It had been a busy time for Maria, with obligations to family back in the old country swallowing much of her time since the wars that had claimed so much of her world. Still, between her right hand man, VladimirLenin and her underboss, Dexter, Maria had been kept in the loop just enough to continue to day to day running of North Side.

She'd just returned from the airport following a particularly difficult trip back to the small Sicillian village that she hailed from originally and sat down in her office when a flustered looking Dexter had burst through her door. He told her of his most recent trouble, that his crew was full to bursting, the same as her own, and that there was no space for new blood anywhere in the district.

Maria had considered this. New blood was crucial to the success of any district, as well she knew, and it didn't do to leave the district sat full. She'd nodded and stood up, without saying a word, and opened a small glass cabinet behind her desk. She removed from it a small glass bottle, filled with a clear liquid, and three glasses. She placed the glasses on the desk and poured a measure of the liquid in each, before sitting back down.

"This Vodka is the finest, straight from Moscow. I have been waiting for a celebration joyful enough to warrant breaking into it, and I think tonight, the time will come. In just a moment, Vlad will walk through those doors, ready to brief me on the happenings since I left the country. And when he does, I will ask him to set up a family alongside the two of us in North Side, and, with any luck, we will toast the happy news together, the three of us. It will be a fine day for North Side."

Almost as if she had summoned him, VladimirLenin walked through the door with the most brief of knocks.

"Vlad! It's like I called out for you and you heard me. Please, sit."

Maria waited for a moment as Vlad sat in the empty chair by her desk.

"Vlad. Dexter and I have spoken tonight, and it has come to our attention that our district is full to the seams. It is time for us to bring another family into the district, to have another crew leader stand besides the two of us. I can think of nobody better for the job than yourself. You have stood by myself, by Mano di Morte and by our district as your line has for many generations now, and you have given your all. I will be heartbroken to lose my right hand man, but North Side, and Chicago as a whole, will be ever stronger because we have gained yet another fantastic captain."

Maria reached into her desk drawer and removed a brown evelope containing a heavy key.

"Before business started to pull me out of the city limits more often, I purchased a building, just down the street, for our district to expand it's operations into when the time is right. Its just a few doors down from Mano di Morte and a few more from Angeli della Morte, so Dexter and I both will be very close."

Maria slid the key and the vodka across the table to Vlad.

"What do you say, old friend?"

Staggered, Vladimir struggled to find the words to reply. Vladimir's, Maria's and Dexter's lines had gone back generations and to be offered a headquarters to have his own criminal organisation, well, he was just lost for words. Taken a breath, Vladimir spoke:

"Maria, I am truly humbled by your offer. You know that I would do absolutely anything to help you, this district and this wonderful city of Chicago.

"I am firmly committed to helping to lead your revolution in North Side. The belief that the collective will of all of our people makes us stronger runs deep within our blood, and it will be an honour to help guide this district into the future in this mould."

Beaming, Vladimir picked up the key that Maria had repossessed from a local businessman and raised the glass of vodka to make a toast.

'To North Side, and the future. I will do my utmost for yours, Don Maria and Dexter's confidence in me to carry on your great work already cemented down in North Side history'. 

Vladimir downed his glass of vodka and stood up after taking a moment for his vodka to slide down his throat. 

'The Proletariat we shall be known as. I will get in touch with my contact immediately to get something made for my new headquarters'. 

Pouring another glass of vodka, he downed it again before striding down towards The Proletariat's headquarters. 

Dexter downed his first glass in toast to VladimirLenin, smiling at the accomplishment of the man. "It makes me very happy to see you leading your own crew, friend. You deserve it more than most."

"My Angels and I look forward to working with you!"

Standing to the side, Paul wanted to be one of the first to offer his congratulations to VladimirLenin.

"Ah, Vladimir! As you know, our lines go back a long, long way. The pages of my ancestors' journals are filled with memoirs from the times they have worked together. First in the now off-limits district of Suburbs in our fair city of Chicago, then a lot more times elsewhere."

