Jimmy was in Las Vegas on the corner of 42nd and Flamingo with a few mobsters who he worked closely with. The air was cold outside, so cold you could feel the cold steel of your pistol through your clothes, its weight and coldness reassured the mobsters the night would go ok. They were waiting for one more to join then, he was a rookie kid from another city who they didn’t really know but had heard the kid was quick on his feet.

It had been about ten minutes and all of them were getting anxious, wanting to get the crime over and get on with their nights of gambling, women and counting cash. Quickly getting on his phone he made a call and got a hold of some friend who knew this fella.. a few minutes past before Jimmy got a message it simply read: Jimmy, the kid declined your organized crime. Hope all is well with the gambling problem.

Jimmy laughed a bit at the gambling comment before shaking his head a little and turning to the men who were next to him

‘We needed him for our crime but the kid declined it. I’m not sure if he just doesn’t want the money, or he has other plans but anyways lets go do it, but I aint gonna forget that kid’ when I make it to the top you better remember that!’

Jimmy and the guys jumped in the car.. on the way to the spot for the crime..

This happens sometimes in our world, we offer an invite to a crime we are in the process of organizing, often including multiple mobsters from different cities, all different rank and representing their own business practices, but what happens when the person you are offering a chance for cash, a chance to up your rep as you might say, and they decline it? Often without a word or a gesture other than the gesture of declining if you so take offense to the action.

Do you take offense to it, or do you shrug it off as they had better things to do other than get money? Maybe the kid was so strict to his city and family he refuses to commit crimes with others to help them profit, or maybe the kid didn’t know what he was doing?

Personally if I am offering you a chance to make some cash, its sort of like somebody offering you food at their house and you saying no, or even worst not even answering them and I grew up as you take the chance or at least have the decency to shoot a quick mail when time allows, I mean positive business relationships are what keep us from endless war and keep us making cash and growing as a society.

A few words can often go a long way, from thanks for the invite to even a simple message stating they can’t because of their plane is coming, or they must be off to another function that requires their time. I think open communication can often solve an issue before it blows up internally or externally and people have enemies or dislikes for people that they have never even talked to. It happens, it’s the mob it doesn’t take much to become someone’s target, hell this speech could get me locked up if the FBI catches wind of me in public so I must keep this brief.

So what do you think? Ever had someone decline your organized crime? Did you care, or just move about your business and find some mobsters who wanted the cash, experience and a chance to meet others on our streets, or even if it has never happened to you – how would your mindset play out in this situation?

Jimmy walks over and shakes Don Gaius's hand and punches MrVengeance- in the arm for declining his OC ;) and then is back to the airport..on his way to Las Vegas for fine dining, gambling and hopefully some organized crimes..

Fresh off his latest organised crime, Terry hears Jimmys speach

"I know what you mean, why would people turn down free cash? But sometimes popular mafioso get invited to more than one crime"

Terry straightens his tie with a smug look on his face

"I have just had 3 mafioso invite me to a crime, i am just a little goomba, but i am still wanted for many of these occasions! So in this instance, i can only accept one, meaning the other two were declined, which is dissapoiniting for everyone. Perhaps these mafioso should meet in coffe shops and announce they ae going to do an OC, my fathers family did this and it meant we would do 4-5 of these crimes consecutively with maximum payouts."

A smirk appears on Terrys face

"Anyway, if we all punch MrVengence- in the arm every time he declines an OC, it will make us feel a little better inside!"

Terry runs off before his boss catches him

Punches MrVengeance- in the arm before taking another step into the middle of the conversation.

You're right Terry.  Punching MrV in the arm does make me feel better.  What?  Only if he declines a crime?  Nah, just walk up to him and punch him whenever.  He likes it.

Anyway, good speech boss man.  It's an interesting debate.  I've thought about this issue on many occasions.  I set up these organized crimes, invite people, then nothing.  I wait.  Nothing.  Then I move on to others.  But you're right, it is frustrating.  Not a word.  But then I thought about it.  I figured no need to stress about it.  I just find a couple more people and try it again.  Free money to somebody else.

I don't know why people decline free money.  I was just having that conversation with somebody else.  It seems silly to me.  But I have to admit.  There have been times where I have declined an invite too.  Well, I wouldn't say I've actually declined an invite.  I've tried to accept any invites I get, but sometimes that invite just disappears.  No word from anybody or anything.  I guess I waited too long to accept.  I shrug it off and move on...usually desperately hoping that somebody else will invite me.  Because like everybody else, I love money.  Especially free money.  Free money.  Is that an oxymoron? 

Whatever, anyway.  This is a world of instant gratification.  We want what we want and now.  I bet if we sent out those invites and waited a couple more minutes, we'd get a lot more people accepting.  Or at least that's been my experience. 

So I say - send those invites, give 'em a few minutes, if no reply then send out a couple more.  Whoever accepts first - wins!  And everybody else - better luck next time. 

listens intently to the speech before offering his own opinion on the matter

I believe I look on these crimes from a slightly different perspective than yourself, when searching for a crew to help me I am very picky about who I take along and who I join. For you see I work out of Chicago and only for Chicago so I'll be damned if I'm gonna bring along someone from another city, or help them to achieve their goal. See the way I look at it is this, the more money other cities are able to make the more money is being kicked up to fund their bosses bodyguards or bodyguards for their upper structure or hit squad and i'd sooner be dead than help contribute to a rival families protection.

