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

[Shireling]

Jack Brady
​

Jack barked at Jared not to say a word and to follow him. He wouldn't turn back around until they were safely outside the kitchen, and standing apart from the stream of patrons and workers fleeing the restaraunt. They were on the sidewalk of the adjacent block at this point, the gunfire starting to die down as goons on both sides were either killed or fled. The distant wail of sirens signaled the imminent arrival of police from the nearby precinct and made Jack jumpy to get out. He had told Grace to run in front of him, and she had likely slackened her pace now that they were ostensibly out of danger, though he didn't see her immediately. Jack took his glasses off to wipe them with his kerchief as he finally allowed Jared to accost him.

Jack, in a moment of unorthodox calm, polished his glasses and put them back over his eyes. "Grace is fine, Jared, she was in the crossfire. I got her out." He said blandly. "Look, I know what you're thinking, but no. I wasn't in on it. If you ask me, those baffoons probably started planning this as soon as you told them the meeting was going ahead. Porter was about to take the deal too, but now look at us. It's all-out war again, and I'm not so sure about our chances. You better hope somebody capped Porter in there, otherwise it's open season on all our arses."

The young man sighed in frustration and turned back to Jared to hear an answer, glancing briefly across from him to see if Grace had bolted straightaway or waited to rejoin her father.

Misty Gray

 

[Misty Gray]

Jared and Grace Armstrong​

Jared only followed Jack in expectation of his answering the question of where Grace was. When they were out on the sidewalk, his deathly cold stare seemed to grow even more intense when he couldn't see his daughter out there. He looked around as he heard the police sirens in the distance, but he knew not to flee the scene. He was by now a recognisable face in the city and there was no way he could deny his presence during the gunfire, but he would try think of the best way to paint himself in a positive light or at least one that reflected the fact the attack was nothing of his own doing.

He looked to Jack as the man told him Grace was fine, but that was something he would only consider verified upon seeing the teenager with his own eyes. The man then protested his innocence and claimed to have had nothing to do with the moronic attack. He had his reservations, but still slowly nodded his head in response. "I'm inclined to agree with you about Porter. He seemed to consider your offer and speak more reasonably than I thought the thug was capable of. We could have got him to cooperate with us and now Carter has ruined any chance we had." He rubbed the back of his neck as he thought about James avoiding being killed. "Considering the threats he was already making, I see deeper troubles on the horizon. That's after trying to clean up the mess within our own ranks. I suspect Carter and Evan aren't the only ones looking for a different direction to what was intended. You yourself made your disapproval of my methods known..."

Grace soon joined the two men, having not strayed far from the scene as she hadn't wanted to leave without her father. "Lily.." Jared said, his voice softer than it had been all evening. He'd forgotten he'd been carrying the cloth napkin, only reminded when his eyes fixed on Grace's wound. Compared to some of the people inside the restaurant, the wound on Grace's arm was minor. Regardless, his daughter was the one bleeding in front of him and so it was serious in his eyes. Jared stepped forward and set about applying pressure to the wound, but Grace snatched the napkin out of his hand. "I'm not a child! I can do it myself," she snapped at him as she pressed the cloth against her arm to soak up the blood. "I don't understand..." she admitted as she looked Jared in the eyes. "Why did they start shooting at the Porters? Even Carter shot at them. I saw--"

"Now, now, Lily," Jared calmly interrupted, placing his hand on her shoulder before she stepped back to shrug him off. The man eyed Jack for a few seconds before continuing to speak to his daughter. "You didn't see Carter do that, sweetheart. You couldn't have done. It all happened far too quickly and you were in shock, so you didn't see the gunmen's faces," he suggestively told her.

"I... Ohh, you want me to lie? You spent all of my life telling me to be honest but now you want me to lie..."

"You saw what just happened in there? How dangerous those gunmen are? You saw what the Porters sent us at Christmas? You're a bright young woman and I'm sure you understand this situation." He wasn't sure how safe things were within the IWU for himself, but it was clear the likes of Carter and Evan could not be trusted not to turn on him too. The last thing he needed was Grace telling the cops anything at all. "I ask you, Lily. Did you see the shooters' faces?"

"Nope," Grace bluntly replied, before pouting. "It was all too quick and I was distracted on account of being shot in the arm," she confirmed her story. "I won't lie to Mum and Quinn, though. This affects all of us, not just you, Dad." She then looked to Jack. "What even is all of this? Why would your colleagues do such a thing?" she desperately asked the man for the truth. Meanwhile, Jared's hardened stare was fixed on Jack, willing the man to tell her no such detail.

Shireling (Jack)

 

[Shireling]

Jack Brady
​

Jack's facial expression softened a bit as he saw Jared tending to his daughter's wounds. As jaded and cynical a man as he claimed to be, there was something between the two of them that was wholesome and warm to him although he didn't possess the vocabulary to express it. This even as he was coaching her to lie for him. Jack put his hands in his pockets to fend of the cold and turned to Jared.

"Whatever the plan is, we need to think of it quick," he thought. This applied as much to him as it did to the IWU as a whole. On the one hand, if Carter and Evan had been acting individually then using the influence he already had he could have them cut off like diseased limbs and reestablish order in the ranks. On the other, if this little surprise was orchestrated by some of the other higher echelon figures of the organization, then he would do better to fall in league with them and sell out Jared. He puzzled over all of this while the man's deference to his daughter won a kind of primeval allegiance with him. The man was a shyster, of this there was no doubt, but he was also a human being unlike Carter who seemed to be entirely animal intellect. In the end, who would the people follow? Who would he rather follow? He had not yet fathomed the idea that he might be the next leader. The time just wasn't right.

He glanced back in Grace's direction, this time inspecting her wound more closely. Her sleeveless dress was no resistance to the cold, but it did make the bullet wound easy to see. The handgun round looked to have entered and exited, so no need to go rooting around for a bullet, but she would need to be bandaged. He could just leave her there, but prudence told him that for his sake and for Jared's it would be better to take her to a hospital and pretend she wasn't at the restaurant. Better for her not to have to answer any questions from the police at all.

Jack had been thinking the whole time, finally he looked up at Grace's face as she asked him a question directly. What would he tell her? He could lie, and risk her life and the supreme ire of his boss. Or tell her the truth, potentially save her life, and still have the ire of his boss. He went with the safer option. First he turned to Jared, "You should have told her the truth like a man, Armstrong," he said with a degree of assertiveness that was characteristic of him, even if he wasn't an impressive physical specimen. He turned back to Grace, "Your father leads the Irish Worker's Union, you know that. What you don't know is that said Union has a lot of business on the side, and a lot of our work is geared towards more revolutionary ends. I don't expect you to understand, but just listen. Your father is the public face that allows us to do the work we do on behalf of the people. Some of our members," he waved in the direction of the restaurant, "don't care for your father's brand of dialogue with the Porters. How many of our people are in with that lot, I have no idea. But listen to me, Miss Armstrong," he held his gaze intensely on her to make sure she understood that what he was saying was important, "don't trust anyone but your family. Don't trust your dad's work colleagues, don't trust his attorneys, don't even trust me."

He turned back to Jared. "She needs to get out of here, Jared. You and your family need to go to the mattresses and lay extremely low. I'll make an investigation of the IWU and report back with who can and can't be trusted." He turned back to the street and noticed a straggling taxi cab which he was able to whistle at and hail before he had driven off. The cabby drove up to the curb and Jack opened the back door of the cab. He glanced over his shoulder, "I can take her to the hospital or she can stay here with you, your call."

