Anna checked her watch and sighed. It wasn't like her to be early for a meeting, and yet here she was, with time to kill. Looking around her and spotting some familiar faces on the streets, she decided to try to use the time wisely and share some of the thoughts that had been playing on her mind over the last week or so.

She rested her shoulder lightly against the stone wall to the park and began to speak.

"Anyone for a coffee?"

Anna smirked lightly, considering the weight of her words.

"Is there any aspect of our world that draws more concern and more debate than the coffee shops that are dotted all around our world, and the role that they should play in our world?

I mean, sure, there are probably more vociferous debates out there - though, hey, maybe this conversation right here will prove me wrong about that - but the coffee shops seem to remain a constant cause for thought.

Peoples opinions seem to go down one of several different paths.

Path number one, is that the coffee shops and our world are two very different dimensions. There is some amount of evidence for this. Often we identify not by our own name, but by the name of our bloodline when we enter these coffee shops. Often we frequent coffee shops that have little to nothing to do with our business here and often we talk to people with whom we have no business connection with, about topics that have no bearing on our business here. So - does it not stand to perfect reason, then, that the coffee shops and our world should be considered to be two very different dimensions?

Path number two, however, see's this directly opposite. Our world and the coffee shops are absolutely linked. Where do you go when a war starts, and you want to co-ordinate and pass on instructions? Where do you go during events like vday, when working with others is paramount? Where is there a constant flow of death announcements, notifications on new street speeches and even announcements that a rogue has appeared to be shot at? The coffee shops. In this school of thought, they are linked.

There is also a third path, or, indeed, several different offshoots of a third path, that goes somewhere in the middle of these two paths; some things are connected, some things aren't. But that in itself can create more questions than answers.

So, from these viewpoints - or indeed, from one entirely of your own making - how do we then go ahead and deal with different situations that may arise in our world?

So often, we see "the logs" given as a reason for a takedown - this makes total sense if you view the coffee shops as 100% part of this dimension, but what if you don't? But, then, what if those logs concern you, concern your family? How do you not act? But does it make you a hpyocrite if you do?

What of the so called back room conversations that apparently rule every major aspect of our world? Are they wrong, simply because so many of them take place in the coffee shops? Are all relationships forged in the coffee shops something that should be kept aside from the dimension we do business in? Should different lines pretend to have no knowledge of one another at all? Are people wrong for calling on these relationships when they must choose hands, choose people to auth, even choose which family to join at the beginning of their life?

Where, indeed, do the coffee shops fit in our world?"

Saedrissa had been walking along the streets when she noticed Anna. Having been in a conversation with her recently she moved towards her to listen to what she was saying. As she listened she realized this was something she had thought a lot about.

I have to say that personally I am not a huge fan of visiting the coffee shops. Normally I will only do when I really need to speak to someone right away or am asked to be there.

Why is this? Because I don't feel that they should be directly linked to our way of life. So often we see bloodline names more than you will see names of specific kin, but regardless so many take it as a reason to kill.

As you pointed out it is very hard to separate the coffee shops from here. Wars are easier fought when you can communicate in the coffee shops so its nearly impossible to split the line and this is why I will not venture more than I have to in them.

It is extremely difficult to draw an acceptable line on what can be taken from a coffee shop conversation and used against you. We can't say that conversations cant be used against individuals if we allow war planning to take place there. You can't blur the lines but you can avoid it. For some people avoiding the coffee shops can be the best thing for their lines. It comes down to personal choices. Coffee shops are not mandatory, nor do I think they should be.

Integrity already had her daily cup of coffee but decided to share her thoughts on the coffee shops.

Where I come from coffee shops have their place in the "Business Districts" where our world and "all" are linked. Family and district rooms are at our fingertips for casual or important meetings.

"So often, we see "the logs" given as a reason for a takedown"

There is no fine line between our coffee shops and coffee shop logs.  Huge difference here.  It is nothing more then a way to exploit the new family and a means to get their shit off on that grudge that never ends.

"I love coffee!"

Sprechstallmeister exclaimed from around the block. His coffee senses were tingling and he knew he had to get involved with the discussion about coffee. He ran over to the crowd and chimed in.

