"What seems to us as bitter trials, are often blessings in disguise."

- Oscar Wilde

Romeo sat quietly, trying to hide the pain away engulfing the old bullet wound in his leg. Trying to find someone to invite him into their family had been harder than he had expected. It seemed people were not too enthusiastic about a middle aged, wounded, ex convict who disliked violence. Romeo chuckled for he knew he could not blame him. Given a choice between himself and a young dumb brute, he'd pick the brute too. To top it off his departure from Villainy Inc had been less than stellar. His drunken argument with his ex-wife and the collateral damage they had dished out to The Rainy Day Lounge.

So when he heard from Absolution, he was rather intrigued. Absolution, the name caused him to chuckle at the cruel sense of humor that destiny displayed , for absolution was exactly what he needed right now. Romeo had heard about the Acting Godmother of Seattle soon after he had entered the city  and he was curious to see what she would be like in person. 

Choosing to cover up his scratches with a long sleeved shirt, he had straightened his tie when he stepped in. This could very well be his last opportunity in Seattle and so he knew he needed to make a good impression. Having arrived early he had sat at her desk patiently. An elegant portrait of her hung behind her chair displaying a woman sure of herself and what she wanted. A woman used to getting what she wanted one way or another. A woman with hair as black as midnight and a piercing gaze that seemed to find its way into his soul.

Soon enough she stepped in , her stride confident, ombre hair loosely draped over her shoulders. As he stood up to greet her she looked at him with an amused expression. Walking to her chair slowly , lost in thought she sat down and nodded as if asking him to begin. An elbow rested on the desk as she ran her fingers through her hair. Her gaze similar to the one in the portrait bored right past his cool facade to the depths within.

His words got stuck in his throat as he sat there silent, as if enchanted by a spell. She smiled perhaps used to similar reactions and he finally regained his composure. With a sly smile of his own, he said "Buonasera Signora. Forgive my mutismo, but the stories don't do you justice." Matching her gaze , he whispered "La belleza oscura." 

Idly scratching his beard he sighed and continued, "Nevertheless, on to business now. I appreciate the invitation Signora, but I am curious about why you chose to offer one. I suppose that will become clear in due time. For now, por favore , tell me what I can do to repay your generosity?"

Jasmine sits and looks at the young fellow in front of her as she smiles, listening to what he has to say. 

"Well, my dear. I have heard great things about you from @TonyCastelli and DarGabrielson." She leans back into her chair and pulls a drawer open on her left. She picks out an apple and places it on the table. It was no relevance to the conversation. Jasmine was just feeling peckish. Picking up the apple she takes a bite as Rudolf_Romeo_Riviera is talking about his time at villainy inc. 

Throwing the apple into the bin  she focuses more, now that she isn't hungry. "Tony is a great man. I worked with him for the longest time as his right hand. We did a lot together and had heaps of fun." She chuckles for a moment."I wonder, does he still have that goat in the HQ?" continuing on her smile "It was a gift by a much loved  member of ours who sadly lost her life during a war we once had been apart of. May she rest in peace." Jasmine's facial expression is blank for a moment as she reminisces memories over her mother's best friend. 

"So, here we are, a new chapter for you and a new one for us with you being here. I don't expect repayment in that way, I just expect you to work hard and be an upstanding member of the community. The rest will just flow as it needs to." Jasmine is far too laid back for her own good sometimes. 

"If you haven't already, make yourself acquainted with the rest of the family. They're a real great bunch and you all learn from each other in different ways all of the time. It makes me proud to see such wonderful flourishing mobsters under my wing." 

Standing up and taking your hand, Jasmine grins. 

"I look forward to many memories and adventures with you." Walking to the table in the corner of her office, Jasmine picks up two glasses and a bottle. "Would you care for a drink with me?"

Romeo sat there quietly, his confusion barely concealed. When she mentioned the endorsement , he was glad that his former bosses held no grudges against him and supported his future adventures. The woman picked out an apple and looked at it as she had looked at him. After a bite it found its way into the trash. The sight made him gulp in nervousness for he wondered if his own fate would be better than that and if her interest in him would last longer .

Focusing back on the question he answered with a chuckle "I am afraid I never saw the goat Signora, as you can understand, I had more pressing concerns on my mind concerning my altercation in The Rainy Day Lounge. Too bad, I feel like we'd have been the best of friends, perhaps even share beard grooming tips." Wars and death were a part of the life they had chosen as mafiosos. Yet here he was finding refuge from it in his own way.

She seemed incredibly proud of what she and everyone in her crew had achieved. The family, was in fact more than just a crew. All of this put his mind at ease and pushed his suspicious instincts into a corner.

"Grazie Signora" he began as she offered him a drink, taking a chance to glance at her hand as she poured it. Finding no ring on it he seemed intrigued by the possibilities. Standing up slowly, he raised his glass and said "Por favore signora, a toast. To friends old and new, may la familia Absolution lack neither. Salut."

With a nod they both downed their drinks and placed the glasses on the desk. He knew he could get used to this, to her, to the family to this life, if this was all there was to it. "I am glad to hear that way, because there is something I would like you to try." She said and the suspicion tucked away in a corner of his mind came rushing back to the forefront.

Pouring another drink for them both, Jasmine looks at Rudolf_Romeo_Riviera and smiles. 

"So, there is a reason why I've asked you here today. I would like to ask you something. I would like you to occupy your mind and  use your initiative. This job isn't a job for the faint hearted." Jasmine smiles more as she senses his nervousness and passes him his drink. She takes a sip of hers then walks back over to her desk.

Perching herself on the edge of her desk as Rudolf_Romeo_Riviera takes a seat, Jasmine pulls out a file from behind her and places it in front of him. He looks at Jasmine and his shyness and nervousness is oozing out of him. She thought a drink may have calmed him but decides to pour him something stronger. Placing it on the desk she then pushes the file closer to him, urging him to read it. 

"Inside this file, you will find a contract. A contract and some deeds to an old drowning business." He looks up at her as she grins, hoping for a more positive response from him. "I think you are the best man for the job. This business venture will be great for fostering friendships and will earn you a quick buck and then in the long run you should be in the money. We will talk more about that another time." 

Jasmine pauses as she stands up from the desk and takes a seat in her chair. She sinks into it and slightly leans back. She has a small foot stool underneath and places a foot on it. "So, what do you think about this adventure I would like you to take with me? I of course will be just a sleeping partner. You will be the brains and the face of the business. 

Sitting up right again and sipping her drink. She watches as Rudolf_Romeo_Riviera reads some of the paperwork. His eyes are twitching and he is shaking slightly, so Jasmine puts his drink in his hand. He takes the drink and downs it in one. 

Romeo gulped the drink and placed the glass on the desk. Then he carefully began skimming through the file. He had wanted to open a business for some time now, and it seemed he had gotten his opportunity. But this blessing in disguise would not be so easy to take advantage of. The joint was bleeding money. 7 businesses had been built in the location in the last 2 years and they all went bankrupt. Part of him thought the place was cursed, he should be running in the opposite direction as fast as he could. 

But he had found himself in a precarious position. The crew that had accepted him into it's fold after his recent fiasco was giving him an opportunity to prove himself in a manner that if done right would involve no bloodshed. He knew this had to be done and soon or he might find himself tossed back on to the streets again. 

Sighing to himself he closed the file and looked up at his new boss. With a nervous smile and nod he accepted the task and walked out of the place, eager to take a closer look at his new business.