Sly Cooper: The Female's Touch
CARMELITA P.O.V:
"Look at him. This man is mine! His name: Sly James Cooper. 'Sly' I here you say? 'Why, isn't that a ridiculous name? Is that what's on his birth certificate as well?' My guess is that it's short for Sylvester, but either way, I could love a heart like if it belonged to a man called 'Manure'. OK maybe not, but you get the idea. This is the Anniversary of our relationship…this relationship I made very nearly single-handedly: through almost mean methods but still, it was made nonetheless.
Here we are now, sat together, in this beautiful French hotel, in the penthouse suite for 2 nights on our days off from working with Interpol. We've heading out to dinner. I love it when this happens – the whole restaurant waitress team look at him, and even give us a greater service than we need, just because of him. But anyway, I'm side-tracking. We're off to dinner, and let's see what conversational masteries will be flying over my, and everyone else's, heads tonight…"
This restaurant was the jewel in the crown, of this place. Translates to a layman as the 'Shangri-la Bliss', and is located just inside Cannes. It is a many storey building, filled with everything imaginable for a budding couple to embed within French high-culture while also maintaining an intimate and romantic time together in this place. Perfect for the impersonal yet highly sensual Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox, who walked into bar looking like the namesake Shangri-la Bliss, in her little black dress – classic, but strangely never something she was overly associated with; in the mind of Captain Cooper, she was associated with that smoking hot gun she always keeps in a holster on her person. Then there was Captain Sly/'Sylvester' James Cooper. In the years Sly had faked his amnesia, Interpol had (wisely) decided as a collective that to try and regain the said personality and memories and then imprisoning him would be a waste of money and resources, and at Inspector Fox's insistence hired him into the force as a Constable. The Raccoon was a fast learner and soon he had enough experience and expertise under the badge of the law to be made a Captain in the Interpol services…good lord, what would his ancestors be thinking? He did bust criminals the same way he had before, but no longer taking the rewards anymore. Anyway, just as the Fox was luring all the limp-tongued ogling from the old sugar daddies in this crowd, he was driving all those girls crazy with his look. His athletic figure, with every definition and ripple of muscle was clearly visible even through that full tuxedo – jacket, waistcoat, shirt, bowtie: the works. Carmelita always gets angry when she sees this attention bestowed upon her partner. He liked it however: she gets all fired up, and that's just great for the bedroom later.
Sitting down, Sly is the first to start the conversation:
"Anything on your mind at all Carmelita – besides what to order of course" he said with that smooth, cool American tone that became as recognisable as the cane he used for thieving, or the calling-card he used to leave behind.
"Well…I've been given a new case to focus on – there's that. Erm…the Black Mamba gang's operation is being shut down based on evidence we recovered at their latest hit and we're being commended for that. And I quite like the King Oyster platter please. With a nice crisp white maybe."
"You've been put on a new assignment? We only took down 'Marley' Mamba and his cartel last month: what else could they possibly have to throw at you?"
"Well…there are these totally loco rumours of highly sort-after gems of the black market being sold off here in France. Interpol's put me on command of the whole affair. If I get this right, maybe one day we'll both be Captains. Captain Sylvester and Inspector Carmelita: has a nice ring to it does it?"
Sly paused for a second, and a little somersault went his heart. Captain Carmelita certainly had a nice ring to it…and besides, she'd always wanted the Promotion. The King Oyster platters showed up: 2 dozen Oysters, each the size of a hand, tasting like food fit for a King of a great empire. Here though, it was two royalty of the law getting to feast upon it. The wine also was highly delicious. The fox could tell that the Raccoon was enjoying it a lot (Sly was always a wine person, it was better for his health and athletic physique than beer or lager). This smile was soon gone though.
"Another thought of mine was maybe we could start a family"
As if in a moment of pathetic fallacy, a pair of waitresses walked into one another, and the food they were both carrying flew straight over them, completely soaking them and leaving everything in a fluster; those two waitresses represented Sly's conflicting feelings, and said mess over them is how he was feeling right now. Family was a big part of his life – in fact it was his whole life. Even though he had left the Cooper family legacy behind him, and in his hands of his old friend Bentley Wiseturtle, the thought of his old lineage always flowed through his brain. Wow, it's been years since he last saw Bentley…
Sly quickly reacted, but it wasn't quite the reaction that Carmelita was hoping for.
"A family? Shouldn't we have think about the right time for marriage before even having kids? Imagine the difficulty explaining to the office!"
"Difficulty…you think what? You'd think it would be easier for two officers of the law to spend a small sum of money on a Wedding reception then honeymoon before having kids?"
"Well…stability is always important in a child's upbringing. Having one out of wedlock would only add uncertainty to his life…if my parents were here, they'd think wedlock was something I should adhere to"
"Yeah, well…if MY parents were here, they'd be sure I had kids with someone a little more open-minded…and one who looked less like rat!"
"What's wrong with my look? Surely you could agree we would have fantastic looking offspring. They'd catch all the attention in playgroup you'd say?"
Carmelita had never wanted a family until she finally became certain about the man she'd fallen in love with. This was it. It was common-research in the world that said that the male of the relationship was the gene that decided the species of the offspring – she therefore knew she'd have raccoon kids, but maybe some slightly foxier than their father – but still, it was a big deal within their society. Marriage was one extra problem to add to that cauldron of potential carnage.
Sly went to pour the pair a drink from the wine bottle, starting with his beautiful date.