"Let me jump straight into it. When you go into a coffee shop, that is you, correct? Not some stunt double you've hired? If so, what you say in the coffee shops, you should be held accountable for - both in the coffee shops and on these cold, hard streets. Despite any second names you might go by in a coffee shop, people will still know who you are outside of it.  No matter where you say it, it was you who said it, and you should either own up to it or choose your words more carefully.

I do believe coffee shops and our world are intertwined. So many of the big decisions are discussed, debated, argued against, etc. in coffee shops. They just give us all a much better method to talk to one another, either in public or in private. They are very much a part of this dimension. But are they vital? Honestly, no, they aren't. They're just incredibly handy and convenient compared to other methods we have.

Why aren't they vital, you ask? Well, it's quite simple, really. We have this thing called a telephone, where you can talk to your crew, district, or even your entire home city. This could suffice in situations where mass communication is necessary, such as wars. When mass communication isn't necessary, we can still use the telephone for one-on-one talks. Old fashioned, yes, but still effective.

To summarize, as I feel I've rambled quite a bit; yes, coffee shops do indeed have a role in this world - but they are not important. What goes on in coffee shops, is going to make it's way over to these parts eventually. I do apologize, Anna, if I have skipped over any of the points you brought up. There was a lot to cover and my mouth is getting dry."

Sprechstallmeister reached into his jacket and pulled out his trusty flask. He stepped back to take a swig and stuck around to hear others speak on this.

BretTheHitmanHart had just exited the local photographers as he saw Consigliere Anna speaking about the coffee shops. Bret really didn't like to drink coffee much but he frequented in the establishments a few times to speak with old friends. Some friends who were fans that he enjoyed, others were older wrestlers. Bret had his friends and we kept to those. He knew who he could talk to in the coffee shops because others would always try to stir shit up.

"Miss Anna, I personally think the coffee shops should be left for outside things. I mean theres another dimension in this 'thing of ours' and it has been for awhile. However these days the two are one in the same. Similarly to what Sprechstallmeister mentioned...

There was a time I believe where people tried to not intertwine them. But that was a lost cause as its our biggest means of communication."

Bret takes a break from conversing so he can order a hotdog at the local hotdog stand which was feet away.

"Just with mustard buddy."

Bret ate his hotdog and waited for other people to give their own opinion on the coffee shops.

Anna, its a very prudent question, one that does show its head regularly. Personally i think with all the will in the world you can never, ever get away from the fact that these two avenues go hand-in-hand, they will always marry and the two will always cross paths for the many reasons that you have said. I dont think the best way to look at it as if its wrong or right, rather except that they go hand in hand.

I do however think that this world has evolved and the "need" for coffee shop communication is not as rife as it once was, we now have a locally and easily accessible communication method that we can easily chat to family members, members of your district and your city. Although, i still dont think that method is as good as the coffee shops. Maybe its my old school way of thinking, maybe because my linage has been around for a long time and my forefathers where brought up in the coffee shops. That point in time, it was the only way communication of this sort was done. Even though the last few years the coffee shops have been struggling  for numbers.

I think we, as a community, pick and choose what information we think is acceptable to use from the coffee shops, depending on how that information suits us at the time. There has been plenty of arguments over the years that support both arguments, for and against the use of information that is extracted  from there and used here, like has been said, you'll  struggle to define a line of whats acceptable.

"Let me jump straight into it. When you go into a coffee shop, that is you, correct? Not some stunt double you've hired? If so, what you say in the coffee shops, you should be held accountable for - both in the coffee shops and on these cold, hard streets. Despite any second names you might go by in a coffee shop, people will still know who you are outside of it.  No matter where you say it, it was you who said it, and you should either own up to it or choose your words more carefully.

@Sprechstallmeister i think that is a really good way to explain it, i couldn't have put it any better. You're right though, even in the coffee shops we're accountable for our actions there and naturally that spills into this world. We're still punishable by the gods in coffee shops, so the two will always intertwine, albeit, not as much as they used to. I do think that coffee shops will  always have an important place in this world.