Over the years the Gods have toyed with us mortals. Tweaking their rules by which we must live our lives as well as out right changing the very laws of the natural universe we live in. 

We are, mostly, an adaptive species. We see change, we analyse it and then we change. For some change is welcome, it breathes new life in to a repetitious world. For others it is unwelcome and removes from them something they have grown fond of and comfortable with.

Although there are many MANY changes to our universe that we can discuss, there's a specific change that I'd like to discuss. The inability to horde "protection" like in days of old. It is now impossible for any mobster or group of mobsters to become so well fortified and entrenched in human shields that they're seemingly impossible to get at. 

Since the socially accepted amount of lives that can be thrown away in order to protect any one member of our thing has become limited and then diminished, alternative methods of protecting ones self have emerged, or re-emerged depending on how far back your ancestry goes.

Over the last year or so, there has been a pattern that I don't believe has been quite so pronounced as it is right now.

That pattern is what I'm going to call the "unified city" theory. It goes that for the maximum level of peace and protection, all mobsters must be contained in a singular city. Then, as the more cities are occupied (regardless of prior connections of the people across those cities) the more fraught with danger and less peaceful the times will be.

Using the last year as a model, starting with the large wars that damn near nuked everyone and their mums we witnessed the survivors who had fought and bled together on the same side against their common enemy each given a slice of the pie. They met to discuss how to rebuild and all agreed, in peace, to the outcome of who got what, where and when.

Without going through long winded explanations, the next few months saw a systematic take down of every city. The one doing the fighting each time claimed that whispers, rumours, threats and all manner of controversial reasons forced them for the sake of preservation to become the aggressor and attack the other cities. It could be argued that it was a brilliant and methodical power play but how does filling your ranks with the disgruntled descendent of your vanquished enemy actually equate to power?

Shortly after the final few cities had been cleared this city, Chicago had become the power house of the mafia world. They contained the most powerful and influential mobsters. There were no outside threats and everyone who were set up as a crew leader had all served under the same banner. Once there was no more opposition, the powerful were given the nod to expand outwards to their own cities. Now, mistrusts and harboured resentments were suddenly acted upon.  

So, what puzzles me is this. If people are trust worthy enough to serve as right hands, with access to bank accounts, personal mail, representing the boss and the crew as a whole. Then trust worthy enough to be given auth to set up a family of their own. To represent the district, the city and THEN is deemed trust worthy enough to be given the keys to their own city... why is it, that that change of home city seems to be enough to turn people against one another? 

I mean, mobsters talk in the coffee shops, have mob mail, they even use secret military research technology to communicate long distances as if they're sitting right next to one another. The only difference between us all sitting in a single city together or being evenly distributed between the six major cities we conduct our business in, is waiting on flights and coaches to travel between those cities.

Why then, is this seemingly insignificant detail enough to create the cracks in relationships, which go on to become the crumbling foundations of one or the other's downfall? and why is it our society has gravitated towards hording mobsters in one or a few locations, instead of taking advantage of the empty cities? given that protection only comes from trustworthy relationships based on communication as opposed to geographical location?

As Papi listens to Madara's speech he feels a deep cringe in the pit of his stomach... Madara was right...

As he looks toward Madara, Papi slowly stands up clearing his throat before speaking with utter disappointment in his tone.

I hear you loud and clear Madara, Unity... Repect... Honor... Loyalty... these concepts were major parts of the Mafia as I watched the organization growing up.

An organization made of several families coming together in unity, where as the Don for each family understood the meaning of the "Code".

Where God-Fathers and God-Mothers would demonstrate diplomacy and respect instead of rushing in guns blazing.

Back in the days of my youth there was order not chaos, and people respected that loyalty was truely "Blood In Blood Out" once your family YOUR FAMILY! 

Families would work together to expand and be prosperous taking over the world 1 city at a time.

I detest these senseless wars, where power hungry mobsters send their love ones to kill and be killed, as other members watch other family hitmen act out of loyalty to please the ego of such tyrants.

Wars that see choose betcowardly survivors run for their lives too scared to fight back, thus pledging loyalty to whoever has the biggest gun... or the biggest army....

*Papi lets out a great big sigh*

But these are just the ramblings of a dreamer... the ramblings of a boy who dreamed of being apart of a real mob...

A real mob which feeds on the basic principles that built our foundation.

For i am just a wise guy... with a smart mouth... and a big dream... which falls before the harsh reality of how this cruel world truly is...

*Suddenly the sound of thunder echos throughout the city, as the sky darkens Papi looks up and is greeted by a small drop of rain as it hits his cheek and gently caresses his face falling like a tear drop down to the ground as so is our destiny*

I guess the fallen feel my pain they still remember that life... a life before the chaos....