Misty Gray

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan​

Conor nodded to Johaan, flashing a pleasant smile at the man's greeting. "Evening, Johaan. Still seeing that Scottish lass?" he curiously asked. He let out an exasperated groan when Vernon swore at him. Johaan berated his friend before Conor had chance to. "Vernon always was a fucking potty mouth, am I right?" Conor said before his words transitioned to a chuckle. He rested his arm on Vernon's back, making the comparison in height much more obvious. He physically looked over the man's shoulder, almost resting his head on him as he leaned in. He studied the poker table when Johaan assured him it was just a friendly game of cards. "That's not what I've been told--"

There was a sudden commotion behind Conor, causing him to push Vernon aside so he could turn to watch Rudy make easy work of Patrick who had come at him with a wooden bat. Conor shook his head as he carefully returned his gun to the inside pocket of his coat. He'd weighed up the men around him and decided it was a little premature to be resorting to bullets. Conor let out an impressed whistle as Rudy finished with Patrick and challenged the others. "Well, that was unexpected," he remarked. Conor turned back to Johaan and shook his head. "I had hoped to discuss this like mature adults. But that was awfully hostile from Patrick for a simple game of cards amongst friends, don't you agree?" he posed the question.

"You weren't invited, so we're not going to welcome you dumb fucks in," Vernon spat back, causing Conor to slowly turn his head to face him.

"Sorry, Johaan, but I don't like your mates. Especially not this inbred wanker," he said, keeping his eyes on Vernon. The man in question then mumbled something rather derogatory about Conor's mother. Conor's right hand idly landed on a pile of poker chips, which he grasped hold of. He then grabbed Vernon's shirt collar to help him push the man backwards before slamming him against the wall. Conor wrapped his left hand around the man's throat before shoving the handful of the poker chips into the man's mouth then covering it with his hand to stop them from being spat back out. "Another word about my sweet mother and you'll be shitting poker chips out for the rest of the week." Conor uncovered the man's mouth but only so he could punch him in the face and then toss him down onto the ground. The downed man then proceeded to spit the chips out of his mouth so he could breathe properly once again. Vernon was sure one of the plastic discs had chipped one of his back teeth.

Conor let out a loud sigh before turning back to the others, focusing mostly on Johaan. "Honestly, mate. I didn't come here to start beating the shit out of you folks, but if that's what you really want, I'll be happy to oblige." Conor glanced to Rudy and Syd, making sure the two men were still okay. He then stared straight ahead and impatiently groaned. "I'll ask another couple of questions and any of you dodgy lads can answer... Are you gambling down here? At what point did you decide it was okay to break the agreement?" Conor was looking to Johaan as he spoke, but mostly because the man hadn't used profanity towards him nor attempted to attack him with a wooden bat.


Enzyme (other Duncan fellas) Shireling (Rudy) Pyroclast (Syd)

 

[Enzyme]

Duncans & Company​

Johaan caught sight of Patrick sneaking closer once he pushed his way through the smoke. Johaan's eyes widened at how shockingly stupid that decision was. Rudy made quick work of Patrick, Patrick somehow caught off guard by the man's reflexes. After having the bat brutally smashed against his back, he laid on the floor unmoving. "Jesus, Patrick!" Johaan sat up slightly with concern. Patrick let out a small groan, letting the rest know that he was still alive and conscious. With Rudy challenging the crowd, everyone seemed to stay in their seats, staring at him blankly. It became apparent that the brilliant plan was Patrick's idea alone. "Yeah, mate. Our baby's due in a few months," Johaan drew out in response to Conor, attempting to ignore the violent outburst.

Johaan cringed as Vernon refused to keep his mouth shut. The family had had their fair share of run-ins with the Irish Mob, yet his cousin hadn't been present during most pleasant encounters. He still hadn't a clue of how robust the Porters were. He seemed to get the idea when Conor nearly shoved his poker chips down his throat. The solid punch didn't sound like it felt too good, confirmed by how quickly Vernon slid down the wall, not looking to get up any time soon. "Let's all keep our alans on; no one who knows who ye' are wants to fight you. We're just having a relaxing night," Johaan offered a spare chair. "Your mates can sit too." He looked down to Vernon and pointed, sure he had learned his lesson, but he wanted to make it clear. "That's the Arthur Guinness talkin'. Keep yer' mouth shut."

When Conor bluntly asked if they were gambling, it seemed to be a rhetorical question, as even a toddler would know what was going on. "Yes, but only among close lads and relatives. We're not advertisin' or nothin'." He looked Conor in the eye, hoping that he would begin to relax. "We wouldn't break yer' rules. My family's not that stupid."

Misty Gray Pyroclast Shireling

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

The end of Leonard's year ended on a high note. He had no drama, his wounds had finally healed up, and he was the happiest he had been in a while. Unlike his sister, things were going great. He did feel bad a little, that things were going so great for him and they weren't so much for Ali. The night after Christmas, he had noticed her hand and asked what happened to it. For the first time, she had dodged the question and was hiding something from him. It confused him that she would lie about this and try to hide it. He came to the conclusion that whatever it was, it was serious and not something she wanted to speak about just yet. He would let her have her moment for now and come back later about the situation. Not to say he didn't care, but he knew if he had kept pestering her about it she'd go off on him. Only a few people had ever seen her go off the rails, him being one of them, and he didn't want to experience it again.

Aliana asked Leo if he would come over to help her and Lucy watch the kids, wanting to give Lucy the extra help. He agreed but informed her he'd be over a little later. He had some things he needed to do for school before he went over to the Porters. Those things including traveling back to school for a few days to finish up some internship work. He didn't think he'd be super tired when he made his way to the Porter's home, but when he did he could feel his eyes getting heavy. After the guard let him into the compound, he made his way up the driveway to the home. He walked inside the home and announced himself before going into the small lounge. There he saw Emery asleep on the couch and Savannah playing with the kitten he noticed from Christmas. "Hey, troublemaker what's up?" He asked her, making sure not to be too loud and wake up Emery. He then took a seat next to her on the floor and leaned back on his hands. "What's new, princess?" His eyes were closed and if asked he'd just say he was resting them.

Savvy( Misty Gray )​

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan​

When Johaan offered Conor, Rudy and Syd seats at the poker table, the Sullivan man looked to his nephew and friend to gauge how they would respond. His casual expression would suggest to them that he was indeed going to sit down. Conor looked back down to Vernon as Johaan told him to keep his mouth shut. After an agreeable smile, Conor pulled out the chair next to Johaan and sat at the poker table. He still wasn't convinced the Duncans were being honest with him, but for the moment, he was unable to find evidence to suggest they were lying. "Kids are great. I bet you'll be made up when the little lad or lass is born."

Conor processed the man's response about the games only being played among close friends and family, then gave a single shrug of his shoulder. "I'm not going to lie, I was surprised when I heard you lot had a casino running down here. "Boss," I said. "The Duncans aren't idiots. They wouldn't break the agreement and risk getting fucked up." Honestly," he relayed a supposed conversation he'd had with James. "Still, I agreed it was best we came down here for confirmation that everything is above board..." he trailed off.

