Realistic or Modern Empire City: The Irish Mob - IC (Closed)

[Bellz]

Finn Sullivan​

Finn understood what Conor meant about missing Dublin. The man wasn't aware of the effect home had on him until he was away from it. Rolling his eyes at the fact that Conor called him a big shot, he chuckled and waved his hand at his cousin bashfully. "Oh stop, please." He begged lightly but the smile on his face was firm as he said it.

Finn meant what he said about Dr. Parker and it was great that Conor was doing so well with him. The waitress stopped by interrupting their conversation a moment and Finn order his meal right after his cousin, smiling politely at the waitress as she took the menus and was on her way to the other tables she was serving.

"I'm always right." Finn teased as Conor told him he was right about Dr. Parker. Listening as Conor explained what he had come to realize, it warmed Finn's heart to know what he was getting the help he needed. Even though Finn hadn't directly been affected by what happened in Chicago, after everything went down he went about finding help himself.

"I'm so glad to hear that Conor," Finn started, "Mental health is just as important as physical health and the medical field is learning new things everyday about how it can affect your physical health as well if you don't keep up on it." He was going to continue on, but something he felt internally caused him to pause and gaze around the restaurant a moment.

He felt odd. Almost like he was being watched. "Ali will see it eventually Conor, sometimes seeing change takes a lot more time..." He continued before he got silent again.

After a few more moment's of looking around, Finn cleared his throat and shook his head, clearly he was just having some sort of moment. "Sorry...I just felt like someone was...never mind."
with: Conor Misty Gray ; Tony RayPurchase

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Teddy

It had been a long time since Teddy was excited about doing a job. Back in Miami, a lot of his time was spent checking on businesses and going out to find more ventures. Now that he was here in New York, he had more things to do and keep him occupied. His life had become so stagnant that when Gabriel gave him this task, he got internally excited. He had to work hard at keeping it from appearing on his face as he wanted to keep up his professionalism, but when he traveled to Tony he let that excitement beam through. This particular task was something he was going to enjoy, but Tony perhaps wouldn't. His partner in crime was denied the satisfaction of killing or hurting any of the Porter's and their acquaintances. The two of them were simply supposed to get a rise out of them, let them know this city would no longer be run by Irish scum. It was entertaining, to say the least, watching the disappointment cross Tony's features. Like telling a kid they would have to wait until dinner before they got a cookie.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Teddy rolled the window to get a better look at the situation before them. He had thought about several different ways to get a rise out of the two men, specifically Conor himself. What could he do to push his resolve and see just how much Maddox little sessions were working? Well, the whole syndicate seemed to be very family-oriented, so what if he targeted that, he thought to himself. He turned to his friend frowning at the lit cigarette in his mouth. For years he'd been trying to get his friend to quit smoking but to no avail. "You know, when you wake up with lung cancer I'm not visiting you in the hospital." He said, pointing to the cigarette he had just thrown out the window. "Anyway, I think I've got it. Big boy Maddy talks about Sullivan's marital issues to some woman named Aliana Cartwright. Did a little digging about her whereabouts and she is quite the looker..." Taking a pause, he scrunched his face up for a moment. "Hey, have you ever seen the women in their little family? I still don't understand why anyone looking the way they do would marry these fools." There was slight disgust and jealousy in his voice, as he said this before shaking his head and getting back on topic. "I think I can use her to get a rise out of him." Teddy took a moment to think this plan over in his head before clearing his throat and reaching for the door handle. "Let's go cause trouble buddy."

He waited for his friend to get out before walking into the restaurant, asking the waitress for a table near the two men, but still giving them some distance. Every so often, he'd throw a subtle glance at Conor and Finn as if he were curious then look at Teddy with a small smirk. Some of those glances were followed by Teddy speaking to Tony about mundane things. Really he was trying to make it seem as if he were talking about Conor and Finn, but that wasn't the case. Until it all took effect, he started to really talk to Tony. "What do you think about all of this?"

​

 

[RayPurchase]

Tony Harris

​

Tony slammed the car door behind him, the noise echoing down the street. He may not be able to go as far as he would like with this task, but at least there was no need for subtlety, in fact from their orders the opposite rang true. If Tony had to act the part of the arsehole to get a rise out of this pair, then he would at least seek enjoyment in fulfilling that particular role. Following Teddy into the restaurant he immediately clocked Finn and Conor, quite obviously eye balling the pair as he made his way towards the table. He'd left his black blazer on, covering the holstered pistol under his left arm. Picking up the menu he lazily glanced at either side before dropping the menu with a loud clatter, as well as raising a few diner's eyebrows it also attracted the attention of the waitress who had just taken Finn and Conor's order.

"Alright darlin', we'll have a couple of Porterhouses, don't skimp on the fries and we want 'em nice and bloody, chop chop"

He proclaimed loudly, hamming up his accent as much as possible, making sure it was clearly audible for Finn and Conor. Got to make it nice and easy to draw their attention. Pouring himself a glass of water, his own eyes darted towards the pair every so often, following Teddy's lead. He leant forward slightly as Teddy questioned, lowering his voice to a more quiet conversational level.

"Well I think 'this' is a load of old cobblers, as you rightly know. We're in bloody spittin' distance here and we're just supposed to wind 'em up. If it was up to me we'd just clobber the pair, maybe leave a note."

He sniffed and took a slow sip of water, staring intently at Conor as he did, only breaking his gaze as he finished the glass.

"But then again I'm in the lucky position that all I have to do is follow orders, so swings and roundabouts I suppose. If I'm gonna be honest I'm just happy to be out of Miami, most hostile it got their was the odd nightclub owner not payin' his dues, and even then all we had to do was walk by the window and he'd have the money waitin' by the time the door opened. At least here, we'll have our own little warzone to have fun in, once it all kicks off and the boss has had his fun toyin' with 'em. Just wish he would bloody hell hurry up about it. Surely you feel the same mate? Could be visitin' that Aliana bird you mentioned, making our presence known to her, now that would work absolute wonders on our friend Conor I reckon,"

His left hand was tapping rapidly against the table top, the gold ring on his ring finger audibly rapping against the wooden service. It may be more subterfuge than Tony was used to, but the thrill of the hunt and being active once more had Tony's blood and adrenaline pumping. His normally cold grey eyes seemed far more alive, a fire burning behind them that he hadn't felt in some time.

(Interaction: Melanin-Gxdess Teddy, Misty Gray Conor, Bellz Finn)

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan​

Conor couldn't help but smile at Finn's encouragement. His cousin was right, that his mental health was important and could affect him on a physical level if he didn't keep everything under control. Mentioning Aliana had temporarily caused him to zone out for a moment as his thoughts logically moved on to Leo and further beyond his second-born child. He'd heard the two men enter the restaurant, seeing as at least one of them had followed up his entrance by speaking loudly to the waitress. He was about to voice his thoughts to Finn on how the Cockney accent grated on him but his cousin instead replied to him about Aliana and that she needed time to see the changes. "I hope so, mate. She's already been threatening to make sure I never see Leo again if I end up back in the slammer. She's already made a good case for sending him to the other side of the country until things with the business calm down around here." He scratched the back of his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't seen Michelle in years and my Mam reckons she's off travelling now. So doubt I'll even get a phone-call any time soon. I don't want the same to happen with Leo. I want to be a part of his life."

During his speech, Conor had noticed the two men who seemed to be shooting glances their way. He'd been consciously trying to ignore it, but the more it persisted and the fact Finn seemed to be aware of it had made it impossible to ignore. "No. It's not just you..." he began, confirming to Finn that they were apparently being watched and spoken about by the nearby men. Conor was sure of it, but he reminded himself that he shouldn't react and would be better ignoring it, albeit maintaining some level of caution should they be Porter enemies. He decided to shift away from the awkwardness in the best way he could that didn't involve confrontation. "Maybe you need to tell them you're already spoken for. Especially if it's the bloody Cockney who's got the hots for you," he quietly joked, flashing Finn a playful smile.

