It was a warm afternoon when I and the Commissar sat down to chat.  It was quite exciting to be able to interview a man who has so much to say about life on the streets and about whom much has been said.  In truth, whether you like him or not, the Kuku bloodline continues to be one of our shore's most colorful and talked about bloodlines.  I knew this was going to be a real treat.

"Commissar, welcome.  Thank you for taking this opportunity to sit down with me today.  Before we get into the hard-hitting questions regarding the Words for Credits Racket and the quality of what's shared in our streets today, what can you tell us about yourself that we don't already know?  What might my readers find interesting to know that they haven't already learned from your bloodline's many forrays into the streets?"

Well, I suppose something that might interest people is that when the first of my kin came to these Shores, they did what most people did.  Tried to work their way up the traditional route, and didn't have much of anything to do with the Streets.

Another thing that might surprise people is just how personable and pleasant I am.  Ask anyone who has spoken to me in private - they will almost all say that I'm a decent guy.

The level of Kuku hatred upsets me sometimes.  I think I'm a good person, and I think most other people are good as well.

I guess I wish we could all get along a bit better, but then I think, this is the fucking mafia!

You know what I mean?

"It does seem to be a popular opinion that mobsters should take kid gloves off, don't need to be politically correct or PC as it's sometimes called; but my question is do you think that represents the true mafioso?  Or is the 'honorable mobster' just a trope of a romanticized version of our culture?  Is it reasonable to expect respect and courtesy from other mobsters or is that just garbage which the movies and books play up?"

You might have noticed that I am currently leading a discussion about famous gay mobsters.  They do exist, and I, for one, will just be happy when it's not more comment worthy than if a gangster is Canadian, like tiggy (the one currently serving a year in jail, not the disgraced one), or is quite short, like RJFuller.  Teq, my old friend, he outed himself as bisexual once, and nobody really noticed.  Hardly anyone has mentioned it.

I suppose respect is a way of showing that you are not a threat.  Now, do the people who are disrespectful to me fear me?  Not necessarily.  But they feel threatened by me, in some way.  Whether they feel silly, or they feel like can't compete with me in my world, I don't know.  But they feel unsettled and they act out.  That's sad, for everyone, and I just wish they'd reach out and we could have a talk and I'd probably be able to help them.

Now, what is honour?  That's a good question.  My father behaved disgracefully: he scammed City Hall, did a jail term, had all of his assets seized and was executed.  He should be rightfully damned for that.  But let us think about Viktor, who profited from my father's crimes, profited handsomely, I might add, and he didn't become an informer until it became clear that he was going to lose a war.  So, is it honourable to only inform the authorities when it benefits you, having been partners in crime prior to that?  I don't think so.

My father lost all right to claim honour, but he can claim consistency, and integrity.  Viktor could not claim that.  He acted not from a moral place, but from a place of wretched self-interest.  The end result was a jail term.  But what of his reputation?  If not is dishonoured, what is his?  

He did the right thing for the wrong reasons.  

"So is it fair to say you believe that respect for another person is handling your business with them in private rather than in public and honor is a consistency of character even if some view the character to be somewhat villainous?  Meaning one can be viewed negatively but also seen as someone who is honorable?  And likewise, someone can be well liked but also act DIShonorably?"

Well, of course.  Now those of us of a certain age will remember Disorder.  He was rude, and was quite open about how much he disliked my great-great-Grandfather.  But I respected him as someone who had a certain style, a certain way of doing business.

My father and Mikhail started off as enemies but became friends and allies.

Destro, the late, great Destro, was widely regarded as extremely villainous, but my father loved him deeply.  And Mikhail was involved in Destro's death, so my father was torn.  But ultimately, he remained on good terms with Milkhail, and looked out for Destro's son, Destro-Whelan.

I think to think that I have conducted myself honourably so far.  Others, and history, will judge me, but I am certainly trying hard to treat others well, with respect and with honour.  I, myself, have not had this courtesy extended to me.  And that makes me sad.