"So, lads," he said, a sudden burst of enthusiasm in his voice as he briefly rubbed his hands together. "Are we playing poker or not? Who's dealing." He picked up a pile of poker chips from in front of him and handed them to Johaan. "We'll just play for fun, aye? No real bets, because then you really would be breaching the terms and making profits down here," he said, with a wide grin on his face. "Dic... Richard. How about some booze, mate?" he called out, placing some cash on the edge of the table to cover a round of drinks.

Enzyme (other Duncan fellas) Shireling (Rudy) Pyroclast (Syd)

Savannah Callahan​

Savannah sat on the floor with her legs crossed. The little kitten chased after her hand as she she moved the cat toy from side to side next to her. She eventually let go of the small soft toy and allowed the kitten to dig his claws into it and chew the toy mouse's tail. "You're so cute, Ozzy," she sweetly told the kitten. Savannah's eyes briefly shifted to the sofa to check Emery was still sleeping so she could continue to take advantage of the quiet time to play with her sister's little pet.

The child looked up when she heard someone else enter the room and she smiled to see Leo was joining her. Although his greeting wasn't meant to be taken seriously, she couldn't help but dwell on being called a 'troublemaker'. Her smile turned to a frown as she thought of what she'd let slip to Aliana in front of Lucy and figured that was why Leo had called her a troublemaker. "I'm not really a troublemaker," she assured him. "I didn't know that Aunt Lucy was listening. I was just curious about Ali having two boyfriends. Conor and Tommy are both lots of fun, so I think it's great," she said. She hoped she wasn't in trouble or that she hadn't got Aliana in trouble with her inquisitiveness.

When Leo sat next to her and asked what was new, she paused to think. "I went ice-skating today. I learned how to play a new song on mum's piano." She looked up to the ceiling as she searched her mind for more examples to answer his question with. "I wrote another short story," she added, looking back down to Leo. "Aaaand, I think that's all. My dad is still in prison and I still haven't been to see him, so that's not new..." she sadly complained.

Savannah let Ozzy climb up onto her legs and she softly stroked his fur. "What about you, Leo? Do you have anything new to tell me?" She nudged his arm when he closed his eyes. "Excuse me, mister. Am I boring you?" she asked, in a tone that would likely one day soon match Sinead's level of sass.

Melanin-Gxdess (Leo)

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

Once the visiting hour had ended, Sinead had to force herself to let go of Peter's hands and leave the room. She was sure if she didn't, the ill-mannered prison wardens would force her out anyway. Whilst seeing Peter had lifted her spirits, it was only temporary, for the moment she stepped back outside it had to sink in again that she was going home whilst he would be alone in his cell. It scared her to think of the dangerous men in that place and the fact some of the prisoners had hurt Peter. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to hurt her dear husband.

When she and Finn arrived home, Sinead spent a little time with her children before grabbing the paperwork she needed to take to her jazz club. When she arrived at the club, the place was pretty busy, making her at least feel positive that her business was doing well when she felt like everything else she touched seemed to be cursed with bad luck. After getting the barman to serve her a large glass of wine, she made her way into the back office to focus on the paperwork that had started to pile up on her desk over the last couple of weeks. All she seemed to accomplish was drinking her wine and staring off into space as her family's troubles clouded her mind. The opening of the office door and her bar manager, Kev, entering the room pulled her out of her thoughts. After a conversation consisting of Kev firmly assuring Sinead he could do the staff rota and reorder the stocks, she eventually caved in and agreed to leave the paperwork to her trusty employee.

Sinead decided it was time to visit Ryan, seeing as he hadn't been around the house since Christmas Day and she owed him a lecture for getting himself injured when she specifically told him not to. Syd and Tommy had already been told off, so it was only fair her childhood friend was told too. After phoning back home to tell her family where she was headed - the a normal thing to do considering her family's tight security - she drove over to Ryan's place.

Ryan would hear the sound of knocking at his front door. When he opened it, he would see the petite redhead standing outside, her arms folded tightly to try fend off the cold. "Well, look who it is! I haven't seen your face since 1959!" she sarcastically greeted him. "I've come to give you a telling off, Mister. Can I do that inside, though? It's kind of cold out here..." she admitted.


Fletchawk (Ryan)
Mentions: Bellz (Peter, Finn)

OOC: The scene between George and Finn will still be played out once Bella is able to post. Sinead's scene take place after the prison visit. I want to get her onto the current timeline so her interaction with Ryan isn't rushed if the rest of the chapter's plots reach their end.

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

Roars of laughter could be heard from the stairs leading down to the basement, yet the room fell silent when the four men entered. The landlord, Syd had noticed, looked almost nervous, as though wishing he had the courage to deny them their right to see what was going on. But being an establishment in Porter territory, he must have known there was no point in trying to hold them off. They were greeted by several glares as the men looked up from the table, deep in a game of what was quite obviously poker. Syd didn't recognise any of them, though one man seemed to be fairly well acquainted with his uncle. He met their cold stares with his own, watching silently as Conor went over to confront the men. Immediately he counted how many people outnumbered them; since the atmosphere didn't seem particularly friendly, Syd had to be ready and was determined to show no sign of weakness, lest a brawl were to break out between them.

His focus was so set on the group sitting at the table that he didn't see Patrick sneak up on Rudy. The sound of the bat smashing against the man's face had Syd turning quickly, but then he stood back to watch Rudy take full control of the fight, a slight smirk growing on his face as he saw how easily the attacker went down. It was a promising display and hopefully a clear enough message to the rest of the gang that they had not come to be walked over. Still, Syd was a little suspicious, having been so sure that the pub upstairs was empty. He stepped over Patrick's body and began to slowly wander about the room, only glancing back at Conor when he slammed one of the more hostile men against the wall. Another smirk shifted across his face, amused at how foolish some of the gang members appeared to be. Johaan, on the other hand, seemed like the professional one of the group, mild-mannered enough to reason with.

After exchanging a glance with his uncle, Syd decided he too would join in and walked around the table to take Vernon's seat. The man was still slumped against the wall, and he looked beaten enough that Syd didn't think he would be capable of playing cards anymore. Eyes fixed on Conor and Johaan, he reached into his coat's inner pocket to retrieve a cigarette and then balanced it between his lips as he rummaged for a light. His uncle was a playful man but definitely not one to get on the wrong side of, so it was interesting to watch how he interacted with the Duncans. Syd wondered if this game they had presumably sat down to play could actually be civil; after watching two of their men go down, it didn't seem safe yet to assume they were indeed on friendly terms. He glanced at some of the more unwelcoming faces at the table, then, striking a match to light his cigarette, he smiled over at his uncle and said, "You gonna introduce us, Conor?"

Interactions
Enzyme
Misty Gray Conor
Shireling Rudy

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy​

The never-ending streams of blood continued to pour out of both Tommy's nose and mouth. Jackson's eyes frantically looked to the man, feeling utterly hopeless for the first time in years, at a complete loss. A weak, quivering smile curved onto Jackson's face at Tommy's joke. He let out a short burst of laughter, which sounded choked to hold the emotions behind the cracks of the dam wall. "And the next ones on you." His reaction to Aldous was delayed, slowly looking up to the man as he applied the makeshift tourniquet around Tommy's neck. Jackson couldn't help, but cringe at the uncomfortable sight, but was sure Aldous knew what he was. Before he could contemplate running back into the decimated restaurant to use their rotary phone, he felt Tommy's weak grip on his bare arm. At the moment Jackson looked to the fleeting life in Tommy's eyes, the pit in his stomach churning to a black hole. "Hey, hey," He moved back over to Tommy, softly holding his head once more. "I'm not goin' anywhere." The ominous sirens in the distance were a relief to Jackson for the first time in his life. "They're on their way, mate. Just hold on."

