The smoke filled air of the dingy room attempted to choke out it's occupants, who despite their better judgement, stubbornly remained within the toxic environment. The older of the two men lounged upon a tattered couch. Contrary to the façade that he attempted to produce, it was very clear that the man had had too much to drink that evening and was struggling to remain upright. "These meetings, my dear Victor..." slurred the man as he studied the sickly yellow smoke stained ceiling, "...have become far too undignified. I do wish we could meet on better terms and in a more respectable environment."

The younger man, who up until this point had remained silent as he smoked a cigarette at the opposite end of the room, finally spoke up. "You are the one who insists on joining me here. I have never once said this was to be the only place we could meet, so if you desire a change of scenery Henry, I implore you to speak up."

h Henry sat up instantly as if he had been waiting the entire evening for his friend to say those very words. "I thought you would never ask my dear boy!" The man's sudden moment of excitement did not seem to faze Victor as he continued to smoke and listened to his companion's proposal. "My nephew is coming to stay with me this year and I insist you join us for dinner before he departs."

The evidence of a small amount of amusement began to show on Victor's face as he extinguished the remains of his cigarette. "Henry, I already have too much of your bad influence in my life. I do not need another man of your genealogy to further corrupt me."

"I assure you the corruption is all self inflicted, but if you require it. I assure you I have barely had a hand in the young man's upbringing. In fact the only reason his mother is sending him to stay with me is because I insisted."

"And why would you do that?"

"The boy has shown a distinct interest in the field of medicine. Many claim his occupation of choice will be that of a surgeon once his studies are finished, so I insisted that he meet with you as soon as possible before he makes such a commitment."

Victor lean back into his chair and studied the other man as he spoke about this mysterious nephew and the profession that he himself had once found much enjoyment in. "I don't see how I could be of any interest to the boy. Yes I had a hand in the field in the past but that is no more. What possible entertainment could you find in introducing me to him?"

The man's eyes sparked with the light of mischief as he mirrored his companion's posture. "All kinds of entertainment can be found by introducing a man, who has seen life's ugly secrets, to a boy, who's barely lived long enough to understand life's beauty, however entertainment is not my primary goal in this situation.

"Maybe not but it is certainly a secondary one," the young man muttered as he stood up.

"Victor you once told me something that has puzzled me to this day. You made the claim that in order for someone to understand the living, he must first acquaint himself with the dead."

Victor paused to respond before grabbing his coat. "Yes, I remember, and I still stand by that belief."

"Then according to that logic, it is imperative that my nephew is introduced to a man of your profession in order to be a success in his own. So will you meet with him?"

Victor sighed as he stood at the door and looked back at him. "I will entertain your idea for an evening. Perhaps the boy is actually worth my time. However I warn you, I will not be a participant in whatever it is you have planned. Now I really must go. I have spent enough time tainting my once good name here."

"Life has made you a cynic my young friend."

"Not life, old man. Death. Death has made me a cynic."