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

[Misty Gray]

Gabriel Moretti​

Gabriel reached forward to pour himself some brandy from the crystal decanter. He replaced the decanter on the cabinet to his side, freeing up some space on the coffee table for Rhys to spread out the map he'd brought with him. The Italian knocked back his drink as his consigliere became explaining that he'd had James followed. He caught the man's smirk and couldn't help but anticipate what Rhys had managed to come up with. He was certain he wouldn't be disappointed, but he kept his face straight so as not to tempt fate. There was mention of the apartment in Upper Manhattan, to which Gabriel nodded along to confirm he was very much focused on the information being presented. The fact the apartment block wasn't as highly secure as the mob's Bayside mansion was a pleasant surprise.

Gabriel couldn't help the low chuckle that escaped him as Rhys informed them he'd already gone as far as to rent a room in the same apartment block as James. He liked the idea of that. Rhys was literally under James' nose and therefore getting the Irishman had suddenly become much more attainable. "I'm impressed. That certainly opens up many possibilities," he spoke up. He looked to Alistair as he set about voicing his thoughts. Gabriel nodded along, acknowledging the valid questions that were being asked regarding the logistics, things like James' routine and others around the apartment block. Gabriel folded his arms and sat back upon hearing Alistair ask for more details before committing any East Harlem men to the mission. The Italian looked to Rhys, compelling the man to further elaborate, feeling just as keen for the details as Alistair was.


Enzyme (Rhys) Pyroclast (Alistair)

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

Sinead cut off another piece of steak and put it into her mouth with the fork. As she chewed the food she listened to Peter speaking. When she heard him say they should try for a baby, she almost choked on her food as she gasped in surprise. She grabbed the napkin and placed it to her mouth as she finished chewing the meat "Petey..." she softly began, swallowing her food. She placed the fork and napkin down on the table, allowing for her husband to take hold of both of her hands. She wasn't sure if she'd misheard him, but as he continued speaking about how their kids were grown up and he was worried about being bored should he retire, it seemed to confirm she had heard him correctly. She looked down to their hands as she tried to hold back her emotions. She'd wanted another baby for quite some time but she'd resigned to the idea it wasn't going to be. She didn't think she'd ever get another chance to give birth to a fourth child. To hear that Peter had had a change of heart made her happier than she could ever explain.

Like Peter, Sinead also fell into a silence. As she imagined their future with another baby in their world, it was hard not to get lost in her thoughts. With so much death around them, the thought of creating life and nurturing another human being gave her so much hope. The world always seemed like a better place with children and innocent souls around. "How could I forget those long nights awake?" she sarcastically asked, rolling her eyes. "It was always so worth it, though," she quickly added. "Those little crazy walks were so cute," she said, giggling as she remembered their children's first steps. "We've got three amazing children. The sleepless nights and hectic days were all worth it for them."

When asked what she thought about it, Sinead could help but laugh. "Of course I want to give it another go," she said, figuring her answer was obvious. "I really really want to give it another go. I would love to have another child with you, Petey," she told him, gently squeezing his hands as her eyes filled up with joyful tears. Her heart raced in her chest and she couldn't help but feel excited by the prospect. "Are we going to finish our steak first though?" she playfully asked, sending him a flirtatious wink.



Bellz (Peter)

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter
Thomas Porter ​

Lucy was more than relieved that Syd was feeling better and seeing the reunion between her two boys almost moved her to tears. Syd wrapped his arms around her and Lucy squeezed her tightly, she had a hard time letting go but she knew James needed to hug him too. "Let's get out of here, yea?" She asked before leading her family towards the exit.

The car ride home was filled with chatter as Syd wanted updates on things. Lucy filled him in on the family and how they were dealing with the grief. She was once again reminded that her siblings having a hard time. Sinead was on a good tack due to an intervention they had with her but Conor wasn't doing well. Even in a joyous moment like this, the fact that she couldn't help Conor during his time of need tore her up inside.

When they arrived at Syd 's place, Lucy was pleased to see that everything in the house was nice and tidy, not that she was expecting a mess from Roxie. Syd went into the other room and Lucy got busy making coffee while James and Thomas talked. It wasn't long before Syd's quick footsteps could be heard, tears streaming heavily down his face as he told James that he needed to watch the reel. Syd's eyes looked to hers and she noticed how pale he looked and it scared her, not wanting to go through what they had gone through before. "Syd! Wait! You can't just-: Thomas looked at her with wide eyes as his brother practically dragged him out of the room. Torn between what to do, James sent Hugh to go with their sons so Lucy stayed back with him to watch the reel.

