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Dio can appreciate such a show of power, both socially and monetarily, and as such he is sure to show up dressed nicely, rather than like some eternally-in-his-early-twenties aspiring rock star. Petyr gets the full courtesy of a well-groomed Victorian English gentleman, Dio allowing himself to be led for the night despite his 6'3" frame and ego to match it.

"I appreciate your generosity, sir", he responded with the manners he was groomed to have. Despite it being many years since he had to practice them, he knew how to act in the presence of nobility.

"You know, I'd absolutely love a good Sangiovese", he mused aloud. He had a small collection of wines in his new apartment, but it was nothing impressive. Just some standard reds and pinks, with a white or two in case there were guests over.

"A fine choice." Petyr commends, being something of a wine connoisseur in this world. It was about the only thing that would improve with age in these modern times. "One I may very well mirror." He turned the page and scanned the wine options.

Fine choice could be said of Dio all around -- from his attire to his manners. He was a man who could easily crush Petyr Baelish with his strength and stature (and that's not even speaking to the unknown talents the man has), and yet he was here, being respectful and earning respect in return. A fine ally he would likely make.

"I suppose I can start with the good news. I've secured a good building for your practice near the Maurtia Falls library I established. It's a bit of an imPort tourist attraction, so with luck, it should increase imPort presence and interest in your services. It may need a bit of renovating, but do you happen to know my good friend James Patrick March? He is phenomenal when it comes to restoring and renovating buildings to your design."

Dio beamed a little at the small compliment. He could be cultured, even if it had been nearly a century since he'd been a noble living in the countryside. He had a goal in mind here, and that was to seem to be as good of an ally as people might think upon first seeing him and then some.

"I have not yet had the pleasure", he responded, taking the name to memory. James Patrick March. "I've only just gotten to this... place. This world, I suppose, and I'm afraid my ambition got a little ahead of my social duties." He could catch up socially, though. So many people here were not from here, and he was certain that those sorts would forgive his learning the social ropes once more.

"I should certainly get into contact with him though." A little mutual business, that's what it was. Some networking. How the vampire never thought he'd be doing this again. "But the way that you phrased that... is there some bad news as well?"

"James is a good man and a good friend." And most especially to those with darker inclinations. Of course, Petyr had yet to know about Dio's. And perhaps that would be a topic he could bring up throughout the evening. After all, someone who would willingly move to Maurtia Falls as likely to not be as heroic as the rest.

But he shrugs his shoulders with a wave of his hand. "The only bad news is that I was unable to do much more than that. Which I suppose is not the worst news you could hear." Petyr closed the menu, folding his hands atop it. "But with an office and a name to aid in the renovation -- I do hope that everything else will simply fall into place."

That would be the ideal scenario. Rarely do things work out that way, but perhaps it may for the charismatic vampire.

As the waiter comes over to attend their needs, Petyr orders Soup all'Imperatrice and a fine greek salad to go along with it as well as a glass of Pipparello before glancing at his counterpart as he awaits his order. The sooner they could shoo the waiter away, the more time they had to further talk business.

Dio would be more than happy to discuss his inclinations should he simply be asked. Or if something really catches his fancy, he did so have a tendency to get carried away, as he had with Count Dooku.

"I am certain that things will work out. I'm not going in completely blind", he said, looking up to the waiter and placing his order for a glass of wine. That was all. He wasn't interested in what could be served here, after all, other than a fine drink and amiable conversation.

He waited then until the server had left, Dio sitting up straight in his seat, hands folded in his lap. "Your assistance will go a very long way, Sir. I wouldn't dream of squandering such a promising opportunity."

"You do not seem the sort the squander any opportunity." Petyr compliments. It's amazing how rare of a trait it is. There are far too many lazy individuals in this world, far too many people who do not see the full benefits of something before committing. Dio is a breath of fresh air to all accounts.

When their wine arrives, Baelish takes it in hand to draw in a sip. "If you don't mind my asking, why have you chosen to go into the field of law? Is this a passion of yours or do you simply do it because it pays well? Or perhaps it's one of those things where you have a natural talent?"

Dio is a good talker. He's good at getting people to like him. Or at least that's the impression Petyr gets from him.

Dio was nothing if not ambitious, and he certainly took the compliment with some grace, allowing it to add to his ego as he only temporarily puffed up. Not that he had any need to make himself look larger than he was.

