Realistic or Modern A Family Affair: The Irish Mob - IC (Ended)

[Misty Gray]

James Porter​

James had only just watched Braden return to the house when he saw Syd making his way outside. He remained standing for the moment, his pride at seeing his son join him was clear to see on his face. They didn't seem to get much time to talk one on one, especially not lately, due to all of the problems the IWU had been causing the family. He laughed at Syd's comment about training Braden and quickly shook his head. "No, you're right about that. Your Aunt Tink will beat the crap out of me if she finds out," he joked. "Brady seems to have taken an interest in working out, so who am I to deprive him of his learning? That's my story and I'm sticking to it!"

When Syd started his stretches, James sent him an encouraging smile. "You ready?" he casually asked. He then returned to his press ups, which his son soon joined in with. James would lead Syd through various body weight exercises, repeating sets until he was happy Syd had done enough. The two would then do laps around the garden, starting at jogging but soon working into running. Despite the cold weather, the two men managed to warm up a great deal, warranting their thin layers of clothing.

James called for them to have a short rest, deciding to take the opportunity to speak to his son without anyone else around. He sat on the garden bench, inviting Syd to join him. "I'm sorry I've been so busy lately. How have you been getting on over the last few weeks? I know it's been tough for everyone." Between the shooting at the club and Sinead being poisoned, James was aware of the effect it would have on his kids. Deciding on a lighter subject, but likely still an awkward one for a teenager, he decided to ask an unexpectedly personal question. "And Skye. How are things going with you and Skye? You official yet or just dating?"


Pyroclast (Syd)

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

Dropping heavily on to the bench beside his father, Syd had to take a moment to catch his breath. He bent over so that his head rested between his legs and cursed himself for not going the extra mile during his sessions alone in the gym. Working out with his dad was going to do him good, and despite the painful stitch that tore through his side his enthusiasm about training further had only grown.

He sat back when James began to speak, still slightly breathless but more or less recovered. It was hard to answer his question; as a son, a brother and a young man Syd always felt something of a responsibility to be stoic and keep his troubles to himself, so that there was one less thing for the others to worry about when tragedy struck the family. At the orphanage he was raised in, the "carers" would physically punish anyone who raised a problem or kicked up any kind of fuss, including getting sick or injured, so Syd learned to deal with most things on his own. Even ten years on he found it a hard habit to break. Now that his father was giving him the chance to speak up, he struggled to find the words.
"I'm doing okay, dad," he said, as convincingly as he could. "Sleeping better with every night that pushes all the shit that happened further into the past." He paused, a little uncomfortable admitting his reactions to the past events. "Just keep coming home, yeah?" he added quietly, not looking his father in the eye as he very lightly punched him in the leg. It did weigh on his mind a lot, the number of near misses that his family had recently endured.

Syd felt his cheeks colour a little when Skye was brought up. Yet even in his father's presence he couldn't keep back the same smile that crept across his face whenever he saw her or heard her name. He loved to hear other people say it, noting the way it sounded different in everyone's voices yet still made his heart burn with happiness every time. He sighed softly as he thought of what to say. In the end, his wall of stoicism came crashing down.

"God, dad...I really like her," he admitted, leaning forward and placing his head in his hands to hide his otherwise obvious blushing. "I care about her so much. I don't know what to do," he laughed uneasily, astonished and confused at his outburst of emotion. "Or how to tell her...I mean, we just never had that conversation. I think she likes me the same but it's hard to tell. No girl has ever made me get like this before. It's gross. It's embarrassing. Like I'm not myself anymore. Have you ever seen me shy, dad?" he turned to look up at James, frowning yet unable to wipe the awkward smile from his face. "It's not a good look on me."

He sat up again, suddenly restless from the horror of having expressed his feelings verbally for the first time. "Tell me about you and mam...did she give you like, a signal or something?"

Interactions
Misty Gray James

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter​

James noticed Syd's reluctance to open up about how he was feeling after the last few weeks. He probably recognised it as he was so used to hiding his own feelings to support and provide strength to his family. It didn't matter that Syd wasn't his son by blood, James could still see the similarities and he knew his son had also had a hard childhood. The man sent Syd a reassuring smile when he said he was doing okay and managing to sleep better now. It was Syd's next words that really stood out to James. His son asked him to make sure he kept returning home. It was in that moment that it truly sunk in how far he'd come since the day he was working for Emmet. James had no family and nobody he could call loved ones back then. Every time he went out on a job, he knew it could be his last and the prospect of death barely affected him then. He hadn't cared either way. Back then he believed he was disposable and wouldn't be leaving anyone behind or burdening them by getting himself killed. He stared death in the face to a daily basis back then and it never affected him. Then he fell in love with Lucy and went on to adopt four wonderful children. Now he had more respect for his own life and more reasons to stay alive. "I will do, mate," he assured him, briefly squeezing his son's shoulder.

James was taken by surprise at Syd's response to the questions about Skye. He'd expected him to shrug it off and attempt to act cool about it all. Instead, he reacted openly and honestly, which made James' life easier as he didn't have to coax details out of him. He couldn't help but smile when his son gushed about his feelings for the girl. He chuckled a little at Syd's fretting over the situation. "No, I haven't seen you shy like this." He looked to him, seeing his awkward smile and his red cheeks. "It sounds like she's really got to you, in the best kinda way. There's nothing gross about it. It's endearing, more than anything." James could already tell Syd was better in this situation than he would have been - the fact he'd opened up to him about his feelings was proof. "You should tell her. She seems like a nice girl who would be respectful of your feelings. I can't pretend to know how she will react, but you're going to make someone really happy one day and I really hope it'll be Skye."

Syd then asked if Lucy gave him a signal all those years back. "Your mother and I knew each other a while. I guess for a while we were giving off signals to each other," he explained. He figured he'd best word things in a tactful way, rather than referring to weeks of sexual tension and the way they were so stubborn that they both enjoyed their game of not giving into their feelings. "I think we both just knew. The only thing that held us back was the fact she was my boss' daughter and I was shit scared of her parents," he wasn't afraid to admit. "So you've already got it easy. I like Skye and she has my approval..." James grinned as he decided not to hide the fact he already knew about Syd and Skye kissing a few weeks ago. Sinead had wasted little time in gushing about it to Lucy. "Now, I'm no expert, but... I think Skye letting you kiss her whilst standing out in the rain is a big enough signal, mate."

Pyroclast (Syd)

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

Lucy had been taking care of two families lately. And though she didn't mind the extra work, she was well aware of just how hard it was. Over the last two weeks, Emery, Braden and Savannah were staying with them so that Sinead could heal properly without the fuss of having to worry about her children constantly and Lucy didn't mind looking after her nieces and nephew, proving to be a nice little challenge for her. Over the last few weeks, Lucy has been preparing double of what she normally would make in meals so that Peter and Sinead had food as well as everyone who was at the Porter House right now. And for once it felt good to be needed.

The blonde had just gotten herself out of bed only 15 minutes before, not normally one to get up early but finding that she needed to, having felt restless. Lucy got herself showered and ready for the day before heading downstairs to the kitchen. Her eyes squinted at the soft light outside and made her way towards the coffee maker. After making the coffee, she was just about to sit down at the dining room table when Savannah surprised her with an unexpected tight hug. Lucy wrapped her arms around the girl tightly and kissed the top of her head before releasing her as she spoke. "You wanna bake something? I have these holiday cookies that I was wanting to test before most of the family comes for Christmas, you want to help me make them? Maybe we can bring them to your Mum and Dad!" Lucy suggested, getting a little excited herself by the thought of treating her sister to something nice this morning. And she had a little bit of time before her early afternoon appointment with the doctor.

