Is this a problem?

[Malannee]

Hi, thanks for the tag!

To be honest, the one part that bothers me about this is here:

@scarlettm

he finally finds a reason to leave. Now, the rest of the story, after he leaves, has nothing to do with it.

The problem is that leaving the mafia life is extremely hard and dangerous. They have a code of silence and of honor for a reason. In theory, according to their ‘philosophy’, the only way out of the mafia is death. Granted, there were cases of people leaving the mafia and collaborating with the authorities (because let’s be real, if you were a part of a criminal organization all along, the police and justice won’t leave you alone just like that). However, neither does the mafia. If you do make it out alive, you’re hunted down for the rest of your life. People who got out (and not only them, but also people who actively fight against the mafia) needed bodyguards at all times.

So all this to say, LI can’t just get out and the rest of the story never touches upon this theme ever again.

Another reason is that it becomes a reason for clout. I expressed this in another ~ancient~ thread (granted I was kinda mad then and the case was a bit different to yours, but here it is):

@Malannee

However, if […] you neglect to represent his mafioso side as it should be, then at that point you’re just romanticising the idea that being part of the mafia is cool. At that point, why not just make those two be regular citizens? What’s the point in them being part of the mafia if you don’t want to portray their illegal activities?

This is what this thread is also referring to. This is what the whole “glorifying topics that shouldn’t be glorified” is about. Cause if you’re not representing the mafia (along with all its members) as the horrible organization that it is, then you’re just using it to fish for clueless readers who are attracted to the distorted idea of the mafia that unfortunately a lot of authors portray.

I hope you understand what I mean by this. The fact that LI wants to get out is great and positive. But don’t even bother to mention it, or anything about the mafia world, if it’s not in your intentions to elaborate later on in the story. Topics like this are too sensitive to be handled so lightly.