"Law is a field I excel in, and it is something I enjoy practicing." He wouldn't deny that he had an aptitude for getting people to see things his way. "The art of debate. A contest of not only wits, but charisma. it also allows me to meet any number of interesting individuals, who might become good contacts for me to have in the future." He was a noble now, after all. Maybe born a beggar, but he'd stolen and lied and slaughtered his way into it, and he fit in oh-so well.

"The money isn't bad either. I'll be honest in that I hope the public relations part of my firm does well as well, as it would be wonderful to assist my fellow imPorts in getting the recognition they desire. Not for free, of course." It's all about who you know.

"Of course." Baelish's lips quirk in amusement. "Nothing in life is free. Not even valuable friendships."

He pauses as the waiter brings over the food, nodding graciously to their server before he unfurls the cloth napkin over his lap.

"In your field, charisma and intelligence pay. They make all the difference between winning a case and not. And I imagine that as a defense attorney, it's even more challenging to win. Especially since you may very well be defending someone who is guilty and arguing their innocence takes more skill and persuasion than not."

Petyr pauses thoughtfully as an idea forms. By now, Lucy's departure has been made known, and it's only a matter of time before they hold the De Chima ambassadorial elections. "You know, I could use someone of your skill set to aid me in something. Something that would take your abilities in the public relation field and put them to the test."

Spooning up a bit of his soup, he gently blows the steam away. "I'm talking helping out a candidate I need to win De Chima's ambassadorial election. Is that something you would be interested in?"

"One might say especially valuable friendships." The best kind of 'friend' was one who was useful, after all. Dio wasn't interested in friendship for the sake of a companion, after all. All people were stepping stones for where he wanted to be, in the end. Some he simply lingered on more than others.

"That's the thrill of it, isn't it? To find your way to a winning solution, no matter the guilt of your client." Also, Dio liked other villains, particularly those stupid enough to get caught. Stupid enough to be manipulated. "Politics are in a similar vein, are they not? Charisma and intelligence are paramount to a successful campaign."

Without really seguing into it, kind of leaving that particular bit of information as it was. "I would be honored to assist someone in campaigning for the election. With a little bit of charisma and elbow grease, I'm sure it will be a smashing success." It would also test his ability to control a larger population without... turning them into zombies. "Who is it, might I ask?"

After the little nod to successful politicians needing charisma and intelligence, Petyr gives a nod and a little amused quirk of his brow to both accept the compliment and agree with it. It also takes being a bit ruthless, and Petyr's about to show that hand to Dio right now.

"Sam Merlotte is the candidate I have in mind. He ran in Nonah's election and lost by a rather close margin. Merlotte is a bit naive, but he does make up for it in heart. And for what he is naive to, well, I would be right there to offer my influence." A truly controllable factor. Not like Lucy who fell off the rails.

"There is someone else running in this election. Someone from my home world who stands a good chance of winning simply because his entire extended family is also in this world. Charm and intelligence play a large role in politics, but so, too, does nepotism."

A beat. "I propose this idea to you. For every imPort you can successfully persuade into voting for Sam Merlotte, I will pay $1000. And there's no reason Sam needs to know that I paid for your support. Whenever he makes his network speech, you can simply offer your aid out of the goodness of your heart and then utilize your silver tongue to convince prospective voters. The more you can convince, the more money you stand to make regardless of how this election turns out. Even if another opponent defeats him, the numbers will still be important for any future election."

Dio could certainly appreciate that. Of course, he knew as soon as the man had mentioned helping someone's campaign that it would be to get someone into the office who was... amenable to influence. Exactly the sort of candidate that Dio would want in office, frankly.

"Nepotism is a good word", Dio began. Part of campaigning for someone else was to tear down opponents, after all, and though he knew little of the people described here in the running, he already found a case forming. "A good, strong word with a negative connotation. The people won't like it if it's something they hear about. But naive... Hm. Instead, we simply say that he has a 'fresh outlook'. New eyes for old problems."

Dio leaned back, pulling the glass of wine to his lips and taking another sip. He's never handled elections before, but he has handled completely and utterly isolating people before. Can it really be that different? "I don't foresee a problem with this in the least." The money was good incentive as well, Dio would not pretend that he had much wealth here yet, but he was aiming to fix that.

The edges of Petyr's lips quirked upward after Dio's chosen words. Fresh outlook, indeed. It would be a good way to put Sam out there, especially given the many imPorts who held a great disdain for politicians. Sam would be the regular guy who 'truly represents them as a whole.'

