[classic swim]

BREAKING THE BANK AT CALIGULA’S You were finally pulling off the heist! What a steal! What a getaway! Ya did it, Carl! Salvatore calls! “You two-bit backstabbing piece of eggplant shit! I am gonna fuck you up, and your children, and your grandchildren.” Lucky for you, Mr. Leone cut his losses and went back to LC. {The Triads back at home took most of the vengeful beating, opposed to the San Fierro Triads actually responsible for helping orchestrate this con.} Besides that, Sal wasn’t gonna have much luck whacking you with that unspoken government protection you have. With this heist... you caused a domino effect of mob boss paranoia that would vastly shape the criminal world of Liberty City well into the 2000s. But that wasn’t your problem. - - - - - - - - End of Chapter Three

SAINT MARK’S BISTRO Sal was feeling good! Feeling confident! Salvatore had a big job for you that required you to fly some place special. You were fixing to take care of his beef with the Forelli Family for a good while. Before your trip, you made sure Rosenberg, Kent & Maccer would lay low away from Venturas for the next set of days. You didn’t want the wrong guys to be considered accomplices for what you were about to do after the job. Plus, you had something in mind for them later. - - - - - - - - - - - - You just couldn’t believe it. Your life had changed so drastically just from you not running back to the east coast. And here you were, visiting Liberty City for one classic mob hit. Felt nice! You were wondering where Catalina might be. Surely it wouldn’t take her 9 years just to make it here. Salvatore Leone sends his regards. Arrivederci, Marco Forelli. The hit on Marco’s Bistro was a success. Time to head back to Venturas.

Well, that adds more context to his bit of resentment with Bebop besides already saying everything there is to be said on it long ago. Still, all it takes is that one big name on his portfolio to see that he had western appeal perfectly in mind before. Lupin III further down historically was the same way. It’d be sad if that was a concern for him so far into his career. Especially when he’s already upset with the thought of typecasting.

HIGH NOON Las Brujas. Some deserted ghost town. You had the dossier. Tenpenny was ready to be rid of his favorite dog. You were ordered to dig your own grave. Saving room for unconscious Officer Hernandez as well. Hernandez was the one who fired the bullet on Pendlebury. It was either that, or his own life. But for an uncertain amount of time, Hernandez went to Internal Affairs. He couldn’t let this all go on. “I’ll see YOU... in the next life... Carl.” Here you were, staring at death in the face. The one left to finish the job was Pulaski. Eddie was Tenpenny’s leech from day one. With regained consciousness, Hernandez went out saving your life. Eddie made a run for it. Things didn’t go well for Eddie after that. “Can I fuck your sister?” ”You a asshole to the end. Punk motherfucker!” After all that shit-talk with each and every visit; you’ve silenced Officer Pulaski for good. What now? Get drunk and get laid. - - - - - - - - - - NOT LONG AFTER... Tenpenny was arrested for racketeering, corruption, possession/use of narcotics, and multiple counts of sexual assault.

I’ve only watched Bebop and Champloo. I don’t remember the exact reason why Watanabe was disappointed in Dandy specifically but yeah. I don’t know, I usually don’t watch newer shit for part of that reason. Either too flashy or too wonky for my eyes.

It was official. You signed off on the papers for Four Dragons! You and Woozie were in this for life. - - - - - - - - - - - - You finally meet Salvatore down at Caligula’s. You use his son Joey as a good reference point. Mr. Leone’s in some trouble and needs your assistance. The Forellis (and what’s left over of the Sindaccos) want Salvatore dead. The Forelli Family in particular was wanting Leone out the picture so they could take his share of the Casino. Forelli mobsters were arriving by plane to rub out Sal. You dropped in. The crew didn’t make the landing.

Apparently from the panel Watanabe said he was sick of Bebop and this is nothing like Bebop and the fans agreed. Character’s running and jumping around exactly like Spike, so I still kinda see it. You can tell it’s not gonna have the budget or production value of an anime from 1998, so that’s where the comparison if any stops. Not like I’m begging for it to be a sequel series in order to be good. But I also don’t think being vaguely reminded of the more popular show is that bad.

