Hey everyone,
So for those of you who haven't read the update on my Account page, I would like you to know exactly what my Christmas Gift for this year entails. I have rewritten several chapters for A Thief At Heart, True Family and The Cooper Gang. I've also fixed the CR stories and replaced all of the chapters that had something like "PoA - Chapter ..., Page ... - PoA as a way to indicate what was being written. I've also added some text in about 15 chapters of To Read Into The Universe. Needless to say, this year's Christmas update is pretty big, even if you haven't gotten notifications about all of it.
Let's have fun,

Venquine1990
PS. Apologies for the first time jump so early on in the story, it's kind of necessary.
PPS. Sorry for any errors when it comes to the French language. I sucked at that language at school and am mostly using Google Translate.

A Thief At Heart
Chapter 01
An Invitation With Consequences

24th of May 2007
Private location
Urmila's POV

Bonjour Monsieur,
I would hereby like to invite you to lunch next Saturday on the 26th at 13.30
The location will be my own Boutique on Avenue des Champs-Élysées #231.
Your wife and daughter are naturally invited to come along.
Sincerely,
Madame Urmila Svetlana

I write this invitation another two times as well as once, but then with the second word of the invitation being madame instead of monsieur. I look up at the many dresses, shirt, pants, tuxes, suits and skirts that are lying in a pile in front of me and while I tut at how crude the delivery boy had brought them here, I focus on how they came back to me instead. Then one of my dearest friends and personal assistant comes in and I say:
"Crystal, be a dear and send these invitations to Michael Andrews, as well as the Foxes. Just make sure you send this one to Helena Fox, not Madame Carmelita." The beautiful humming bird looks confused and asks: "But why, Madame?" And I giggle as I answer: "Because I wish to surprise Madame Fox when I thank her for her hard work. But I want the thank you to be personal and I just don't know Madame Fox as well as her family does, you see?"
The humming bird smiles widely and nods at me. I quickly make sure that the ink on my invitations is dry as I still use a quill and ink when writing personal letters. I also, as has been tradition of my family for generations, make sure to spray a bit of my personal perfume on each of the invitations and tuck them into their envelopes before I hand them over to my friend. The bird bows to me and quickly rushes out of my office again.

I smile again, even as her leaving causes for my attention to be drawn back to the pile on the ground. But before I can stand up with a sigh and decide to just get it out of the way and back onto the racks, I notice something else. While I was deciding on a date for the invitations, I had accidentally left the little desk calendar on June instead of folding it back to May. And a large grin shows on my face as I see a red circle around two specific dates that are just humorously close to each other:

June 23 – Sly Cooper's 23rd birthday
June 24 – two year anniversary destruction of Clock-La

These two dates remind me of the invitations I have just send out and I think: "I am willing to bet my entire returned collection that at least one of those two dates is on the calendars of those I just invited." And then suddenly an incredible idea strikes me and I whisper: "Urmila, you are truly a genius of a woman." And while I head for the pile to sort it out and get it back on the racks, my mind works overtime as I think of a way to get my plan to work.

26th of May 2007
Svetlana's Boutique
Michael Edwards' POV

It's getting closer and closer to that date and I know that my wife is probably going to go into relapse sometime soon. Two years ago my wife and I were just about to put our two year old daughter, Angela to bed when we spotted something horrifying high up in the sky above Paris. A metallic monstrosity of a bird with the biggest wingspan I had ever seen and luminescent yellow eyes that were glowing with a sense of hatred unlike any I had ever experienced, as if the bird itself hated all of the world and its population or something.
It had been flying straight towards the neighborhood we lived in and for a moment I had believed that this was it, that this was the moment I would have to give my life to save my family. I had kissed my wife and my daughter as I hadn't wanted to die without showing them one last sign of my love for them. But while my wife had begged me to stay and while Angela had started to cry, my eyes had widened as suddenly the bird got hit and fell down.