"We can make these sugar cookies here see," Lucy pointed to the cookbook that was pretty beaten up near her stove. Hopping down, Lucy walked over to the cookbook before grabbing it and walking back over to Savannah, patting the barstool seat she was just on. "You wanna read to me what's needed and I can grab it for you. We can make the frosting as well and I have food coloring for the different colors." Lucy listened carefully as Savannah started reading off the list of ingredient before grabbing them from the right cupboards and cabinets.
with: Savannah Misty Gray

Peter Callahan and Finn Sullivan​

Finn had heard Sinead calling from the other room he was staying in and quickly rushed in. "Sinny?" He asked lightly, his voice was clearly concerned as he stepped over to check the monitors that he was allowed to borrow from the hospital. "Good Morning Sunshine!" Finn said to Sinead, his eyes still staring at the monitors as he pressed a button that sent the reading from the monitors to print out on paper. His eyes scanned the paper coming from the machine as he gently rubbed his chin and hummed to himself. Peter came in a few moments later, holding a tray of various breakfast items for his wife, most of which were soft to chew and swallow for the time being. "Morning my lovely girl." Peter hummed to his wife as he moved to set the tray right at the foot of the bed. He walked out of the room a moment and returned a few minutes later with a water and orange juice pitcher along with a few glasses. "You wants some orange juice or water Finn?" Peter asked him as he set the other tray of pitchers on the night stand.

Finn smile lightly, "You know, orange juice sound good right now." He murmured to Peter before looking to Sinead, addressing her question about going outside. "Well, according to these charts, you should be cleared to go out for at least a little bit today. Though I want you bundled up tightly because its freezing out." His eyes looked to Peter who was already nodding his head in understanding. "But before you even think about going out today, I want you to drink that water and finish the breakfast prepared for you. I'll fetch your vitamins now." Finn smiled to Sinead and Peter before excusing himself lightly with with his orange juice in his hand.
with: Sinead Misty Gray

 

[Bellz]

Blake Walsh​

Blake smiled next to Jackson in bed as they stared up at the ceiling breathlessly. "I think, you wouldn't dare go on anymore. I think...I won this time." She gasped out as her chest heaved up and down with each breath she took. The blonde turned on her side and propped her head up on her hand as she stared at Jackson with a wide smile. "Feels like we've been in here for weeks." She said softly before scooting over and giving him a peck on his bare chest. After a moment, she dragged herself on top of him and sat up straight.
"I think we should take this to the bath-AH" Blake screamed as the door unexpectedly opened, causing her to fall quickly from Jacksons lap and back onto the bed quickly. She covered up as best as she could as she stared wide eyed at Conor, she sucked in a few breaths (whether that was from what was going on before or because they were just caught) would be unknown. Instead, Blake caught her breath and smiled crookedly at Conor as she adjusted the sheet across her front, hoping she covered everything before he could see it. "So...uh....Pancakes huh?" Blake looked from Conor to Jackson and smiled. "Sounds yummy." Before Jackson could do anything, Blake tugged the sheets off Jackson and used them to cover herself as she stood up to walk towards the dresser, leaving Jackson in his underwear. Blake hadn't known what she didn't to deserve Jackson's forgiveness, but two weeks later, here they were, waking up in bed together every single day.
with:Conor Misty Gray ; Jackson Enzyme

Faye Armstrong​

Faye moved towards the table and sat down with her coffee as her husband closed his paper and sat forward. The flirty smile he gave her was enough to make her blush, especially remembering the night before. Her cheeks turned red and she smiled widely, "I am doing splendid, thought its a bit chilly for my tastes. You know how I'm more of a summer type of gal..." Her words slowly came to a halt as her husband continued to stare at her face, gently, Faye moved a hand up and touched her cheek lightly, wondering if there was something on her face. Her cheeks turned even a darker red as he expressed that Mayoress would look good on her. Faye hadn't completely been sold on the idea at first, not wanting to be shoved more into the spotlight. Having had enough to deal with as it was. But she was there to support her husband through thick and thin, and she would eventually come around to the idea of it all.

Her children were singing a different tune as well, though she knew how they felt about their father diving even further into business. Quinn had been so bold just two weeks ago that it had shocked Faye. "Good morning little love." Faye said to Grace as she stepped into the kitchen to pour herself some cereal. Faye took a sip of her coffee a moment before looking to her husband and her daughter, "Come on then, what's on the agenda for today?"
with: Jared + Grace Misty Gray

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

Syd hadn't really known what kind of a reaction to expect from his dad when he'd let his true feelings show. Recently there had been so many things occupying his father's time that the two of them hadn't had so much as one conversation alone over the past month or so, and it had left Syd wondering if they were really as close as he'd imagined. Hearing the genuineness of his father's words reassured him that the distance between the two of them had only been in his head and he felt relieved to know that he had someone to talk to, even if the opportunity was rare. It didn't feel so bad opening up after all, and hearing his dad's encouraging words and approval for dating Skye only deepened the happiness he felt at the thought of being with her. Especially when he expressed hope for their relationship. It gave Syd confidence that he was doing something right.
"I will tell her," he muttered, partly to himself as his gaze fell to the frost that lay before him. "I'll tell her soon."

Syd looked back to his father as he told him of the origins of his relationship with Lucy. It made him smile, then break into a laugh at the thought of his dad being scared of Lucy's parents. "Yeah, I'd have no in-laws to prove myself to I guess. Most people would call me lucky," he said, though as an orphan himself he knew how it felt not to have parents and wasn't sure if it'd be so easy for her in future. He wondered who she went to for advice about this kind of thing. Probably Mallory...and God knows what she'd tell her about him. "Not that I'm talking about marriage!" He added quickly, with a sheepish laugh. "Jesus. I don't even know if it's...you know. Love." The last word came out sounding a little awkward, and Syd mentally berated himself for acting so immaturely about the whole thing. He wished talking about personal things came more easily to him so he could express himself smoothly and coherently rather than sounding like a fool.

At the mention of his kiss with Skye, Syd groaned and buried his face in his hands, grinning and blushing even more. It was a fond memory to which his mind often returned at night, but hearing others talking about their blossoming romance was almost too much to bear. "God, put it in the tabloids why don't you," he laughed. "My aunt is such a gossip!"

Interactions
Misty Gray James

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter​

When James and Lucy first talked about having kids, he always imagined he'd be a strict father and one who would strive to provide a safe environment for his family. One thing he never saw himself doing or didn't think he'd be too good at, was the kind of father-son talk he was having with Syd right now. He always believed the emotional kind of talk would be something he'd avoid like the plague and leave in his wife's hands. But right now, it appeared all of that had been thrown out of the window and he thought - or hoped - he wasn't doing a terrible job at this. The risk was that he could be getting Syd's hopes up with Skye, but he believed it was better that his son at least stepped out of his comfort zone and tried. As much as he hoped it wouldn't be the case, he knew heartbreak was a natural part of growing up and he'd make sure to be there for Syd if that did happen. When Syd said he was going to tell Skye, James firmly nodded with encouragement. "Good choice. You'll never know until you do and one way to go far in life is to jump out of your comfort zone."

James blushed a little when Syd laughed upon hearing how he'd been intimidated by Lucy's parents. He sighed at the reminder that Skye didn't have any family, but felt better in the knowledge his own family had taken her in as more than just a babysitter. It was the knowledge she didn't have parents of her own that made James lecture her the night she sneaked out a few weeks ago. It hadn't just been his kids he'd been worried about, but Skye's safety too. He couldn't help but chuckle when Syd quickly cleared up the point that he wasn't talking about marriage. "Talk to Skye and don't overthink things. As time goes on, I think you'll know if it's love or not. You've got plenty of time to find out," he assured him.

"Did you really think your aunt would keep something like that quiet? She's a sucker for romance," he teased him. James realised it was probably best they didn't sit out in the cold for much longer, so would give Syd a choice. "I've been told no fighting or firearms training whilst the your little cousins are hanging out around the place. So we can either head to the basement gym and do some weight training, or we can call it a day... Let you get cleaned up so you can speak to Skye while the idea is fresh in your mind. Entirely your choice, mate." He knew Skye had stayed at a friend's house the previous night, but he'd seen her return to the Callahans' place a little earlier that morning.


Pyroclast (Syd)

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

Sinead watched as Finn checked the monitors. "Morning, Doctor Sullivan," she greeted him, managing a warm smile. Her attention was focused on him as he studied the readings that had been printed out. She was always dreading him saying something wasn't right and that she'd need to go back into the hospital. She'd been doing everything she was told and letting him stick needles into her arms whenever he had to, despite hating the feeling. She hoped it was all working as she hated feeling so ill. She was distracted from watching Finn when Peter entered the room. "Hey there, baby," she greeted him, always happy to see his handsome face. "Oh wow..." she whispered as she looked to the breakfast tray he set down in front of her. She didn't always have much of an appetite, especially after all of the times she'd been sick since drinking that poisoned wine.

