Zephyra had been wandering around the streets. She was listening to the streets as she gathered her own thoughts. She felt a separate speech was needed for this one particular topic. It was one that touched everyone, or at least it should considering we all have a bloodline starting the minute we step into this community for the first time.

Her steps started to slow down near a coffee shop located on the corner. She knew more people would be needing their caffeine fix or just wanted to warm their hands. The nights were starting to get cooler. She could feel the goosebumps under her sweater. Turning her attention to a nearby patron. Clearing her throat to get their attention.

Hi. A little chilly out tonight don't you think?

She smiled and noticed a few other people standing within ear shot. There were always people lurking about to listen, even if they weren't ones for speaking too much.

Have you noticed all the talk of bloodlines? The bloodline bashing? Interesting isn't it?

This was starting slowly, she thought to herself. Taking a sip of the coffee she had purchased earlier before trying again.

Bloodline bashing seems to be the norm but what I can't seem to figure out is why people that bash do it? Is it to make their egos grow just a little bit? I mean it can't be because they have a sparkly clean past. No one does.

We all steal purses, rob banks and even try to outdo our fellow friends and family. I mean we all have done things we are not proud of. Some have gone so far as to become turn cloaks. Turning their backs on the people that gave them their chances or outright being the cause of their Godfathers deaths. This seems to be our way of life. Does this mean our kin will always be the same as before? Not always. We may look the same as our forebears but there can be subtle differences.

Pausing momentarily for another gulp of the warm liquid in her cup. She tried to shake the chill she was starting to feel.

Now the interesting thing is the people that seem to think they are better. They aren't any better than anyone else. To think so is folly, because we simply are not the same. We do not share the same talents. While Dick may be a better shooter, Asshat may be the better earner. While Zenda can pick pockets stealthily, Laura can see everyone. There is no way to determine better unless you are talking about the group you fall into.

But the tricky part is, what if you can't fall into certain group? Those that have been here longest will be more rounded as their ancestors have taught them lessons throughout time.

What is my point you may be asking? I have already stated it. No bloodline is better than another because you never know what that person's next of kin will be like. To box someone up is only to deceive yourself into thinking what they are meanwhile never knowing the truth. Assumptions never work in anyone's favour.

Zephyra catches herself before going off topic again. She reigns in the rest of her thoughts as she noticed a few people listening.

So the questions I ask you is, do you really believe your bloodline is better than another? What are your thoughts on the matter?

i disagree that no bloodline is better than other bloodlines. Chekov's bloodline is clearly the prettiest one.

ALTA listens to the woman speak about bloodlines and decides to add some brief input.

My words may not mean much around here, however; I think the idea of one bloodline being "better" than another comes from the social "norm" that our community holds ourselves to.

In this world, you are to join a crew, earn money, build or develop a skill or two, get introduced into the family by earning your button, and continue to earn money, make friends, and build a skill or two until you die. You can add running a crew or other variations if you are an individual who has a family position of some kind.

People who do not follow these "norms" (i.e. rouging, not finding crews and then being shot etc.) are generally shunned in this community. Is this right? I can't make that judgment, but this why I believe the belief of "one bloodline being better than another" exists.

My bloodline has never left these social "norms". Does that make my bloodline better? Depends on who you ask I suppose, but to me, it does not.

I find that a little backwards A_Long_Time_Ago. You can hear about legends whose lines have rogued or even switched sides in a war. So I do not see how those "norms" would apply. Not all rogues are shunned. Many have once again risen to the top from time to time.

Anyone who has rogued has had the ability to earn money. make friends, run a family, etc. can still with time end up roguing at any given point.

I suppose I can use myself for an example. I have on occasion with ancestors done extremely well, but then I have other members of my family tree haul off and shoot someone. I am not saying I am a great example but there are many people with lines like this. Some that may wish to hide it or pretend to be something they are not while they are high up on their pedestal. Either way I have shown that someone can stay within the norm and eventually do something down the road.

