Sitting at her family's headquarters, YourNextWife is chatting with her beloved family about the most random subjects as they tend to do. That's probably why she adores her family so much. She feels like she can trust them with every fiber of her being. Other people she has a harder time trusting, she has been screwed over by "friends" far to many times in her life to keep on making the same dumb mistakes over and over. She thinks to herself if she is missing out on something important about our lives. She watches other people talk, have fun, and forge friendships from other families, and even different states all together. Sometimes she feels envy of their friendship, but her mind always wanders back to her past experiences with so called "friends" she has made. How do you know if you can trust these people? Are they just acting like your friend to get something from you?

She stands up and looks at her family and says, "Guys, something has been bothering me for quite a while. I think I'm actually going to the streets to say my piece, because it's something I've never seen brought up before." Her family looks at her in shock because they know it's completely out of her character to talk to people outside the family, let alone go out in the streets and addressing a crowd. Her family wishes her luck. Some follow her out to the streets to wait and see what she has to say.

YourNextWife wanders over to the podium, at which she has watched so many people speak their minds. She steps up to the podium and looks around at the people to see if anyone actually notices her standing there. She watches as some people walk by, and others stop and wait patiently for her to start speaking. She waits until a decently sized crowd starts to amass around her before she decides to start speaking. Her nerves are rattling as she gets ready to address the growing crowd around her. She sees a few members of her family standing out in the crowd, and that helps her relax a little and feel more comfortable addressing the crowd. Finally, she draws in a deep breath and starts speaking.

"I have a question that has been on my mind lately. Is it better to interact with people, or to lay back in the shadows? By interacting with people you make allies, and you can actually have quite a bit of fun talking to other people, but you can also give out valuable information by accident that could cause some serious damage. By sticking to the shadows you don't give out any information, but you're not forging that bond with people outside of your crew and district. To mingle or not to mingle, that is the question."

She steps down from the podium, and waits for someone to step up and speak to everyone else.

Karmen had stopped to listen to YourNextWife's speech, and she thought about the question for a minute. To mingle or not to mingle? 

When she had thought of a decent reply in her head she stepped forward out of the crowd and said, "What would this life of ours be without mingling? How would we have businesses without word of mouth? How would we do organized crimes without speaking to other people? How would we Mafioso pass the time if all we do is hide in the corner, avoiding people, avoiding interaction, fearing the worst? I mingle. I definitely couldn't imagine NOT mingling. I have made good friends in this world, and of course I have made enemies. But I watch what I say so that I don't say anything stupid, or anything that will get me in trouble. It's all about doing it the right way. There's a right way to mingle, and there's a wrong way. The wrong way is telling your "friends" about every person you kill, every time you miss a shot, telling them how strong you are, how stealthy you can be, how strong your vision is.. That's the wrong way. The right way is chatting about life, chatting about your job, chatting about family, even. But, keep the private stuff private. Thanks! That's all I have to say."

When Karmen finished talking, she nodded her head once then disappeared back into the crowd.

Hail Batiatus. If one's ambition is to elevate their own political status to one of prominence, building ties and relationships with others is necessary.  Let good Batiatus stand before the masses to serve as fucking example!!!

However YourNextWife, if you have been cursed with loose tongue, so undisciplined that you cannot speak with others without divulging secrets or sensitive information, then I would graciously lend my ear to you if you ever feel like speaking with someone.

I think a much overlooked asset in this thing of ours in information. Yes, you might have 5 people who are dead eye dicks and can shoot anyone, anywhere or anytime. But thats not much good to you if everyone knows it, knows your plans and knows when you are at your weakest. Perhaps two of those people are away for the weekend. Good time to wipe you out really isn't it?

You might have people with a photographic memory and can remember every face they see in a city. But if they have gone out on the piss then it's safe to say you'll be able to sneak by and complete your dastardly plans. Knowing these things are vital.

Which brings me to your point. 'To mingle or not to mingle' if you do not mingle, as you correctly pointed out, you do not 'leak' information. But of you do not have the intelligence to know what you should and shouldn't be sharing then its safe to assume you won't be told anything important anyway so I wouldn't really worry about mingling if you throw yourself into that bracket.

But perhaps the most important people people within your crew, who are sometimes overlooked, are those who can get someone to tell them everything without saying anything themselves. It's those who can hear about the plans to take you out, the disharmonies within a city or that one person who have a vendetta against your city.

This skill is something that cannot be trained. It can only be learnt and sometimes, perhaps, it's just something your are born with. To be able to befriend pretty much anyone in this world and gain their trust is invaluable. I know a few people who are just like this. Most are within positions of power.