"We started on this journey together, and today is a day of great pride in seeing you set up your own headquarters. It is truly a richly deserved honour for you; you have served the district of North Side right from the beginning, and in that time we have truly gone from strength to strength. I can think of nobody better to continue to build this wonderful district than yourself."

"Peace, bread and land to you Vladimir, my friend."

Paul stepped forward to offer a warm embrace to his friend Vladimir, along with a hammer and sickle to hang above the desk in his office. The revolution had truly taken hold in North Side.

Congrats Don VladimirLenin, thank you for all the advice.  Drinks to the toast by Don Dexter.  Salute

LucaRossi overheard the commotion from the local streets. The news of his friend VladimirLenin getting the chance to lead a crew of his own was one of the greatest things Luca has heard in quite some time. Knowing Vladimir's bloodline for years and knowing his hard ethic made this an easy decision for Don Maria. Luca stepped forward to pay his respects to his closest friends.

"Congratulations VladimirLenin! It is truly an honor to see this dearest occasion. I work forward to see you progress and to see North Side become as mighty as it once was.

Congrats again my friend!"

Nakamura stepped out from a local pastry shoppe to a small gathering of folks standing in the streets.  With black top hat and cane in hand, he walked over and joined in the celebration.

"Congratulations are in order for you, Mr. Lenin.  It is such a great sight to see Chicago growing and thriving after a lot of bloodshed such a short time ago.  I'm not alone when I say this, but I know we are all glad to see such another strong leader emerge."

Nakamura stepped away from the crowd and continued down the street knowing the city he loved just grew a bit stronger and a bit safer.

Well, one of my oldest friends, where do i even begin? We started this together and we will definitely end this together. We dared to dream of a world where certain bloodlines could once again have the freedom to be able to give a better account of themselves and have the chance to make an impact in this world and we've done it, we're here and it looks beautiful. 

We have absolutely pushed each other from day one, the very healthy rivalry that we share was done is the  world of good. You're an utter machine and i love you for it. Vlad, its a real pleasure to stand behind you and make this step forward. Our district has already done brilliant things in this world, lets continue on as we started. 

much love pal.

As K_W was passing on his way from East to the middle of the country his train made an unexpected stop in Chicago, darn those trains he thought to himself, no wonder they are getting more expensive. Soon I will have to pay 10$ or something for an hours journey or what...

As he checks the streets while the train is being refueled and prepared for the journey to Detroit he looks around the northern disctrict where the station is located. He sees the big nicely renovated building he visited last, it was a place of commerce then, as he looks closely he sees ownership has change. Red banners and flags adorn the building, and a line of rather low level class people seem to be hanging around the building.

Hmm, maybe there is something going on there, so he decides to take a look up close. As he draws nearer he hears the hushed conversations of a new crime leader who gives back to the poor. His brain makes a quick connection to a shady character his father oftenly met, but never was able to lay a precise look upon. It couldn't be him.... the illusive champion of the poor. But when he comes to the place he is halted and asked what his business is with Vlad the great.

Ahh it is him, he did manage to get his place in society he fought for so hard. Well good luck to the fella, just tell him K_W dropped by, his father and Vlad were good acquaintances and he wants to invite him over to the K&I grill garden to have a feast for his comrades. Vodka shall be plentful, and we might even have some roasted bearmeat ready if he gives us a heads up to prepare it in time.

YPA!!!!!

Keats respectfully raises a glass to VladimirLenin- a recent acquaintance, but someone who would no doubt continue to accomplish great things in the North Side. 

Congratulations my friend you have worked hard and it gives me great pleasure to see you run your own crew, we will miss our Pecora loving beast here at MdM and the scouse stud can't forget him haha, I wish you both all the best you know where I am if you ever need anything.

I look forward to watching Pecora di Morte erm I mean Proletariat :P go from strength to strength.

Congratulations my dear Mr. Lenin.  Always the champion of ideals and drinking massive amounts of vodka, I could imagine a better person to stand beside Maria and myself as well.  Your vision and guidance has been paramount to what we have done and what we continue to do here in Chicago.

I am excited to see you stand in your bold suit and humbled that you have chosen to stay with us.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.