In the dark room with the reel play, Lucy felt uneasy as she moved closer to James placing a hand over her mouth before looking away from the screen all together. Not wanting to think about what she had just seen, Lucy quickly went to retrieve a few things for Syd before the pair walked out of the house, locking the door behind them.

Thomas had been pushed into the backseat by Syd but out of panic he didn't utter a word. Syd took his shoulders and looked into his eyes, telling him that something really bad had happened. Looking very concerned, Thomas reached out to cup his brother's face in his hands. "Its going to be okay." He whispered weakly, trying his best not to be afraid of Syd in that moment.

Lucy and James arrived at the car and Thomas couldn't have been more relieved. The ride back to the house was long and filled with silence as Syd clung onto Thomas and Lucy watched the pair from the side mirror. When they arrived at the house, Lucy was worried about the people at the house, Syd was having another breakdown and they were going to be witnesses. They entered the house slowly and Syd made his way towards the room where voices were coming from, Lucy moved to put her coat away as Thomas hung back waiting for her instead of following Syd. "He scared me, mom." Her youngest said as tears welled in the boys eyes. Lucy gasped and immediately wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly for a moment. The shouting caused her to pull away and quickly walk into the lounge to see Syd rummaging through drawers, looking for a gun.

A lump formed in Lucy's throat as she looked around the room for a moment before her eyes snapped to James as he forcefully told Syd there was no guns. "You are not going to find them here." Lucy told Syd, her voice firm but wavering with confidence as she backed up James words. "Syd, you can't just fly off the handle like this! You'll never find her in this state of mind. Please calm down! You can't come into this house and just tear everything up in your wake!" Lucy took a few steps closer to him, "You scared your brother half to death with your behavior!" From behind her, someone sniffled, "It's okay, I'm okay." Thomas said meekly before moving something from behind his back. "You can have my bb gun, Syd. See?" He held out the long red rifle but Lucy glared at him, "You told me you lost it. You've been hiding that up in your room this whole time haven't you." Thomas bit his lip before moving to scratch the back of his neck, "Uhhhh." Was all he said to which Lucy sighed, "You kids are going to be the death of me." She muttered under her breath before reaching out to take the bb gun from Thomas. "No guns." She emphasized before turning back to Syd. "You need to take a step back, like your father said, breathe."
with: Misty Gray ; Pyroclast ; Enzyme ; Melanin-Gxdess

 

[Enzyme]

Rhys Caddel​

Rhys inhaled his cigarette as Alistair threw questions at him. While the questions were sensible, Rhys took it as an attempt to uncover holes in his plans, an attempt on his ego. Rhys's lips lightly curved in a condescending smile, feeling as if he'd outdone Alistair by having all corners of his plan secured. Rhys knew Alistair's power, and while Rhys would love to make a fool out of the Harlem gangster, he understood how essential his assets were to this plan. Rhys would have to play ball, but if he were, it was going to be on his terms.

"I'm glad you asked," Rhys slyly replied with a smirk, his silver eyes sliding to Alistair. "These blueprints are to get a good look at the interior of his room. While breaking in and popping James would be the simple option, it's not plausible, with patrolling Porters. This is where things get a little more... " His hand fell back to the briefcase on the floor, pulling more blueprints. "Elaborate." These prints weren't for a building; however, they were for a telephone. He placed candid photographs on the table as well, focusing on glass panes where a telephone was barely visible on the other side. "This is James' desk phone - typical components, all stored in a hard shell," he explained, layering the mechanical prints to form the whole image.

"The most reliable way to do this without physically being in the room is with a controlled explosion." Rhys retrieved a list of appliances, scribbled on looseleaf paper. "With a small number of plastic explosives embedded in the phone, it would be enough to decimate his office." Rhys looked to the men around him now, taking a sip from his glass as he allowed them to absorb the information.

"I'm proposing we get James on the phone when he's at his apartment. When he picks up the phone, it will arm the blasting cap." He layered the phone blueprints with another sheet, showing the model of the explosive inside the plastic shell."This would send a signal to the detonator, and with a turn of the key," he drew, now looking up to Gabriel, "The Porters' house of cards collapses."

He sat back with a smug smile, pulling the cigarette to his lips. "The best part is, no one needs to make a quick getaway. Everyone involved is guaranteed to walk away, unscathed."