That is why it does not make sense to me that those who accept the social "norm" or whatever current leaders want from people are suddenly better. Or does this simply make them better until a different reign is upon our community? 

Side note: I noticed I stuck with the roguing idea but the concept is pretty well the same for any "flaw" in a line.

Hmmm... Valid point, I stand corrected.

BoomBoomBetty is leaning against the wall of some building in the street smoking a cigarette. She listens to the conversation and butts out her smoke beneath her shoe before responding.

I can not comment on what goes on in coffee shops as I don't hang around there, but I do understand where you are coming from. And I agree, peoples past lives, for the most part, do not affect what they can do today. Your initial question is "do you believe your bloodline is better than another?

I do not believe anyone will say their bloodline is better than yours, I certainly don't. But I do believe some bloodlines are better than others. There are mobsters out there that give themselves whole heartedly, they are generous with their knowledge with those who lack some, but are tough as nails when it comes to protecting those around their vicinity. Some bloodlines think of themselves only, and don't give a rat's butt about anyone else, and it goes on with every generation of the said bloodline.

I DO believe some bloodlines are better than others, I wish it wasn't so, but in certain people it is true.

I'm probably going to end up being extremely blunt here but meh, so be it!


Of course some bloodlines are better than others. With out a shadow of a doubt. You can look at it singularly or you can look at it over many past generations. For example... and this may sound a bit egotistical but right now I consider my bloodline better than anyone elses that is not currently running a crew. I have made my bones, exceeded my Godfathers expectations and got myself and my family in to a great position. Through hard work, determination and by having a vision. Going along the same lines any one who is currently in a Godfather position and running a district is doing better than I currently am. 

Or you can look at it over past generations of course, there are still those of us whose bloodline has never suicide out of a family, never changed sides in war, never shot anyone out of frustration with out authorisation to do so verses those that have. There are those of us who continuously rise to power, let's be honest here, because of the great reputation that their bloodline holds. 

We are in a world where your past generations actions can greatly or negatively impact the kind of life and progress you achieve just through your family name. As unfortunate as that is, it's the truth of it and will continue to be so for as long as we live this life. It is no secret that your own bloodline has a lot of negativity that surrounds and the likes of Kuklinski are proof of that. Kuku more so to be fair. Then on the flip side of that there are people like TyrionLannister's bloodline that has a great reputation and continuously rises to power due to that reputation and the amount of work each generation of his seems to put in. 

It's the same with anything in life, if you are in a high profile widely publicised profession then your past actions and your reputation will be scrutinized. As will that of your family before you. Consider the president of the United States for example. His run up to office and his family life before taking office will be picked at and looked over and over again and any past discrepancies will be brought to public light, potentially effecting any chance he has of becoming the most powerful man in the world.  Thankfully that is not always the case in our mafia world but it certainly has been in the past and will continue to be so. 

Zephyra turns to Betty first.

I get what you are saying. We are all entitled to our own opinions. The thing is I feel that a lot of people will stick to what their bloodlines are boxed in to be, which only hinders them. Then there are people who wouldn't take notice if that bloodline they despised was doing well because they have their heads too far up their asses.

So I guess it is a matter of opinion on whether someone is better bloodline or not. It's just hard for me to see how a group of people can chastise someone else's bloodline when they have black sheep in their past as well. Know what I mean?

Turning to Jono next. She listens for a moment and sips on her coffee.

So if I have heard correctly Sir, you do believe people's bloodlines are better than others? As I was saying to Betty I suppose that is a matter of opinion. But you feel this way based on the past?

So let me step aside from your squeaky clean example and give you a recent situation that has occured.

Bloodline A has a go at Bloodline B and brings up their past bloodline and how shit of a GF Bloodline B was etc. Now Bloodline A has a past of turning on their Godfather. Does that really make sense for him to be saying how shit a bloodline is when he has his own black sheep?

Somehow I think if it's okay to put yourself that high on a pedestal then maybe you should acknowledge your own black sheeps.

