*MrSatanic had just recieved word from some anonymous figure, that if he did not join a family soon he would be killed. A family he thought to himself? I am no mafioso, nor do I want to be one, he said in his head. Why must I become a part of this? He knew a thing or two about the Mafia of course, because his uncles had been connected men, and they shared a few things with him. He had also thought those on the outside civillians were not harmed unless completely nescessary, but around here it seems the only reason needed was because you choose to not get involved. What a way to conduct business he thought.

He made his way down to the nearest street corner, and hope up on an old soapbox. Then he called out to attract the passer bys.*

"Can a man not simply live? Why must I join a family I have no criminal ambition, and I dont hate those of you who do. Why do you hate my kind so much? I dont understand this. someone please tell me, why must I be killed who am I threatening?"

Civilian? You wish you were still a civilian. You my friend are a gangster, and any crime you commit is cutting into our profits... This is a business, and anyone taking our profits or not paying tribute where due is bad for business. So you either join a family and receive the protection that comes with that, or you die. Capische?

Hmmm...you say you have no criminal ambition, but you sure look like a Gangster to me. The Dons around here don't like people making money on their patch without kicking up tribute. The last guy who did it got some free swimmin' lessons.

When you commit a crime in someone's territory, you are effectively stealing from them. Every dollar made has a tax that is kicked up for the protection and maintenance for that territory and everyone else in it.

Without paying for protection, and while stealing from dues owed to those at the top tiers, you are doomed to a very short life span.

This is the system that was created, and it is heavily enforced by all those that participate in it.

It's simply the rotation of this world we live in. High ranks, Crewleaders, Godfathers, etc, enforce the rules, protect you. If you do not wish to be protected, so be it. Although if you wish to LIVE, I suggest you hop right back on that boat of which you got off.

When we last met our Italian protagonist … he was solving the mystery of who killed Sculli ...

"This could only be the work of the evilest evildoer of all evil ... CAPTAIN MAXIMUM!!!"

But just as the words left his lips …

"What is this I hear ... ? There is a commotion going on at the other end of the streets!"

Italian Spiderman arrived at the scene just after the ravings of none other than ... Mr. Satanic!

"What is this ... is he crazy?" Asked Italian Spiderman! One of the red shirts replies ... "I don't think he's crazy ... but this guy Mr. Satanic is asking us why we all want to kill him!"

"Well ... I think I know the answer! Only one of the most profane minds of the century could name their child Mr. Satanic!! And as we all know ... evil runs in the family! Of course ... Sometimes it does not, so I must watch this man to be sure of it! But when he steps out of line and shows that he really is the most threatening super-villain since CAPTAIN MAXIMUM!!!" I must be there to protect humanity!"

"And not only this ... but using my super crimefighting powers I have discovered exactly when this will happen! Unless something about this man changes before Jan 14, '11 21:49 he will surely become a super-villain fit for nothing but my most effective crime fighting techniques!!!"

So there you have it, dear readers! The reason we slay folks like MISTER SATAINIC! is that they represent a threat to society ... but thankfully Italian Spiderman!!! is there to keep us safe!

MrSatanic, could not help, but think everyone sounded like a bunch of robots, as if there was no capacity for an open mind in all the world. This was simply madness. He couldnt live in such a violent, unchanging society. No, he had a better idea.

He reached into his pocket, and removed a .38 special, and put it to his head.

......

BANG!

Jin turns to someone next to him.

Wonder why he had a gun if he was just a "Civilian"..? Oh well, Rest in Peace, sorry our life did not suit you.

Paul walks down the street headed to see his boss Killer Jane, see's MrSatanic laying in a pool of blood. he see's the gun in the victims hand and shakes his head.

It's sad one didn't have the will to live , nor the desire to have success. such a pitty.

Pablo was making his way back to his office, after posting his letter to McDermott, when he came across MrSatanic as he was making his speech in the streets. As his body hit the ground, he was astonished at what he had just witnessed.

At a loss for words he just stared at the body for a moment. shaking his head as he turned to Jin

"Well....er...you see something new everyday don't ya..........Well Rip MrSatanic, hope you happier in the next life"

Zeus had been walking around the streets, trying to reorient himself to the land again, when he came across ' a Gangster with no criminal intent' lie on the ground,killed by his own gun.

Well,I think suicidal tendencies count as 'criminal intent' in almost every part of this world.

However, all jokes aside, why should the family heads let someone like this man live? He is powerless to stop whatever they want to do to him and they are at the top of the food chain he chickened out of climbing and they can shoot him just if they feel like it without fearing for anything. I guess that about sums it up. Well, Rest in peace MrSatanic.

GTL is coming back from the gym after doing some impressive military presses when he hears a gun shot.  He runs over to the crowd to see a young man who apparently just blew his brains out.