Misty Gray (Gabriel) Pyroclast (Alistair)

 

[Bugsy]

KEEGAN LYNCH
​

Brooklyn - Shell Station

The Nazari family had been in the spotlight for a long time, Keegan had remembered their name popping up more than once in passing conversation. They were a laundering business attached to the Porter's business, but only recently had they fallen behind int heir payment and as such, came as no surprise when Keegan had been called up to accompany Chris the collector to the gas station. It was a step further than just sending Chris on his own, which he had reckoned would have very little response. Keegan had remained rather quiet during the journey, either a dangerous sign or a new face for the enforcer. The death of his brother had hit harder and it seemed that they were no closer after the incident with Teddy to getting at the man who remained responsible for his death; nor had his family come any closer to an understanding or forgiveness (none which Keegan had expected after his brother had died in his arms).

Blue eyes raised from the dashboard to that of the collector, Keegan letting out a soft smirk as the car came rolling to a stop. Like Chris, Keegan donned a pair of sunglasses himself; simply moreso for effect than to keep the sun out of his eyes as he stepped out of the car into the October crisp air. Though Keegan had his own 1911 tucked into the back of his belt, he much preferred to go old school with his fists should the situation rise to such an extent. He could tell that the collector was tired of this bullshit, being pulled around to no avail, so hopefully Keegan would manage to add that next level. Maybe the Nazari family hadn't expected the move to be made, sitting on their laurels, never expecting any other heavier means of communicating the Porter's point across that they were becoming increasingly less valuable as time went on. Keegan waited for the man's cue, which would have been the second opening of the door - as they had previously discussed, before stepping into the shop, removing his sunglasses and locking eyes with Basir. It was good that the man understood the gravitas of the situation without needing to be prompted by words - Keegan stepping to one side, holding the door open for the customers to filter out.

Keegan had finally stepped in just as the last person had left, leaving the three of them remaining. He slowly went about, seemingly browsing the man's wares without too much concern or direction as he listened to the following conversation. Keegan smirked, more to himself as he picked up an item and checked it over, hearing the tone change from Basir. It was clear the man was already shaken up.

"ALL UNITS BE AWARE OF A RED 1966 TOYOTA COROLLA INVOLVED IN A GANG-RELATED SHOOTING, LAST SEEN HEADING NORTHBOUND ON EAST RINKER ROAD."

The Irishman had turned to look at Basir, no longer interested in what was offered on the shelves, his blue eyes cold as he focused on the man in front of him, narrowing the distance. His mouth making a soft hissing sound, gradually growing louder until he stopped just in line with Chris. Whatever Basir was coming up for an excuse sounded weak. For a moment Keegan did nothing before taking another step forwards, hand shooting out to grab Basir by the back of the neck, his eyes never leaving the man. "Answer him, not me."

TAG: Enzyme (Chris)

 

[Enzyme]

Shell Station​

Chris's hand found itself gripping the handle of his Colt 1911, with his arm tucked behind his back. His stare held on Basir, any human emotions exposed by his eyes were masked by tinted lenses, leaving nothing but the stark image of a cold gangster. "You fuckin' lyin' to me, you dirt bag? After everythin' we've done for your family?" Basir's mouth opened to speak, but his brain couldn't seem to formulate any words, causing him to babble incoherently. His fumbling of words was silenced by the grip on the back of his neck. His body went stiff, his eyes widening to the size of dinner plates. There was no clear indication of whether he was lying or not. Either way, he was terrified beyond comprehension because, in the end, it didn't matter what was true, the only thing that mattered was what the two Porter gangsters believed.

After a few, sweat-soaked seconds, Basir was able to find his voice. "Chris," he began slowly, "I would never do anything to jeopardize my life or my family. I have done everythin' you guys have asked, for years." He was sharply interrupted by Chris. "Don't give me that bullshit, Basir! If you were half the man you said you were, I wouldn't have to be down here with this tough guy!" Chris was right, and Basir knew it. He had to prove he wasn't a snitch, and with the family's track record with fumbling payments, he had an uphill battle to fight. "If it's about the radio, I... I can trash it" Chris didn't seem satisfied with his response, but his eyes flickered to Keegan, the seasoned veteran, for guidance.

"Please... I promise you," he stopped, knowing his begging would be futile. He wanted to desperately turn to Keegan to reason with him, but for all he knew, the enforcer already had his piece in his hand and was ready to unplug him right then in there. "The stacks are in the back, on the radiator. We packed them up this morning..." Basir's eyes sagged to the floor, afraid of what he'd see if he looked up. He hoped that would be enough to satisfy the two, but at this point, he might've already talked himself into an early grave.

As the commotion inside unfolded, a maroon Corolla pulled up at one of the pumping stations. A man in a tracksuit with a Yankees baseball cap stepped out of the driver's seat. His teeth secured a drooping, hand-rolled cigarette as he moved out from under the rafter. He looked to his passenger, giving the man a cocky smile as if they both knew something, were preparing for something. He tossed down the paper cigarette onto the gravel once he stepped up to the glass door. RING. The man in the tracksuit entered the store, the top of his head visible behind the shelves. "Just a pack of Marlboros," the man said as he scanned the lining of the shelf.

