Wayne walked out into the busy streets of Las Vegas Letterkenny Valley, where a a crowd was gathering waiting for him. They had come looking for answers and explanations as to the events of the previous evening. Wayne wasted little time getting after it, as he had chorin' to get to.

"Ladies and gents, how are ya now?"

There was a general murmur of answers.

"Not so bad. Right, pitter patter then."

He lit a dart and took a hit before starting.

"I come to you today as the voice of the godfathers of Philadelphia, New York, Detroit, and Las Vegas collectively. We'd like to be as transparent as we can on these types of things, so let me try to lay it out for you all in a way that makes sense.

The alliance had great respect and a great relationship with Godfather Video. We all liked him very much and quite enjoyed working with him. Video was a great man, and his people loved him. That's how you can tell someone was doing something right, when not only their people love them, but pretty much any potential enemies did as well. He was a beacon for the City of Seattle unlike has been seen there before.

We do not wish to stain his time in Seattle by blaming him, but it is important that we start the story by mentioning him and his final hours.

When Godfather Video retired, he did so for honorable and understandable reasons. He wanted to focus on his wife and child outside of this life, and promptly returned to the old country to take care of them. We do not condemn him for doing what he felt was needed, but the way in which it was done contributed to last night's events.

Video's retirement was very abrupt and out of left field. He gave the other godfathers and his city little over an hour's warning that he would be leaving on a ship to Sicily imminently. The underworld was shocked.

Video appointed his left hand man, Wilson, to take the reigns of the city. This was perhaps even more shocking to us, as Wilson was basically unknown to us. He wasn't very active on our shores and had no relationships with the other Godfathers to build from. We thought there would have been several better options at that moment to lead the city after Video's retirement. People who had worked hard to nurture a relationship with the other city leaders, and also their own people. There was talk of burning Seattle that night, as we felt there was a risk in letting an unknown take over a city quite as large and old as Seattle.

However, in the interest of honoring Video and his legacy, we decided to give Wilson a chance to show us what he could do. Wilson asked us for time to get everything settled in Seattle before we all got properly introduced and got to know each other. We had no issues with this, surely handling the fallout of a retiring godfather is difficult. 

But the introductions never came. Over the past few weeks, contact with Wilson has been minimal. In the end, it just didn't seem that he had the time to make the effort, or that he did not think it important. I am not sure, but regardless, the fact remained: Seattle was a rather large, aged city, led by a man we did not know. At some point the risk was going to come to a head, and we decided as a council to act rather than to keep allowing that risk to grow.

Seattle was a good city, but in the end the rumors of rogues planted within the city combined with our lack of communication from the head(s) of the city, outweighed our personal feelings. We are in the business of protecting our people, and they must always come first."

Wayne finished his dart and flicked it away.

"Thank you all for your time."

MissNiki listened to Wayne speak, and thought to herself, for a hick with no formal education, he spoke very eloquently.  She had known a few of the people who died in Seattle, and she was so very sad to visit their funerals. She understood the decisions that were made, and knew they probably weren't easy decisions.

Rest in Peace Seattle. 

MissNiki bowed her head in sadness as she headed back home. 

LillisMolly listened carefully to Waynes words and stood there in silence with his head bowed to what happened to all in Seattle.

It was a sad way for all but what happen happens and he totally stood behind Waynes words about it even if it was a sad day for all in seattle.

Rest In Peace all of you from Seattle

Mr. Rotchburns listens to Wayne as Wayne speaks on the soapbox. 

I'd first like to say rest well to all who have fallen in Seattle, days like these are never easy for the ones on the losing side but these things happen. With rumors of planted rogues and very little communication from the current City Head of the Seattle, who would take a chance to allow a city to further flourish without knowing whats on the minds of those who lead it.

I'm sure they were nice people but one has to protect their own from any future possible threat, so I don't see any foul play here at all. I just wanted to say bravo Wayne and I understand why those choices were made last night. Not like you need any Earners opinion but I do like to share mine from time to time.  

Mr. Rotchburns sips on some rum as he itches himself and walks away. 

Rest in peace to all the fallen soldiers in Seattle, and thank you for the honesty Wayne. Goes to show how putting on that bold suit has so much more responsibility then just looking after those who are staying in your house. Gives you something to surely think about before stepping up for such a task!

Removing a flask of whiskey from inner jacket and pouring out a shot for Seattle and then taking a shot for himself he salutes the fallen and then carries on his way.