Tommy's acceptance of his death was unbearable, which Jackson couldn't find it in himself to face the music. "Hold on, do it for Aliana." He moved his hand for the tourniquet to apply pressure. He shot his head up to the street, which was still absent of flashing lights. "Come on!" Jackson shouted in despair. "What're you waiting for?" He shouted out once more, with no answer to satisfy him, not even the distant sirens growing near. He looked back to Tommy, his blood-stained hand firmly holding his face. "You're not alone, Tommy. You were never alone." Every hardship he'd face, the theft of his cradle - Jackson saw himself in the young man as sure as he saw his reflection in Tommy's eyes. He looked to the man's expression, searching for an electric pulse to help Tommy hold on.

To his despair, Tommy's once brilliant, bright blue eyes, fell lifeless; a near shade of gray. His face slumped lifelessly into Jackson's palm, the only warmth coming from the running blood. "No, no, no, no, no," he rested Tommy down, grabbing onto the collar of his shirt and pulling him to his face. "Hey," he spoke softly, before repeating in a shout. "Tommy!" He ran his hands down to Tommy's chest, attempting a move he had seen an old friend give to bring a man back to life. Pressing down firmly, he performed CPR. With each assured pump, his trembling hands pushed harder and harder. With his last pump, he slammed the bottom of his fist on Tommy's chest. He roared an incoherent shout, falling off his crouched position. Jackson grabbed the back of his own head and shoved his face into his legs. He couldn't even save the boy, who he promised would glide safely under his wind.

Misty Gray Shireling

 

[Fletchawk]

Alexander Quinn Armstrong
​

"The acqua pazza for me," he stated after asking a few questions about a number of dishes that caught his eye. Having finally ordered and not wanting to pressure Adam, Quinn amused himself by scanning the restaurant and its fellow occupants.

When his dinner partner was ready to speak, his eyes snapped back to the man, giving his full attention. Adam's apology felt unnecessary, as Quinn had hardy been offended by his friend's drifting thoughts and waved his hand with a soft chortle to dismiss it, especially given the subject. Still, he didn't speak until his friend found the right words to bring the subject forward.

For a moment, Quinn had a knowing smirk painted across his face as the given reason was as he had initially guessed. This faded however, when Adam voiced that he was playing a dangerous game and inquired about keeping secrets. The conversation had suddenly returned to a darker path and Quinn acknowledged with his expression. Threading his fingers together on the table between them as he leaned back to mull over the topic, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling while doing so.

"Secrets are a tricky thing. The larger they are, the more destructive they are. As I am sure you're aware of, I'm not always forthcoming myself. However, I don't actively keep things hidden either, especially if they're dangerous. So to answer your question my friend, no, I don't keep secrets. To avoid being in the very situation you described," he stated clearly, locking eyes with Adam to further clarify his stance on the matter.

After sharing his thoughts, Quinn returned to them, his gaze not deviating from what spurred them. He noted that Adam was being overly cautious of the matter, which in Quinn's mind, meant that his friend was afraid of how he might react to the identity of the woman Adam was seeing. Unless it was a recent revelation, he'd not known Adam to have an adversely perverse nature, so it was unlikely a moral discrepancy. It was also obvious that he wasn't calling on Grace in secret, unless Adam was a much better liar than Quinn took him for. He dismissed the suspicion as the subject wouldn't have progressed this far if it was true.

This left very few reasons why Quinn would have a bias against Adam's consort as he was generally an amicable person. The resulting list of those that Quinn would be against was minute, in fact, it wasn't until the past couple of months that he could readily name someone that fell into that category. It was then that his stare narrowed and while he couldn't be sure of their exact identity, their likely affiliation caused his jaw to tighten.

The question was abrupt and clear-cut, "How long have you been together?" Quinn's tone wasn't completely emotionless but the effort to try and make it so was apparent.

Quinn had chosen a question that would help give context to his friend's veiled admission. He was concerned for Adam's well-being, but he needed to gage the potential of the threat, not only to himself but to his family as well. Taking a sip from the glass of water, Quinn's mind was racing with information that he had collected over the last couple of months while he awaited an answer.


Pyroclast [Adam]

 

[Pyroclast]

Adam Morgan

Adam listened intently to Quinn's response, nodding his head. "You're a wiser man than I am, Quinn" he sighed. His friend's words made him think he perhaps ought to have instigated this conversation months ago, rather than let the burden of the secret grow heavier. But it had taken him time to learn the extent of Mallory's background as well as the severity of the feud between the Porters and the IWU. Now, it seemed too late for an easy confession. With another small sigh, he ran his knuckles across his mouth as he wrestled with the idea of just telling him everything. Perhaps he would understand? Perhaps Adam was worrying for no reason? His friendship with the Armstrongs was important to him though, and so anything that may compromise it seemed like quite a big deal. Adam glanced at Quinn and noticed that he had a subtle look of suspicion in his eyes.

"Oh, let's think...we must be going on three months now," he said, unable to stop a small smile escaping his lips. "But development has been slow, down to...you know," he added, actually hoping that he didn't know. "We haven't met each other's parents or friends, for instance. When I'm with her everything feels fine - natural, comfortable...Then as soon as we part, it's like I'm stepping back into reality, and I just think, What am I doing?" Adam looked his friend in the eye, his expression turning serious once again. Quinn was a smart man, and the look on his face, much as Adam didn't want to admit it, told him that he had already made a fairly good guess at who his girlfriend was affiliated with. Despite the internal tension rising in Adam, he didn't break away from Quinn's intense gaze. "I suppose you have some idea of who I'm talking about, now?"

Interactions
Fletchawk Quinn

 

[Fletchawk]

Ryan Donahue
​

Ryan was staring blankly at the half empty bottle of cheap whiskey that had been keeping him company that evening. Alcohol had always been a constant in his adult life but lately it had become especially bosom in the past couple of weeks. Not only did it dull the aching of his still healing leg, it also helped keep the memories that he had been shackled with from repeating too often.

Even with the whiskey in his veins, Ryan could feel the winter chill trying to creep in as the peat in the stove burned low. This was the catalyst that slowly brought Ryan out of his self-inflicted torpor. Raising his head, Ryan checked the clock above him before looking around absentmindedly at his abode. The flat was surprisingly clean despite having a myriad of parts and scrap laying about in a disorganized fashion. Even in his current state, Ryan knew where every little piece was as he had spent the past two weeks fiddling with them.

Even though it was a bit early for him, Ryan decided he would retire to his bed, but first he need to throw another brick or two into the stove to keep the water pipes from freezing overnight. Not being in a particular hurry and reminding himself of his injured leg, he slowly limped over to the dying fire and carefully tossed a couple of bricks of peat in. He had a mind to continue to the bedroom from there, but he forgotten the unfinished bottle on the table and was debating on rather to grab it or not when a knocking on the front door startled him.

The noise hadn't been especially loud, but he wasn't expecting visitors. Had he been more sober, Ryan would have been more cautious of an unannounced visitor. Instead, he hobbled towards the door, stopping only to grab his handgun out of the holster hanging on the wall along the way. With door still secured by a small chain, Ryan unbolted and opened it the couple of inches it would and peered through.

