Having spent all day in church Freelancer put his hat on and strolled down the street, as he figured the ladies at the brothel could need a blessing or two. 

As he walked down the street he spotted a flock of seagulls flying. And that got his mind going. "Expectations there are many of them, but what do I expect, hell if I know."

He starts whistling and thinking about the amazing pancakes with the large side of bacon he had for breakfast earlier before going to church. Approaching the brothel he stops outside and leans up against the wall before pulling out his pocket flask, taking a few hefty sips as he stares into the air trying to spot that flock of seagulls again. Wondering where the hell they went, and why they were there in the first place.

"So many expectations in this world."

Taking another sip as he clears his throat.

"What are you expectations? what is expected of you? In the end does it matter?" He chuckles. "Of course it matters, but I'd like to hear what someone else thinks about this."

He takes another sip from his flask as he turns towards the door, then turns around realizing he hadn't had any lunch today. "I can't bless people on a empty stomach."

Glancing from side to side just to see whose mingling about before I slip out of the shadows. I listened to Freelancer talk and really thought about my expectations.

Well I guess it would depend just on what expectations were. Inside the HQ I expect to be fed. A full Mara is a better worker so food is always good. Do I really think I will get it though? Nope. But that day when Tyrion slides me over some breakfast or hell a soda I will be flipping for joy. I would think he would expect me to eat it though.

Chuckling as I carry on.

My expectations of this community would be to see it do better. I always believe there is more that can be done and I will hopefully be around to see it. There is always better than an empty city right? Perhaps those cities and districts will begin to be rebuilt again. I certainly hope so.

What are the expectations put on me?

I pause momentarily.

Probably to do the best that I can. Maybe I have some things to prove since I am only thug. I would definitely say I have some things to prove. Such as what are my skills? What use could they have to my leader or my Godfather. Have I learned to train my ability to gather money properly? Things like that.

I am sure there are probably plenty of others, but I just can't think of them off the top of my head.

Finishing up I slip back into the shadows. Hoping I will get to hear others speak as well.

Alphonse was in a nostalgic mood. He was a little bit buzzed off a bottle of Averna his latest associate, Banks, had brought in with the orange and cheese imports from Sicily, and the liquor brought his mind back to his first days since coming from the old country. He listened to Freelancer talk about expectations and recalled a conversation he had taken part in recently about the etiquette of a takedown. He had a long-winded story in mind, and with no one else around, decided to go for it. 

"I did a couple jobs for a fella named 'Patsy' Licata back in Queens, when I was fresh off the boat and hustling old ladies for their purses. Old Patsy ran a small-time protection racket for a couple businesses in Richmond Hill, as well as running numbers and a weekly poker game out of the kitchen of his seafood restaurant. He was an old bastard, and greedy as sin, but as natural a businessman as I have ever seen. In my younger days, he took me onto his payroll in return for the various strong-arming services you'd approach an unaffiliated thug to perform. 

One of the first jobs Patsy sent me to take care of, he reminded me specifically to send a message. Some guy was deep in the red and trying to duck the heat about it. That wasn't gonna fly, so an associate of mine at the time, Vic 'The Barber', broke his legs while I had a smoke by the window of his Brooklyn townhouse. Before we left the whimpering mess, I turned and grunted: 'Regards from Don Licata'. There was no room for misunderstanding. If there were a moment of doubt, now there was not: you pay your debts, you don’t get your legs broken. Easy enough, right? 

I wondered, initially, why it was even necessary. Surely, I thought, our handiwork would be enough to connect the dots. Why rub his face in it? Greetings from Old Patsy...it seemed arrogant to me, an act of unprecedented hubris. Growing up a petty criminal, discretion and guile had been my greatest allies, not pomp or pageantry. I didn't like it. But Don Licata told me something I'll never forget: people lose value of that which is meaninglessly destroyed. 

Meaninglessly?, I thought to myself at the time. The man was trying to weasel his way out of a debt. In my mind, he deserved what he got. I was quick to anger and focused it on the job. Don Licata simply smiled at me and explained that it would never have been enough to just break his legs; then it becomes the motive. And, what I failed to see, was that we were not in the business of violence, we were in the business of loansharking. In acting our way, it is clear that his inability to respect agreements, not our propensity for violence, is what brought us to this sticky situation.

I feel much the same way about the nature of removing mafiosi from positions of authority, but with a crucial difference. When you break a man's legs, he screams but he lives. When you kill a man, you're not teaching him a lesson, you're signing his permanent resignation. But still, should a lesson not be taught? Greener mafiosi are heavily influenced by the actions of suited names and it would be an extremely serious error to ingrain the idea that it is a position to come and go from with a frequency bordering on casual, and that it is acceptable to be authed and removed with little consideration. Even though this is not remotely the case, not expressing anything to argue otherwise makes it so. 

The sheer quantity of crews and mafiosi in positions of authority means we need to emphasise the value of the role even more. Stability, longevity, and the sheer idea of 'long term' is not generally something we excel at as a business, but treating the birth and death of families with anything resembling nonchalance is a dangerous road. 