I cannot speak of an opinion on your bloodline specifically though Jono. It reaches too far back for me to go venturing through time so you will pardon me if I stick to the present.

You have heard me correctly Zephyra. It's definitely a matter of opinion. There are those that rightly so believe that with each new generation should come a new start and I agree with that to an extent. I also definitely feel this way based on the past, is that not what a bloodline is? Some ones past generations? 

As for your example I feel that comes down to certain people and then their own individual opinions. People will always believe the moves that were taken by their family in the past was the right thing to do at that point in time and will be as stubborn as anything when it comes to defending their own honour. So even though they have their own black sheep they will defend it and rightly so. If you don't believe the action taken was right then why would their past generations have taken that action in the first place. 

However, I also think using a bloodlines past dependencies to strengthen your own argument against someone is treading in dangerous waters. As you said yourself, if you're going to use it against someone then you best make damn sure you have no skeletons hiding in your own closet. Otherwise it becomes redundant and can lead to a debate or a decent conversation going way off topic and ruining it completely. 

After listening to the conversation for some time, Curtis decided to chip in.

"The bulk of my view on this has been covered by Jono. I think my own view on the subject is pretty simple. Maybe overly so, I'm not sure. A persons actions define them. Not what they say, what they actually do. People talk a whole heap of shit, often with the best intentions but when it comes down to it, they will always do what is most important to them. Over a long enough time line, the truth of that person's will be borne out.

Sure, as you have said, everyone makes mistakes. Some larger than others. For the most part anyone with any sense of fairness and maturity will always give someone a second chance. Someone else might give their next of kin a third. Then some charitable soul might give the next one down a fourth and so on. After enough time, the clothes become stained and trust, that most critical ingredient, becomes eroded. like colour fading from warn clothes. With each fuck up, the damage gets harder to redress.

Personally, I know my entire bloodline has never gone rogue, never taken down people from inside, never sold out someone I worked for and never hid when the bullets flew. Not a single member of my family in all the generations has ever broken their code. Not once. Does that make my line better than others? You bet your fucking balls it does. I'm one stand-up reliable motherfucker and time and tests have proved that generation after.

Now... Does that mean I am a better person to have in a family than someone else that may have a couple of blemishes in times gone by? No, it doesn't. Everyone has the capability to perform in the life they have now. I have known rogues who I would now trust with my life. People that have betrayed their vows who I would give very important duties to. But there is a limit. After enough generations of relentless failure, I would cease to give opportunities to someone who had proved themselves highly unlikely to be a worthwhile investment. 

It comes down to trust. Trust if the single most valuable asset we have. It is the hardest thing to find and the most difficult thing to be certain about. It can create incredible bonds and it can rip entire cities apart. So precious is this one attribute and so easily by a bloodline's past action that it will be the main reason past offences may take so long to overcome."

Jono, I have to say it makes me extremely glad I am more aware of my black sheeps and white sheeps in my line. The past can only be used to hurt you if you let it after all.

In an argument though how could it possibly strengthen it? I feel it makes that person look more like an asshole than anything. Again, perhaps opinion based I suppose. At least everyone has one, only few speak up about theirs.

I do appreciate your insight though on your thoughts on the matter.

Zephyra flashes Jono a smile and turns her attention to Curtis. She had watched Curtis speak elsewhere and always enjoyed it so she paid attention now.

While I think trust is important I do not think that it is impossible for bloodlines to be shaded over or their misdeeds emphasized with rumours. So how do you prove that all that garbage is true? Simple, you can't. Maybe I am hopeful that people will take off their blinds sometimes and consider a bloodline's every character, not just the ones they think they know all about. Once again I suppose this leads back to opinions.

Trust is something that goes both ways though. As much as people want associates they can trust, associates likewise want leaders they can trust. At the very least I would not work so well with a leader that came across as the most shady motherfucker in the world or treated me like a number. If that makes any sense? It is indeed a two way street just as respect is.

