nancy. (
stauncherhearted) wrote in
undergrounds2016-08-22 05:00 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Entry tags:
it's pretty dirty business- August 9th [closed]
Three days was ample enough time to cool down, right? Nancy certainly hoped so, as she dressed her best and made for the sight of her boyfriend's narrowly-avoided murder: the Angelo.
Tonight, she'd set a good chunk of time aside for Cesare Borgia. She needed to speak to him, to apologize on Cooper's behalf. She knew he would never on his own, so she just wasn't going to tell Cooper about her mission. Or that she was seeing Cesare at all. She had enough forethought this time at least, to know it wouldn't end well if Cooper knew where she was ducking off to.
What she didn't get, though, was why it was such a big deal. Why Cesare was so offended that her boyfriend wanted to take her out, and show her around. It was no different than if Cesare had taken her, which he'd done so many times in the past.
Regardless, she made her way into the hotel, and to reception. A minutes later, and Nancy was being escorted to Cesare's private office. Never mind that she knew the way.
Tonight, she'd set a good chunk of time aside for Cesare Borgia. She needed to speak to him, to apologize on Cooper's behalf. She knew he would never on his own, so she just wasn't going to tell Cooper about her mission. Or that she was seeing Cesare at all. She had enough forethought this time at least, to know it wouldn't end well if Cooper knew where she was ducking off to.
What she didn't get, though, was why it was such a big deal. Why Cesare was so offended that her boyfriend wanted to take her out, and show her around. It was no different than if Cesare had taken her, which he'd done so many times in the past.
Regardless, she made her way into the hotel, and to reception. A minutes later, and Nancy was being escorted to Cesare's private office. Never mind that she knew the way.
no subject
"You honestly believe that would stop him from hurting you? You truly believe that when he's that close to you, he can't merely pull it from your neck? I am sorry to say this, Nancy, but any feeling of safety you have around vampires is mostly them just being courteous." There's almost nothing, in his view, stopping the majority of them from draining her out on a whim or if their urges became too great. Cooper is no exception and the fact that she would allow someone so capricious to feed on her does concern him, for her sake.
no subject
But then there was someone like Kenzi. Kenzi who had attacked her, and only a few months old would have completely drained her if it hadn't been for Natasha, their friendship be damned.
Cooper was old enough, though. "I'm more to him than just a meal. He wouldn't do that." She'd been lucky, in her dealings with vampires, for the most part. But with Raymond in charge, she wasn't sure how much longer that would hold up.
no subject
"Do you know how many people I have killed? Do you know how many people he has killed? Have you asked him? Why don't you just date a nice human boy who you can have lazy mornings and have picnics in the park with?" It's half joking but there's some truth in it too. Things would be far easier if Nancy simply didn't date the supernatural. At least her personal life would be easier, if not her professional.
no subject
He may be joking, but Nancy gives him a look. "We've already had our lazy mornings and picnics in the park." Seriously, one of their first dates was a sunlit picnic. Helped, when she'd given him his daylight ring. Watching him soak up the sun for the first time in over two hundred years had been awing. Another reason why she loved him.
"Besides, I don't know any nice human boys." Where the hell did you meet them? She knew two humans right now- Kyle, but he wasn't someone she could date, and Arthur. And she would totally date Arthur. "And even if I did, what are the chances of them understanding any of this?" She gestures.
Not to mention, human boys her own age were the worst.
no subject
"Cooper can't even understand and cope with what you do. How would a human boy be any different in that regard? The only difference would be that your relationship might be good for you instead of whatever septic relationship you've managed to form."
Cesare's aware of how ridiculous it is that he's the one trying to give relationship advice. He himself hasn't properly dated anyone in hundreds of years, but he knows what a good relationship is, and Nancy's doesn't look like it.
And he's not pretending that his liaisons with Nancy are exactly healthy either. But at least he gives good advice.
no subject
"Cooper understands and copes perfectly well, thank you very much." Her words are clipped. "And our relationship is hardly toxic. You spoke with the two of us together exactly once. What are you even on about?"
Please, if you're going to give her advice, at least have some evidence, too.
no subject
"He tried to fight me for referring to your line of work. You're right. He's coping with it all beautifully." Not only was it astonishingly belligerent, it was also a deathwish. Foolish on both counts. Cesare doesn't exactly have the most faith in Cooper at this point.
no subject
She presses her lips together and gives him a very pointed look. "Because you called me a whore. We try to keep that part of my life out of our relationship." Which was really, really hard when she was, indeed, a prostitute. So they didn't talk about it, and everyone was better off for it.
...Right?
no subject
"I wouldn't take it so personally. Everyone's a whore for something." What is it for Cesare? Money certainly isn't a problem for him. But acknowledgement? Fame? Power? Whatever happens to him in this world, Cesare wants to make a mark on it, and he'll do whatever he can to manage it. If that means selling himself out on occasion then so be it.
no subject
She wrinkles her nose. "He knows that word bothers me, and he can't exactly stand by and let someone insult me to my face." He'd said as much. "But I apologize for him all the same. He didn't come to start a fight, and he's sorry it happened. I am, as well." Now accept her apology, please and they can get on with this.
no subject
"Then call him for me." Cesare likes Nancy, but he doesn't like lying. In his eyes, she's lying straight to his face, and Cesare intends on calling her bluff on it.
"Call Cooper and we'll talk to him together."
no subject
"I'd rather not bother him, he was up late last night, and his sleeping schedule is messed up, since he got his ring." Neither of them had normal sleeping schedules, for very clear reasons.
no subject
"What time does he wake up? We can wait, can't we? I'm sure we could figure out something to pass the time. Have you eaten yet? I can have something sent over." His tone is polite. Not quite friendly, but nonetheless cordial. He's not giving her any wiggle room here.
no subject
She's just not going to address calling him.
no subject
"Ok, then. How much time do you think we have until he wakes up?"
Truly, she shouldn't have started making excuses. She should have told him as soon as he suggested they call Cooper. Now Cesare is fully content making her sweat as much as possible. This is what happens when you lie to people.
no subject
"Oh, I don't know," she drawls. "It's always hard to tell. For all I know, we could be here all night." She had places to go, money to make. "I can have him call you."
no subject
"How long does someone sleep for? If he fell asleep an hour ago, how much time do we need? Eight? Nine hours?" Sorry, Nancy. There is seriously no way of escaping from this.
no subject
"I've got an appointment in two hours," she reasons, giving it one last go.
no subject
"I'll pay double." He deliberately avoids elaborating or giving her any other options. He doesn't want to give her any vague opportunity to twist out of this situation and find another excuse. He's close to catching her. He doesn't want to let her get away.
no subject
no subject
So he just looks at Nancy for a second, stonefaced, then reiterates his point.
"Let's call Cooper, Nancy."
no subject
There's a beat, the air in his office feeling particularly stale.
She looks to the side, lowering her gaze, a faint blush painting her features that she hadn't carefully painted on just an hour before. "He doesn't know I'm here," she mutters into her lap.
no subject
"Thank you. Don't lie to me again. You can go now."
He's put her under enough stress for now. Now that he's got what he's wanted, he's happy to let her go. Does he forgive her for her previous behavior, at the night of his gala? Not exactly. But that can be saved for another time.
no subject
"I'm sorry," she tells him again. Because she is, but really only because she got caught. What else did you expect with a girl like her?
"Thank you, Cesare." Should she curtsey? Honestly, she feels like she should. Instead, she backs out of the room, feeling far smaller than she had when she first arrived.