WHO: Elizaveta and Peter WHEN: October 2nd, Saturday, Night WHERE: Outside of Peter's prison room. WHAT: "If there's anyone who can get you out, it's me."
With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Peter fought through his exhaustion and ran down the street like a mad dog. He could almost sense that Papa was realizing something had gone wrong and was hurrying up the stairs. As they turned the corner, he felt Papa unbolting the door and seeing the broken-in window. As they hopped into the taxi, he knew Papa was storming down the stairs to chase after them.
But now, he was in the safety of an escape vehicle with a Starbucks coffee waiting for him. Peter looked at the precious brown liquid, staring at it as if he had never seen it before in his life. He picked up the cup and looked back at the woman, panting equally heavily as he was.
"This... is for me?" he asked in a childlike voice before he took a sip through the straw.
There was the stuff. He exhaled contently, smiling like an eejit, before he sipped up half of the cup in one go. He watched the surrounding blurred in and out through the car window. They were going further and further away from his house; a relief to Peter's tired mind.
Elizaveta smiled at the boy, who was slurping up the coffee like he hadn't had anything to drink in days. Which, she supposed, was right. Who knows how long he had gone without coffee, the poor guy. Leaning back into her seat, she watched the roads fly by through her window.
"My name..." She wondered whether or not to tell the truth. But then, what could have gone wrong? It wasn't like she was doing anything horribly criminal. "My name is Elizaveta. You may know about the elections going on for mayor right now. I work for one of the candidates... Mr. Roderich Edelstein." She paused, staring at the taxi driver.
"It's nothing big, really. We just need your help for a little... business that we need to do. To return a favour, if you will." She smiled wryly, putting a finger to her lips. "I'll tell you more once we get to my house."
As if on cue, the taxi driver arrived in front of Centralia Apartments, a drastic change in quality from Peter's nice, clean house.
Peter was enjoying the caffeinated life source to really care where the taxi was taking them. He could be poisoned and raped and hacked into dozen pieces and he wouldn't care much as long as there was sweet caffeine cruising through his nervous system. Lucky for him, this... Elizaveta didn't seem to be the murderous type.
"Who?" his thick eyebrow went up at the unfamiliar name. He wasn't a citizen and thus could not vote and thus didn't follow the election. "Um, is he... is the one with all the pink posters I've seen around?"
As the taxi pulled into the more run-down neighborhood, Peter's mind and body tensed. What did she want with him; he wasn't a political-minded person and certainly didn't have any advice to give.
"W-why... me? I mean... I don't know how I'd be able to help...?"
He stepped out of the taxi, throwing his bag over his shoulder and followed Elizaveta into the apartment complex.
Elizaveta tried not to snort, because snorting was unladylike, and if she was getting anything out of being Mr. Edelstein's housekeeper, she was finding that her manners were improving quite rapidly. "No, he's definitely not him." She exited the cab as well after paying the driver, making sure she had both her 'weapons' safely strapped onto her back. Walking quietly, she led Peter into her apartment and switched on the light, wincing slightly because of the mess.
"This is my house," she smiled, "We'll be going over to Mr. Edelstein's house in the morning." Pointing to the couch, she sat on one edge and grabbed her a cup of cold tea, cradling it in her hands.
"Well, as you know, I'm Elizaveta Hedervary, the housekeeper slash personal assistant of the mayor candidate, Mr. Edelstein. A month ago, the other candidate Feliks Lukasiewicz (the pink one that you know of) broke into Mr. Edelstein's house and distributed incriminating photos of his opponent. Therefore, we have no choice to retaliate."
She smiled thinly, looking down at the boy. "And so our plan was to make him suffer the same embarrassment. That's where you come in, Peter. You are of his short stature, and if we disguise you rightly, there is a great chance that you could pass for the Polish man. All you need is to run a few errands for a few days dressed up as Feliks, and we will return you home safely."
Peter had his skepticism. If he knew anything about politicians, it was that they were dirty stinking liars who used other people for their own benefits. And Peter had no intention of being used by anyone! He narrowed his eyes without settling down on the couch even after Elizaveta's invitation to make himself at home. The proposal seemed like a childish prank at most, unethical at worst.
He might possess a childlike mind, but even he knew that there was certain things that was just plain illegal. Or stupid. Or both.
