Let the masses take in the magnificent spectacle that is the mighty Batiatus with fucking eyes, and marvel at my wares.

Two days hence, The Factory Ludus and the Gladiators within will be implementing a vouching system to any commoner seeking entry into the storied House of Batiatus. After a thug completes any of my jobs, they will be contacted by one of my Gladiators gifted with the privilege of sponsoring associates to determine the thug's interest in working for us. Or, they are free to contact myself or one of my sponsors directly. If interest is expressed, the thug will be expected to provide lineage, or give the name of at least one member of the criminal underbelly that can vouch for them and speak to their caliber. One or the other, if not fucking both. It can be a member from my own Ludus, a member from another, or the sponsors themselves. But some one will speak on your behalf before you are granted opportunity to bear my mark.

Once ancestry is established or an aspiring member is vouched for, sponsors are free to exercise their own judgement as to who they wish to grant entry. And of course, if you are of noble breeding and believe we might recognize your family name from the annuls of history, you may contact me directly, and I can instruct a sponsor to send invitation without needing another mobster to vouch for you.

"But good Batiatus," the masses will whine. "What of those who wish to keep their heritage shrouded in secrecy?" Then show me the due respect a man of my station deserves and be upfront about it. You will still provide a name of somebody of, at the very least, modest reputation who can speak on your behalf, or you can remove yourself from my sight.

Past transgressions and sins of the father have never been matters that have interested me. Those that do well by me will be rewarded with lucrative futures, regardless of what their ancestors have done in times passed. I have members within my own walls, some are the seed of mafioso with checkered pasts while others prefer anonymity for personal reason. Yet they have been nothing short of model members for me, loyal and dedicated to my cause. This is what interests me.

The motivations behind a lowly thug desiring incognito stature mean shit to me, and I grow weary of having my intelligence insulted by those fool enough to think they are pulling the wool over fucking eyes with their pitiful attempts at deception, so easily fucking spotted, a recent suicidal member from my own Ludus serving as fucking example of such idiocy. "I am new to this world." "I'm new." "New blood to these shores here!" The day after a fucking war?!?!?! Fucking CUNTS!!! CURSE THEM!!!

This process will see certain names ostracized from my Ludus, as is our right to reserve. Call it bloodlining, call it cocksucking 'hatelining' or whatever the fucking dreadful seed-swallowing Mafia catchphrase-of-the-day is, the bottom line is those that wish to deceive are not welcome in my Ludus. Be upfront with any desires to have your family crest kept private, and see your request fulfilled and respected with the proper person speaking on your behalf. Then bask in the GLORY that serving The House of Batiatus provides.

Hail Batiatus.

Praise Batiatus, and praise his dedication to his cause. I personally have always been a fan of the vouching system. It is a grand way to ensure that associates and sponsors are more than just two people linked by something more than just a crew invite. Beyond that, it requires interaction within the family to get to know one another. A Crew should be familiar with one another, not strangers passing in the hall way. When you get to know a fellow associate, or made man, you learn about them. You can develop the confidence to vouch for them when the time comes.

Ivan was still in the streets after he gave his story of Ellis Island when he heard a loud uproar of praising and shouting even. He walked over to investigate...

"Praise Batiatus! Hail Batiatus!", Ivan couldn't help himself but join in on the shouting. 

Its good to see someone take the initiative based off of what the Godfather Council ruled towards member whoring. 

I am familiar with the art of vouching as I have vouched for a few of my close associates to get their button. But I have no seen this go towards membership in a crew. I find it to be very fascinating to say the least. I hope other criminal organizations can either adopt this as their own or maybe something similar. Its very odd to see fresh new thugs enter this world who have one conversation with someone and already being working for someone. I don't know all the stories behind them all, but its very unpleasant to see something close to member whoring continue after the GFC spoke against it.

Again.

"Hail Batiatus!"

Ajani walked up and greeted Batiatus with a hand shake. Batiatus was known for is valorous street presence and here he was boasting his skills once again. Ajani smiled and was pleased to hear and see another beautiful speech.

Greetings to the head of the great house Batiatus. I have heard legendary warriors only are born and bred within the walls of this legendary house. I am very pleased and not shocked in the direction you have chosen to step forth in. I am all for the vouching system in many ways, may it be the made man vouching system, or to enter the safety behind ones walls. I commend you for showing the future is bright and not a slouch. Hail Batiatus, in bringing meaning to something and if someone has a problem with it, tell them to kiss Crixus's ass.

