A young Man wearing a trench coat and a pinstriped Fedora enters the street under a dim street light flickering at times due to the lack of maintenance within the part of town. 

For years now these shores have seen Mafioso arrive and depart. Some departing then arriving again. Which is where my discussion begins. My Ancestors for instance. Many times my bloodline has stepped down and out of the world of crime. Why? Well because at time's it seems a bit overwhelming. Distracting priorities or at time's, siblings wanting to live a straight life. One without crime or living with the paranoia of death or prison. Then all it takes is a grandfather to sit down with his grandkids and tell stories of his parents or grandparents, the life they lived with the exciting tone in his voice when bringing their lives to life with descriptive, colorful story telling. So then the inspiration begins, one day the grandchild is determined to begin where is ancestors once left off. 

The man then lights a cigarette and raises his left brow

So I ask you all, why do you think the life we live is so intriguing that we all chose to put our live's and our freedom on the line?

Looking around and seeing no one about to talk, Risque clicks her tongue against her palette and speaks up.

Personally, I'm not here for the money, pausing for a slight grin she continued, well not directly. I'm here for the people and thus here for the money. But in the end, I'm really here to know I'm worth something, that I have something on my side if I ever need it. It's simple really, you're here for money, power or both. End of story. Anyone in our line of work doesn't come around to make friends, now do we?

Satisfied, she reached inside her coat and started to fiddle with something inside while waiting for an answer, she had time to spare.

A meek goomba arises from the crowd.  Wearing a tattered, obviously handed down, suit accompanied by a fedora with a tethered feather emerging from its seam.

"I must say, though an intriguing question, the answer really seems quite simple to me.  I entered this life of crime not for the enjoyment of hurting others or making a quick buck but for the brotherhood.  My bloodline has many close friends.  People we have worked with, people we have worked for as well as ancestors of the sorts.  In my short time here I have already made many new friends of my own as well as rekindled my family's friendships.  It's not about who you steal from or who you kill, more so, it's about who you do it with."

Advantage gives a slight wink and steps back, ready to listen to others respond.

"Risque, while I applaud your honesty, I must suggest that our different personalities make who we are going to be in this world.  Different paths are taken, well obviously, by different people.  Maybe the answer is only simple to a persons self-image, and not as simple to answer as a whole."

I agree, then again when I say power I also mean the power of your said brotherhood. The power of knowing someone has your back, of knowing no matter what you won't go down alone. This, pausing for her memories to stop flooding her eyes, this is what makes true power in my opinion.

Both of you make very good points. Thank you very much for your opinions. It's nice to see people still speaking up in the streets these days. 

Put's out his smoke and light's another. 

Hum, I'd like to hear what other people have to say on this, pass the smoke would you please? Gently taking the cigarette from External's hand, Risque takes a puff and smiles content, Thank you. Here you go, handing it back to him after taking another puff.

I decided to return my bloodline to our thing as a favour to some bloodlines which are very important to me and inextricably linked to mine.  However, I've heard stories of my ancestors just deciding that a life of suburbia wasn't for them, purely out of sheer boredom and/or curiosity about the current state of our thing.

My bloodline has a long history in our thing but I'd be the first to admit that it's patchy, a long line of generations dragged in before a long line who manage to resist its pull (usually as a result of pressures elsewhere in their lives).  No matter what my ancestors decided though, our thing is always there - pulling and tempting.

Takes the final bites of a steaming hot piece of pizza.. listening to the other mobsters

You know, I love to gamble.. its that damn addiction, yes both the criminal life and gambling are both addictions. We enter this world, learn and do as much or as little as we want, in an effort to get to the top. Stacking cash, being the best donator to the family, buying the first casino in a city.. A lot of mobsters walking the streets are lost in a daydream of obtaining the above... drawing them back into the life.

I have never really left, I read stories of my father and his father doing crimes for the family, and hating Cav. You fall, you get up, and in our life of work if you grease the right pockets you might just make it if you keep trying.

Offers a piece of pizza to Saint_Cav

Your father really didnt hate me. He loved me, infact he loved me so much he had to hide it just by saying he hated me and going around telling others. Deep, deep down he loved me.

Here I read a note from Striphe Sr. that broke off our friendship due to the awkardness and fear of my life afterwards.

Dear Cav,

I see you sit at your desk talking to dozens of women daily.
I sit, I stare and I just wish sometimes, I too were one of them women.
However I know it could never be, but atleast now you know.
I hope you do not hate me for this or seem frightened, as I only want to remain friends.
But I just had to get this off my chest, by the way I like what you've done with yours...wink wink...
Cav, as buisiness partners, it's getting hard and I can't seem to focus anymore,
the days are long and the nights are forever so it seems.
Well Im off to Sicily for a few days, so please sit back and think about what I have said, Its a real "think-piece" I know but remember, friends and nothing else.
Now that we've got that taken care of Im feeling slightly better but yet utterly nervous, visualizing your face while reading this is horrifying like you couldnt imagine.
Cav, your my bud, and I LOVE YOU.

Sincere,
Striphe Venzetti



So there you have it folks.

Anyways Ive been here nearly 10 years. Why? Because I love it, the life it makes me feel ALIIIVE! The fast women, the big money and luxurious items...yes this is the life for me!

Taking a stroll she cannot help but overhear pizzas being pass along. Stopping she wait for her turn on the pizza.

Sometimes, children (like me) wanted to finish what my mom have started. Aside from this world is actually addicted, with those drugs and money. And missing those friends. Which what really keeps us strong.

Walking along with my entourage of pretty ladies after taking a break from my latest shoot I can't help but overhear the conversation. I pull out a wad of cash, hand it to my most trusted protector and tell him to go take the ladies shopping. After all this life of mine is secret and those ladies dont half gossip..

I have stood and listened to others explain their reasons, but well unlike most of them I just can't put a finger on one particular thing that makes my line come back to this thing.

Maybe its the curiousity of the unknown, wondering what it is I will wake up to in the morning or in fact whether I will wake up at all... Maybe its the thrill of the money, the prestige and working hard to try and be the best at what I do? Maybe its because I want to try to succeed and push my family line further than they have been, bring back the old Money Shots and see where it takes me or I guess it could be all of these things?

Anyway I must dash, all this deep thinking can distract me and put me off my stroke and I still have another 3 scenes to film!

Puck who happens to be drunk after a great drug deal at his own property hears a lttle chat from the mafioso.Most of them are too young and less respected but what the hell their proposition is awesome than tounge tied upper echelon people who doesnt even know how to talk.

"hic, good eve wise gents..id like to express my opinion in this one, My father who once work for a boss, he works well..silent but hardworking..Once before he dies, i ask him Why do you die for your crew? theyre just some bunch of workers who work for they will make a living..My father response to me just a tingling moment before he passed away, Well son, its my passion,and my crew its my second family.."

With another hiccup Puck watches in the dark sky pause for awhile..

It became my passion too..its not about you work for someone because you like to be known, you like to be rich nor you like to be respected..To grasp the ropes of sucess in this thing of ours we must have the passion, the craziness to keep moving..