All the while, Conor found himself straightening out the cutlery that was set out before him, unconsciously paying special attention to the steak knife as his fingertips remained over the wooden handle for a prolonged amount of time. Without second thought, he soon moved his hand away to instead rest on his lap. His eyes then caught Tony's as the man sipped his water whilst making no secret of the fact he was staring at Conor. Refusing to break away, Conor made a point of staring directly back at Tony and making it clear he wasn't intimidated by the man. After a while of maintaining his gaze, Conor shook his head before turning to look back to Finn. "Don't know who those pricks are, but they'd better start looking somewhere else soon," he told his cousin, keeping his voice calm as he spoke. It felt like the first real test he'd had since being let out of jail and all he could think about was Maddox chirping on in his ear about taking deep breaths and distracting himself from potential situations. Being that he was sat at a table in a restaurant waiting for his food, distractions were very limited. It wasn't like he could go for a jog and he wasn't willing to back down by removing himself from the situation. He'd come to the restaurant for steak and he was determined to stay until he'd eaten every last bit of it.

"Did I mention The Emerald's getting a makeover over the next few weeks? Rachel's taking the lead. She's picked out some great colour schemes and shit..." he trailed off, his heart clearly not in the small talk he now found himself making to trying steer their attention away from the two men watching them. It wasn't so much that he was struggling to avoid confrontation or potential aggression. A lot had been happening to his family over recent weeks and if those two guys were linked to it, he wasn't sure he could voluntarily ignore them. If they had something they wanted to say, he figured he should at least hear it and see if it offered any insight into his family's apparent new enemies. "Nah, I'm sorry. I can't ignore it," he apologised to Finn, quickly shaking his head.

Conor got up from his seat and straightened out his shirt before casually walking to the table Teddy and Tony were seated at. "Are you fellas okay over here?" he asked them, flashing a large, exaggerated smile. "Only, you both seem really interested in what's going on over at my table. I'm really good at remembering faces and I'm pretty sure I'd remember yours," he said, making a point of looking more to Tony as he spoke his last words. "So, is there something you'd both like to say?" he asked, managing to keep any irritation locked away and masked by an apparently amicable smile.

Bellz (Finn) Melanin-Gxdess (Teddy) RayPurchase (Tony)

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan ​

Peter only smirked as Luke let out a pained groan from ashing the cigarette against his forehead. There was an intense fire slowly burning in Peter's chest and normally, he would try to stop the fire in its tracks, needing to keep his cool. But as he watched Keegan take over, breaking Luke's wrist swiftly, Peter knew that this time around it was different. He could let the fire grow and grow as much as it dared to.

His jaw tightened as he crossed his arms over his chest, listening intently as the Luke started to speak. He said he didn't know who orchestrated the attack and for Peter, that simply wasn't good enough. Luke wanted them to let him go, that definitely wasn't going to happen. Peter shook his head and threw his arms to his side. "You're lying!" He shouted at the man before taking two steps forward and throwing his fist at Luke's face. Connecting with his jaw, he watched as the man's head snapped to the side. This seemed to soothe the burning in Peter's chest as he struggled to control his breathing. "Stay as calm and collected as you want to, but you aren't hiding anything from us. You won't live to see another day if you don't tell us who you are working for." He promised in a deep voice.

His heart was beating rapidly in his chest and the room was starting to blur together as his eyes felt hot around the edges. Peter was sick of his family being put in harm's way. "I'm done with this sick fucking world destroying my family's dreams and ambitions, especially my own daughters!" He ground out before he kicked out in front of Luke, connecting his foot with the man's chest, sending him flying towards the ground. Hoping the man landed on his injured wrist, Peter slowly walked towards Luke to stand right next to his face. "If you know what's good for you, boy, you will choose your next words carefully. Or you are going to enjoy the nice taste of my leather boots between your broken teeth."

Peter turned his head up to look at Keegan and then to James, his mind only now wondering if he was taking it too far after the fact. In a delayed fashion, he was slowly starting to process that he didn't really need their approval for this. His wife and daughter were effected by this man and the group he was with, it was more than personal to Peter and he was sure that he was doing the right thing, even if the others did not. Sucking in a deep breath, Peter turned his head to look down at Luke again, lifting his leg, he swung his foot forward lightly, making Luke forcefully almost kiss his boot. "Got anything to say?"
with: Keegan Bugsy ; Luke + Jimbo Misty Gray

 

[Pyroclast]

Tatiana Moretti

A smile appeared on Tatiana's face when her brother called her a domestic goddess, watching him as he bit into the soft, cheesy dessert she had made. As far as she was concerned, treating him with good food took away his right to complain about her teasing. She didn't expect they would be able to make a habit of eating such a messy food in the lounge instead of at the dining table, but since their father was out on business and they hadn't fulled settled into the house yet, she thought they might as well take the liberty.

Although Tatiana had little interest in gardening, she understood why her sister and mother were so excited by the house's large garden. The main reason Tatiana liked it was for the fantastic view it provided from her bedroom window, but in terms of upkeep she would rather leave it to somebody else. She trusted the pair of them to keep it in good condition better than she would trust herself, whether they did it all themselves or hired help. At mention of the family's mass-murder, Tatiana's gaze didn't waver, but she took a comforting bite of papanași to hide any visceral reaction she might have had. So far, she had been exploring New York with her late family members in mind, imagining them walking down the same streets, wondering if she was re-tracing their steps or going to any of their favourite cafés or clubs. She searched Valentina's face for signs of sadness and put a soft smile on her face. It had been a huge and painful loss, but she was glad at least to be with her immediate family so that they could navigate through it together.

Tatiana smirked at her siblings' comments about the city's nightlife. She had already been out once, but had chosen to go alone. As much as she enjoyed partying with them, the kind of clubs and bars she felt most comfortable in were the less conventional ones - ones she knew better than to discuss with the family. "You just gotta get out there, Tina, and see for yourself," she suggested. "Though I'd better go with you - I don't trust Marcus not to let the night get out of hand!" Peering at her younger sister over her glass of lemonade, she sent her a wink. It had been hard to see Valentina struggle; Tatiana still hated her ex-boyfriend with a passion, not just for hurting her physically but for the lasting damage it did on her mental health. Even though she was a grown woman, she couldn't help but feel protective of her sister, and the thought of her exploring New York's nightlife on her own did worry her. Nevertheless, she didn't want her to live in fear her whole life, so she tried to be encouraging instead of projecting her concerns onto her.

Valentina's description of the house made Tatiana laugh along with her brother, especially at her idea of calling their father Gomez. They all began to speculate on who would be which character of the Addams family. "Yeah, Tina can be Thing - she'd be your little helper and your pet at the same time. Like a dog that doesn't bark or bite!" she smirked. "And Marcus, you'd be Cousin Itt, because..." She reached over and grabbed at her brother's beard. "You've clearly never heard of the word haircut." Tatiana settled back into her armchair with a sweet laugh, picking up a second papanași on her way.

"You'd better paint it something cheerful, mama," she weighed in. "If we don't brighten up the place soon, we'll all turn pale and transform into Addams family lookalikes and people will start to believe we're proper Transylvanian vampires. You would make a great Morticia, though." Licking the cream and jam off her fingers, Tatiana gazed around the room, smiling faintly as she began to see its potential. "You know this place is haunted, too?" she casually asked. "Oh, yeah. I keep hearing footsteps coming from Valentina's room, and what sounds like the wardrobe door opening and closing. But then if I go in to look for you, there's no one in there." Her focus remained on the dessert - she wasn't using a plate so was having to just do her best to make as little mess as possible, and it was proving to be very difficult. After a few seconds, however, she looked up with a smile and a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

Interactions
Misty Gray Valentina
RayPurchase Marcus
Melanin-Gxdess Elvian

 

[Misty Gray]

Valentina Moretti​

Valentina couldn't help but smirk as Tatiana suggested she'd accompany her on a night out in the city rather than Marcus who might let things get out of hand. "Ooh. Do you hear that, Marcus? You've got a bad reputation!" she teased. However, she noticed how her sister peered at her, which caused her smile to weaken a little. Catching the wink, she allowed her grin to grow again and playfully quirked her eyebrows.

