As Indifference walked the streets of Las Vegas, he looked into several sets of familiar eyes.  He felt at home.  With the recent events which have unfolded in the Criminal Underworld - tensions seemed to be running high between high ranking mobsters, and a bunch of newly branded ophans.  Indifference visited a few funerals, read all the telegrams and listened carefully to many of the street speeches.  Not all of them though - he just didn't do the high drama thing that well.  When things got cantankerous - he checked out.  That's the shit he just didn't care for.

"Hello all, I'm Indifference, and mostly I don't care.  Sometimes I care - but it's short lasted mostly.  Lately, it seems even harder for most to give a shit.  I have a legitamite question for all:

"In this world of ours - what is it that you care about in this world?  "Family"? Old Acquaintances? Big Guns? Revenge?  High Drama?"

 

"Many people have walked these shores for many years, some not so long.  I'd love to hear about your line's experiences that have shaped what you truly care about here, and gain some perspective."

Indifference tips his calculable fedora, puffs on his predictable lucky strike and foreseeingly takes a sip from his flask shoved in the breast pocket of his shockingly plain trench coat.

Kaitlin ordered a bottle of vodka. She was sitting at the pub hoping for a drink to bury herself in. She had had a very long period of time of hard work. Everywhere she went, she remembered what her mother would have been like, she saw the streets where her mother would've grown up in. She felt as if she was trying to trace the few memories she had of her mother in a land that was totally foreign to her. As she lay her head down after a shot of really heavy vodka, she heard a manly voice in the distance, a tone of grimness. 

"In this world of ours - what is it that you care about in this world?  "Family"? Old Acquaintances? Big Guns? Revenge?  High Drama?"

Kaitlin quickly dismissed this as just another drunk sad guy in the pub of Las Vegas. Might as well be pouting some Confucius Karma shizz. But somewhere deep down, in her heart and mind, the question remained. What was to be her answer? It called to her, urged her to reflect inside and speak. So she did. She got off the bar-stool, stood up, with her head held high, pointed at the man called Indifference and she said,

"What do I care about, you ask? I care about family. Legacy. Making sure I do what my mother wanted of me. She didn't care whether I wanted revenge or guns or wanted to go around killing folks. All she ever wanted for me was that I should live a life full of adventures, things that make me happy, find and make good strong solid friends."

Kaitlin sat back down on the bar-stool as she felt the sleep hit her. She was heard mumbling, "But, mother. She is dead. Casualty of war, they said. My fight isn't with the people. I love the people. My fight is with war itself."

Indifference took the bottle of Vodka from @Kaitlin_orv and took a strong pull for himself.  He was well acquainted with the bottle.  It was a poor habit for most people - but Indifference always felt like he did his best work when he was lit.

"Kaitlin, thanks for your input.  Our legacy here in this criminal world is indeed something that we should pay close attention to.  Over the years, my kin has said much of the same ideation here in these streets.  What is it that makes a strong legacy though?  Is it loyalty?  Even I'm not sure about that anymore, unfortunately."

Indifference takes one more pull from the vodka bottle before he pulls out a mason jar of moonshine and places it between them.

"Here, help yourself."

"Hi! Hope I'm not too late for some of that moonshine!" Ally smiled as she headed towards Indifference, who she had not met before, and Kaitilin who she had seen before in the family HQ but never properly talked. She waved a hand in greeting, before sitting down to catch a breath from all the walking. The streets of Las Vegas certainly had her huffing and puffing. 

She decided to involve herself in the conversation at hand.

Kaitilin's talk of legacy made Ally think. When it seemed as though the silence started to fill the air, she chimed in. "Hey so, this is my opinion, based off personal experience and what I've witnessed... I think what makes a strong legacy is the little acts of kindness you do, helping people without expecting anything in return. That really sticks with people, and can leave a good impression on your future kin." She smiled softly, and looked around, hoping to find some heads nodding. 

Then in response to the initial question, she reflected on the time spent so far working for Dawn in Chicago. 

"I'm not much interested in leaving a legacy, though I respect Kaitilin for choosing that. For me though, what I care most about in this world is the learning experiences. Being motivated to learn something new each day, that has kept me going and has shaped my purpose. It keeps me on my toes. There really is no stop to the grind. Whether it's learning about... a new gun training method or learning someone's new hobby, those are memories that I will cherish forever. I don't know everything about everything. Despite how much I'd like to store all the possible knowledge in the world in my brain, I can't. The least I can do is allow myself to explore new horizons and reach new limits."