"Sinny?" Surprise was plain in his voice as he stood there shocked that the redhead was standing at his door. It wasn't until a few seconds after she asked to come in that it registered in Ryan's head, and he quickly shut the door to undo the chain and opened it to let her in. "Is it just you?" he asked incredulously when she entered, expecting her to have someone with her like Finn, her children, or another one of her family members.

After shutting the door and turning towards her, Ryan was starting wonder if he had passed out on the table and he was dreaming about her. To him it seemed more likely than her actually showing up at his doorstep alone. Showing her to the one of the two chairs at the table, Ryan remembered his manners and asked, "Do you want something to drink? I got whiskey, coffee, and..." Ryan paused as he tried to remember what else he had but his befuddled mind could only remember the second bottle of whiskey in the cupboard, "...more whiskey?"

Ryan quickly gimped pass Sinead and into the visible kitchen, not only to possibly retrieve cups, but to splash some water on his face to try to clear his head a little. After doing so, he glanced back to confirm that Sinead was indeed sitting at the table. "So, what brings you here?" he asked loudly, wondering if something bad had driven the woman here.

Misty Gray [Sinead]

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

Sinead grinned upon hearing Ryan was clearly surprised to see her outside his apartment door. She unfolded her arms and put her hands on her hips as she waited for him to unlock the door. When he opened the door fully she cocked her head to the side. "Yes, I'm afraid it's just me," she confirmed. She stepped into the house and allowed Ryan to close the door behind her. Meanwhile, She took off her coat and scarf, hanging the outerwear by the door. The fact she was wearing a knee-length dress and heels in winter made it clear why she was protesting about the cold weather. "Most of the guys are out on jobs and the children are content having a sleepover at Lucy's place. I figured I'd call in as I was starting to forget what you look like."

The redhead followed her friend into the main living area and sat at the table in the seat he had offered to her. She looked to Ryan and quickly nodded her head when he asked if she wanted a drink. She couldn't help but scoff when he offered her the choice of whiskey or coffee. "Oh deary me, Ryan," she remarked, shaking her head to exaggerate her response. "How do you survive?! What you really need is a woman's touch around this place! she suggested to him. "Until then, could i just have a glass of water, please?" she sweetly asked. She disliked whiskey, always preferring fruity cocktails and wine. As for coffee, she'd much rather a hot chocolate.

After watching Ryan limp into the kitchen, she called out to him. "How are you feeling? Is your leg okay? I'm pretty sure I told you not to get hurt!" she started to berate him. When the man then asked her why she was paying him a visit, she looked to the floor for a time and didn't immediately reply. "Things were quiet back home and I haven't seen you since Christmas. I thought I'd come and check in on you," she told him. She then sighed. "I also just needed a change of scenery. I visited Peter earlier and when I got home the children wanted to know all about it. It was difficult to tell them he's perfectly fine when he was far from it." She bit her bottom lip as she recalled his injuries and the way he didn't seem like himself. "He looked really hurt, like he'd been seriously beaten up, and there's nothing I can do to help him or comfort him." She took a deep breath as she realised Ryan probably didn't need her dragging him down. "I'm sorry... I was meant to come here to boss you around, not burden you will my own worries."

Fletchawk (Ryan)

 

[Misty Gray]

Shannon Sullivan​

"I'm sure the extra uncle will be much appreciated by your fellow uncles. The kids are very sociable... And Emery's hard work to keep entertained so you can lighten the workload," she remarked.

Shannon noticed Kennedy tapping the armrest and overall looking quite nervous or agitated. She was going to mention it but their conversation continued on its other path.

"I'm not sure who's performing there at the moment. Sinead has been pretty distant lately, but I believe part of that is that she has just started managing the place again. If you want to perform there, you'll probably have to audition in front of Sinead. I'd quite like to witness that, for a good laugh, I expect..." she teased.

"Get the lads to go with you to the Jazz Club. There's still alcohol involved and they'd be supporting Sinead's business too," she reasoned. "But yes, there is the risk Conor won't let your night stay classy once the jazz is over."

Shannon nodded when Kennedy requested water. "Yeah, I'm sure the plants will share their water with you," she remarked. She got up to get her nephew a glass of water from the kitchen. When she returned, she handed the drink to him. "Now, what's got you agitated?" she suddenly asked. She sat opposite him again so she could observe his face as he answered her. "Yeah, I noticed you tapping on the seat. Couldn't quite miss the irritating sound," she drily added.

mpower

 

[mpower]

Kennedy Sullivan​

"I can't call myself too sociable, to be honest, but they should know that they've got someone to talk and interact with", Kennedy answered her as he looked at her, noticing her eyes trailing off to his tapping fingers, just as they cramped together, he gave her a reassuring smile to hopefully distract her attention from his doings, and kept on listening to her explanation on Sinead's jazz club.

"Ohh, I am sure I will be a grand enjoyment for everyone, especially for cousin Sinead and maybe I get a job as a wardrobe staff member, y'know, hanging up the coats and all." Even though he did not smile, his humorous side clearly made itself visible in his glowing eyes. His arm and fingers stopped twitching and tapping as he watched Shannon rise up and head over to the kitchen. As soon as she left his eyesight, he lifted his arm and punched it twice, smashing it against the armrest a few times with a few muffled grunts escaping his deeper throat regions. Kennedy was furious over his uncontrollable body reactions, which appeared once or twice a day, and especially when he was a tad nervous.

When Shannon came back, Kennedy was seated normally, with crossed legs, watching her closely as she handed over the water glass to him. He wasn't sure if his doings went unnoticed, but he hopefully had muffled it good enough. Kennedy mumbled a "Thanks" and lead the glass up to his lips, sipping out of it as her sudden question sparked up.

He did not answer initially but rather had an elongated sip of refreshing water, giving him more control of his facial expressions to hide the initial small shock, his eyes were pinned on her though, blinking on a modern rate. The glass was lowered and his lips opened to speak: "Was quite nervous on how you would welcome me back, and I am still a bit tense for the others and their reaction, after hearing from everyone and what they've done during my absence...", he contemplated for a second whether or not to continue as he went for a half-lie: "And my arm's a bit wrecked from an injury, which forces me to either let it twitch or keep it otherwise busy once in a while, nothing all too serious", then he shrugged and waited for her answer.

Misty Gray

 

[Fletchawk]

Alexander Quinn Armstrong
​

While the man explained the length and state of his relationship, Quinn became so focused on him, it was as if the restaurant around them didn't exist. Had the subject not been so serious, Quinn might of teased Adam about the lack of development. The smile that cropped up on Adam's face as he thought about his time with the woman made Quinn wonder about the validity, and a little envious, of what Adam had.

To Quinn, it seemed as though Adam seemed to know exactly what he got himself into, but was either unwilling or didn't have a significant reason to break it off. He had known Adam for quite some time and would've liked to believe that the man wouldn't betray Armstrongs for the sake of a woman's embrace. However, listening to Adam did not instill confidence.

"I certainly have my suspicions, although I fear they are correct," he responded as Adam addressed what was written plainly on his face. "If we're going to address this issue with earnest, we may as well lay everything on the table instead of holding it to ourselves."

