Luna welcomed herself into the streets which were buzzing with criminal activity.

The sun was shining bright today, which Luna perceived as hopefully a start to a better day than yesterday. 

As she was walking along the streets, she was suddenly stopped by a young adult male. The boy looked like he was no older than twelve, but for some reason she felt like he was beyond his years.

He looked like he was in poor health, and the holes in his tattered shorts made it apparent that he was homeless. Poor thing, Luna thought. She wished she had some coins to spare in her purse, but unfortunately she had given away the last few to an old man who didn't have enough money for a train ticket.

"D-d-do you think... the bad people of our world will disappear soon? W-why do bad things happen to good people, Miss...?" Luna was eager to respond back to the poor soul in front of her, but it was too late as she noticed the tears that were threatening to slide down his cheek. Her heart sank as he quickly hid his face from her by turning around and running off. 

Her hope for a better day than yesterday was diminished. 

As she continued walking, she came across another situation - but this time it wasn't as sad as the previous. It didn't particularly involve her either, but she quietly watched from the sidewalk she was standing on. 

A man seemed to be very angry about something, and as she listened closely - it became clear to her that the upper structures of this world had caught his attention. In a bad way. 

He was waving his arms around all silly-like, and the man he was arguing with seemed to be of a higher rank to him. Luna only assumed because he was in a fancy suit, while the other one was only just a fearless thug. Maybe the one in a suit could be a business man of some sort.

Two very different ranks yet they seemed to be arguing about the same thing. 

"Listen 'ere fucko, you wanna know what I think? I think you and your posse of washed up ants are doing no good for this world we're living in. How stagnant can you fucking be with your bullshit speeches about peace and prosperity? What happened to 'kill or be killed'? So not only have we lost sight of what the mafia truly is about, but we have also been blind to the static movement of our streets! Ah, whatever. I'm not done with you fucko. I'll be back to ruin the little happy kingdom you've set up here, and I'll kill the rest of ya'll." 

Obviously his words weren't doing him any good, because all he got back in response was a pitiful and amused look from the man in the suit across from him. His arms were crossed, and his voice came out stern. 

"This has been growing more apparent as each of the cities gain more members. You like-minded people always got something to say about how we go about things here. It's always the same thing. Too many Godfathers, kill them all! Why is everyone kissing each other's asses? Why is everyone getting along so well - this is weird boring! Come on now, times are changing - and you need to adapt. The past is definitely much different from now. We are past the point of violence and negativity. Golden peace is something we are working towards - so if you're tired of the fact that no one is just randomly shooting each other then I suggest you actually do something about it instead of going off on a tangent? I'm warning you though. It's going to take a fuckton more effort to break us down." 

The thug replied back in a sour manner as an amused smile was plastered on his face.

"Ha! Look mate, I'm not trying to say that everyone needs to think my way and just murder each other out of the blue. All I'm saying is that while everyone is sucking up to your happy-family-act and rainbows and unicorns empire, they are also being blind to the ILLUSION of peace that leaders of our world have put up. It is time to wake up people!" 

***

The argument never left Luna's mind when she went back to the headquarters later that night. She had opinions of her own, but she wanted to hear others. 

Why don't people like peace? Why don't people see that the mafia is not only just about murderous deaths on a weekly basis? 

Luna never wanted to override one's arguments or opinions about something, but when it came to this kind of topic where peace was mentioned - she couldn't help but feel hopeless. After all, people were going to complain no matter what. But seriously, why are people so focused on the mafia being some kind of game about deception and murder? 

Whatever was said now seemed just pointless to Luna, but she wasn't giving up. She wanted to hear what other people had to say about peace. 

What do you think?

Are we heading into the wrong direction? If peace isn't wanted, and violence isn't wanted - then what does it really come down to? 

Why do people of our world feel such a strong need to disintegrate?
To lose control, cause chaos, and build animosity?

Will we ever be satisfied with the outcomes? Will we ever achieve balance?

Your opinion would be deeply valued.

Violence is wanted. 

Let's not kid ourselves, if it wasn't we'd all be living under the long-serving-dictator SamTheAmericanEagle. Meetings wouldn't take place in coffee shops and on street corners, but on playgrounds and teddy bear's picnics, and these streets would be utterly deserted. 

Peace is fine. With the way of the world these days, it's a requirement to have long periods of calm and quiet... but that would get REALLY old. 

This thing of ours is, or at least SHOULD be about power. There are many ways to exercise that power, but ultimately power is exercised by the use of force. 

Violence is what keeps this thing of ours interesting.

The balance thing is a more interesting question to me. 

At the moment we have long periods of calm, then a big war, then another long period of calm before the next big war. 

It's a function of many things, probably best discussed over there, 

Evsie flicks away his cigarette and nods in the direction of OOC alley, he lowers his voice before continuing. 

Do you remember Rogues? 

Some of the most monumental shifts in our history came about when one mobster with an axe to grind dedicated himself to taking out a guy who had wronged him, there may have been some protection to deal with, but it was a handful, we weren't walking around with batallions of goons. We lived in HQs that were mansions and warehouses, not fortified castles. There could be a BIT of violence at all times... these days it feels like it's all-out-world-war or nothing. 

That said, my family have been away from these shores for a long time, so I could be talking crap. 
 

On her way back to the Midas Air offices, she bumped into a man who had a few honest truths to say. Luna had never noticed him in these streets but he had a sense of familiarity from the words he spoke. 

I appreciate you Evsie for the honesty. It gave me food for thought.

After all, the good cannot live without the bad. I don't want to speak for all people, but how I see it - violence will always remain as the driving force in this thing of ours. Without it, what are we trying so hard to prevent? 

She shrugged. It was almost getting to the evening and she needed to head back to the HQ. 

I do apologize that I have to cut this encounter short.

But trust me, there was no crap in what you said. I understand what you're trying to say. Maybe during this long period of calmness we can use this time to reflect on past regimes, and how we can use history to make improvements for the current world. 

Luna smiled softly as she left the man to his own thoughts. 

She thought that no one else was going to come up to her today to speak about such things until she was approached by a fellow family member, Charlie. Luna braced him in a warm hug before stepping back and listening to what he had to say. 

I guess you pretty much captured what I wanted to hear. Balance is needed. 

Of course, it is safe to say that we can't exactly be like our ancestors. As times change and their kins come to these shores, values and moral sense will also change. It is time to welcome the start of a new 'peaceful' era. 

But war - it never changes. My biggest hope currently is that when the time does come, we will be prepared. 

Luna began to walk side by side with Charlie back to the HQ, and she pondered more on the thoughts - but was stopped when she heard a grumbling sound in her stomach.

Perhaps all the talk made her appetite for food grow stronger.