So to answer your question. The answer is most definitely mingle because if you don't and your crew mate doesn't then who actually is? You might never find out that attack is coming or something that was a little thing, something a simple sorry could fix, could blow up into something that sees you dead.

But be careful because if you do take the mingle route and are played at your on game. The result could be very much the same.

Chris is walking down the street, on his way to the SmackDown Hotel, he may even stop into Rick's Famous Bakery for a slice of Pie. There's even the possibility that he could stop of at Uncle Barry's Butty Bar to see Barry and his 33lb head, but that's the kind of place Ragnarok might hang out, and Chris isn't sure if he could deal with that sick freak at this time on a sunny Sunday morning. As he rounds a corner heading to Know Your Role Boulevard he sees that Monkey's ass, Batiatus, talking to two females, no doubt embarrassing himself with his social awkwardness. Not since Spike Dudley tried to hook up with Molly Holly has such a socially inept individual stalked the surface of the People's planet. Chris draws near and overhears a conversation about mingling, and friendships. He stops to listen and as he catches the eyes of KarmenKayne and YourNextWife, he smiles politely and nods his head. However, YourNextWife keeps looking at Chris, and this unnerves him ever so slightly.

"YourNextWife, look at you just looking at the Rock, gawking at the Rock; you ought to be ashamed of yourself, a woman your age looking at the Rock! It seems to the Great One that you have no issue whatsoever socializing, mingling, striking up friendships, impressing jabronis like Batiatus, being a cougar to all the impressionable young men crawling the streets, and that's a good thing. In our line of work you need contacts, you need friends, and sometimes you can't get all of that within your own family. You need people to interact with when you leave your home district. You need people willing to invite you to assist in organized crimes, to buy your DFP productions and sell them on at a profit. The Rock has many friends in many cities, but you need to mind your Ps & Qs whilst interacting. Of course you don't want to give away family secrets, you don't want someone who may be on the other side of the fence some day to know you train your gun for 7 hours every day, or that you are the prowacker of choice for your CL, or that Batiatus likes to look at the people's strudle. But that doesn't mean you can't have friendships outside of your family.

You can talk about the weather, you can discuss how the Patriots kicked the asses of the Seattle Seahawks 28 to 24, you can have romantic liaisons, you can have business district regulars, or like The Rock you can have millions... and millions of Fans. The problem is, the members of your family can be steaming, stinking, piles of monkey crap just as much as that jabroni over there. Sure they might not betray your secrets to the enemy, but they might. Just because you work for the same glorious leader doesn't mean you have the same morals, or that you have the same loyalties. There are people living in New York right now that The Rock knows are just big, fat, ugly hermaphrodites and The Rock will have nothing to do with them. The Rock will never, and I do mean ever, engage in an organized Crime with them, he will not interact with them, he will not bestow his special brand of Rockness upon them, and should they ever come by the Rock's businesses he will kick them out on their sorry fat asses. In fact, the Rock may just go up to them some day and lay the smackdown on their candy asses."

Allah's lunch was interuppted by a brief speech

"I have a question that has been on my mind lately. Is it better to interact with people, or to lay back in the shadows? By interacting with people you make allies, and you can actually have quite a bit of fun talking to other people, but you can also give out valuable information by accident that could cause some serious damage. By sticking to the shadows you don't give out any information, but you're not forging that bond with people outside of your crew and district. To mingle or not to mingle, that is the question."
 

Listening to other peoples opinion's on this topic, he agreed.

"A true Mafiosi could not make-do without interaction." he began to speak

"I do however believe your position in your family comes into this too however. A new Thug would not be expected to interact with others anywhere near as much as a Don of his own family."

"Of course everyones time will come someday, but to even stand a chance and achieve great things? I don't think it's possible to do without interaction. Creating friendships outside your family could one day save your life too as someones already mentioned, You might never find out that attack. A Don of another family may reconsider your rivals proposal to obliterate you and your family because you two are such good friends and he may attempt to warn you before the attack commences."

"If it's the possibility of giving out valuable information that scares you? Well truth is everybodys going to hurt you, you just have to find the ones worth suffering for -Unknown"

"To Mingle... That is my answer"

 

Louis watches as YourNextWife fights her own nerves as she approaches the podium eager to give her a smile and some words of encouragement. After to listening to her talk he presses the tip of his cigar against a light post before flicking it onto the ground.

