In the days since the Detroit Schism, Maria had seen a level of discussion on the streets and heard conversations in coffee shops about how the world would now work, about how the world should now work, and how people planned to uphold their family names. There had been talk of what people would do differently, but Maria felt it time to introduce a different topic. She pulled a white woollen hat over her long dark hair and wrapped a thick black coat around herself and stepped outside, into the streets, bracing herself against the cold February winds.

"With the recent war, many of us here find ourselves the latest in a line of men and women of our blood, looking at the history books and trying to find our start in this world."

Maria reaches into her purse and pulls out a small, ornately carved silver cigarette tin, the type that looked as though it had been through generations of use. She takes a cigarette from the tin and lights it, breathing in the smoke slowly and deeply before exhaling.

"Of course, there are some amongst us who are newer to this world, and their opinions and feelings are any less significant.

Rather than ask what we expect from our world as a minimum, rather than ask what we need to make us thrive, rather than ask what we think we deserve, I have a different question today, a question that I think is altogether more simple but that can be much more difficult to answer with honesty.

What do you want?

Do you look through the journals of your ancestors, flip the pages and worry about upholding the family name? What does that make you want?

Do you look at the family around you, is that your motivation for this life? What does that make you want?

Do you have a point to prove, do you have a battle to fight, do you have an axe to grind? Do you want to be the first in your family to achieve something, or do you want to right past wrongs?

I'm curious what it might be."

Dalton just happened to be standing under a nearby streetlamp, smoking a cigar, when He heard Maria's speech. He thought to Himself. What DID He want? He took a couple more hauls from the cuban before replying to her question.

"I want fame, glory, power, wealth, women, and possibly an ice-cream. For real though, I crave something more than My father had, and his father before him. How will I get that, you might ask? First of all, it starts at home, in My own crew. Making sure that I do everything in My power to work with them, and get us into a stable position so that someday, if My hard work pays off, I may get a chance to lead a crew Myself. You have to learn to follow, before you can lead. You cannot expect things handed to you unless you're willing to put in the work, and not just work, but communication is very important as well., at least I think it is."

He took another quick puff before continuing, letting the smoke excape His mouth as He spoke.

"To get to that point, I'll have to learn from My bloodline's mistakes, and furthermore, challenge Myself to be greater than they were. Use their accomplishments as incentive to better Myself, and even if I do not reach all of My goals, I should try to leave a legacy My children will be proud of, and learn from, so maybe they can make it if I do not."

Dalton took a breath there, and He realized He was getting a bit long winded. 

"Anyway, enough from Me, but thank you Maria for bringing up a very good topic. I love the fact you bluntly asked 'what people want'. It'll be refreshing to hear what other people's take is on the subject."

With that, He rested back on the lamp-post and continued enjoying the wonderful cigar while He waited to hear from others on the matter.

Standing in the crowd trying to blend in George listens to Dalton and the others before approaching the front of the crowd. Straightening his suit and adjusting his tie he made his way to the front of the crowd. Catching the attention of the others around him once finally being recognized he cleared his throat and began to address the group.

This is a big question Maria has asked of us today and every answer is going to be different from one person to another. I appreciate her question because it allows us to express some of our goals. My blood line has graced these shores many times and looking back into the pages of my ancestry I can tell you I still come back wanting more.

First and foremost I want to earn the respect of my family, my district, and my Godfather. The war took out a lot of my closest friends and family members. I have been given the opportunity to run a family with bloodlines that survived from different families coming together and brand new life. I have found this to be a challenge I want to earn and look forward to working towards.

I want to be the best I can be for the people around me, anything less is failure.

(Also, needless to say money, drugs, fast cars and ever faster women.)

George slowly walked over to -Dalton- and him for a light for his cigar.

Dalton listened intently as George spoke, and nodded to him respectfully as he came over to the lamp-post he was leaning on. He flicked a match and lit George's cigar, and together they waited for someone else to speak.

