WHO: Rodolphus Lestrange & Bellatrix Black
WHAT: Harrassing innocent waiters & talking about Anthony
WHEN: Sunday evening
WHERE: A nice restaurant
NOTE: Rodolphus → Sean
It pleased Bella when she got her way. It pleased her when she could prove that her skills of cunning persuasion (if you could call it that sometimes) helped her get exactly what she wanted. That is why, then, that she was so pleased when she had not-so-subtly told Rodolphus that she had wanted a night out at the finest, most expensive restaurant he could find... and he had obliged.
Not that he would have dared not to, she thought with a smirk as she tightened her grip minimally on his arm as they made their way to their table. She surveyed their surroundings with mild interest. It was a nice place, he had chosen well. She'd have to convince Anthony to take her here later this week if time permitted.
The server pulled out her chair for her and she sat down gracefully but without a thanks to the man. Bella smiled coyly across the table at Rodolphus, pleased with him for the time being. She'd seen how long that lasted.
Rodolphus had felt a bit... Irked, to say the least, by the lack of time he'd been able to spend with Bellatrix as of late. Being raised as a Lestrange, he had always had women at his beck and call; there had never been any of this... free spirit nonsense. Of course, his mother had been sure to raise him to know that women were allowed to have their own mind, he'd just never had to put up with it. It was frustrating, but a welcomed change. It showed that Bellatrix had a head on her shoulders; something he desperately wanted given that the girlfriends before her had always been quite on the bimbo end of the IQ spectrum. Somewhere around 80 at least each time.
Of course this also came with the fact that she was stubborn. He'd learned a long time ago to just give her what she wanted when she wanted it, otherwise she could quite possibly make his life miserable. It was an arousing characteristic in her, and he'd be damned if he knew why. Usually being so... For lack of a better word, whipped by a woman would make him irate. With her it felt sort of... Right.
Perhaps it was the fact that he constantly questioned her mental stability. Who knew.
Noting the smirk on her face, he had let a relieved smile tug at the corner of his lips, taking his own seat and scooting a bit closer to the table as he opened the menu. He ordered a bottle of wine to the waiter that came by to request for drinks, looking to Bella to see if she wanted anything else along with it.
"Give me a martini, dry, shaken," Bellatrix added offhandedly. Merlin and everyone in the world knew she loved her vodka and even if he was ordering wine, it was nice to have something with her dinner a bit stronger. Her father severely disapproved of her drinking anything but wine when she dined at home, and this was Rodolphus' money, so of course she was going to take advantage.
She gave the man a dismissing wave, as if he were just another of her house elves, and turned back to her boyfriend. "I'm pleased that you decided to take me somewhere for once," she said, coldly and yet still smiling. She wasn't displeased at the moment, but she was intent on letting him know she resented not being paid enough attention to. She was a very high-matinence sort of woman. "Found enough time in your busy schedule?"
"You and your hard liquor," he muttered, though not in a disapproving sort of way. If there was anything "hard" that he drank, it would probably be scotch or whiskey, but beyond that, he never had much of a taste for the stronger alcohols. Perhaps it was from having seen his father love so many... Hm. One person he wasn't fond of being compared to; Rodolphus liked to think he was his own person and all that.
"If my memory serves me correctly, you haven't exactly been a freebird as of late yourself," he said side-longly, unfolding his napkin and placing it in his lap. "Either way, you do have to remember that while my family does have money, I'm still going to have to find someway to continue making it, if you want to be able to spend every knut." It was a soft way of mentioning that he was quite aware how much matinence she took.
The side of her mouth quirked up then in something more than a calm smile. Both counts were true, but what had her amused was the first. No, of course she hadn't made herself easily available lately. And the fact that he had noticed meant that her plan was working very well... every time she knew he was off work or had a free evening, she would make an excuse and arrange a meeting with Anthony... well, she arranged meetings with Anthony even when Rodolphus wasn't around, but that was besides the point. No one could ever fault her for liking casual, meaningless sex with an extremely sexy man.
"I've come across some... extra obligations," she said, phrasing her sentence carefully. To say something outright was not her desire in this venture. "I work so closely with Anthony so much of the time. He's been taking up a lot of my attention lately."
The words normally wouldn't have irked him so heavily, but the fact that they had so rarely seen each other, and she'd been giving more attention to another man because of it? Well, not the sort of intentions that she would be giving him, or so he thought anyway, but it still caused him to twitch ever so lightly as he took a sip from the water that had been served in the beginning of the meal. Anthony getting more time with his clearly future wife was not sitting well with him, no matter how hard he tried to make it do so.