Indifference was a guy who's bloodline was friendly with his own bloodline. They spoke a bit a few days ago and as he roamed the streets, Geek noticed that Indifference was speaking. He walked over and fixed his glasses as they were falling off.

"Indifference, my friend. Can I call you that? You ask, Why care? Well, what I care the most about in this world of ours is Family. I will do anything for my city. This doesn't just mean the family I currently reside in, this extends to everyone in my city, Clarkson, PoisonIvy, PaulyB, BlueOrchid, and of course Gorda. If they ever called me and needed something, I would be there without hesitation! They know this, as I've had conversations with them and at least one of them has accepted help on my part. I do these things for the city with no strings attached. If you don't have family, what do you have?" he asked.

Kaitlin saw a familiar face in the crowd take up the podium. Her name was on the tip of her tongue but she couldn't grasp it. This new girl, she waved at her and began speaking her mind.

Halfway through, it hit Kaitlin. She is AllyGarcia. Definitely seen her around. At the end of Ally's talk, Kaitlin went up to her with the jug of moonshine that Indifference had given her. 

"I may be broke, but I do have a bottle of good moonshine. Allow me to pour you a drink?"

Ally looked around before her attention stopped on Kaitilin and the sound of her voice. She was very kind to offer, to which Ally nodded her head. "Sure. Would love some. It's good to see a fellow family member out here on these streets. About what you said before, you seem to be very much a people person. Am I wrong to assume?" Ally said, her voice coloured with genuine curiosity. 

She also saw Geek make his way over to the group. Listening to what he had to say, it gave Ally much to think about. The importance of family.

"I guess you're right, Geek. Without family, how can we build a support system, how do we teach each other to do better? I also think that what would make a STRONG family is when members of a crew can share with each other moments of joy and PAIN, too. Like, the recent war for example. Often times pain and suffering brings people closer together. I wish you the very best of luck for you and your family." 

" Not a moonshine person myself -- " Looks-Ugly joked, raising a bottle of whisky with his left while adding; " -- I nonetheless came prepared. " Finding a glass for himself to pour it in, and taking a sip before pausing for a good moment or two, he continued; 

" I think there is a better question to ask there, Indifference. Why care 'bout shit others care 'bout? After all -- its your life, ain't it? And shit, you have to find something to care 'bout in this life to make it worth something. Could be family, money, the thing of ours -- fuck, it could just be a happy home and a loving spouse. 

For me? Shit -- it is the people 'round me that makes this shit worth something. The fuckaroos, ball-busting and chat. Helping hand when you are in a dire need, the hand you offer to those who you call friends. After all -- you get to have whatever the fuck you might want to have in due time with people 'round you like that? 

Money? Fame? Legacy? Respect? You can have all you want, as long as you have a bunch 'round you who you can call friends. Brothers and sisters. Victories are sweeter with 'em, and the failures are a lil' bit less sad. Rest doesn't matter. "

Indifference picked up the moonshine and took a healthy pull.  There wasn't many things in this world that he relied upon more than his trusty mason jar.  It never let him down.  He looked across at the group of fine folks that had decided to grace him with their presence.  He raised the mooshine jar up one last time at them and nodded.

"Looks-Ugly, Kaitilin_Orv, AllyGarcia and Geek - I want to thank you for coming out here and engaging me.  I don't often show my face here, and your thoughtfulness has restored a little bit of faith in me for these streets.  Learning, legacy and family are all indeed integral parts of what makes the criminal world appealing."

"If I may be so bold - I might offer my perspective.  You see, I went through a time - and I just wasn't sure about how I felt about the criminal life.  I mean - the end is so.... certain.  To me, it needs to be about the process.  The every day actions that each one of us take to shape the criminal world.  This place is very dynamic, ever changing and (somewhat) unpredictable.  I like to watch the moving parts in play and see what develops.  Yesterday's ally may become tomorrow's enemy, and today's enemy may be your best friend down the road.  I have a genuine interest in the way we shape this place.  The fact that we need to rely on others to accomplish whatever it is we want to do makes for new and refreshing interactions to be had at just about any point in time."

"At the end of the day, I think that the gun is the penultimate path to power here.  That will never change.  But - these streets and the words we choose with others should indeed be very powerful in our future.  Always have respect, folks.  You never know when you are going to need someone."

Indifference took one final swig and flipped a coin at a passerby with a wink and nod.  He'd been handed a decent life, and he was prepared to take advantage of it.