The Aristocrat had spent a fortnight debating on whether or not he really wanted to go through with this. He had waited and given time to see some of the others preach their words. No doubt there were many admirable people who sought the opportunity and he knew his chances were likely slim. However he was never one to shy away from a tough fight, and if he was going to bet on someone it might as well be himself. 

Pushing up his glasses and straightening his suit, he stepped out into the bustling city of Los Angeles and to the podium that awaited him. He knew he was only likely to draw a modest crowd if any, so he wasn't surprised when he saw the people waiting for him. He waved at them all as he stepped onto the platform and up to the microphone that was set up for him. This was perhaps a bit too extravagant, but he always enjoyed the theatrics of things. Glancing down at the paper that held the speech he had written the night before, he cleared his throat and began to speak. 

"I would like to thank you all for coming out today. I don't intend to make this too long so you'll all be able to get back to your lives shortly." He gave a genuine smile and went back to the paper, but as he began to speak the words stuck in his throat. Is this what he wanted? Some predetermined speech? No, that wasn't genuine. If he was going to talk to these people, it needed to be honest. It needed to show who he really was, and even if that meant that he was passed over at least he could say he didn't play some sort of game to win anything. 

"Not many of you know me. I'm an unknown. So why does someone who really doesn't have much of background in this life have the gall to think they have the gumption to run a family of their own? That's a good question. My family has been occupying these shores for the past six years or so. In all that time, I can say that not a one of them ever accomplished anything of note. They never ran a family, they never killed someone well known, they were never the richest people to grace these lands. What they did have was heart. They had a strong drive to succeed. My father Mick had his life cut short here. He couldn't quite handle it in the end, and went out in his own way. He was weak. He lost his heart in the shuffle. I don't intend to." Aristocrat looked down for a moment, thinking about his father and holding back the sadness that he felt on his demise. Shaking his head at the thoughts, he smiled again and stared back out to the crowd. 

"My father was a one of a kind person. He brought life to the world around him with every passing day, and if you ask those that knew him best I am sure they would offer up a similar description. He was loyal, kind, and someone that you could rely on. I intend to follow in his footsteps and be the same kind of person." Stepping away from the podium, he walked back onto the streets and into the crowd to give a more personal touch. 

"Again, the question here is why me? What does someone who has never made his mark have to offer to a city? To that I answer...myself. Someone new, someone who isn't like everyone else, who doesn't subscribe to the normal and the always has been. E.E. Cummings once wrote 'To be nobody but yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.' That's a battle that I will never stop fighting. I want to raise a city that is not afraid of its own uniqueness. I want to encourage people to bring new ideas and innovation to this thing we have. I want a city that knows what it means to be family, to have bonds to one another and to those newly fresh to our shores, to help them thrive. I want to show them that they can do the impossible. If I can do that, who says someone else can't? I have already seen the other candidates and I know the reputation that they bring to the table. I'm a long shot. I'm the impossible. I want to break through that wall and show everyone that even if the world has odds stacked against you, you can always thrive. You just have to fight." Stepping away from the crowd and back onto the podium he picked up the paper and readied his closing statement. "Chicago can be that for us--loyalty, love, life. We can bring all of that to a city that is in such dire need of it right now. Help me make that a reality. Thank you."

Luis was pleased to see so many people stepping up onto the podium box as of late, it was a great turnout for such a fine opportunity. The man spoke with wisdom and clarity, this intrigued Luis so he stood by and paid attention to the man's speech closely, golf clapping and taking short drags from his cigarette until the man finally finished, Luis took this moment to step forward and address the man on the stage...

"A fine speech you have given us here today, It takes a lot of courage to stand up there and put yourself out there like you have done here today, I commend you on this and find that your speech is quite eloquent.. Another worthy candidate indeed.. My hat is off to you friend."

Luis tipped his hat to Aristocrat before slipping back into the crowd who was cheering and clapping for the man on stage...

Avard listened to the man's speech, even after he start doing a dramatic leftward lean, which, if anything, Avard found more endearing.

Bravo, sir. Very enlightening and honest. I'd enjoy seeing a new man get an opportunity to demonstrate what they can do, which seems to be the point of an endeavour like this after all, although I'm not sure I know that many kind people who turned out to be good mob bosses. Take my own Don for example, not a nice bone in her body; she brushes her teeth with the foreleg of the first puppy she killed (and there have been many more since) and worst of all, pretends not to like golf despite fucking living for it.

Eve's general shithoustery aside though, all of the successful regimes who've established legacies for themselves on our shores were headed by a bastard, who did bastardly things and pretty much stomped the nice people into mush and ate them as part of a balanced bastardy breakfast. Therefore, as someone aspiring to be a loyal, kind and reliable, do you think you're tough enough to lead or are you going to be next week's cornflakes?

Though he was nearly ready to depart, he stopped when he heard several people talking to him. One was fairly recognizable as the Godfather Chairman. No matter where he went, there was no doubt he would be easy to tell apart from the crowd. He gave a brief thank you as he heard another more direct question given to him. Admittedly, he had no idea who the man was as they had never met before, but he would nonetheless give him the time to answer his question. 

"First, thank you for taking the time to ask me a question. It's always good to have some sort of dialogue with others here, and to better get the opportunity to show people who I am. You ask me if I think I'm tough enough to lead? That's an interesting question as it all depends on your definition of tough. I know full well of the more bastardized people that have polluted our shores as my ancestors were around for some of the biggest regimes we've ever seen. I have no intention of being like that at all. My definition of tough is not....Say kill or blackmail or bribe my way into whatever I want at the time. I've seen it all too often and while there may be followers by fear, I don't believe many stay out of respect. Being tough to me, means making the hardest decisions when they count the most. It means fighting for the people who follow you no matter the personal cost you might face. I see no reason to be unnecessarily hard or even strict on those that would follow me. I believe that you can lead just as effectively through being positive and encouraging those followers." He let his mouth purse a little as he thought of what he would say next.

"The toughness in me would come out when I feel my people are threatened. To those that think they could walk all over a city that I am sworn to protect and develop, you would find me to be a worthy adversary who would not roll over like a dog for something unjust. I can work well with practically anyone and have in the past, but I would not put the lives of my people in someone else's hands. I'm willing to stand up for me and mine at a moments notice, as well as accept any consequences of doing so. If my life must be given up for my own ideals then I am ready to give it for my people, so that they may better thrive in the future. I hope that does answer your question."