madimpossibledreamer

Main Points:
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure/Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Chapter Summary: Giorno, meanwhile, schedules a meeting with a local official.
Word Count: 1116
Rating: Teen
Note: HERE THERE PROBABLY BE BUFFY/JJBA SPOILERS

         “I apologize for the mess, Senhor Giovanna. It’s just been so busy.” The handshake is firm and respectful before the Brazilian official starts to clean his desk and one of the chairs to allow Giorno to sit. During his work as Boss, Giorno has had the pleasure or displeasure of speaking to a number of governmental officials. No matter the language, they all say the same polite words, shining gold, with varying degrees of sincerity and meaning.
        “Oh, no offense taken, Senhor Veloso. I realize this was a bit of an imposition. This was rather last minute, with very little warning, after all. I appreciate you clearing time in your schedule to meet with me.” As a result, Giorno has learned to look for signs of actual substance behind potentially empty words. Caetano Veloso happens to be in the midst of pleasantly surprising Giorno.
        Like many, he displays noteworthy books, but at a glance to an untrained eye, they might seem less impressive. However, Giorno spots the reason behind this: care was taken, but these books were actually read. They’re not simply displayed to claim wisdom and knowledge unearned. Similarly, he is not merely making a show of being busy while others do any work of any actual importance without recognition behind the scenes. As he gathers papers, it’s clear that he’d actually prepared for this visit himself. A hands-on type. Excellent. Perhaps this won’t be as long or difficult as Giorno had prepared himself for, then.
        “I hear that you have had some success ensuring cleaner operations within your own...organization. Nonetheless, I’m sure you understand that I would wonder what would bring you to Brazil’s fair state of Bahia.” Veloso’s hands tremble. Yet his eyes are steady as he meets Giorno’s eyes without fear. Such courage deserves honesty in return.
Giorno crosses his legs, smile becoming a little more sincere. “Have no worries; what you have heard is true. I have no         intentions of approaching you today to seek drug smuggling routes, but rather to learn what you know of two men in particular. Your comments have intrigued me, though. Perhaps I can lend a hand in your own troubles in exchange.”
        The man takes a deep breath, still afraid, if less so. “Darwin himself visited our state. Salvador is a city rich in culture, with beautiful beaches, theater, Carnaval, museums, ice cream...and yet we, too, have our troubles. One of our most famous tourist attractions is the Largo do Pelourinho, a place where slaves were punished. Like many other states in Brazil, we have favelas—I suppose you might refer to them as bassofondi in Italian, or slums in English. A failure of urban planning, and yet we do not have the resources to pay for the construction of better housing to improve the lives of the people. As often happens, the desperate turn to crime, and then others prey on that desperation. An organization I am told you are acquainted with, the Speedwagon Foundation, helped free us from the human trafficker Fernando Alhorn and the drug trafficking of the Selva Cartel, but of course, as they say, nature abhors a vacuum, and others soon sought to fill the void. One of your rival mafia have been making contact with officials, police, and local drug traffickers alike, and I’m afraid the suffering will only get worse. Their organizational structure could be likened to a hydra—dispose of one branch, and two more will take its place. A mere two years ago all of Brazil was shocked at the brutal torture and death of a journalist, and that was merely one of several highly publicized murders that year. As a port city, Salvador is of particular interest to these types of people.”
        It’s hardly as if Giorno has the inclination or resources to take over another criminal organization, but he could certainly be persuaded to expand and form alliances. “I suspect we could come to some sort of arrangement, yes. The two men I am seeking are called Rush, although he prefers to use a number of aliases, and Gordon Sarde.” He passes over pictures, which the politician studies keenly. Even with the sketch, there is no recognition of Rush, but the photograph isn’t even needed when he comes to the name Sarde. The man groans.
        “We’re only tangentially involved; the main property is actually in Amazonas, and like most of the state can only be reached by boat or plane. Officially, Sarde was charged for not paying property taxes—money that could help us…” At Giorno’s stare, he quickly amends that to, “...those of us who care, to help improve the lives of our citizens. Like Wolfram & Hart, though, I suspect the true cause to be not paying enough in bribes, or directing those funds to the wrong people. I can give you the address of the seized townhouse, though I’m not certain there will be much to find, between looters and some of the assets being sold to pay debts.”
        Veloso has been unusually helpful, and the man has a generally noble heart (though, of course, Giorno will probably observe more on his own to confirm his suspicions as to the man’s nature). This deserves some sort of reward. “Tell me, what sort of action would best help your people, at this time?”
        “Many of the problems are too large to be solved by one person. I suppose one of the issues is the ready availability of firearms. While gruesome deaths might still occur, as a warning or example, limiting the number could be helpful, especially as many of these guns have been sold by corrupt policemen to private individuals, especially criminals. However, I speak to the people, and I doubt they have any appetite for restricting such at this time. Removing the criminals that threaten our fair city is only a temporary measure, too.” Hmm. An interesting problem to solve, to be sure. Giorno will figure something out, though he might consult Mista and Polnareff first.
        He stands and shakes the man’s hand again. “Thank you.”
        “No; the pleasure was mine. It’s back to work for me, I’m afraid.” As given his words, he’s already started to pull more papers to sign onto the open part of his desk. Giorno is at the door before he speaks again. “Out of mere curiosity...who is Gordon Sarde?”
        Fortunately, Giorno has considered this himself. “I would advise no contact with either, if you can help it; they are both highly dangerous. However, Sarde is a trader in art and artifacts with underworld connections.”
        Veloso nods, seemingly relieved. “Oh, a forger and...what is the term, ‘fence’. I see. Good luck with your hunt, Senhor Giovanna.”