Despite maintaining the happy facade, she had a feeling she knew what her sister was thinking about. In turn, she also found herself thinking about her ex-boyfriend, Calvin. He'd started off as a seemingly perfect partner; calling her most nights they couldn't see each other and would even meet her at the end of her shifts at the restaurant to walk her home. As the time went on, she began to feel suffocated by him and realised what had first seemed like sweet gestures had actually been his way of keeping an eye on her, apparently not trusting her enough to believe she was working when they couldn't spend time together. Calvin turned pushy and possessive, which soon made Valentina want to end their relationship. When she broke things off with Calvin, he reacted violently and attacked her. Gabriel, of course, had never liked Calvin so in the end he was proved right and redeemed for being so cold towards the young man. So, when Valentina returned home with bruises on her face and fear in her eyes, it didn't take her father long to piece together what had happened. The fact she never saw Calvin again after that day made it clear in Valentina's mind that he hadn't gotten away with his actions. There were times when she wanted to ask if her father had been behind Calvin's disappearance. When she felt at her lowest, she wanted to know what had happened and to hear her bastard ex had met a grisly fate, but she always concluded that it might be better not knowing the truth. Regardless, it made her appreciate her father more, even if she didn't like to show it.

At least her remarks about the house had kept the atmosphere around her a pleasant one. When Marcus compared her to the character, Thing, she let out a loud scoff. "Oh. Wow..." she said, exaggerating offence. "But now you mention it, I guess I do share something in common..." she began. She then held her hand out and tapped her fingertips along the chair arm to make out like they were legs walking her hand along, as if to replicate the Thing character from the TV show in question. Suddenly she turned her wrist so her fingers were pointing upwards, but then closed her fist whilst leaving only the middle finger pointing upwards so she could flip her brother off. "Uncanny, right?" she drily asked. A smile soon returned to he face as she gauged her brother's reaction.She had to laugh when Tatiana compared Marcus to Cousin Itt. "Perfect!" she agreed with her sister's choice. When Elvian asked if she'd make a good Morticia, Valentina quickly nodded her head. "Oh yeah. You'd make a gorgeous Morticia. I can just see it now," she said, with a fond smile. "I'll let you break it to Papa that he is now Gomez."

Despite how strict and serious he was, Valentina found herself missing her father a little. Even if he might not find the conversation amusing, she was sure he'd still enjoy seeing everyone relaxing together at once. With business set to get much busier and the stakes higher, she imagined moments where all of the family was together in one room and in high spirits would become extremely rare. She just hoped it would all pay off and those responsible for killing most of their family would be punished.

"My room is not haunted!" Valentina protested at her sister's story. "Are you sure you weren't just drunk or something?" she said, rolling her eyes. "Maybe there's just mice running around the place. In which case, we definitely need to invest in a cat. And I guess, a dog to balance things out..." she said, in a suggestive manner. "Maybe someone should pitch the idea to Gomez..." she hinted.


RayPurchase (Marcus) Melanin-Gxdess (Elvian) Pyroclast (Tatiana)

 

[Pyroclast]

Danny Vaughan

There was a serious look on Danny's face as he listened to Savannah talk about the effect that the theatre attack was having on her. Even though he could sometimes tell by her body language that it made her nervous to be out in public, he noticed that she spoke about it in quite a nonchalant way. He supposed that it was just a way of dealing with it - if she gave into her fear all the time, it would be much harder to live life. When she turned to face him, her eyes were glistening; it made his heart swell but he tried not to react in case bringing attention to it made her embarrassed. He hadn't really been expecting her to feel safe with him, given that they hardly knew each other, but he at least was certain that he would never hurt her, even if she wasn't. There was a moment where the two held their eyes on each other until Savannah turned to face the screen.

"Kindness is easy," Danny told her with a small shrug. He kept his eyes on her even after she had turned away. "Especially when it comes to you. I don't get how anyone could bring themselves to hurt you, Sav." His own words made him blush a little and he turned his attention towards the screen. The title of the film had come on, so he knew it was about to start. Soon Danny felt her shuffle closer towards him and he dipped his head to the side subtly to watch the space between them gradually close. A small smile crept onto his face but he continued to look ahead. Then, in a small voice, Savannah told him that she liked him. At first, he didn't react, simply letting her words echo around his head for a moment before finally turning to her. The opening scene of the film began and music filled the room, but Danny wasn't watching it; his eyes were on her. She was acting as though she hadn't said anything, but he couldn't have imagined it. He also couldn't hide the boyish grin that had appeared on his face.

Not wanting to be too intense, Danny pretended to be watching the screen. All the while, his hand edged closer to hers until they were touching. He stayed like that for a second to give her time to move away before tentatively weaving his fingers through hers, lightly gracing the back of her hand as he did. His cheeks tingled with excitement and he could feel his heart rate increase a little - though that was partly from holding his breath. "That's good," he whispered back to her, before turning to look her in the eye. "'Cause I like you, too."

At first, all Danny could do was smile to himself as he watched the film. It didn't hold his attention as much as he had been expecting it to, not now that he knew Savannah liked him. Until now, he had been shy to verbally express any of his own feelings out of respect for her - he just wanted to be whatever she needed. But a simple confession from each side had broken that boundary. As comfortable as it was to feel her so close beside him, her soft delicate fingers laced between his, it wasn't long before Danny began to worry about whether or not it was a good idea. He wasn't usually afraid to push the limits, but he believed that certain things should not be tested. Things like the credibility of a threat to stay away from his boss's family... Danny knew first hand of how protective Syd was of his family, having been beaten up by the man himself for selling drugs to one of his previous customers, Gwen, who had turned out to be a relative of his. It had been an honest mistake, but the consequences of it were something Danny wished never to suffer again. Letting himself become involved with Savannah, on the other hand, would not be such an honest mistake, and even though he wasn't bringing any harm to her he doubted that it would be taken lightly, were they to ever be found out.

"Hey, um," he whispered, unsure exactly of how to phrase his question. "We can keep this to ourselves, right? I mean...you haven't told anyone about me, have you?"

Interactions
Misty Gray Savannah

 

[Bellz]

Finn Sullivan ​

Finn was saddened to hear that Conor hadn't seen Michelle in a long time, but then again, how could he? He'd been locked up for years. "Maybe we could try to find a way to get in contact with her? Even if she is traveling...if there's a will there's a way." Finn offered now trying to keep his attention away from the two men who were so rudely looking their way.

Biting his lip lightly, Finn wondered if Conor would get confrontational but to his own surprise, he didn't. A smile formed on Finn's lips amusingly and he shook his head. "And break the lads hearts? Oh I'm the worst at rejecting others." He said teasingly before looking back towards the two men for a moment.

Clearing his throat, after a moment Finn decided to look away again and try to focus on something other than the two men staring their way. He noticed his cousin continuing to stare and Finn tapped on his water glass with his finger a bit harshly, trying to get the man's attention without drawing too much attention to themselves.

Conor looked away after a moment and turned to look at Finn again and Finn smiled softly. But as Conor made a small threat, Finn's smile started to fade. "I'm not sure we should get involved with whatever they are up to Conor...think of what you just told me about Leo, about what Aliana said."

His words seemed to have some affect on his cousin because he moved on to talk about the Emerald to which Finn was very interested to hear about the renovations. "Oh a new look! That sounds wonderful! I've always said that the place needed a woman's touch, no offense..." He chuckled, trying to pull Conor deeper into the conversation as he could see and hear that his cousin wasn't with it.

Before Finn could say anything more on the matter, his cousin was quick to apologize to him and got up from his seat. Opening his mouth to say something, no words came out before he slammed it shut and scrambled out of his seat. "Conor!" He hissed as he followed the man over to the two men.

Coming to a slow pace once he made it to the men, Finn raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms across his chest, trying his best to look somewhat intimidating. "How can we help you guys?"
with: Conor Misty Gray ; Tony RayPurchase ; Teddy Melanin-Gxdess

 

[Bellz]

Roxie Carriveau ​

Roxie sat up a little straighter as she could see a sudden change in Syd's eyes that she had been all too familiar with. Watching as he walked over to her and knelt down at her feet, the woman swallowed hard as he placed his hand on her knee and reached for her hand with the other. Letting him take it, there was something off about him that she couldn't quite place. He told her that he thought they could do it and Roxie breathed out heavily.

When he removed his hand, the sudden loss of warm caused her a shiver to run up her spine. Sitting forward, she peered to Syd's face as she crossed her arms around herself. They sat in silence for a long while and Roxie just looked forward, patiently waiting until he was ready to talk. Staring at their reflection in the glass of the TV, she watched his body, looking for any sign to see what he was feeling then, what he was thinking...