The guy, with his buddy behind him, stopped before reaching the counter, seeing the scene unfolding. "Woah, we don't want any trouble," the man informed them. He raisied his hands up slightly, incase their sudden presence caused the two gangsters to act irrationally. The man in the tracksuit paused, seemingly baffled as his eyes locked onto Keegan. "I'm sorry, you're Keegan Lynch, aren't you?" The man asked, lowering his hands slightly.

Bugsy (Keegan) Bellz (Mysterious Man)

 

[Pyroclast]

Danny Vaughan

Danny craned his neck to watch Owen move to sit beside him, offering him a light smile. He would be lying if he said he didn’t feel slightly nervous in the presence of the two men, but reasoned with himself that the meeting would most likely go better if he acted self-assured.

The way the man described the state of their apartment so nonchalantly irritated Danny - he had no idea of the level of trouble it had meant for he and Owen, not just in terms of the investigation but in their fight for survival. “Don’t have to tell us, man,” he muttered, catching sight of the gun the man briefly lifted from the drawer. It seemed like some kind of casual threat, but it didn’t faze Danny at all. Instead of pulling the gun out like he had expected, he instead offered the pair a cigarette. There was a joint in his pocket that he would much rather have smoked, but he didn’t want either of the men to think that he wasn’t taking the meeting seriously. After a moment’s hesitation, he withdrew one from the pack and lit it up.

The silence that followed was deeply uncomfortable, to the point where Danny grew bored of smoking his cigarette because it seemed to last too long. He glanced over to Owen once or twice, but otherwise did as he was told and tried to reflect on the events of the last few weeks. His brain wasn’t at its sharpest - with a pressure to be out on the streets earning money faster than usual, Danny had been doing cocaine himself from time to time to stay awake more easily. Now, despite being sober, his brain was fried and he felt physically drained. The watchful eyes of the men across the table made him shift in his seat, and he only hoped that he would be able to give the men enough information to keep them satisfied so that he could escape their company and get back to work.

After what felt like a lifetime had passed, the man with a voice brought up the murder scene at their old apartment and asked them what they knew. Danny glanced to Owen before stubbing out his cigarette, which was by now so burned down that he could hardly hold it between two fingers. “Well,” he began, clearing his throat and leaning back in his seat. “His identity was revealed as Ryan Donahue, not that I ever heard of the guy…” He looked to Owen again, unsure of how much to say. “I ain't told the cops anything that would incriminate us, if that’s what you’re askin'. Minutes after it happened, I got back to our place and distracted them so Owen could sneak in the back to secure the drugs and the money we had there without them noticing. I told them I had no idea who he was, or who blew up the place, and they've stopped grilling me so much since. I got a legit day job and no debt so they got nothin' on me. My guess is, whoever blew up our place is still out there...I don’t know if they were tryin' to stop Mr. Donahue or if it was us they were after, but…” Danny’s eyes dropped briefly before resetting them on the man across from him. “I mean, there was someone on our tail before all this happened.” It was a small lie, given that Owen had been the only one being targeted in the weeks leading up to the attack, but Danny didn’t want to land his friend in it completely. He let out a nervous breath of laughter and shook his head. "No offense, dude, but I feel like I'm talking to the cops right now..."

Interactions
Fletchawk Owen
Misty Gray Adam, Trent

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy​

Jackson smiled back at Conor as the man seemed to lighten up. Conor was beginning to form a depression shell, and whenever Jackson could shine light through the cracks, he considered that a victory. Leaning back to the table, he pulled the burning cigar from the ashtray and clamped it between his teeth. Once Conor got the windows open, the refreshing October breeze blew the collective smoke, disturbing the strand that had climbed to the ceiling. "Better, innit?" Jackson tipped his beer to the group on the couch, shrugging before taking a swig. As Warren offered to watch the kids, Jackson cracked a smile. "Careful there, Warren. If those kids find out about that bloody prize on ye' head, they might just team up on you."

Jackson's attention was drawn to the car arriving in the driveway. With a mouth full of beer, he motioned his hand to the window beside the door, assuming that it was Syd finally coming home. "Oi, isn't that them?" Jackson asked, forcing the gulp down.