Quinn would of liked very much to dismiss the subject as he didn't like confronting others, especially those close to him, but this was too dire to let pass unchallenged. As Adam said only moments ago, Quinn needed to be prepared and turning blind eye to his friend being involved with those that would do him harm was beyond foolish. Still, he still shifted uncomfortably at the idea of having to grill his friend.

"Adam. I need to know. Have you betrayed my family and I? Even if it was unwittingly?" Although his face was stoic, Quinn's voice cracked from difficulty of having to ask Adam such a thing.


Pyroclast [Adam]

 

[Pyroclast]

Adam Morgan

The deeper the two men delved into the subject, the harder it became to salvage the conversation. With the tension between them growing, Adam was finding it more and more difficult to keep his eyes on Quinn. The only way he could have bought himself more time was to forcefully change the course of conversation by arguing and defending his right to preserve the secret. But Adam was not a belligerent person by nature, and he knew Quinn wouldn't forget what had already been said even if he pretended to.

"You're right," he finally admitted. He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath. "No, you're right...Okay. Let's just lay everything down..." Adam leaned forward and placed his hands on the table, readying himself to confess everything. But he must have hesitated a bit too long, because Quinn spoke up again, his patience apparently wearing thin. His choice of the word 'betrayed' made Adam wince; it suggested a premature judgement, a decision to reject Adam's perspective before hearing it. Adam forced himself to face Quinn. He wanted so desperately to get it over with, yet the words just seemed to stick to the back of his throat. If his confession was taken the way he expected, he could lose the trust of not just Quinn but the whole Armstrong family. The look on his face, however, made it clear he had no other choice.

"She's, uh...she's one of Porter's girls," he stammered. "But please believe me, Quinn, it was never my intention to go against you and your family. Never. I didn't understand, not until she started telling me of the horrific ways the IWU was attacking her family. Was I supposed to be happy when her aunt got poisoned, when her sister got disfigured, her uncle shot? Just because my own father is a member of the union?" Conscious that he was getting slightly agitated, Adam sat upright and glanced around the room to make sure he wasn't drawing attention to himself. Then he leaned forwards again and lowered his voice further. "If you haven't seen this ugly war from both sides, you can't possibly understand, Quinn. She and her family are in as much danger as you and yours. I just can't condone the constant retaliation, the revenge, the awful, grotesque threats. If I wanted to protect her, I'd have to hurt you. If I wanted to protect you, I'd have to hurt her. I don't want to hurt anyone. Do you hear what I'm saying?"

Interactions
Fletchawk Quinn

 

[Fletchawk]

Ryan Donahue
​

Sinead's comment about the men being busy remind Ryan of the meeting that was likely taking place that evening. James had called a few days prior to see if he was able-bodied enough to attend. If he was confident that the meeting wasn't a trap, Ryan might have gone. But it stank to high heaven, and if he was right, he would only be a liability. He relayed this to James, along with his suspicions that the IWU wouldn't play fair. Still, even though he felt it was the best option all round to exclude himself, it didn't help this feeling of uselessness.

He knew Sinead was just teasing about the lack of feminine touch in his place, but his reply came out a little more honest than he intended. "Ma says the same thing, but the life I lead is not one that I would want to share with another," Ryan chuckled darkly at Sinead's inquiry about his well-being as it seemed to prove his statement. It also served as a reminder to keep his distance from her as he knew that his life expectancy was unknown in his line of work. The still healing bullet wound was an almost constant reminder of that.

Letting the water that was sitting in the pipes drain out before he filled a glass, Ryan then tottered back to the table with it and an empty glass for himself. Handing the mostly full glass to Sinead, he moved a box of miscellaneous off the remaining chair and sat down, looking directly at Sinead before answering, "I'm fine, Sinead. Just a little rough at the moment."

Ryan poured the warm whiskey into his glass as he listened to her visit with beloved, Peter. Sinead's features when she spoke of his current condition caused his heart to ache. He tried to convince himself it was out of concern for Peter, but he knew deep down it was envy. It provoked a simmering anger, mostly aimed at himself for coveting something he had no right to. He wanted to take her hands and comfort her, but instead took a deep draught of whiskey while the knuckles of his other hand turned white.

"Sinead," Ryan started but then paused for the whiskey burn to fade. "You're wrong. Just by knowing he has you and the kids waiting for him is likely his only source of strength. Tell me, did he smile when he was with you?" Ryan averted his eyes as he didn't want see Sinead's face thinking about Peter, nor did want to hear her answer but it was something she needed. He lifted the glass back to his lips in another attempt to loosen the tightness in his chest.

"Don't worry, Sinead. I'll pay him a visit and give him some encouragement myself. At least with your worries, I might be able to do something about them. So, I really don't mind it." Ryan wasn't sure what he could do currently, but to see Sinead like this was something Ryan would go to almost any length to stop.

Still, he attempted a small smile and a forced chuckle to try and comfort Sinead before continuing. "How's everybody? I trust Tommy is healing well after the tongue lashing you gave him. How's Syd?" Ryan knew Tommy would be fine since the wound didn't break bone, and he was used to the line of work. He had been worried about Syd though, as it was his first job and it turned very ugly.

Misty Gray [Sinead]

 

[Bellz]

Finn Sullivan​

The man sitting before him had a bright and handsome smile gracing his features. A warmth came to Finn's cheeks as the man's gaze seemed to size him up for a moment. He didn't seem offended to hear that Finn didn't believe the excuse about medical advice. His brows shot up when George revealed that he did have something bothering him, medical wise. Finn leaned forward in his seat as George rolled his sleeve up to reveal a bandaged wrist. From what Finn could see from a glance, the wrist was swollen and not properly bandaged. Finn smiled widely, although he wasn't expecting a medical question, it still got him excited when someone asked for his help. Still he refrained from telling George anything until the proper introductions were out of the way. "George." He repeated the name again after the man reassured him that he could continue to call him that. It had a nice ring too it. Finn leaned forward with interest as George explained his reasoning for inviting him over. Finn sympathized with what the man must be going through in such a place like this. "Interesting! Well I am completely flattered by such an observation George, but I think I'm anything but interesting." He finished off his sentence in a quieter tone, lacking confidence about himself.

The questions about his life began and Finn smiled again, he didn't mind sharing his stories, but compared to this man before him Finn couldn't agree in saying that he was interesting. George's life had to be far more exciting than what Finn was experiencing. "Ooo so we are going to ask questions eh? Well if you get to ask some then I get to as well." His tone was teasing and he sighed, giving his questions some thought for an answer. "Well," Finn began slowly, "My parents died when I was only a young lad. It was a tragic accident, one that was unexpected. As much as the doctors and nurses did, it simply wasn't enough to save them. As tragic as that day was, I had a revelation and decided that I wanted to be the one to save people. If I could save people, one day a kid who is in the same situation that I was would be able to go home with his parents." There was a small, distant smile that Finn displayed, his eyes distant as if he were reliving the memory all over again. It took a moment for him to come back to the present. Clearing his throat, he finally looked directly at George, "Sorry, mate." He chuckled before shaking his head, "Got a little deep there." Leaning against the table, he decided it was best to move on. "I've been around, Ireland was where I was born, but my parents decided to move to the states where the rest of our family was. I lived in Chicago for some time, then decided it was best to use my studies and traveled internationally, working with doctors and nurses to help others in need." Reminded of Eleanor, Finn's smile faded. "My girlfriend and I loved to travel, saving lives and making a difference...not sure if that will happen anymore though."
with: George Misty Gray
mentions:

