undergrounds | Guys No

So the march had been a mess. As Cesare sat hidden, watching from his office and paying close attention to the news, it became pretty clear that nobody knew quite what they wanted. At least it seemed that nobody could quite agree.

For Cesare, that's actually pretty helpful. When anything is vague, that means that he gets to define it. With the attack on Newham and the wolves getting increasingly audacious, something needs to be done. Tensions are escalating and he doesn't want this to end badly. He schedules a press conference for the next week. It's time to make a political play.

As he makes his way to the press room he has a carefully crafted speech already prepared:

"This month the people of London expressed their feelings of concern regarding their city. They used their voices and I have heard them. Peace and unity are vital to the strength and security of this city and for too long we have allowed London to be ruled by violence and crime.

Politics is one thing. Violence is different. There is never an excuse for bloodshed and enough is enough. From now on, all crimes, whether used for political purposes or not, will be treated as the crimes that they are. If you commit a crime, no matter the reason, you will be prosecuted. If you are violent, you will be punished. This applies to all races, all factions, everyone.

It is time to be peaceful and united. Any of those who act against that can either leave or face punishment."

[OOC note: This will in no way stop territory claims. It's mainly empty talk, supporting laws that are already in place. While Cesare is attempting to discourage violence, any actual punishments for such behaviour will not be properly enforced. Keep on doing your thing. Cesare is just firmly taking a personal stance against crime and bloodshed.]

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Delilah isn't press, but she has a pass anyway, dressed smart in a white suit that perfectly compliments her, well, everything. She doesn't do things by halves.

Still, she takes notes dutifully and listens to him talk and answer any questions with more vague promises of justice and peace, and raises her hand to get his attention before he leaves — probably to get away before anyone asks any real questions.

"Mr. Borgia, if I might. Why should we have any more confidence in you than the previous President? She preached much of the same."

Cesare doesn't recognise her, which he finds odd. At this point he knows the press rather well indeed (he and *** are on first name terms). Also her light suit is unusual. Call Cesare old fashioned but he had always thought that white was saved for virgins or whores. All together, he's decided that she's the intern. A clueless but well intentioned intern.

"She was corrupt. I am not." He replies quickly and dismissively, already moving to leave. He has no intention of allowing anymore difficult questions.

He's out the door as soon as he can be, walking down the corridor with his entourage.

"Says the Borgia," Delilah says under her breath, which gets a titter from the person next to her, but she honestly doesn't care about what the person next to her thinks. What she cares about is the man who just brushed her off, and she gets up to follow him out of the press room.

She doesn't rush, but her strides are purposeful and she catches up easily, expensive heels clacking on the floor as she somehow manages to slip into his entourage and fall in step beside him.

"You didn't answer the question."

Cesare is not used to being so bluntly spoken to like that. Not anymore anyway. He turns to her, brow furrowing. Who does she think she is?

"Yes I did." Or at least he answered as well as any politician could. "And you shouldn't be in here." He'll need to have a discussion about the tightening of security around here. Too many leaders have been assassinated lately for it to be ok that some random intern managed to slip into the back room with no trouble.

"No." Is her response, flatly disagreeing with him and ignoring the topic of where she should or shouldn't be entirely, "what you did was brush me off."

He might be assuming she's just some intern, but there's a confidence to her that doesn't belong at all to someone in that position. She speaks to Cesare like he's a peer and holds herself with the self-assured demeanour of someone who belongs to be wherever she wants to be.

Wow. The intern has some guts. Cesare squints at her for a second, not quite knowing how to handle it, before gesturing for his team to leave. With the two of them alone and not being overheard he leans in a little to speak to her.

"Off the record, Ms Redbright was too focused on keeping her position than doing good for this city. Unlike her, I actually intend to help London. Now if you don't mind, I need to get back to that..."

"So you keep saying." She rolls her eyes, it feels a lot like he's going hard on how awful and corrupt Redbright so he doesn't have to offer any of his own credibility. Which, to be fair, is a solid tactic, but there's only so many ways to spin it.

Delilah looks up at him, unblinking and clearly not planning on going anywhere just yet, "I'm not asking how you're different to her, I'm asking why anyone should believe you."

Cesare is growing increasingly impatient. He's trying to do his job and here is some stubborn intern who isn't listening to him. He just about manages to resist rolling his eyes, but while he smiles at her, he's clearly frustrated.

"My track record speaks for itself. I have consistently fought for unity through peaceful negotiation and discussion. You can repeat why should we believe you? all you like but actions and facts do not lie, Ms...." He pauses, searching for a name that she hasn't given him.

"Have you?" She comments, clearly not believing him. It's said with the lingering 'I hadn't noticed' hanging in the air. Cesare has said a great many things, largely vague comments about getting along and wanting a peaceful future, but she can't say that she's actually seen him do anything.

Ok. So no name. Fine. Quite frankly, Cesare has had enough of this young woman. She's rude, belligerent and, in his opinion, has no idea what she's talking about. She's too new to know any better but insists on throwing her weight around. Does she even realise who she's talking to? He's done. He nods as politely as he can as he takes a step away to leave.

"Do some research before you next speak to me again, madam. Read some articles, look at a few voting records. Hopefully next time you will be more informed. I look forward to it."

That's fine. Somebody's bound to pick up the "President rushes out of the room after an uncomfortable question" story, which isn't what she was after exactly, but it's something. Delilah sighs softly and nods, "same to you, Mr. President."

She takes her pass off and leaves it on the nearest surface as she walks past Cesare to see herself away, (it doesn't have her name on it. it's not even a woman's name,) adding as she passes him, "a tip for later, Mr. Borgia. Wait for the reporter to confirm it's off the record before you speak."

And away she goes.

Guys No

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