Roxie A whisper caused her to snap out of her daze and look down at Syd. It was hard to watch him struggle to find his words, it was hard to watch him in the state he was in. Syd was so different, so unique compared to anyone Roxie had met before and yet even he was fighting with his demons. Shaking her head slowly, she wanted to reassure him but let him continue. She smiled faintly at his last words and dipped her head down to hide it. When she lifted it, Syd was letting his gaze move away from her and his hand bumped into her thigh before she grabbed it tightly with her own hand. Once again, she was shaking her head at his questions, almost in disbelief. Why was she listening to her father? Well it wasn't just her father who wanted it before...

"I'm not listening to him." She said hoarsely, "And he's very religious...just shy of thinking he's god himself, getting pregnant before marriage..." She shrugged her shoulders, "Guess dinosaurs were old fashioned back then." Roxie tried to joke, managing a smile before sighing, "I thought this is what I wanted, I was so sure..." Roxie was confident she would give in, that it was her own right to choose. She had always thought that even when thinking about ending up in a situation like she was in now...but she guessed it was just different now that she was living it.

Her schooling and career would be there. There was a man before her who had faith in her and her ability to have a kid and he wanted to be there for her. That wasn't part of the scenario she thought up in her own head before. "I have a few requirements," She paused and sighed, "If we are going to do this." Turning to him, she patted the space on the couch next to her and even started to help him up. Grabbing the box of tissues of the side table beside her, she handed them to him. "I'm not here for your money, or your help. What I'm interested in is you..." She told him honestly. "I want to be on even ground with your parents. They are our last hope at this child ever having other family members...my parents are definitely out of the picture."

"If we are going to do this together then I think it would be best if I move in with you. I assume you are going to want to be there for the doctor's appointments and I don't really think an apartment in the city is the best place to raise a baby." Roxie bit her lip as she thought about the next requirement and it was going to be hard to say...but it was something that made her think about the abortion in the first place. "Skye...I know how much you love her...but I just don't know..." She didn't even know what to say next..instead she just fell silent and stared at Syd with her mouth slightly ajar, lost for words.
with: Syd Pyroclast

 

[Bellz]

Gwen Bryant ​

Gwen laughed softly at Jason saying that it felt like some crazy dream because she was beginning to feel the same way. The same decor, the same music, they were only a little bit older and more mature. But then he went on to say it was like he was getting a second chance and Gwen's smile only faded slightly as he said he didn't deserve it.

While it was true what he did was not right in her mind, there had been a lot of time to grow and realize that some men could do far worse than what Jason ever did. Shaking her head softly, she said, "Don't sell yourself short."

Once they were seated Gwen continued to hold his hand, and another laugh escaped her as Jason said he didn't remember ever saying anything like what he had said to her that night 11 years ago. "Oh you said it all right, you were so drunk you could barely stand. I wouldn't expect you to remember." She waved her free hand nonchalantly like it was no big deal.

Gwen looked to the singer on stage for a moment as Jason faintly spoke before turning back to the man with raised eyebrows, wondering what the question he had for her. Stiffening at what he asked, Gwen took a moment to gather her own thoughts as they began to race and tell her that anything that had to do with Jason Costello was bad news.

Against her own thoughts, Gwen relaxed slowly before answering his previous question first, "You know I guess I never told you that I was a pretty big believer in fate..." She murmured, her brown eyes looking into his, demanding his attention as the music began to fade away in the background.

"I believe fate has lead me down the wrong path but maybe I just haven't believed in it for a long time...until I saw you again." Swallowing hard, Gwen cleared her throat before looking down at the table.

"The way you look at me, that look in your eyes...I've never been looked at like that before. I believed fate brought me to my ex husband...but he never looked at me the way you do. ever." Almost embarrassed, Gwen shook her head and smiled lightly to herself.

"I never felt like when he walked into the room everything else would just fade away, that time would slow because it was just us in the world...but..." Her cheeks burned as she squeezed Jason's hand.

"Every time I see you...time just seems to stop."

There was a few moments of silence before she smiled a bit wider, "But to answer your question, I do think this could be another chance. If fate is wanting us together, who are we to disobey?"
with: Jason Pyroclast

 

[Bellz]

Stefano Carriveau ​

Stefano was quite pleased to hear that his associates would arrange for his daughter to be safe. But it seemed like he would have to do the work of dealing with her hate filled words looks of disgust. Ungrateful, vile brat who couldn't follow the rules to save her life. Years of switching schools over and over, moving to different locations in the city when she got expelled. Suddenly, she thinks she's old enough to run around with some loon.

Gabriel spoke up then and address him directly and Stefano looked to him with a raised eyebrow. Gabriel thought the best way to ensure Roxanne's safety was to "build bridges" with her. Stefano made a slight face as Gabriel told him to act even if it was to say he was wrong. “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." He said, reminding the man that sex before marriage was indeed a sin according to the Bible. "I will try, but I don't think you both understand how difficult she can be." The man said almost tiredly as he leaned back in his seat again.

He listened as Gabriel addressed Alistair and reluctantly nodded as the man stated that he could help make sure the child wasn't raised by those fools. Now that he thought about it, it would be refreshing to start over. With the proper guidance and influence the child could turn out to be something Roxanne could never be.

Although he was convinced that sending Syd to a mental asylum would be good for his daughter's safety, he wasn't convinced that she would just let him go that easily. He wasn't sure the extent of the relationship and if she already had ties with the Porters...maybe she was a liability? Maybe he was thinking about this situation all wrong. "Whose to say they won't try to break him out?" It was a serious question. His own gang had broken people out of prison, a looney bin would seem like an easy target, less security.

He went silent as his thoughts tangled in his head, just silently listening to Gabriel as he went on to talk about what not hiding any longer, something Stefano envied in that moment. He was sick of doing his work in the shadows, it was meant to be appreciated, glorified. Even hiding behind the charity was becoming excruciatingly boring.

Hearing that Gabriel was going to meet with James Porter himself, peaked the man's interest and he shifted in his seat, leaning closer. Maddox would remain in secret, which Stefano also felt was appropriate for the time being seeing as he was comfortable in the work he did and he did it well. They could get a lot more information and they were done it all yet.

On the matter of what seemed to be some sort of office romance, Stefano rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat once more. "I bet they are sinners too." The man grumbled.
with: Alistair Pyroclast ; Gabriel Misty Gray

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Teddy

Teddy couldn't help but smile at the waitress, catching her eye while Tony gave her their order. Before she walked away, he gently grabbed her arm and gave Tony a look. "No, he'll have his still going moo and my medium well, please. Thanks." He gave her a small smile before letting her go and turning back to his companion. He was telling Teddy he didn't exactly agree with this whole 'winding up' mission they were currently on. But, that was understandable coming from him. Tony was a rough man and simply talking to those who were declared as his enemies weren't something he liked. Teddy, on the other hand, had much preferred to use words first and that's probably what made the duo work so well. Teddy could definitely hold his own in a fight, but why do that when you had a friend like Tony? "As much I know you want to go over there and pummel that both of them, it's good we aren't right now." He took a sip of his drink before continuing, making sure to keep an eye on his two targets. "The way they react tonight will tell us more than you think." He tapped his temple with his finger, seeing his bait being taken.

"I guess I do. Maddy says the two aren't sharing a bed at the moment. Could've had a nice little night and then scare her a little." He shot him a wink, thoughts of bedding the married woman coursing through his mind. "But, if we cause a few issues within the group, taking them out later would be easier." Teddy stopped for a moment before delicately digging into his meal. After a few moments, he stopped to take another long sip of his drink while watching his two marks slowly approach the table. He gave Tony a slight smirk, "Show time," he said before setting down his cup. The man then feigned surprise as Conor spoke to the two of them, more so Tony than he. It was to be expected, he assumed, that the two hot-heads would be attracted to each other. When he mentioned them being interested in something at their table Teddy cleared his throat and leaned back in his seat. "I apologize. I was looking to your companion at first," he winked at Finn before narrowing his eyes at Conor, that smug smirk never leaving his face. That was probably his favorite thing about himself, the fact he couldn't help it whenever he looked smug and it pissed people off.