Later I found out that it had been shot out of the sky by a helicopter and what surprised me even more was that the helicopter had been directed by Carmelita Fox and the gun been manned by her target, Sly Cooper, the Master Thief. Before Clock-La's defeat, Carmelita had been considered a criminal and a fugitive, but her defeat of the beast and actual arrest of her target had gotten her name cleared. And when she returned to Interpol without Cooper, no one had cared.
Well, almost no one, but I stopped considering Officer James Barkley a person a long time ago. The badger is corrupt and in my opinion more of a criminal than most of the beings that Carmelita has been able to arrest the last few years. And his treatment of her, which started three days after his apology, has been proving that quite clearly. Yet Barkley's corruption runs deep within Interpol and because of this, I know that there aren't many who will help Carmelita with this.
I was pretty disgusted at first when I heard Barkley lay in on Carmelita over her continuous failed attempts to catch Cooper. But I was even more disgusted when I noticed that the others on our floor had very different expressions on their faces as we all, unfortunately, got to hear the badger shouting and screaming at France's national hero. I had wanted to remind the badger of this, but he had stormed off before I could. And then I had noticed that some others just looked at me confused, as if they wondered why I wanted to stand up for Carmelita.

Since then I have discovered more and more small signs that prove something to me. Neyla may have been the one to start the smear campaign against Carmelita, accuse her of being a criminal and send her on the run, but Barkley is really no better than her and he has been clawing his way into the minds of other officers and corrupting them alongside him, just like Neyla corrupted him. Though there is always a part of me that wonders if it might not have been the other way around.
There had been times I had even suspected the Contessa to be behind Barkley's disgusting behavior, but during one of my breaks after the Clock-La incident, I had accidentally run into her while she was working her new job as a real estate manager. I had instantly noticed that she was still using her hypnotic powers, but I had also seen her influence on the market and decided not to care this time around. Instead, I had asked her about Barkley, but the woman had no answer for me.
She had even left me all of her old files and I hadn't found one with Barkley's name on them or any other indication that there was a close relation between the spider and the badger. Then, after I read through them, the Contessa had even said that Barkley had always been terrified of her and that that was why she always worked through Neyla and Carmelita. That she and Barkley had only met once and that was when her own chief introduced her to him.

So I had started to blame Neyla, but these days that's no longer the case. "Neyla was cruel and hateful, but she wasn't one to treat people the way Barkley treats Carmelita. She never cared for how one looks or what image cloths can make. Heck, in the end, she hated us all so much, she wanted us all dead. And even that had nothing to do with how we looked or dressed. This is all Barkley. Barkley and his own twisted, sick, disgusting, gutter-like mindset."
This thought had often made me wonder if I should either retire, quit my job or see if I can transfer to another division within Interpol. Melanie, my wife of six years now, had asked me why the first time I brought that up and I told her: "I don't want Angela to be subjected to someone like him." But to this she had asked: "I understand that, honey. But what about Carmelita? Aren't you her closest and only friend these days?" And the sad answer to that question is an unfortunate yes.

Yet because I am so close to Carmelita, even if I also work hard to keep my relation with her secret in order to not worsen the negative reputation Barkley constantly gives her, I also know that Carmelita is a huge fan of the famous fashion designer Urmila Svetlana. The Fox might have been busy chasing Cooper last weekend, but when she realized he had helped her save a collection that had been stolen from Svetlana's store, she had instantly forgotten about the Raccoon.
She had still raved at me about him, but her usual raving had been constantly undermined by words of adoration and admiration about the famous reptile. She had even gushed and said: "Oh, if only that delivery boy hadn't taken the whole collection to return it to Svetlana. Can you imagine what it would have been like for me to do that? To meet Svetlana?" Melanie and I had definitely enjoyed the young woman's gushing as we really don't see her this happy very often.

And now, while I wonder why Carmelita hadn't received a similar invitation as I hadn't heard her about anything of the sort, I am riding towards Avenue des Champs-Élysées, my wife on the passenger seat and Angela in her kiddy seat in the back. "Isn't it obvious, Michael? Somehow Miss Svetlana found out that you work closely with Carmelita and she wants your help in thanking that sweet fox for the retrieval of that collection.
But, like a true fashion designer, she doesn't want to reveal anything until the set date that she gets to show off her gratitude. So when you get back to work tomorrow, you need to make sure you keep your mouth shut about this, you hear?" Melanie asks and I nod at her, grateful for her intelligence and for the care she still so obviously shows our young, but very, very successful friend.
Yeah, Carmelita might be turning 26 in two months from now, but my wife and I are 34 and 35 respectively and we consider the fox our little sister. And Angela agrees as she always happily calls Carmelita Aunty Carmela as the four year old is still a little too young to speak such a name properly. Then we reach the address and yet again I feel my amazement for the location settle in. Fame is Simple, Grace is Fashion, Style is Who We Are Within.
That is Svetlana's motto and the theme behind almost all of her collections, even if the collections also always have a secondary theme added to it, just to make sure that Svetlana can keep up with today's fashion – and often be ahead of it as well. And her building, which is made of mostly golden beams of steel and windows that are floor-to-ceiling tall and wide as a regular van, really proves this. The building is incredible and gorgeous, but other than the beams and the glass, there are no other props, gargoyles or other forms of decorations added to it.