* Papi Puts his coat on and lights his half finished blunt*

Maybe I've said too much Madara, so if i die tonight *Papi puffs his blunt and slowly exhales* you'll know the truth was just too much i guess...

*The rain begins to fall as Papi walks to his car *

Maybe one day the world might just make sense again you never know, for the only thing constant in this world of ours is change...

Sasha listens to what Madara has to say the question being asked was a very good one she had often wondered about it herself from past experience's she had read in her kins diary's.

Well Madara you pose a very good question one that will have many answers i would happen to guess. Over the years we have heard of groups taking power unified in there cause. To reach the top and have a strangle hold on power just to see these groups crumble not long after.

Where is the trust lost? What causes that break in trust? There can be many factors that happen there we can take the death of GodMother Teagen and her District when a group with numbers turned on her. Teagens loyalty to that group had not wavered but there trust in her had because she remained loyal to her auth Visas who the group wanted dead.

The implosion of that group with the stupid name Cryhards or however its spelt was a result of one man wanting to consolidate his own power by getting the group to slowly kill off the old guard.

The same man caused the end of the alliance you mentioned Madara with his lies.

Or it can be harbouring of certain bloodlines that those in power dont like.

Boredom as there is nobody left to kill still got to feed those ever hungry hitters.

The one thing that this world know is that nothing lasts forever.

LucaRossi was teaching a new associate, Livia, on how to snatch purses from grumpy old women when he heard an interesting topic in the streets. While there wasn't a clean answer to the proposed question, Luca wanted to give his own thoughts on the matter...

"Many things can break trust between people. I don't think its really anything specific but over time people who have left the nest tend to do their own thing. Their own thing can differ from the way their previous Boss would have done and that causes tension. Similarly to what Sasha said in his own experience with the late Godmother Taegan. People's loyalties change when they are put in different positions. Even now, look at the recent downfall of Godfather SpikeS. The friendship and trust was no longer mutual due to way things were being pushed. 

With all that said, I think some people rather horde members to show the unified front. Working together is how this "thing of ours" works anyways. Hitting the mattresses should really be the last thing on most people's minds as we're businessmen."

Bored with doing petty crimes and drug runs, Arizona decides to wander into the streets. She was hoping to find something or someone to help entertain her, relieve some of the boredom of ordinary mafia life. She walked for a couple of minutes until she came across a crowd of people, they were having a rather subdued conversation but one that seemed to have some merit. She decided to check it out and see what they were talking about. Listening intently as everyone had their say, Arizona decided to chime in.

" Madara that was a wonderful speech but please may I have a moment to express my thoughts on this topic? "

She watched as he gave her a nod. With that she stepped forward a began to speak.

" Now I know that I am new to this thing of ours but I have had kin around these parts for quite some time now. I have heard many of stories of how this thing of ours had been ran in the past, from childhood stories to journal entries. The one thing that I can conclude is that it is not necessarily who you are nor your connections with said man/woman in charge. A lot of what makes business partners kill each other is whom you surround yourself with and it doesn't even have to be from your own doing."

"Anyone can see that there are certain bloodlines that are considered trouble and/or that tend to stick together. Why this happens, well there can be a couple reasons but that is not part of this discussion so that will be saved for a later date. Anyways back to my thought, a lot of reasoning for removing not only cities but also certain districts is because of a said group of people. There are even instances where these groups or families are sent to other cities, given time to get comfortable and adjust to their new surroundings just in time to be bumped off. "

"Don't get me wrong there can definitely be other reasoning behind removals that consist of leaders themselves but a majority of what I have seen is based on certain groups of bloodlines."

Arizona takes a deep breathe then steps back and patiently waits to see if anyone else shows up and comments.

"Interesting point you bring up Arizona. People who you often surround yourself has been the demise of districts or cities even. However I can safely point out that may not be the case anymore. Often under the old regimes you saw such scare tactics or even paranoia be the downfall based on certain individuals. Was it right? Not in the least. 

An individual's history should not hinder on their parents. But some people cannot let go of the past nor forgive some actions. 

Like I said earlier, hitting the mattresses should always be a last resort in this "thing". War is simply not in our normal nature. Halting our business flow goes against what we live for, making money."

Luca takes a swig from his flask again.

"As what you said is indeed true Arizona, I wish it wasn't the case..."

Arizona listens intently as Don LucaRossi speaks up. Watching him take a swig from his flask instantly made her thirsty, she knew exactly where she was headed after this. She patiently waited for him to stopped speaking, a man of his status need not be interrupted especially by some lowly gangster.

"Not to ruffle any feathers here Luca but I know 80% of the time this is how thing progress on these streets. The countless stories I have heard along with all the public records indicate this. It is basically all history repeating itself and you watch it will happen again. May not be soon because there are a lot of young gangster around here like myself but it will happen."