"But then I noticed you." He tapped his temple with his index finger as if he were thinking about something. "I've seen you before and I was trying to figure out where. It's been bothering me, I didn't mean to just completely stare." He looked to Tony to gauge his reactions or more like making sure he was maintaining himself. "I don't believe it was anywhere in public but maybe..." There was a slight pause as if he were thinking before he snapped his fingers together. "A picture! Down at this lovely divorcee's place. You're Ali's brother, right? I think I remember that much at least. Turned a picture of you guys face down because it creeped her out while we were in bed... How is she, by the way? She was supposed to call and never did." Teddy put a hand up to his chest in feign heartbreak. "Your sister's a heartbreaker."


​

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

Thinking about getting pregnant before marriage didn't help to ease the conflict in Syd's mind. He wished it was old-fashioned like Roxie claimed, but he wasn't so sure. It didn't matter that he wasn't religious himself; having grown up in a Catholic society, he didn't know of many circumstances where people could get away with it without at least being shamed. Yet, as easier as it would be to have Roxie's family on board, Syd wasn't about to propose to her. Even exploring his feelings for her was a big step for him - with Skye hovering in the back of his mind all the time, he knew he would have to take it slow...Or, as slow as he could take it with someone already carrying his child. Still holding his head up with one hand, Syd's eyes moved up to look at Roxie. He wasn't sure whether she meant that she had always wanted children, or had never wanted them. It sounded like she was just thinking aloud, so he didn't ask.

He lifted his head properly when she mentioned requirements, but tried not to read into it too much. There was a heavy weight in his chest that made him afraid to jump to any conclusions - he didn't want to let himself hope again in case she ended up making up her mind to have an abortion. At first, he was hesitant to get up on the couch with her, almost afraid to move the conversation forward in case it didn't go in the direction he wanted it to. But he didn't resist when she helped him up and passed him a box of tissues. His tear-stained face felt tense, eyes puffy from the crying; he did his to best to clean himself up as he listened but her words distracted him and his hand quickly grew limp, only able to focus on her.

She was interested in him. Not his money, not his support, but him.

Her first requirement, about being on good terms with his parents, he knew would already be a challenge. They were both extremely conscious of safety which Syd understood, but he couldn't help but think that at this point it was just stubbornness getting in the way of liking Roxie. Still, it was something he was determined to fix, so he nodded. "Done," he told her, as though it was the easiest problem in the world to fix.

The next requirement, however, caught him off guard. It seemed so early on in their relationship to start living together...but then again, it was also early to be having a baby. After thinking about it for a moment, he decided that it would still be possible to take it slow even living with the woman carrying his child...probably. It was only a practical arrangement - if circumstances were different, they wouldn't be at that stage. "Okay," he softly spoke. "Okay, you move in with me, then. I don't want to miss anything, anyway...I want to be there for you." He chewed on his lip for a moment as he thought about his house being not so empty anymore. It was what he had always wanted, but he wasn't so sure that these circumstances were what he had had in mind. She may be interested in him, but she wasn't moving in out of love, only for practical reasons. Still, the idea of having her around didn't make him feel anxious - the opposite, in fact. Even though she had seen him in a bad state several times already, he thought it might actually push him to clean up his act a bit. There was just one thing that worried him. "What about Sav?" he asked, turning to look at her. "She's been through a lot lately...I don't know if she'd be happy to live on her own. You know you always have a place at mine, Roxie, you're welcome to come and live with me - and sure Savvy is too, if she wanted to, but...I don't know. We should see what she thinks. I worry about her, you know?"

Syd's heart practically stopped when Roxie brought up Skye; a wave of guilt washed over him and he looked down to the floor, wondering what to say. He let out a heavy sigh and brought up a hand to soothe the headache that was becoming increasingly demanding of his attention. Thinking about her in this context was still painful to him. He had spent too many years dwelling on the family that he could have had with her, so imagining a life of raising a child with somebody else was something he was struggling to keep her separate from. In his mind, she had always been the mother, but of course now when he thought about it, it couldn't be her anymore - it had to be Roxie in her place. "Well, what do you want me to do, Roxie?" he asked, leaning forward and closing his eyes as he rested his head in his hands. His voice came out low and weary. He didn't know what to do with his feelings for Skye, but he didn't want to constantly feel guilty about them. "Take her pictures down? Never talk about her? Pretend she never existed?"

After a moment, Syd inhaled deeply and looked ahead. He thought about a conversation he had had with Maddox a few weeks ago. "Skye would want me to be happy," he slowly drew out, before turning his head to look at Roxie. "I want to be with you, Roxie. I don't know how I can make you believe me when I say that, but I'm determined to get it right someday. Just..." Syd took her hands in his and looked down to them for a few seconds. He felt like he could cry again, but he bit down on his lip to keep it at bay. His mind was slowing down too much and he was struggling to put his feelings into words, so instead he just slipped his arms around Roxie and pulled her into a warm embrace. "She's not coming back," he whispered. Every word took enormous effort. His hand seized into a fist, gripping onto Roxie's clothes as he held onto her tightly. "I love her, I always will...but I can't act on that love anymore. I'm...You're..." Syd slowly released his grip and pulled away slightly, still staying close enough that his forehead could rest against her. Looking down into their laps, he took another deep breath to try to help the words come out. "Roxie, I want it to be you that pulls me out of this. I want to reach a point in my life where I know I've moved on from Skye...I want to fall in love with someone, live in a house with her, raise children with her. And I want it to be you."

Another tear fell down his face before he had a chance to catch it and he lifted the balled up tissue to wipe it away. Taking comfort in her closeness, Syd raised a hand to caress her cheek and drew her even closer so that their faces touched. "What do you want?"

Interactions
Bellz Roxie

 

[Misty Gray]

Savannah Callahan​

As she watched the film begin, Savannah couldn't help but keep hearing Danny's words about how he didn't know how anyone could hurt her. He seemed to genuinely care about her and she was certain she wasn't being naive in thinking it. No matter how much she thought over their interactions, there were no alarm bells sounding and no apparent cause for suspicion. She felt safe and comfortable in his presence, which was often a difficult place to find herself in with new people.

Savannah felt Danny's hand lightly touch her own and she looked down to make sure she wasn't imagining the feeling. Although she could feel butterflies in her stomach and an altogether nervous sensation was taking effect on the inside, she was happy by the move he made. She didn't move her hand at all and instead smiled as she looked back towards the screen. She allowed him to weave his fingers through hers, giving a single, gentle squeeze in return to acknowledge the gesture. When he began to whisper to her, she turned to look at him and met his gaze as he told her he liked her too. It was likely difficult to tell in the darkened auditorium, but she blushed profusely at his admission. A shy smile formed on her face before she briefly nodded her head. She was struggling to speak as she processed the situation, so she once again lightly squeezed his hand. She hoped she wasn't coming across as socially-inept; that he had by now realised she was more introverted than the young woman who he'd seen acting on stage.

As the film played on, Savannah watched on, every so often looking to Danny to gauge his thoughts and see if he was still enjoying it. Not long before the film was coming to an end, Danny asked her if they could keep their relationship between the two of them. She looked to him and raised a curious eyebrow. When he asked if she had told anybody about him, she was about to reply but was momentarily drawn back to the screen as the final scene ended and the credits began to roll. She then turned back to Danny, not making a move to get up and leave like the others in the theatre were.

Savannah turned back to Danny, twisting her body a little so she could face him directly. She glanced down to their hands before letting out a small sigh. "I've told my roommate about you. She knows I'm out on a date tonight," she began. She reluctantly let go of his hand before pushing her hair back away from her face to buy her a little more time to think about his questions. "Why don't you want anyone to know? I know I'm not as confident and exciting as my friends are... If you're just looking for a girl to pass the time with when you've nothing better to do, then I'm not sure if I'm the right one for you. I'm only interested in real relationships and with someone who's happy to be seen with me," she told him. The thoughts that things were too good to be true were now returning to Savannah's mind. She had already wondered if she'd been getting ahead of herself and now it seemed to be the case. It felt like the only time she stood out was when it was to her family's enemies or to sleazy old men, like Andre. The thought of her family's enemies soon made her consider another possibility. "Or is my family?" she asked, looking him in the eyes. "They are good people. Danny. You're a good person. My parents would like you, I'm sure, if that's what you're worried about?"

