It was a nice, calm and peaceful day on these shores of ours when Valdez heard rumours of a large shipment of goodies coming in in a couple of weeks time. Wanting to get in on the action, he had 2 weaks to get a plan together and so immediately started to look around the local bars to scout for talent for the upcoming job. Upon walking into Dirty D's Bar, he saw his old pal Isorin slouched in his seat. It was apparent he was so drunk he could hardly speak a word and so decided to book Isorin into the motel directly above the bar. As he carried him up the stairs to his room, the stench of booze on Isorin's breath was enough itself. Upon entering, Valdez turned on the cold water in the shower and pushed him in before yelling "SORT YOURSELF OUT MAN!"

After around 20 minutes Isorin came out of the bathroom, seemingly a lot more with it. 

"Meet me at the coffee shop opposite the high street jewelers tomorrow lunch time. Oh and sober eh?" said Valdez before heading out to try and round up more potential work colleagues. 

Heading back home through South Side, he decided to stop by at the Bouquet Residence HQ. Taking his shows off, Valdez entered the HQ to find Hyacinth sitting on the sofa in lounge flicking through her holiday brochures. 

"Vaaaldez! How lovely it is that you stopped by dear. Please, sit down." said Hyacinth.  

As he enjoyed a cup tea her company, he began telling Hyacinth about the little job he has planned in a couple of weeks time. "You don't need to get back to me with an answer today" he said. "I'm meeting some others at the coffee shop in the high street tomorrow lunch time. If you're interested, stop by so we can discuss some details." he tells her. 

A short while after, Valdez made his excuses and left the Bouquet Residence before returning home. As he sat having a few drinks with a couple of the regulars in the HQ bar, he overheard the voice of Kleopatra coming from the background. "Now this is an opportunity" he thought to himself. 

Just as Kleopatra was about the leave the bar, Valdez called her over for a moment. 

"Hi Boss, can I buy you a drink? I have a pretty big business deal coming up." he said with a sly wink. "I could really do with having someone like yourself on board. It'll definitely be worth your while. I'm having a small meeting in the high street coffee shop tomorrow lunchtime, I'd love to see you there if you would be interested." he told her.

After finishing his drink, he said his goodbyes to his regular drinking partners and headed home feeling a little nervous before getting his down ahead of tomorrow.  

The next day...

After a restless nights sleep, Valdez rolled over and squinted his eyes to check what time is was. '11:44' the clock read. "Fuck!" he shouted before jumping out of bed and getting dressed. "Shower is going to have to wait." he said to himself walking out of his apartment and locking the door behind him. Lighting up a cigar, he hurried on down to the meeting point with a couple of his most trusted bodyguards.

Upon arriving he noticed a scuffle between two heavily intoxicated looking gentlemen across the street and so instructed his two bodyguards to stand guard outside of the shop. 

"Pedro, the usual please my old friend." Valdez said to the waiter. "Oh and I'm going to need the table over in the far corner for the next hour or two." he said before placing a rolled up 50 dollar note in the waiter's top pocket for his trouble. He then grabbed a copy of today's daily newspaper off of the counter and took a seat while waiting for the others to arrive. 

Staring at himself in the mirror whilst splashing a bit of cold water on his face, Isorin shakes his head...

"The one fuckin day I have off, damn you Valdez you could have come and sorted this out tomorrow" he thought to himself as he straightened out his Gi, moving over to the wardrobe he pulled out two Sia's and a handful of Shuriekens and hid them discreetly inside his Gi, he then proceeded to put on his Tabiboots once sorted there was one thing left to do before he left the shithole of a motel he found himself in, reaching under the bed he pulled out his prized Katana fastened it to the back of his Gi and left the shithole they dared call a motel.

Valdez being Valdez didn't really give out too much information other than to meet him at Pedro's where he would explain what this job would entail, upon arriving at Pedro's he saw Valdez sat at the table in the corner sipping a glass of champagne and looking rather jovial, smiling and chatting to any and every female that was unfortunante enough to wander past his eyeline.

"This place better sell some good Sake and this better be worth my time, you do realise this was my day off" Isorin said as he sat down next to Valdez and awaited the arrival of the others.