I step out and while Melanie takes Angela in her arms, I notice that I'm not the only one invited. Four others have parked in spots that were obviously reserved for them as, like with me, someone stands at their spot and opens the door for them. I thank the one who did so with my wife and me and then notice something that proves my wife's words to be correct. The other ones that are invited – are Carmelita's brother, sister and her parents.
I smile widely at this as, just a few months ago, I had realized that the family hasn't seen their missing member since before Carmelita became a fugitive and I am pretty sure this is Barkley's work as well, even if I don't really get why he would want to do this. I greet the four and while they are shocked to see me, they greet me and my wife pleasantly. Carmelita's mother, Carmen, even happily takes Angela in her arms and cuddles with her as a greeting.

"Bonjour mes ami. Merci for coming. Come this way, sil vout plait." A rich voice with a bit of a sibilant speaks after Carmen sets Angela back down and while I am still amazed at the slim waist and gorgeous form of Madam Urmila Svetlana, the seven of us follow her inside. The cobra with the gorgeous emerald green scales that are randomly mixed with either black or midnight blue scales guides us through most of her store and up a couple of floors.
Angela and Melanie have their eyes wide almost the entire time and it's a good thing Melanie is holding onto Angela's hand or my little girl would definitely lose herself in some of the collections that are stored around the store, which I suddenly notice is also a salon and a fashion runway as well. The cobra guides us to an office room that is all the way in the back of the building on the third floor and then motions us to sit down.

As we do, a nice looking humming bird with spring green feathers on her wings, arms, legs, back and the back of her head walks in. The bird's face – and I guess her front and torso – are tanned color and while she has a small beak that is a mix of black and tanned colors, she has ocean blue eyes and wears a very fancy business suit. She carries a tray of tea, coffee and biscuits and even has a glass of orange juice ready for Angela on it, complete with a sippy straw.
All of us thank her for this and after she leaves, we turn to her boss. The woman herself seems to have made use of the time we were distracted to write a few notes down about something, but we now have her full attention. And something about the way that the woman holds herself gives me a strong sense of respect and trust, something I don't easily sense thanks to my many years working for Interpol. I share a quick look with my wife and turn back to Svetlana.

"Thank you again for coming, madams and monsieur's. I am very, very grateful, indeed." The woman's voice is actually warmer than I had expected it to be, as I know quite well how cold, harsh and unforgiving the world of famous designers, actors and other star-like professions can be, thanks to my own father. "It's a pleasure to be here, Madam, though to be honest, we're a little confused as to why you invited us." Cheren is the first to speak up and Svetlana explains:
"It is because of your sister, Ma Cheri." Yet this is responded to by Helena, who lets out a strange, but unpleasant snort of annoyance. We all turn to her and she grumbles: "My apologies. I just had to work really late last night thanks to her and her damned paperwork." The others send her looks of care and pity. Yet Melanie and I frown at her words and I say: "Ehm Helena, Carmelita and I do our own paperwork. We always file it before we leave office every day."
The other Foxes look at us shocked and Helena even insulted, but then Melanie speaks up and says: "He's not calling you a liar, Helena. It's much more likely that you've been tricked and that the paperwork you're getting, which I'm guessing is growing in amount every so often, is meant to turn you against your sister, distance you from her.""Eh, you know that Neyla turned into Clock-La and got killed two years ago, right?"

Cheren asks my wife, but I coldly retort: "Yes, and because my office is on the same floor as Carmelita's, I've been witness to Barkley continuing that same disgusting behavior for the past two years. Though these days I consider what Neyla did to her child's play compared to how Barkley treats her." I see that I have really shocked and upset the Fox family, but I also notice that the same seems to be the case for Svetlana.
This intrigues me as the woman can't have grown that attached to someone who's only interaction with her is that she saved a collection that was stolen. "Monsieur, if I may be so bold to ask. How exactly does this Barkley treat our fine inspector?" The woman cautiously asks me and after I make sure that Melanie covers Angela's ears, I coldly growl my honest opinion: "In all my years of working as an Inspector in the field, Madam, I've seen pimps who treat their hookers better. And that comparison is significant in more ways than I care tot admit."

