Despite the economic downturn, the society in Grosse Pointe seemed to do well. On a monday the streets were filled with people, shop-owners were busy and even this restaurant overlooking Lake St. Clair had surprisingly many customers for this time of the week. When Godmother Crystalize entered the venue, Rob saw how the couple that owned the place anxiously whispered to each other.  No one could wish for more cheerful clientele to their venue than Crystalize, but Rob could understand how civvies got slightly nervous when the leader of a notorious crime organisation came to visit them.

Rob stood up and politely shook hands with Crystalize.

"Thank you for meeting with me. Please join me at this table." Rob said before motioning towards the owner to bring tea and the selection of brownies he had ordered. The tea appeared to be for show only as Rob pulled up a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon and filled their glasses. After having discussed the state of organised crime in the country, Rob got to business, explaining why he had asked Crystalize to join him today.

"I'm doing a series of interviews with the leaders of organised crime in America, hoping to learn about their thoughts and ideas on various topics. Our society is based on years of traditions and values, but it's interesting to learn whether they are still relevant for us today."

"Thank you so much for having me, dear." Crystalize said. "It's a pleasure to participate in something like this."

Crystalize took a sip from the amber-coloured bourban as she allowed Rob to finish speaking and listened to his first question, turning it over in her head for a moment before speaking, swirling the glass in her hand to stir the contents within it.

Rob:
"As said, I'd like to talk with you about traditional values to our lifestyle. One of those is loyalty, a thing many will think to understand and most will say that it's an important characteristic for someone to have in our world. That's what common sense tells us. I'd like to explore the topic with you and see about it's value for us in present time.

Let's start of with what seems as an easy question. Can you briefly define what you consider loyalty to be?"

Crystalize:
"Loyalty is protecting the ones you love and trust completely with everything you have."

Rob:
"You worded that nicely. I like how it adds meaning to a value that often seems to be an expected characteristic when two people meet in this place. But love and trust are things that rarely come instantly, but they grow over time. They also suggest a two-way street.

Can you share with me what attitude you would expect from an associate to a crime family, so that a foundation of loyalty can grow?"

Crystalize:
"Loyalty is not something that should be expected, it is it is something that shows itself, as people get to know each other better. As for Love and trust, those are never instant, they are built up the stronger a friendship gets, though that is not always a case.

For those who come into a family as an associate to work, a good attitude to expect out of said person, is open mindedness. The "new kids" might know bad habits from living on the streets or hold onto some anger from hearing about how a loved relative died, but it will be that open mindedness that can help bring them to new terms, let new things shine into their minds that they didn't know before. That and a willingness to change from what they thought they knew. This world is a rough place that we live in, and if some associate comes in and acts like a street thug, running around doing things their own way instead of for their family, how can one expect there to be any loyalty when there can be no trust?"


Rob:
"Recently newspapers reported a few people from the Detroit underground had met their end and some of those were members of your family. Rumour is that these people had plans not in line with your ideas for the future. Without delving into the specifics of that situation, can you share with me what emotions and thoughts surface when you learn that some of the people you trusted as Made Men in your family scheme behind your back?"

Crystalize:
"Finding out people who were blooded into the family and swore an oath with blood to protect not only their city, but all of those within it. Only to find out they their plans all along were to cause harm to those dear to you might make someone feel betrayed, like the loyalty that was supposedly built up was broken. There might be some anger as well, but overall there is that deep need to protect the rest of the city and those dear to you who have become threatened by those scheming individuals."


Rob:
"Thank you for sharing that. Looking at society as a whole, do you think it's difficult to find true loyalty these days or do you think it are simply isolated incidents that disappoint us?"

Crystalize:
"As an entire Society true loyalty, to the death kind that flows through generations to follow, is hard to find. Most people running along these streets will be lucky enough to have a lick of loyalty for that lifetime. Most of the loyalty that runs through society flips as easily as a coin among generations depending on where the power lies, no one tries to look deeper then that. Those who do, tend to be the ones that are the diamonds among coal."


Rob:
"It's intriguing how loyalty seems such an important value for our lifestyle, but yet we find ourselves surrounded by many who'd pick wealth, power or revenge over staying loyal to their families. Coming at the end of this interview, do you have some advise for crewleaders who aim to inspire loyalty in their members?"

Crystalize:
"The depths of the human mind can be very complex and people can hide many faces under a mask if they so please.

As for advice, I would say that if they aren't already, speak often with those in your family and get to know them on a personal level. When people see you doing that, they tend to not only work harder for you, but it creates a good relationship. Just think of it this way, would you rather work for someone who doesn't seem to care about those they've employed, or would you rather work for someone who is constantly reaching out and checking in on everyone. I know it seems like a lot of work, especially for the larger families... but it can be very rewarding."




After having thanked Crystalize for her time and explaining that he'd print the interview and would distribute it to underground bars, Rob filled their glasses once more with bourbon.

"Now, we can't finish this these last brownies without a drink, right?"

The two toasted as the restaurant owner shook his head, witnessing how prohibition was broken in his establishment.