"Let me go, I can do this."
The man and woman standing before Marietta Rossi exchanged a glance that clearly had 'crazy' written all over it. Having spent the majority of the last week in bed with only God knows what form of disease, it was only apparent that her Left and Right Hands had her best interests, and health, at heart. Which, when pressed for business matters such as now, really annoyed the shit out of her. With a grimace Marietta pushed past the pair, stomping up the steps of the stage in the abandoned warehouse that she was ever so fond of. Thomas, with lightening reflexes, immediately grabbed her arm and spun her back around to face them.
"You'll be fine to make the speech?" he asked, his eyebrow raised as he stared at her.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," she answered, her head suddenly jerking backwards as she let out a huge sneeze straight into Thomas' face. With a groan he wiped away the germs with his jacket sleeve, exchanging a dark look with Aurora as he did so. "Marietta," the other woman began, much to the blonde lady's annoyance.
"I said I'll be fine, and I'll be fine. Let me do my thing now," Mari replied with a huff, turning on her heel and wobbling her way over to the podium. To the side of where she stood she heard the scraping of folding chairs as Aurora and Thomas sat down, just within her line of vision should she need them. 'I can do this, fuck them in their faces,' Marietta thought, squaring her shoulders as she stood up straight. Tapping the microphone several times and gaining a horrid sounding feedback as she did so, the Godfather of Detroit gave a weak smile and shrugged towards the irritated crowd.
"Good evening," she began her address, hesitating slightly to make eye contact with a few men and women before continuing.
"I understand, more than many of you may think, that there are tons of bold-suit wearing individuals these days. Many outspoken individuals have even gone so far as to state there are 'too' many. Yet what is too many? More than one per city? More than two? The exact number cannot be defined, as our world is in a constant state of change and, recently, progression. The more the merrier, for as we have seen the number of our world grow when we allow ourselves to grow."
"Enough of the sage-sounding bullshit, however. Due to the current number of Mob Bosses we already have, does that mean that individuals who deserve the chance should be told to wait? Should they not be granted their time to shine due to the fact that there are several others out there who already are working on all their goals and dreams? Should they be shunned to the side and kept away for a rainy day?"
"Myself, and thus Detroit, has always been a city that has taken great strides to give all people a chance. Despite past-life affiliations and reputations, availability and beliefs, if the said individual has put in the work and proven themselves, they reap the benefits of such in return. This also makes me a firm believer in the fact that just because everybody else is already eating their birthday cake, doesn't mean that you can't eat yours as well."
The woman pauses with a sniffle, pressing a tissue to her nose and scrunching her eyes closed for a moment before continuing.
My apologies. With that being said, I suppose I could've just cut to the chase instead of using a very weird, round-about analogy to say that if I see an individual who has proven him or herself ready, able and willing, I won't hesitate to give them their shot in the already vast world of bold-ology. The big wheel keeps on turning and... erm..."
Faltering slightly she turned to look at Aurora whom immediately shook her head and began waving her hands in a wild gesturing motion. Despite the confusion from the onlookers, Marietta understood immediately.
"OH! Right! Needless to say, it has long been on the forefront of my mind that a certain man has done his due share of work for Detroit, The Relentless, and The Riot!. Level-headed during crisis, loyal and trustworthy to a fault, I have long waited to see this man step up and take the reigns of a family."
"But where, oh where to put him, of course, is the question many would ask. Seven crime cities. As many families as there were locusts during the plagues. ...Seeing as how I don't believe in needlessly slaughtering other businesses and other families just for the benefits of my own, I will be placing him next to Hypno, below myself, in The Motor City, where he will be working with LouisGato's captain crew to continue to strengthen the bonds within our city."
"For those of you who have been following along, please congratulate WildTurkey, the newest Detroit Bold. I believe in you, WildTurkey, and I know with every bone in my body that you will do well in this venture." |