Jackson had looked away for a second, missing Syd nearly breaking through the front door. His head snapped back to the kid as he demanded a gun. Jackson hardly had any time to process what was going on, before Syd was in the kitchen, ripping drawers out. His confusion matched Conor's, which he shared with a cocked eyebrow. While he wanted to stand up to assess the situation, he couldn't deny how comfortable he was with his arm around his wife. With James and Lucy in the kitchen, he knew they were more than capable of stopping him from doing anything rash. From there, Jackson sunk back on the couch and took another sip of his beer.

James helped fill the missing information when he addressed Syd, which brought to light that this was more than just Syd having a panic attack. Something serious had happened to Roxie, a kidnapping perhaps. Jackson arched his brows, looking over his shoulder at James. Had the Italians kidnapped Roxie under their noses? That tangent brought Jackson back to the conversation he'd had with Conor, where he'd been told about their rat therapist. Jackson looked to Conor, who had seemingly already stumbled across the same question, evident by his stare. "Wait a second. Didn't you lot have some shrink workin' for them? Maddox, is it?" Jackson shifted over the couch to look at James and Syd. "Can't we just get that lil' fuckin' weasel to go find out?" Jackson asked.

Misty Gray (Conor/James) Pyroclast (Syd) Bellz (Blake/Lucy) Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana)

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

Shortly after beginning to tear into the cupboards and drawers, Syd was interrupted - but not in the way he expected. James seemed angry at him for getting upset, which stunned him just enough to listen to his words. He looked at him, tears welling in his red-raw eyes, his head shaking of its own accord. "We need to be armed, dad!" he argued, taking a step back and raising his arms in anguish. "We can't leave this house without weapons, you know that's how it works! We need to go now! Right fucking now! We have no time to waste sitting around. She needs our help, before she...before they..." Syd's voice tapered off, gripped by a fresh wave of distress as he thought about the possibility of it being too late, and he wrapped his arms tight around himself as all control of his breathing was dominated by the panic.

Lucy soon entered the room and began to berate him for his aggressive behaviour towards Thomas. That got his attention - he had never wanted to hurt Thomas, but when he looked at the young boy and saw the tears in his eyes, he felt terrible. After assuring him that he was okay, Thomas then produced a BB gun from behind his back and offered it to Syd. He didn't know how to respond to the boy's generosity after what he had just done to him. It worried him that he was concerning himself with such things, and knew that he was responsible for burdening him, but it still moved him to see him try to help. While their mother told him off for lying and hiding the gun from her, Syd only stared at his little brother, a mixture of love and guilt pouring from his eyes where he couldn't find the words to express himself. Still stunned by the sweet gesture, he turned to his mother with wide eyes when she told him to take a step back and breathe. But he couldn't breathe, nor could he speak. He just stared at her and held himself, shaking with fear as the image of Roxie flashed across his mind again, her screams and the dark liquid oozing from the knife wound on her belly, right where it was starting to curve. He felt sick, and totally helpless - with his parents seemingly not on his side, he could only imagine the worst outcome and it crippled him from the inside.

Even in his heightened emotional state, however, his ears caught the name 'Maddox' be mentioned from the other room and, as though a switch had flicked, his body suddenly launched into action and in a matter of seconds he found himself standing over Jackson. "What the fuck did you just say?" he asked, pointing a finger at his Godfather, his burning eyes laced with terror. "He's - he's not around anymore, he's gone. We don't have contact with that man anymore. If we did, he'd be dead. Fucking dead, got it?" Syd's lip trembled and he bit down on it in a feeble attempt to lessen his unstable appearance. But then he raised his hands to his head and stepped back. "I knew he'd start, I knew he'd try to kill us all - of course he would fucking do this," he thought aloud, kicking the coffee table so hard that an empty whiskey tumbler fell onto the floor and smashed. But Syd didn't even hear it - all he could hear were Roxie's screams, and his regrets for not trying to do more to stop Maddox from hurting his family. "Why did he have to start with her," he cried. "She's more innocent than any of us, and she's pregnant for God's sake!" By now, he had lost almost all control of himself, hands moving to cover his eyes as he paced frantically, glass crunching underfoot. But with his eyes closed, all he could see was the same, horrifying footage. A knife sliced across her stomach and Syd doubled over, letting out a sob as he wondered if she was even still pregnant.

Interactions
Misty Gray James, Conor, Savannah
Bellz Lucy, Thomas, Blake
Enzyme Jackson
Melanin-Gxdess Aliana

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan and James Porter
Savannah Callahan​

Savannah had been excited when the car pulled up outside. It had been quite some time since she'd seen Syd and she was relieved he was finally coming back home. The smile was soon wiped from her face when the man made his unexpectedly frantic entrance. As voices were raised, James mentioned Roxie and hearing her friend was in trouble was upsetting to Savannah. "Wait. Roxie?!" she worriedly asked, but her voice was drowned out by the louder and more aggressive voices in the room.