Well although we all like to live on the other side of the law we do have rather strict rules here...  Rule number 2 (Behind the obvious Rule 1: Show respect and Rule 1(b): Wipe with the left, shake with the right) is seek protection in a family.   Sure its not always fun having to kick up a percentage of your earnings, but its a small price to pay to keep yourself out of the obituaries.

Mr. Satanic apparently didn't see the logic in this and chose to end his own life rather then live in a world he didn't understand.

Very poetic.

Erick was just taking a stroll when he listen to someone saying some bullshit and then shooting his brains out.

Civilian? there are plenty of places out there for civilians. Plenty of beautiful places where crimes does not exist, the sky is blue and all that crap.

However if he made to this place then he is no civilian. Come on now you join a Mob world with the intent of remaining a civilian? 

Civilians have no place here. I hope his next kin realizes and accept that or move away to some far away land where everything is perfect.

With that Erick sets off to resume his daily activities.

Mr-Bean walks over to the body with half of a head with a coffee and donut and kicks it a little.  The stinch was horrific.

Dunking his donut into his coffe and taking a bite then speaks with his mouth full asking, Anyone going to clean this mess up?

How about a revolutionary thought:

Why not make a "territory" open to unsponsored people? Well, let's address the central reasoning for *NOT* allowing new people to live beyond 2 days once they reach our shores.

1. "Money" - This idea that, we can't handle not making money off of these new guys. While I appreciate that our environment stems from greed, doesn't it also stem from innovation? Or are we so cut-and-dry that we reject ideas because it could cut into our profits? Will the loss of profits from a single territory have such a detrimental effect on any single family, that it is impossible to maintain the family without the profits from that territory?

2. "Respect" - Now, this part, I really understand, and appreciate. A cocky, young gangster is hitting up 7-11s in your district without kicking up tribute. While you don't mind the $20 that doesn't show up in your bank statement, it's disrespectful that he's doing YOUR job on YOUR turf, and not paying heed to it. In order to get past this, a leader would have to take the route of humility, something not easily done.

3. "Value" - I include this point only to reference the value of such a person as more than the bullet between his eyes. If we are to allow 48+s a place to live without protection, we will be essentially surrendering our ability to increase our strength. However, with the obscene amount of zombies (don't they seem like zombies? Just kinda walk around, but don't say anything [RIAs, MIAs, for those who can't keep up]), it seems the family's shot records wouldn't dive into a depression if 48+s were protected by a blanket city protection. Plus, this is only the 48+s that take advantage of the protection! A percentage of a percentage of potential targets.

4. "Rules" - You can shoot 48+s. This will add another stipulation to new hitters, having to teach them in what city they can or cannot shoot, etc. But this seems to be the easiest to overcome. The unsponsored territory would have its own set of rules, declared by the owner of the territory. For instance, for a single city, protection is increased from 2 days to 5. Or 2 to 10. Or endless.

Now, if they live the unsponsored life, and decide to join a family, that choice is still open to them on the 3rd, 4th, or 5th day. This will essentially slow down the process of slaying 48+s, so that the necessary mental adaptations can take place, no matter how slow that person is.

If you'd like to discuss further details of this idea, I'll be around for a while (like I've been around long enough already).

Exxo I have one problem with this concept:

So lets say the sky is blue and the sun is out and theres this great city where everyone is there own boss and they all run around politely robbing people and so forth.   Then all of a sudden the sky turns black, as a protected Made mafioso has had a couple drinks and stumbles into Pleasant Town looking to train his gun.  What recourse would the polite unsponsered mafioso's have?

Or lets say a spiffy young gangster is cruising around, enjoying all the extra money hes making being his own boss, when a sponsored mafioso comes over and steals his money.   Now the young gangster is upset because he has a tattoo which reads: Do NOT Mug Me Please!!.   And when he points that out to the bully, he is told to "stick it up his ass", and "cry me a river pansy".  This young gangster now has no one to turn to for help.

Family heads are present for much more then protection.   Certainly they could help maybe enforce some on the rules this new territory by letting their family know not too shoot them (although I don't know why they would), but they are also very important for diplomacy and conflict resolution.   Im sorry but I just don't think this idea is feasible.

I apologize, but apparently my central point was misunderstood. Whoever owns the city is still owner of the city, and extends his/her own rules on that city as he/she feels necessary.

Your first point is valid. How about laying down rules for shooting? Sponsoreds can't shoot unsponsored without valid reason (aka attempted murder, disrespect, etc.). The same system we have in place... now?

Second point is invalid. Pickpocketing isn't a vicious crime, and if the unsponsored gangster doesn't want his $5,000 stolen he should find a family. However, I have no real regard for such small amounts of pocket change. To be quite honest; why is this suddenly a real problem? Any gangster on the face of the earth can lose 5k and no one gives a shit. But it's somehow important now?

To say that "leader's might not like it" doesn't make it "infeasible". Really, this regime is more likely than any other to extend such a policy in one of their cities; due to high amounts of targets and high, mostly unnecessary, income. The cities aren't built on the income or shots from 48+s.