Over my bloodlines years here, my father and grandfather have heard of systems where someone was not able to get a button because of their lack of support from within the family. Some of these systems precede even my bloodline...going back ages! And for whatever reason, as Batiatus said so eloquently...some think of these 'vouching' system as a 'bloodlining technique". Perhaps in some fashion it is, the sins of your father aren't to be held against anyone. But they aren't forgotten. This thing of ours has a memory that goes back generations...it maybe forgiven, but not forgotten. Hence every action here has a inevitable reaction...whether it be now or later! 

Even in the house Betty where the forest is always dark and bleak...there are ample opportunities to shine, given the lack the light. Blackwod Grins! But we have had aspiring mobsters reach out to us. Some of them come from cherished lineages, and yes they like to be on the down low. But that doesn't mean you have to hide from the heads of the family. You like to keep your business to your self! Fine! But when you are an associate or an eventual button man/woman! Your business is the family's business...

Now when you want to be given a button and being FAMILY here is so important, how can you not expect to know some of these family members? It blows my mind sometimes when others think they can get the button, without interacting within the family. I mean you want to be a member with presence, some clout, some respect in the family. You'r going to have to earn it. Some are very good with just working hard to be able to do so. But even then, as a CL/RHM/LHM I am sure heads wonder how well you do with working with people. You could be that lone soldier that needs no one, but at the end of the day this is a collective thing...this thing of ours!!! Not this thing if MINE!!!

So at the end of the day, when Batiatus comes out here and says 'vouching' is necessary....and some are shaking their heads. I say!!! Hail this system of OURS!!! Its almost a necessity, a prerequisite in ways that someone within the family recommends you to the heads. There are always members within the family vouching for others to get buttons...whether you know about it or not. So the system spoken of here isn't a novel idea, or a 'cleansing system'...its essentially always been in place, just at times its spoken of and at times it just works behind the scenes. But its always been there. 

With that I say, why worry?!?! Why hide?!?! Why run?!?! This system of vouching has always been there, just today its in the streets...most times its spoken of in the HQ rooms of the heads of the family. Mingle with your fellow family members, get to know them. Work with them...and watch the benefits fall into your lap. Its rare a hardworking mafioso who's loyal that doesn't get noticed. But don't forget, this is a thing of OURS!!! And because of that, it will always be a collective progression. 

Last but not least!

"The motivations behind a lowly thug desiring incognito stature mean shit to me, and I grow weary of having my intelligence insulted by those fool enough to think they are pulling the wool over fucking eyes with their pitiful attempts at deception, so easily fucking spotted, a recent suicidal member from my own Ludus serving as fucking example of such idiocy. "I am new to this world." "I'm new." "New blood to these shores here!" The day after a fucking war?!?!?! Fucking CUNTS!!! CURSE THEM!!!"

That really does make me wanna laugh! Who do you think we are? Just some half wits running the criminal world?!?! Get outta here!!! Honesty goes a looong way! Try it! 

I could put a lot more effort into this, but I don't see the point in wasting energy when I can keep it short and sweet.

I love you, Batiatus. I love you like Falcon loves the taste of a man in the morning.

Hail and Praise the King of Gladiators Batiatus!!

Yet another great idea from none other than the Leader of the Factory of Ludus. This idea will surely help keep our family and this world safe. Something the future of this world needs, to prevent people's vengence taking priority over loyalty to the great Batiatus! 

No one should betray our leader, he is a great and noble one. One of a kind, that loves ze people dropping ze soapzz. 

All hail Batiatus!

NealCaffrey is walking through the streets when he hears a man rambling on about vouching. Intrigued, he steps up with other fellow mafioso and listens to the full speech. His smile stretched from ear to ear listening to such a marvelous speech

"Hail Batiatus. I personally one hundred percent adore the way you have you have taken control by implementing the vouching system. It is something I believe is a key necessity in running a successful organisation in this life. I must commend the way in which you have brought fourth this announcement and hope that it helps The Factory Ludus continue to grow in the way that it should."

Neal tips his hat to the might Batiatus before putting his hands in his pockets and slowly wandering off from the conversation

Perhaps we should simply remove the option to give our sons and daughters different names altogether?  If we no longer differentiate between generations, why not?

Hearing quite a bit of commotion regarding a vouching system afghan approaches closer to listen further. After the others had spoken he steps forward and begins.