Bilge-sucking dir'y criminals!

This caught the attention of at least the homeless man a few feet from her. He checked her out and grinned. She raised her finger to the far side of her neck and made the gesture of slitting as she traced it across. The man quickly looked away from where he was looking.

I be havin' eyes ya know!

She called after him and fixed her blouse making sure every thing was in order. LoveGun left the area she had stood on and walked right by Mr. TomCollins, lifted the bottle of rum from his person. She raised the bottle up to her sight and yes, it was the one she had with her earlier. LoveGun took the open place next to Mr. TomCollins, turning the bottle on her rosey lips and put a shot of rum into her mouth. Business, she reminded herself, she had come here for a reason.

All of ya who be gettin' ther' panties in a twist I don' be meanin' t' be actually killin' anyone for not participatin' in me crimes. More money for me righ?

She let a smooth grin pass by her lips and flutter into her eyes.

Ther' be a lot of us criminals runnin' 'round these streets. We've all got places we be gettin' t' and people's we be takin' care of. Yo ho, yo ho, a criminals life for me. So's I can't be bein' to upset when me crime isn't accepted by everyone who be sittin in th' same city as me. If they don't be wantin' in then they don't be wantin' in. T'is quite a shame though when ya be passin' up me booty.

Now me rum drinkin' friend over here. LoveGun gestures to Mr. TomCollins. Be havin' an excellent point. Why be invitin' someone from outside ya family, outside ya ciy? Why would someone be wantin' t' share some of that treasure with an outside?

Not me sir! Not me. I be working for me Godfather and me city.

A while ago a similar event happened to me…

I questioned the man who had refused to work with me and he told me he had received a similar invitation from another gangster at the very same time and that my invitation simply disappeared when he accepted the other invitation. He was adamant that he had not refused my invitation and that the information I had received that he had declined my offer was incorrect!

However, I did not press the matter, or investigate it any further as he was pretty convincing and there were plenty of others willing to take his place. But, was he lying? Did he throw my invitation into the bin before accepting the other? I have no idea...

Listening to the speech by her good friend Jimmy, Angel recalls a time a few days ago and decides to share it alongside everyone else's stories.

A few days ago I invited a high ranking mafioso whom I used to work with, to participate in a crime, and he declined it. Personally I just moved on, with the thought that he must now think of himself as too good to be associated with me. It can be frustrating when you need four other people to pull off a job, and there are only four other people to choose from and someone either declines the invitation or ignores it, but I do not feel that that is something to get upset over. If the person does not want the extra money that they would receive just for accepting the invitation, then that is their loss. Nothing for you to get your feelings hurt over.

Angel laughs a little, and smiles and says

And to those of you who have invited me and got no response, please do not hold that against me. I accept all of the invitations I can, but the bell on my box does not always go off to tell me I have an invitation waiting. So I do apologize.

Just for good measure she lightly punches Jimmy's arm then laughs and runs off to invite people to do crimes.

After waiting in the shadows for what seems like a fair while, Tanda raises his head to reveal a shadow under the cover of his fedora. A handful of criminals appear to be curious as to where he appeared from and how he had remained unnoticed until this point. Slowly he removes the hat that had been providing a mask for him, looking around he takes note of the people in close proximity. It soon becomes evident that some of the men around him are on his books and are very nervously keeping an eye out for any possible danger coming his way. Seeing the approving nod coming from his trusty bodyguard Vitaly, he steps forward and greets the few people floating around...

It seems there are a few people on our streets today that are in high demand for their skills, stealing expensive artwork is just the tip of the iceberg from where I'm looking. The smallest of any job requiring a partner, the lowest paid. Arguably the easiest job in this line of our work. However, I still want the best of the best to assist me, falure just isn't an option. If my first choice decides he doesn't want a piece of the pie I'm offering I need to look elsewhere which takes time.

Tanda takes a deep breath, followed by a sigh

Time is money, plain and simple. The slower I am in arranging a job the longer it takes for me to see my cash at the end. I might even have to look at second best as I know I can secure his services for a smaller cut to compensate for the lost time. This is all a risk which I would hope will be rewarded by more money for me. Why else would I be doing this, out of the kindness of my heart? Being let down by somebody always makes me wonder if I can rely on them next time. It might all be innocent in the way that an offer is declined, but that isn't the point. I want to work with the best, if you don't want to work with me after I extend my hand I'll look elsewhere next time for somebody else who does want to work with the best.

After looking down at the ground for a second to think about things, you look back only to realize he disappeared just as quickly as he appeared in the first place

I will be honest with you Jimmy, I appreciate the invites I get but some times my attention is elsewhere. I am an absent minded chap and I don't mean to not reply but if my eyes are shut as I catch 20 mins kip because Katarina has had me digging graves in upstate all night then I will miss the odd invite.