Truth calls. Says he lost a couple friends in the desert during the last peyote high and he doesn’t know where they are. You drive across Arco del Oeste to find them. Kent Paul & Maccer of the Gurning Chimps. “Oh stand up, you soppy cunt. We go through this every weekend.” Well, that’s just great. A couple of cockneys. You help the two identify last night’s untreated urges... Then you drive back to Venturas to their pal Ken’s casino... Caligula’s! This was part of your ticket in for the heist! Ken Rosenberg Before being disbarred from the law due to coke habit and other conniving tendencies; Ken was Vercetti’s trusted lawyer back in Vice City. And before that, Rosenberg was just a guy representing the Forelli Crime Family from the outside. Ken and Kent. Well, that’s one VC reunion! Leone decided to let Rosenberg run Caligula’s as a neutral party. Leones, Sindaccos, Forellis. They all had some financial footing in this casino. The plan was if any of these mob families fought, one would whack Ken and then blame the other for it. - - - - - - - - - - - - You alleviate some of Ken’s stress by helping him with the Sindaccos. Johnny Sindacco was barely recovering from the little joyride you had with him earlier. Johnny sees you. Dies of an instant heart attack. The Sindaccos were unhappy about this. You took ‘em all out. “Oh, this is so exciting, Tommy. This is just like old times!” ”Who the fuck is Tommy?” Mr. Vercetti is unavailable for comment.

MADD DOGG Rapper’s career hit the slopes after what you did back in LS. He was ready to make the jump off the Royal Casino, but you saved his life. On count of his old manager being, y’know... DEAD; Madd Dogg says he’ll look you up once he’s out from rehab. Considering what you did, and what Loc means to you now since that Lazlow spot, it’s the least you could do. Carl Johnson. Madd Dogg liked the sound of that name.

“Now I know you’re blind, man. But you gotta see this.” You’re planning a heist on Caligula’s! You, Woozie + Mountain Cloud enforcement, hacker Zero... the janitor who lives in the broom closet of Four Dragons... This was your team. The next few days would be collecting dynamite sticks, keycards, getaway vehicles... Not to mention, planting a device to shut off city power supply at the Sherman Dam. - - - - - - - - - - - - In the middle of your Casino planning, Tenpenny calls. Wants you to meet up at this small house just around the corner from your luxury Venturas home in Prickle Pine. C.R.A.S.H. used their drug earnings to buy this house in hiding. They are on the run. You’re out having fun and making good money while these guys can’t even have a decent cookout anymore. The tables have turned. Tenpenny himself even says that the gig’s nearly up. Frank’s done even trying to entertain you, or his own bullshit. He wants the last bit of evidence tampered with, and he wants to be done with you. You’re ordered to take a dossier from both FBI and DEA, leaving no survivors. You hold onto it for now until Frank’s ready for the last meet.

You’ve really hit the big time now! Viva Las Venturas, Baby! That ‘new spot’ your pal Woozie’s teased you with? What a resort! You hadn’t seen anything like it. You meet up just to see how things have been. Woozie hasn’t been in the best of spirits. In fact, he’s been pretty fucking pissed off. Woozie explains that this business endeavor has so far been somewhat of a migraine. Triads sticking out like a sore thumb, in a town that’s been mainly dominated by La Cosa Nostra for the past few decades. Nonetheless, Woozie reveals that he’s giving YOU an owner’s share of The Four Dragons Casino. The two of you (plus Ran Fa Li) would be running this thing together. You had some ideas on how to put Woozie on top of the map with this. First thing’s first: The Italian Outfit needed some fucking over. You had Johnny Sindacco tied to the hood of your car. Fuckin’ scared him to the point of clinical condition, but you got some answers out of him. Salvatore Leone: Don of the Leone Crime Family Salvatore put 5 million into Caligula’s Casino further down the strip from Four Dragons. This was a joint move made with the Sindaccos while you were still working for Sal’s son Joey back in those Liberty days. The mob couldn’t be taken care of overnight. You’d have to spend the next few days figuring out both how to get in with the Italians, and how to get money from under their noses.

Things were already so very different for you now. Why, what more could shake things up? Truth returns! Truth knows you’re working with Toreno, and he doesn’t like it one bit. Hmm... What might those two have in common? Ah, well. Not important. The important thing is, Truth also wants to use this airfield to his advantage. What on earth could Truth be dragging you out in the middle of no where for? ... Oh. Right. That’s a 60 million dollar Jet Pack you are flying away with. Jet Pack’s probably in better hands now with you both anyway. It’s with your new government restricted toy that you also obtain a mysterious green goo for Truth. Eventually things settle down and Truth goes back to his peyote.

I miss summer already. My electric bill’s cheap as it’s ever been right now, but for the next several months it’ll be through the roof with shitty weather and shower water that gets arctic cold in a second.