"Look, you seem like a nice person, so I'll be honest..." he shifted uncomfortably, scratching a spot on the back of his neck. "I know you broke me out of the house and all, but I don't think I want to do this. It just seems... wrong, you know. Is there something else I could do in return...?"
What was Elizaveta going to do? Not like she was going to lock him in her apartment until he agreed, right...
Elizaveta's smile thinned and she sighed inwardly, knowing that there was a high chance that this would happen. She folded her hands on her lap and looked up at him with masked eyes. Her voice light and cool, she played with a strand of her hair nonchalantly. "Ah, to think that not even a person's word can be trusted these days. It seems that even though I had to go through breaking into a house and putting myself into danger, as well as getting you some hot coffee, you're just like everyone else. A liar who can't be trusted."
She frowned and picked up a tiny switchbox from the table, turning it around in her hand. "You're of no use to us right now if you aren't willing to do our task. And don't even think about escaping, we obviously can't let you go home or back outside. Although, who'd believe you? You've already lied to us once."
She fiddled with the switchbox, her fingers just barely grazing the big red button in the middle. "And if, and only if, you were able to escape, who'd they trust more? A working adult or a small child? You might've gone mad in that little room of yours, having been locked up for days. Besides, I have solid evidence in which you agreed for me to get you out."
She looked up expectantly with cold eyes. "I will keep you here for as long as I need to, Peter. As you well know, confinement isn't too fun. And trust me, there's a lot more things I could take away from you then coffee."
The tensing atmosphere in the flat did not slip by Peter's awareness without notice. The young man shuffled his feet, tucking his hands into the pockets of his trousers. As oftentimes, whenever he was in the company of people who he considered to be his elders, a switch flipped somewhere in his brain, and he resorted to being that childish twelve-year-old he wasn't. He lowered his chin toward his chest and hunched his shoulders like a kicked pup.
"It's not what ah mean, you know," he mumbled, voice diminishing like whenever he talked to his mummy. "But... ah daen't want to do any'ing illegal... in enough trouble as it is! And I'm not a liar at all! I just daen't... want to..."
He was aware of the switchbox Elizaveta had picked up from the table. Though he knew not what it was for, he was certain that it would be best if Elizaveta did not press the button. Big red button was never a good sign.
"T-that's not fair! You cannae do that! T-that's crazy! I... What..."
He scanned his surroundings. If he made a break for the window, would he able to leap out and land safely on the ground?
Elizaveta blinked at the change of accent, but she kept the switchbox firmly tucked in her hand and kept on staring at the boy. "It's not illegal, Peter. Like you said, this is really just some petty revenge scheme. But then again, you wouldn't know, would you?" She glared.
"What do you want? We've broken you out of your house without harming anyone, we've given you coffee, a place to stay tonight. I could have knocked you out and torn down your front door, Peter. But I've brought you into my house, told you my name, trusted you by telling you our idea."
Her free hand fisted into a ball beside her. "You can tell yourself you're not a liar, Peter, but you have to face the fact that you're a disappointment. A big one, in fact. We had high hopes in you." She looked back down at the switchbox.
Maybe, she thought as she watched Peter fluster, it was better to just be more open about it. He was just a boy, after all. Newly married as well, from what she heard. "...It's just a simple sequences of tasks. Then you can return to your house, your fiance, your 'papa'. Besides, wouldn't it be fun to act like a jerk for a while without having to deal with the consequences?" She smiled grimly.
"Or is it that you want our city hall to be painted pink?"
LATE POST IS LATE. :DlonglivesealandOctober 20 2010, 19:43:26 UTC
Peter shifted his weight back and forth on his feet. If it was at all possible, he appeared younger and more vulnerable than he did minutes ago. Under the scolding voice of Elizaveta, he could not stop feeling like a child again. On one hand, though he didn't want to admit, it was... nice. Being told what he was supposed to by a woman - it reminded him of his mums.
"No, ah, I-I'm not a disappointment! I didn't... I don't think I... should because it's wrong, you know. B-but I'm not a...!"
He bit his lips. After considering his option and Elizaveta's point, he finally nodded his head in agreement. He didn't want a disappointment. He said he would help. And he definitely did not want the city painted pink. He was a gentleman; and a gentleman had to keep his promise always.