"Well, I can't very well keep you from your...obligations." Oh, he most certainly could! But he knew being the jealous type would only give her a satisfaction that he wasn't willing to dish out at that particular moment.
"Certainly not," Bellatrix agreed, smiling serenely over the edge of her own water goblet. She set her glass back down in tandem with his, but kept her hand on it, tapping her nails idly on the glass stem and occasionally moving it around on its base so the water inside swirled around. "My work with Anthony is important." In a way, that wasn't a lie. Rodolphus was very important to her. Not as important as herself (and she would not deny that some--a lot--of this was for her own amusement), but then again, no one was more important than Bellatrix in her own mind. "And even if I can't see you, my love, at least I can be with a dear friend rather than spending my days lonely... I am dreadfully lonely when I don't have one of you to pay me attention."
She pouted playfully at him and finally abandoned her water goblet, sitting back in the chair and crossing her legs, right over left, as if to better observe his facial expressions throughout the conversation.
Rodolphus tapped his fingers gently on the table top, not quite sure how to express his opinion on the whole matter. While he kept an overly calm exterior, his lips pursed gently, partially due to an attempt to think of the perfect words to politely tell her that she should tell Anthony to go fuck himself. Of course, just as he opened his mouth, the waiter with her drink and the bottle of win arrived. Showing him the bottle, the waited proceeded to pour to glasses, before placing it down in the center of the table.
Ordering him to give them a few minutes, they were left alone for a brief moment. "I've been thinking of requesting less hours at work. Perhaps you should free up your schedule a bit. I know Anthony and you are..." He strained a bit, before spitting out the word, "Close and all that, but surely you can make time for me."
Bellatrix had to fight hard to contain her glee at Rodolphus' words. There could not be a better chance to stress the point. "Hm, I'm sure I could fit you in somewhere..." she mused, making it look like she was talking to herself. Truthfully, she was making it so that he could hear her. She definitely wanted him to hear this.
She counted off to herself on her fingers and looked as if she were sorting through a date book in her mind. "I have... well, as far as next week goes, Monday afternoon is free, but I have to see Anthony again that night" --to have some fun-- "to work on preparing a task for Regulus..Tuesday Father wants me at home for my obligatory dinner with my parents every week. Wednesday through Friday; same again, will be with Anthony" --which translated to 'at home, doing nothing'-- "... he works next Saturday I believe, however, if you'd like to put in for then."
Bella realized just how cold, businesslike, and detatched she sounded at the moment and wondered how much it would sting. It was very different of her, who usually spoke to Rodolphus with such interest and passion. But then, what fun would this be if someone weren't getting hurt? Bellatrix did so like to hurt people.
Rodolphus had been slightly irked by her needing to pencil him into her life, but he was almost sure her stiff manner was merely a payback for the way he had been acting. The mention of having to spend so much time with her precious Anthony however? He had unfortunately been getting ready to drink from his glass, and the sound of a crack, and then a curse from him as he held his now bleeding finger to his lips made it quite obvious how his feelings over it were.
"I have a meeting Saturday." He said bitterly, ignoring the frantic waiters who were cleaning of the mess and offering him something for the wound. He held out his hand as they wrapped the injury quickly, bothered by the help that surrounded them. "I suppose we'll have to schedule a bit ahead of time from now on."
"Yes, it would be wise if we could anticipate our time together from now on," she said, her voice cold, pointed, telling him that maybe if he didn't want to be penciled in to her life that he should try harder to pencil her into his. Bellatrix hated being ignored, and she would let Rodolphus know that he was the last person she was going to tolerate it from. Her eyes narrowed across the table in an attempt not to laugh victoriously at the breaking glass. Yes, he was angry, and that was exactly where she wanted him right now.
Anger led to paranoia, paranoia led to suspicion. And suspicion was her ultimate goal. She wanted him to know she was cheating on him, to feel that betrayal deep in his veins but to be driven crazy by the fact that she would never admit it. She would dance around the subject with pretty words and adroit editing while so very obviously touching on it the whole time.
After all, he wouldn't do anything to her about it. As a matter of fact, if things worked out the way she planned, it would be quite the opposite. He would be doing something for her. That something was what this brilliant scheme was all for... she would stop at nothing to get that something.
Rodolphus rubbed his now bandaged hand lightly against the back of his neck, taking a sip from his new glass, and setting it down on the table with a small clink as it hit the glass. Head-strong women were not what he was used to, but everytime she managed to infuriate him, he had the deep seated relization that it made him care for her that much more. Not many girls would take the time to even subtly tell him off for completely ignoring him. It took guts, in a way, and he liked it.
