#mob boss sal just has various pieces of himself -and his humanity- scrapped away to become the man he is

[streetsofaesthetics]

I think Sal and Sonia having a good, adult relationship is limited to their millennial counterparts, or AUs were I want to pretend oppression against those who are different is minimal. 

Because realistically 90s (80s, 70s, 60s) Sal would have cut Sonia off for not just her sexuality, but her taboo masculinity. It would not have been done by choice, as Sal actually loved Sonia for being more like a brother, but due to localized peer pressure with his companions. Yes, he would have screamed at her in public when all eyes were on him. Yes, he would have called her a freak. And this is one of many regrets he would hold as an old man and ultimately edges him towards gay tolerance when he's in his 50s - and has gay kids. It's his personal atoning, setting things right. And no, Sonia would never forgive him. They would go their separate ways, with the only thing connecting them being Rosaria who has unconditional love for her sister.

1940s reverses the situation a bit. Sexuality isn't a component of their fallout. Because while Sonia becomes more 'masculine' during WWII, it was that 'acceptable' feminine, female factory worker masculinity. Sal and Sonia's conflict instead arises from her sex work and supposed 'neglect' of Stefano. Meanwhile Sonia's disdain for Sal emerges from him becoming affiliated with the Italian-American mob, because it makes him the sort of abusive man that she and Rosaria were married to. She shuns Sal, Rosaria shuns Sal, Sal has to form a new, separate life in another part of New York where he meets Eve.

Millennial Sal's stance on sexuality, race, and gender is that you shouldn't be an asshole to others. It's old fashioned and backwards. So he's fine when Sonia says she's gay. He's fine when she's masculine. Which, Sal already knew her to be, because even when she was feminine when they're together they play the same video games, watch the same shows, have the same opinions. It's been that way since they were toddlers. Sal didn't approve of her stripping, camming, or pornstar stint for 99 toxic masculine reasons, and he also feels like factory work keeps her away from family and Stevie too much.

Beyond that, Sal being separated from Sonia consistently hurts him (and vice versa) on a deep level because all of his earliest memories revolve around interacting with her. In contrast, Rosaria and Sonia are pretty unbreakable with their bond. It’s partially rooted in being women. Partially rooted in Sonia being a heavy maternal figure/person to vent to when she’s lost and confused in college. Even when Rosaria is into politics, she’s all about being progressive and she’s not afraid to say: ‘this is my sister! i want to make the country better for people in her community!’