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Post by Anslem Aslem on Aug 17, 2009 15:26:45 GMT -5
March 9th, 1960 1123
“Signore Adolf!”
The Liberatore capo couldn’t help but to smirk at the alias. The specter of Hitler had terrified the Allied forces when they had occupied Germany. So much that they imprisoned those innocently baring that last name, and those with the first often chose to change it in lieu of the possibility of being suspected of taking it in a fit of Nazi pride. It was a curse to now be of his race and bare that name even in the slightest resemblance.
He was certain Allen could appreciate the joke.
“Guten Morgen, Signore Giovanni,” he greeted the café owner, a rotund Italian man with a ruddy complexion. They liked him here even if he was a foreigner, he spoke good Italian, he was polite, and he always tipped well. If they suspected he was a made man, well they never tell, and Anslem knew he could count on it.
“Shall I set you a place at the bar?”
“No, no, I have a certain business associate coming to meet me here. I like to request a back room please,” he gently slipped a hundred dollar note into the man’s breast pocket, “with a chess board, and with absolute privacy please.”
“Signore, can have whatever he likes. Will he be having breakfast as well?” the man stepped back as Anslem gently indicated his coat was not to be touched. His eyes grew a little fearful that perhaps a hit was about to take place in his establishment, but he knew better than to argue.
“A pot of black coffee and a few apple pastries would be nice,” he requested as the man began to lead the way.
“And how shall Signore’s friend introduce himself?”
“I don’t know, he is a small, blond haired British man however. You’ll know him by his dark rimmed glasses and ill fitting suit,” Anslem answered wryly as he looked over the velvet plush chairs and ornate chess set. He nodded with approval at the arrangement, nothing ostentatious. This was just a meeting between two acquaintances after all.
“Very good, the girl will be in soon with your order.”
“Thank you,” and as soon as the door was closed he removed his coat to reveal his holstered pistols on his thighs which would be hidden beneath the table. Anslem was not a fool, as frail as Allen looked he didn’t put killing him past him. That was after all what made this thrilling.
“Ah,” he turned the black part of the board towards himself; he was after all a fair gentleman.
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Post by Amel Allen on Aug 17, 2009 15:49:29 GMT -5
As soon as the negotiation and exchange was made, he’d gone back to his hotel with Samir and Adrienne, making certain that they were secured and that there was no evidence of foul play on their shelter before leaving to meet with the Libertore Capo. Aslem, that’s how he had signed the letter that he’d slipped into his pocket. Such a bizarre gesture, but above all it was intriguing. Amel was captivated at the idea of playing a game of chess against what could very well be such an evenly matched opponent.
He rubbed his eyes and yawned. Yet another night without sleep. He knew that he would collapse soon enough if he allowed himself to go any longer without at least a small nap. Plus this game was important, he needed to be at his best. He’d considered snorting a line of the methamphetamine that was stowed away in his luggage, but he didn’t want to risk any side effects that sometimes accompanied the drug. Instead he drank three cups of the strongest coffee that he could find in his hotel before finally leaving. The caffeine left him more awake, but gave him a small ache in his stomach that was easy enough to ignore. He’d just eat later. This game was far more important than food right now.
He hadn’t even needed to introduce himself when he arrived at the café; the host simply lead him to where his party was waiting. You really went all out, Aslem, he thought as he was brought to a back room and waved through the door.
“Imagine my shock when I found that my suit had been tampered with,” he muttered as he strode up to the table, looking over the board and glancing around the room, searching for any sign of an ambush. And he's offering me the white side? Is this a sign of hospitality or ego?
“Shall I offer my full disclosure and inform you that I also am armed and have no intention of being conned into some type of trap?” he asked cordially, pulling out his chair and taking a seat. He did have a small handgun tucked into the pocket of his jacket for protection, but he was certain that he wouldn’t be as fast on the draw as the man in front of him. Still, to come with nothing might as well have been putting the gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger.
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Post by Anslem Aslem on Aug 17, 2009 18:14:04 GMT -5
"I would hope a man in your position would be prepared for anything," He was either being candid or facetious once again. He did not rise to greet his rival, just looked at him with a bored expression.
