Venetian Cafe

[Sly]

A beater-type car pulled up next to a small cafe in an older section of Station Square...this one dating back at least two hundred years, when the city was much newer and closer together. The architecture in the surrounding area spoke volumes of the area's history.

Sly didn't notice it at first...but as the car stopped, he couldn't help but stop and take a look. Victorian-style lamp posts...flowers in just about every window of all the brownstones surrounding him...smooth jazz floating out of a bar further down the street. He wished he could stop for a moment and take in the atmosphere, but that would have to be some other time. He was here on business.

After stepping out of the car and paying a parking meter for an hour, he stepped into the Venetian Cafe...an Old World style restaurant that wouldn't look out of place in Venice or Rome, between the frescoes and the faded, peeling paint on the walls, and the classic red and white checkered table cloths.

He strode right past the "Please Wait to Be Seated" sign, straight to a curtain at the back of the small cafe. Without stopping he brushed aside the curtain to see his father sitting there. Or at least, as close a father as he had these days. This was all typical protocol though. His father had this curtained room reserved for meetings.

"Ah...son...good to see you again." Father cast a smile at Sly.

Sly returned the smile, although his was completely false. He was not looking forward to the bad news he would have to deliver shortly.

"Nice to see you too, Father."

"Something to eat?"

"Not right now... I'm afraid I have bad news..."

"Don't bother telling me." Sly blinked, surprised at first, but with Father's connections, he realized he was stupid to be surprised that he already knew about the disasters F4 had recently been through. "I already know all about how Canma, your old leader, suddenly left...with millions of rings worth of currency...all taken straight out of your bank accounts. I know...I monitor them frequently." Sly felt slightly relieved. While he had failed, at least he didn't have to painstakingly explain it for Father.

"I see. So...I just need your guidance. What should we do about it?"

"Don't worry about it at all. You've got me, after all. I won't let F4 die over a mere lack of funds. You know I've always got plenty to spare for you."

While Sly was relieved Father was so willing to swoop in to the rescue, he felt slightly ashamed. He wanted to be just as independent as Father was...not having to rely on anybody...able to triumph all on his own. Father must have noticed this, because he let a thin smile cross his face. "Don't let it get you down. Canma was weak anyway...she was far too dedicated to her family to really lead. Those millions are a small price to pay for her to just disappear. Sly, I want you to be F4's new leader from now on anyway."

Sly's eyes widened slightly. "So soon? This is years earlier than you wanted me to take control."

"I know, but we'll never get a better chance to seize power without upsetting the balance in the syndicate. Don't worry about it. I'll always be around to help you, if you need it. And don't be afraid to use it either. There's no shame in getting help from other people. One man can only do so much, you know. I certainly couldn't do what I do alone."

Sly nodded. Father seemed to always know just what he was thinking or felt. But Sly didn't mind. Father was the one person that Sly did not mind knowing all about him. Father was the only person Sly really loved.

"So...how are we going to do this, anyway?"

"Just offer your leadership. People know what you've done from F4...you've never done anything soft like Canma has...the only reason she was leader anyway was because she started the whole thing. Founders don't necessarily make good leaders. I think it'll be easy for you to get up there after all the disasters that Canma's watched over."

"If you say so, Father." Sly stood up from the table, and walked around to Father, who was also standing up. They shared a brief hug, before pulling apart. "I will do my best."

"I know you will. I raised you that way. We're both winners, you and me, and that will never change."

"Thank you," Sly said, bowing slightly. "Well...I must be on my way."

"Sure...it's time for you to seize power anyway. You may want to take a brief vacation though...give you some time to think through things. I can tell you're pretty stressed out."

"Certainly father....goodbye."

And with that, he walked out through the curtain and back to his car. Even though the meeting was supposed to be work and business, Sly felt uplifted a little after he'd left. Being around Father always did that for him. He was so inspiring and kind, despite what the rest of the world thought of him. In any case, Sly made his way out of the city...in the direction of a new camp F4 had set up hundreds of miles from here.