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

[baisant]

Jean-Claude raises an eyebrow but holds up his wine glass. It is small, intended for dessert wines. Jean-Claude has always been partial to sweet things, berries in particular. Blackberry especially. "Have you grown senile, in your old age?" he teases. Knowing full well that he is older than Cesare himself by at least a century, and that having died in his 30's, he looks older than him besides.

He sets his glass down on the counter again and regards the other vampire coolly. Definitely taking in the measure of him, how he might have changed in the last few decades, how he has stayed the same. And admiring as well. Jean-Claude is not ashamed to let another know that he likes what he sees. "I have a little club now," he responds, before turning back to the bar. Flicking a business card out of his jacket and sliding it down the bar at Cesare. Guilty Pleasures, it reads, as if there were any doubt as to what sort of club it was. "You might come and visit me sometime," he suggests, flicking the other vampire another smile as he does.

[longterm]

Cesare smiles, ignoring Jean-Claude's comment and instead focusing on getting him a drink. Cesare flags down a bartender and orders a constantia. He's not exactly the most familiar with dessert wine, preferring something dryer himself. Hopefully this will suffice. He looks down to read the card.

"I can't decide if am surprised or entirely expected something like that."

His expression is amiable but he leaves the card untouched on the bartop, instead sipping at his drink. A polite reminder of where they stand. He has not missed Jean-Claude's eyes on him, playful though they may be.

"And thank you, though I fear it may not quite cater to my tastes." His tastes now at least.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude offers the other man something of a shrug that could say anything, everything, or nothing all at once. He does not understand the other man's insistence on maintaining this distance between them. It is possible to have a history and not sleep together now and still flirt -- he's doing so right now, after all. Maybe it has something to do with the other vampire's past. Jean-Claude never was much for religion, although he always did enjoy a good preacher.

"Ah," he says, leaving the card where it is himself. He will not take it back. He will make the bartender clean it up after him if Cesare refuses to take it, but he will not put it away now that it is out. "Then you should come on Ladies' Night." He offers the other man a somewhat more careful smile. Like the title implies, it is the night when Jean-Claude brings in his female dancers, to cater to a wider audience.

[longterm]

In truth, Cesare's distance is more caused by technicalities than any ill will or deliberately imposed stoicism. He is simply not that much of a flirt. He will charm strangers when it suits him politically and happily josh with others, but when it comes to something of a more romantic nature, Cesare is not exactly a subtle, playful type of man. He's more of the "kiss someone and find out if they're into you later" type.

So when he's not returning Jean-Claude's advances, no matter how harmless they are, it's not through hard feelings. Cesare just isn't super interested right now, like he was forty years ago. On the upside, though, at least if Cesare's interests change, Jean-Claude will find out very quickly indeed.

Cesare smiles, looking at Jean-Claude rather than the card. "Is there booze?" A man needs to have his priorities.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude tilts his head at the other man and offers him something of a smile at that. Is there booze?

"My dear friend," he says, "what do you take me for? What kind of a club would I be running, to have exotic dancers but no alcohol to loosen the wallets of my patrons? Of course there is 'booze', as you say. In fact," he adds, leaning against the bar, propping his chin on his hand as he does, "if you have any requests, I will be sure to have such things in stock. Should you decide to grace us with your presence." Again the flicker of a smile, to show that he is only just teasing.

Unlike Cesare, Jean-Claude is all flirt, all the time, after all. There was a time when he was a romantic, but his heart has been broken, and his master has taught him in the most brutal way she could that a true connection like that is a weakness. But why not enjoy each other in the now? Who knows what the next day might bring, after all.

[longterm]

Cesare lets out a quick laugh before sticking his tongue into his cheek in thought and looking down at the business card. He reaches forward and takes it, before putting it into his suit pocket.

"I'll have Cameron Brig. Dalwhinnie at a push." If Jean-Claude is joking about special requests, Cesare doesn't care. He wants good scotch. If he didn't have an opportunity to have it before, he's making one. Give Cesare an inch and he'll take a mile.

"I hope they're good dancers." Because Cesare is obviously visiting to see the ladies' dancing ability. Of course.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude would probably be lying if he were to say that he weren't pleased with the fact that the other vampire had taken the card at last. So he doesn't say anything about it at all.

Instead he raises his eyebrows at the other man's requests, before shrugging slightly. He'll see what can be done. At the mention of his dancers offers him the opportunity to focus his attentions elsewhere anyway.

"Do you doubt my taste?" he asks.

[longterm]

"In women? Yes. Though I remember you having a pretty good eye for talent, so I'm hoping that will cover you."

He smirks. He doesn't believe Jean-Claude is so gay that he can't understand what a beautiful woman looks like, but Cesare does think that Jean-Claude might lack the nuance of the deciding exactly who belongs where on stage. Cesare is a reasonably forward thinking man, but he is old and a little archaic at times. He's not going to hide his opinion that at least in strip clubs and other similar establishments, looks are exceedingly important.

"We'll have to see: when is your next event?"

[baisant]

Jean-Claude resists the urge to roll his eyes at the other vampire. Italians. They think they know everything about women, wine, and love. Does not he realize that he is speaking to a Frenchman? There is a reason they call Paris the city of love and it is not because of the architecture.

He drums his fingers on the bartop as if contemplating his answer. Two can play at this game though, Cesare. Jean-Claude tosses back the rest of his drink and moves to stand, offering the other vampire a sideways smile. "Perhaps you should call and find out."