"I wouldn't expect anything less of you Allen," he said in reference to the weapons. He finally stood, however it was because a small Italian woman had walked in with a plate of pastries and a coffee pot with cups.
"Gratzie," he took the tray and pot and cups from her, he smiled, however as he slipped her a twenty note it was obvious he would like she leave and not linger by the door. She curtsied, and was obviously the sort of person who knew what this was about as she gave the other man a curious look, as if she wondered if he would be dead when she saw him next, and left.
"I hope you don't take any cream or sugar, as I did not think to ask." He said as he set the plates down and poured himself a cup.
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Post by Amel Allen on Aug 17, 2009 18:28:34 GMT -5
When the other capo stood, Amel straightened his back to greet the woman who dropped their food and drink off with him. He narrowed his eyes at the look that she gave him. What the hell was this really about? His arm tensed, ready to pull his gun if this other man did anything suspicious. But why go through all the trouble of setting up a game and ordering coffee if he just planned on killing me?
“I take it black as well,” he answered, waiting for the pot to be free so that he could pour his own cup. Bringing it to his lips he took a small sip to test for the temperature, but it was still too hot to drink. He flinched as it scolded his tongue and glanced down at the pastries. His stomach growled lowly, but he couldn't distract himself with food at the moment when his hands were full with a cup of coffee. Don't let your guard down.
“So then Aslem, what is this all about?” he asked with a playful smirk to disguise his nervousness. “Certainly you are after more than a simple game of chess.”
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Post by Anslem Aslem on Aug 17, 2009 23:11:35 GMT -5
“No, this is about a chess game, do not look too closely into this, you’ll only be disappointed,” Anslem answered easily as he sat back down.
“The people are giving you looks because I have invited other business associates here who have come to…unfortunate ends,” he explained easily, perhaps a statement of intimidation, but given the banal look on his face he was just telling the truth.
“Chess is a game best played with many different opponents, if you stay with one partner you never improve. You learn all their moves, and they learn yours. Your games begin to become draws again and again and your tactics stagnant.” He paused to take a sip of coffee, he was unused to having it spiked but for now he tolerate the stimulant. “I am certain I have never played against anyone like you.”
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Post by Amel Allen on Aug 18, 2009 0:39:42 GMT -5
Amel nodded along with Aslem’s words, agreeing wholeheartedly. He had played many opponents over the years, and it was always tiresome playing someone who played the same method every time, or the people who learned out of books and not by actually improvising. The games ended up redundant and predictable. In that case he as right; Amel was sure he’d never played anyone like the man in front of him either.
“Well, I’m glad that’s not the case with me,” he replied, shifting in his seat so that he was more comfortable. Noting that the coffee was finally getting cool, he took a long sip, drinking almost half of it at once. Sighing, he put the cup down next to him and looked over the board. It was fancy enough, but there was no timer. So he wasn’t interested in a traditional match, then? No, this was only a chance to outdo each other. I wonder what type of euphemism Adrienne would make for this game if she knew…
The capo leaned back and cracked his fingers together, loosening the joints before moving a pawn from F2 to F4, a typical first move that pros and amateurs both made.
“So then this is simply for the competition? Tell me, Aslem, what will you do for me when I win?” he challenged, hoping that his hubris would at least show the man that he was playing to win.
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Post by Anslem Aslem on Aug 18, 2009 21:40:09 GMT -5
You are expecting a reward?...How childish. Anslem hid his frown as he sipped his own coffee and delicately took a bite of a pastry. His own stomach was rarely responsive to food, no doubt withered away by year of alcohol abuse, but he did make certain to force himself to eat.
He sat back as he surveyed the move, an easy and expected one. He knew it must be a red herring. Perhaps Allen wasn't going to truly play until he knew what his 'reward' was. He looked over the other man, and you are meant to inherit the position of justice in the world? A twinge of jealousy and loathing flashed within him.