"Look Foxy" That was his nickname for her. Just as Ringtail suited him quite appropriately, Foxy definitely summed her up "I wish my parents would be here to see this – me talking to a beautiful lady about the chances of grandchildren for them, and how good old Sly's done OK for himself…" Sly stopped, as the wine had reached the bottom. He stood up "Carmelita, I'll be right back. We'll just be getting the second bottle"
"Second? At 2000 Euros?"
"I'm paying. Just stay put, we'll finish this conversation very soon"
Sly walked to the bar, as the very flirtatious barmaid bunny came to the counter. "Bonjour stranger, anything you need for me to do?"
"Yes. My date and I would like another bottle of 1800's White Wine please"
"…OK."
The bunny hopped into the wine cellar to make the find for this handsome stranger. Sly felt around in his pocket. The talk of marriage had come at a very awkward moment for him.
Back at the table however, Carmelita had caught someone's eye.
An off duty waiter – all of whom were Peacocks, each possessing a rather eye-catching plumage – had sat beside her.
"How you doing, pretty lady" The man's accent was English, and although Carmelita was fiercely loyal to her partner, she could already feel herself swaying a tad.
"My name's Carmelita. Maybe you'd be wise to use it"
"I'm not wise at all – that's why I'm a waiter. And the name's Sebastian…pretty lady"
Sly waited as the bottle came to his hands. His pocket-watch held all he needed to pass his time – a picture of him and Carmelita dancing underneath the Goddess statue during their operation to steal the Clockwerk wings from Rajan all those years ago…true, it had been used for malicious intent against the pair, but it reminded his thieving self of a happier time. The bunny hopped back, with that glorious white in her hands. Sly solemnly took the bottle from her grip. Just before he turned back to see his date with another man, he noticed that the bottle had a name and number written onto the label: "Beatrice, 07889590567 Call Me".
Sly turned in anger "I said I was with a date!"
"Well…" Beatrice slowly spoke "Judging by the way Seb's playing with her over there, she possibly ain't the loyal type"
Sly turned back to watch the Peacock and the Fox make flying conversations, and an anger built the kind of which he hadn't felt before…the talk of family had got to him.
"She's as much the dishonest type" Sly said "As I am the submissive type!"
Sebastian took Carmelita's hand, and pulled it towards his lips. The Inspector resisted very slightly, but still the Peacock kept pulling "Get off me, you great ugly bird!" She yelled.
"Oh please madam! I'm worth a little more than that. How about you give me what I'm worth in my room later…or better still…" He dragged the cop to her feet, but the hundred other guests alone did nothing to help "…you could give it to me now! I've got something REAL hard to give you"
"I've got something hard for your face!" Came an American accent from behind him
"Huh?"
WHACK!
The Peacock was fell by that punch that finally did draw the audience's attention. Cooper drew his badge, and the Peacock trembled in fear, yet was still able to pull himself to his feet and face the Raccoon. Sebastian turned to unleash a deadly kick, but Sly – using his thief training – caught the kick and knocked him back to the floor.
"You mind what you're doing with Carmelita. She is a lady after all"
"Piece of dirt, rat! I'll get the police on your butt, and watch you squirm"
"Pal" Sly said, revealing his Interpol badge "I'm with the police, and in the book, this classes as 'interfering with two crimes', one of which is assaulting an officer"
Sebastian looked around at all the staff we were looking at him. He had no plan for saving himself from this angry cop, and her boyfriend. "Fine" he said submissively "I'll find some other pretty lady, and let her know how I feel!" He walked off, trying to keep his head up but being unable with the shame of being bested by a rat.
Sly sat down next to the shaken up Carmelita. She saw the number on the bottle, but she could see that Sly had rebuffed the advances the same way she'd rebuffed Sebastian's ways. Sly took her hand, supportively, and looked happily into her beautiful eyes.
"Look Foxy. I'm sorry about that earlier, but the subject of family is a big issue for me. It shaped my desire to work with the police for God sake – how big an influence can you get?"
"Yes you're right. But…marriage is as big a deal as any of that! And what would my parents say if they found out I was marrying a Raccoon?"
"What would mine – if they were still here – if I was having children out of wedlock?"
The two comments seemed to create this fantastic stalemate across the table. But then Sly reached into his pocket and revealed a small box, putting it upon the table with a nervous sigh. He opened it to face in Carmelita's direction, showing a ring of spectacular beauty: a beauty Sly intended could only be matched by the lady who would hopefully end up wearing it.
"I love you Carmelita. I want you to understand that I love you as much as my own family, and that is why I want to say this" He paused for an extra breath "One want to you to have my children as much as you want me to have yours…but only a compromise"
"Yes, what is it…anything!" Carmelita Fox was going to be a mother, a great honour for any lady at this time and career position.
"I want you to accept our engagement. So that when they begin to arrive, we can get married. Best of both worlds here, what do you say?"
…
…
The crowd had seen the gleaming diamond within the gold ring – thin and classy, yet bold and eye-catching – being removed from its case, and immediately knew what it meant, so had turned to look. Silence hung in the air as Sly awaited her idea.
"Yes Sylvester. I agree with everything you've said; why and how would I reject you now?"
Sly took his new fiancé by the hand and pulled her close to him…and embraced in a kiss, as everyone looked on and cheered. As Carmelita slipped on the ring, Sly looked off at another table, and saw a sight he could scarcely believe: it was his friend, Bentley Wiseturtle! He was sat less than a couple of metres from his position, and he was with his own love Penelope Mouse! This was the first he'd seen of them in many, many months…he wondered how well their own experiences of this place were, and how much significance it held for them both. But for the while, his new fiancé mattered, as she looked upon the glowing light upon her hand and thought of the future they could only dream about for now.