《 Alvaro 》<br/>Location: Abendblume<br/>Present: Ray Jr<a class="username" data-user-id="6997" data-username="Sayd" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/6997/">Sayd</a><br/><br/><br/><br/><div class="bbm_float fright" style="float:right;margin:0 0 5px 10px">
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</div>It was unsettling but touching to see Ray frown with concern for him. Alvaro just shook his head with an easy smile. "I have been happy and comfortable here, Raimundo. I have lived in palaces and peasant villages. This garden has been good."<br/><br/>Still, the invitation to join Ray on his balcony with the fine tequila and good cigars was one he'd never turn down. He walked beside him through the halls of Abendblume seeing Ray's PR at its fullest. It was obvious there were things he'd picked up over the years working with his father, and some things that just came naturally. It seemed Ray Jr. already understood the more subtle skills of guiding public perception.<br/><br/>"Maybe I spoke too soon!" he broke into a wide grin as they entered Ray Jr's suite. It was very, very nice and certainly expected for Hale's family and closest personnel to live in luxury. It was Hale's resort, after all.<br/><br/>As they both relaxed near the open balcony doors the conversation turned quickly to business. Alvaro was attentive not only to Ray's words, but his eyes, expressions, and demeanor as he spoke. His own expression was serious as Ray opened with news of his request for his father to step down. That was a big deal. A very big deal.<br/><br/>Alvaro had always known Hale's preference for Armando. It was a given, nothing he'd ever felt displaced by. They were in different lanes with different purposes but something in Ray's words bit just a little. Would Hale shove him back in the closet once Armando had cleared his head? Even if he was doing a better job? Armando had two years to get Abendblume together and Armando hadn't protested the eviction while it was being planned. Now he was crying morality like a hypocrite. Suddenly, Ray was painting a picture of looming disaster and Alvaro couldn't see where he was wrong about any of it.<br/><br/><br/>"I respect Senor Hale completely," Alvaro started. "and I am confident Armando would always protect him, but..." his brow knit over sharp dark eyes, "but you have just proved how ready you<i>are</i>Raimundo. You have seen all the ways things could be and told me how the future will go because of it.<i>That </i>is what a leader needs most and<i>that</i>is how I know you are ready. I wish Senor Hale could see how I see, but this world we live in is closer to the one I have grown up in than the business world he is accustomed to. You see this."<br/><br/>He could see the reality of things unfolding just as Ray described it. More would be purged as supplies grew smaller. But as awful as that would be, it would be a loose end. Loose ends were bad. Loose ends had gotten people killed. Loose ends could retaliate and enough of them could bring a starving community down with ease. Starving men didn't fight if surrender brought them safety and a meal.<br/><br/>He leaned forward as Ray had done placing his own hand on Ray's opposite arm. He leaned until his forehead rested against Ray's and he nodded with eyes closed. "I trust and believe in you, Raimundo, as you have supported and lifted me, I will support and lift you."<br/><br/>He remained there, forehead to forehead, mind to mind, the weight of the conversation rolling slowly through. "Armando will be so angry." he chuckled with a soft edge. "He believes I have been acting to corrupt you. He does not understand my love is selfless."