Everyone around me looks horrified and Melanie nods as she says: "A few weeks ago, Michael managed to record one of Barkley's rants, rants that he throws in Carmelita's face on the daily. Trust me, the words that most people use for women working in that business were thrown around like candy during Christmas. And all because Barkley is so upset that Carmelita can't catch Cooper. She could rearrest all of the Fiendish Five, the Klaww Gang and that Octavio bastard from Italy all in one go, he wouldn't care. He'd still insult her."
"Seriously? What's his beef with Cooper? Why can't he appreciate that Carmelita is that talented? Her arrests have put Interpol on the map, for crying out loud. Ehm, excuse me, Madam." Cheren weakly apologizes at the end, but Svetlana shakes her head and says: "You need not apologize, Mon Cheri. You just gave my own thoughts a voice and for that, I thank you. Merci, Monsieur." Cheren nods and then Helena does the same for me.

She turns to her parents and asks: "Do you think the same counts for us? That, because Barkley is so obsessed with Cooper and Carmelita's failed attempts to catch him, he is trying to turn us against her? To further her punishment or something?" The others in the Fox Family look contemplative and troubled and Madam Svetlana asks: "Where exactly in Interpol do you work, Cheri? And when was the last time you worked alongside your precious fellow fox?"
Marcus is the first to answer, though the man's pained expression and closed eyes prove that the answer is pretty unpleasant long before he speaks. "I work in storage. My department makes sure that the right outfits are handed out to most of the other departments, especially those who work in the field or undercover. I should have been working with Carrie for years, but – the last time I got to set an outfit for her was almost three years ago now."

Madam Svetlana, Melanie and I wince and Cheren has his arms crossed and his shoulders hunched as he says: "I work in another section of storage, the weapon storage department. Like dad I should be working closely alongside Carmelita, but – like him – I haven't seen my sister in almost the same amount of time. The last time I saw her was right before she went undercover at Rajan's party. After that – well, after Clock-La, I kept hearing my colleagues talk about her." Instantly my interest is peaked and I ask him:
"What did they say?" The fox leans back in his seat and looks up to the ceiling as he says: "They usually talk about how well Carmelita keeps her equipment in good shape and how infrequent she comes around to get new ones. They also often say something like –." But while my hackles had already risen up at the word equipment, Cheren's eyes only widen now and he quotes: "Yeah, and I'm sure that's not the only equipment she takes good care of."

Again I'm glad that Melanie had covered Angela's ears, even if I'm sure the words and their meaning would have gone straight over my four-year old's head. I also notice that Madam Svetlana's whole body is tense and suddenly the hummingbird from before is back. "Crystal, please take our youngest guest to the runway. I would like her to try on some of my new junior fashion. If she finds something she likes, she may keep it."
Crystal bows at the orders and Angela squeals in childish excitement. Yet the timing really isn't lost on me and when the two have left, I thank Svetlana profusely, my wife nodding her head in sheer agreement. The woman waves my words away and says: "It is quite obvious that our conversation has strayed from the reason I invited you and that this topic needs a lot of discussion and care, just like your daughter.
It is best if we make sure we are not disturbed while we discuss this problematic topic and how to solve the situation it presents us, non?" All of us and Helena groans as she says: "I don't think I need to tell you my bit. Files department and I've been getting orders from Barkley for the past two years. He hands me Carmelita's paperwork and I am to hand it back with him as well. And according to him, this is because my own sister doesn't trust my filing system. Caramba di mama, how did I ever fall for such a ridiculous lie in the first place?"