James' eyes shot to Thomas as the boy returned into the room and held out a BB gun as an offering to Syd. "Jesus Christ..." he muttered under his breath. He was about to berate Thomas for having the BB gun, but Lucy stepped in first to take it from him and telling him off for having it. This allowed James to keep his attention on Syd, deciding to have a talk with Thomas once the present situation with his eldest son was dealt with. Things apparently weren't going to be calmed down as quickly as he hoped as Jackson's voice could be heard mentioning Maddox.

With things apparently not about to quieten any time soon, Savannah's attention moved to Thomas who looked altogether upset by the situation. As much as she was concerned for her friend, she knew she'd be of little use trying to figure out how to get Roxie back and instead decided she could help by reassuring Thomas. Growing up in Dublin had come with a different war - one against the IWU. Savannah had been a child during those years and she'd seen similar turmoil to what her family was now experiencing in New York. Loved ones being hurt, threatened and killed. She knew how her younger cousin felt to be a child stuck in that environment. "Thomas, come on," she softly spoke, taking hold of the boy's hand. "Let them sort this out whilst we get some air." She led Thomas out of the room and towards the door that led to the back garden where Warren was already out distracting the other children.

*****​

Jackson had apparently had the same thoughts as Conor as he went on to ask about the counsellor and if the man could be used to help them find Roxie. Since admitting the truth, Maddox had seemed to be keeping his end of the deal. Syd was evidence the man had kept to his word about getting him out of the hospital and the glowing reports he'd submitted about to Conor to the parole board added further confirmation. "Yeah, mate. We could--" Conor was held off from continuing as Syd rushed into the room and addressed Jackson in a highly aggressive manner. Clearly, Syd had not yet had the news about Maddox broken to him.

"Back off, Syd!" Conor firmly told him, stepping forward to put himself between his nephew and Jackson, if necessary. Syd seemed convinced that Maddox was out of contact with the family, otherwise he'd be dead. Conor quickly shook his head as his nephew carried on. "This isn't him. Whoever took Roxie, it's not him," he assured Syd, confident the counsellor had nothing to do with Roxie's kidnapping. When Syd kicked the coffee table, Conor's jaw tightened before making the decision it was time to tell Syd about Maddox. Predicting further aggression or even a violent reaction, Conor did't want Syd in the middle of the room with others in the potential firing line. Conor placed a firm hand on Syd's chest and led his nephew to back away from the centre of the room, stopping when his nephew's back was close to one of walls.

"Dr. Parker isn't behind what's happening to Roxie." Conor moved his hand away from Syd's chest but maintained eye-contact with him. "The reason you got out today is because he's been working with me to get you out and he's been getting information on the Morettis for us. I don't know where Roxie is and I doubt you know either. But, we can use Parker to help us find out. We have to use what we can to help us get her back," he said, deciding to start with the more positive aspects before admitting to the parts that would likely upset Syd. Still, Syd needed to hear the unpleasant parts too. "You were right about him, though. He was messing with your head and with mine too. He was working for Moretti until he came to me and admitted to everything. The reason the prick ain't fucking dead is because we needed him alive; to get you out of that hospital and to keep me out of jail..."

Bellz Enzyme Pyroclast

​

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

Focusing his rage onto Conor now, Syd shot a glare in his direction. "Why are you defending him?" he snapped, instantly suspicious of his uncle's confident tone as he assured Syd that Maddox wasn't to blame for Roxie's kidnapping. "How the hell would you know that? What, are you on his side, now?" Having Conor's hand forcefully push against his chest took him completely by surprise; the manhandling repulsed him, but when he tried to escape it, he only found himself backed up against one of the walls. When at last Conor took his hand away, Syd was breathing heavily, leaning away from the man in fear. He didn't move too far, however, as he soon found himself hung up on Conor's words.

Everything he was hearing was hard to digest and he raised a hand to his head as he struggled to comprehend it all. For a second Syd said nothing, but his anger was beginning to rise up again until it reached the point where he couldn't keep it to himself anymore. "You...you've been...working with him?" he asked, his eyes raising to meet Conor's. Syd had really believed that he had earned his right to leave the hospital, that he had left because he was actually well enough. To learn that Maddox had done it as some act of atonement for his crimes completely shattered his sense of achievement. All of the progress he thought he had made now meant nothing to him. "You actually trust him? After what he did? What he put us through?" His voice grew louder as he hurled accusations at Conor, stepping away from the wall to properly face him. "We have lost so much - our family has been spied on, tortured, killed, kidnapped, put in hospital - and he spent four years using me and you to make all of that happen because he wanted, he wanted to watch us fall! I don't care if he says he's changed, Conor - until a month ago, he was hell bent on sending me into an early grave. You didn't see the look on his face, you didn't see what I saw!" The memory of Maddox standing over him on the day of his suicide attempt came back to haunt him again, fuelling his rage even more as it only encouraged him to believe that Conor was blind to the man's cruelty. It almost felt like he was trying to make Syd question how he remembered that day. "There's no fucking way he could change his mind so suddenly after all the time he's spent trying to kill us and you're a fucking idiot if you believe him now."

