The Farseer Christmas Party had been an eventful one and Fitz was still nursing the hangover. Camp had spent most of the evening trying to get into the pants of anyone who would listen to him, which was nobody, and baubles had revealed her true colours as a raging alcoholic and spent the night talking a mixture of gibberish and what Fitz assumed was Urdu.

Trying to shake off the eternal headache for a moment, Fitz decided it was time he came back out to the streets, it had been a while and there was only so long he could remain inside while staying under the same roof as HighPitchEric, the smelliest mobster in the biz. So, something that he had previously wanted to speak about came to his mind and he decided it was time to see what others thought about it too.

"Pick Pocketing has always been a common occurrence between mobsters and while it's amusing to get one up on your fellow mafiosi, particularly those who sport the "Not pp friendly" badges, it can also cause problems.

As many will be aware, pick pocketing someone is not just something where you can snatch a quick $5,000 for your troubles but also a way of being able to size someone up and find out how great their body guards are, or alternatively how fuck'n lazy too. This will sometimes be perceived as an increased problem when players go out of their way to pick pocket others who are well known for working in the shadows and being stealthy.

Now while it's a part of our world, most would be happy with just finding a random agent to pick pocket or maybe a fellow crew member, others may even look to pick pocket mobsters from other crews, maybe ones with "do not pp" or something of that ilk worn on their suits. We all know how some of you do that for shits and giggles.

So while this is all good fun initially, when people begin to actively seek out stealthy mobsters and targeting those who are part of the upper echelon of crews in particular, then it can be perceived to give off wrong signals and as such might be taken as an act of reconnaissance on another crew. With this in mind, said crew may then find themselves wondering why such things are occurring and act defensively. 

Now, is this just a bit of friendly banter between families or is this something more sinister?

I'd enjoy knowing what other people think as I know it's probably something others have experienced in the past.

Fitz"

Cin stepped around the odd speaker here and there on the streets until she stumbled upon one that caught her attention.

Excuse me.

She cleared her throat knowing most people wouldn't look twice at the random person but she still felt like speaking anyways. Taking a deep breath she continued on.

Could I offer another reason that people do not often enjoy having hands in their pockets? For some it's a matter of respect and I believe that others just don't enjoy having things stolen from them no matter how small. So in some ways the sinister could be placed more under annoyance.

As you pointed out, people do the act of stealing just because they can. Because they want to frustrate someone based on their own tags. Sometimes we see even those who wear the unfriendly tag doing it. To me this isn't necessarily sinister but just bad practices as it is meant to only inflict a malicious intent upon another person of their choosing.  Definitely borderline but its stepping into a grey area I think.

Axel stood beside Conn. Why? Maybe it was the shiny shoes he wore, self spit shined and half well kept. Or the fact the man was an absolute exercise freak. Or maybe, because he'd just noticed the sneaky punk had successfully pilfered his pockets. Conn returned the sum, and then some, yet Axel made it a point to stand as close as possible to him, looking directly at him, awkwardly, as he himself gave his input, even though Fitz was the one asking the question.

"I think some sneaky fuckers just like the fun of it all. They do their daily this and that, make a little moolah here and there, make sure their bodyguards are in line and doing their thing, and amongst it they walk the beat attempting to put their sneaky mitts into another's pockets."

Axel turned his attention towards Fitz, and raised a clenched fist in the air.

"Usually if I catch an unfortunate fuck this is what they get, my knuckles across their forehead, until they cough up blood or their teeth are knocked down their oesophagus into their balls."

Axel then released his fist, and flung his arm over Conn's shoulder. Squeezing him tightly, maybe a little aggressively.

"But, if I know the face, or the hand behind the face, I let it slide. Because the last thing I'd want to do is mess up someone's day I kind of don't mind seeing. Even if they do need a new haircut."

Axel messed up Conn's hair then flicked him solidly in the nuts with a backhand before walking off. 

Fate watches as Axel delivers a debilitating crotch shot to Conn with the back of his hand. 

"Third option? Sexual antics," she says, dipping her fingers into the back pocket of a gentleman on her way down the sidewalk. 

"That guy right there, he works out," she calls out, tipping the guy a wink and tossing his wallet back to him.

Slash catches his wallet whilst watching the young female walk away

To be honest. I think its a bit of all of the above. My preference differs between the person i'm dipping into. Some I do because I like to frustrate them, although they are generally friends who I just want to annoy for the fun of it, nothing sinister. Others I do because I'm a tiny bit perverted and enjoy the innuendo that comes along with it.

I've never picked a persons pocket with the intention of seeing how quick their hired help can respond. Mostly because I only steal from people I know and I always return the cash to them, I do it for the fun of it and not the financial gain. So stealing from someone to test their hired help would only be required if it was someone I didnt like and wanted to kill. Thankfully, no-one fits that description. I can appreciate that its a solid tactic for that type of thing and is what makes folks wary of allowing people to pick their pockets when they've hired a lot of help already.

