You must not have spent much time in larger cities, stellina. You would be surprised with what people would look the other way rather than involve themselves in.
[Self-preservation. Bystander effect. Whatever the case may be, people don't want to involve themselves with Passione's business unless they need help.]
At any rate, there are different kinds of attention. Our members work outside the limits of the law, sure, but in a way, we are part of Italia's infrastructure as much as any public official. If you were to remove Passione tomorrow, much of Italia's government and economy would collapse. Being known for that much isn't a bad thing. It's how we're accepted and it's how people know where to go looking when they need help. To that end, even if I chose not to dress in suits, people within my team's territory would still know my name and face as well as what I do.
But there is a bad sort of attention that gangsters can draw to themselves. For example, the betrayal I carried in my heart for so long would have easily made not just me, but my entire team targets for assassination if I hadn't kept my head down for as long as I had.
And there was also the path Passione was on with Diavolo. The people wouldn't tolerate something like that forever. If he hadn't been removed from within, it would have come from without and the whole of Passione would have fallen with him. That would have left kids like the ones in my team on the streets with nothing at best, or rotting in a jail cell at worst. It would have set loose the more sadistic members of the gang at the time with no one to rein them in or to put them down.
[The longer she listens, the more her cheek is pressed against Sticky Fingers. She just wanted to gossip about stupid clothes, why did this have to be educational and interesting.]
The Mafia's complicated. [Good job, Izabel.] But...yeah. That makes sense. Like you said, it's an organization, too.
[And now that Bruno could be sure that she'd been paying attention and taking it seriously -- ]
I meant the whole exposed chest thing, though. Or stomach, in Mista's case. You guys show some serious skin.
No one's ever said anything about it until I arrived here. [Bruno's brow furrows, lips twisting into a slight frown.] Though most seem to be concerned I'm cold, one person asked if I was an "entertainer."
[The quotes around that are, indeed, palpable. Who the fuck just asks someone a question like that?]
[She thinks about pointing out the fact that of course no one back home would ask about it because they didn't want to die, but instead her eyebrows shoot way up.]
What? Dude, that's fucked up. [...] You don't look like one, okay? That person was just nuts.
[Hey now. Bruno wouldn't kill someone over that. Some eager members of his team might get a little happy with their fists/feet and sharp objects of their own volition, but nobody would die. Bruno has some morality.]
I'm sure it was just a matter of...cultural differences.
[Doesn't make it any less rude, but you know. Bruno also must be a Rational Adult about these things, too. Plus, you know, what is being reasonably angry about stuff? What is that?]
[Bruno's anger is a quiet thing until precisely when it's not. Then watch out. But right now it's very hard for Bruno not to smile. If there was any doubt Izabel is part of the family, that'd certainly be pushed aside.]
I appreciate the offer, but I believe they got the point.
[As with most of Bruno's overt expressions of emotion, using the word overt to describe his surprise is a little generous. Still, it crosses his face just briefly the moment she wraps her arms around Sticky Fingers' neck, feeling the slight weight around his own neck. It's a thing he wasn't expecting, but okay. We're in there. Sticky Fingers wraps a protective arm around her.]
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[late night action]
[Self-preservation. Bystander effect. Whatever the case may be, people don't want to involve themselves with Passione's business unless they need help.]
At any rate, there are different kinds of attention. Our members work outside the limits of the law, sure, but in a way, we are part of Italia's infrastructure as much as any public official. If you were to remove Passione tomorrow, much of Italia's government and economy would collapse. Being known for that much isn't a bad thing. It's how we're accepted and it's how people know where to go looking when they need help. To that end, even if I chose not to dress in suits, people within my team's territory would still know my name and face as well as what I do.
But there is a bad sort of attention that gangsters can draw to themselves. For example, the betrayal I carried in my heart for so long would have easily made not just me, but my entire team targets for assassination if I hadn't kept my head down for as long as I had.
And there was also the path Passione was on with Diavolo. The people wouldn't tolerate something like that forever. If he hadn't been removed from within, it would have come from without and the whole of Passione would have fallen with him. That would have left kids like the ones in my team on the streets with nothing at best, or rotting in a jail cell at worst. It would have set loose the more sadistic members of the gang at the time with no one to rein them in or to put them down.
[late night action]
The Mafia's complicated. [Good job, Izabel.] But...yeah. That makes sense. Like you said, it's an organization, too.
[And now that Bruno could be sure that she'd been paying attention and taking it seriously -- ]
I meant the whole exposed chest thing, though. Or stomach, in Mista's case. You guys show some serious skin.
[late night action]
[The quotes around that are, indeed, palpable. Who the fuck just asks someone a question like that?]
[late night action]
What? Dude, that's fucked up. [...] You don't look like one, okay? That person was just nuts.
[Not that...she's familiar... But no, how dare.]
[late night action]
I'm sure it was just a matter of...cultural differences.
[Doesn't make it any less rude, but you know. Bruno also must be a Rational Adult about these things, too. Plus, you know, what is being reasonably angry about stuff? What is that?]
[late night action]
Want me to haunt them? I'll totally haunt them. "Entertainer", really...
[IF HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANGRY ABOUT IT, SOMEONE HAS TO BE.]
[late night action]
I appreciate the offer, but I believe they got the point.
[Bruno certainly didn't hide his offense.]
[late night action]
[She snakes her arms around Sticky Fingers's neck instead, resting more bodily against him.]
Then I can stay like this for a while longer.
[Happy ghost.]
[late night action]
You can stay as long as you like, stellina.
[late night action]
Thank you, though. I'm happy to hear that.
[late night action]
[Because thank yous are never necessary when it comes to family. These things should just always be a given.]