That didn't change the fact that he currently had several images of the knife he was now fiddling with going onto her 'friend' Anthony's stomach. Though, that would be so messy and he'd hate to somehow get blood on his shirt. Hexing him would be far more pleasing.
When the waiter finally returned, he ordered. He waited until the waiter took Bellatrix's order and had walked off before he spoke again; "I do hope you don't plan on being so busy when we're married. I wouldn't much like a woman who was... Never around."
These words intrigued Bella, specifically the first part. 'When we're married,' he had said. As much as she hated to show any sort of outstanding emotion, she couldn't stop herself before she leaned forward, her eyebrow raising in what looked like an imploring gaze.
Pursing her lips together, Bellatrix thought for a moment. What could this mean? Of course she knew that it was a likely possibility that they would someday get married, but she had known that years ago, far back in their relationship. He had never said it then, either--did that mean that possibly... maybe... Rodolphus was hinting at something?
Sweet mother of Circe, that man had better hope he was. She had better test him. "My future husband will have to deal with the fact that I have a professional life that takes up my time, which I am just not willing to give up," she began. "However, I would hope that my future husband would understand that professional life much more aptly than... well, most."
He arched a brow at her use of 'future husband.' He could've sworn it was obvious that they were going to get married, just... When things felt right to settle down with. Her impatience had implied to him that perhaps she was wanting to, but he could have been reading it wrong. Biting the tip of his tongue lightly in thought, he looked at her for a moment, before deciding to respond.
"I certainly would understand your professional life--if, of course, I end up as the future husband you'll be snagging. I just would hope that my future wife would be willing to not be as..." He searched the right word, "Unwilling to change her schedule a bit to incooperate me into it without having to pencil me in."
Bella could not help but let her lips twitch upward into a smirk at his reply. He was becoming privy to her game, which while she was glad was taking place, did not bring any exactly pleasing answers. That had been something of a verbal smack, although she was largely--outwardly--unaffected.
"Darling, you take inability as unwillingness," she responded cooly. "I very much enjoy spending time with you. However, I also enjoy spending time with my friends, and I enjoy doing my work. If you want to explain to..." --she glanced around once-- "..Him that his important work is not being carried out just because you'd like me to make you feel loved and attended to more often."
She paused to take a sip from her matini, then set the glass back down again, a fiendish and yet innocent grin coming to her face as she rolled her next words around in her mouth. "However, Rodolphus; I hardly think you're the one that has the right to feel unloved."
"I'm sure that there are times that you could be at home when you are not working," he pointed out. While he knew that she had her obligations, he was also quite sure that even He wouldn't keep her out as often as she was. His hand that had been fiddling with the fork raised to clasp his other hand, bringing both underneath his chin. He rested his head there, watching her for a moment, before looking to the table.
"I didn't say I felt unloved; ignored and lacking feelings of affection are two very different things. I merely would hope that whatever you're doing beyond your obligations would be pushed to the side more often." Spending time with her friends was fine with him, as long as she was willing to prove that he came first.
Specifically when her time was being spent with other men.
"That sounds like a haughty amount of suspicion, love," Bella mused. She was handing out the affectionate names like candy and there was obviously a reason about it. It made her sound like she was trying to be innocent. She sounded like that a lot, actually--and anyone that really knew her knew that when she took that sort of voice, she was being extra mischievous about whatever she was talking about. If Bellatrix had wanted to sound genuinely innocent, she would have been able to. "Beyond my obligations? Are you trying to accuse me of something? You know I think only of you and my work for Him."
Reaching across the table, Bella ran a slender finger slowly, lovingly across his cheek, and let it trail to his clasped hands, where it nudged between the gap of his fingers, asking to pry them away and towards itself.
"You know I love you, don't you, Rodolphus?" she asked, half-pouting.
His hands tightened around each other at her tone, as he was quite aware that when she was being 'innocent' she was far from it. Wincing lightly from having bitten on his tongue to hard in hopes of not spewing out the unneeded accusations just because he felt a little jealous. The word made him feel awkward; he'd never been jealous, he'd never needed a reason to be, and he wasn't liking the emotion. At all.
"Of course I do," he said finally, letting one of his hands fall and taking her hand in his. He squeazed it softly, before pulling it back and taking another sip of water. His hand went back to the other, and he stared at her for a moment. "That doesn't change the fact that I don't believe you're just working."
Bella made a show of looking like she was abashed, when inside she realy couldn't have been any happier. Rodolphus was holding back, she could feel it. There was something he was trying to fight. He was jealous.
This was so perfect, she could hardly believe it.
"What, then, pray tell, do you believe that I am doing besides working?" she asked, pulling her hand back to her martini and raising the glass to her lips in one fluid motion. "I don't know what you could be referring to." The woman downed the rest of the glass of vodka and pushed it to the side of the table, then crossed her arms across her chest and sat back, anticipating an interesting answer.