"I like it. It works well." He paused, taking a bite of his soup. "The man from my world is Jon Snow. If this world harbored the same sort of disdain for illegitimate children as my own, we could have spread word that he was the bastard son to an otherwise honorable man. But that sort of thing seems to happen here regularly."

Petyr glanced up at Dio, studying him in thought before he just casually said: "Although, Jon Snow does seem to believe he's entitled to the ambassadorial position simply because he did fuck the former ambassador. Perhaps something can be made of that."

Dio couldn't help but laugh a little. "It must be rather common. I've heard that one of my own have been here before, which is troubling. But the idea of someone attempting to sleep their way into office? Now there is something that can be more eagerly pressed." It can easily be spun. One who is politics should be more careful about the kind of relationships they keep, or how they keep it secret.

"No one likes someone with an entitlement complex, especially one that is borne out of something as simple to perform as sex." Anyone can fuck a woman, after all. Or a man, for that matter, as far as Dio was concerned. "I'm sure I can find other things about his personality that are lacking. Or make some, if necessary. Anything can be true if enough people say it."

Anything can be true if enough people say it. And that was when Baelish decided he very much liked this man Dio, with his nocturnal habits and bizarre diet. And when the time came for him to step out of the Maurtia Falls ambassadorial position, if the time came and he won his mayoral bid, well...if Dio was still around to see it, Petyr was definitely formulating some ideas to see him replace him in the spot. A devious mind deserved an influential position.

"I agree as well. It would have to be carefully spun, of course. There are quite a few people who respected Lucy. So they may take Jon's side all the more in this matter."

He paused to take a sip of his drink, savoring the contents for a moment before speaking once more. "I do hope your own problematic home world companions have since ported out, at the least?"

He shrugged at the implication that he had to carefully weave his tales around those who would stand up for this man because of their feelings for the woman. "Driving a wedge through the feelings people have for her and the ones they have for him will be simple. I can't do it all with my own mouth, but to craft an opera about a young man using a woman's status to lift his own can certainly help." Dio did prefer the idea of slandering others in order to work politics. He was not as good at singing someone's praises as he was at cutting others down.

"The poor girl, being used that way", Dio said, shaking his head in his best impression of someone who had only just heard the news. "And with his family here, he would think himself a shoe-in to snatch away that power, isn't that right?"

And if this man were actually a good man? All the better. Nothing brought Dio more joy than to dash the hopes of good people. "My problematic home world companions are a very personal problem, and they wouldn't risk attempting to publicly slander me. They know what is at risk, moreso than anyone else."

"And likewise, so do I. We dance a dangerous tango around each other, and when it comes time for our conflict to come to a head, they will want as few bystanders as possible." Dio's MO was collateral damage, after all. If he was going to go down, it wouldn't be quiet, it wouldn't be easy, and he wouldn't go alone.

Oh, what a wicked mind. Baelish raised his glass in agreement. Dio could easily spread those rumors and Baelish certainly hoped they caught like wildfire -- twisting and raging the further it traveled. But the talk of home world companions did get that smirk to fade a bit.

"It sounds as though you have struck a good balance with them. It sounds as though they aren't foolish, either. Nothing seems more distasteful than when someone thinks it's a wise idea to publicly post to the network to warn them about someone. It's dragging their world's problems into this world when this world is supposed to be one of new opportunity."

He finished off his food, wiping his face with a napkin. "But it is good that they knew what the stakes are. Though from what you said, it sounds as though a conflict is inevitable. Will it happen within this world?" A pause. "And when it does, will you be the one to come out the victor?"

He imagined that Dio would. But who knew how many or how powerful his enemies were.

Dio did so enjoy ruining a good reputation. He'd done so quite thoroughly at least once before, though Jonathan was a special kind of person who only became more determined the more he was beaten down. Not many responded that way, of that Dio knew.

"Not only is such a public post distasteful, but it is also foolish. IF you think of it, that can easily be spun as slander, if you were charismatic enough. A shame that some of those who have had to deal with such a thing do not seem to have such a skill." The Joestars wouldn't do that to him, but not because they did not want to. They simply knew that a Dio who had to hide his true nature was one that left less of a trail of blood behind him.

"Any future conflict is only possible in this world, seeing as they have been eliminated in the previous one." Well, he'd killed one of them, in the least, and he was confident in his ability to take down the other two. "I can't see any way for them to change their fate here. My victory is assured."

Petyr smirked after Dio's confident declaration. He might not have said he eliminated them, but it was implied. And that made the man he was sitting across from both a very dangerous and very powerful ally to have. "Well I, for one, am glad to hear that. But I am also not surprised. It's not often I make friends with those who are seldom victorious."