"Just for a moment, I was about to call Slash a liar until I had seen a payment from him.

I don't think there is anything wrong with pickpocketing people if they are within your sights, but deliberately trying to find those stealthy folk is only going to be looked at poorly. I tend to stick to Officers in fear of being mugged as I often walk around with suitcases filled with cash. Though there are times when I pickpocket friends or those I see close to me, but I always return their cash and let them know how easy it was to steal from their pockets, though there isn't anything they can really do about it.

Even when pickpocketing friends, I fully expect to be mugged if seen in time. Mugging is something that is natural for most people, I even mug those that I see unless I am in a good mood. I do think I have even mugged a friend or two in my life, just because I could and was having a bad day."

Franky stepped through the crowd an cleared his throat a bit to grab the attention of those nearby. 

"I've never pick pocketed someone with the intent to find anything more than cash, but I get that that is something that can be done. That said, it's part of the world we live in, but then, so is mugging. I figure if you're going to take the chance to pickpocket someone you should be prepared to take a beating if you get caught."

Franky stopped for a moment and lit a cigar, taking a long drag he continued.

"Now, with all that said I think the pattern of activity is what makes a difference. If someone is regularly going after the upper structure of another family or searching for those that prefer the shadows I think it says something about their intent and maybe then should cause a bit more paranoia - outside of that though I think most people do it because they can - and after all, given the life we lead is any other reason really needed?"

Sinister Sex? Nasty! I like it.

BCP looks at his suit all pressed to the  Nine's and sees no label... No tag stating if he likes it or not. The BCP remembers he cares less and goes about his stroll.

Honestly I care less about the acct of picking a pocket. If you feel so enclined, by all means dip in. If I catch you, its my judgement on what I do. I i beat the fuck out of you and take all your cash and your gun so be it. If I do nothing at all. So be it. Its all on you. Deal with it no matter what happens.

BCP laughs outlloud

Just don;t cry about it no matter what happens. As you did it not me, just be a grown up and accept it. Personally I state it in my familly's rules, PP issues mean dick to me, if you cry about them you may die. SO either way I careless about a pick pocket.

Dear Johnny, could you point me to where those rules are written, if not only inside the HQ rules? I am afraid you take the subject too seriously, too old school...

Respect Johnny!

I don't do that kind of shit without asking auth before to those who are pp no-no. They say me no-no, I don't do it. Some say: do it but I will mug u if u do, I do it with pleasure, if circumstances of my biz permit me that pleasure of the risk at the given moment. And I have fun doing it that way. If I die because wantin' to have some fun, so be it.

I'm stealing from you, be forewarned. Every bit of cash I take from whomever helps feed my gambling addictions. Do I sometimes pay the price for my actions? Absolutely, but as a man, I can accept the responsibility for my actions. If you catch me, don't hesitate to mug me.

With that being said, if I steal from you, don't go cry to your boss about it. Be a man, or woman, and confront me about it. Crying like a baby with a skinned knee to your leader isn't going to fix anything. Nut up and come after me. We're mobsters, not bitches.

Actually Falcon, you might die from other's crews good man if yo proceed that way. Even if the other guy might die at the same time or a day after you do. Search to know the unknown, but show some kind of respect. Like owning a $ or 2...

damn strong new year drinks, I meant owing...

I think generally it can be an innocent pursuit for many, but will always be cases where is used for alternate means.   I remember reading family members journals in the past checking a persons bodyguards capability for others within their family pre-war.   The fact is though for maybe 95% of people it is never an issue.   The major problem generally is a reaction to the pickpocket; some people fear the worst others just have a bad reaction to the scenario.

I would say is more malicious and purposeful when someone targets individuals based on their pp status, but the option to mug is always there is my take.  If i catch someone in my pockets i don't want, my simple smile will come as i beat the down, take their money, turn it into stocks on the marketplace and walk away richer and happier.

It has been a wild and crazy couple of days for BrotherHec. Getting back into the swing of things for him looked promising as he saw the New Years had been brought in with wondrous thoughts placed in the streets. 

I guess for me Fitz, its one of those feel free to pick my pocket so long as you ask first. If you choose not to do so i may think your desires are not good and so i will retaliate immediately. I have done so in the past without hesitation. For me its just money. Yet, i guess at the same time its about consideration of another. 

Personally, if i aim to pick a pocket i always ask first. Most of the reason is because im too flashy to not be seen but the other hand is i dont desire to steal a few dollars from someone else who is involved in the same business as me. So whether Goomba or Made i ask every time. Its a certain kind of courtesy i feel is deserved to the other individual.