Pyroclast
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Syd Porter
Syd observed Skye's facial expression as she spoke of Braden's ambitions to become a member and could tell that she was concerned for the boy. It was only natural that she had grown close to him and the girls, and it made sense to Syd that she would worry about the influence that the family business had on them. While Syd cared for his cousins greatly and didn't ever want to see them get hurt, he found himself unable to agree with Skye without becoming a hypocrite. He saw too much of himself in Braden. After being adopted into the family and emigrating to Ireland, he had gradually learned of the criminal activity that his new family were involved in. However, with no prior concept of family to compare them to, he quickly accepted it as the norm. Although it may have warped his sense of right and wrong, over the years he became more and more determined to someday join the mob. Even at the age of 19 he still idolised his father, doing everything he could to follow in his footsteps.
Having lowered his gaze in slight shame of setting a bad example to his younger cousin, Syd glanced up at Skye. "Do you really believe that?" he quietly asked. It was evident that Skye's suggestion had come from a place of concern for Braden, but it reminded him too much of what he had put his mother through when fighting to join the mob himself, and brought on minor feelings of guilt. He didn't want to worry Skye further, but at the same time he thought he ought to be honest. After a moment's pause, Syd looked away again. "Nah...I want to agree with you, but he'll be in the business by the time he gets to my age. Trust me."
Syd didn't dwell on the subject for very long at all; basking in the warm afternoon sun with his girlfriend at his side, any guilt was quickly replaced with a familiar fluttering in his chest, and he smiled tenderly at her as she turned her face into his hand, affirming the connection between them. When she warned him that they had company and sat up away from him, Syd lifted his head and groaned upon seeing Shannon approach them. Despite his annoyance at being interrupted, he too sat up and listened to her, albeit reluctantly.
At her mention of the word "job", Syd knew he couldn't waste any time. Even on perfect days like this, he knew that in his family's line of work, business always had to come first. It was simply a matter of safety. While Shannon stood lighting her cigarette, Syd gave Skye's hand a quick squeeze and shot her an apologetic glance. "I'm sorry, baby," he said, in a voice low enough that he hoped Shannon wouldn't hear. "I'll make it up to you when I get back."
A look of mild disgust crossed Syd's face when Shannon told him of the possible murder of the Armstrong family. It sounded messy - not just the scene itself but also because his family had been entangled in Jared's twisted, Machiavellian plots for a long time now, which of course meant they would be dragged into this chaos as well. He brought his hands to his eyes and rubbed at them in frustration. Whoever had killed the Armstrongs must have known the finger would be pointed in the mob's direction, and now his family were in danger of paying the price. "Right, okay," he nodded, readying himself to jump into action. Despite his natural concern, particularly for his father, Syd was glad to be needed.
Unsure of what might happen if he arrived on the scene too late, Syd wasted no time in leaving the house, ordering one of the guards, Mack, to accompany him as his grandmother had instructed. The last time he had been to The Archers, things had started out quite violently but ended peacefully enough. This time, however, Syd wasn't expecting the same kind of peaceful end based on the simple fact that they had had to visit a second time. He only hoped that things hadn't escalated so far that the Duncans would refuse to act as their alibi...
Having come to the pub apprehensive of what he might find, Syd was somewhat relieved to see Ryan ordering drinks from the landlord. Mack was already busy scanning the room, and Syd gave him a light nudge to follow him over to the bar. "Hey, you mind including us in that round?" he said to Ryan, leaning against the bar. He nodded to the landlord, too, but couldn't recall the man's name. "Ryan, listen, we've got a bit a situation. Whatever's happening downstairs is gonna have to be put on hold for a sec'," he said, lowering his voice so that no nearby customers would overhear. "Jared Armstrong and his family have just been found dead - shot, I think, but the house was set on fire with them all inside, so...well, I don't know the details. All I know is, it wasn't us. But you and Rudy are gonna need alibis to prove it." Syd scanned the room for any other familiar faces. He noticed that Rudy wasn't in sight, and neither were Johaan or Vernon, which probably meant they were doing business downstairs - whatever that meant. Although it didn't seem like there was trouble judging by the fact that Ryan was ordering in a round of drinks, if the men didn't agree to cooperate, a deal might have to be made in order to avoid arrest. "So, uh...Rudy hasn't broken anyone's back this time yet, has he?"
