beat a cheat, yo

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Adamo had gotten off to a bad start this particular morning in Roma. He woke up hungover in the Rosa in Fiore, only to find that he had spent all his money. Must've been on drinks and the ladies, he realized with a frown, running a hand through his messy hair. Dressing himself, he set out to the underground tunnels to head back to the hideout, where he hoped an assignment would be waiting for him. He wasn't feeling exactly smooth enough to just pickpocket a few florins off an unfortunate citizen (or three). Those things were more suitable to La Volpe's crew, anyway.

The hideout was quiet when Adamo arrived, with only a few assassins lurking about. A few stood by the lobby's desk practicing moves, which he rolled his eyes at. Those were better suited to be practiced outside. Instead, he targeted a man at the table where they usually picked up assignments.

"Hey, Vico," he said, peering over the assassin's shoulder. "Anything for me?"

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There was, however, many citizen spectators, gasping as they stared at the scene. Intimidated by the insults Vico yelled, they started to spread out - especially when Adamo yelled in turn for them to go away and mind their own business. (Never mind that it was a perfectly public street.)

"What did you plan to do? Kill him in front of everybody?" Adamo hissed under his breath once the area had cleared, pushing up, his weight pressed down on Vico's back through his palm. Even if he was larger in size, Adamo was still jolted by the smaller man's thrashing about. "He's just a pawn, Vico. He is not our real target. Killing him will change nothing."

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Finally throwing Adamo off, Vico quickly got to his feet and looked about, scampering up the side of a building as fast as his feet could carry him. It was no use, though - the Spaniard was clear out of sight, having tucked away in some building or having been so scared that he fled like the wind. The target was lost, and Vico swore under his breath, keeping his eyes on the street in some vain hope that the man would reappear, even as he heard the sounds of Adamo following him up. Though quiet, he was angry. It was obvious in the way his frame seemed to shake, his fists trembling at his side.

"It would have changed enough," he said coolly, making the obvious effort to keep his voice level. "Romagna would have been free of one more good-for-nothing bastardo, and that one would have been enough for the people he was hurting."

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Adamo stood silently beside him, and one glance around the rooftops and streets already told him Vico didn't find what he was looking for. He lowered the fabric covering his face.

"I'm not leaving it alone, amico," he clarified. "I am going to ask for the courtesan's assistance. He will surely retreat there for his belongings. I will get the names of the Borgia who are in charge of the shipments. Without Gonzarale, we have no other leads."

Stepping closer, he gave Vico a hearty punch to the shoulder, well knowing that at this point, he could easily tip that balance of his angry calm.

"Then you can kill him however you like, idiota."

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Though he looked entirely skeptical of that, Vico seemed to ease, just a little, and his hands loosened to hang at his sides, no longer threatening or looking like they were going to fly, at any given moment, straight into Adamo's face. "...Did you think that up all on your own?" he asked, curiously, almost suspiciously. "You are not intelligent enough to think of a plan like that."

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Adamo placed his hand over his heart again.

"Full of cruel words today," he complained, tilting his head as if one of those fists did hit his face. He wore a smile, though. "Who else could have thought of it, hm?"

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Vico turned, hopping down from the roof onto a nearby balcony with a shrug. As quick as his anger was to flare, it seemed to calm just as quickly given the right appeasement. "One of the courtesans, perhaps. I don't doubt that they are infinitely more clever than you are."

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"Sheesh. One moment you hate them, then the next, you give them all the credit." Adamo shook his head as he followed the man.