Chapter Three: Tierra Robada. Just outside of Fierro. Toreno was a CIA operative. Observing and neutralizing Latin American threats was his only course of concern with the drug trade in the state of San Andreas. “We’re fighting a WAR out there!” With the most intense sitdown of your life, Toreno made it clear you’re someone he’s depending on. That your help would be immeasurable for yourself and (you think) your country. Cesar helped you hijack an agency truck. He didn’t really know what it was for. Neither did you. “You know, I try to set bad people on other bad people, and sometimes, I let good guys die. He's your brother, but to me, he's just collateral.” Toreno promised that with great training and initiative on your end, he’d guarantee your brother Sweet an early release from prison. Beyond that, he’s also protecting Sweet from any harms way on the inside. Tenpenny’s previous threats suddenly became null and void. You had to prepare yourself for jobs you’ve never came close to doing ever before... You were assigned to the ends of the desert, protecting cargo from mercenaries. Your next task was buying an abandoned air strip. What for? ... YOU WERE LEARNING HOW TO FLY! That’s right. Toreno made you into a fully trained pilot! Men in black started peeping their nose in. At this point, what COULD’NT you take care of? Long way from home, huh, Carl?

PIER 69 Loco Syndicate meeting was underway at the San Fierro pier. You were with Cesar just down the road. Sniper rifle in hand. Rifas had added certain protection. Triads arrived to help you with the assault on the roof! Still pissed you off seeing Ryder roll with the purple like it’s nothing. And to even dab up the dude who’s been treating you like a bitch. You were ready to clap these fools. You picked off Rifa one by one. Toreno saw the bodies on the roof from his chopper and bailed. You had to carry on the attack centerfield. ”MENDEZ! I see you, Rifa motherfucker!” Cesar outcried. T-Bone was done. You gave Ryder a swift mercy kill. Homie always wanted to be with the water. - - - - - - - - - - - - “Man, I got homies I used to run with that turn their back on me, over THIS. Fucking Ryder, man. That was my homie. And I killed him!” “Fucking midget deserved it, eh. Little asshole tried to bang your sister, you know that?” Woozie made a surprise visit just to remind you that there’s still unfinished business regarding your former friend’s crack factory. Triads were gracious enough to help you with that as well. Yep. Smoke’s yay connection from Fierro was done. An attempt was made on Toreno. Later that evening, a disturbing, James Woods esque robo-call... “THIS IS A FRIEND OF YOURS. I’VE GOT SOME INFORMATION RELATING TO YOUR BROTHER. COME TO MY RANCH AND I’LL EXPLAIN.” - - - - - - - - End of Chapter Two

You were done fuckin’ around as the errand boy for the enemy. It was time to take action. Cesar gave you a silencer just for the job. “Nah, you fucked up. ... you ass-selling, yay-pushing, piece of shit trash.” Ice Cold Killa, CJ. With Jizzy out the picture, now you were gearing to take down the rest of the Syndicate.

This was your ace in the hole. Pretty soon, you’d be leaving Smoke several hundred thousands out of pocket in his crack venture. Jizzy & T-Bone were having a 1-1. Mendez didn’t give you too much attention. But one thing was for sure. Dude did not like you at all. Wouldn’t be long before you’d be called upon to help out Toreno. These two weren’t so friendly to any new insiders, and for good reason. Lot of money and product was riding on this. Mike had all the precise connections in order... Mendez had Rifa making sure shit was getting out there. You could sorta handle Toreno. It was T-Bone you had to be cautious around. *Around this time was where you heard Loc’s interview with Lazlow on WCTR* While Big Smoke was out there parading himself as that fool’s manager, Toreno brought you to Smoke’s crack factory. This whole time... just around the corner from the chop-shop! - - - - - - - - C.R.A.S.H. finally made it to your garage. Tenpenny had yet another guy who needed silencing. This time, it was some reporter back in Los Santos. This was only a brief visit. You tried not to think about what existed before. Just aimed to get the job done and head back to SF, which you did.

Tenpenny called. Usually, the requests of C.R.A.S.H. involved needing to stick someone six feet under. This time, you just needed to send in a framing tip. “Aye, motherfucker. The code of the streets is that I don’t snitch.” “Carl! He’s a D.A. !” ... Just a quick run ‘n done. Nothing more. - - - - - - - - Cesar called. You knew Ballas were coming in from Santos to Fierro, but you had to ID the main suppliers. The two of you went to scope out a meeting at the little country town you were just at before. You weren’t so sure about this, but you knew you were in good company. You both made it to the spot. Been awhile since you last saw shermhead Ryder. He rolls with the Ballas now, whilst playing Smoke’s representative. This vato cat Cesar, without hesitation, identified as T-Bone Mendez. T-Bone led the San Fierro Rifa. T-Bone had caused problems for Aztecas before. Neither of you knew the dude in the suit. Other than him having that creepy aura. That right there was a stone cold pimp. You took your photographs and went on. Triads helped you identify the rest. In order of left to right: Mike Toreno, Jizzy B, T-Bone This trio made up the Loco Syndicate. If you were gonna take this organization apart, you had to start with the weakest link. Only the hottest bitches and the coldest cats went down to speak with Jizzy at the Pleasure Dome. You offered your humble services. Jizzy gave off a few simple jobs that a dumb muscle like yourself could pull off. In just little time at all, you became Jizzy B’s trusted partner.