Interactions
Misty Gray Duncans
Shireling Rudy
Fletchawk Ryan
Syd observed Skye's facial expression as she spoke of Braden's ambitions to become a member and could tell that she was concerned for the boy. It was only natural that she had grown close to him and the girls, and it made sense to Syd that she would worry about the influence that the family business had on them. While Syd cared for his cousins greatly and didn't ever want to see them get hurt, he found himself unable to agree with Skye without becoming a hypocrite. He saw too much of himself in Braden. After being adopted into the family and emigrating to Ireland, he had gradually learned of the criminal activity that his new family were involved in. However, with no prior concept of family to compare them to, he quickly accepted it as the norm. Although it may have warped his sense of right and wrong, over the years he became more and more determined to someday join the mob. Even at the age of 19 he still idolised his father, doing everything he could to follow in his footsteps.
Having lowered his gaze in slight shame of setting a bad example to his younger cousin, Syd glanced up at Skye. "Do you really believe that?" he quietly asked. It was evident that Skye's suggestion had come from a place of concern for Braden, but it reminded him too much of what he had put his mother through when fighting to join the mob himself, and brought on minor feelings of guilt. He didn't want to worry Skye further, but at the same time he thought he ought to be honest. After a moment's pause, Syd looked away again. "Nah...I want to agree with you, but he'll be in the business by the time he gets to my age. Trust me."
Syd didn't dwell on the subject for very long at all; basking in the warm afternoon sun with his girlfriend at his side, any guilt was quickly replaced with a familiar fluttering in his chest, and he smiled tenderly at her as she turned her face into his hand, affirming the connection between them. When she warned him that they had company and sat up away from him, Syd lifted his head and groaned upon seeing Shannon approach them. Despite his annoyance at being interrupted, he too sat up and listened to her, albeit reluctantly.
At her mention of the word "job", Syd knew he couldn't waste any time. Even on perfect days like this, he knew that in his family's line of work, business always had to come first. It was simply a matter of safety. While Shannon stood lighting her cigarette, Syd gave Skye's hand a quick squeeze and shot her an apologetic glance. "I'm sorry, baby," he said, in a voice low enough that he hoped Shannon wouldn't hear. "I'll make it up to you when I get back."
A look of mild disgust crossed Syd's face when Shannon told him of the possible murder of the Armstrong family. It sounded messy - not just the scene itself but also because his family had been entangled in Jared's twisted, Machiavellian plots for a long time now, which of course meant they would be dragged into this chaos as well. He brought his hands to his eyes and rubbed at them in frustration. Whoever had killed the Armstrongs must have known the finger would be pointed in the mob's direction, and now his family were in danger of paying the price. "Right, okay," he nodded, readying himself to jump into action. Despite his natural concern, particularly for his father, Syd was glad to be needed.
Unsure of what might happen if he arrived on the scene too late, Syd wasted no time in leaving the house, ordering one of the guards, Mack, to accompany him as his grandmother had instructed. The last time he had been to The Archers, things had started out quite violently but ended peacefully enough. This time, however, Syd wasn't expecting the same kind of peaceful end based on the simple fact that they had had to visit a second time. He only hoped that things hadn't escalated so far that the Duncans would refuse to act as their alibi...
Having come to the pub apprehensive of what he might find, Syd was somewhat relieved to see Ryan ordering drinks from the landlord. Mack was already busy scanning the room, and Syd gave him a light nudge to follow him over to the bar. "Hey, you mind including us in that round?" he said to Ryan, leaning against the bar. He nodded to the landlord, too, but couldn't recall the man's name. "Ryan, listen, we've got a bit a situation. Whatever's happening downstairs is gonna have to be put on hold for a sec'," he said, lowering his voice so that no nearby customers would overhear. "Jared Armstrong and his family have just been found dead - shot, I think, but the house was set on fire with them all inside, so...well, I don't know the details. All I know is, it wasn't us. But you and Rudy are gonna need alibis to prove it." Syd scanned the room for any other familiar faces. He noticed that Rudy wasn't in sight, and neither were Johaan or Vernon, which probably meant they were doing business downstairs - whatever that meant. Although it didn't seem like there was trouble judging by the fact that Ryan was ordering in a round of drinks, if the men didn't agree to cooperate, a deal might have to be made in order to avoid arrest. "So, uh...Rudy hasn't broken anyone's back this time yet, has he?"
Interactions
Misty Gray Duncans
Shireling Rudy
Fletchawk Ryan