Braginski-Jones

Daddy's calling

11/09/2020
Chapter 18

3rd Pov

"The issue on the table: France is in the middle of their revolution and is on the verge of war with Porthcrawls. Do we commit aid and troops to this alliance or do we declare neutrality? Remember, my decision on this matter is not up to congressional approval. Secretary Honda, you have 45 seconds." Ludwig turned to Kiki and Feliciano and nodded.

Kiku and Feliciano walked to the middle and cleared his throat. "When we were on death's door when we were needy, we made a promise, we signed a treaty. We needed money and guns and half a chance. Uh, who provided those funds?" Honda turned to Vargas. "France..." Honda turned to Ludwig and Ivan. 

"In return, they didn't ask for land. Only a promise that we'd lend a hand and stand with them if they fought against oppressors and revolution is messy but now is the time to stand. Stand next with our brothers and sisters as they fight against tyranny."Kiku smirked at Ivan. "I know that Ivan Braginski is here and he would rather not have this debate nor the next one but I'll remind you all he is not Secretary of State. He knows nothing of loyalty. Smells like new money, dresses like fake royalty. He's desperate to rise above his station. Everything he does betrays the ideals of our growing nation. So oh, oh, and if ya." 

Feliciano turned to the president to finish Honda's speech. "Don't know, now ya know, Mr. President." Ludwig nodded and turned to Ivan. "Thank you, Secretary Honda and Vargas. Secretary Braginski, your reply? 45 seconds." Ivan walked to the middle of the room and glared behind Kiku and Feliciano were Alfred stood. Alfred's words swirled his head. Let it go! He looked away. "You must be outta your goddamn mind if you think, the president is gonna bring the nation to the brink of meddling in the middle o a military mess. It a game of chess, where France is Queen and kingless. We signed a treaty with a King whose head is now in a basket. Would you travel to France and ask his head "Should we honor our treaty, King Louis' head?" "Oh...I can't hear him, he's super dead!" Honda was about to place Ivan's head with the king until Ludwig pulled Ivan back with the help of Alfred and Feliciano with Kiku. "Enough! Ivan is right!" Kiku and Alfred stood still turning to the president.

"Mr. President—"Ludwig turned to Honda to make his next remark. "We're too fragile to start another fight." "But sir, do we not fight for freedom?" "Sure, when the French figure out who's gonna lead 'em." Feliciano shushed Kiki and Alfred continued the conversation. "But sir, the people are leading—" "The people are rioting. There's a difference. Frankly, it's a little disquieting that you would let your ideals blind you to reality." Ludwig turned to Ivan. "Braginski" "Sir!" "Draft a statement of neutrality." The meeting/battle ended and while Ivan walked to the congress room for the statement Arthur and Feliciano walked next to him.

"Did you forget Francis?" Ivan turned to Arthur. "What?" Feliciano glared at his response. "Have you an ounce of regret? You accumulate debt, you accumulate power. Yet in their hour of need, you forget" Ivan stopped his tracks and turned to them. "Francis's a smart man, he'll be fine but Feliciano if we try to fight in every revolution in the world, we never stop.  Where do we draw the line?" Arthur left-back to Alfred and Feliciano leaned on the door to the Congress room. "So quick-witted." Ivan chuckled. "Alas, I admit it" "I bet you were quite a lawyer." "My defendants got acquitted."  "Yeah. Well, someone oughta remind you." Ivan turned to him. "What?" Feliciano pointed to the doors. "You're nothing without Ludwig behind you." He smirked and left but stopped when a door creaked open. "Braginski!" Ludwig called out. Feliciano laughed. Ivan glared at him as he walked to the president. "Daddy's calling!"

Feliciano caught up with Arthur. Both of the men having a personal meeting with Kiku. Silence filled them over as they drank tea. It was finally broken by Arthur. " It must be nice, it must be nice to have Ludwig on your side." Kiku scoffs placing down his cup, "Every action has an equal opposite reaction, Thanks to Braginski, our cabinet's fractured into factions. Try not to crack under the stress, we're breaking down like fractions. We smack each other in the press, and we don't print retractions. I get no satisfaction witnessing his fits of passion. The way he primps and preens and dresses like the pits of fashion." Feliciano rubbed his back trying to calm him down. "Our poorest citizens, our farmers, live ration to ration.  As Wall Street robs 'em blind in search of chips to cash in. This prick is asking for someone to bring him to task. Somebody give me some dirt on his vacuous mask. So we can, at last, unmask him. I'll pull the trigger on him, someone loads the gun and cock it. While we were all watching, he got Ludwig in his pocket." Feliciano laughed at his boyfriend's silly threats but turned serious when a thought came by.

"Look back at the Bill of Rights, which I wrote! The ink hasn't dried. It's unbelievable that he's doubled the size of the government." Arthur was next to place his cup glaring the window. Watching Alfred and Ivan walking down the street. 

"Look in his eyes, see how he lies. Follow the scent of his enterprise. Centralizing national credit and making American credit competitive. If we don't stop it, we aid and abet it. Honda, you'll have to resign." Kiku choked on his tea. Feliciano patting his back again. "But Arthur, someone has to stand for the south."  "Well, somebody has to stand up to his mouth." Feliciano thought about it for a minute and snapped his fingers. "If there's a fire you're trying to douse. You can't put it out from inside the house. We're in the cabinet, Kiku is complicit. And watching and grabbing the power and kiss it. If Ludwig isn't gon' listen to disciplined dissidents. This is the difference, this kid is out." Kiku and Arthur stared in a deep trance trying to comprehend the Italian's words.

 Kiku smirked turning where Arthur was glaring at minutes ago. Spotting Ivan going to his office with another man. He turned to the other men and signaled to the window. One filled with anger and the other shocked. "This immigrant isn't somebody we chose. This immigrant's keeping us all on our toes. Why don't we show these Federalists what they're up against? We Southern motherfucking Democratic-Republicans.!" Feliciano pointed out. Arthur was livid but kept down from jumping out the window and beating Ivan's ass. "We follow the money and see where it goes because every second, the treasury grows. We get in the weeds, look for the seeds of Braginski's misdeeds." Kiku turned to Arthur in confusion but starting back at the man entering Ivan's office he realized the situation.

"Kiku, Feliciano, I'm doing this for a friend but I'll need some help. Lately, I have been seeing that man with Ivan together every late afternoon. Later with them coming out at midnight." Feliciano nodded waiting for Kiku's response. "The emperor has no clothes." Arthur gave a small nod as a thank you. "We won't be invisible, We won't be denied but still, it must be nice, it must be nice. To have Ludwig on your side." The three men shook hands. Agreeing and planning to expose and win over their rival.