Pyroclast (Danny)

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter
~Luke Holland ~​

James continued to observe the scene, having decided Peter and Keegan deserved the opportunity to be able to act out their frustrations. Giving everything that had happened, with loved ones hurt and killed, they were owed the chance to take it out on those responsible. Luke was for the most part convincing in his lies as he assured the men he didn't know who he was working for and it had been just a job for a paycheck. It might have been more convincing had Peter not seen him already the night Savannah had been taken. Given what Peter and Syd had told him, Luke seemed like more than just a paid heavy. The man had been cocky and aware of what he was doing, from the execution of the theatre attack to demanding the names of Porter business contacts whilst Savannah was held hostage. James had no doubt that Luke knew more than he was telling them. Judging by his behaviour, the man perhaps felt like he had nothing left to lose. James had come across men before who were willing to die before talking. Was Luke loyal to a cause as dangerous as the enemies James had encountered in the past?

Luke could see the anger in Peter as the man told him he was lying. Then he actually felt the effects of that anger, as Peter punched him in the jaw. His head was forced to jolt to the side upon impact. His teeth had cut into his gums, causing the metallic taste of blood in his mouth to intensify. He slowly turned his head to look forward again, acknowledging the throbbing in his face and the stringing of his bleeding lip. The adrenaline was kicking in and he was trying not to think about his own vulnerable state. Instead, he opened his mouth in what appeared to be a depraved grin, with his bloodstained teeth only adding to the twisted appearance. Peter continued to speak, threatening him with his life if he didn't give them the information they wanted. His face turned serious before he turned to spit a mouthful of blood out onto the floor.

When Peter spoke of the world's apparent destruction of his loved ones, Luke closed his eyes and subtly shook his head. He was sure he could find others who had suffered in similar ways. He didn't have to look far at all, when he thought about it. He was aware of Ethan Turner's past and how the Sullivans had murdered the man's wife. His life had been destroyed because he refused to follow the rules of Jack Sullivan, a man who had no rightful claim over the city. It only continued under Liam's leadership and now James Porter's. Luke had no sympathy for the Porters, Peter, or his whining little daughter. As far as he was concerned, he was a soldier, this was just another war for him to fight in and the Porters had to be defeated, regardless of the innocent casualties along the way.

What followed seemed to happen too fast, but Luke found himself, along with the chair he was tied to, landing sideways on the floor. His already broken wrist had taken much of the weigh of the fall, causing him to cry out in pain. He saw Peter's feet approaching as the Irishman stopped by his face. He told him to choose his next words carefully. Luke acknowledged the warning, but didn't show it. Instead, he continued to wriggle in pain and discomfort as he was laid in an awkward position against the wooden chair and floor.

There was a pause as Peter looked to James and Keegan. James returned his brother-in-law's gaze with a single nod. It wasn't that he was giving Peter permission or approval to continue, as he imagined the man would be too proud to want it anyway. It was more a sign that the situation was in Peter's hands and he had no intention of intervening. There was no more desire in him to show mercy or give men like Luke the benefit of the doubt.

Luke let out deep, strained breaths. Peter by now had moved his foot up to the man's mouth then asked if he had more to say. "Listen, I..." Luke began. He paused as he scanned the room around him and indeed considered his next words, as Peter had previously suggested he did. "You're making it really hard for me to think of anything I can give you. You should untie me, patch up these wounds and we'll talk like grown-ups tomorrow."


Bellz (Peter) Bugsy (Keegan)

 

[Pyroclast]

Spoiler: Trigger Warning

Mention of alcoholism

Jason Costello
Gwen clarified that Jason had been drunk when he had spoken of the stars bringing them together, and he had to flash her a sheepish smile before looking down into his drink. His smile faded quickly and fingers tapped against the glass. His years in prison had helped him to get sober but he had never had proper rehabilitation for his alcoholism. Now, whenever he was reminded of the consequences of his drinking problem, he didn't know what to think. All he felt was regret, shame and guilt that Gwen had had to suffer for it. When he looked up he was wearing a frown and sent her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Gwen." He spoke gently, but in earnest. "Ye won't be havin' t'deal wit' him anymore, that I can promise ye."

Hearing her speak of her belief in fate piqued his interest and he gazed intently at her, absent-mindedly stroking the back of her hand. She was answering his question now and he grew conscious of the heavy beating inside his chest as her answer began to unfold. A small smile tugged at his lips to match the soft look in his eyes, the look that she then brought up. It was funny to him - he hadn't realised he had been looking at her in a certain way. Clearly, she had noticed something in him that he hadn't.

It saddened Jason to be hearing of the lack of warmth in Gwen's marriage with her ex-husband. It put his own past relationship with her in perspective - the man had obviously not treated her in the way she deserved, but neither had Jason. His eyes were locked onto hers and they didn't fall away even when she stopped talking. In the silence that fell between them, Jason reached forward and cupped her face in his free hand. He studied her eyes for several seconds before returning her smile and letting his hand fall back down to rest on top of hers. He gazed down at their hands, nodding slowly as he mulled everything over. Although her words had moved him, excited him, set his whole body tingling with hope at having another chance with her, there was something holding him back. Gwen had told him not to sell himself short, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't deserve to have another chance with her.

"Gwen..." he spoke up, looking around the room to try to appear casual. "I uh..." After clearing his throat and shifting forward in his seat, Jason turned his focus back to Gwen's hand. It was somehow easier than looking her in the eye. "I understand that what I did to you was wrong, all those years ago. I was a coward...too scared to get involved with your family, too young and brainless to address the way I really felt. And I hurt ye...and I'm sorry. It's been my biggest regret in life, walkin' out on you." It was an overdue apology, but it didn't feel like enough to him. He raised his head and looked deeply into her brown eyes. "I know it's not enough just to say it, but look - the universe has brought us back together and, well, I believe it's so I can make things right wit' ye. So if ye'll let me, I'm gonna use this chance we've been given to make it up to you." He punctuated his sentence with a warm smile and gave her hand a squeeze. Glancing to the stage, he lifted her hand slightly before looking back to her with a suggestive look in his eyes. "So if we're in your family's jazz club, recreating the night we first met...are ye gonna get up there and dance wit' me?"

Interactions
Bellz Gwen

 

[Bellz]

Roxie Carriveau ​

Roxie visibly flinched at Syd's words about what he thought she wanted him to do. He wasn't far off, but it just didn't sound great coming from him. Now she was second guessing everything in that moment, looking down at her lap, Roxie shook her head lightly, eyes closing. "I mean..." She managed to get out before Syd inhaled deeply, causing her to stop talking once more. He looked ahead and Roxie just stared at him, watching with apprehensive eyes. When he stated that Skye would want him to be happy, Roxie nodded her head softly, she'd never met the woman and knew nothing about her besides what Syd managed to tell her but even she agreed with that statement. She paused as he openly stated that he wanted to be with her, her chest tightening until it reached her throat.

Moving her neck uncomfortably, her eyes never left him as he continued, taking her hands in his. Hers were beginning to sweat and before she could pull them away, he let go and wrapped his arms around her. Roxie froze, arms hovering slightly above him as she tried to gather her thoughts. He gripped her clothes tightly and Roxie immediately let her arms fall on his back, tightly embracing him as he struggled with his words.

Looking towards the assorted mirrors on the wall ahead of her, Roxie saw their embrace reflected on each of them. Her still hesitant eyes staring back at her as Syd embraced her with everything he had. He stated that he loved Skye and always would but it was a love he couldn't act on anymore. His grip loosened and Roxie pulled back until his forehead was resting against her shoulder.

Her hand moved up his back into his hair, running her hand through it lightly before resting back against his neck. Heart racing in her chest, Roxie leaned back a little further to try and see his face, but he kept his head down. His next words caused a lump to form in her throat and tears to sting her eyes. But while a part of her felt some excitement, the rest was feeling fear. Not of Syd, but the commitment. They were no longer just casually dating and it would never be that way ever again. This was weighing on Roxie's mind heavily as Syd finally looked up, moving his hand to her cheek and drew her closer. Their faces touched and Roxie closed her eyes at the warm contact.

