I edited chapter three since I posted it, so if you haven't read the revised version before you start this (with the Fujeo skirmish) you should probably do it now.
Changes
Kotch had not been idle while Eric had been attacking Fujeo territory. Far from it. Since it was clear that HoneyBee Manor was no longer a secure enough base due to recent incursions, he'd cut a deal with the manager of the Honey Bee Inn to house them, in exchange for a generous rent and a commitment to hunt down the Maverick soldier who'd murdered the Don. He promoted some fresh officers to help him administrate over what remained of the Corneo empire, and had a cleaning crew remove the blood and corpses. He stationed thirty enforcers in the entrance hall at a time, so that any Fujeo reprisals would be met with a bloodbath, and slowly began relocating his assets to the HBI. He also increased the wage of his enforcers and started actively recruiting to build up their depleted numbers. The Don had initiated a recruitment freeze up to now, believing he had enough enforcers to keep himself operational and not wanting any extra cash wasted on unnecessary muscle. Eric's group had been a replacement for losses in a minor inter gang scuffle a few weeks before.
Kotch had also tentatively approached Shinra to see if he had any links left. The response had been an emphatic negative. But Heidegger, who liked to give the gangs an even playing field from time to time, had agreed to one final favour-that had been the Aero Combatant response to the attack on Fujeo territory. Three Corneo enforcers had been arrested, and eleven Fujeo. But the point was made. As far as the Fujeo knew, the Corneo still had Shinra favour. But, that had been Heidegger's final favour. From here, the Corneo were on their own.
There was really no place in all this activity for an exhausted junior enforcer, and once he woke up, Eric was sent home. Deciding he was hungry after all that running, he went to the deli instead.
He walked in to a (sarcastic) cheer as a few of his friends at a table in the corner recognized him, and decided that his newfound position gave them a perfect opportunity to mock him into oblivion. Ignoring them, Eric turned to the man behind the counter.
"Hey Jake, D'you've any vinegar? I'll order in a minute." A large bottle was tossed at his head-he caught it just before it broke his nose, then sat down and started pouring it onto his scars. Only when he'd finished did he look up at the other people around the table –Yvonne, the train guard, was there, as well as Damien and Aaron, and a bunch of other people he didn't know as well.
"Hi, folks."
"Hey. Got hurt already? Not doing great, are you? Shoot yourself already?"
"Come on, even you can tell that's not a bullet wound."
"Fine. Trip and cut yourself off a table already?"
"Actually, it was barbed wire. Being swung at me. On a pipe. In a melee."
"You are aware that I am contractually obliged to report your involvement in a melee to Shinra?"
"Oh, shut up. You're right, though. I better do likewise."
"Aw, are you sure? We were waiting with bated breath to hear tales of your prowess!"
"Hah! I'm sure."
"How'd you find it so far?"
"Not too bad. I got promoted to lead a -no, I'd better shut up."
"That's not fair. I always say what happens to me."
"Yeah, as a train guard. Unload cargo. Stare into space. Play cards. Stare-"
"You're just jealous I get paid more than you do for shooting people."
"You think? Well-"
"I hate interrupt your argument, before it enters into the usual random arguments nothing to do with the original one, but aren't we getting a little off track here? How's the thug business, Eric. Don't say anything we shouldn't know." This was Aaron, who tended to be blunt, but more focused than the others.
"Well...what do I say?"
"What're the other people like?"
"I don't know anyone that well yet, but it's hard to fit in. Everyone else either has a name like Dominic Fibonacci or 'Gasher' Jenkins." They all laughed. "I'm just 'Eric' or 'kid'."
"Eric the Kid? Not too intimidating."
"I know, I need a new name."
"Why not just say 'You can engage in that crap if you like, I don't need to advertise'?" This was Damien.
"Because I do need to advertise. You have to build up a solid reputation first before you can stop being dramatic. So...new name. Suggestions?"
He should have expected this. Sensing entertainment, suggestions came thick and fast, from everyone within earshot.
"Lando Calrissian."
"Armand Tanzarian."
"Edmund Blackadder."
"Bob Terwillager."
"I don't want to breach copyright, people."
"Theodore E. Damascus."
"Tarquin van Treff."
"Tobias Macguffin."
He buried his head in his hands in disgust, much to the delight of the onlookers. When eventually everyone got bored, he emerged to find people actually seriously considering the question.
"Most gang names have an 'ee' sound to them" Yvonne was saying thoughtfully, when he dared to emerge. "At least the ones on gangster films -Jimmy, Paulie, Tony, Tommy, Mickey, Sonny. You need an 'ee' sounding name."
"Yeah, but if he wants to be an officer he needs the '-otch' sound" Damien argued. "Kotch, Skotch, Botch, Brotch. Was it coincidence that all the officer's names rhymed?"
"So what's left? Aotch Botch, Cotch, Dotch..."
"Crotch? Blotch?"
"No thank you!"
"Hmm...yeah...not great."
"How about 'Notch?'"
"Hmm..."
"Hmm..."
"Hmm..."
There was a long pause, and when Eric didn't raise any objection, Yvonne stood up and announced "Ladies and Gentlemen! May I present to you the newest member of the Corneo family, future Don of Midgar, 'Notch' McCarthy!" There was some applause, but a great deal more laughter.
"McCarthy?" the newly christened 'Notch' asked her.
"I wanted to work in the 'ee' sound" she deadpanned, "Now you're versatile, you can either be a lowranked enforcer or a Don without ever having to change your name. And once you start going down on the books for murders, the police will be looking for Notch McCarthy, not Eric Cavanagh."
"Thank you." He meant it. He'd get slagged beyond belief about this, but eventually even other Corneo enforcers would accept his new name.
He was just getting up to order when a panic stricken Corneo enforcer ran into the deli and slammed the door behind him.
"Fujeo!" he shrieked, "Fifty of them, heading straight for HoneyBee Manor." Eric dipped for his gun and succeeded on the third attempt, because he was trying to draw and keep his eyes on the door at the same time. The two of them lurked inside the door, glancing out as Fujeo after Fujeo passed.
Is this a revenge strike? Then why aren't they burning Wall Market down around us? What's going on?
Meanwhile, a single Fujeo, empty arms raised, had just walked in the front door of HoneyBee manor. The transition to the Inn was not yet complete, and Kotch was still in the Don's office, and clearly heard the Fujeo calling
"I want to speak to whoever is in charge."
Cautiously, Kotch emerged onto the balcony.
"Who are you?"
"Gara Fujeo."
There were some audible gasps at the use of the family name. This was one of the Fujeo's eight highest ranked generals. That he was here involved incredible trust on behalf of the Fujeo, and eliminated any threat of a battle-they wouldn't risk him.
"What do you want?"
"Passage, for fifty of my family, through your territory. We're prepared to pay two thousand gil."
More gasps. For the Corneo, that was a moderate amount of cash, not excessive but not trifling. But it represented a massive chunk of the Fujeo's net liquid finances.
"Granted." It didn't take Kotch long to decide. The Fujeo were capable of sweeping them away on a whim.
"I thought so." Gara said, grinning. Outside, Fujeo started filtering through and veering off to the right of HoneyBee manor.
"What are you planning?"
"Watch the news." the Fujeo replied, and followed his men.
