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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"Contrary to popular belief, I'm actually trying to do right by the people of London," Cesare replies with a smile and an eyeroll. It's become pretty clear that not many people trust him. Even Samantha has begun to doubt him. Personally, he thinks he's been pretty damn well behaved all things considered.

"Though if I can hold on to the position, I am sure I would not turn it down..." Of course he wants to keep the role. Who wouldn't?

Joscelin doesn't even try to hide how unconvinced he is by Cesare's earnest desire to help Londoners. He smirks. "And there we have it. Cesare Borgia, President for Life. Look on his works, ye mighty, and despair."

Cesare smirks and rolls his eyes.

"You know, envy doesn't suit you. Had you not supported the wrong man, I would have given you a position." Cesare always likes to reward those who are loyal to him. It's a shame that Joscelin wasn't. "Maybe you could ask our dear Jean-Claude for something to keep you occupied?"

"What sort of position would that have been anyway? I very much doubt that the fancy folks in the Night Council would take well to having a mere child running around. God's wounds, I imagine they barely tolerate Cooper and he could at least pass for someone old enough to drink in a pub. No, Borgia, you can keep your position. I am quite content with my lot."

Sort of. Not really.

He pours himself more wine.

Cesare appreciates it when Joscelin swears traditionally. Nowadays such language seems to be out of fashion to the point that people barely understand it. Finally between the two of them, the words reacquire some of their punch.

"I am sure I could have found some position for you, even if it weren't an all too public one. You have a good mind when it's not picking the wrong side." He smirks, amused by his backhanded but well intentioned compliment.

"That's damning with faint praise," Joscelin replies, raising his wine glass in a mock toast. "Yes, I backed the losing horse but you'll not make me regret that decision, if that's your intention."

"No," Cesare replies with a resigned sigh. "If you don't already then nothing will manage it. You're an old man stuck in your ways. How is he now? Jean-Claude. Last time I heard, he was moping in his strip club writing morose love ballads." An exaggeration but only just, at least according to Cesare. At least Cesare is making changes. Or stepping outside.

Joscelin scowls into his wine glass. "That's about the long and short of it, really. He's still leading the Nest, but they'll get restless at some points if he isn't seen to be doing more than just taking care of the logistics behind the scenes. And we've got new vampires coming into the city every week. I haven't seen an influx like this since the end of the last war. Borgia." He looks up at the younger vampire, his sometimes friend.

"Promise me that you will work with him. I'll wheedle him on my end too, but we must be seen as a united front. The status quo must remain."

Edited 2017-08-31 20:39 (UTC)

"I have always intended to present a united front and work with him. You forget that he is the one who ran against me, not the other way around." In Cesare's opinion, any sense of instability in regards to the Nest is solely on Jean-Claude's part. Whether that's true or not remains to be seen.

"We have to silence those wolves somehow."

"He ran because he thought he was the better candidate," Joscelin counters. He's not as good with all this politicking as he thinks he is. His own policial orientation tends towards the medieval--power seized through violence, not popular assent. "But if you're willing to work so are we."

He wrinkles his nose. "What are they up to now? Still angling for a vote?"

The use of we catches Cesare off guard. He hadn't quite realised it was a we vs you sort of situation. He had presumed Joscelin was a little more neutral than that, even after everything. It seems he needs to reassess.

He sighs and shrugs.

"When are they not? But they're beginning to radicalise and get violent. It's an issue." One that he intends to quash as soon as possible.

"Have you considered actually giving it to them?" Joscelin says it lightly; he knows it's a ridiculous suggestion. The wolves aren't civilized enough to be trusted with any responsibility at all, of course. They wouldn't know what to do with that power if they had it.

But still...

"You could install a puppet on the Council, someone too stupid...or too beholden to you...or both to be anything but a rubber stamp. They might quiet down if you threw them a bone." He smirks at his own joke.

Edited 2017-09-03 05:56 (UTC)

"You see, now that is an interesting idea," he says, casually pointing to Joscelin for emphasis and standing up to pace while he thinks. It's a really good idea actually. One that he hasn't thought of before.

"Though I do fear that legitimisation might enable other groups to attempt violent upheavals themselves. After all, if it worked for the wolves, why not others? I have no interest in encouraging that..."

Joscelin hadn't really expected to be taken seriously, but he rather likes that for once he's thought of one eventuality that Cesare hadn't considered.

"We're no strangers to violent upheavals ourselves," he reminds Cesare. "It's been less than a year since we had to petition to be let back on the Council, but we managed it. You've even unseated bloody Sylvia Redbright. Tell your doggy stooge, whoever he may be, that he is responsible for the conduct of his kind. Like a hostage, but phrase it more prettily." Joscelin's more fond of public executions for bad behavior, but he figures political ruin is probably just as effective in this day and age.

"And who else would want to be represented? The ghosts? Half of them can't even cross the river to get to Westminster, and the fae have their own government over in fairyland."

"I'm simply aware that it's a slippery slope," Cesare says a little warily. "As soon as you give a person one thing, they try to take ten more." After all, isn't that what Cesare has done? He expects people to be just as bad as him, just with slightly less wine.

"But I'll take it into account," he says with a slightly dismissive smile, though he does mean it. He just doesn't think it's a great idea just yet.

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