Syd reached up to wipe away the tears that were clouding his eyes, and noticed that his hands had clenched into tight fists. He fixed a fierce glare on Conor, trying to read him, but all he felt when he looked into his uncle's eyes was betrayal and so he simply shook his head. "How could you..." His whole body was tensed up - he was on edge, fuelled by fear and aggression. What hurt even more was the thought that no one, not even his parents, had told him about their cooperation with Maddox to help get him out of the hospital. They were all in the room with him now, watching him, and they had known all along. Syd had spent every waking moment worrying about not being able to protect his family from him, and all the while, they were going behind his back to team up with the very man who had coerced him into attempting to commit suicide. "You made everyone fucking lie to me -" he roared, his anger finally bursting out of him as he slammed his fist into his uncle's face.

Interactions
Misty Gray Conor, James
Bellz Lucy, Blake
Enzyme Jackson
Melanin-Gxdess Aliana

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan​

Conor stood on the spot, not breaking his stare as he listened to Syd go off on one about him working with Maddox. Although he had a lot he wanted to say in response to Syd's words, he forced himself to ride it out. To let Syd get it all off of his chest whilst also getting to hear exactly how the younger man felt. It hurt to hear how his nephew felt about it all. To make him once again question if he'd done right by his family. But after hearing of the state Syd was in at the hospital and seeing how upset Lucy was at seeing her son locked away, how could he not do anything to get the lad back home? Conor was about to speak up, but Syd continued on, calling Conor an idiot for believing Maddox.

"You're standing here, aren't you? Not still stuck in that fucking hospital!" Conor raised his voice back to Syd. "Do you really think I don't care about what he did to this family? How hard it was not to kill him when I found out..." Conor wasn't even sure if Syd was listening, as he was clearly still caught up in the shock and the anger was making him continue in his tirade. Perhaps this was what it was like to be James. To be forced to make a decision that would either way have unwanted consequences. Maybe Conor would have to accept his nephew would now hate him, but it was still preferable to the alternative of him never coming home.

Conor was snapped out of his thoughts when Syd accused him of making everyone lie to him. This was followed by the younger man punching Conor in the face. The instinctive response was to punch him right back and add in another for good measure. The fact his nephew was already going through so much was the reason he wasn't already taking a beating in retaliation for throwing his fist. Still, Conor wasn't about to just take it like it was all okay. Conor's arm snapped up, grabbing the wrist of the hand Syd had just hit him with. Conor then twisted the younger man's arm behind his back before pressing him up, face first, against the wall. "Alright, Syd. You get back in that car and let your parents take you back to that fucking hospital," he growled at his nephew.

Conor loosened his hold over Syd before pushing him away and letting go of him completely. He remained on the spot, ready to react should Syd attack him again. "You're out of here because he put your meds right and stepped aside to get you a better shrink," he said, pausing to catch his breath back. "But if you're so against what I did, you go back to that hospital. I'll drive myself down to the police station and hand myself in. Because any other action I could have taken would have resulted in you dead in your padded cell and me back in prison waiting for the same fucking fate." Conor hadn't thought the last few weeks could get any worse, but clearly he'd been wrong. He clenched his fists as he tried to fend off his anger. "So. Am I smashing Parker's head in and going back to prison, or are we actually going to try help Roxie?" he finally asked, bringing his hand to his mouth to dab at the blood that was now leaking from the cut on his lip.

Bellz Enzyme Pyroclast

 

[Fletchawk]

Owen Yu​

His nostrils flared, catching the grimace before it showed on his face. Sitting down in such a situation made Owen uneasy, as he was normally in and out when it came to dealing with these kinds of people, which he preferred given their violent tendencies. Still, Owen did as he was told without a word. He froze when the handgun made a brief appearance, watching its wielder's every movement until it was put away.