The only difference in this street is an associate can't kill its leader because they are the most two faced person in the world. That would be wrong but a leader can kill their members for the smallest thing like not putting salt under a bridge. That's an example and clearly an over exaggeration but it will serve it's purpose. The leader then can tell other leaders whatever they like and most generally take it for what is said, believe it and then follow through on a bandwagon. This mars bloodlines as well just in a more subtle way.

There are always two sides to every coin. Just a matter of what side flips theirs first.

Zephyra takes the last bit of the coffee she had and gathers her thoughts.

I think after these discussions it seems to come down to opinions. There is no scale that can accurately judge this. No right or wrong answer. It is merely one person or a group of people's thoughts on a bloodline.

While I think trust is important I do not think that it is impossible for bloodlines to be shaded over or their misdeeds emphasized with rumours.

"I didn't say it was impossible, I said that with enough repetition og generations of bad action, it becomes hard to give a clean slate to someone. Nothing to do with rumours."

So how do you prove that all that garbage is true? Simple, you can't. Maybe I am hopeful that people will take off their blinds sometimes and consider a bloodline's every character, not just the ones they think they know all about. Once again I suppose this leads back to opinions.

"It doesn't come down to opinions at all, it comes down to actions. Actions is all it ever comes down to. If you have a tarnished bloodline then the only way to fix it is through right actions. Sometimes through generation after generation of right action to help public opinion see that generation after generation of bad action have been put aside. Fixing damage is always relative to the damage done."

Trust is something that goes both ways though. As much as people want associates they can trust, associates likewise want leaders they can trust. At the very least I would not work so well with a leader that came across as the most shady motherfucker in the world or treated me like a number. If that makes any sense? It is indeed a two way street just as respect is.

"This isn't relevant to the conversation. This comment is about poor selection of leader. It has nothing to do with a bloodline's reputation and being tarnished and regaining trust."

The only difference in this street is an associate can't kill its leader because they are the most two faced person in the world. That would be wrong but a leader can kill their members for the smallest thing like not putting salt under a bridge. That's an example and clearly an over exaggeration but it will serve it's purpose. The leader then can tell other leaders whatever they like and most generally take it for what is said, believe it and then follow through on a bandwagon. This mars bloodlines as well just in a more subtle way.

"Any leader worth their salt will judge a person on their actions and usually on a few generations worth of actions. Most level headed individuals will not listen to the spurious rumours of just one individual."

There are always two sides to every coin. Just a matter of what side flips theirs first.

Zephyra takes the last bit of the coffee she had and gathers her thoughts.

I think after these discussions it seems to come down to opinions. There is no scale that can accurately judge this. No right or wrong answer. It is merely one person or a group of people's thoughts on a bloodline.

"Again. No. It has absolutely nothing to do with opinions and everything to do with actions."

Well Curtis we may just have to agree to disagree. The way you are putting it makes it sound like people would actually know the truth. My experience would be that they wouldn't know it if it came up and hit them upside the head.

So really to me it is down to a matter of opinion. Not all actions are correctly portrayed in this community of ours. Never believe everything you hear or see. There is always much more to it under the surface.

I respect that you believe it is down to actions though. And maybe if people were more trustworthy I may agree with you, but criminals lie just as any other human being.

Curtis sighs.

"Ok Look...

If you shoot the wrong person. That's a bad action and pretty easy to ascertain as either happening for a fact or not.

If you do no work and tribute almost nothing up to your family, that is a bad action and pretty easy to ascertain as either happening for a fact or not.

If you say bad things and speak with disrespect in the streets to the effect that it reflects badly on your family, that is a bad action and pretty easy to ascertain as either happening for a fact or not.

If you take a highly confidential conversation between two people and break omerta by broadcasting it to the detriment of your family, that is a bad action and pretty easy to ascertain as either happening for a fact or not.

If you are given control of an HQ button and elect to execute half your family, that is a bad action and pretty easy to ascertain as either happening for a fact or not.

If you are asked to participate in a war for your family and refuse or suddenly disappear, that is a bad action and pretty easy to ascertain as either happening for a fact or not.