He topped off his glass with more wine, raising it in Dio's direction before draining a bit of its contents.

"Was there anything else you wanted off the menu? Dessert, perhaps? Or are you limited in what you able to only consume liquids?" He knew a cannibal who could only drink coffee. That was it. So, Petyr was no stranger to odd dietary requirements.

It was best to imply any 'elimination', at least in polite society. Even if there was no one within normal earshot. Dio had to at least pretend not to be a ruthless tyrant for the time being. Though it was nice that Lord Baelish didn't seem perturbed in the least by his statement. Dio did so love connecting with the morally dubious, and he was getting quite the impression from his new partner here.

His lips curled up into a grin as he replied to the quasi-toast by raising his own glass and then polishing it off, setting it down and allowing his host to refill it if he so desired.

"I am quite limited, unfortunately. I have not eaten anything solid in a century", he gave a light laugh at that, not particularly worried about disclosing the specifics of his diet, but not seeing a reason to do so here other than to make it obvious that he wasn't turning down his offer for any reason other than a physical limitation. He supposed in theory, he COULD eat, but what was the point? Alcohol and blood were all he was interested in.

"I could always use a bite, but I don't think I can order that here." His eyes wandered for a moment to their server as he sized them up. A shame this was such a classy establishment, and that Dio was behaving himself. Having subsisted on the dregs of society since he'd arrived had him craving something more refined.

Petyr followed Dio's gaze to the waiter. It was an expression of hunger. Being a brothel keeper, Baelish was well versed at recognizing it. But it wasn't necessarily one of lust. And that was something he had become familiar with here -- almost to a point of being desensitized to it.

Cannibalism.

Even if Dio was not the sort to eat body parts, he still needed to feed off of humans. Or the living. Could be any animals. Amusement quirked the corners of his lips as he filled Dio's glass. "Some seem to be into that sort of thing. You could always see if he's on the menu. Luck may be on your side."

Dio was attractive and persuasive. If all he needed was a bite, and judging by what he said...that he hadn't eaten anything solid for years, Baelish assumed it was blood. Perhaps he didn't have to kill his victims. Who knew the sort of habits the man held. And he wouldn't ask.

He wouldn't ask now, anyway. Those sorts of nosy questions should probably wait until the second date.

Make no mistake, there was likely some small hint of lust in the vampire's gaze. He wasn't starving by any means, but there was a hunger for better meals. One that had only not been slaked because of his tendency to slaughter his victims, and his need to not leave any families or friends behind once he did so.

Still, if he could exercise some small amount of self control, he could find it rewarding. "It's true. There are those who even find it somehow romantic, which I suppose I can thank writers for. It certainly doesn't hurt my machinations." After all, that was the angle he enjoyed playing up the most. How romantic it was, meeting a tall stranger in the darkness and letting him sweep you away and place a kiss on your neck which included more teeth than usual.

He turned his attention back to the man he was seated with, taking up his wine glass once more. "I can wait. After all, it's rather rude to seek out company when you've already got pleasant company."

Ah. How charming. Baelish might have been above his ego in a sense -- taking hits and punches to his pride with stride at all times. But it was nice to hear those compliments from time to time. Not everyone found him to be such pleasant company. And not everyone who did find him to be such pleasant company was as pleasant of company as Dio.

"I'm flattered. Were you to ask any of the students I've lectured at assemblies, they would likely say that decorative wallpaper would make for more pleasant company. But it is refreshing to have company who can see things the same way you do."

Since it seemed they were going to sit here for a bit longer, Baelish ventured to ask: "So what is it you are precisely, if you don't mind my asking? I've been fortunate enough to meet a wide variety of unique individuals, and it is fascinating to learn about things that before this world I never would have dreamed possible."

"I imagine most students aren't able to appreciate company. The young are always far too interested in the extraordinary, falling in love with flashy displays until they can no longer see the value in subtlety. I wouldn't put much stock in what they think until they've come into their own, which never REALLY happens in college." Dio snorted, laughing a little. College students were much the same as they were in his time. Of course, he'd seen himself as above them then too, focused on his future goals, setting up the necessary arrangements for his post-school life.

"In some simple terms, I am a vampire, Lord Baelish", he offered easily. After all, the man already knew that his diet was unconventional, and really... he hadn't been hiding it much to begin with.

