such a sweet-seeming girl (no one had ever brought him lunch), but that admittedly jealous thought brought the realization that his meeting with the director of the factory would be further postponed. He huffed loudly as he whipped his phone out and sent an annoyed text to the office, informing them that his time at the factory would increase as obviously KNP cared little for the time constraints of the government that decided whether their little factory would be allowed to function. After a few more words about this perceived slight because of the delay, Roderich got up and put his phone away lest he be tempted to directly text Cordelia and complain. No, this was not the best time to bother her or the best time for him to be so…incensed. Hot heads made terrible negotiators after all. Thankfully the way to Beilschmidt’s office was pointed at through easily readable signs, which made finding it ‘Roderich-proof’. However, as he approached, to his displeasure, he caught strings of conversation. “Ach… Liebling… as always your cooking is to die for.” Holding his briefcase tightly, he moved to knock on the door as he heard the other call the secretary to let him in. Rolling his eyes, he knocks before assuming his normal expression and then enters, nodding in greeting to both of them. “Pardon me for the intrusion, Director Beilschmidt, but I wish to get this meeting started.” Not waiting for the other to offer him a seat, he sits down in front of the desk, situating himself by crossing his legs and resting his briefcase on his knee, and cracks it open. “As you have probably been informed, my name is Roderich Edelstein, the governor’s personal legal aide. I’m representing her office today to secure some negotiations as to the opening of your factory. We already notified you about changes we would like made, to both the company and the government’s benefits, as this is also a matter of public safety given the current political climate. I can elaborate on the specifics later.” He pushes his glasses his nose, the light glinting off his metal frames before he allows himself a small, confident smile. “But I don’t need to really express how important it is that the factory cooperates with the government and follows through on these changes – besides being mutually beneficial for both parties, the absence of these changes might impede some of the last minute processing we are doing before we allow your factory to open, you see. I trust my meaning is clear enough?” 688 Gilbert Beilschmidt  Feliciano Vargas he's so salty

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS