Moving into the bar Dino sneezed right away. He hated the smell of smoke and meeting in this type of place was not what he was used to doing. But somehow he had been contacted by Lelouch...For what reason...He had no idea.
Spotting the other male sitting down at a table he quietly shoved his hands into the jacket pockets and lowering his head he scuffled over. "Hey. Erm...Nice to meet you?" Dino offered a little awkwardly. Apparently since joining the Monacello as a soldati he had been used to less than pleasing treatment.
Thus is why he showed up RIGHT ON TIME. Dino was punctual anyways, but it had been hard to shake Hibari off to come to this meeting. He didn't feel like it would have been right to bring his closest friend. This was all about making new ties.
"I honestly don't think we have met outside of word of mouth or seeing each other once and a while around when we were called. I'm Dino Cavallone...It's nice to meet you."
Lelouch picked up his head as the sound of an uncertain voice drifted into his ears, a sound that brought a smirk to his lips as he studied the man in front of him. Right on time. How thoughtful. And the mild awkwardness only appealed to his sadistic sense of pride, but he held back from exploiting such an advantage. He was in the market for allies now, after all, not pawns.
“Lelouch Lamperogue,” he greeted, smirk fading back into a smile as he gestured to the seat across from him, “Trust me when I say the pleasure is all mine, Mr. Cavallone. Please have a seat.”
Taking off his coat, Dino placed it on the back of his seat climbing into the chair as he looked to him. He couldn't help but study the other man in front of him. He seemed familiar some how...As if a memory or something that he should have held a little more close. "Hn."
Of course once he was sitting down and he was on the same level as Lelouch he seemed some how more in control...Prouder. He had that gentle air about him something familiar, yet not quite tangible. "What business do you have with me? I thought all higher ups wouldn't touch me."
Dino had the right to ask such a question. Also it was asked in such a way had a person not been listening carefully or watching the way his eyes slightly narrowed, that it would have come off as just light teasing. He was good at that.
Tilting his head, Lelouch raised his eyebrow as such a forward question, an unexpected divergence from the impression he’d picked up on only seconds ago. His expression, however, betrayed nothing more than amusement, whether it was because he did only take the question as a playful one or actually found pleasure in the other’s subtle and underlying bitterness unknown.
“How quick you are to assume that I’m the same as these “higher ups.” Perhaps there’s something I recognize about you that they don’t.” The statement was ambiguous and he knew it, but he offered no more about the subject just yet and instead leaned back in his chair.
“My reason for asking you here is less for the intention of business and more to sate a certain curiosity. So relax, won’t you? Can I interest you in a drink?”
"I wouldn't say that I am resentful. But why would the don offer me to come from the Vescovo to Monacello IF he was going to let me be treated like shit. I would have been better off staying as a Vescovo..." He sighed. "At least there people didn't treat me like I was toxic."
"Then Byakuran's ultimate betrayl of me...That just made matters worse. So I am stuck in a place where I am generally spat upon." Dino sighed, "Sorry. It's not something that I openly talk about. It's like the dirty secret in the backroom that everyone knows and they pretend it's not there...I'm the dirty secret in this case."
Dino didn't seem too pissed off and talked it off rather easily. He must have had this fight so many times before it was just a matter of course for him. Taking another drink of the water..."Sorry. It's something I've been turning over in my mind lately."
Not expecting such a thorough explanation, Lelouch listened carefully to all that was said, picking out certain parts he’d have to inquire about in the future and other parts that surprisingly worked in his favor, among others that didn’t.
“Ah, you’ve no need to apologize. If anyone, it’s me that’s sorry to hear that,” Lelouch explained with a shake of his head before it settled in a direction off to the side, a seemingly thoughtful look on his face, “Monacello, or Vescovo... I really do have to wonder if there is such a thing as a better choice of two. While I’m fairly certain there isn’t anything that could possibly convince me to want to switch back, merely turning between them just doesn’t seem like it would be...enough, don’t you agree?”
He turned back to look Dino straight on at that point, expectant and searching for an understanding in the little personal truth he'd slipped in within what would have normally been considered a dangerous thought to voice aloud.
"Well if you want my honest opinion...The Antimafia Commission, Vescovo and Monacello are all three starting to lose their edge." Dino looked at Lelouch, "But then again the talk we are engaging in is treasonous for both of us you realize. I'm not so dumb as to agree or disagree so readily."
Dino was smart. He was sitting there with a higher up talking about things that best were served left in the dark where they were. "The Monacello's way of doing things is no different from the Vescovo's honestly. It's just a difference between blood and a name. The Antimafia comission is no better. That is my answer."
Lelouch didn’t stop himself from chuckling quietly at the rather defensive retort. He could feel the tension between them mounting all over again though that didn’t seem to disappointment him as much as the fact that his subtle effort to express his similar situation to Dino had been a little...too subtle. Oh well. The consigliere would just have to be a little direct; something he was used to doing in his experience with Suzaku. That boy could be so thick sometimes...
Back to the topic at hand... “There’s no need to bring up such ugly words like treason. An opinion on the matter is all I was looking for. It is nice to meet someone who shares the same as mine, after all
( ... )
"Well my name matters to them. Though hardly is a name what makes a person if you know what I mean. If my name was Joe Bob or something, I'm sure I'd get treated better." Dino mused as his finger idly swirled around the lip of the cup his eyes attentively on Lelouch. It wasn't that Dino was ambitious, but he did have potential connections and a lot to offer. This was no secret
( ... )
Well that hit a little too close to home. Unintentionally, of course and Lelouch realized that, but that didn’t stop the way the aura of politeness he’d been projecting for the sake of his fellow housemate suddenly faltered and morphed into something a little darker as well
( ... )
"If I would have just left the Vescovo I would have still held value of sorts. The Monacello would have gone after me as a threat and the Antimafia commission would have been after me as well." Dino reasoned. "The Cavallone family is one of the legs of the Vescovo so yeah." Dino waved over the waitress. "A strawberry shake please
( ... )
The amount parallels between himself and Dino life-long ambition wise would have almost been disturbing if that wasn’t exactly what Lelouch wanted. The clouds that had been overshadowing him when the topic of his mother came into the picture slowly began to lift and the corner of his lips began to tug back into a familiar grin. He found it a little contradictory though that Dino would willingly admit to such blasphemous desires so openly when he’d mentioned his unease about treason at the beginning of their talk. Lelouch had to wonder what changed. If something had changed. He always kept the possibility that Dino could have only been baiting him in the back of his mind. Yes, it would be a long time coming before Lelouch felt he could put a sliver of trust in the other man but he always had the Geass on his side should things ever take a turn for the worse
( ... )
“Perhaps. In that case, we’ll just have to keep this friendship of ours as discreet as possible. I certainly can’t be observed playing favorites. Avoiding suspicion is our top priority,” Lelouch pointed out even as he dropped his hand from his chin to lock it with Dino’s in a firm handshake, “Other than that, I’m more than pleased to have established this relationship with you, Mr. Cavallone. I eagerly await to see just how much it will develop in the future.” Added, of course, with one of his patented charming smiles. It never hurt to be a little extra friendly in these sorts of situations. His statement also implied the “time” factor applied to themselves as well. This was only their first meeting. Where Dino seemed so quick lie his cards on the table and gauge his feedback, Lelouch liked to work slowly, to plan and make each move strategically like a well choreographed dance, and his methods certainly weren’t going to change for the sake of an acquaintance any time soon
( ... )
"That doesn't bother me. I'm not the type to report in to people and I'm definitely not in a position where I want to stand out anymore than I make myself all ready." Dino was a smart man. He knew Lelouch would understand.
Sure he would have laid his cards down. He had a shitty hand and he wanted Lelouch to see that. There was nothing he could do except guide and watch from his position at the moment. "I don't mean you can't be friends with them. But, this backlash isn't something that they need to be a part of. Your loved ones as well...they are irreplaceble, right?"
"I'm more so patient than people would like to give me credit for. Right now though, I am going to be moving back in with a friend of mine. Not because I have to, but because I have missed him." Dino seemed a little tense at mentioning his most recent plans to Lelouch. But, what could he do? Burn down the Sushi resturant?
Lelouch did indeed understand and said nothing more on the subject to instead move on to the next. Irreplaceable? That was an understatement. Lelouch’s objectives may have appeared selfish on the outside but they were fueled by his simple desire to ensure Nunnally and Suzaku could live in a world where they would be safe and happy. If he ever learned that his litter sister and his best friend were gone from his life forever, his goals would have been vastly different, and not in a good way
( ... )
Standing up he smiled and shrugged as he grabbed his coat and picked up the ticket, "I'll get this on my way out. It was a pleasure meeting you and learning that I have at least one person on my side." With that Dino smiled and moved off, they didn't need to have goodbyes...Why were they important in the Mafia?
Paying for the ticket Dino sighed. That could have gone much work. His cards were played for this hand. Though he still had a whole lot of cards yet that he could play if Lelouch tried to corner him in a way he didn't want to be.
This will take some time, but it will be worth it.
Comments 25
Spotting the other male sitting down at a table he quietly shoved his hands into the jacket pockets and lowering his head he scuffled over. "Hey. Erm...Nice to meet you?" Dino offered a little awkwardly. Apparently since joining the Monacello as a soldati he had been used to less than pleasing treatment.
Thus is why he showed up RIGHT ON TIME. Dino was punctual anyways, but it had been hard to shake Hibari off to come to this meeting. He didn't feel like it would have been right to bring his closest friend. This was all about making new ties.
"I honestly don't think we have met outside of word of mouth or seeing each other once and a while around when we were called. I'm Dino Cavallone...It's nice to meet you."
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“Lelouch Lamperogue,” he greeted, smirk fading back into a smile as he gestured to the seat across from him, “Trust me when I say the pleasure is all mine, Mr. Cavallone. Please have a seat.”
Reply
Of course once he was sitting down and he was on the same level as Lelouch he seemed some how more in control...Prouder. He had that gentle air about him something familiar, yet not quite tangible. "What business do you have with me? I thought all higher ups wouldn't touch me."
Dino had the right to ask such a question. Also it was asked in such a way had a person not been listening carefully or watching the way his eyes slightly narrowed, that it would have come off as just light teasing. He was good at that.
Reply
“How quick you are to assume that I’m the same as these “higher ups.” Perhaps there’s something I recognize about you that they don’t.” The statement was ambiguous and he knew it, but he offered no more about the subject just yet and instead leaned back in his chair.
“My reason for asking you here is less for the intention of business and more to sate a certain curiosity. So relax, won’t you? Can I interest you in a drink?”
Reply
"Then Byakuran's ultimate betrayl of me...That just made matters worse. So I am stuck in a place where I am generally spat upon." Dino sighed, "Sorry. It's not something that I openly talk about. It's like the dirty secret in the backroom that everyone knows and they pretend it's not there...I'm the dirty secret in this case."
Dino didn't seem too pissed off and talked it off rather easily. He must have had this fight so many times before it was just a matter of course for him. Taking another drink of the water..."Sorry. It's something I've been turning over in my mind lately."
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“Ah, you’ve no need to apologize. If anyone, it’s me that’s sorry to hear that,” Lelouch explained with a shake of his head before it settled in a direction off to the side, a seemingly thoughtful look on his face, “Monacello, or Vescovo... I really do have to wonder if there is such a thing as a better choice of two. While I’m fairly certain there isn’t anything that could possibly convince me to want to switch back, merely turning between them just doesn’t seem like it would be...enough, don’t you agree?”
He turned back to look Dino straight on at that point, expectant and searching for an understanding in the little personal truth he'd slipped in within what would have normally been considered a dangerous thought to voice aloud.
Reply
Dino was smart. He was sitting there with a higher up talking about things that best were served left in the dark where they were. "The Monacello's way of doing things is no different from the Vescovo's honestly. It's just a difference between blood and a name. The Antimafia comission is no better. That is my answer."
Reply
Back to the topic at hand... “There’s no need to bring up such ugly words like treason. An opinion on the matter is all I was looking for. It is nice to meet someone who shares the same as mine, after all ( ... )
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Sure he would have laid his cards down. He had a shitty hand and he wanted Lelouch to see that. There was nothing he could do except guide and watch from his position at the moment. "I don't mean you can't be friends with them. But, this backlash isn't something that they need to be a part of. Your loved ones as well...they are irreplaceble, right?"
"I'm more so patient than people would like to give me credit for. Right now though, I am going to be moving back in with a friend of mine. Not because I have to, but because I have missed him." Dino seemed a little tense at mentioning his most recent plans to Lelouch. But, what could he do? Burn down the Sushi resturant?
Reply
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Paying for the ticket Dino sighed. That could have gone much work. His cards were played for this hand. Though he still had a whole lot of cards yet that he could play if Lelouch tried to corner him in a way he didn't want to be.
This will take some time, but it will be worth it.
Reply
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