undergrounds | Serious Business (Closed to Samantha)

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Serious Business (Closed to Samantha)

The meeting between Cesare and Samantha had gone well. Surprisingly well. Cesare had promised her money for her centre, some large donations had been made and now all that was left was seeing how Samantha felt about the deal.

Not intending to waste time, Cesare sends Samantha a text the morning the payment goes through: Dinner? -C . Normally he would sign off with both of his initials, but he thinks now is a time to invite Samantha to be on first name terms with him, if she would like.

He invites Samantha to dinner in his hotel, in a half power move, half attempt to give them some privacy. It would be unfortunate if the two of them were seen together and rumours started. As such, they're in a private dining room with their own set of waitstaff.

Their conversation goes well and Cesare enjoys it, but they don't talk business. It's only when the two of them are sipping their nightcaps, looking over the night view of London that Cesare finally mentions something.

"So have you thought about my offer?"

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It does feel different dining with Cesare in his hotel, eating his food, drinking his brandy. Like she's walked into the lion's den. This is his place, not hers, but he's given her the money she asked for and she's going to take that as a show of good faith.

Besides, he's very handsome. She's having a good time.

"Is that what you're calling it?" She looks over at him with a smile, crossing her legs. "I've thought about it. I came up with two questions. Question number one: what will you do with that kind of power?"

She doesn't think he's another Raymond. But he needs to at least tell her that he's not going to screw her over with this. Samantha wants the witches to stay on top. Islington are too powerful as it is.

Cesare's gaze flutters down to Samantha's legs for the briefest of seconds when she crosses them, before his eyes meet hers again. It's time for business, he reminds himself.

"Attempt to keep it," Cesare responds a little too honestly. He knows that whenever anyone has any vague modicum of power, someone is always trying to snatch it from them. After all, isn't that exactly what Cesare is attempting?

"Other than that, I would hope to keep the pixies and the dogs at bay. You're sympathetic to the wolves' plight, aren't you?" If Samantha expects Cesare to be chums with East End, she's got the wrong guy. When it comes to politics, Cesare is pretty traditional. He's had enough years of feuding with werewolves for it to stick.

"Also I'm not hoping for any carnage in the streets, if that's what you're worried about." Basically, he's not another Raymond, even if he does like to participate in some live feeding on occasion.

She pretends not to notice him looking, but it does make her mouth twitch a bit. And she likes his frankness. They're having an open conversation like adults, which is how it should be.

"No carnage, that's a plus." Her tone is light-hearted, but she does have a son to think about. He reminds her that peace is not to be taken for granted. "And I'm sympathetic to my friends. The wolves haven't been very friendly to me recently." She twists a lock of hair between her fingers. "All right. Question number two. Other than the cash, what's in it for me?"

Five million isn't enough. She wants a political gain out of this too.

Cesare smiles when Samantha explains her interactions with East End Pack. That gets that over with. Good. Cesare is relieved that won't be an obstacle for the two of them.

"We both know that it helps to have other people in the room on your side. I think that, on some level at least, we understand how the other works and could help each other. Like friends," he says, echoing what Samantha said about the werewolves. "Though hopefully better ones than the dogs." Though really anything is better than the dogs.

"And, of course, it would get rid of Sylvia." He flashes her a smile. He knows he still needs to offer her something of more substance though. Samantha is not stupid.

"But if you're talking something more concrete, we'll need to get rid of Peter too, won't we? I'm happy for you or someone on your behalf to take up his position. After all, I like to think we're getting along." He doesn't know how subtle Samantha wants to be with this. Whether she wants their alliance to remain a secret or for the two of them to sieze power violently in carefully executed coo. Cesare is happy either way, but he wants to give her both options.

Getting rid of Sylvia, yes. She's not against that, even if the idea of replacing her with a vampire is not the ideal. And she wouldn't agree to this without a guaranteed position on the Night Council herself anyway, so he's talking her language now.

But there's one thing bothering her.

She leans forward, balancing her glass of brandy over her knee. "What about Jean-Claude? Cooper's his little stooge. He won't do anything that Jean-Claude doesn't want."

He'll just be a thorn in their side. She can see it now. It's easy for Cesare to say he'll take down some witches. Does he have the guts to turn on the Islington Nest too?

It takes a while for Cesare to realise what Samantha is asking him and he squints slightly at her as if to ask what about them? They're frustrating, yes, but every game a person plays has an opposition. Cesare thinks that's just part of the deal. It's only after a moment that he realises she's talking about any sense of loyalty he might have towards them. He has none.

"The only reason I would want to keep either of them around would be because I think they'd be easier to persuade. Better the devil you know, right?" Cesare and Jean-Claude have a pretty long history, though he suspects Samantha knows that. Nowadays Cesare and Jean-Claude only visit one another on occasion to rib each other. Once they had been friends. More than friends. But now it's something far more distant than that. They're not fighting but they almost are.

"I just think it might be difficult to change the entire council, especially so shortly after an election. Though if you have any thoughts, I'm all ears."

She wrinkles her nose. Samantha isn't convinced by that answer. There's some reason he's reluctant to act against them, whether it's a sense of lingering loyalty or something else. But she doesn't press the issue, instead swirling the brandy around her glass.

"All we need is a majority in the Council and then we can do whatever we want. So that's you, me, and one other person who'll vote with us. I don't think that's gonna be Cooper, unless you're really persuasive. He seems like the type to be stubborn. So that means it has to be a witch. I think I know a way to make that happen. But you have to do it my way."

She's watching him closely now. The question is, will he let her take control?

Cesare may be old and a bit traditional at times, but he has no problem whatsoever with Samantha taking the lead if she knows more about the topic. It's pretty clear that she does. He leans in a little, brow furrowing in concentration.

"I'm listening..."