Occasionally, in a sensitive situation, some will argue that the community is owed nothing and it's true. Sometimes information is better left unreleased. That doesn't really change anything, though, does it? Sometimes all that is necessary can be illuminated in the vaguest terms, and sometimes a play-by-play doesn't really tell you anything at all. 

Our unwillingness to accept the idea that power-play's and individual ambition exist, when every leader is expected to be 'just' in the face of survival, make it more complicated to try and be reasonable, or to even show up at all. But as a boss, you've sat in the heat so long, it's become an afterthought. Backlash cannot be an acceptable excuse. Given the events that have led to a position in which a takedown must be explained, why break serve? The ball isn't just in your court, the other player is dead. God forbid his son gets their first, with their photography services and journals. And suddenly, almost as immediately as their parents were taken from them, the lack of closure drives these kids down the same paths as their parents, raving and ranting, dragging their own names through the mud. 

Of course, it is not as easy as simply appearing with an explanation. Patience is a trait long foregone in many of us, and frankly, it is a little ridiculous to expect the boss of a crime family to appear in public immediately after a war. While I have spent the past few minutes talking about how an explanation is necessary and, in many respects, fundamental to the practice of war, one does not need to be timely. Certainly not to the definition of punctuality that is often whined for, at least. In a perfect world, a breathing period in between an act of war and a speech could help avoid all the initial frothing at the mouth that those things quickly disintegrate into but this is not a perfect world, and we are not patient people. Still, significantly less frothing."

Capone realized he had been droning on obtusely. 

"Anyways, pal, just a few things on my mind...Expectations and standards differ between all of us, but there are certain ones, the most basic and fundamental to the running of a successful business, that are universal. The streets, as a meeting place for mafiosi country-wide, adheres to our shared principles. Takedown speeches, as the driving narrative behind the positioning and removal of people in authority, must be respected because their very existence enforces the idea that these positions hold value, and that their removal was the last of a number of options. If we can't convince ourselves of that much, what is the point?" 

Finishing up with a little business down the street, Rose went in search of a coffee shop for a little boost of energy.  She noticed someone up ahead in a small gathering.  As she approached closer, Rose heard Freelancer speaking out loud about expectations.  She stopped for a moment to listen to his speech, then waited as others gathered and spoke up.  After she heard the word 'expectations' a few moments ago, her mind began to spin with thoughts.  Waiting until the gathered speakers were finished, Rose walked over to give her opinions on the subject.

"Afternoon everyone.  Expectations can be a good thing.  Having them can drive us to be a better worker, and motivate us in excelling where we thought it wasn't possible.  Working along side a Godfather makes me expect more from myself.  I personally strive to be the best I can, and even do better than I have done in the past.  I've made mistakes.  Well who hasn't right?  Mistakes are how we learn.

Having high expectations can be discouraging, too.  If you set them too high on yourself, you could possibly not achieve the goals set.  Then that could make you feel discouraged, and possibly give up."

Rose looks around to the few gathered Mafiosi.

"Being part of a Family, leaders will have expectations of their members.  Loyalty and respect are words I've heard tossed around like they are nothing, but to me they mean everything.  I wouldn't be a part of a Family if I had zero loyalty or respect for my Godfather.  I wouldn't give my all to my Family if the leader I have sworn my life to, wasn't worth loyalty and respect in my eyes.  I expect nothing from my Godfather, but when I gain trust and respect from my Godfather it makes me put in that much more effort."

Rose paused a moment to clear her throat.  She was pondering to go get a coffee now, but continued on while her thoughts were soaring.

"What is expected of us when we first join a Family?  Well in my opinion, our leaders allowed us to join, giving us protection, and a place to call home.  Some leaders have higher expectations than others do because no one person is the same.  I think in general the leaders expect us to be dedicated, and work hard.  We as Mafiosi need to put in the time, help our Family, and for some of us to stop being so selfish, and actually put the Family first."

That coffee was calling for her now, so Rose took off to have a treat.  Perhaps if she came back this way, she would still find this crowd gathered.

After hearing this topic, Honesty thought hard on it. What were his expectations and what to become of it? Some expectations may be too high to achieve and others too low to feel good. After thinking on this, Honesty made his words clear:

"Expectations are what motivates us to achieve a certain thing. Most of the times it is a good thing to have. Other times, not so much. If you have any, you should try your hardest to achieve them or make them become a reality. Everyone, in my opinion should have expectations."

​Honesty took a sip of water before continuing. Alcohol wasn't his thing. He preferred the natural stuff. 

"My expectations are in number, but my biggest one would be that all the districts come together as one and that they would work to enhance the living span and not increase the death toll. Alas, I know that these chances are highly improbable, but achievable with the right leaders and mind set. It is arguable too that deaths bring life to this thing of ours, ironically enough, but it wouldn't hurt to try if no one dies."

Honesty thinks about what he just said and approves with it. He takes another sip from the bottle and walks away.