Redis stands on top of a small wooden crate, folding his arms as he awaits for a small crowd to gather around him. As the group closes in, he moves one hand to take off his hat, tossing it to the ground. Redis runs a hand through his greasy hair, before conjuring up the courage to begin speaking.


"Now, ah know most of ya'lls got da Omerta over ya'lls heads, but why ya gotta be so damn quiet? Ah mean, my granddaddie used to talk 'bout some old farts 'n' how they shared some of 'em stories 'bout jobs 'n' clips. Ah come here now, and I dun't see 'em much. What'cha think da popo is gonna get'cha if ya relive a lil' chapta in ya life?


Ah kinda wanted to see what ya'll do every day, but ya are too sneaky with ya jobs, there's never one guy or gal doin' a job. Maybe ya'll too slick for me, and I dun't see ya. Jus' think some of ya'lls can be more open to da stuff ya'll do, ye might get some help if 'nough guys hear about it.



Ah tell you what, I'ma find somethin' to do, and ah'll be open to ya'll 'bout it, see where tha' goes. Maybe some of ya'lls will get motivated or somethin' to do so too. Dunno, but that's mah statement.


Redis crouches down to pick up his filthy brown hat, slinging it back on top of his head, awaiting to see if anyone speaks up from the crowd.

Pit walks up to the man on the soap box

"This is the Mafia man we are quiet about everything, that is what it's all about. People will let you know what's going on inside your own family if you have a high enough rank or if you know the right people, otherwise, people from other families usually won't let you know what other families are doing. It's just not something we do unless it involves the other family."

As for jobs most of the time your family members will invite you to OC's if you are online in their city or inform you of jobs you could be involved in. Sometimes you will be invited to another families OC if you are in the same city that the other people in the family are participating in, but most of the time they won't let you in on REAL family business, because that's just how it is.

Pit walks off hoping the point was taken care of

Redis frowns, waving a hand at Pit_Boss.


"Woah, mah good sir, ya gotten it all wrong. Ah just askin' for other workin' men and women to be more open 'bout jobs in The Streets. Might be tellin' ah old war story, or actually doin' a job, ah dunno. I dun't wanna partake in 'nother raffle drawin' or listen to 'em speeches all day. Ironic, ya I know. Jus' sayin', don't gotta be personal stuff, family stuff. Hell, I heard there was a lil' gang of bank robbers back in da day, where they at now?


Jus' gotta keep 'em eyes peeled, ah guess."

I stand corrected. But still, alot of the posts in The Streets are usually going to be points people want to make or something like that but every now and then you will see somebody talking about the ole days but they usually won't talk about ongoing jobs because that is just strictly family business. As for a group of bank robbers back in the day, I don't know but I'm sure if you keep your eyes peeled you may find what you're looking for

If you want to hear some old war stories or stories about old jobs it might be easier to talk about that in IRC where most people in your family are, they may want to talk in private about the matter, but pretty sure at least one of them has survived a war or has done some family jobs, and could share some old stories with you

Ret hears one of their young wise guy slacking off at the street again.

Redis you stupid cunt! Why the hell are you here? Told you before that you have to take out that Don at Delaware! He is moving his men and I heard from that nosy old guy sammy that the Don is heavily guarded.

She looks sternly at Redis.

You want me to wait up for you? Go and work you lazy bum!

Redis groans, slipping his hat back on.

"But Reeeeet, that's all da way in Delaware. If he gonna move his men, why do ah gotta go him 'em? He can jus' come to me."

Redis blinks, as Retribution start to shoot fire out of her eyes and ears. He quickly hops off the crate, sprinting off.

"Alright alright! Ah'ma goin'! Sheesh!.. Where da hell is that place anyways..."

Oh. A discussion about the general level of public effort in furthering one's chosen career. Of course. What else would I have possibly expected this to be?

Ron offered a tentative smile that turned into a lip-biting frown as he shifted his gaze and drew a labored breath.

Well, what the hell? Ah...

He swept his tongue across the front of his teeth and followed a crack in the cement with his eyes. All at once he snapped his eyes forward, straightened his spine and spoke with all the strength and energy of a well practiced evangelist.

The way I've known it, public dealings have always been as much about building yourself as any hard-line work you may put in otherwise. I...

He squinted slightly.

That sentence meant nothing.

Anyway, being seen to do the work, while not as important as doing the work itself, is much more efficient. Thus (yes I did), publicity presents itself as a nearly infinitely valuable tool (my nickname from college, or it would have been, if I hadn't attended a junior college, where it was far beyond the reach of the average vocabulary.)

An example:

*Who is Ron Mexico? Nobody special. (Nobody--special!)

*Who does Ron Mexico say he is? Jesus's cooler big brother, who rides a motorcycle.

*Who is Ron Mexico perceived to be? Nobody's special motorcyle who rides a big Jesus.

You see? It kinda works. And any political expect will tell you that kinda is the best you can, or should, ever hope or strive for.

So perhaps these days, we've become content to lock ourselves away, out of the public eye, and complete all of our business on our own terms, and to hell with what anyone thinks. Seems a terrible way to live to me. If no one sees you, how the hell do you know you exist? If no one is watching--no one is expecting certain things of you--how do you assert your status as a kickass rebel? If you aren't in the public consciousness, how do you stress to people that you don't care what they think of you? Honestly, you'll drive yourself mad with indifference.

After all, no matter your tangible strength, you're only as powerful as they think you are.