Cesare vs. Sylvia (Territory Claim)

[longterm]

Cesare was reading the paper, sipping his morning coffee when the news of the Sylvia Redbright scandal broke. Good. He appreciated that so far Samantha had held up to her end of the bargain. All things considered, he had hoped she would but certainly hadn't expected it from her. Over time, Cesare has learned that people can be slippery like that, especially when you give them an opportunity for it. So far, Samantha has been solid. He likes her.

That morning he arranges a meeting with the press in one of the private function rooms of his hotel, somewhere private, where he cannot be interrupted. He's dressed in a suit, though his normal, somewhat ostentatious cufflinks are traded in for something more modest, and he's standing at a lectern on which his speech is written, a speech that he had written weeks prior.

"I am not the representative for my Nest and I speak solely for myself. However, I am certain when I say that President Redbright's behaviour has been shocking, appalling and harrowing. She has lead not one, not two, but three of the most prominent factions within this city and she has done so with underhand deals, deception and subterfuge. It is dishonest. It is corrupt. And it is undiplomatic.

When given the opportunity to be the voice of the people, she has used this power not for good, but for her own crooked personal gain. She has betrayed the people she was charged with representing, and that is why it is only right that she surrender a portion of the territories that she has dishonestly acquired, and give them to the Night Council that she has cheated for so long.

I am asking not for my own personal gain, but as a concerned citizen who has had enough of her corruption. It is time that she be held to account for her actions."

Comments

Working at the office

[longterm]

Cesare is at his office, making plans. His campaign to discredit Sylvia and cause unrest is going well and he has carried out a series of interviews since his original press conference, in which he has said pretty much the same thing: Concerned citizen....Truly appalling behaviour....In need of much change, yes... Cesare does not expect a smooth ride on this, but so far it is all going according to plan. He's at his desk, reading letters from other fellow concerned citizens and signing pre-written heartfelt replies. A campaign like this takes precision and efficiency, after all.

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin is hardly a paragon of virtue and goodness, but he is loyal to his friends. They are few, and Jean-Claude is first among them, but Cesare ranks somewhere in the list. So he feels like he owes him an in-person visit.

"What are you planning, Cesare Borgia?" he asks mildly, holding up the day's papers. "What's the end game?"

He's not going to take any of that "concerned citizen" bullshit.

[longterm]

Cesare pulls a wry apologetic smile and shakes his head as he continues working through his letters.

"I wish I could tell you, Joscelin. But, although you're a friend, I'm not entirely sure we share the same aims." The two of them have talked politics plenty and Cesare respects Joscelin. But he also knows that the only reason Joscelin can go outside right now is because Jean-Claude granted it to him. That means a lot and Cesare is not keen to take that for granted.

Whether Cesare likes it or not, he knows he can only trust Joscelin so far.

"No hard feelings though."

[dredefulchilde]

"None taken."

Someone else might be offended. Joscelin isn't. That's just the way things go around here.

This all feels a bit like a dismissal, though, and that is something Joscelin is a little less okay with. He could have just phoned if he'd wanted the brush-off, not taken the time for a personal visit. So he pulls a chair up to the desk and sits down. He's not going anywhere yet.

"Let me ask you this, then: does all your scheming mean I should have any concern for the Nest or its current leadership?"

[longterm]

"Not even remotely," Cesare replies honestly, with a small smile that he hopes is reassuring.

"My relationship with Jean-Claude can be strained at times, but I wish him no harm. And I have no interest in destroying my own faction. I have nothing to gain from that." No. He's interested in defeating a larger menace. In fact, if anything, Cesare needs Jean-Claude as an ally if it all pans out as planned.

"You can rest assured on that."

[dredefulchilde]

"Then why don't I feel reassured?" Joscelin arches an eyebrow. "No matter. You'll keep your own council, as always. I will not intervene except where necessary."

He smiles. "You are planning to kill the bitch though, aren't you? That Daybreak woman."

[longterm]

Cesare gives a small, apologetic smile to Joscelin. If he doesn't feel reassured, well, there's nothing Cesare can exactly do to prevent that. Unfortunately, it seems like Joscelin might be a little on edge for a while. It's a shame but it can't be helped.

"I confess: I haven't yet considered it. You think I should?" He leans back in his chair, ready to hear out Joscelin's argument for Samantha's death, if he has one. Cesare is perfectly happy to hear it out. Right now, Cesare likes Samantha. But that could very easily change.