Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 23:40:50 -0800 From: "Laura K. Griffin" Subject: The Godmother 01/01 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU In honor of Godmother Mary's birthday (on March 1), here is the saga of the Dark Perk list mommy's rise to fame and glory as the Godmother of the Dark Perks: Disclaimer: I know, I know...I don't own FK or even Cousin Mary. Permission to archive on at www.fkfanfic.com or anywhere else is granted and appreciated! --------------- The Godmother by Laura K. Griffin / February 28, 1999 It was dark, and as Mary walked into the shadowy room, she saw the silhouette of a young woman. "Good. I'm glad you came," the voice said. Mary stepped into the light produced by a single candle and kissed the silver ring that Tracy wore on her left hand. "I just got your message. Is there a problem?" Mary asked. "The time has come for change." She paused dramatically. " I'm going to make you an offer that you can't refuse." Mary swallowed hard, but nodded silently. Tracy continued. "I'm depending on you to take over the family business." "Take over? But, how can I?" "Mary, listen to me carefully. You've been my right hand for some time now, and you've managed to bring some good people to the family. I need your help to keep these THUGS in line, and I think you're the one to do that." "Thugs?? They're just people who understand the way you really are." Tracy smiled and explained: "THUGS: Tracy's Hotheaded Unified Gangsters of Sanguinary Sarcasm." "Oh....but that would really be THUGSS." "So? Do you have a point?" Tracy asked in a low threatening tone. "No...just pointing out details," Mary said with a hint of trepidation in her voice. "Good. Listen, I don't have much time, and I want to get to the point quickly. You will be the head of the Dark Perk mafia. You will be in charge of keeping things together, of taking care of the family, and of defending the DPs within the realm of the other factions. You must defend the honor of our family. You will also be responsible for recording Lacroix's Nightwatch with The NightCrawler. We need to keep abreast of what he's up to," she said with a cynical smile. "Do I get a gun?" Mary asked with a hopeful grin. "You get the official 'duffle bag of doom.' And you'll get to live in a mansion. Good enough?" "Well, I still want a gun, but I guess I can get one as soon as I learn how to use one properly." "You can start learning by keeping my own gun clean." Tracy handed her the handgun, some rags, and gun oil. "I'll give you your first lesson, and then next week, I'll take you to the shooting range." Tracy and Mary set to work on Tracy's beloved sidearm, and together they dissembled it, cleaned it, and put it back together. "Good work, Mary." "Thank you. What next?" "Here is the address of the Mansion where'll you'll set up headquarters. There's some cleaning up to do, but I'm sure you'll find plenty of help. Call in the other members of the family and inform them that you are now in charge. And take this." Tracy slipped the ring off of her finger and placed it on Mary's hand. When it was in place, Tracy raised Mary's hand to her lips and kissed the ring. "Mary, this is the business that we've chosen. I'm entrusting you to uphold the values of Dark Perk-dom." "We have values?!" Mary gasped in surprise. "Yes, we have values! They're not clear cut, but we do have them! Perhaps I'd better give you the official charter and some other important documentation." "That might be a good idea." Tracy unlocked a strong box and pulled out a handful of papers. "Take these. Read them carefully, and then get started. You have a lot of work to do." She walked around the desk, and lifted a black duffle bag which she handed to Mary. It wasn't a light load. Mary took the papers, unzipped the bag, and placed them carefully on top. "Good luck, Godmother," Tracy whispered as she kissed Cousin Mary's cheeks in an Italian farewell. Mary looked at Tracy, and then turned to leave. ----- Later...in the privacy of her own room, Mary opened the e-mail file on her computer and began composing a message to Ren, Laura, and several other THUGSS. Before pressing send, she closed her eyes and began to realize the important role she now had. She added a few lines to the end of her cryptic message: '"The time has come," The Dark Perk said, "To speak of many things, of shiny guns and duffel bags, haunted mansions and coffee beans. And why the bunnies are all headless, and whether you take sugar or cream..."' She pressed the send button, turned off the computer, and began researching the official papers that Tracy had bestowed upon her. She was now 'The Godmother of the Dark Perk mafia,' and she took her duties seriously. "Yes...'the time has come...'" she whispered to herself in the silence. ~~The End of the Beginning...~~ Birthday greetings for Cousin Mary should go to anteros@juno.com Comments, concerns, and wooden stakes can be sent to me at miltonsfire@pronet -- Cousin Laura -- The Original Dark CERK Perk http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Portal/6866/Laura.htm "Smile...when your heart is aching..."