Cooper is a useless waste of space to Cesare right now. If Samantha can find a way around the problematic vampire then Cesare is definitely intrigued.

"Blackmail or persuasion?" he asks as if both are entirely solid options. Sometimes the means justify the ends.

"Persuasion, of course." She gives him a look of mock outrage that he would even suggest blackmail, but the quirk of her lips betrays otherwise. Of course blackmail. "I don't think we should get rid of Peter. I can bring him onside. The Mother of Witches should represent witches. Nora will understand that. And when she steps aside, that gives me a seat at the table."

She takes a sip of her brandy, then puts the glass down on the coffee table before looking up again at Cesare.

"Once I'm in, I can propose a vote of no confidence in Sylvia. But I need a real reason to do that, otherwise no one votes with me and I look like I'm on a crazy power trip. Do you have any idea how hard it is to dig up dirt on Sylvia? Even Mogget won't tell me. But if you can help me find a reason to impeach her..." She gives an elegant shrug with one shoulder. "Maybe I'll return the favour."

Cesare listens very carefully to Samantha, nodding slightly to show his understanding. When it's time for him to respond, he thinks for a second, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought, before his gaze flickers back up to meet hers.

"We have dirt on Sylvia," he says pretty resolutely. "Did you ever notice how she and Millicent interacted? It was odd, wasn't it? It was because Sylvia had promised the vampires immunity in return for Islington's support. She really should have known better, to be honest. It's not like vampires have a tendency to live for a long time and remember or anything."

He shakes his head and takes a swig of his drink.

"She's always been a crooked bitch," he says, not quite appreciating the irony.

She never did notice how Millicent and Sylvia interacted, in fact, as she never saw them together. Samantha knew of the old head of the vampires only through the grapevine, not in person. By all accounts she was formidable.

So this is news to her. She raises her eyebrows, taking a moment to digest the revelation. "Okay, so that sounds like a shady backroom deal. Is there proof that she did anything wrong?"

People make political deals all the time. She's learned that very quickly since becoming Mother. It's funny, she doesn't remember vampires being much of a problem back when she was growing up. Maybe Sylvia's deal kept them onside.

"Shady is definitely the word," Cesare replies with a nod. "And I'm sure we can find something. Vampires like to keep records. We're a bit traditional like that. We were granted immunity up until Millicent died. I know Raymond Harris wasn't exactly the most peaceful of leaders, but it seems like a bit more than a coincidence if you ask me. Do you think that's enough to work with?"

Cesare certainly hopes so. He want Sylvia gone. It would be an understatement to say that he simply dislikes her. He actively detests her. Perhaps it's just that she has what he wants, or the fact that she's waved her power in the Nest's face so willingly once Millicent died. Either way, if this doesn't work, Cesare fully intends to find another method of taking her down. Cesare holds grudges.

She takes another sip of her drink, shrugging. "Not without proof. You give me the proof, I'll give you something to work with. You get what you want and I get your support to continue my projects." A small smile. "Thank you for the money, by the way. It'll be put to good use."

That's the money he donated to support the Magical Innovation Centre. It's a small reminder that Samantha isn't helping him out of sheer good will or because he's handsome, however true that might be. From her point of view there's no point in getting rid of Sylvia if her replacement blocks her goals just the same. Cesare is only useful as long as he's helping her to get what she wants. And he needs her backing and Peter's backing to ensure he has a majority vote on the Council. Whatever he wants to achieve, he won't be able to do it alone.

Cesare is well aware that this dynamic of theirs is a transaction and one that is still ongoing. He sees what she's trying to say, accepts it and nods, giving her a small smile as he reaches for one of the biscotti that was left with their coffee. He takes a bite.

"I'm glad I could help." He has no doubt she'll put the money to good use, just as he'll put the favour he's earned from it to good use.

"It's the least Ieast I could do for one of my friends." He gives her a smirk, knowing that friends is perhaps a bit of a stretch, but he nevertheless chooses it deliberately. She said they could be friends once. He's making it clear that that's what he wants. Or at least the perks of a friendship.

"Friends, huh?" She tilts her head at him, cheeks dimpling as she returns his smile. "Do you often invite your friends over for dinner?"

Especially at such a late hour. She'll probably have to stay now, rely on his hospitality. She's sure he has plenty.

Amusingly enough, Cesare does invite friends over for dinner. A lot. He enjoys fine dining and showing off, which means his pals get invited around often.

"Good point. Not in private rooms. You're a special guest," he replies with a smirk and a nod of his head. The fact that it's so late in the evening, though, is definitely not lost on him. He's very aware of that indeed. "We can still get along, though, can't we?" Cesare is game to get along with her very well indeed.

A special guest. She smiles at his phrasing. Guess she might as well find out just how hospitable he is.

Samantha stands up, smoothing the front of her dress. "I don't know. As a special guest, do I get a room to myself? I might have forgotten to check in."

She hasn't booked anything here, of course. It wouldn't do for her name to be on the record.

"Ah. Hmmm. That might be a problem. You see, I'm not entirely sure we have the space. You are more than welcome to join me in my suite though..."

His excuse is a poor one. The hotel is large enough to have at least a few spare rooms almost certainly. But it's about time he put his cards on the table, he thinks. He's interested in her - of course he is - and he might as well make that clear. They've courted each other enough by now, surely? And they get along well. They're both adults here and Cesare isn't looking for anything serious. He suspects Samantha has a similar mindset.

That's bullshit and they both know it, but she doesn't mind. If she's going to plot with a vampire, why not go full hog? The offer earns him another smile and she holds out her hand, inviting him to take it.

"A generous offer, as ever. I accept." There's a teasing tone to her voice, but all in good fun. "Lead the way, signor."

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Serious Business (Closed to Samantha)

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