"I will do it," Peter said, sounding determined. "Tell me what the plan is, and I'll do it. But once my debt is paid, I want you to leave me and my family alone, do you understand?"
LATE POST IS EVEN MORE LATE <3lizzypanOctober 30 2010, 17:10:15 UTC
Elizaveta sighed in relief as she saw him nod. Finally, an answer. She'd had to be a little rough, but that was what sacrifices were for. Smiling lightly, she sat more comfortably on the sofa again.
"It's a deal, Peter. We promise to never bother you again, and that's for sure. We, like some people, do keep our promises." She sent one last annoyed look at him before settling back into her normal mode. "Now, I've already told you the gist of it, but tomorrow we'll be meeting at Mr. Edelstein's house for him to brief you on what you are to do. Should you refuse, then I will be there to change your mind, hopefully." She smiled.
"Now, you look tired." She cooed, trying to calm the situation down. "Why don't you go to bed for the night? I can't say that my bed will be as comfy as yours, but you'll only be staying here for one night. The rest of the two nights will be at Mr. Edelstein's mansion."
"I understand," Peter mumbled with a nod. He hadn't been around many women, but it seemed that he always had a way of becoming involved with strong women. And he knew, by now, that he should not mess with such women. "I-I'll do what you say... Can I go to bed now then...? I'm tired, you know."
He settled down on the couch after refusing to take Elizaveta's bed. There was no way he was going to sleep in a lady's bed! He'd wake up smelling like flowers or something...
He snuggled himself in and turned his back against Elizaveta as she sipped her cold tea like a villain from a James Bond movie. He could feel her glance watching him. Trying to escape was probably a bad idea, but Peter couldn't stop it from lingering in the back of his mind. Maybe, in the dead of night...
"Good night."
For now, he would just sleep and try to get some rest...
But now, he was in the safety of an escape vehicle with a Starbucks coffee waiting for him. Peter looked at the precious brown liquid, staring at it as if he had never seen it before in his life. He picked up the cup and looked back at the woman, panting equally heavily as he was.
"This... is for me?" he asked in a childlike voice before he took a sip through the straw.
There was the stuff. He exhaled contently, smiling like an eejit, before he sipped up half of the cup in one go. He watched the surrounding blurred in and out through the car window. They were going further and further away from his house; a relief to Peter's tired mind.
"So, who are you and what do you want with me?"
Reply
"My name..." She wondered whether or not to tell the truth. But then, what could have gone wrong? It wasn't like she was doing anything horribly criminal. "My name is Elizaveta. You may know about the elections going on for mayor right now. I work for one of the candidates... Mr. Roderich Edelstein." She paused, staring at the taxi driver.
"It's nothing big, really. We just need your help for a little... business that we need to do. To return a favour, if you will." She smiled wryly, putting a finger to her lips. "I'll tell you more once we get to my house."
As if on cue, the taxi driver arrived in front of Centralia Apartments, a drastic change in quality from Peter's nice, clean house.
Reply
"Who?" his thick eyebrow went up at the unfamiliar name. He wasn't a citizen and thus could not vote and thus didn't follow the election. "Um, is he... is the one with all the pink posters I've seen around?"
As the taxi pulled into the more run-down neighborhood, Peter's mind and body tensed. What did she want with him; he wasn't a political-minded person and certainly didn't have any advice to give.
"W-why... me? I mean... I don't know how I'd be able to help...?"
He stepped out of the taxi, throwing his bag over his shoulder and followed Elizaveta into the apartment complex.
Reply
"This is my house," she smiled, "We'll be going over to Mr. Edelstein's house in the morning." Pointing to the couch, she sat on one edge and grabbed her a cup of cold tea, cradling it in her hands.
"Well, as you know, I'm Elizaveta Hedervary, the housekeeper slash personal assistant of the mayor candidate, Mr. Edelstein. A month ago, the other candidate Feliks Lukasiewicz (the pink one that you know of) broke into Mr. Edelstein's house and distributed incriminating photos of his opponent. Therefore, we have no choice to retaliate."
She smiled thinly, looking down at the boy. "And so our plan was to make him suffer the same embarrassment. That's where you come in, Peter. You are of his short stature, and if we disguise you rightly, there is a great chance that you could pass for the Polish man. All you need is to run a few errands for a few days dressed up as Feliks, and we will return you home safely."