While I do see this system as a good way to keep bad blood out of your families, and a great way for other families to look upon you as a leader looking out for his own people as if you do not allow just anyone in your family and if you come forward publicly about this it will be one less thing an enemy can use as an excuse if they were to decide to go to war with you. The only issues I foresee of this is if the Godfather council were to make a standard across all cities how would a truly new line of blood come to these shores from the old country? Or if a bloodline that had returned to the old country for sometime returns, if no one is around to vouch for them what becomes of them then? Now even if my father was an extremely respectable man that everyone was fond of, this does not mean at all that I will follow in his footsteps. I could turn out to be the opposite, disrespectful to other families made members and running around like I was untouchable. For me, to truly be able to vouch for someone I would need to get to know them more than with a single conversation and a few sentences about their supposed lineage that could in fact all be false. This is why we have sponsors and associates, we bring this new blood into our families and they are absolutely worthless at this point. If they slip up, that's it they die without a second thought. Only until they prove themselves as being an associate do I believe they should be given a chance to be a part of the family after some other made member and their sponsor can vouch for them. During their sponsorship if they fuck up it shouldn't only be the associate that is responsible for his actions it should also be the sponsor because he was the one who initially vouched for the associate and is the person that is supposed to lead them on and be the good example to our ways. In recent times I have noticed that associates are becoming more and more valuable, they are allowed to say more and more and become more and more disrespectful in the streets to made members without repercussions. Without strict policies regarding how an associate must act we are only allowing these actions to keep happening in the first place. I understand that you are more likely referring to more serious matters that could affect your entire family, but if the person in question is not a made member there should be no issue with handing down the punishment only to the associate. I wish you luck in your endeavors and hope to hear back on whether or not this strategy works out for your family. 

Upon finishing his long winded speech afghan turns to make his leave.

afghan-mango, this is not a proposition to any Council or any of the other fine leaders across this great land.  It is a practice I am putting into place because it is how I decided to run my own Ludus.  If another Mafia leader were to decide to implement something similar, that would be no business or concern of mine.

Regarding those new to our shores, you'll be hard pressed to find someone of new blood that I haven't made time for.

As to everything else you said, I'm struggling to follow what you're talking about, or how it applies to my Ludus or anything I've said here.

I'm just glad that the term hatelining got some usage here. Vouching sounds chill. Judge lest ye be judged! etc etc, but anyway, it's a system that should put people to work... to work for what? To work for trust, and that's what this is all about anyway, trust. So free trust is bullshit, and that went on for quite a while around these parts. People could always ... buy... trust? No. Vouching works. Good Batiatus. Scrape and butter the orgy pits. 

The cynic in me can't help but wonder mighty Batiatus - why now? 

I think it's fairly common knowledge that crewleaders become more selective as their family..ludas whatever the hell it is fills up. I'd naturally have been interested to see whether you'd have implemented a similar vouching system when you say had five gladiators, as opposed to the 30 odd you had when you came to the streets with this announcement.

The simple answer to your question, Shingo, is this. He talked it over with the Rock, and the Rock agreed it was a great idea. Now the Great one has no doubt that Batiatus with the fucking eyes (how do eyes copulate? Seriously guys!) and small wares, wanted to implement this a long time ago, but the People's champ is a busy man, and it took Batiatus a long time to track him down and discuss this idea with the Great One. Oh and by the way, its Ludus with a 'U' jabroni, not a Ludas with a monkey's ass.

In fact, if the Rock's memory serves him correctly, the conversation went a little like this:

Batiatus: "Hail Rock, People's Champ, Great one, Brahma Fucking Bull and most electrifying man in all Mafia land. Draw near and listen to Batiatus as he runs idea of immense fucking magnitude past The Rock."

Chris Vaughn: "Hello Batiatus, The Rock, the People's Champ in the house. What's happening slick?"

Batiatus: "Mighty Batiatus of the Factory Ludus feels that there are too many jabronis trying to make it in New York, and he of noble birth that there may be too many for even the great One himself to layeth fucking smackdown upon. Therefore Batiatus has decided to introduce a vouching system into his Ludus, in order to keep the jabronis from New York's doors. What do you think of fucking Plan oh Great one?"

Chris Vaughn: "Whoa, whoa, whoa jabroni. There will never be too many jabroni's for the Rock to layeth the smacketh down upon. Simple fact of the matter is this is what the Rock does best. Twenty Four Seven, Three Sixty Five, the Rock drags jabronis up and down Smackdown Boulevard and checks their candy asses into the SmackDown Hotel. The Rock appreciates your fear Batiatus, and the Rock respects your respect for his safety, but The Rock believes that Battyanus needs to do what's right for his family first and foremost in order for New York to flourish. However, The Rock is all for vouching systems, whether its to join a crew, or whether its to earn your button. So let the Rock say this. You take care of the mighty Ludus, and the Rock will take care of the jabronis. Do you smell what the Rock is cookin'?"