A relieved smile showed on Sinead's face when Finn said she could go out, even though just for a little bit. She was growing restless and bored of the same four walls. "Ugh. So summer is officially gone..." she sadly complained. Still, she wanted some air, even if it was cold air. She rolled her eyes when Finn reminded her she had to eat, drink and take her vitamins. "Fiiiine," she grumbled, but sent him a little smile to show she was grateful. Besides, she knew he would have to take some more blood from her for testing back at the hospital, so she needed to have some energy for that.

When Finn excused himself, Sinead looked to Peter. "He's a great doctor... and I'm the worst patient," she observed. She took a sip of her water, hoping it would clear her throat a little. The sound of remaining hoarseness in her voice was irritating her. She couldn't wait until she could speak normally again. After having a drink, she began to scoop up the breakfast with her spoon, careful to take small mouthfuls. "Thank you," she told her husband, for the food but for everything else too. "You've been so patient with me. I'm so lucky to have you, Petey," she told him. "How is everyone? The kids, Luce, James...?" she asked. She'd been so out of it over the last couple of weeks that she wasn't really sure how everyone was coping and if anything else had gone wrong for the family.

Bellz (Peter, Finn)

Savannah Callahan​

Savannah had seen Emery and Conor making pancakes, so it had given her the urge to want to do some baking but not with her bossy sister. She quickly nodded when Lucy seemed to agree to the idea of baking. When her aunt suggested making cookies and even taking some to her parents, a bright smile grew on her face. "Yes! That sounds like the best idea. I think Mum and Dad both need something to cheer them up, and cookies always make me smile."

Savannah climbed up onto the stool and took the cookbook from Lucy, laying it out on the worktop in front of her so she could read the ingredients out. "I hope you have some pink colouring, because Mum will like that a lot." She then looked to the page so she could read the words out to Lucy. "You need flour... butter... sugar..." she began. She would turn her nose up at eggs, disliking them as part of a meal but perfectly happy to have them included as ingredients in desserts.

Once they had everything they needed, Savannah very enthusiastically helped Lucy with the baking, happy she had this time with her aunt. She loved Emery, but knew if she was present, everything would be messy and she wouldn't be able to get a word in due to her little sister's chatty nature. "If anything happens to my parents, can I live here with you?" she asked, keeping her eyes fixed on the cookie cutter as she pressed it into the dough. "Brady said I'd have to go live in Italy where I belong. He's always being a dickhead," she said, only realising afterwards that she'd let a swearword slip out.

Bellz (Lucy)

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

Syd nodded along to his father's advice, listening intently to every word. The two of them had never really had this kind of talk before. Any flings he'd had in the past had never been serious enough to warrant a talk with his parents, but Skye had a pull on him that he'd never felt from any other girl and he needed to know how to keep his feet on the ground. Despite modestly saying he wasn't an expert, Syd had observed the strong, loving relationship his parents had for ten years now and considered his dad an ideal role model for this kind of thing. Anything he had to say on the subject was worth taking seriously, he decided.

"Exactly. I'm 18 and at a crossroads, I gotta start putting myself out there," he confirmed. "That's why I'm here training with you, dad. I want to make something of myself. And what you and mam have...I want to get to that too someday." Syd gave an animated shiver and got to his feet.
"But let's not get ahead of ourselves," he added, conscious he may have let himself talk too much. He stretched and turned to face his dad, smiling. "Yeah, I might head down to the gym, release some of the nervous energy before I go looking for her. If you're free to join me that'd be cool, else I promise to push myself to my limits - no, to your limits."

Interactions
Misty Gray James

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy

​

Between the necessary motion of getting his breath back, he laughed at Blake's comment. "I think it's safe to say I'm still in the lead, love." He looked at the light cutting through the open slits in the curtain, confirming that the sun had rose. He could hear the distant shouts from outside of the window, leaving Jackson to a shocked conclusion that the guards had started their football game without him. Before he could look back to Blake, he felt a kiss upon his chest and her full weight on his waist. He looked up to her, the rogue stands of light perfectly falling upon her face. "Who is this lovely woman and what is she doin' in my room?" He asked with a smile, his hand caressing the side of her hair.

Suddenly, the door to the room burst open and the harsh light flooded into the romantic scene. As Blake fell off of him, he was able to see a shocked Conor in the doorway. He felt the blankets get torn off of him, leaving him exposed. Instead of covering up, he rested his hands behind his head and smiled. "Someone forgot how to knock," he smiled, pointing his toe up to Conor. "Pancakes actually," he looked up to Blake, confirming the cancellation of their trip to the bathroom. "Sound incredible. Why don't you let Ms. Walsh get changed and we'll be right down, right?" He smiled to Conor as he closed the door, looking back to Blake with a raised eyebrow.

After forcing himself onto his feet. He made his way to his drawers to get changed. "I hope they don't think I was sneaking you in here," Jackson said as he threw his shirt over his bare chest. "Not our fault we always came back to the house when everyone was asleep." After being fully clothed, he slowly walked over to Blake. Resting his hands on her waist, he laid a soft kiss upon her lips. "What's on the agenda for today, love?" He asked, raising her gaze up by her chin.

Bellz (Blake) Misty Gray (Conor)

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

Lucy went over to her cabinets and grabbed what the girl said was needed. She paused in her movement as soon as Savannah asked if she could stay here, stating that Brady said she would have to go to Italy if her parents were gone. Lucy wanted to cry, this poor girl was made to feel as if she didn't belong and in Lucy's eyes that just wasn't okay. "Oh you poor poor thing, come here." Lucy held out her arms for Savvy to fall into. One the girl fell into them, Lucy hugged her tightly and couldn't help the tears that fell from her eyes. "Of course." She murmured to Savvy gently, "We would never for one second think of sending you to Italy, Savvy." She told her niece gently and kissed the top of her head.

Lucy felt like it was unfair that Emery and Brady could just throw that information around. Standing up, she moved to help combined the ingredients together to make dough. "You know Uncle James has an Italian mother." Lucy looked to Savannah wondering if she knew this information, "I love you and him so so so much, I would never think to send you off to Italy." She said honestly before grabbing a wooden spoon and the large bowl she had placed all the ingredients into. "Besides, who would help me with all these cookies?, She asked lightly and smiled sweetly, "Maybe I can send your Uncle James by himself." She teased as she wiped under her eyes, trying hard to rein in her emotions.
with: Savannah Misty Gray

Peter Callahan​

Peter couldn't help but smile crookedly at his wife's reply as he set the breakfast tray down in front of her. Finn had wanted to help some more but Peter was stubborn about this part, especially when it was in his own home. "Alright now. take this orange juice and head to bed, we will see you in a few hours." Finn didn't complain anymore as he evacuated the room quickly. Peter chuckled as Sinead said that Finn was a great doctor and that she was a terrible patient. All things considering, Sinead was a great patient, it had been Peter who had been a helicopter husband. He wanted to know what was going on, when it was going on at that exact moment. Luckily, Finn was very understanding of that fact and explained everything to Peter as it was happening, without him asking a bunch of times.

Peter closely observed as Sinead took a drink of water, sitting in the chair right next to the bed. He knew that her hoarseness in her voice was bothering her. But he didn't mind the slightest bit. "Don't force it my love, it will go away in time." He told her softly before taking the water from her gently with a smile. "You are eating more than yesterday, that's a good sign." His wife was always a worry wart."Everyone is doing just fine. as far as I know. Lucy has an appointment today that your mother will be taking her to but besides that, things are rather calm." He informed her.
with: Sinead Misty Gray

Blake Walsh​

Blake relaxed when the door closed and blushed softly as Jackson expressed that he hoped no one thought that he snuck her up here. "Well I guess if they did I will just have to explain to James..."Her voice trailed off as she thought about that conversation. Really she would rather not have that conversation with the man, but if she was forced to, she would. Blake hummed gently as Jackson kissed her lips softly before asking her what was on the agenda for today. "Well, I think I need more clothes," She murmured as she looked at her satin pajamas she had packed for herself, noting that these were the only pair she had left at the Porter household. "And as fun as it is where no clothes, I don't think James or anyone else will appreciate me walking around the house naked." She murmured to him before capturing his bottom lip between her teeth for a few seconds. "Other than that," She released his bottom lip and turned to get changed.