When my father was a young he told me he was always worried about the same things that you worry about. He was afraid he would make a mistake and offend people by offering his opinion rather than give up sensitive information. But he was worried indeed. Nobody wants to appear foolish among a crowd, so it is natural to be a bit nervous.

What I can say to you is MINGLE ON!!!!! This thing of ours is built off of relationships and is a major key in leading a long, healthy and happy life of crime. What would our world be if there wasn't vocal people keeping the Streets interesting. Petty crimes and bank robbing and knocking off the local undesirable's wouldn't be nearly as much fun without people to come home to and chat with while out and about. If you ever have any questions or concerns about a prepared speech I would suggest to have one of your leaders read over your note cards before bringing it public for approval. Or at least until you feel comfortable fighting the stage fright yourself and have gained some confidence with it. 

Chatting with other mobster's in private is definitely a good thing to do as well. Attempt to find people that you have similar things in common with or at least have some decent topics to chat about. Meeting the different people of our world is always a good thing as you never know when that bond could help you in the future. You never know who's bloodlines will end up crossing paths and working closely together at some point down the road. As long as you always keep it respectful as I know you to be, I don't see how it could ever be a negative to become well liked and form bonds. Just make sure you know where to draw the line in the sand between business and pleasure.

You will do great... this I'm sure of.

Listens to YourNextWife with a curious ear. When she finishes, Cloud meets her as she's leaving her podium and gives her a hug.

"Thank you for bringing this topic up today. Frankly I would say to mingle, mingle, mingle. Get to know people, laugh, and have a great time. Form bonds and friendships that will last for years, or for the rest of your live, and maybe even to the end of your bloodline. We are mobsters, but we are not mutes."

Cloud looks to the crowd and spots YourNextWife. He smiles at her before continuing.

"However the one thing you must always remember is omerta. The code we should all live by, and that in which is too often broken in this thing of ours. If you live by omerta you will be respected, and so will your children. It is our foundation, and it's what keeps us all going. It's what keeps us knocking over those post offices, and robbing those banks. Most importantly it's what keeps a families bond strong. I think all respectable mobsters would agree to this, in this day and age at least."

Steps down and fixes his suit. A cool breeze washes over him and the crowd as he leaves the street corner.

Richard quietly listens to the obviously nervous YourNextWife take to the podium regarding on whether or not to mingle.

"It's a coin toss in my opinion, I generally prefer to keep to myself and to my Crew, after all relationships outside the Crew your in and the higher-ups you serve can only cause problems when war comes crawling out of it's hole and you may just have to pull the trigger on the person you were drinking buddies with only a few days before. Sure I've made my fair share of friends, Jono and the now dead bloodline of Technical being two major ones, but I also don't have the time to peruse the street night and day to keep watch over what's going on, I need sleep ya know. Plus, I've also got a horrible habit of pissing off people when I stay around too long, ergo I only come out when I need to speak my mind."

He drops the butt of his cigarette into the snow beneath his feet, crushing it under his heel before continuing.

"Call me a recluse, I'm not going to deny it. But, I prefer to be alive and have a small group of friends that I can count on then be a social butterfly and be stabbed in the back for something stupid I said."

With that, Richard pops his collar and retreats back into the crowd.

Chun_Li listens to the young lady yournextwife, and kinda identifies with her, but not for the same reasons..she knows her lack of presence in the streets is lack of courage and fear of saying something stupid..and decides to offer her two cents..

" the few friends i do have are all over, not strictly from my home city..but no matter where they're from, with the exception of the CL and hands of my crew, I dont discuss family with anyone, that way there is no accidental slippage of sensitive info..although even previous CL's i've had have screwed over not just me, but his/or her entire family, so sometimes you just dont know"..

Walder had been away on business for a few days, but he had just managed to interrupt his busy schedule to try to comment on a topic that had been raised in the streets, a topic that had interested him greatly when he had heard the words. He stepped up and spoke his piece.

I think it is always good to be social and good to stay in touch with others. You can crime in secret, but what happens when you get caught? You need friends to bust you out of jail, friends to con the police, friends to offer bribes and to offer you great information. Yes your mouth can get you into trouble, but the end note is that you always put your family first. It is great to have friends, but if you keep that little bit of information in the back of your head at all times, this will save you from shedding any unwanted attention.

Walder waited for the next person to speak, and hopefully offer some more advice on the situation

​Curtis listened to the discussion and all it's participants. He'd agreed with most of what was said and was going to continue quietly observing when he heard something he felt he had experience to comment on.