The young lady known only as Glitter Goddess perked up as she heard someone calling out about a city that had held someone dear to her heart.  That had been the city her mother was from...  Seattle...  Listening attentively to the man at the front of the crowd, the highly glitzed young lady felt like her heart would break.  From the stories she had heard as a little girl to the journals she had already read from her mother's possessions, she couldn't help but feel wounded for her mother.  Lack of communication...  That was a common reason for taking down a city and yet how far did it extend?  Sure the other cities tried to speak with the Seattle city head, but did they try again?  Did they really care?  What of the other city leaders?  Did they reach out?  Did they socialize?  Did they try to talk to other Leaders and display a sense of good will and love?  

GlitterGoddess couldn't help but feel there was more to this story than met the eye, but she would remain silent, biting her lip gently.  Her mother was full of love, she wouldn't want her to scream and cry and curse those that took the city.  Neither would the others that had led the fair seaside city.  GlitterGoddess knew this deep in her heart.  She knew that connection and communication was so vital in this thing of theirs, but there was always two sides to the same coin.  At the end of the day, the conqueror did what they felt was best for those close to them, and no one could truly fault them for that.  

Tears glittered in the corners of her eyes as the young woman gazed up at the Las Vegas Leader.  She didn't want to be angry with him.  She knew that her mother had adored him and spoken highly of him.  She scoffed softly in her head shaking it for a moment.  Her mother thought highly of many people so what difference did that make truly...  Shaking her head, she turned around quickly and walked rapidly through the crowd weaving her way through.  Yelling and screaming would do no good, neither would vengeance.  Left with more questions than answers, GlitterGoddess paused to look over her shoulder to meet the gaze of the one known only as Wayne.  "Do better than those that came before...  Then you can count your life successful."  She whispered one of the last things her mother had said to her and a piece of advice that she sought hard to employ.  So it was that she weaved her way back out of the crowd seeking to get her head on straight and move forward.  

Watching closely for some time now I knew Wayne's lips were hanging a bit low. Some days he is pouting and other days, lets just say his lips are busy elsewhere in fear of dying. Wayne is a total waste of a leader. Any man who cannot lead a family with his own mind and hides behind the apron strings of Luis. 

GlitterGoddess hit the nail on the head when she said there is more to this story. Allow me to fill in the transparent blank. Luis was afraid of Kate. She was aging and active. It was nothing but a paranoid episode. Is Luis a wise man? Not by a long shot. He is skating on thin ice.   

Spot on as ever, Mercubella. Keep up the great work! <3

Rest in Peace Seattle. Nothing lasts forever but it was a good run while it lasted.  I hope your next of kin achieve whatever they aspire to, my father enjoyed his time spent in your company.

RIP Seattle. It won't be long before the next one. KathyBurke called it two days before it happened. Seattle wasn't hurting anyone yet they got taken down. Same old lame excuses.

Taradiddle_ stood and laughed..

Not about how the person that had just stepped up looked, with a waving frying pan, though.. He couldn't care less about that. In fact, he quite liked a bit of eccentrency.

Boy, I am happy I don't have to spell what I think, he thought, before stepping forward

Maybe it has been silent because the public reasoning sounded genuine, Mama? Or in other words: Acceptable?

Anyway, it's quite funny that you verbally attack Don Wayne with a couple of arguments that don't even make sense.. 

You address points that are completely irrelevant, like why Don Video retired.. Did you actually think there was no communications between the different cities?

I felt the speech was very clear, whether you like it or not. In fact, it seemed to be one of the most genuines I have stumbled upon and I would like to thank Don Wayne for explaining.

stepping back, he calmly spoke

Another theory for the lack of decent verbal confrontation could be acknowledgement.. Rest in peace to the fallen.

Just answering:

Maybe I was not clear, but as you know there were quite a couple of reactions.. Just none that were bitter, or disagreed with what was said.. Apart from you then..

But not a single one with confrontational facts or arguments.

You're right of course, I should start killing off anyone who is not on our shores for 8 hours a day.

Maybe this is why you don't lead? Hmm.

I lead very well. You can learn from me. Inscribe that in stone. I am planning your funeral as a civilian. HA

You say you lead very well. In 15+ years I've never seen it.

Keep planning, I hope it will be a grand affair. Plenty of beer and babes.

Oh and be a doll, and show me the courtesy I showed you. Leave a whisper.

Actually, Mama is an excellent leader. You best not get on the wrong end of her frying pan either. 

You, on the other hand, suck. Luis off, that is.

You'll have to forgive me for not taking your word for it.

I've been in her crew. I guarantee it. You just carry on killing cities because rumors scare you. That's all you got boy.

Nah, rumors are fun. They're usually stupid and easy to debunk.

Like you guys when you try to incog.