"I don't have much on the agenda for today and was hoping you could bring some ideas to the table." She purred to him as she shrugged the soft satin pajama pants up before shrugging the button up satin shirt on with a sigh "Seems like breakfast will be one thing, Emery is not going to let us go so easily. But what else does Mr. McCarthy want to do today. I am ready to do almost anything." She murmured as she wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled sweetly.
with:Jackson Enzyme

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan​

Conor was startled by the sound of a scream which was too feminine to have come from his best bud, Jackson. With that in mind, he quickly turned so he wasn't looking in the direction of the couple, for the lady's sake rather than Jackson's. Not that Conor didn't know who was in his friend's bed - he'd have to be an idiot to not know it was Blake. She soon covered herself up with the blanket and though Conor turned more towards them, he still made sure to divert his eyes. "Yep, pancakes..." he said, trying to hide the smirk from his face. He desperately wanted to tease Jackson but knew that wasn't fair on poor Blake. "They are yummy and even if you think otherwise, just pretend they're yummy. Emmy is the Pancake Manager and she doesn't like people criticising her work."

When Jackson noted he'd forgotten how to knock, Conor shrugged his shoulders and turned away, not wanting to drag out any possible awkwardness. "It's a genetic thing. My mam was always walking in on Luce and James at the worst time." As he was about to close the door, Conor couldn't resist his next comment. "By the way... Well done on bagging yourself a hottie, Blake. You did good, girl. Jackson's a good catch," he teased and then closed the door behind himself.

He then returned to Emery to inform her on the slight delay with Jackson. "Jackson's having a bad hair day, but he'll be down soon. I thought Blake might want some pancakes too," he told her.

"Shudda asked me to do his hair. I'm good at doing hair," Emery suggested. "Blake is nice. She can have pancakes too."

Bellz (Blake) Enzyme (Jackson)

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter and Skye McKendrick​

James nodded along as Syd acknowledged the current stage his life was at. "Whatever you choose to do in life, I will support it. Well, unless you decide to become a cop or a ratbag lawyer... not sure I could support that," he half-joked. "I'm glad you're out here training with me and I like that you're fixing cars, but make sure whatever you do with your life is your choice. You'd have to try pretty damn hard to disappoint me where your life choices are concerned." He nodded at mention of his relationship with Lucy. "I want you to be this happy someday too, mate."

James smiled at Syd's plan to head to the gym and then look for Skye. "I think I'll head there myself for a bit too. I need to do some lifting... and no doubt tidy the place up after Conor. That guy is messier than the little kids," he remarked. "What do you mean not my limits? I was expecting you to blitz the Salmon Ladder today," he teased him, with a playful nudge. He then motioned for them to make their way to the gym. "Nah, I'll leave you to your own devices. Just give me a shout if you want my help or anything," he offered. As far as he was concerned, training wasn't about being able to shoot and fight first. He wanted him to be strong and fit. Pulling out a gun on someone was something he wanted Syd to consider a last resort, when no other option was possible.
Once he was done with training, Syd would find Skye over at the Callahans place. James would remain in the gym, putting away the weights and equipment, most of which Conor had failed to put back into their places.


With Peter helping Sinead out upstairs, Skye had taken it upon herself to clean the house downstairs so Peter didn't have to worry about an extra thing. As the Callahans had practically given her a room of her own in their home, she felt it was the least she could do. Once she was done with those jobs, she sat back on the sofa and began reading through one of the textbooks belonging to Savannah. With the children being home-schooled, Skye liked to know what they should already know about and she liked to casually throw in learning exercises for them from time to time. She'd be lying if she said her first choice to pass her time that morning hadn't been to go over to visit Syd, but she'd already caught sight of him working out with James and she didn't want to interrupt them. She knew how much training with James meant to Syd.


Pyroclast (Syd)
Tag: Fletchawk (Ryan)

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

Sinead gazed fondly to Peter for a time before sending him a warm smile. She reached out to gently squeeze his hand. "I'm so lucky to have you. I feel so special and spoiled having someone looking out for me as much as you are. You make the nightmares and the anxiety much less scary for me." She thought of the results the doctor had given from tests prior to the poisoning and the mention of her having tachycardia, which was basically a fast resting heart rate. "If the poisoning wasn't enough, I guess this speedy heart of mine means I really do need to cut down on the alcohol, huh?" She sighed, knowing that getting drunk was one of the few ways she could come out of her shell and stop worrying. "At least now I know why I kept feeling dizzy and faint so often." She bit her lip as she thought back to her past losses and how at the time she'd sworn she could feel her heart breaking into pieces. "I guess it only makes sense. This heart of mine has been battered and bruised over the years," she said, placing her hand to her chest. "But you're here and our beautiful little family is here, so I know it's as strong as ever," she assured him, as well as herself. "I'll be good to it. No more overdoing it with the cocktails for me!"

Sinead nodded her head when Peter told her to be patient whilst her voice returned to normal. More than anything, she missed singing to her children. With the encouragement that she was eating more, she decided she owed it to Peter to keep going, so continued to eat the breakfast he'd prepared and listened to him talk about the rest of the family. "You know, when I was in a real bad way, I remember Conor promising me he'd see a Shakespeare play with me. I should tell him the tickets are on sale right now," she said, managing a short giggle. She was going to make her brother see that play and he would enjoy it! Her smile faded at mention of Lucy going to an appointment with her mother. Her mind felt hazy on the subject and she wasn't sure if she'd already been told about it. "Do you know what the appointment is? She's not sick is she? She didn't look sick..." Sinead asked, clearly concerned. "What with both of our anxiety troubles, Luce and I make a real pair, huh?" she remarked.

Bellz (Peter, Finn)

Savannah Callahan​

Savannah rushed down from the stool and gave Lucy a tight hug. She tried to quickly blink away the sad tears as she melted into her aunt's embrace. "Thank you for not thinking about sending me to Italy. I can't even speak much Italian. I wouldn't know what to say to people," she said, between sniffles. "I'm supposed to be nice to Brady and Emmy because I'm older, but they get away with being jerks."

Savannah followed Lucy and continued preparing the cookies with her. She quickly blinked away her tears and looked to Lucy with a curious expression. "James has an Italian mum? I didn't know that. Where is she? Why doesn't she visit?" she asked. She loved their big family and wanted to meet everyone in it. "I think I should tell Emmy and Brady about his mum. I bet they wouldn't dare say mean things to Uncle James. He'd launch them out of the window," she said, quoting something she'd once heard Conor say about some guy who was pissing him off. "Even if you sent James with me, I still don't want to go to Italy. I like it here." She laughed when Lucy suggested sending James to Italy by himself. "Well, I am always happy to help with the cookies, but... You need a husband to give you hugs and take you out to dinner. You'd best let him stay here, I suppose." She overcame her own upset to see Lucy trying to hide her tears. She put her hands on her hips and pulled an exasperated expression. "Come on, Lucy. What am I going to do with you?" she playfully asked. "No need for the tears now... let's get these cookies in the oven."

Once the cookies were ready, Savannah's excitement was spilling over. "Okay. Can we take them to mum and dad now? Mum will be so happy if we let her have a pink one!"


Bellz (Lucy)

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter and Peter Callahan​

Lucy let out a laugh as Savannah stated she could even speak Italian which would pose quite the problem seeing as how most people there spoke that language. Lucy cupped the girl's cheek softly and smiled, "Well you don't need to know Italian anyway because we have no intentions of sending you away." She sighed softly as Savannah spoke of the struggle of being the oldest. "Unfortunately dear, that comes with the territory of being the oldest sibling. Conor and your mother use to do the same thing to me as a kid, and I use to get in trouble if I tried to retaliate. Your mother doesn't do it now, but Conor is a brat 100%." Lucy had kneaded the dough with the help of Savannah and grabbed the metal cookie cutter shapes from the drawer before handing them to her.