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

Lucy was relieved that Aliana was open to talking about the problem she was having. She wanted to handle this all with care, too many hearts were involved and she wasn't going to let all of them break, especially Conor's. Aliana visibly cringed as Lucy had mentioned being honest with both parties. The blonde nodded her head slowly as Aliana admitted that being honest would be very difficult. Lucy's own heart broke as Aliana revealed that making Conor choose between her and his family made her feel terrible. "Ali.." Lucy said softly, placing a hand on her back and slowly rubbing small comforting circles. Aliana then shifted as Lucy had and rested her head on her lap. Lucy smiled lightly, not expecting this but welcomed it. Looking at the bracelet that Tommy had given Aliana, she wondered how this was all going to go down. Lucy stroked Aliana's hair as she requested and stayed quiet as the woman went on, answering Lucy's questions. "If that's what you are feeling, Ali, then yes...its more than just sex." Moving her hand from Aliana's hair, she swiped a piece of her own hair out of her face before continuing to stroke Aliana's. "Now I know I can't speak much for Tommy, yes I know the young man and I love him dearly but we have yet to talk heart to heart. My brother on the other hand, is a lover. He can light up a room like its the fourth of July and its hard not to love him when he makes so many laugh and smile. He loves everyone in his own way and for the most part its unconditional. "

"I've also known Alex a very long time...Conor and her risked everything to be together and in the end they got it. But just because someone has history...children, doesn't mean they're the end all decision. As hard as it may be, happiness is needed in a relationship. If James wasn't happy with our relationship, do you think for one second I would let it go on any longer? No. If he didn't feel happy any longer, why trap ourselves in a tangled relationship and put our children through hell?" Lucy paused a moment and look down at Ali, hoping she understood what she was saying. "I've seen Conor and you together, you both are so happy. And if Alex really loves him...she will let him have what truly makes him happy."
with: Aliana Melanin-Gxdess

 

[Fletchawk]

Alexander Quinn Armstrong
​

Adam's physical reaction to the accusation almost made Quinn mirror him as it closely resembled what he felt internally. He had realized it was less than tactful, and regretted being so blunt but he needed to know. It took a great deal of effort to keep his face blank as his friend stammered under his gaze.

As Adam spoke, Quinn's could feel his facade cracking more and more under each statement. He wanted to deny this new influx of information, deny the atrocities that Adam spoke of, and deny that the IWU was behind it all. He wanted to deny it all because he knew if was true, then his father knew about it. Jared was too percipient to remain ignorant of it. Quinn's mind was running unbridled as the world faded from his perception as he sifted through his memories for conclusive evidence one way or the other.

It wasn't until the sound of the plate being set in front of him that he came back to reality and realized that Adam was still waiting for some sort of reaction from him. Quinn only nodded slightly to the person that delivered his food and stared at it blankly. How should I react? He wondered to himself. His friend had just admitted to being in relations with the family that had sent Quinn and his family a dismembered hand for Christmas, and stated that the organization, that his father was the head of, committed such horrible acts. What's worse is that Quinn could not honestly say otherwise.

Quinn could feel his heart in his throat, and he tried to swallow it a few times as he tried to collect himself. He took a long drink of water before looked back at Adam, still waiting. "I'm not sure if I am, Adam." Quinn paused as he tried collect his thoughts and force them into coherent words. "You say I couldn't understand if I didn't see it from both sides and yet..." He stopped again to make sure of what he was about to say next. "I-I am not sure if I completely see my own side or if I even have one." For the first time in years, Quinn felt as though he was at a complete loss.

Pyroclast [Adam]

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Aliana listened on, taking in all of Lucy's wise words of advice. Maybe it was good she got all of this out before she went of her date with Tommy, helping her clear her mind. She didn't know if she would be able to speak to him without showing hints of something being wrong with her. Getting it all out now was going to prove to be beneficial later... She hoped. Lucy stroking her hair was calling her nerves down so she'd be able to think clearly. As she listened, she thought back to when everything really started to change, being when she started spending more time with Tommy. With Lucy explaining Conor, she couldn't help but smile considering she noticed some of these things as well. Conor did make her feel like she were the only person in the room when they were together despite the limits of their relationship. She nodded at Lucy when she said this and when she finished talking, she took a pause. She hadn't really been aware that people had seen her and Conor together before, in that light at least. If Lucy were saying this, then that meant something.

"I never really knew how I felt about Conor or Tommy or that I could even feel that way until Tommy though, Luce... Doesn't that mean something?" It was a thought that had been on her mind ever since Christmas. Tommy was the one who opened a door for her to be able to feel things and come to the conclusion that she could. With her upbringing, she never let herself feel emotions towards other men for the sake of protecting herself. "Conor and I have something, there's no doubt about it now. But, sometimes I can't help but feel like it's too late for us. We had a chance to get over our own obstacles -- ourselves -- and just.. Be honest, for once." She raised her arm again so she could start playing with her bracelet with a small smile. "I like to think of Tommy as a new start. Someone I can attempt this whole relationship thing with. While I possibly screwed it up now, that was something I was looking forward to." She groaned and shook her head, her arms across her chest. "Until that damn kiss. Why does both Conor and Tommy have to be so fucking alluring?!" Another slight pause would give her the opporunity take a deep breath and tilt her head at Lucy. "You really think I should be with Conor?"

Lucy ( Bellz )

When Leo asked Savannah what was going on, he was really just going to let her talk. He wasn't quite expecting her to tell him more grown up things that were going on. Even though his eyes were closed, he was nodding along to what she was saying to show he was paying attention. It wasn't until she nudged him, however, that he really took in what she was saying. "Wait, what?" He shook his head and looked at her, confusion evident on his face. "Savvy, back up for a second. What exactly did you possibly get Al in trouble with?" He was also sitting with his legs crossed in front of her before he shooks his head. "Uh wait." Leo started to feel bad for not even addressing what she said pertaining to her before his sisters' issue. "Sorry, it was rude of me not to talk about you first. You'll have to play me the song and read the story to me sometime. I'm sure your dad is doing just fine and soon enough you'll be able to see him. In person and not behind bars or a smelly prison." Leo always tried to talk to the kids like they were adults, they were people after all. "Okay kiddo. What's up with my sister having two boyfriends?"

Savvy ( Misty Gray )​

 

[Shireling]

Aldous Penshurst
​

Feeling the life drain out of Tommy, Aldous let up the pressure on the wound and let go of the makeshift tourniquet. Jackson frantically performed CPR, but when his mate remained unresponsive, he seemed to have given up entirely. Aldous approached the body again. He felt his neck for a pulse and then, grimly, he laid his bloodstained fingers over the young man's eyes and closed them. What a world, he thought, where old men survive the young. After this he stood, his bloodstained hands and jacket sleeves calling attention to his messy work.

"Mr. McCarthy," he began, pausing. He wanted to tell the man to get a grip, but that was his friend who had just been brutally murdered in public and bled out on the sidewalk. It wasn't in good taste, so Aldous just remained silent. When the police arrived, he held up his hands to show he was unarmed and waited to be questioned, wondering where James had gotten off to.