"About a century ago, I decided that I wanted more out of life than what humanity could offer me, and so I took hold of my destiny, using an ancient relic to turn myself into a vampire. It's been exactly what I hoped for, truly. Sharp senses, inhuman strength, speed, and longevity, among other perks. The only downside is that some people don't much care for my diet."

"It doesn't always make me friends."

A century. Looking at Dio, the man appears even younger than Baelish. Yet, it's always a surprise to hear that these young looking men are still many years his senior. It reminds him fondly of Dorian Gray and his boyfriend Tobias. Most especially Tobias since he was the first vampire Petyr had met. "Well, for being over a hundred years old, you do look rather well. I would say your choice was a wise one."

He swallows the last bit of his wine, setting the empty glass back on the table. "Not a decision without consequence. The diet. The inability to go out during the day. But those things are minimal in comparison to the advantages. And you've chosen the right city for your nocturnal life. Maurtia Falls is at its most lively from dusk until dawn."

Petyr pauses. "Are your needs being attended to? Your dietary needs, that is. I've little doubt you're able to meet them on your own. But I do know some people who could aid you, should you have need. One in particular has many problems he could use a hand in making disappear."

Dio had to laugh a little at that. Yes, he supposed he did look great for his age. He looked great for any age, as far as he was concerned.

"I have never once regretted my choice. And yes! The night life is what attracted me to Maurtia Falls so", along with the criminal activity. But then the question of his feeding came up. Were his needs being attended to? That was probably trickier than a simple yes or no, because clearly, he was not starving. But he still hungered for more. Dio had gotten used to an easy, gluttonous life back in Cairo, devouring people left and right. But he'd had less possible adversaries, too.

"Well, I am keeping well-fed, but I could never turn down a drink. Especially if it also happens to assist someone in turn." He wasn't usually the helpful sort, but hey. Food was food. And feeding on something other than lowlifes would be a very welcome change.

Shady people helping each other out. That's the true spirit of Maurtia Falls. "I can pass over the names of a few native contacts. Though most important of all happens to be one of my closest imPort companions -- the one I mentioned to you earlier. James Patrick March. The fact that I've mentioned him twice in two different contexts should speak greatly about the sort of man he is."

A pause.

"Or rather. Was. He's a ghost now, you see. The first I've ever met. I've always been a skeptic, never believed in that sort of thing. But this world has truly challenged all that I've believed in and now I'm forced to face the fact that anything's possible. Everything's possible. And the only limit to what can be is one's own imagination."

He tapped the stem of his glass in thought. "But being of a century old, being from a world where vampirism is a possibility, you must have seen it all. I imagine that nothing could really surprise you."

"A ghost, hm?" His brows raised, interested. It was a curiosity, to be sure, but really... Baelish was right. Not much got the jump on him these days, though coming through the Porter was quite disorienting.

"I've never seen a ghost before, admittedly", he said after some thought. It did take him a moment of searching his memory though, considering the vampirism, the zombies, and the Stands, which looked quite a bit like ghosts. "Truly though, when I found out about the possibility of vampirism in my own world, it was as if a whole new universe of possibility opened up to me! And this world is no different. Anything is possible, not only for me, but for you as well", he said, leaning onto the table as he too finished off the wine glass he had been nursing for a little too long. That was simply what dinner out was like with Dio though. Either he drank too much or he stuck to one glass for too long. Sometimes both of those things.

"Tell me though, what kind of work would I be doing for this man? You mentioned my feeding and his having problems to remove, but... natives? Imports? Would they serve better by remaining alive after the fact and wholly obedient, or is disappearing the best option? There is a lot I can do, but I must know what is expected of me."

Baelish offers a small, mysterious smile. It's not really the sort of thing they should talk about in such a public venue. But he will say this: "In the Castile, there is only one way for things to go. It's simply the clean up afterward that remains the largest challenge. Meet with him when you can, and I'm certain the pair of you could come up with a fine arrangement. He already provides for Ken Kaneki."

Petyr doesn't know if Dio knows Kaneki, but with only a quick search he'd be able to find out about the cannibalism. And that means an awful lot of dead or dying bodies check in to Hotel Castile, but never leave.

"But I suppose that's something we should speak of at another time." The waiter comes by with the check and Petyr accepts it, reaching into his pocket to pull out a few crisp bills. Enough to leave a very generous tip. "It was a pleasure to sit down and meet with you in person. I must say, I was not disappointed in the least."

Rising to his feet, he extends his hand for Dio's in a parting shake.

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