"Let's talk a little about the Words for Credit racket run by City Hall.  You've been quite vocal about your thoughts regarding this system and the possible exploitations of it.  Why do you suppose, if the system is broken & exploitable, that City Hall hasn't acted on the matter?"

OK, this needs cleared up.  My problem isn't with City Hall, my problem is with fantasists and people that sit and talk to themselves day in, day out.  I couldn't care less if they've chanced upon a system that they can make themselves some cash.  My bloodline are not in a position to judge people for that kind of thing.

The Streets should simply be for people from our way of life to talk TO OTHER PEOPLE about our way of life.  If a speech isn't replied to by others, it should not constantly be replied to by the giver of the speech.  That is selfish, disruptive, and it dilutes the Streets for the rest of the people who are there.

There are places where the fantasists can fantasise: they should go there, and stay there.

And CLs should enforce this.

There is a reason why I am so popular on the Streets: people are interested.  But I have, on occasion, given a speech that is ignored.  One should learn from this, and understand the audience.

The fantasists' audience is themselves.  It's so boring.  It needs dealt with, by any means necessary. 

"There are a few points you make in all that, let's take it apart and get into the thick of it, shall we?  You say you have no issue with people earning money from City Hall for being active in the streets but instead take issue with people who simply work alone.  If city hall were to implement a regulation prohibiting people from getting credit for material that isn't engaged others, at least the very least one other person, would your criticism of the content producers end?  After all, if someone engages something put in the streets, doesn't that prove it's actually wanted and desirable by some portion of the community?"

I will criticise those that need criticised.  I believe it is my duty to speak to truth to power.  The only time I won't do this, is when to do so would threaten my life or my livelihood - which is only sensible.  So it is right to say that I am fearless in my pursuit of those that chatter to themselves on the Streets endlessly, and with no actual intent on generating conversation.

It's good to talk!

It isn't that I have issues with people that work alone.  For much of my bloodline's history, we were treated like pariahs, and worked alone.  But created and produced a body of work that stood the test of time, is memorable and did much to steer the course of history.

Can the nonsense babbled by the fantasists I noted the other day be described as being of any artistic, political or literary merit?  It is no better than graffiti.  And those daubing it on the Streets should be treated as vandals

"You speak about these Fantasists as if they are a community within the community, perhaps representing more than just one or two gangsters.  If the CLs and/or City Hall were to limit the creative content put into the streets - removing fantasy elements, do you think this would negatively impact the number of people on our shores?  Would it negatively impact business as usual?"

I think the fantasists, who are few in number, could easily keep their speeches to the business districts, the cafes and bars, or perhaps to somewhere new for them.

I don't think it would affect business, no.

"So, if the fantasy interactions and self-stylized journals were kept in business districts or a new location where such things were welcomed, you don't think you'd be critical of it?  Because I do recall from my ancestors' journals where folks didn't like someone even visiting a business that was owned in the past by someone who had since passed away.  They felt this was, again, crude attempts at milking the system.  If fantasy creators were to move to another location, don't you think the criticism would just follow them?"

Well, I do recall occasions where individuals got into arguments with others, and turned up at their businesses and created problems, but isn't that the nature of the lifestyle that we chose?

Destro, for example, claimed the business of one of his enemies.  My father recalled it well.

But the fantasists would largely be left alone.  They aren't particularly problematic, when they aren't flooding the Streets with nonsense.

I might be critical of the content, but not the venue.  Truth be told, most people don't even listen to most of these inane speeches: they're too long and too irrelevant.  

"In closing Commissar, thank you for this lovely discussion today.  It was an honor to interview you.  Why don't you end this with a short speech on what you think the streets should look like, in an ideal world.  And once again, thank you for your time.  It's greatly appreciated.  You've been an absolute pleasure to work with.  I wish you the best in the future."

When my father was leader of the Streets, they were a dangerous, exciting place.  People were killed, people got rich.

I'd like a return to that.

The fantasists offer nothing, and cost much.  They should be removed.

The contests should return.  Newspapers should floruish.

The Competitive Writing Community should circle the wagons and become strong again.