It's obvious that our blood runs thicker than water, something I acknowledge anyways. This being said, how many of us actually take the bond instantly formed when we accept the invite into a family? To me it seems that those fresh off the boat are completely oblivious to this and so their mind is not in this thing of ours, but somewhere else.

This deep rooted relationship one holds with their family also stems to their city and even to the code of omerta. However, before I get lost in a rant, let me come back to my main point.

This bond, formed between you and your family after you accept that invite, what does it mean to you?

Is it something you brainwash your offspring with, keeping in mind there is a good chance of them meeting their maker way before their time? Maybe, an unwavering display of undying loyalty, short of being overzealous. There's a fine line between bravery and stupidity, a line we see walked all too often this day in age.

Is the bond between you and your leader a thing of the past when you draw your last breath? Should your children carry the torch and continue the bond with the family that brought the food to the table? If they chose otherwise, would it betray their own bloodline and the heart and soul of This Thing of Ours?

I simply can't grasp the many outlandish decisions I've seen throughout my time and those listed in my bloodlines journals. To me, many take the family bond as something that is merely optional, something that is an outdated concept. There are many who see families and the head quarters as shelters from bullets and nothing else. No commitment. What happened?

Alex stepped forward and cleared his throat to speak. 

"For me the bond starts from a matter of honor the moment that I become the associate of a family. That said, as a crew leader I accept that some people may want to transfer out before becoming made and, as per the accepted policy, as long as they are willing to pay a reasonable tax on the way out the door I bit them best of luck. Once made, however, that changes - it is a promise of loyalty to the grave and it is one I take very seriously." 

Alex paused and seemed to think for a moment

"Regarding the second part of your questions, my kin are not bound by my oath. The same way that I do not hold a grudge against those who killed my ancestors I do not expect my kin to live up to an oath that I, not they, took. That is not to say that if my crew were to outlive me my kin wouldn't look to them first - as proven by myself and my mother before me - but I do not think it is something that should be expected and I would not look down on someone if they chose not to do the same; after all, the life of every new member of this thing of ours is their own to lead with their own paths to follow - whether they are fresh off the boat or the kin of our fallen brethren."

Disorder listens to Batista open his discussion. When he was done and Alexander_Solonik had had his say on the matter, the old Godfather wandered over to Batista and shook his hand.

"A good topic you bring up here. Something that reflects on our changing times. The values and bonds you speak of establishing at the start of your mob life are very common to many of us from older lines. In days gone by you made your bed the day you approached a leader and asked them for a place in their family. As soon as you had made that call, there was no going back. It didn't matter if one day later you found out your leader was a spectacular idiot, you were there for life. 

These days we have freedom of movement. Before someone takes their oath and joins a family proper, they are allowed to change crews. This has been abused a little by chancers crew hopping in the hope of finding more power or better positions but for the most part, it has been used sensibly. People tend to ascribe to the idea of asking permission to change crews and showing their appreciation to the crew they are leaving in the form of a significant tribute on their way out of the door. 

Now although I'm older in my view, I don't necessarily think the old way was better. I know a few people who have really struggled to accept people moving from their crews but I have found it useful. If someone leaves for what I see as a legitimate reason, what do I gain by standing in their way? Someone who may stay but will resent me for preventing them be happy? How is that beneficial? Likewise if the person wanting to leave is doing it for shallow and selfish reasons, why would I want to keep a toxic individual in my family? I'm much better off knowing their true nature and being rid of them."

Realizing he'd been banging on for some time now, he stopped and took a sip of his morning coffee while thinking of the best way to summarize his feelings on the matter.

"More than anything I think comes back to the eternal truth; A species ability to survive is entirely dependent on it's ability to adapt. Those that can adapt, prosper. Those that can't, die. So it is with this thing of ours."