Once again she found herself lost for words, her mind was screaming at her to pull it together and think rationally about what she was getting herself into. The last boyfriend she had lasted about 3 months and things ended right before she met Syd...she had ended it. Like she had done with all of the relationships before him, she didn't want to get herself into something she couldn't commit to. Now she seemed to have no choice but to commit. What was wrong with her? Syd was making her question everything that was important to her.

With those big blue puppy dog eyes, she was putty in his hands, no resistance whatsoever. Who was she now? If she couldn't resist? If she couldn't practice her right to protest? Who was she if she didn't go to school? If she didn't have her own career, earn her own way? Who was she now that she was connected to the Porter family? Roxie opened her mouth to speak, "I..." She paused. There was no way she could go back on her word now, she had to save him. Syd needed her more than anyone has ever needed her and it wouldn't be like her to turn a blind eye to that.

Lifting her own hands, the trembled as they moved to hold his face. "I can't promise that I can give you everything she could have, but I will try my hardest for you." Roxie confessed finally before moving to kiss his lips gently. Once they parted, Roxie let out a shaky sigh and smiled at Syd.

Her thoughts returned to Savannah and she thought about her requirement of moving in with Syd. It was a big step but it felt like they had mistakenly jumped to the biggest step in the relationship anyway. "Savannah will be so happy for us, but I know she will be bummed with me moving out. We need to find her another roommate. She's a star but unfortunately that's not even enough to afford this place."
with: Syd Pyroclast

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter ​

Lucy took her time getting coffee for herself, unable to bring herself to answer Sinead directly, she allowed Ali to answer first. The woman seemed to be caught up in her own thoughts however because she looked around as if just remembering where she was. Lucy tilt her head to the side with concern before lifting her coffee mug to her lips, blowing on the hot liquid gently before taking a tentative sip.

When asked if Sinead and her were okay, Lucy nodded her head slowly as she set her mug down on the coffee table. Looking down at her still healing wrists before sighing, "Good." She stated simply, "Things are good, but they could be better." Finally she was ready to talk about Syd, who had been on her mind the whole week.

"I think he's okay, Sinead." Lucy murmured softly. They hadn't seen each other since after they talked about his leave of absence from the business. "I want him to be okay. We told him he needed some time off and flew off the handle with both James and I." The words were just coming out like vomit now, the worry she had for her son consumed her like a sickness. "I don't know what more I can do at this point...to prevent him from making the same mistakes...Well I mean they aren't mistakes..." Lucy paused, looking troubled.

"What James chose to do back then for the family wasn't a mistake, none of the decisions we have made are but...there is no way out. I've come to realize that now." Sighing heavily ,Lucy reached for the handle of her mug and lifted it to sit in her lap.

"I never wanted my kids to be apart of this. And my son is literally destroying himself for it. He's is 30 years old and he still hasn't met someone that he can settle down with. I try not to put pressure on him for that but he's going to let the business rule his life and soon he'll be left without any family of his own."

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan​

Peter rolled his eyes as Luke once again was trying to manipulate the situation. "Enough games." He hissed. Bending down, he grabbed the chair and began to push it upright. Once Luke was in the upright position again, Peter reached for his gun. Admiring it a moment, the man circled Luke slowly. Once he made it back to face him, he lifted his gun and placed a finger on the trigger.

"You and I both know that's not how this is going to work. So you best cooperate with me before I let Keegan here finish you off. Now," He pressed the metal barrel against Luke's head. "I will ask you again. Who the fuck are you working for?" Peter's hand shook slightly as he pressed the gun a little bit harder against the man's forehead.

It had been a long time since he'd killed someone and all of the adrenaline was coming back to him. As the silence took over the room, Peter couldn't hear anything other than the roar of his heart in his ears. Suddenly it was more than just the adrenaline getting to him, he felt anxious. So anxious to get to the bottom of everything, so he could hunt down the other men who ordered his daughter and wife to be taken. Anxious to kill the fucker in front of him and dispose of his body like the trash he was.

"I'll do it! I'll fucking blow your head off!" He shouted suddenly and moving his finger away from the trigger, he lifted his gun and whipped Luke in the face with it. Rage filled him now and he breathed heavily. Once again he kicked his leg out and knocked the chair back over on its side before taking his gun with both hands and aiming it at Luke's leg he fired twice before kicking the chair back even further from it spot again.

"Now are you going to fucking talk? I will put as many bullets as it takes in you to get you to talk! You better start talking!" He gripped his gun tightly and aimed it towards Luke's gut, "3...2..."
with: James + Luke Misty Gray ; Keegan Bugsy

 

[Bellz]

Gwen Bryant ​

Gwen leaned into Jason's hand when he cupped her cheek, he was giving her the exact look she had been talking about and she wanted it o last forever. He removed his hand and placed it on top of her own, looking down at them as he did. She wondered what he was thinking and before she could ask, he finally spoke up.

She searched for his eyes but he didn't return her gaze, paying more attention to her hand as he spoke. He was right, he had hurt her and what he had done was wrong but Gwen didn't feel like holding on to the grudge any longer, not when she had a chance at feeling something that drugs could not give her. He apologized and Gwen offered a small smile as he looked up at her. He wanted to use this chance they had to make it up to her and the smile on her face grew wider as she nodded her head. "I think I like the sound of that." Gwen commented softly before he looked to the stage. Gwen glanced in the direction as well, wondering what he was thinking again.

He spoke once more and she raised an eyebrow at his suggestive look, face settling into a smirk. "I thought you'd never ask." She murmured before moving to get out of the booth. Once they were out, Gwen took his arm as they walked towards the dance floor. There was a break in the music between sets as they made it to the middle of the floor. They were the only ones who were ready to dance, the rest of the club was seated, chatting with one another and ignoring the couple.

Gwen smiled and untangled her arm from Jason's before holding out her hand for him to take. The next number that started up was a slow rolling classic and Gwen let Jason lead her into a slow rhythm. Swaying her hips gently and looking around them a moment, Gwen sighed happily at the feeling of being in his arms again. "I think I owe you an apology as well," She spoke up, eyes looking a troubled suddenly.

Her eyes looked into his as she bit her bottom lip gently, "My behavior lately...well, you've seen the worst of it. I am trying to change my ways...its just hard."
with: Jason Pyroclast

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

Even in her own distracted frame of mind, Sinead was able to see Aliana wasn't completely with the room in that moment. Her friend soon snapped out of it with something of a confused "huh?". As Aliana stared at her, Sinead pulled a sympathetic expression. She too was feeling the strain around her, having had to see Syd, Sinead and Lucy all hurt the previous week, as well as the other attacks she'd found herself in the middle of. Though Aliana told them to forget about her and how she was, it wasn't that easy for Sinead to just ignore it. Aside from the attacks, her best friend was going through marriage troubles with Conor, which also meant she was exposed to how the same marital issues were affecting her brother. She wanted to be there for both of them and even more, she wanted to see the two happy again. Her brother was good at putting on a happy face, but Sinead had known him all of her life and she could see the sparkles were still missing in his eyes. They had been for some time. "You shouldn't deal with it all on your own, Ali. You have people here who care about you..."

Sinead looked down to her still bandaged forearm and now found herself in her own distant thoughts. She wondered if there would be a big scar that would always remind her of what had happened. It was enough to have an anxious mind that never let her forget her traumas, but to have the memories triggered every time she looked at her arm was something she wasn't sure she could cope with.

Sinead was spared from speaking up when Lucy answered Aliana first. She told her that she thought Syd was okay, but Sinead didn't find the response convincing. She let out a soft sigh as she thought over the issues Lucy and James were having with their son. Sinead trusted Savannah's and Syd's assessment of Roxie, so part of her wanted Lucy and James to just accept their son's relationship and give the young woman a chance. The other part, perhaps influenced by her own naivety when she was younger and got involved with Angel, understood it from a parents' point of view. Lucy was justified to feel concerned about Syd and to ensure his safety. Sinead really couldn't argue with what a mother would do to protect her children.

"I think it's good that he's taking some time off. He doesn't need to be involved in all of this mess, especially when he needs time to recover from what happened," she agreed with the decision. "I'm sorry he didn't like that decision. I guess he's just really upset and tense about the whole thing."