Absentmindedly cracking his knuckles, he leaned back into his chair, looking at his full wine glass. He grabbed it finally, swirling it for a moment, before he took a long sip, emptying half of it, and placing it onto the table once more.
"I have absolutely no idea." He said in a monotone, lying practically through his teeth. He had his ideas, but he wasn't about to voice them allowed. They were just delussions caused by the slight unbalance in the mind that jealousy brought about.
Yes, that was it.
"I think you have a perfectly solid idea of what," Bellatrix shot back, looking as fake-hurt and emotional over the whole thing as she could. He would have already known that she was playing a game with him, but it was always fun to play-act a little for that extra effect. At the same time that she was acting distraught, however, her voice held a bit of anger. That was a nice touch. "What do you think I'm doing, Rodolphus? Tell me. Tell me, honestly."
She sent him a glare and picked up her wine glass now, downing that one in one tip of the glass. When she came back up, she added, "I'd like to know what my boyfriend suspects me of. I think it's the least you can do."
He finished off his wine, giving a simple shrug and letting out what could have been taken as a relieved sigh when the food finally arrived. "I honestly don't know. Probably nothing, I'm most likely just being..." He searched around for the word that wasn't paranoid, "Ridiculous," that worked," and I'm sure I have nothing to worry about." He took a bite of his food, thinking as he chewed. He swallowed it finally, before shrugging.
"I just don't like the thought of someone else seeing you more then I do."
Commending herself silently on what a wonderful actress she was, Bellatrix's features softened and she seemed sympathetic. Hah. As if Bellatrix Black had ever been sympathetic in her life.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, reaching out for his hand once more. She squeezed it once and then let go as the food was set down in front of them. "Maybe... I can try and break my schedule down a little more... if you're free sometime this next week? I'm sure Anthony would understand if I wished to spend a little more time with you." Truthfully, she liked--loved--spending time with Rodolphus... she enjoyed her time with Anthony, also, but there was a time to cut off the teasing and taunting. She did still relish in a bit of good attention from Rodolphus, and now that he was willing to take off work to see her more often, it would be alright to allow him. She had achieved enough for one day.
"So what do you say?"
He smiled gently, feeling a satisfaction in getting his way, even if he knew that all of this was under Bellatrix's control. It was definately something he had to get used to. He nodded a bit, continuing to eat his food. "I think that would be a wonderful idea. I'll be sure to take off whenever's good for you." It was the best way to work with her, or so he'd noticed. Refilling both of their wine glasses, he took a sip form his own, before looking down at his food.
"I don't know about your dish, but I think house elves could have cooked this better," he said quietly, prodding at what I have now decided is chicken.
The topic change came fluidly, gracefully, and Bellatrix knew they were still playing the same game. It may have been paused for the time being, but the game would never end until a final conclusion came... and that conclusion, Bellatrix felt, would be between Rodolphus and Anthony.
That would quite possibly be the most brilliant part of it all.
"It's true," she joined in, looking down at her plate. Oh, how she hated incompetent house elves. It seemed like there was nothing one could do about their stupidity nowadays. "The punishments back in the kitchen must be lax. We'll have to lodge a fomal.. complaint... to the management."
Rodolphus couldn't help but chuckle lightly at her suggestion, "I think that would most likely be best," he said quietly, taking another sip of wine. At least it tasted good. He placed his fork and knife down, sighing gently as he decided he wasn't going to eat mediocre food any longer. Waving for a waiter to come over, he shoved the plate into his chest.
"Next time, don't let your kitchen bring us something that tastes practically like shite, would you?" He said a bit harsher then was probably necessary. He rubbed his temple lightly, wishing that there were such a thing as 'decent help.'
The waiter looked shocked and harassed, the food on the plate being thrown up at him by the force of Rodolphus' shove. He nervously grabbed for the dish before it fell to the floor and stared, his face white, at the angered man.
"I--I'm sorry, sir," he stuttered out. "Would--would you like something else? We--it'll b-be no charge.."
Bella shot him an uncompromising glare. "No, we would not like something else," she told him, her voice raised. In one swift motion, her hand came under her plate and threw it forward at the poor waiter, putting its contents all over his front. "Teach your damn house elves to cook, why don't you?"
He couldn't help but smirk gently at his girlfriend's reaction, before standing and placing the napkin that had been in his lap onto the table. Downing the rest of his wine, he grabbed the only half-empty bottle, before offering his arm to his girlfriend.
Leaving with the wine was the least the restaurant could offer them.
