[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/ZnOpQuF.png[/img] [indent][h3][sub][sub][b]Location: NYC, Grand Tier Restaurant Time of Day: Evening (Some time before 6 pm) [/b][/sub][/sub][/h3][/indent] [/center] [hr] The Grand Tier Restaurant. A crowning and elegant jewel within New York City, located within the Metropolitan Opera House. The place was filled with activity while guests mingled and cheerfully put on airs to hide their dirty seasonal dealings, their figures casted in an almost halo like lighting made to create a warm and fanciful scene about them. The red carpet drifted across the whole of the room, covered by numerous place setting filled tables, until it reached the pure cream walls with dark mahogany trim. The main feature was no doubt the winding and overlapping staircase at the very center, leading from the entrance to the room hosting the event. It seemed to hold little distinction from any other black tie charity dinner. This place was where the rich and popular came to coalesce within a single atmosphere. However, not everyone wanted to be there. Benjamin Reeves, the New York District Attorney’s son, would rather have his teeth pulled out one by one than be within a mile of the place. Unfortunately, thanks to his step-mother’s meddling, Daniel had made it very clear it wasn’t Benjamin’s choice. It was a bitter situation he was currently in now. In a sour mood, Benjamin stood to the side of his assigned table. Casually his eyes skirted the rich theme meant to impress and show none of particular interest to begin a conversation with. Not that he expected most parents to take their teenage sons to such dull events, unlike his own. His thumb and forefinger twirled the wine glass stem in boredom then casually took a sip. The water felt refreshing against his parched throat but he had hoped for win, his mind needing something to make the situation he was within better. Sadly, he was still underage by New York City law and forbidden anything stronger than non alcoholic drinks outside his own home. His feet started to bounce from the front to the heel, rocking back and forth a little bit. Benjamin listened to the jazz themed ambience of piano playing slowly in the background. It was the only thing he truly liked about this charity dinner as the piano player’s fingers danced along the keys with nearly flawless precision and heart. He gradually closed his eyes for a moment to let the music absorb his attention. The instrument’s notes seemed to glide across his very soul where it pulled and tug the strings, forcing his emotions to feel what the song wanted. Liveliness, calm and positive energy glided through his very core causing a faint smile to flicker to his lips. It was a grand manipulation and escape to become lost in the music. It was a pity the experience was short lived when the weight of a hand rested upon his shoulder. Benjamin inhaled sharply and his gunsmoke hazel eyes snapped open, his head turned to face the man interrupting his peace. Daniel Reeves. A man who was biologically related but felt more like a stranger than blood to him, his vision picking out the identical traits connecting them on impulse every time. They both were caucasian males, their hair dark blonde and curly despite them being styled in different ways. From Daniel’s facial features there was too many similarities for Benjamin to name until his attention came to rest upon the man’s eyes, the first difference striking Benjamin immediately. They were still the exact same color, but instead of irritation filling the very core, there was an air of arrogance and warning. The two sensations intertwined along Benjamin’s spine causing his mental hackles to rise and then gradually forced him to smooth them out. It wasn’t an easy task and one he loathed highly each time he was backed into a corner. On the outside, the boy barely flinched or displayed his reaction when he twisted in place. His arm reached back behind him to set his wineglass down upon the red cloth. Daniel’s hand gently nudged Benjamin, the boy allowing it begrudgingly, toward the man patiently waiting nearby. Like many of Daniel’s associates, the teenage could easily tell the man was wealthy, serious and important enough that pretending to be a happy and perfect family was necessary for a hassle free future. He towering over both himself and Daniel, the boy guessed no taller than six foot five inches at highest. His skin dark and bald head shined from the room’s bright chandeliers which light chased nearly every shadow within the room away. They all had fled to the reflections in the towering glass windows overlooking the New York scene. Upon nearing the man, he reached out a thick, mit like hand for Benjamin to shake. Immediately Daniel’s hand on his shoulder tightened in warning causing Benjamin to extend his own and quickly jerk a few times in a proper greeting. He retracted his hand shortly back to his side when the man started to speak. His voice was rich and gravelly, like he had pebbles in his throat each time he spoke. “Hello Benjamin, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Billy Connors and a friend of your father’s,” the man began, his beady eyes seemed to size Benjamin up like a shark did a small fish, “Danny, he looks nearly identically to you I must say. It’s rather easy to see you raised him right.” “Of course. I take good care of my boy here because he’s all I got.” Daniel lied through his teeth, continuing. “Benjamin, this is Billy Connors. He’s one of Gene Co's board members and a high school friend of mine.” It took all of Benjamin’s will not to scoff at the word ‘raised’ when he corrected the man’s line of thinking. [color=chocolate] “I like to think my mother was owed that pleasure, before she passed. My [i]father[/i],”[/color] He nearly choked on the word drawn from his mouth, [color=chocolate] “was busy ensuring we had a roof over our heads a little bit more.”[/color] He was careful to keep the venom from his voice over being forced to state the blood tie they shared. The boy’s teeth grinded silently across his perfect dental work as Daniel’s fingers tense then released, falling back to the man’s side. The area where Daniel had latched on still crawled from the touch. He hated sensation it left as Benjamin rolled his shoulder, his face scrunched up and pulled a bit away from the man he wished he wasn’t related to. Concern crossed over Connor’s face, his expression a mixture of confusion and worry when he spoke. “Hurt yourself there, Ben?” Benjamin fliched at the nickname but he didn’t say why. His arm raised to allow him to rub his shoulder joint and continue his bogus claim. Pausing to answer Daniel’s friend’s question, he smiled a falsely to hide his lie. [color=chocolate] “Yeah. I actually strained something while weight lifting this morning. Will you two excuse me, please?”[/color] “Of course. It was nice meeting you.” [color=chocolate] “Thank you.”[/color] Benjamin stated, not returning the gesture since he didn’t really feel the same. If anything, the man gave him the shivers and left him itching to get out of there quickly. His polished leather shoes clipped along the carpet on his way to the restroom, moving past the spiraling stairway and moving bodies passing him by. His discomfort was gradually dissipating the farther he escaped, his figure turning a corner where he halted abruptly. He exhaled a breath of relief while leaning against the wall. It wouldn’t be long before his step-mother would be looking for him, his father having made use of him and could care less now, but she wouldn't be happy until he played the role of loving son to its fullest. At that point, he merely enjoyed the peace he had.