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+--- Thread: Parle Aboard Med Force One (/showthread.php?tid=205822)
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RE: Parle Aboard Med Force One - Exterminator - 01-13-2025
One part of Cesar found Buonocore's words slightly amusing, and he let out a small chuckle, but his face quickly shifted back to a serious expression, fully aware that Buonocore was not here to make jokes.
"All that just to call me a stale old man, si? How long were you hiding on your pretty yacht? While you were gone, times have changed in Imperio, and so have I, or rather, I had to. After being honored with a seat on the Council of Elders, I could no longer be the el loco warrior you knew, instead I had to hold back, I had to show some wisdom too."
Cesar took a sip from his glass, placed it back on the large table, and looked at Buonocore, his tone turning more nostalgic.
"Do you remember the bombardment of Kassel that you personally assigned to me, together with El Machete himself, of all people? I carried out that mission proudly, without hesitation, without questioning you, even expecting imminent death, just as you ordered, for Imperio!"
Cesar looked down at his half-empty glass. "El Machete and I were the perfect pair of los locos for that job, a task you would've never taken on at the time." He shifted his gaze back to Buonocore. "The life of an elder comes with new responsibilities. You are aware of that, sí? One of many reasons I've changed."
Cesar's gaze turned back to Buonocore, now with less tension, instead willingless to explain his perspective. "You may not be aware of it, but tensions were building in Imperio itself years ago. Caramba, our hermano Alberto Rodriguez was given the elder seat and you are aware of his trademark hostility, si? As his right hand at the time, none other than me was responsible for keeping things in control, mostly... He made surprisingly good calls, if you can believe it, but the bad ones were something that was my job to stop. Without me that hombre would sink his own ship. We worked well together."
Cesar's face then showed a slight smile remembering the good side of the past. "And you, hombre... I remember you as an outstanding elder, more capable than myself..." he looked in direction of Doc Holiday "our amigo here can surely confirm that too..." then he once again turned towards Buonocore... "...but your sudden disappearance is something I consider even worse than what you call the lack of 'hunger that once burned in me.' I am nowhere near the might of elders Sephardi, Espi, Carlos Benitez, and others, but I did my job, whether openly or from the shadows. Do you think I could have done it better? I agree with you... thinking about it, my decisions, my mistakes and everything... I could have, and I still can. I will continue to serve Imperio until my last breath, whether as an elder or a warrior. My hermana Nina indeed has el fuego unmatched by many, but you will be disappointed to hear that she has recently announced her retirement from the seat..."
Cesar took another sip of his drink and sighed. "But let us back to the present... I can very much put my trust in your capabilities as an elder. You know that saying, 'action speaks louder than words'. Going as far as granting you the elder seat is quite a gamble, but..." he looked at Buonocore deeply in the eyes and kept a soul piercing gaze at him that felt like time has stopped "I can tell you are not lying... those eyes as they are now, are not capable of lying. If you truly intend to make Imperio greater than ever, then be it... I will be granting one final, and I really mean FINAL chance. A chance to show me what you said to me are not just words!"
RE: Parle Aboard Med Force One - Madvillain - 01-13-2025
Buonocore's silence lingered in the air, his posture deliberate and heavy with authority. As he sat there, he had an almost birdlike intensity: like a hawk perched on a branch, watching and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. His eyes remained locked on Cesar, and a faint, smirk flickered at the corner of his mouth: a raptor ready to make its move.
"Cesar" he spoke up, "you’ve grown into a hombre of many words. Some could call it wisdom, others might call it weariness. But I’ll admit, you've grown."
He inclined his head slightly, a gesture that was equal parts respect and expectation. "I take it you will return to me my seat in the Council of Elders, si? Muy bien. You know just as well as I do that I deserve it. It is mine by right of Corsair law: once an Elder, always an Elder."
Buonocore leaned forward slightly, his voice lowered as if the following was meant just for Cesar, and not for Holiday. "And on that note, as for that hombre Eumolpus Alvarez, we will need to have him locked up or executed. Either will do, I care little about the details. I am certain we can find grounds for it somehow. His role as acting Pontifex Maximus is a title he should never have held, and I have no intention of allowing any of his cronies to get the wrong idea or stand in my way. You know how these things go"
He shifted his gaze momentarily towards Holiday, then back to Cesar and continued in a lighter tone of voice: " I shall resume residence at Villa Sephardi, It is a fine place, rich with the history of our people. I’ve heard it’s overgrown, covered in muck and neglect." His lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval. "No, we cannot let the grand history of that place be overshadowed by our mere disagreement. It will be restored to its former glory, as it should be."
He straightened, his tone shifting ever so slightly to one of restrained gratitude. "Gracias, Gutierrez. I should have known that in the end, your loyalty to me would prove as steadfast as mine to you."
Then, turning his attention to Doc Holiday, he offered a nod of acknowledgment. "Señor Doc," he said with genuine respect, "once again, you have shown yourself to be a valuable ally to the empire. Miguel Sephardi’s judgment of you was sound: he was rarely wrong about men of your caliber."
Buonocore’s voice grew sharp again as he continued. "There is a situation in Omicron Theta. I take it you are quite troubled with it, si? Now, the Brotherhood has several ways to address it. Do you wish us to kill all the usurpers and clear the way for your people to retake control? Or might you seek a different approach? Perhaps there is something else with which we can repay your kindness. Now is the time to ask, compañero."
He rose from his seat, his posture commanding and deliberate. "But we must be swift," he added, his voice laced with urgency. "The situation with the Penitence demands my attention. I must leave for it soon. There is no time to waste."