Thread: Vying For The City (AE x Machiavelli)

The darkly handsome man merely raised an eyebrow as she referred to him as 'Master Whisperer', and the quirking smile signaled his covert approval of the nickname. I feel much the same way. Conversation with others often bores me, but not you. He returned, catching her seductive look and returning it, his glance briefly flirting down her body, obviously admiring her figure for a long moment, making little attempt to hide the fact. As she mentioned the small nature of the banquet, he chuckled, reaching for her hand and bending to kiss the back of it. Ah, it will indeed be small. Just the two of us, in fact. He revealed, a charming but devious smile slipping across his features. A slight deception, which I hope you can forgive. He laughed, kissing the back of her hand. I'll arrive before your manor on Friday eve, just before sunset, if that is amicable. He said, giving her a slight bow. With a small smile, he straightened. I must excuse myself now, however, as there are a great many things I must do, given the current state of affairs. After all, in these uncertain times, my skills and resources are more valuable than ever. I look forward to Friday evening with great anticipation. With another small bow and a flirtatious wink, he slipped away, the dark cloak trailing behind him like a fabric shadow as he vanished into a carriage awaiting him at the street. Mere days later, that same carriage would arrive outside of her family home in Florence, its black and silver exterior glittering in the setting sun. Those days were filled with intense preparation on the Spymaster's part, arranging favors and testing his abilities, preparing traps and creating lies while hiding truths. A great plan was quickly coming together, with his agents already outmaneuvering many of the other players at this game. It was like a children's game, where you hid and attempted to scare other children also hiding in a great political maze, but he knew exactly where every other child was. Except Sofia... Her plans and her position were yet unknown to him. It was reasonable to assume that she too would pursue control over the police force first, as any commoner could tell you that the military is the one true way to control a population. Yet there were plenty of ways to control a military, and it wasn't always through their commanders. While he lacked any incriminating or acceptable blackmail in that regard, he knew how to work a system. And tonight, his forces would meet hers for the first battle of influence between them, while the two masterminds, opposing generals sat over dinner, playing and flirting and drinking wine. For no matter who won the battle, a challenge could always be appreciated. Besides, there was some thrill in playing so seductively with the only real threat to him. The mysterious individual had not wavered much in his apparel, sticking with the black and silver that he seemed to have adopted as his house colors. His tunic was buttoned carefully, though it was well-fitted and accentuated the shape of his torso as much as his trousers fit to his legs and hips. Around his waist a black leather belt was clasped, with a decorative dagger on one hip and his pouch on the other. from his shoulders, the ever-present black cloak hung, its hood bundled slightly around his neck, held together by that silver clasp. He was well-groomed and well-dressed, obviously prepared for a dinner with a proper lady as he stepped down from the carriage and into the evening air to greet her.