it's pretty dirty business- August 9th [closed]

[stauncherhearted]

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.

Comments

[longterm]

"Did I lie?" He looks at her point blank, an unimpressed look on his face. He's the type to be blunt and honest, not the type to tiptoe around issues to spare people's feelings.

"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.

[stauncherhearted]

"I take offense at the term." Anything but that word, seriously.

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.

[longterm]

Cesare doesn't for one second believe that Cooper feels bad for his behaviour. Cooper is an idiot but he's an idiot who sticks to his guns, Cesare will give him that. So when Nancy mentions that Cooper's sorry it happened, Cesare rolls his eyes. Does Cooper even know she's here right now?

"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."

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy stops. "What?" She asks, blinking. "No- he's sleeping." It was early enough that that was a very real possibility. Truthfully, Cooper would be furious if he knew she was here. So she was going to avoid telling him at all costs.

"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.

[longterm]

Cesare doesn't let Nancy's excuses phase him. They're clearly hollow, so he just politely moves around them. He won't call her up on avoiding calling Cooper just yet. Instead he'll let it simmer and let her fret further.

"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.

[stauncherhearted]

"I always try to eat before work," she says, waving the idea of food away. If you're going to give a few pints of blood, you needed to eat. Even with the use of blood replenishers. Not to mention, the energy was certainly going to be wanted.

She's just not going to address calling him.

[longterm]

Sorry, Nancy. Cesare doesn't give up quite so easily.

"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.

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy's natural response is to make excuses, no matter what. She's a born and raised liar, and telling the truth, no matter how benign, is hard.

"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."

[longterm]

"I have all night." After all, as a vampire, time isn't exactly against him. He sits down at his desk and pulls out his checkbook. At least he'll pay her for her time.

"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.

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy purses her lips. Well, there goes that plan.

"I've got an appointment in two hours," she reasons, giving it one last go.

[longterm]

Cesare shrugs. No big deal.

"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.

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy laughs. "He's extremely important. I can't just cancel on him. In the spirit of confidentiality, I'm sure you don't mind me not mentioning his name. After all, as you've said, I've slept with half the vampires in the city." So back. off., Cesare.

[longterm]

And there's another line that Cesare doesn't believe either. Quite frankly, whoever this fictional person is, they're not as important as him. She can be sleeping with the damn queen, for all he cares. When it comes down to it, he feels that he's the most important out there for her business. If he blacklisted her, things would become incredibly difficult for her indeed.

So he just looks at Nancy for a second, stonefaced, then reiterates his point.

"Let's call Cooper, Nancy."

[stauncherhearted]

She's caught, completely. There's nothing she can say to him at this point to get around it.

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.

[longterm]

That's what Cesare had been waiting to hear. He nods and closes his checkbook, busying himself with his work again.

"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.

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy stands, keeping her head down.

"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.