undergrounds | Cesare vs. Sylvia (Territory Claim)

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."

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She rolls her eyes in amusement. He does have the speech down pat. She finishes texting a reply then puts the phone down before leaning over to squeeze his shoulder.

"She wants us there by eight. No time for games." She wishes they had, though. But there is something else... Her eyes meet his. "Cooper's not answering. Did you bump him off?"

Cesare laughs and flops back into the sheets.

"Not yet. Do you want me to? I'll admit, the idea does sound very appealing indeed." Cesare and Cooper have hardly got along at the best of times. Cesare is still furious about the time when Cooper came to his hotel and started yelling horrific things about him and his sister. They were all true but that wasn't the point. Cooper very nearly lost his life that night, and likely would have if Nancy hadn't intervened.

"But I'm trying to avoid any sudden brash moves in case you think I'm volatile." It wouldn't be helpful for Samantha to panic and think him untrustworthy. Cesare is trying to be reliable as he possibly can for her, within reason, with the hope that she'll do the same for him.

He looks up gives her another look and a smirk. "Are you sure we don't have time? I don't think it would take that long..." Cesare is exceedingly confident in his prowess with her, particularly if last night was any indication.

She shakes her head, still smiling. "You're impossible."

But she really doesn't have time, so he gets the briefest of kisses before she climbs out of bed.

"You're probably right not to rock the boat. We've done enough of that already." She disappears into the bathroom for a second or two before turning back to stick her head around the door. "I'm taking a shower. Coming?"

She doesn't wait for him to reply, instead disappearing again to go turn on the shower. Hey, she's got a morning routine to get through. After last night, she's up for a second round but it's got to fit in with her schedule.

Cesare holds no qualms about getting out of bed and padding over barefoot to join Samantha in the bathroom. He's a businessman. He understands the importance of time and he's definitely not going to turn down a quickie.

"Breakfast?" he asks, as he picks up the phone and begins dialling for room service. He looks over to her. "Coffee at least...? In a to-go cup...?" Look at him, being considerate and thoughtful. "Or a bloody mary? We had quite a bit to drink last night." Not that Cesare even remotely regrets it, though, of course.

She's towelling her hair dry after their shower when he asks about breakfast. "Coffee to go," she confirms, and it is rather nice to have him taking care of these things for her. Makes her realise that she misses having a man around. Not that Cesare is in any way a suitable partner. They're working together, that's all.

At any rate, she gets dressed in a hurry, checking her phone for the time and the constant stream of messages. "Sylvia's not giving up her territory. I don't think she likes you."

Cesare can probably guess at what an understatement that is.

"Doesn't want to give up her territory or actually is able to keep a hold of it?" He asks, trying to sound slightly more casual than he actually is. This matters to him. He wants to do well. The more he can take from Sylvia now, the more power he has behind him later on.

He smirks when Samantha says she doesn't like him though. He had expected nothing less.

He orders the coffee for her and flops back on to the bed in his dressing gown, hands behind his head.

"She can hate me all she likes. The more loathing she spews, the better I look. I was a priest, you know. I can play pious." He flashes her a grin. To be honest, a rise to power based on honour and respectability is not ideal, but he'll take what he can get.

Samantha shrugs. They'll decide that later today when they meet. She can't imagine that the Night Council would vote to act on the whim of a vampire, and she certainly won't be making the argument on Cesare's behalf. She doesn't want to draw any suspicions that they might be working together.

"She's not hating on you in public," Samantha replies distantly, now focusing on untangling the knots in her hair. "But it keeps her distracted. Feathers ruffled."

"Yet. I have no doubt that once I run for office, she'll make her disapproval of me very clear. I need to make sure her reputation is destroyed by the time she does it." It might be difficult for Cesare to run on a policy of no corruption when someone is yelling that that's the exact thing he's doing.

He gives her a smirk and just watches her for a moment, pleased with what he's seeing.

"I'm free Wednesday night. Got plans?" He'd be very happy to do this again.

"Coven meeting." She can't miss that. "But I am free this Friday. Maybe by then you'll have something to celebrate."

There's a hint of mischief in her eyes. If this works and Sylvia does step down... well, Samantha can certainly help him mark the occasion. She starts applying her mascara. Maybe they did drink a little too much last night, but she won't look hungover. Nope, she's 100% serious professional.

Cesare doesn't miss that. He looks at her, smiling.

"Oh, you think? I do hope so." He would like that. A lot. There are few things better for Cesare Borgia than victory sex. And the victory which is almost sex on its own for him anyway.

"Keep me updated, would you? Or tell me if you need anything. I'm very happy to help," he says, doing his standard business line that he's used to. This is a business relationship, after all, even if it has perks.

"I'll keep that in mind," she replies easily, and she will. Then a knock on the door tells them that her coffee has arrived and she's got to dash, so she puts on her shoes, grabs her handbag and kisses Cesare on the cheek before hurrying out.

In a few more days, they'll be celebrating in style. She's looking forward to that.

Cesare vs. Sylvia (Territory Claim)

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