Greeting Isorin on his arrivle the pair sit togeather while they sit and wait for the others.

"So Isorin you up for this? its gonna be the heist of a lifetime", turning to Pedro he smiled and asked "What time is it?" Pedro replied "11:50 sir", "Right I have 10 minutes before everyone turns up but Isorin I forgot a big part in this plan, do you mind holding this place down while I run and find Qahnaarin were gonna need a man of his skills I wont be to long".

Isorin nods his head "Of course not a problem" with that Valdez runs out and down the street heading to his HQ bar to find Qahnaarin.

Hyacinth had a busy morning, as she ran around the headquarters with a feather duster she suddenly remembered she had a meeting to attend. Slipping off her apron she checked herself in the mirror, her floral print dress showed no sign of dust or creases and her hair sat perfectly styled. Content with what she saw she shrieked for her driver, walloping him with her heavy handbag when he didn't arrive fast enough. 

As the car pulled up in front of Pedro's, Hyacinth eyed the door then quickly scanned the streets. She'd never been to this establishment and was unsure of what sort of clientele they served, though if Valdez recommended it she was intrigued. As she walked through the door it took her a minute to see Valdez and Isorin tucked in a corner. Pulling a seat beside them both she waited to see what this meeting was about.

"I'll have whatever he's having." She waved her hands wildly towards Isorin.

Qahnaarin was just chilling out at The Bannered Mare, having a couple of drinks with some old adventure pals, when Valdez burst through the doors, all of a dither. Everyone stopped what they were doing and gawked for a moment, it was extremely awkward. Valdez strode up to Qahnaarin and whispered something in his ear, and then the two men exited the Inn, which was still in relative shocked silence.

A short drive later, they were sat at the coffee shop of Valez's choosing, alongside Hyacinth and Isorin.

"Well, this is a motley crew, yes? What are we up to then? I'm always up for a bit of debauchery." 

The waitress stopped over and Qahnaarin ordered an extra large black coffee. After she brought it he proceeded to dump more cream and sugar than should be allowed into his coffee, and began drinking it with vigor.

After hearing the news of the Kleopatra's sudden passing, Valdez rushed back to Pedro's to fill everyone in on what he had just heard.

"Guys, I don't quite know how to tell you this, but word is Kleopatra died earlier this morning. I know it might be a lot to take in right now, so we're going to push this back a few days out of respect for Kleo. Also, it'll give us time to find a replacement. We're not gonna find someone who can fill those shoes in a hurry." 

Valdez then leaves and begins to wonder the Streets trying to think of a place where he could find someone with just as much talent as Kleo did for the job in hand. As he is roaming, he  sees a large crowd gathered in The Loop and suddenly beings to a hear a voice. 

"As of today, I would like to inform you that I am now assuming the position that is acting Godfather Chairman of Chicago." He hears what seemingly appears to be coming from the front of the crowd. 

"What the...? Who the hell is this guy?" Valdez says to himself as he makes his way through the crowds. 

As he pushes past the large number of people, he overhears a couple of folks who seem to be claiming that the guy is who is speaking is the son of the late Kleopatra. He notices the man beginning to make his way towards a car that has just pulled up near the sidewalk and so runs as quickly as he can in order to catch him. 

"Sir! Wait!" he shouts as he eventually catches him. 

"Apologies. I couldn't help but overhear that you are the son of the late Kleopatra." Valdez says. 

"That's correct. I am Odin." He replies with a slight smile. 

"I am Valdez, I was a good friend of your mother's God rest her soul. She was planning on helping myself and a few other of her most trusted friends with a rather big job I have lined up before she was taken from us. I know this might not seem like the right moment so please forgive me beforehand, but would perhaps consider finishing off what she had started with us?" Valdez asks. 

Thinking it through for a few seconds, Odin got into the car. 

"Come. I am just about to head out to eat, we can discuss it at more length over lunch." Odin says. 

"Please, allow me to buy you lunch. I know a lovely little Italian joint, Pedro's. The food there is out of this world." Valdez replies as he enters the car before it pulls away.