He licked his lips, suddenly recalling his Japanese assassin and his profane sense of humor. Perhaps it was wrong to channel Beyond in anyway, but now he had the urge to needle this other man. Just to knock him off his high horse before the game even truly started.
"I'll let you top," he said demurely as he mirrored Allen's move. He rolled his eyes up with a serious expression to hide his inner smirk.
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Post by Amel Allen on Aug 18, 2009 21:56:19 GMT -5
Amel watched the mirrored move and didn’t even pause before bringing his knight from G1 to F3. After moving his piece, he reached down to sip at his coffee. He hadn’t expected the other capo to give him a serious answer, but the answer he did give was even farther from anything that he could possibly have imagined. He barely managed to swallow his coffee without choking and spitting it back into the cup at the rather obscene insinuation.
“I...beg your pardon!?” he shouted, placing the cup down as carefully as he could given what Aslem had just said to him. “I hope you’re not honestly insinuating…I mean…” he let himself trail off, realizing now that he must have said it just to fluster him. Oh, you’re not going to distract me so easily!
“Nice try, Aslem,” he muttered, “but let’s keep our heads on the game, hmm?” Amel reached up to tuck some hair behind his ear that had fallen in his face, his cheeks stained red with an embarrassed blush as he attempted to not make eye contact with the man across from him, more determined than ever to beat him.
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Post by Anslem Aslem on Aug 20, 2009 21:53:52 GMT -5
Anslem laughed out loud at Allen's reaction, pausing to hide his grin behind his hand as his laugh faded into snickering. He knew it was childish, but really he hadn't had been so amused in a while. As if he do anything so sordid and with this limp wristed little man. True, he had the build many male whores did, that small frame that made them less intimidating to customers, but the similarity ended there. He wasn't pretty, coy, charming, or compliant. He was certainly in no way an appealing sexual ideal.
How odd though, that I could make him blush. Anslem mused. It was genuine as well, Allen wasn't deceiving him there. That was why Anslem never felt bad about his inability to remember the name or faces of his partners. It was their duty to make him feel sexually attractive and lay on their backs for him as he tried to drown out the howling inside when those memories came back. He could leave a few bills on the night stand and sober up somewhere else and they never feel offended. After all, they were just playing a role for him and it ended after orgasm.
"Are you the sort of man who plays by the rules then?" Anslem asked softly as he moved the same pawn forward.
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Post by Amel Allen on Aug 20, 2009 22:05:11 GMT -5
Oh, you son of a bitch. Amel gritted his teeth together at the sound of the capo’s laughter, but making sure to not let his annoyance show on his face. He’d let his guard down and allowed himself a genuine reaction; he would need to watch that. He couldn’t afford to lose face in front of this man no matter what. They were rivals that demanded each other’s respect, even though such a thing would be impossible.
Amel watched the next move before moving out another one of his pawns. After the move was completed, he took another sip of coffee and finally made eye contact with his rival, his face finally cooling back down. “It depends on whose rules you mean,” he answered. “I play by my rules when it comes to my job. When it comes to chess, however, I do play by the rules.” He leaned back in his chair leisurely, almost challengingly.
“I can tell that you don’t care for the rules, though. You even cheated in our weapons arrangement earlier, didn’t you?” It was a bluff, but he had a feeling that somehow at least two of the Libertores had been carrying weapons. Still, he was curious to hear the answer as he quirked an eyebrow, mocking him to answer truthfully.
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Post by Anslem Aslem on Aug 21, 2009 17:54:33 GMT -5
"Henh," Anslem inclined his head slightly, an either slightly abashed gesture or one of arrogance. You only expect me to cheat because I'm a Liberatore, your enemy, not because of any special insight you have. He was right, but not in the way he would have expected.
"Your rules, not L's rules?" Anslem asked, taking his pawn and tapping it to his lips as he looked at the other man levelly. "I thought L was justice after all, or are his boundaries open to interpretation?"
He put the pawn down in the path of vanquishing or conquering one of Allen's.
"Now myself, a man who lives outside the ordered world, must define his own boundaries, as I have no one to instill them into me." He explained congenially, pausing to take a sip of coffee. He gave Allen a half smile, "one of us was armed."