Marcus and Carmen are quick to hug and reassure their daughter and Melanie and I really feel for her, even if my heart goes out to Carmelita again now that more and more of this is coming to light for me. I then notice that Svetlana seems to contemplate something and she asks: "Madams, Monsieur, would you be opposed to hearing a secret bit of my backstory?" The others seem startled at this change of topic, but I've been an Inspector long enough to know there's a connection here, somewhere. We all shake our heads and the woman starts:
"Until I started my career, I lived a very, very sheltered life. If we planned an outing, my parents always checked for even the chance of there being a pickpocket at where we wanted to go. If that chance was there, we went elsewhere. This was my life for almost sixteen years. And what's more, I did not receive my grow spurt until I was nearing seventeen. Before then, I was the length of an adult turtle, more or less."
I feel pretty intrigued about all this and while I mentally envision the gorgeous serpent in such a small form, the woman continues: "Then, one day, my family decided to throw caution in the wind as we all really wanted to go to an amusement park, one that had recently been reopened after renovations. It was in Italy and the renovations had been because a water attraction had been forced to make way for more parking space.

You remember that one in the South of Italy, non? The one with the mountains above a river, where you could jump off cliffs and climb up stairs on the other side of the river?" We all nod and the woman continues: "That is where we went, but at the time, we didn't know that the park had been – careless, so to say – with the renovations. Yes, they had closed up the river, or at least part of it and they had paved over it to make a parking spot, but they had not worked on the mountain. The cliffs were still there."
"And you climbed them?" Cheren asks and while Svetlana nods, her words shock me: "Yes, monsieur, but against my will. I was abducted after we got to the park and taken to one of the higher cliffs. There, my kidnappers set me an ultimatum. Either I undress myself – or I jump and hope that I survive my fall. And because I feared the pain I would be in if I was to land on that hard as granite parking lot, I fearfully chose the former option."
My eyes are wide and my mouth is slightly slack as I think: "How come this didn't become public knowledge when she became famous?" Yet another part of me also still wonders about the potential link between this and Carmelita. And the woman's next words answer my curiosity. "The kidnappers were bulldogs, monsieur and madams; ones who worked for Mugshot after this event. But just before I could take off my jacket, there he was.

Sly Cooper, only ten at the time if you'll believe me, with his father's cane in hand and with swift strength I had never seen before. He knocked both brutes further down the mountain, off the cliff, and then glared at them so ferociously; they whimpered and scurried away from us. He then turned to me and said Don't worry, you'll land softly. And when I looked down, I saw he was right, as his friend Murray was waiting to catch me."
The others and I gape at her, me mostly at the fact that Cooper was only ten when this happened, and Cheren asks: "Murray is the brawn of that group, right? The hippo? Yeah, he's pretty strong, but – he also has a bit of a belly, so I can see why Cooper thought you'd land softly. Ehm, no offense, Madam Svetlana." But the cobra shakes her head and Helena asks: "This wasn't just a one time event, was it? You kept in contact with Cooper after this, didn't you?"

The woman sends her a brilliant smile of pride for her deduction and says: "Yes and no, Mon Cheri. It is more that, after I made name, Sly actually contacted me. He had made use of what is known as the Otto Van Cooper law and had acquired a bit of money. He had also already encountered your lovely sister and he made an order with me to design her a lovely orange jacket. He paid for it with the money he earned through the law I mentioned."
This intrigues me and Helena nods as she says: "I know that law. It's really more to protect the citizens of the world, but I can see how he could make use of it as well. It says that, if a criminal returns a citizen their stolen goods and the citizen rewards them for this, the citizen isn't aiding the criminal and can't be held accountable for the reward. At least, not unless the criminal is a known killer or rapist."
Svetlana nods and while I feel curious to know if this law's name also has some kind of connection to the Master Criminal, the cobra says: "Correct mon Cheri. And I assure you, Sly is neither. He, like yourself and your brave sister, works very hard to rid our world of such scum. And I can also assure you of this. If Sly, who I have grown to consider my little brother, ever hears of what Barkley says about Inspector Fox, he would level Interpol with the ground."

My eyes widen as I hear the tone of voice the woman uses at the end as it really makes her sound like the deadly reptile that she is. And while I myself am a shadow panther, I feel genuine fear in my heart at the tone of the creature, especially because she usually acts like a true lady of high society. Yet there is no denying the fury and protectiveness that sounds through her tone, or the sense of truth. And so I nod to indicate that I believe her, the others as well.
Then Melanie calms the snake down and with her own arms crossed she says: "To be honest, Madam Svetlana, after all the years that I have heard about Cooper, Barkley and known Carmelita, I really grew the belief that Cooper treats Carmelita better than her own boss does. That he respects, cares and trusts her more than Barkley ever would." Svetlana nods and says: "Oui, Inspector Fox is very, very precious to my little Sly. He would go to the end of the world for her."