CHINATOWN WARS Woozie rang. He wants you to meet him over at his betting shop to discuss some business. Once you arrive, trusted bodyguard Guppy informs you that Woozie is indeed blind. That racing you both did back there? Miraculous sensibility. They don’t call him the “lucky mole” for nothing! You process the information very maturely. Woozie reveals himself as the leader of the Mountain Cloud Boys branch of the San Fierro Triads. He’s had trouble maintaining control with the presence of a rival criminal organization in the city. Da Nang Boys were a Vietnamese gang led by the ruthless Snakehead. They dealt in smuggling, as well as human trafficking. Da Nang were proving themselves to be a problem when they wiped out the Blood Feather Triads. Ran Fa Li of the Red Gecko Tong was also dealing with an attempt on his life. You talk yourself into helping these guys by any means necessary. You drove a decoy all across Chiliad to ensure Ran Fa Li would leave Chinatown without fear of anyone after him. You even sneak onto Nang ship to plant a bug. You’re making generous efforts, but there’s still a fair bit of stress. Wu Zi Mu himself comes clean to you about his condition: “I’m blind.” ”NO SHIT.” You dealt with Da Nang once and for all by going back to their boat, slaying Snakehead, and freeing all refugees. The enriched experience was fairly different from clearing Ballas crack dens and taking over street corners. “Thanks, my friend. Your help and friendship has been invaluable to me. I’ll call you in a week or so and invite you to my new spot.” Congratulations, Mr. Johnson. You are now a sworn friend of the Triads.

You’re getting there, CJ. Don’t you worry. - - - - - - - - On top of the garage, you also bought Zero’s shop that he put up for sale. Zero was having one nasty squabble with Berkley ever since he beat him in the science fair! “Curse you, Berkley! Curse you!” You both used those RC planes to your advantage. It was with your help in the miniature battle of wits that Zero reigned as the ultimate RC champion! - - - - - - - - The garage itself was coming along even nicer! People around SF knew it was the place to go. You wanted an additional hustle to help keep local police off your back... That’s when you bought the car lot just down the street! You and Cesar put in the work to make sure only the finest cars made it to the showroom. ... Now sometimes, that meant stealing cars from a different dealership... But hey! Work is work! Eventually, you and your compadre made it to the import/export business. In spite of you making a modest name for yourself, it didn’t do a whole lot to help ease the pain. “Moms, Sweet, Smoke - - I just can’t let that go.” Like you said before. Everything will be handled when it’s time. But you knew this was a family effort. And you knew loved ones still had your back no matter what. As much as you missed both Brian and Sweet... Cesar was the one brother right in front of you. And you were grateful for that. You couldn’t think of anyone else that you’d be doing this type of shit with.

“You know what, Carl? You are a fucking idiot! Your whole life, you've wanted somethin' for nothing. Now you've GOT something, and you don't know what to do with it. We'll make it good enough! We'll help, right?” It’s with this pep talk from your sister that you decide to make the best chop-shop out from this shithole that you possibly can. But first, you had to round some of Truth’s guys together. First step was Dwaine and Jethro. Dwaine & Jethro (real good mechanics!) used to have their own boatyard down in Vice City. Then it was bought off by the Vercetti family. Mr. Vercetti is unavailable for comment. The next step was stopping by Zero and his RC shop. Zero was great with technology, but he himself was in a bit of a bind. You all just sleep on it for now and focus on building up this garage to the best of your ability.

ARE YOU GOING TO SAN FIERRO? You finally got the dough rounded up for Truth’s weed haul. You were ready to just get the payment done with. Suddenly, you both heard the sounds of a chopper from afar. There was no time. The two of you had to do the unthinkable. You spent that night torching the whole marijuana farm before Flint County’s finest could get to it. You went aboard the Mothership with whatever remaining stash, and bolted to your newly acquired property in SF. You were anxious to finally see what Fierro was like. Bit more quiet than Santos. But at long last, civilization! You went inside the property to see what you were dealing with... “...MOTHERFUCKER!”

There was an episode of Jail: Las Vegas where some Italian with an Elvis accent said “you’re a cracka” and the cop got mad and put him back in the detox tank. I wanna find that episode.