There's a place I know I can always go (Open)

[longterm]

It's been a while since Cesare was last in London. He had...other issues to attend to in other countries. But now that he's back, he wants to immerse himself in his surroundings. Cesare is not exactly the type of man to spend any extended period of time with strangers so voluntarily, but he wants to pick up the pulse of London again, see how it's moving nowadays. And where better to do that than on his home turf?

Cesare is lurking in a corner of a lounge at The Angelo, sitting in an armchair and sipping an Old Fashioned (the irony isn't lost on him). He doesn't look particularly remarkable, at least when compared to the hotel's typical clientèle of businessmen in suits and high flyers with a little too much time on their hands. In fact, Cesare has gone out of his way to blend in. He holds a paper as if he actually cares about standard current affairs and looks at his phone every so often as if he finds it useful and not newfangled and pointless. You would probably have to know who Cesare was to spot him. Constantly, though, he's watching.

A. Can I buy you a drink?
Eventually someone catches his eye at the bar. Are they familiar? Does Cesare know them? Perhaps. Do they just seem interesting? Just as possible.

Cesare leaves his paper on the lounge chair and sits himself down next to them. He smirks, his manner calm and collected. You're in his home. He's comfortable.

"What do you drink?"

B. What are you doing here?
Someone is here who shouldn't be. They could be an old foe who has grown over confident with Cesare's absence. They could be the wrong type of person for this type of hotel. They could simply not have paid.

Either way, they shouldn't be here. Cesare quietly makes his way up to them. When he speaks, his tone is polite and cordial but there's something slightly too piercing about his gaze and he's standing a little too close to them for comfort.

"Something tells me you might be lost."

C. Can I speak to a manager?
Someone isn't happy. In fact, they are really quite frustrated. One of the hotel staff has messed up royally and someone is demanding that they speak to a higher up about it. This needs to be fixed. Something has to be done and Cesare is happy enough to oblige. With his façade of a casual hotel guest ruined he smiles as the waiter anxiously frets.

"I'm certain that we can sort this out."

D. Pick your own adventure! Choose something else!

Comments

[longterm]

Quite frankly, Cesare has little interest in going through the discussion of how Cooper can pay for his drinks. The topic is banal at best and Cesare has better things to do. He has all the time in the world but even he can't bear to waste it on this. So when he catches the young man's face properly as they sit down, he has no hesitation whatsoever about changing the conversation.

"I know you. Holloway, yes?" With Cesare being away, the two of them haven't met, but he has been keeping a distant eye on London and thinks he knows who Cooper is. He has...heard things. From what he can tell, the two of them don't entirely see eye to eye. At least they have the same allies.

He holds out a hand. "Cesare Borgia, Angel." He doesn't use the word Earl. It is too formal, too ostentatious and verging on crass. He doesn't need to say it for them both to know what he means.

[emotioneater]

"You got it. Right on the money." He's likewise heard of Borgia, but had never met the older vampire. He wasn't one to let reputations proceed the actual person. He'd make his own judgments about Cesare, though judging by what he's already seen, they're already opposites in some things.

Cooper gives his hand a firm shake. "I'd say the pleasure is all mine, but frankly, I've been having a bad month." Never let it be said that the vampire was ever one for keeping things to himself. He gestures for the bartender to bring over another bottle of beer. Alcohol is one of the pleasures Cooper allows himself to indulge in as much as he wants. Better than letting himself indulge in the local populace. They may have had free reign now, but Cooper kept to his own code of conduct.

[longterm]

Cesare smirks at Cooper's shift, entertained by how swiftly he can go from arguing vehemently over drinks to ordering another. Cesare isn't surprised the other man has been having a bad month: his personality seems verging on manic.

Cesare isn't complaining about the alcohol though. He orders a second beer for himself, matching Cooper in a small gesture of camaraderie. The two of them should both try to get along, after all.

"Really? And why is that?" He leans back and crosses his legs, his ankle resting oh his knee, positioned wide.

[emotioneater]

Cesare has a fair assessment of Cooper's personality. He's a downright lunatic some of the time, always ready to fight someone at the drop of a hat or charm them if he wants something. He's certain that at least half the supernatural community can't stand him, to say nothing of his fellow vampires in Islington. He taps one of his feet back and forth as he speaks.

"Where to start? You know that little wolf who took out the boss lady? I caught up with her the night it happened, but she got away from me. I've been lookin' for her ever since. She's got the luck of the devil himself to have escaped for this long." Cooper wasn't a stupid man, all appearances to the contrary. He figures that the girl still has to be somewhere in the city. He'll find her sooner or later. It's just a matter of time.