With Lucy mentioning how she hadn't wanted her kids to be a part of the business, Sinead looked down to the floor and sighed. "I wish Syd could understand that he doesn't have to do this, but it seems like he wants to or believe he has to," she delicately spoke. "This seems to be a burden that we can't shift, right? I know Daidi wouldn't have forced any of us to keep doing this, but it's difficult to step away from it. Maybe Syd feels like it's his duty or that he owes it to you guys to help out with the business." She looked to Aliana for a time. "Conor thought he wanted to follow in Daidi's footsteps, but when he realised it was too much pressure and too difficult, he stepped down. Hopefully Syd will come to the same conclusion and I guess he needs to know you and James won't be disappointed in him if he can't do this anymore," she spoke as the thoughts came to her. "Sadly, I think he's old enough to make his own decisions, even if right now he's got a lot going on with his mind..." She shrugged her shoulders. "I think it's just natural that he wants to help you guys with this business, especially knowing there is no way for this family to escape it and that you need all the help you can get. Just look at Conor. No matter what has happened, he always comes back and always wants to support James. It weighs heavy on him that he couldn't run the business back in Chicago... and even now, he still feels like he owes it to our dad to make everyone proud. Conor and Syd want to do their parents proud... and I think it's just their nature."


Bellz Melanin-Gxdess

 

[RayPurchase]

Marcus Moretti

(Pic incoming once laptop is charged)
​

Marcus grinned at Tatiana’s comment. Good to hear he was still keeping up the pretense of the wild middle child.


“Well you know how it is Tati, someone’s got to keep mama and papa on their toes. You’ve got your head screwed on too tight, and Tina here is far too innocent. I'm the one keeping us real and grounded, it's a heavy burden but one I'm happy to try and bear."


Marcus reclined looking smug. It didn't last long however as Tati yanked at his beard, letting out a rather offended yelp of minor pain and discomfort, and began rubbing at it.


"That cuts deep Tati, I've heard of a haircut, I just wilfully choose to refuse to get them. Besides I've had literally tens of compliments since I've been here, gives me that edgy look,"


He narrowed his eyes for a moment before bursting into laughter as Valentina flipped him the finger. The whole room was full of it, and this felt like the sort of house that needed a lot of laughter and life. It wasn't just the Adam's family feel to it. Marcus couldn't remember the last time he had seen his father truly laugh and relax, his natural sternness and sense of discipline had only heightened since the murder of their families, he had always been a hard man, but that had pushed him over the edge. His father cared about them, of that there was no question, unfortunately it just didn't always manifest itself in the greatest of ways. He allowed himself to laugh once more as Tina flipped him her middle finger.


"You as well Tina? What is this take potshots at Marcus day? After all that stuff I've ever done for you… and dont go asking for specific stuff or I'll be even more hurt,"


He winked at her and sprawled back. He'd always been protective of her, and Tati too, even if he felt like Tati hardly needed looking after. This had been passed down from his dad and his admittedly archaic views, not that Marcus had the guts to call him up on it. But none the less it had rubbed off, if anyone did anything to hurt his sister, Marcus's rage would be the first to be kindled. If his father had let him have his own way with Calvin… His ears perked up at the talk of a dog.


"Oh I've been barking up that tree, pun very much intended. Maybe a combined persuasion, pull the younger sibling card Tina. And Mama, surely you couldn't possibly refuse. A loving companion, security, I'll take it for runs, which will stop Tati from fattening me up. I literally can't think of any cons,"

 

[Pyroclast]

Danny Vaughan

Danny nodded somewhat nervously when Savannah told him that her roommate knew that she was out with him. The word 'date' made him blush a little but it was quickly overridden by guilt when she asked him why he was anxious to keep things secret. She started to put herself down, as though she didn't believe she was enough for Danny, and he frowned and shook his head. "Come on, Sav, it's not like that..." he tried to assure her, but he was still hesitant to tell her the truth. "You're not just some pass-time to me. I'm not just spending time with you 'cause I'm bored, I'm here 'cause I like you. You're fun and you're pretty, and...probably the most interesting person I ever met." Realising that the room was becoming increasingly empty as the audience left the theatre, Danny looked around to see if anyone was watching them.

Unsure of how to explain himself, Danny tried to buy himself some time by looking out for her. It only left her waiting for an answer, however, and she soon went on to ask if it was her family that was putting him off, trying to reassure him that his parents would like him. "They might," he quietly replied. "But, um...your cousin wouldn't."

Being a happy-go-lucky person by nature, Danny felt uncomfortable letting his anxiety show, especially to someone he liked. So he attempted to lighten his words with a small laugh, even though it wasn't funny to him at all. "You know I got that job at The Lomax?" he asked her, keeping his voice down. "Well, it's sort of a cover up... I actually, uh, work for your family, I guess. The family business."

There was a pause, and Danny found himself struggling to make eye contact with Savannah as he worked up to explaining himself. "See, I kinda got roped into slinging drugs for this gang in East Harlem, back when my parents first left." He glanced at Savannah; while he wasn't ashamed of his involvement with drugs, he understood that she might not be so comfortable with it. "One time, I was dealing to one of my regulars and Syd just comes out of nowhere and starts beatin' on me, like he's gonna kill me or something. He threatened me to stay away from his family and made me start dealing for him instead - so he could keep some control over me, I guess." Danny bit down on his lip and glanced to her. He wished he was still holding her hand just so that he could feel some warmth between them, but he was fairly certain that she wouldn't want to anymore. "I mean, I'm not complaining - the work suits me and the pay is great. I'm just, uh...a little nervous, you know? About what would happen if it got back to him that we were out together. On a date of all things." Finally, he forced himself to look her in the eye and hold his gaze. "It's not that I don't want to see you anymore, Sav. 'Cause believe me, I do...but you deserve to know the truth. If you don't wanna see me anymore, or you need some time to think, I get it."

Interactions
Misty Gray Savannah

 

[Bellz]

Ani Sarraf ​

The door handle turned slowly with a satisfying click! and the door was pushed open with an effort as Ani struggled to get into the door. Hands full of bags of groceries, she used her foot to get the door all the way open. "Ammon?" Ani called out as she then closed the door behind her with her foot again. Setting the groceries on the table, she sighed, wondering where her brother was and what he was getting up to.

Ani moved her hands to her hair a moment as she moved to place some behind her ears as they were getting in the way when she heard a muffled sound coming from down the hall. Pausing in her movement, her brows furrowed as began walking down the hall slowly.

"Ammon?" Ani called out again, it was like him never to answer..but he didn't shuffle around a lot. Getting to his closed door, the woman was hesitant as she placed her hand on the handle, almost afraid of what she was going to walk into.

After a moment, she pulled herself together and turned the handle. What she was met with was a horrific scene. Gasping out in horror, she found a bloodied woman already gone. The walls were splattered with blood and the clothes that had been on her were draped over the ceiling fan. Ani's eyes watered and she shook her head a few times before backing up until her back hit the wall on the otherside of the hallway.

Her brother was no where to be found and god knows what he was doing now but Ani knew she had to clean up the mess quickly. Tears watered in her eyes as she pushed herself off the wall and moved towards the room once more, gasping at the stench of already rotting flesh, she wondered how long this woman had suffered.

Ani had been working at the hospital for 2 nights in a row, something she often did but it looked like she was going to have to stop. Ani took tentative steps towards the body as her white sneakers were immersed in a pool of pool that made her shoes stick. Seeing that the woman's eyes were still open, Ani stared at the lifeless green orbs for what felt like forever until she reached over and gently closed them.

Moving to untie the woman from the kitchen chair she had been sitting in, Ani held back the tears as best as she could. It was clear that her brother wanted more than just what was given to him with EH. More than Alistair could provide. Ani wasn't sure how much longer she could advocate for her brother that he was essential to the gang, especially if he was potentially putting the gang at risk.

The body suddenly slumped forward before collapse onto the ground and Ani let out a little scream as the woman fell into the pool of blood. Scrambling to get the body out, she grabbed between the armpits before dragging the body out slowly into the living room.

Examining the body from a closer view, Ani could see that the woman had suffered what looked to be like a major blow to the head and lacerations on her stomach. Her brother was an expert with the blade and could have people bleed out only a little bit at a time. She couldn't imagine what the poor woman must have gone through. And all because she decided to take a second night shift.
with: a dead woman
mentions: Ammon