"Have we gotten it all together?"

"Seems so."  @Sully said as he hands Frankie Uffa's leash.  

"Good.  I the Tower looks bloody empty right now - time we change that."

"Who do you want me to bring in?"  Sully asked, no use to sending people out on summons duties since a few had occurred in the last week or so.

Frankie drew a breath and looked down at the dossiers laid before her.  She picked up she'd not been too trusting of to begin with, but she'd grown to know and respect.  She flipped through it quickly.

"Bring me Rat."

Sully smiled.  "Never thought you'd be saying those words without a hint of annoyance in your tone."

"His numbers speak for themselves."  She put the Rat_Smiley dossier and repeated.  "Bring him in.  It's time we talk."

Rat walks into the room after Sully calls for him.  He is not wearing very impressive clothing, at least not expensive clothing, but they are new clothes.  In his hand is a large chunk of yellow cheese that he immediately holds out to Uffa to take.  Not until the goat takes the cheese from his hand does he look to his boss to acknowledge her.  A broad smile that makes him look like a rat splits his face.

"You need me boss?"

She smiles at Rat and nods.  "I do."  The man smelled of cheese... always.  His love of the dairy product had earned him a name which most mobsters would be offended by - Rat took it in stride, always smiling.  She wondered silently if he smiled when he was killing too.  That was a disturbing image... but Uffa liked him, and she put stock in the reactions of animals to people.  Animals weren't fooled by words.  They could see someone for who they really were. 

"I don't know if you realize it yet... but you've quickly become one of my best earners.  Damn good work you're doing out there with moving the horse and blow for us."  She motions to a seat if he wishes to take it.  "I'd be an idiot if I didn't take the time to thank you for all that you've done, but I'm wondering if you're happy here... with the Tower?"

She arched an eyebrow and waited to see what way he might take her question.

Rat tests the cushion of the seat gently with his hands before he sits down, still smiling.  For a moment he seems lost in thought as Frankie asks her question.  He shakes his head suddenly, as if seeming to say no or to banish his thoughts.

"I do what I can, people here have been very nice to me.  They don't treat me badly for being me.  So I make money for them to make them happy.  Do I make you happy boss?"

He was a simple man.  But a loyal one.  She could appreciate that.  "Of course you do."  She admitted, her smile touching her brown eyes.  "Which is why I've asked you here.  I have a very respected guest downstairs.  He's helping us out in a time of trouble.  See, after the war with Chicago and Philly... our patrols noticed several of Durden's people in a variety of places.  We think he's making a quiet, but aggressive move on our holdings... but there could be more to it than that.  For him to get a toe hold on our operation he'd need friends... I'm deeply concerned about the nature of our alliances with several key people."

"That being said... I have to ask how far you're willing to go for me, and The Ivory Tower.  You see, I have some jobs that need doing... dangerous but good paying work; but not without risk.  The question is... are you willing to shed blood for me if it comes to that?  To risk your own skin on my word alone?"

The question is... are you willing to shed blood for me if it comes to that? 

 Rats face immediately scrunches up like he just ate a sour fruit.  "No, I don't like blood.  Especially not my own outside of my body."  He shivers briefly.  He looks up into Frankie's eyes noticing her displeasure.  "But you didn't mean it literally did you.  You meant more work.  Hard work. Messy work.  Yes, I can do that.  I mean that I know someone who can shed blood.  And he works for money, which I am good at getting."

He smiles widely.  "Yes, I can do this thing!"

"Alright then... follow me."  Frankie takes up Uffa's leash and leads Rat out the door and down the stairs.  Through a door on the first level which he has never gone through before - a door which only Made Men are allowed to enter through.

Frankie sent out invitations to anyone and everyone she could think of, in order to celebrate Rat earning his button at long last!  She hoped that everyone would come out and wish him the best in this thing of ours!

"Yay.  I did it.  Now I can....keep doing what I've been doing, but better!"

Rat-Smiley dances.