When asked about James' mum, Lucy sighed gently and shrugged her shoulders. The blonde had been barking up that tree for some time now, but she couldn't force her husband to do anything he didn't want to do. "Well," Lucy said hesitantly, trying to find the words to explain why his mother wasn't around. She wasn't about to share his personal feelings with the girl, knowing that those were to be kept private. "I think they lost touch after all these years, Savvy." Lucy murmured to her niece as they cut out different shapes from the cookie cutters and dough. She laughed softly as Savvy said that James would launch them out a window if Emery and Brady were to ever say anything mean to him. Lucy, of course, knew this wasn't the case, if there was one thing James had a weakness for, it was children. But still the blonde would humor Savannah with the thought, seeing as she was upset with her siblings at the moment, and rightfully so, she would have to talk to Sinead and Peter about it when they brought the cookie over.

When Savannah said she was happy to help with the cookies but Lucy would need a husband to give her hugs and take her out to dinner, all Lucy could do was laugh. She laughed even harder when the girl put her hands on her hips, much like her mother did, and asked what she was going to do with her. Lucy sucked in a breath or two to help calm herself, though the tears continued to slip down her cheeks as much as she tried to stop them. Her eyes made their way over to the time to confirm she had plenty of time before chuckling at Savvy, "Alright, into the oven they go."

***​

Peter chuckled as Sinead recalled Conor promising to take her to a Shakespeare play. His expression turned mischievous and he smiled widely at the thought of Conor having to sit through that for once, "And promises should never ever be taken lightly my dear, I would ask him about it again and keep him to it now." His brows furrowed however as her expression suddenly turned worried, as if she was just now hearing what he said about Lucy's doctor's appointment. "You know what doll, I'm not entirely sure what the appointment is for. She didn't seem sick." He murmured to her and lifted a hand to her face gently, stroking once before letting it drop. Peter let out a hard laugh in that moment at her remark about the sister's anxiety troubles,"Unfortunately, you both went through a lot back in Chicago. I would be worried if you two didn't have any issues." He said honestly.
Once the cookies were good and ready, Savannah was practically vibrating with excitement and Lucy knew she wasn't gonna be able to keep her inside her home much longer. "Let's go give your mum a pink one!" She confirmed with Savvy, lifting the container of cookies and walking towards the backyard, taking the shortcut to the Callahan's Home. Lucy glared playfully at the dogs as the stared wide eyed and hungry at the cookies. "Down!" She hollered at them gently as they made their way to the house.

Lucy slipped off her shoes once inside the Callahan Home, "Helloooooo? Lucy called out to the house as she closed the door behind Savvy and herself. Finn poked his head out from the kitchen and smiled widely at the pair. "Well who do we have here?" He asked, looking down at the cookies, he reached his hand out to grab one before Lucy smacked his hand away. "Ouch!!" Finn said as he quickly retracted his hand, rubbing it lightly. Lucy rolled her eyes, walking towards the stairs. "You can have one after Sinead gets the first pink one." With Savvy's hand in her own, Lucy climbed the stairs with her towards Sinead and Peter's bedroom. "Knock Knock!" Lucy announced before pushing open the half closed door.
with: Sinead +Savvy Misty Gray

 

[Fletchawk]

Ryan Donahue​

The following weeks had been rather calm when compared to the first few days that Ryan had been in Ireland. While he did stay behind at the Casino that tragic night, he didn't learn much that wasn't already known. The wait staff were all accounted for and the security wasn't expecting an assassin as it had not been IWU's MO until that night. While IWU's involvement was merely suspect, Ryan knew that few people would chance the wrath of the Irish Mob, let alone target them. Ryan can deal with the forceful side of war, such as bombings, gun fights, brawls, etc... But poison, assassinations, and other cloak and dagger tactics were not his forte. He may of had to resort to it at times, but he found it distasteful, underhanded, and it had no honor in it. Ryan still had to admit it's effectiveness as he watched the Guards examine the blood soaked crime scene that night.

After locking the door of his newly acquired apartment, Ryan made his way to the Porter Residence. While his flat wasn't directly seaside, he could smell the ocean and occasionally the docks when the wind decided to be temperamental. Today was not one those days and Ryan enjoyed the saltiness on the air. He had become much more comfortable in his new landscape and could now make out most of what those with rather thick Irish accents were saying. He nodded at the passing postman whose morning route happens to intercept his own on the regular. Ryan missed driving his own vehicle, but he'd grown to like walking the streets of Dublin, so the longing was tolarable.

It wasn't long before he'd arrived and was walking through the personnel gate aside the main entrance. The two guards were the same ones that had been there at his first day in Ireland, while the one he initially talked to had taken to ignoring Ryan's presence unless absolutely necessary, the silent once acknowledged him with a nod as he passed by. The manor was filled with noise as Ryan walked through the threshold, it wasn't loud by any means but the sounds of muffled conversation, the occasion soft metallic clang from the kitchen, the heavy steps from upstairs resounding through the house made the home seem alive. Given the time, Ryan noted that James was likely training outside or in the basement with Syd and the kitchen noises were probably from Lucy although she was normally much quieter due to her grace, so it was likely she had one or more of the children helping her. He wasn't sure who the footsteps upstairs belonged to but they were increasing in volume and the person soon came into view as the man started coming downstairs to the foyer.

"Mr. Sullivan." Ryan's tone was a well practiced neutral sound as he greeted Conor with a nod. Ryan had not forgiven the man for the sense of the betrayal that flared whenever he saw the large man. While a combination of time and regularity had tempered the chains that controlled Ryan's anger and sadness towards Conor, uncivil thoughts still rose to the surface when they shared a space as they were doing now. James had suggested talking to his brother-in-law instead of harboring these emotions, but Ryan had not found the opportune time but he wasn't looking all that hard either. Not looking for a reply, Ryan moved towards the door of the house basement in search of James and found him in quick order. "Just checking in, sir. All is well, I assume?"

Misty Gray [James + Conor] Pyroclast [Syd, if you desire.]

Alexander Quinn Armstrong​

Quinn was standing in front of the full body mirror in his carefully ordered bathroom, absently wondering how soon he should visit a barber. Staring at his physical reflection initiated a sort of recollection of the thoughts that had been nagging him the past two weeks. He'd lost his nerve to question his father after being admonished for interrupting his father's meeting during their family dinner. Normally, this wouldn't have dissuaded him but in his mind, his father is not a person that he has ever needed to corrected. Quinn's cowardice in the face of his father continued to bother him, but it gave him more time to collect more evidence and prepare himself. While most of the files at the warehouse were lost, so he'd been unable to find more hard evidence. Quinn been been receptive to what was said among the members of IWU. While hearsay wasn't generally accurate, it usually held a some truth if you cross referenced that was being said.

From what he'd heard, Quinn had picked up two things. The first being that the IWU has been responsible for illegal activities, and secondly, that their former leader Ciara Hennessy had knowingly been involved. This didn't directly provide any evidence pointing towards his father, but it showed that he was involved with a group that had criminal elements to it. This further disturbed Quinn, as he couldn't be sure that his father's hands were entirely clean. This was fueled even more by his father's sudden decision to run for Mayor of Dublin. In the past, he'd viewed his father as someone who distinctly separated business and family, and now he was mixing the two without even discussing it with with his family. Quinn knew his enough about his father to know that he'd never do something of this magnitude without thoroughly preparing and articulating a plan. His father's importance was rising at an abnormal speed and he was unable to read his father's intentions.

A dark and serious face was now staring back at Quinn. He turned to the sink to wash his face before heading downstairs, messaging his jaw to loosen the muscles that had tighten from his grave thought process. Knowing that his sibling and mother could often read his emotions, he stopped just before entering the dining room to stretch quickly and remove the lingering tenseness in his body and put on his normal slight smile that he normally has in the morning upon greeting his family. "Morning!" Quinn announced his presence as he came into the room at the tail end of his mother's question for Grace. Teasing his sister always came naturally as he replied in his sibling's stead. "Oh, I am sure that my darling sister intends on catching up with her collegiate studies. Because she knows that expanding her mind how one learns to truly appreciate the world and all it's delights." Quinn's voice held an obnoxious tone as he knew his sister was not a morning person. He knew it wouldn't change her overall mood but just enough to mildly annoy her. He tore off a hunk of day old bread that his mother had brought home from the bakery before turning to give her his usual morning hug.