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Post by Amel Allen on Aug 21, 2009 20:43:32 GMT -5
You think that that jab will get to me? Amel returned the smile with a cordial one of his own, contemplating taking the pawn or letting it become fodder to better his game. In the end he chose not to take it; let the sacrifice be seemingly metaphorical of the negotiations that they had just gone through.
“You speak of my rules and L’s as being separate,” he answered, reaching down to bring his bishop into play, “when in fact we are one in the same. He wouldn’t put me in such a position of power unless he felt that our ideals matched. And I find it amusing that you speak as though you have no one that you answer to.” He gave a sardonic laugh at the statement. Such an ego. I’ll be so happy to see that arrogant smirk leave your face when I beat you. Still, what did he mean by ‘no one to instill’ his boundaries? Amel wondered a moment if he was the same as him; an orphan that was left to fend for themselves too early. He didn’t allow himself to feel pity, however. Whatever hardship he had gone through, he must have worked through it.
Amel shivered again and reached over to drink the last of the liquid in his coffee cup. He sighed softly as he finished swallowing and put the cup back down, already feeling the excess caffeine in his system. "Of course. One of you was armed, we know that don't we? My bodyguard felt you both up." He grinned again, meeting the challenge head on.
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Post by Anslem Aslem on Aug 21, 2009 22:22:55 GMT -5
“Fascinating, you are so proud to be L’s lackey,” the jeer was delivered with a bored expression as Anslem took a bite of pastry. He noticed Amel hadn’t eaten yet at all, was he too nervous to or was he trying to make a point? The German decided he could care less.
“I do have a man to answer to, I carry out his orders and he pays me. He is not, however, my idol for certain. He does not require such blind obedience,” He took the pawn, turning it over in his fingers before continuing.
“Indeed, it is an established fact one of was armed,” again that bored expression, restating a simple fact. Come on Allen, let me see you use your head, given you are so damn proud of being a heir of L.
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Post by Amel Allen on Aug 21, 2009 22:46:10 GMT -5
“Did I say that L was my idol?” Amel answered, quirking an eyebrow at the German man. “I don’t remember saying such a thing. Your insinuation would be incorrect. He is my superior whom I respect, but adoration is quite another thing.” A simple lie, but an effective one. This man didn’t need to know the extent of the respect that Amel felt for L, nor did he need to know their history and how L had saved him from a life of quiet solitude to give him the opportunity to become something better. Something more. Justice.
He seemed to want to keep pressing the subject of the weapon. Alright, Amel would bite. He leaned forward and moved his other knight out. “Let’s see. During the pat down you held the gun. My bodyguard did a decent enough job of checking for weapons, however…” He paused and narrowed his eyes in thought.
“If I had to guess, your negotiator held a weapon the whole time, probably in her underwear or bra, as that was a place that would not be felt. However, you seem to be adamant that only one of you was armed, so I’m guessing that you somehow slipped her your gun sometime over the course of the negotiation. Yes, that makes more sense. That way we’d be staring at you when she had your weapon all along. You place such faith in her abilities? I guess the rumors were true, then.” The last sentence was said in a fleeting, off handed manner.
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Post by Anslem Aslem on Aug 21, 2009 23:10:36 GMT -5
So defensive, you really have a thing for him don’t you? Anslem’s smug thoughts were derailed for a second by the mention of Veila. He raised his eyebrows at the mention of ‘rumors’. Of her training? Damn, I better alert Picard to a possible spy then. He couldn’t let the Innocenzos know how close they were then; if they knew he was grooming her to be an exceptional soldier that could make her a target.
“Wrong, she passed it to the consigulerie,” Anslem countered easily, moving a rook forward. “Really, you think I take a young girl over a man?”
Let Allen think he was prejudiced, certainly he had a bad enough impression of him already he believe he had a condescending manner towards women. It was easy to paint your enemy with every negative trait imaginable. I’ll have to let Masque know she had to be more cautious, if they’re going to start looking closely at her.
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