Rae was smeared in ink fro her thousands of letters, and dusted with powdered sugar from her late night snacking habit. She chuckled, thinking back to her Mother's idea of the perfect existence in this world of talking to people, running a little bar in the some street that not many people knew about, but the people who did were great fun to have around. She pushed her hair out of her face where it had fallen out of the bun held up with a hope and a prayer and gave a little snort of laughter, as there was no point in her saying what she wanted out of this life once again. If people didn't know, then they might never get it. She gave a little wave to a friend and went to stand by them, interesting in hearing what other people wanted out of life. 

I think everybody wants the most they can get. We are the mafia after all, we thrive power, money, respect, loyalty. What else is there in our dark underground world?

We want to be feared by those who oppose us, and loved by those that stand with us.

Above all else though, personally, I just want to live in a world where Choke and Chalk don't sound the same and people can talk at a more eloquent level.

Oculus strolls down the street and saw a few mafioso talking about what they want. Oculus was about to talk and try to join the discussion but was completely embarrassed when he realized that he was surrounded by big powerful mafiosos who came from different prominent bloodlines. He lits up his cigar and whispered to himself,

I want money and power. I want all the green flowing into my pocket. I want fame and i want everything that I can ever have. I want all that before the inevitable doom to sleep with da fishes. At least i want to build something for my name, a name that won't be forgotten after I pass away from this cruel world. I want a name that will create a legacy down to many generations to come. I want... *Oculus felt a huge slap at the back of his head*

Oculus' was so embarrassed when he saw that it was his boss Rayln who smacked his head. Oculus stuttered when he saw Rayln infront of him with a huge grin on her face. He then walks away scratching his head , embarrassed as ever.

Upon seeing a crowd of mafioso talking about the the things they want, Julia Guenison decided to step in and share her thoughts. It's a good thing that her cash deliveries got finished earlier; she has more time to spend talking with honorable men and women.

What do I really want? Julia repeated the question in her mind.

"I want a better future for my friends and everyone in this Thing of Ours. Well, better future seems vague. I guess a better future means stronger, livelier connections. It's nice to know people who will look out for you. I guess that's what really matters in this Life. The connections can bring you far." Julia lights a cigarette.

"A large heap of cash can help too. You know...like I want to bathe in the greens...it can bring me to different places. I want to enjoy this Life more."

~

He sits down on an overturned whisky crate, wipes the sweat from his brow and listens to the speech and the question posed. 

When you live long enough it's inevitable that the level of ambition also rises. Plans will be laid, asses will be kissed and money will be put in the pockets of those you think will help you reach your goals - usually it is the blessing of setting up your own HQ and start your own family.

People will always want more, not realizing how quickly the blade can turn and cut those grasping hands reaching out for more.

As for me, as always I just want to watch the world burn.
I want to hear the screams and sense the smell of burning human flesh.

Brooklyn had been standing nearby the crowd. She had taken an interest in the topic and in the people speaking. As she quietly listened she had been thinking of the things she wanted. She knew she would never go through the whole list but she could speak up for at least a couple.

I want to see better things for this community. I would love to see the standards raised and hard work once again valued. I want to see loyalty rewarded as well.  Both these things are not easy to inspire in people and when you have people willing to take a bullet for you, perhaps it would be nice to acknowledge them every once in awhile. Rather than those that will so easily stab you in the back for their own gain.

Brooklyn paused momentarily. She was a bit shy speaking up but she was always honest so she continued.

On a personal level, I have something to prove. I want to be able to wash away the negative views of my line. Am I ashamed of my line? Hell no. Some of my ancestors have been wonderful people, and of course there were a few bad apples that are remembered more than the better ones. To constantly hear the garbage spewed that are only half truths, well you can imagine how hard it may be to want to change those views when its the only thing I ever get. I am however, determined to do my best. If I make it better than my best ancestor, then so be it. If not, well I at least know that I was trying when my time comes for me.

Brooklyn stepped back into the crowd and listened a little longer before she headed to her next appointment of the day. Deals never stopped for anyone.