His father, Jared, was sitting in his normal place at the table. He knew his father had been busy lately, but it seemed his father was paying more attention to him than normal. Quinn realized that Jared wanted something of him, probably to discuss the recent announcement of campaigning for Mayor. His father wanted them to be all on board before the spotlight started shining on them. He never stated it, but Quinn could read between the lines. He sat directly across his father, an action that deviated from Quinn normal morning routine as he normally grabbed a light breakfast before leaving shortly to do his workout regiment. "Father." Quinn paused for a second before gathering the courage to challenge his father. "I'd like to play a game before I go." Though vague, Jared would know that Quinn was talking about chess as it was the only game that they've played regularly in the past. Chess was a tool that Jared had used to bond with his son and discuss things with him. However, very rarely would Quinn ever initiate these games and it had been nearly two years since they've played as Jared became increasingly involved with work.

Misty Gray [Jared + Grace] Bellz [Faye]

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

It was true that Syd looked up to his father greatly and made it somewhat of a personal ambition to turn out like him: strong, capable, wise and surrounded by a loving network of family and friends. James' words came as a reminder of how lucky he was to have been adopted by such supportive parents. Syd burst out laughing at the mention of becoming a guard or lawyer. "You'll see me dead before you see me join those pigs," he assured him. "It means a lot to hear you say that, honestly...but you know me, dad. I do what I want, I make my own choices. If I didn't want to train with you or fix up cars, I wouldn't do it just to impress you. I'm not good at sticking to things I don't like. If I was, I'd have graduated school." He smiled at his father's kind words. From time to time, it felt good to hear that his dad was proud of him.

"That goddamn fish ladder," Syd laughed. "I'll do it in my sleep one day, just you watch!" Feeling the cold even more than when he'd first stepped out onto the patio, Syd didn't hesitate to follow his father indoors and down into the basement. He stuck to his word and worked out hard for a further hour or two until he thought he might puke. Then, sitting against the wall of the gym breathless and dizzy as his dad set about putting all the equipment back in order, he began to think of how he might broach the upcoming conversation with Skye. The talk his father had given him had definitely put him in good stead, particularly now that his emotional barrier had been lowered somewhat and he knew he was capable of discussing personal feelings if he tried. He really wanted to make an effort with her - if this conversation took a wrong turn somewhere, he could blow it. Though he wasn't sure how exactly. Before he could get himself worked up about it or overthink things, he left the gym to go and clean up, thanking his father for everything on his way out.

Once ready, Syd let himself into the Callahan house. It was unusually, but not surprisingly, quiet. His aunt would probably be in bed, being tended to by his uncle, and his cousins were back at his house for the time being so it didn't have its usual lively atmosphere. Through a crack in the door, he spotted Skye reading a book on the sofa and he smiled tenderly at the sight of her as he took off his jacket and shoes in the hall. Not knowing the current state of his aunt, he decided to be as quiet as possible making his way over to Skye so as to cause little disturbance to the quiet of the house. He sat down beside her and immediately lay his head in her lap, totally fatigued by the training session.
"Sorry Skye, you're stuck now," he said softly, closing his eyes as he pretended to fall asleep on her. "I hope that book wasn't too interesting..."

Interactions
Misty Gray Skye, James

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead and Savannah Callahan​

Savannah listened as Lucy explained about how she'd had problems with Conor and Sinead. "Oh yeah, I can see that Conor is still a tearaway. He's so funny, but so naughty... I guess us big sisters have it rough, huh?" When told James and his mother had lost touch, Savannah quietly thought about that idea as she pressed the cutter into the dough. "I don't think that's good at all. A boy and his mama should never just lose touch. Does he have her number? He could call her. Oh my god. We could call her!" she enthusiastically suggested.

*****

Sinead grinned at Peter. "I'll be sure to ask him. Or even better, we could send Tommy or one of the other guys to buy the tickets for us, then Conor has to come! Sinead tilted her head towards Peter's hand as he stroked her face, a content smile growing on her features. "You're right. Luce and I are such worriers now. We can't help it."

Sinead's eyes lit up as she heard Lucy's voice. She looked to the door and smiled brightly to her sister. Then Savannah stepped into view and rushed towards the bed, climbing up onto the empty side and snuggling up to her mother, careful not to hurt her or disrupt the medical equipment. "I love you, Mum and Dad," she affectionately told them. "And we baked cookies. With frosting!"

"Oh Savvy, I love you too. And cookies? Now you have me excited," she assured her. "There'd better be a pink one!" She kissed the top of Savannah's head grimacing as she felt the pain in her chest in doing so.

Sinead looked back to Lucy, the concern evident in her face. "Luce, are you okay? What's this about an appointment? You're good, right?" she softly asked.

"Mum and Dad, James has an Italian mother and he doesn't have to go to Italy. Please can I always live here?" Savannah asked, which drew out a confused expression on Sinead's face.

Bellz

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan​

Conor hadn't responded to Ryan's flat greeting, other than a simple acknowledging nod of his head. It was clear the guy still had issues with him and his relationship with Alex, but unless Ryan tried to talk to him about it, he wasn't going to make the effort to defend himself. All he did know, was the longer Ryan was giving off the cold signals around him, the more it made Conor want to knock him out. They'd been on good terms way back when in Chicago and he knew his family liked Ryan, but Conor knew he wouldn't hold back if the urge to fight it out overwhelmed him.

Back in the company of Emery, Conor initially struggled to break out of his darker thoughts. Soon enough, Emery pulled him back out of his concerns and brought a smile back onto his face as she spoke. "These are good pancakes. I think if Jackson and Blake don't come down soon, we should eat theirs too. You're a giant anyway, so you probly want more anyway."

"You're right there, kiddo. I could easily eat the whole lot. But Jackson's a growing man and he looked so excited when I mentioned pancakes, that I'd hate to deprive him." Conor grinned, knowing there was a good chance the child would repeat what he was saying. All the more reason to say it. "Poor little guy."

"Pretty sure he should be eating vegetables if he's still growing. I think Mummy and Daddy know more about it than you do!" Emery assured him.

"Oh, wow..." Conor said, chuckling at the kid's boldness. "Well... If that's the case, why is your mummy so tiny? Clearly, she didn't eat all of her vegetables growing up."

Emery pulled an exasperated expression at Conor's comment. "That's because she's a fairy, so she's special. You're just a giant. Okay?"


Mention: Fletchawk (Ryan)
*** Open for interaction ***

James Porter​

Like Syd, James continued working out for a couple of hours. When his son finished and thanked him for his help, it cued him to finish up too. He hadn't had so much free time in a while that he'd made the most of the few hours of working out that he could squeeze in. As he watched Syd leave, James couldn't help but wonder how his conversation with Skye would go. He was sure he would be fine, even if a little nervous. James believed his apprehension was far more endearing than if he were to go there being overconfident or cocky about the whole thing.

James then got to work on replacing the barbell plates back in their place on the rack, along with the bars. If he didn't know Conor was currently entertaining Emery, he'd had made his brother-in-law come down and tidy up after himself. Alone in his own thoughts, James was only now able to properly think back over his concerns. He was still reeling from Elijah's arrest and the fact his brother was now locked up in that awful place again. James would make a point of arranging to go visit him in the coming days. Then there was still the matter of the murdered mayor...

The sound of Ryan's footsteps and then his voice snapped James out of him thoughts. He'd just about finished up tidying the place, so was able to focus on him completely. "Morning, Ryan. It's good to see you," he greeted him. "Things around her are going well. Surprisingly normal, for a change," he said, with a small smirk. "It's everywhere else that's the trouble. It has come to light that Jared Armstrong is running for Mayor. You know, to replace the guy he had killed. So that's going to be a problem," James leaned back against the nearest pillar. "The more popular candidate, Phillip Morris, the Garda Commissioner, is leading a campaign parade later today. I'm considering having some of us down there, should he too meet an untimely ending."

