>>5856813Tony blinks a few times, before a smile strains his old, tight lips
“Well ain’t that an honor! You sure you want to hand over a family relic to an old bucket of skin like me?”
Tony did, in fact, send an invite to every young lad he met on the mission.
Friedrich is simply the only one who accepted it.
“It’s… a sorta ritual I do. Did it fer Afro, did it fer Chien an Maggie. Did it fer Strike too. Most other people in the merry group of fuckups too- don’t worry, no blood’s gonna be necessary, ‘less my old hands can’t hold a needle straight no more”
There is no response to the offer for condolences. The strained smile simply becomes more strained
“Would ya mind standing on that there stool?”
The boss points to a strange, circular wooden platform, about thirty centimeters tall and just as wide
—
"Ja. I am certain my fazer vould haf agreed vis ze message." Friedrich's hand moves on top of his pocket, as if to check that something is still in there. If there is, it is something small enough to leave no crease on the fabric.
Friedrich does not immediately move at Tony's request. "I vill not vork für you Mr. Vespucci, I vant to make zat clear. Und I sought zis vas an invitation to talk, not..." he trails off, looking at the stool.
—
The Italian man moves around the workshop as if it had been his home for years- hell, it might have been.
"What sorta man was he? Yer old man, I mean. Last I checked, most folks in here don't like family much"
Tony takes out a measuring type and some chalk
"Of course! Neither did Chien. Or most of the lads, really. Been rejected more than a few times just this week.
This ain't a job offer. This is a gift"
—
" He vas stern. Strong, despite his age. He spoke of ze past frequently." Friedrich hesitates for a moment. "A bitter man, my father." he finishes.
"You vill regret zis gift, Mr. Vespucci. But, if you insist..."He steps on the stool as directed.
"Sank you. Vat about you? Do you haff a family zat you like?"
—
The old man smiles, teeth glistening
"Oh, I have a great family- Maggie, Strike, Carlo, Diego, and many many others. Couldn't ask for better people"
Friedrich hears a squawk, as a duck toddles around the stool
"No gift is a regret. Unless it's used to stab ya, of course. Hm- what do you say?"
A beat of silence
"A size twenty? Are you sure? Hm. If you say so"
A large piece of cloth is rested around his shoulders, chalk striking it and drawing lines
—
Friedrich lies completely still. "You see your subordinates as a family." he states. It is not a question. Tony's answer couldn't have been the truth, but the old man did not appear to want to talk about his true family and it could be dangerous to pry.
"Zere are vays to hurt a man ozer zan stabbing. I sink you know zat as vell as I do." A small pause and Friedrich abruptly changes the subject "Ze duck is your helper?"