Enzyme Pyroclast Misty Gray

Jack Brady
​

Jack nodded to Jared in parting and climbed into the back of the cab. The cabbie turned around to ask for directions, and Jack supplied him the address to his apartment block. The ride was fairly short, and he walked from the cab until it had turned the corner at which point he bolted across the street and up three flights of stairs to his flat. Making sure the door was satisfactorily locked and showed no signs of entry, he unlocked it and spilled into his apartment before shutting the door behind him, locking both locks and drawing the deadbolt.

The next hour or so was spent in frantic activity. The first thing he did was pour himself a stiff drink of whiskey and light a cigar. He let it smoulder in the ash tray while he fumbled in his kitchen drawer and pulled out an illegal sidearm that he kept for himself from the IWU stash, a burnished P08 Luger. He rummaged around and found three magazines, inserting one into the weapon and chambering a round. The other two he stuffed in his pockets. With the gun he made a nervous sweep of the flat, and when satisfied that he was alone he started making phone calls. First, he called Jared's house phone hoping to get Faye. When (or if, your choice) she came on the line he warned her to lock her doors and only open them for Jared, Grace, or Quinn. Next, he called all of his contacts in the IWU's command structure to see who did and who didn't know about the attack. He scoured the papers and meeting logs that he kept in his filing cabinet in his office, seeing if there were any clues there, but so far nothing of value. After the adrenaline of getting shot at had thoroughly faded, he sat down on the sofa and finished his half-burned cigar and warm whiskey in the relative peace that comes before the storm.

Misty Gray Bellz

Rudy Meyers
​

Rudy calmly dropped the useless handle and gladly assented to play a game of cards. Ascending one of the stools by the table, he stayed fairly silent as Conor did most of the talking. He looked towards Syd, just glad that this job didn't turn into an all-out melee. In these types of situations, Rudy had always been the strong and silent type. Despite his longstanding loyalty to the family, he was still muscle.

"Alright are we gonna jabber or are you gonna deal?" He said, tapping the felt top of the card table. "I've never been good at Texas, let's play Stud," he suggested.

Misty Gray Pyroclast

 

[Misty Gray]

George Sanderson​

George dismissively waved his hand to the side as Finn tried to convince him he wasn't interesting. The prisoner didn't believe that statement and found it quite endearing that the man seemed so humble. George already knew the man was a doctor, a member of an apparently caring family, and to top it off, a friendly and attractive man. Already, he believed there was much of interest about Mr. Sullivan. "Don't sell yourself short," he casually suggested, not wanting to dwell on it but wanting to acknowledge his disagreement.

George let out a small chuckle when Finn pointed out he'd be asking questions of his own. "Be my guest," he openly invited him. The man then listened with great intent as Finn began to speak about himself. A sadness crossed his features as he heard the man had lost his parents at a young age. He could only imagine how awful such a tragedy would have been for him. Although his own parents were on all accounts gone from his life, they were still alive. It wasn't the same kind of loss at all. As he continued to listen, a faint smile crossed George's lips as he learned Finn had turned the tragedy into something positive and chosen to save people. He practically felt his heart melt upon realising how good a person Finn was and in that moment, he couldn't but feel like he was punching well above his weight. If Finn was even attracted to men, George couldn't imagine him finding any interest in a crook, even if he himself was from a family of gangsters. He'd spent years in prison hearing about the Porters and often not in a positive light. Suddenly, he'd come into contact with two actual members of the family - three, if he counted Sinead - and all of them had seemed like good people. Far from the grotesque creatures the likes of Darius had painted them to be. "Please, don't apologise," he reassured Finn, knowing he was guilty of getting a little deep in his conversations as well. "I'm really sorry to hear about your parents, but it sounds like you were able to use your grief for such a great purpose. I respect that."

The man nodded along as Finn explained he'd lived in Chicago for a time, presumably around the same time Peter had joined the family. When he then mentioned travelling, another impressed smile crossed his face only to fade upon hearing mention of the man's girlfriend. He hadn't intended to make his frown so obvious and forced his face back to a neutral expression. Still, he noticed Finn's smile had also faded when he mentioned Eleanor. He cleared his throat, trying to think of the least obvious way to address the tricky subject. "It sounds like you've had some amazing experiences. Why wouldn't you be able to continue with your travels? Is your girlfriend unable to travel anymore?"

Bellz (Finn)

Sinead Callahan​

When Ryan said the nature of his life was one he wouldn't want to share with another, the disapproving frown was clearly evident on the redhead's usual emotionally expressive face. She recalled once hearing similar from a man quite some time ago. The man in question was Angel and despite the fact his death had left a void in Savannah's life, Sinead still maintained she was right to tell even someone as disturbed as he was that he shouldn't think that way. There was still a part of her that believed she had failed Angel by not getting through to him and failing to permanently bring out his human side before it was too late. The major difference now was that Ryan was nothing like Angel and he had the family's best interests at heart. Regardless, what she would tell him was familiar to the words she'd spoken all of those years ago. "Your lovely Ma is right. Never deny your heart, Mister! As long as you're open and honest about your life to her, then you deserve to share yourself with someone. A man as caring as you are does not deserve to grow old alone. You hear me?" she ticked him off.

Sinead accepted the glass from Ryan and took a sip from it before placing it down on the table. Sinead looked to Ryan's face when he told her she was wrong, but her features softened when he told her that she and the kids were Peter's source of strength. She gasped a little, having almost forgotten to breathe as she once again acknowledged it was her duty to stay strong to help her husband get through his sentence. "He... um.." she said, glancing down to her hands when Ryan averted his eyes from her. She then looked back to him and slowly nodded her head. "He didn't smile at first and there was a moment of awkward silence. I could only see sadness and pain in his eyes. But when I told him what the children had been getting up to, that brought his smile back. I know he needs to us to be happy," she told him. She perked up a little when Ryan offered to pay Peter a visit. "Would you?" she asked, her big eyes now wide open. "I think Petey would like that. I would like it too," she assured him. "I don't think he wants to risk upsetting me with the truth about what really happened to him, but he might feel better talking to you about it."

Ryan then asked her how the others were, bringing her out of her momentary sadness. "Tommy's healing well from his injury and he's recovered from my lecture, too," she said, grinning at the thought. "I mean, he must be fully recovered as he's gone out to that meeting with those IWU jerks," she said, scoffing at the thought of that group of troublemakers. "Syd seems to be doing well too. He's been spending a lot of time with a poorly Skye, so it's all flirting and young love for that one. And he's going out with Conor and Rudy on some job tonight, so he's clearly not been put off yet." Sinead knew Lucy worried about Syd and she'd feel exactly the same, but she figured her nephew was now old enough to make his own decisions, even if she too would prefer he didn't.

"So yeah, everyone's doing alright at home," she assured Ryan. She took another drink of her water and glanced around the apartment as she placed the glass back down. Not paying attention to what she was doing, she managed to knock her glass over when bringing her hand towards her face to brush a loose strand of hair aside. The liquid spread out across the table and soon enough began trickling over the edge onto the skirt of her dress. Sinead rushed up onto her feet and quickly turned the glass upright again, though perhaps a little too late. "Oh no!" she exclaimed. She'd been known to be a little clumsy at times, but it didn't make her any less frustrated right now. "I'm so bloody useless!" She desperately looked around the room for something to soak up the spillage. Her dress would dry off in no time, but it didn't stop her from thinking about Ryan's table and floor. "Have you got a towel and a mop?" she asked, looking flustered and embarrassed by that point. "This is why Emery is so clumsy..." she grumbled.

Fletchawk (Ryan)