"YourNextWife, thank you for bringing this topic up. Though on the surface it would seem most people are in agreement I do have a point to add about something Richard_Valois touched on. Richard you say that friendships outside of family can become difficult when war comes calling and that is your primary reason for reclusion in this regard but I disagree that it is necessary.

For many generations my line have had rich and even loving friendships with people in other families or cities. The best of friends, even feeling like brothers on occasion. The understanding was always there that regardless of our personal ties to each other, our families came first. That is, if came down to it, we would fight tooth and nail against each other for the preservation of our own families. There was never any lack of love or loss of respect or even slight ill feeling toward each other about this. It was simply clearly understood that family and service came first. Everything else, including our personal friendships, were secondary. Sometimes the following generations would end up in the same family, sometimes they wouldn't. But the generational friendships would endure. There was never any loss of strength in the relationships and never any loss of principal to our families. 

It is entirely possible to sustain this type of friendship with as many mobsters outside your family as you wish. Provided both parties remain respectful of each other's boundaries, there should be no issues."

Richard quietly listens to Godfather Curtis come out and personally address his thoughts on the subject, allowing him to finish before returning to the front of the crowd.

"Well I would like to say first It's an honor to be acknowledged by a Godfather, much more the Chairman of New York."

"Now, I do agree with you on those things, and I have been in the same positions and the exact same events have unfolded as you mentioned, even though I'm only the 3rd generation to walk on this soil. But, I'd like to point out the fact that possibly fighting my friends is not, in fact the main reason for my seclusion. It's mostly the fact that I have... let's call it bad luck, of angering people if I speak too much. It's happened several times to me and my family before we made it to America, so I learn from my mistakes, and especially with the fact that almost everyone here carry guns, I tend to be more careful and quiet then usual as I know my luck to dodge will eventually run out."

Having only just arrived at YourNextWife's speech, TwistedFate had already begun to deal his cards, seated near Richard and GodFather Curtis.

To live your life in seclusion is understandable Richard_Valois. I believe your tendency to say things that anger people may perhaps be a result of either a) Just Bad Luck (As you mentioned) or b) Lack of experience in being social in this thing of ours.

An ancestor of mine once lacked or thought he lacked the social mentality of dealing with people in the Streets, upon first arriving in Chicago. This was perhaps a result of not knowing how people wanted him to behave or say. I decided I would eventually bite the bullet and address my thoughts or acknowledges on the streets. By getting to know people through simple things such as joining conversations or just mailing others before moving on to speak your mind in the streets, he was able to feel confident in what he was saying was right. 

If you perhaps anger someone through something you say (as you mentioned) you may just be forgiven or the blow taken lightly because you were 'that guy' that sent them a greetings card in their mail just the other day or 'that guy' you played dice or poker against.

All the best! 

TwistedFate reveals his cards showing a blackjack and reveling in the other mobster's cash.

YourNextWife patiently listens to everyone's speeches and opinions and thanks each and every one of them as they step down. She steps back up to the podium and starts to speak once again

"First of all I want to thank each and every one of you for speaking to me and others around about this topic. I personally have decided to try to be a least a LITTLE more social. Though I do feel like I represented myself incorrectly, I am not so much worried about myself giving up valuable information but more as a whole. I have seen some things spoken around me that definitely could be used against someone. When I heard Louis-Manciagli speak I knew that is exactly what had been what was holding me back. I don't want to make myself look foolish, as I am the first of many generations I expect to be here, I haven't had the honor of learning how to behave and act here. Granted I have been taught by some fantastic people, it still shakes my confidence knowing that a lot of you have many generations here. I am glad to see that I'm not the only one feeling this way and I encourage you all to speak your minds because it is a wonderful learning experience seeing everyones point of view. Thank you all once again."

YourNextWife steps down from the podium once again smiles as she feels a giant weight lift off her shoulders. 

Curtis listens and turns back to Richard.

"I completely understand that position. Many generations ago an ancestor of mine was killed for numerous reasons but one of the ones given was his street speeches. I don't think they were particularly controversial so much as just poor and a bit stupid. I've had predecessors who directly attacked people verbally in the streets too. They were never a shy bunch. It took me many generations to find a point I felt comfortable with. 

After being killed for your outspoken nature, its only natural that your next generation will be reserved and cautious. The pendulum will always swing the other way before it comes to rest at a center. The point is, you shouldn't think either position you have experienced so far is the correct one. One was perhaps too far in being outspoken, the one after perhaps a little too reserved and quiet. 