I could go on but surely you see the point. It is about actions. Not whispered conjecture and rumour. Actual measurable factual action. If your actions always remain dependable and solid, people can throw all the shit in the world at you and it will have no effect as you will have a solid track record to back you up. You will also, likely as not, have a long list of people that will not believe idle gossip from fractious infants and remain happily by your side as they know you to be a dependable individual.

Its not about opinions, its about facts that can be checked. Accumulate enough facts in your favour and you won't have to fret about bullshit as it will hold no power over you."

That doesn't work on a logic scale. Well maybe if you shoot someone or are being disrespectful in the streets. Those are obvious ones to check. However, earnings and everything else is down to what is heard because I can guarantee you that you don't know what my current earnings are and nor does every other leader in this community. Earnings are not something that is easily checked therefore relies on what is told.

War participation is iffy at the best. You could be asked to participate and still not be able to if there are other worldly things that need to be done. So that leader may take it as they didn't want to. Down to perception of a situation.

As far as HQing half a family goes.. Not exactly common is it? But I will give you that one.

It is not all facts though. A lot is based on what you are told of someone for the most part.

A more common example, Someone joins your family. Opts to leave in a casket. They could have worked really hard in that short time but that you were not a leader that they wanted to work for. So they took the proper way out. But instead of being content with that you tell people that they weren't doing anything.

It is easy enough to do and I find a lot will do so. Or people will make up their own stories in regards to what happened.

So why it is so easy to be a matter of opinion? It is not always fact Curtis. Some instances, some that even you have pointed out, are fact but there are many others that are not.

That doesn't work on a logic scale. Well maybe if you shoot someone or are being disrespectful in the streets. Those are obvious ones to check. However, earnings and everything else is down to what is heard because I can guarantee you that you don't know what my current earnings are and nor does every other leader in this community. Earnings are not something that is easily checked therefore relies on what is told.

"Your leader can see what you earn. "

 War participation is iffy at the best. You could be asked to participate and still not be able to if there are other worldly things that need to be done. So that leader may take it as they didn't want to. Down to perception of a situation.

"Its usually really bloody obvious if someone has dodged their responsibilities. "

It is not all facts though. A lot is based on what you are told of someone for the most part.

"It is all facts to the people who matter. I'm dealing with first person evidence, (like the CL checking their own members earning or the WS with your name on it for shooting the wrong target. Actual facts) not bullshit muttered between third party bystanders. Bullshit will always be bullshit and should always be treated as such."

A more common example, Someone joins your family. Opts to leave in a casket. They could have worked really hard in that short time but that you were not a leader that they wanted to work for. So they took the proper way out. But instead of being content with that you tell people that they weren't doing anything.

"A more common example of what exactly? In the scenario you present, no one does anything wrong and there is no need for finger pointing or acquiring a bad reputation. If someone feels they have made a bad decision in the family they have chosen, they are entitled to kill themselves. A person always has that right."

So why it is so easy to be a matter of opinion?

"That doesn't make any sense."

  It is not always fact Curtis. Some instances, some that even you have pointed out, are fact but there are many others that are not.

"It is about facts. Facts and fuck all else. Listen... You raised the topic of bloodlines being tarnished and discussed a bloodline with a checkered past proving themselves and getting fair treatment. I have merely pointed out that for all bad actions and accumulated bad rep, a person will need to do a relative amount of positive reputable action and time in order to redress the balance and be given a truly fair go. The best way of doing this is not dealing with bullshit and just dealing with facts. If you want to be treated well, perform well. Continually. Then opinions and bullshit don't mean anything. At all. That is the end of it. Period. "

Zephyra chuckles softly.

Yes I did bring this topic up from a conversation I was watching elsewhere. However, you give too much credit to people at actually using their brains. Call me jaded but I think you give too much credit where as I feel I am a bit more realistic with my views. I suppose life would have dealt us different hands and different perceptions. I respect yours and I am glad that you have shared them with those of us that have been listening.