Fletchawk (Ryan)

Skye McKendrick​

Skye sensed someone approaching and turned away from the book she was reading to see who was joining her. She'd expected it to be Peter or Finn, but was pleasantly surprised to see Syd walking towards her. She smiled as he sat beside her, prompting her to lean forward and place the book down on the coffee table. When she sat back, Syd rested his head in her lap, causing her smile to widen. "Hmmm. I can think of worse places to be stuck," she assured him. "It's one of the stories Savvy has to read: 'The Borrowers'. Surprisingly, it's really good. It's these little tiny people - actual tiny people, not just short - and they're secretly living in this big house, a normal sized house for us. I think Savvy will enjoy it too..."

Skye looked down to Syd, only now really processing how good it was to have him casually resting on her lap. "But you didn't come here to hear me going on about children's books." She gently ran her fingers through his hair, her eyes now fixed on him. "I take it you had a good training session? I noticed you were working out with James, and in the freezing cold! I didn't watch for long, though. I'm not sure if that would be a little creepy," she joked. "I'm so glad you finally got to train with your dad. I bet you're exhausted now, though. The man is not a normal human. I think he could be an alien, like Superman! I've read some comics and it would make sense," she remarked.

Pyroclast (Syd)

 

[Misty Gray]

Jared Armstrong​

Jared couldn't tear his eyes away from Faye as she blushed at his comment. Her beautiful face and charming smile never failed to turn him to mush. The effect it had on him was just as powerful as when he first set eyes on her in the bakery all of those years ago. "I'm with you on that, darling. Summer is certainly the most pleasant of seasons. You look stunning in everything, but those little colourful summer dresses are what makes the heat so good," he flirted. "We must plan to go away soon. Perhaps a nice villa in Spain?" he suggested.

Jared then listened to the interaction between Quinn and Grace, which saved him the job of asking his daughter what she was going to do with her day. He didn't much like her answer, but today was a big enough day without him having a disagreement with her. "Just make sure you finish any assignments you've been set, Lily. I'll be driving you to college on Monday, so I'd hate for you to be embarrassed as the only one who didn't complete her work."

As he observed his son, it became even clearer that Quinn did have something to get off of his chest. Then, the lad spoke the magic words and suggested a game of chess. Jared sat up straight and was unable to hide the grin from his face. "Son, I thought you would never ask!" he accepted the request. It was hoped that Quinn was finally going to open up about whatever it was that was clearly on his mind. Jared got up from his seat, expecting Quinn would know they were heading to his study to play the game. He leaned in to place a kiss on Faye's lips before leaving the dining room. On the way, he bent down to stroke Andy's fur as the puppy plodded along into the dining room.

In the study, Jared took a seat at one side of the chess table and waited for Quinn to sit opposite him. The ivory pieces were set up at Jared's side of the table, as always. "I've been waiting for us to do this for at least a couple of weeks now," he spoke up, figuring Quinn would know he was referring to the imminent talk rather than the game itself.


Fletchawk (Quinn) Bellz (Faye)

Grace Armstrong​

"Good morning, Mum," Grace said, gently squeezing her mother's shoulder as she took a seat in the empty chair by Jared. "You okay, Dad?" she asked. Her eyes caught the headline on the folded up newspaper, mentioning the upcoming elections. It felt weird to her knowing her father was now in the news and being talked about publicly. She knew this meant she would have to behave herself even more and act the role of perfect daughter. She loved her father, but wanted a normal family life away from the IWU and now away from political agendas. Jared pulled her in to him and placed a kiss on the top of her head, managing to draw a laugh out of her. "Heyy, you're messing my hair. How about I mess yours up?" she playfully joked, before sitting up straight again.

When Faye asked what was on the day's agenda, Quinn arrived to speak up before Grace had chance. He made a point of mentioning her studies again, causing her to frown a little. Whether that was her plan or not, she was too stubborn to say so, feeling like her brother would think he'd influenced her decision. "My mind is already expanded enough, thank you very much. As for today, I haven't decided yet. Perhaps I'll head to the shops and buy myself a new outfit. Gotta look smart and presentable if Dad's going to be in the public eye even more, right?

Once Jared and Quinn had left to play their game of chess, Grace scooted into the now empty seat opposite Faye and leaned forward towards her mother. "I'm actually going to the parade this afternoon. As part of my project for college, I have to write a story about a local event. What better opportunity than this? I'll even bring my camera and take some photographs for myself," she said, finding more enjoyment in her photography hobby than her academic work. "Why don't you come with me? We could go for coffee and cake afterwards?" she excitedly suggested.

Bellz (Faye) Fletchawk (Quinn)

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter and Peter Callahan​

Peter chuckled as Sinead suggested sending Tommy or someone else to get the tickets and then Conor would have no choice but to go. "Hell, you could even ask James to send someone to buy the tickets, you know how he likes tormenting Conor as well." He said, Peter would also partake in the scheme if he really needed to, but he could just plan and organize it for Sinead while she was still not feeling well. His eyes looked to the door as two familiar blondes made their presence known.

Lucy smiled happily at Sinead and Peter as she shoved open their bedroom door with a little more help from Savannah. Once the door was open wide enough for Lucy to get the whole basket of cookies through, Savannah ran towards her parents and practically flew onto the bed, though she was somehow mindful of Sinead. Lucy was touched by the sweet moment and couldn't help but miss those moments with her own children. They were off doing their own things now, dating and enjoying life, and as happy as she was for them it still made her sad. Lucy nodded as Savannah explained what they had brought.

"Too many pink ones to count!" Lucy said before Peter added, "Sounds like my life..." Which caused Lucy to let out an amused laugh before Sinead brought up the appointment, which made Lucy's smile soften slightly. Before she had a chance to answer however, Savannah was begging her parents to live here and never go to Italy, which caused Lucy's expression to now sour as Sinead and Peter looked confused. Sighing, the blonde spoke, "Emery and Brady have taken it upon themselves to tell Savannah that if anything were to ever happen to you two that James and I wouldn't keep Savvy with us...instead Emery and Brady think we would send her to Italy, which I told her that Uncle James mother is from Italy and you don't see us sending him off." Lucy murmured before stroking Savannah's hair gently.

"I think it would be wise to let them know of Uncle James' origins and that being Italian isn't necessarily a bad thing."

with: Sinead +Savvy Misty Gray

 

[Shireling]

Kieran Joyce
​

It had been weeks since Kieran had been back at the Porter household, and something about the large house was very comforting, secure. His paranoia about finding himself at the business end of a gun for his confidential work as an informant had led to him displaying increasingly erratic behavior. He changed rental cars every week with the agency, went about disguised for the most part in his long overcoat and hat, and was getting to rarely leaving except to attend mass which he did shamefully with a pistol for a holdout. Yet, weeks had passed and nothing had happened. He was beginning to relax a tad.

He had asked to be moved to a room downstairs that got sun, so he was set-up in a spare bedroom with a fair amount of natural light. He had realized that he needed to supplement his finances as he was spending a dear bit of coin, so he had taken on work as a freelance journalist for two Dublin newspapers and a regular columnist for a theological society, with his college training in writing he could do worse. The desk in the center of the room featured a typewriter prominently with sheafs of paper laying about and finished drafts in manila envelopes dotting the other corners of the desk. A small bed and two chairs with a small table gave the room a very monkish feel, save for the two huge bars of light that came drifting in through the shear curtains on the windows. Kieran sat under the fan with a pipe in his mouth, typing serenely in one of those stream of consciousness moments. In a chair by the window, Rudolph was reading the newspaper and waiting for him to finish. The two men had become something of fast friends, although there was a bit of playful disagreement over Rudy's being baptized Lutheran.

The older mobster spoke, "So any luck getting that truck scandal story published?"

"The Dubliner picked it up and ran it for thirty pounds, and they say they'll give fifty for a follow up."

"That's the business," Rudy retorted with a chuckle, flipping through his copy of the newspaper. "So you know Jackson and Blake are shacking up here, huh?"

"I try to forget, but the crown molding has come loose on the ceiling three times so far."