Reply
He might possess a childlike mind, but even he knew that there was certain things that was just plain illegal. Or stupid. Or both.
"Look, you seem like a nice person, so I'll be honest..." he shifted uncomfortably, scratching a spot on the back of his neck. "I know you broke me out of the house and all, but I don't think I want to do this. It just seems... wrong, you know. Is there something else I could do in return...?"
What was Elizaveta going to do? Not like she was going to lock him in her apartment until he agreed, right...
Reply
She frowned and picked up a tiny switchbox from the table, turning it around in her hand. "You're of no use to us right now if you aren't willing to do our task. And don't even think about escaping, we obviously can't let you go home or back outside. Although, who'd believe you? You've already lied to us once."
She fiddled with the switchbox, her fingers just barely grazing the big red button in the middle. "And if, and only if, you were able to escape, who'd they trust more? A working adult or a small child? You might've gone mad in that little room of yours, having been locked up for days. Besides, I have solid evidence in which you agreed for me to get you out."
She looked up expectantly with cold eyes. "I will keep you here for as long as I need to, Peter. As you well know, confinement isn't too fun. And trust me, there's a lot more things I could take away from you then coffee."
Reply
"It's not what ah mean, you know," he mumbled, voice diminishing like whenever he talked to his mummy. "But... ah daen't want to do any'ing illegal... in enough trouble as it is! And I'm not a liar at all! I just daen't... want to..."
He was aware of the switchbox Elizaveta had picked up from the table. Though he knew not what it was for, he was certain that it would be best if Elizaveta did not press the button. Big red button was never a good sign.
"T-that's not fair! You cannae do that! T-that's crazy! I... What..."
He scanned his surroundings. If he made a break for the window, would he able to leap out and land safely on the ground?
Reply
"What do you want? We've broken you out of your house without harming anyone, we've given you coffee, a place to stay tonight. I could have knocked you out and torn down your front door, Peter. But I've brought you into my house, told you my name, trusted you by telling you our idea."
Her free hand fisted into a ball beside her. "You can tell yourself you're not a liar, Peter, but you have to face the fact that you're a disappointment. A big one, in fact. We had high hopes in you." She looked back down at the switchbox.
Maybe, she thought as she watched Peter fluster, it was better to just be more open about it. He was just a boy, after all. Newly married as well, from what she heard. "...It's just a simple sequences of tasks. Then you can return to your house, your fiance, your 'papa'. Besides, wouldn't it be fun to act like a jerk for a while without having to deal with the consequences?" She smiled grimly.
"Or is it that you want our city hall to be painted pink?"
Reply
"No, ah, I-I'm not a disappointment! I didn't... I don't think I... should because it's wrong, you know. B-but I'm not a...!"
He bit his lips. After considering his option and Elizaveta's point, he finally nodded his head in agreement. He didn't want a disappointment. He said he would help. And he definitely did not want the city painted pink. He was a gentleman; and a gentleman had to keep his promise always.
"I will do it," Peter said, sounding determined. "Tell me what the plan is, and I'll do it. But once my debt is paid, I want you to leave me and my family alone, do you understand?"
Reply
"It's a deal, Peter. We promise to never bother you again, and that's for sure. We, like some people, do keep our promises." She sent one last annoyed look at him before settling back into her normal mode. "Now, I've already told you the gist of it, but tomorrow we'll be meeting at Mr. Edelstein's house for him to brief you on what you are to do. Should you refuse, then I will be there to change your mind, hopefully." She smiled.
"Now, you look tired." She cooed, trying to calm the situation down. "Why don't you go to bed for the night? I can't say that my bed will be as comfy as yours, but you'll only be staying here for one night. The rest of the two nights will be at Mr. Edelstein's mansion."
She sipped her cold tea.
Reply
He settled down on the couch after refusing to take Elizaveta's bed. There was no way he was going to sleep in a lady's bed! He'd wake up smelling like flowers or something...
He snuggled himself in and turned his back against Elizaveta as she sipped her cold tea like a villain from a James Bond movie. He could feel her glance watching him. Trying to escape was probably a bad idea, but Peter couldn't stop it from lingering in the back of his mind. Maybe, in the dead of night...
"Good night."
For now, he would just sleep and try to get some rest...
Reply
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