Batiatus: "Gee Rock, you sure are electrifying, thank you."

Chris Vaughn: "You're welcome jabroni."

So there you have it Shingles, the unedited unadulterated story of why its taken Batiatus a while to bring this story to the streets. Do YOU smell what the Rock is cookin'?

Thanks for the cool story Chris_Vaughn, bro. Or would you prefer I address you as The Rock? I could address your your mental capacity as that, I guess.

Apologies for my pronunciation of words, I will make an attempt to further emphasise the "uuu" when I speak in the future about the Luduuuuus. Happy? I only smell wafts of shit Chris, I do have a blocked nose though. 

Tips his hat respectfully and hovers around to see if the mighty Batiatus ​will be gracing us with his presence, no doubt a very busy man working out which of his gladiators are trying to pull the wool over his eyes insulting his intelligence. 

Al was well aware of the utility in a name. His had never taken him far. He barely knew a man in this world besides his own reflection. Truth was, Al had different kinds of friends. Benjamin Franklin vouched for Al Capone. Andrew Jackson too, and sometimes Honest Abe. There was power in the bath of a light green hue, and a roundtable of talking Presidential heads would've told you Al cherished them all the same, down to the last Washington. Sometimes good faith was necessary to overcome the veritable tabula rasa of a man without lineage and earnings talked in a way nothing else could. Sometimes good faith was rewarded. Al didn't wear a mask but that kinda thing doesn't matter when nobody knew you in the first place. Mutual friends, though. Couple fellas named Franklin. 

Legitimately new wiseguy my cock, Deception.

The system is not absent its flaws.  I do not claim it to be perfect or iron-clad.  It's an active attempt to keep people with less than noble intentions out.

The growth of the community is not my concern or my problem.  We have magistrates in City Hall who tend to those matters.  My responsibilities are to Brooklyn and the men and women of The Factory Ludus that bear my mark.  The community can be fucked for all good Batiatus could give a shit or piss.

I divide people by these categories; those I trust, those I don't trust, and those that I don't know.  Those that I don't know, I have already formed preconceived notions about you, or I may one day grace you with my trust.  Those that I trust know who they are because I speak with them.  They are Dons and Godfathers, men and women of noble-breeding in all of the fine cities.  I align myself with with honorable men and women others do not revere as such.  I one day hope to be aligned with Kelly_Kapowski's dripping thighs.  As for people new to these shores, my journals speak of many bloodlines my ancestors have helped or forged as friend.  My own family name is probably known by fewer than by most,. I would hope to appeal to that few that do.

When somebody comes to me with desire to keep their lineage discreet. I honor their wishes.  They are upfront with their wishes.  I house them presently and their identities remain private.  When a person who claims new to these shores amasses millions in cash for tribute, buys respectable protection for themselves, throws around credit market shares, brandishes an impressive amount of drug units, and speaks fluently of our business right down to Durden bodyguards, on his first fucking day upon these sands, then Batiatus becomes suspicious.

I am not one to spread cheeks and allow for ramming by peasants.  I would have gladly played along with your charade privately, had you not decided to bring your concerns to my streets.  The community can drink from my seed and savor every drop. 

You are hereby dropped from The Factory Ludus, Deception.  May you find homage somewhere else.   If you are as quick a study as you claim to be, you will be a welcome addition to any crew.  I wish you good fortune in your journey, absent your gun which I have taken.  May I suggest you find shelter soon before you are struck down by those mightier than you with patience and sense equal to mine.

Hail Batiatus.

Thorne shakes his head and walks to the front of the crowd, debating to himself where to  start and how to go about it he finally figures it out and begins.

"First of all wow i don't think i could ever artfully put together a string of curses like Batiatus can. but as for the real point of myself deciding to stand in front of you and potentially taking some heat.

The community you are so quick to let get fucked, is something your apart of there is no you than a community. your actually apart of one as unfortunate as the probably sounds to you. 

A man with the name of deception comes to you and says he is new, i'm not sure about you but i'm going to think he's not being truthful he's being oh whats that word? Oh yeah deceitful which the man as a whole is a deception fitting name don't you think? yes he came out to the street and put in his two cents, kinda like a current Don used to before he was made, or so my father had told me. but is the moral of this story that even if you donate millions and try to put in your two cents the great Batiatus will toss you out to the streets? So ff you already understand the groups of trusted and don't trust, why would a thug at any level fresh off the boat, or descendant of a recently passed member of our society. if they don't know you why would they trust you with any kind of information? Just some food for thought"

Throne backs into the crowd and down the street.