"Now I will definitely agree with you about the paranoia aspect. All it takes is for one bad egg to throw a couple hit listings, possibly shoot a bodyguard or take an attempt on someone for people to start freaking out. Most times instead of trying to problem solve it is easier just to eliminate a mass of people (ie. cities/districts)."

"Which in some instances I can understand it is a necessary evil but then you have those times where all you can do is shake your head and walk away."

Arizona pauses for a moment and wipes her brow of the bead of sweat that had formed. 

"So when you say you can safety point out that this is not the case anymore, I would have to disagree, sir."

Cin had sat and listened to Madara. She had another line of thought on the unified cities theory but this one she hadn't thought of it and brought some things to mind.

If I were to wager a guess, and it is merely a guess, that those people do not stay unified when one or more parties wants more than what they have. I think that would be a huge thing to cause enough of a disruption.

Personally, I have been thinking of unified cities of late. And I have heard so much about how cities are unified, that peoples kills are shared among some trusted individuals and that when you are a part of a certain family, you are indeed apart of the city. Now you can hear that all day but then actions suggest otherwise. If a unified city is actually unified why do people not allow others to travel to another district? I mean if they can go elsewhere within the same and the city is supposed to be a whole, that to me would be suspicious. This is just an example, but the first one that popped off the top of my head.

All of this seems to suggest the cities aren't as unified as you may have been made to believe. At least if a city is a whole, would it not act like a whole? Would things not be similar everywhere?

When one thinks of unified cities, it thinks of it as a whole. But maybe when the breakdown happens isn't necessarily when someone is moved to another city, but its been there the whole time in small ways that people never bothered to look at before?

So perhaps the unified theory is overlooking the small things that eventually lead to the bigger things?

As I said the theory has a lot of questions on more than one train of thought regarding the same idea.

As Luca let Arizona finish her remarks, Luca pondered on what she had said. He understood where she was coming from but he also understood that times before this one were much worse.

"I understand what you mean and I respect that you don't agree with me. We are all entitled to our own opinion, but I think we may have been speaking about two different events. I think you're more referring to what has transpired here VERY recently while I was speaking about the much larger regime with the multiple Godfather Chairmans."

Out of the corner of her eye Arizona spotted Cin stepping forward to add in her thoughts on this topic. She found a spot in the shade and propped herself against the wall to listen. When Cin was finished Arizona was about to jump back in but LucaRossi beat her to it. Again she waited patiently until the floor was hers again.

"Cin you bring up a good point and to an extent you are definitely correct. When a group is a part of a single city yes they tend to work together. Share who they are and what line they come from, along with how big and accurate there gun is. Which is without question considered unified. Now it is when a group leaves said city to branch out. Now if they start confiding in themselves and sharing information with just them and leave out the unified group then this can stir issues as well. Slowly in time bringing a wedge between the initial group."

"There are countless reasons though if you think about it all, something that can start out small and insignificant can grow into a problem. Though I still believe that the stem of most everything is based off of certain people and groups like I expressed a little bit ago."

Arizona turns to Luca and begins speaking again.

"It really doesn't matter the situation, yes the one prior was a tad different then this most recent one but they both have that one thing in common. One side had bloodlines deemed undesirable, the only difference really was who shot who first."

Taking another swig from his flask filled with bourbon, Luca continued...

"So I know, which had side had undesirables either time?

I think you're trying to come up with your own reasoning behind the Detroit takedown. I recommend being patient for an explanation before you think thats how things went. The assumption game can be just as bad as the paranoia game."

Arizona took a slight step back, she didn't want to come off as being rash or over powering. She knew her place in this world and knew it would be quite some time and hard work before she would be looked at as one rather then a homely street child. It took a bit to muster the courage up and add a couple more words. 

"Don Luca, I'm not trying to come off as a bitch or be hateful in any manner. My mention of undesirables is simply that. It could be said group A versus group B. The real thought I was trying to come across and say is that is more of who is deemed opposition. Yourself and the parties in power now just like others in the past know which bloodlines to steer clear of or knock down when deemed fit."

"I was not bringing up any examples more of just pointing out how this world operates."

Luca looked towards Arizona and gave him his flask. He nodded as he tried to offer his home brew.

"You didn't come across as such. I was the one trying to push when I guess there wasn't a need to. I just like to make sure others know things before they suspect. Thats all...

Nonetheless, great point to the conversation."

Arizona hesitantly took the flask from LucaRossi and took a tiny swig before handing it back to him. She could feel the liquor warm her entire body as it went down but it also instantly calmed her down. 

"Thank you for the drink, that's one fine brew you have there. You should look into selling that stuff."