"I hate to be the party-pooper here, but – if Cooper cares so much, why does he continue giving her so much grief and trouble? Why doesn't he just quit and try to become a regular citizen of the law?" Cheren asks confused. Madam Svetlana smiles at him and says: "Because of his heritage, Mon Cheri. The profession of being a Master Thief is embedded in his blood. It has been in his family for over 3000 years. The first Cooper Master Thief was Slytunkhamen, of Ancient Egypt."
This genuinely shocks and amazes the other Foxes, but not really Melanie or myself. The others notice this and I shrug as I say: "Carmelita figured out why Cooper went after the Fiendish Five a few years ago. She also found out about some ancient tome that he apparently stole back from them as it had been stolen from him and his family when those bastards came to kill his parents. I sure didn't really know any specifics, but I did know his family went pretty far back."

Svetlana nods, but then she says: "However, that doesn't mean that Sly doesn't want to. His heart has been struggling between his honor towards his family and his care towards Carmelita for many a year now. More often than not when I meet with him because he wants me to design another outfit for the darling fox, I ask him the same question. When will you be honest to her about how you feel? Yet he always gives me the same answer. When I'm sure about my own feelings, really.
The problem is, I'm sure Sly is already sure of his feelings. They are just so strong in both directions that they are too hard for him to choose one or the other. So he tries to combine them whenever possible. That is why he is often so open about his heists and why he leaves hints of his plans where the Inspector can find them. So he can be who his family wants him to be, but also be with the one he wants to be with most."

"Madam, it almost sounds like you think that Cooper is in love with my daughter or something?" Marcus says, though his statement sounds more like a question at the end. The cobra nods again and says: "I do believe this, monsieur. Many times over the last few years, I have done personal commissions for husbands who want to gift their wife a personal original for their anniversary. The way these men speak of their ladies is not that different from how Sly speaks of Carmelita. That is why I am so sure of my beliefs.
And why I think we can meet several goals all at the same time if we work together and think clever." This last line really intrigues me and I ask: "What exactly do you have in mind, Madam?" But the woman says: "First of all, if we are going to do this, I insist that you call me Urmila. I will not have my friends call me anything else. Even my darling Crystal calls me by my first name when we are alone and working late."

The Foxes and I nod and Urmila says: "As Cheren mentioned, Clock-La's defeat was two years ago. However, the two-year anniversary of this falls in the same weekend as my little brother's birthday. And considering the treatment that precious inspector Fox gains from both her boss and my brother, how would she feel if she could receive the latter treatment for an entire day? Something my brother would only be too happy to lavish upon her, given the chance."
The others seem hesitant about this, but my wife and I are already smirking at each other as we remember a little something that Urmila told us. Sly has been asking Urmila to design cloths for Carmelita. I also remember that Carmelita is just crazy about Urmila and her raving about not being able to meet the cobra a few days ago. Because of this, I turn to the cobra and say: "Madam, I know just the way that you can get my partner to agree to this."

The others turn to me and I say: "You promise her that, during the occasion, she gets to wear one of your outfits. And I don't mean one of your most recent collections or one from the collection that she and Sly retrieved after it was stolen, I mean an original design that you created for her and her alone." The cobra giggles behind one of her manicured hands and says: "Monsieur, that was already part of the plan, I can assure you." And this makes my grin widen.
The cobra then turns to the Fox family and says: "And what's more, once we have done this and then after told my darling brother and the others about Barkley and his actions; how he treats your family and how he has been separating you for all these years, I know Sly will help you solve that problem as well. We might have to keep him from completely destroying the building, but he will definitely help us bring the mutt's disgusting behavior to the light and see him arrested for it."
The woman used many emotions while she spoke. Humor when she mentioned how Sly would want to blow up the building and deep care when she mentions the separation between the four Foxes and Carmelita. But there is also a strong sense of justice and honest truth in her voice as she speaks of what Sly will do in regards to Barkley as well as hatred and fury in regards to the badger himself. And this convinces the family at once.

And we've begun.
And already this story is a lot deeper and has a lot more content, not to mention a much better opener in regards to the whole Birthday party plan that the original started with. And yes, I am going to cover that it's not just Barkley who is so disgusting and corrupt. That's actually one of the reasons I created Michael Andrews. He is going to play a VERY defining role in this story and is going to come up quite a few times.
Including next chapter,

Venquine1990