There is always a way to get your point across without giving anyone an excuse to kick off on you. Just need to think it through before hand. I'm not trying to tell you how to suck eggs here, I'm sure you are quite capable of carefully wording a speech. It just pays to walk away and give yourself time to calm down before replying sometimes."

Dana looks about surveying the scene a bit before quietly stepping up to speak. With a respectful nod she greets the members of other families she recognises. 

"The timing of this seems to be quite fortunate. As a great many have I'm sure taken note of, I am rarely seen in the streets. I do however stay in contact with those who I am both familiar with and not so much when occasion calls for it. I don't wish to bother busy men or women in their day to day lives, yet I know that working with others in a hospitable fashion is a necessity in this thing of ours. I learned very young the streets were not the place to air one's grievances, far too many eyes and loose lips. A few great people in our time have understood this is as well, I would call those who would remember to Godfather Starscream (R.I.P.) and how he knew the value of things which would be better kept 'in the family' versus those one might speak about publicly. I encourage people to come to the streets when they have something to say, further and more so I encourage communication between family members. However, it is experience and understanding that teach us some things are not to be mingled about in public."

With that Dana steps back among the large black clad men who had previously surrounded her.

Ted races down the street in his tiny car he had just procured from a rather raucous clan of clowns, they didn't deal with money, so he had to give them an entire case of mushrooms instead, it was costly business, but from the look of the crowd which were talking about something or other; it was totally worth it. Pulling up to the corner of the street, he jumped out of his car and gazed around for a few moments before he decided that he would have a lot of important things to say on this subject.

Ah. Mingling, yes. What a fun haphazard thing to do, throwing caution to the wind and jabbering on and on about the going-abouts with your fellow mafioso. Ha Ha. I understand this notion rather well, to be frank with you all. As you may or may not know, I am quite the high up official in this thing of ours, and I too have partaken in this game of words from time to time. I believe most people here have already quite eloquently put my thoughts on this matter out into the open for me already. Ha Ha, but I digress. My major belief is that speaking to others is exactly how one should go about their business in this thing of ours, getting to know one another and networking are all part of the game, as it were, because isn't that all anything in life truly is? But a game. I rather think I am adept at playing it, would you not all agree? Anyways! Back to the matter at hand, speaking is all well and good...

He isn't entirely sure what he is talking about, but he has already committed. Ted had thought about also adding in an accent, but why ruin such a good thing? He was sure the way he was speaking, with his fancy words and roundabout demeanor was grabbing in the audience enough already, he didn't need to ruin it. He was golden.

... oh, yes. Where was I? Speaking is all fine and dandy, but once you begin to speak about anything deemed sensitive information, or rather, any information that should only be for the ears of the high in command, much like, let us not forget, myself-- then this is when you have made an err in your ways. One where, sadly, I believe, is unacceptable for what we do. Going past this line should always be dealt with in the most harsh of manners. I hope I helped enlighten you all, but now I must bid you all adieu. Oui Oui. Sacrebleu!

At least he didn't do an accent throughout the entire speech, he thinks to himself, and why French out of everything? He should have at least gone with something more simplistic, like Australian. Crikey. but with his final parting words, he was off. He began to walk away, into the sunlight, completely forgetting about his tiny car; his hair following closely behind like a steed. He looked magnificent... and like that... he was gone.

Richard curses as he throws a wad of cash TwistedFate for winning the game as he continues to listen to the others before speaking again.

"Actually Godfather, my bloodline's never really been one for being vocal here on the Streets, in fact the only time we've gotten in hot water was back in the Old Country, ergo one of the reasons why we came to America in the first place."

Richard lights another cigarette, inhaling deeply before he continues.

"I've always preferred to stay silent, only speak when my opinion is necessary. That way, I stay out of things that don't involve me by accident, as another thing in my bloodline is an absolutely horrid habit of 'Wrong place, wrong time', as it was with my Grandfather Oan joining the crew of Don HandsomeRob only hours before he and Godfather Numbers were eliminated, and later with my father Micheal being killed by a Rogue who was hunting my Boss Ironside."

He inhales again, before releasing a large cloud of smoke from his lips.

"I'll be honest, for the little over 7 months that I have been working these Streets, this is probably the most I've spoken and by far the most pleasant conversation my Family's ever had on the Streets."

Curtis smiles.

"Then I sincerely hope you continue as you are. I have found you amicable and intelligent and pleasantly spoken. These streets will always need more balanced, reflective and thoughtful voices in them. The more the merrier. I wish you all the best on your travels."