Grinning from ear to ear for rat's new promotion I bring a platter of what else, but cheeesseee, all different kinds from every part of the world. I was not sure if rat was cheezy about cheese as much as I was, but I figured it was a great gift for him for him making Made Rat, I mean made man. I wondered if his button was made from cheese, giggles...an edible button, now there is something you don't see everyday..hmmm....anyways.... as I walked up to Rat with the cheese platter...

"Congratulations, Rat on this new honor, well offical one anyways.. I brought this hping you would love to have some cheese from around the world."

congrats on your promotion 

Hola Rat_Smiley. It's great to see you make this next step in your career. Congrats!

Heathro get's a tip off that Rat_Simley has been given his button and just recently swore his Oath to the Ivory tower.. Over joyed at the news he decides to get the old ball point pen and whatever half decent cut of paper he can find and write him a wee congratulations, He hadn't had much time to visit his old home city Las Vegas so he though this would be better than nothing;

Dear Rat_Simley

It has come to my attention that you have recently been officially brought into the Ivory Tower, I suppose all those butt wiggles have finally paid off huh? You have my utmost support In this move up the ranks and I know you're bound for great thing's you cute wee bugger! Take it easy friend and I hope to hear of many more achievements from you. 

Farewell for now.

~Heathro 

Heathro then slips the letting into an envelope, writes out the address and frantically runs out to the street personally; to find the nearest post box

After the letter slips into the post box Heathro suddenly roars as he had forgot the most important part about writing letters.. TO PROOF READ 

"I FORGOT TO PROOF READ THE BLOODY THING"

"He will get a hell of a laugh out of any mistakes that may appear, I do hope I didn't mess up the address.. or his name.. Pfft! I couldn't be such a fool!" 

Heathro then hurries back into his down town LA Head Quarters where he has plenty of unfinished business  

"Congrats, Rat - well earned.  Well-deserved.  As for what you can do... have a GOOD TIME and enjoy this celebration!"

Hearing of the series of buttons that were awarded, Raconteur hopped the first flight back from LA and rushed to the tower. He made two quick stops on the way back to the tower, one at a liquor store and one at a florist. Once back in the tower he rushed to the celebrations and made his way to the guests of honor

"Rat, you were one of the first faces I saw walking in here the first time and one of the most memorable. Congratulations on your button and may your business always be profitable!"

He holds out a bottle of aged scotch and a broad smile creeps onto his face, feeling the atmosphere of the place creep in.

"I can always swap it out if you prefer another spirit. I've also got some red roses, but I didn't want to send the wrong kind of message."

Raconteur laughs a bit and gives Rat a pat on the back before looking for the others being honored.

Relwof was sitting in a small bar in Summerlin when a man in a black suit entered and shouted out his name.

"Shit!" Relwof muttered under his breath, He turned around to face the man that shouted out his name whilst bracing himself to be penetrated with a barrage of lead. The man walked up to Relwof and slid his hand into his breast pocket of his suit jacket before quickly pulling out an envelope addressed to Relwof.

"What's this? I am not expecting any mail and how the hell did you find me!?" Relwof said cautiously whilst taking the envelope from the man's hand. The man just blankly stared at him before he turned on his heel and quickly left the bar. Relwof sat there staring at the entrance of the premises for a while before focusing his attention onto the envelope, he opens it carefully and slides what appears to be an invitation out.

Relwof quickly stands up and leaves the bar, making his way towards the Ivory Tower, Soon enough he was at the Ivory Tower. He made his way inside and was greeted with a beautiful sight, members of his family were there all having a good time, there were also a few faces he had not seen before. He quickly scanned the room looking for the man of the moment whilst smiling and shaking hands with others that were in attending to this ceremony.

Sullivan walked up and shook Rat's hand. "It's a pleasure to have with officially with us, Rat. Congratulations on finally joining this family."

Krieger was elated to get to see a good friend, Rat_Smiley, celebrating such a wonderful promotion. He walked over to his friend and handed him a hand-written congratulations card and a box of cigars before speaking.

"Congratulations sir! I hope you enjoy these cubans, they're a special selection that is sure to be unforgettable. I hope to see you continue to grow strong and wise. Enjoy your celebration!"