Rudy winced laughingly. "I guess I owe you twenty pounds. I thought Jackson had a little more fortitude than that."

"Never underestimate the power of erections, Mr. Meyers," Kieran retorted dryly, with an added chuckle on the end. "Well, it is Cruciform in one sense."

Rudolph folded his paper and took a sip of coffee from his nearby mug. "Speaking of the power of erections, I heard you had a girl, Kieran."

Kieran laughed heartily at that, "The two things are not connected, she is the editor of The Catholic Herald in Ireland. We met for one hiring session and I have never seen her again."

Rudolph replied with a doubting mhm.

"Sure, sure, Rudy. If your theory is true, I'm a celibate and I still see more action than you."

Rudolph laughed. "I don't see how you do it, lad. The whole priestly thing. Especially since women with actress looks seem to be walking into this house on the daily."

"It's a tired subject, Rudy. Trust me, I get enough of it from my mother. She still wants to know when she's going to get grandchildren." He laughed a bit. "Besides, I could always marry and then settle for a deaconate. But that's neither here nor there. Was there something you came in here to talk to me about specifically?"

Rudy scrunched up his face. "Oh yeah, I think someone was making pancakes. Was wondering if you wanted some."

"I'm working right now, Mr. Meyers," he said somewhat sadly, racking the slide back on the typewriter as he finished a line of typing. "Perhaps later."

Rudolph Meyers
​

Rudolph left Kieran and shut the heavy wooden door behind him, waltzing into the kitchen and pulled up a chair, folding his newspaper back out and beginning to read. He was going to ask the boss man about his plans concerning the electoral parade for Jared's challenger in the mayoral election, but he thought he would get the skinny about the pancakes first. For his part, the past few days had been dreadfully busy as he had been dealing with some of James business, then flying out to Germany to deal with some family business, and back to London to deal with some private business and catch an opera. He had gotten in yesterday air-lagged and beat tired. He looked forward to having his feet set on solid Irish soil.

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy​

He shrugged as she stated that no one would appreciate her walking around naked. "Well..." He began, before Blake cut him off. The bite to his bottom lip certainly caught his attention, shooting back down to her animalistic eyes. He ran his tongue across the bottom of his lip as he contemplated their options. "Alright," He rubbed his thumbs against her hips as he thought to himself. "Well, let's just take it step by step then. March on downstairs, enjoy some potentially delicious pancakes, can never be sure with little Emery. Then, we can go back to your apartment and grab some more clothes, not a lot, though - I do still like what you wear most of the time in my room." He gave her a cheeky smile, wrinkling his nose slightly. "After that, we can decide what we want to do from there." He placed his hands on both of her shoulders and leaned back, cocking his eyebrow. "Fair?"

After giving into orders and slipping on the bottom of his pajama set, they made their way down the stairs. The smell of the pancakes had hit him like a ton of bricks, leading to the conclusion that they were in fact delicious. "Well, it certainly smells good," he said as he made his presence known in the kitchen. Making his way to the refrigerator, he pulled out the Orange Juice on the side of the door. He raised the box to Blake, gauging if she'd like a glass as well.

After Emery basically shoved the plate in Jackson's face, he rested his hand on the girls' back. "Y'know what, love? I'm gonna' fill up some glasses of juice. Why don't you bring the plate to Ms. Walsh over there." He smiled down to Emery, before moving for the spare glasses in the cabinet. The lightness of his pants were a little unnerving. Being primarily a guard at the Porter house, it was strange to prance around unarmed. The false-sense of security was nice, he hoped it would never have to end. With the current situation they were in, with no sight of de-escalation on the horizon, a part of him knew the past couple weeks were just a calmness before the storm. After filling up two glasses, he placed one in front of Blake, before finding a seat next to her.

Bellz (Blake) Misty Gray (Emery/Conor)

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan
~Emery Callahan~​

Conor looked up from the dining table to see Jackson and Blake entering the kitchen. "Hey, you two," he greeted them, a cheesy grin evident on his face. "Glad you could both join us for these amazing pancakes." He looked back to his food and gave the couple chance to sort their drinks out.

Emery had left her seat and grabbed a plate of pancakes before walking over to Jackson, holding it up for him to take. When he told her to hand the plate to Blake, she quickly nodded her head. "Here you go, Ms. Walsh. I hope you like the pancakes. I slaved away making them," she over-dramatically explained. She then held the plate up so Blake could reach it. "You can call me Emery if I can call you Blake." She glanced to Jackson. "Are you Jackson's girlfriend, because I think you are but then he called you Ms. Walsh?" she quietly asked the woman. Emery walked with Blake to the table and sat back in her seat next to Conor. When Jackson sat opposite her, Emery couldn't help but stare at him for a time, clearly contemplating something about him. Then, all became clear when she chose to voice her concerns. "Jackson, be honest. Do you want me to help you with your hair?" she asked, sounding like she genuinely wanted to assist him. "Conor said you were running late for breakfast because you were having a bad hair day. I didn't believe him but now I can see he was telling the truth. I'm good at doing hair. I can do yours for you."

Conor almost spat out his drink as he couldn't hold in his laughter at the child's words. He then sat up straight and cleared his throat. "I can confirm, Emmy is really good at doing hair. She's given Finn many makeovers." Conor turned to Blake and smiled, hoping she wasn't at all awkward by him walking in on them earlier. "How are you settling in, Blake?" he seriously asked. "I hope Jackson's helping to make you feel at home. He's a good guy, this one," he said, briefly patting his good friend on the back.

Emery then looked up as she saw Rudolph enter the kitchen. "Rudy! We have pancakes. I made them! Do you want pancakes?" she excitedly asked him.

​

Enzyme (Jackson) Bellz (Blake) Shireling (Rudy)

Sinead and Savannah Callahan​

Sinead grinned when Peter made his remarks about too much pink being in his life. "Oh, please," she said, reaching out to very lightly slap his hand. "You love your two pink princesses," she said. She knew Emery wouldn't be offended. The kid would either demand to be called the Queen or would simply say princesses were rubbish. Sinead didn't get to hear what Lucy's appointment was about due to the strange comment Savannah had made.

When Lucy explained Emery and Braden had been saying upsetting things to Savannah, Sinead couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken for Savannah. Braden especially had been told not to say such nasty comments before and she was sad to hear he'd done it again. "Savvy, baby. You are never going to be sent to Italy. You belong here, with your family. Everyone here loves you and whether it's Lucy, Conor or even Grandma Shannon, people would be fighting over keeping you. But your dad and me are fine, alright?" she reassured her.

Sinead nodded her head at Lucy's suggestion they inform Braden and Emery about James' Italian origins. "Oh, Peter and I will tell them. I can't see Brady arguing with that, seeing as he's presently starstruck by his grumpy old Uncle James," she said, winking at Lucy. She then turned to Peter and frowned. "If I was in a fit state, I'd be marching over right now to give those two children a piece of my mind," she told him.

"I suppose they can't help it. Especially Emmy, because she's much younger," Savannah reasoned, feeling a little bad about getting her siblings into trouble.

Sinead finally took a pink cookie and groaned as she sat up a little straighter. She then began to break off small pieces of the treat so she could carefully eat it. "This is really tasty. You two should get together and bake more often," she suggested. Her eyes lingered on Lucy, once again wondering about the appointment and if she should be worrying.


Bellz (Peter, Lucy)

 

[Shireling]

Rudy turned away from his newspaper to see Jackson come downstairs with Blake. He failed to harbor the same level of suspicion towards her as Kieran did, so he felt okay letting his guard down around her. At least in the family setting. As Emery began telling Jackson about her hair-fixing skills his mouth curled into a grin as he fought to hold back laughter until he turned red in the face. He quickly composed himself and set the newspaper down upon hearing Emery address him specifically.

"Pancakes? And you made them yourself?" He asked in a sort of high-toned voice he used for children. "It would be a privilege to eat some of your delicious pancakes."

He took a napkin from the table and tucked it into the collar of his shirt in an exaggerated motion and sat cartoonishly in such a way as to signify intense eagerness. When Emery's attention fluttered elsewhere, he relaxed a bit and drank from his coffee mug.

Misty Gray