Owen took the cigarette that was offered to him, but swapped it for the rollie that was tucked behind his ear after nodding in thanks. While he was doing his best to maintain a facade of calmness, such as leaning back into his seat, his toes instinctively kept trying to grip the ground through his shoes as he tried to establish escape routes in a casual. The lack of obvious exits played more on his nerves than Misty Gray watching them from across the desk, but the cigarette kept his hands busy and his breathing in check.

When the questions started flowing, Owen realized that information on Ryan Donahue was what the man was after. To what ends, Owen couldn't be sure, but now he knew why his presence was requested. After all, if they actually suspected Pyroclast of being a snitch, they wouldn't have let him know that they suspected him. Of course, this was all based on what Father had told him regarding to how those in organized crime operated, so he could only hope that he was right, but it made more sense than the other possibilities that terrorized his thoughts.

Danny wasn't handling the pressure as well as he hoped, especially since it obvious that he was intentionally withholding information. Likely to try to protect Owen, but it was exactly the information that he was sure the man was trying to get out of him. Then to top it off, his roommate compared the gangster to a cop.

"That's because he's pumping you," Owen said, breaking his silence to try to distract the man. He paused a moment, deciding on how much to say about the letter, but decided to not specify unless needed, "Mr. Donahue tailed me for about a month before he caught me at Danny's to deliver a letter. I'd never met the man before he showed up at Danny's door. I guess he wasn't as good as noticing a tail, because there was an African creeping by the staircase that started blasting after I pointed him out. After he shoved me aside and took to the locks, he made sure I had the letter and told me to meet him at an Emerald Pub. Didn't see the point in going though, since he kicked the bucket. He said scram, and I didn't need telling twice. Didn't see what happened after, and I was on the street when the bomb went off. Then I ran to tell Danny."

Owen crooked his head sideways at Danny, "Sorry, I didn't fill you in on all the little details. Didn't think it was important," he lied, in an attempt to make Danny's fumbling look like a lack of information instead of withholding to the gangster. But his attention quickly returned to the man, as he had questions of his own.

"So who was he? Or should we try to forget this ever happened?" he asked, fighting the urge to smoke the second cigarette.

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter ​

Syd was refusing to calm down and despite her best efforts to remain calm, she was beginning to lose her patience. Before she could tell him once again to just breathe, Jackson spoke up about Maddox and Lucy cringed. Lucy's eyes moved to Thomas and was relieved to see that Savannah was leading him out of the room. She had one less kid to worry about, at least at the moment. Syd suddenly stood over Jackson and Lucy took a couple more steps forward. "Syd!" She called, trying to grab his attention. He spoke about Maddox as if he was to blame for this whole ordeal but Lucy knew it wasn't true. Conor was keeping him in line and she had total confidence in him. But seeing Syd the way he was now was causing her to rethink their decision of getting him out.

Conor stepped between Syd and Jackson causing Lucy's heart to skip a beat as she kept her eyes on her son not daring to look away. Blake shifted, standing up as she stared at Syd carefully. "You better watch your tone." She warned the man as she moved to grab her husband's hand. Syd's emotions were getting the best of him again, he was unstable. Lucy gasped as Syd kicked the table causing a whiskey tumbler to fall to the ground, shattering into pieces. A burning in Lucy's chest was starting to spread slowly through her, anxiety was holding her captive as she found herself unable to move any closer to Syd. She was honestly terrified of what he was going to do, the last time he had been like this he had tried to kill himself. Conor placed a hand on him and Lucy shook her head, "Conor, that's not-" He had her son against the wall and she knew what he did when he was back into a corner. Helplessly, Lucy looked over at James, panic in her eyes as Conor's words echoed in the large lounge. The disbelief in her son's voice caused Lucy to close her eyes. His voice only grew louder and Lucy's heart pounded in her chest, knowing he wouldn't be happy about any of this.

Fear continued to hold her paralyzed, hoping that her brother would be able to handle her son when she clearly could not. Guilt for passing on such a burden to him flooded through her. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, Lucy spoke up, "Syd, please, you have to think about this rationally!" His whole body tensed like a snake ready to strike and right before her very eyes, he struck her younger brother in the face. Conor was quick to grab his wrist, twisting his arm back before pressing Syd's face against the wall. Lucy had dropped the bb gun that was in her hand, rushing towards the two men before forcing herself between them. Conor asked Syd a question but Lucy's ears were ringing too loudly for her to hear. He had told Syd to go back to the hospital and Lucy was feeling like they had put too much faith into him and his recovery. "Give me one fucking reason why I shouldn't drag your ass back to that hospital, Syd." She hissed as she reached out and grab her son's face between her hand. "I will let you push me around but don't you ever put your hands on my little brother again, do you understand me?!" She squeezed his face tighter before letting go completely. She pointed a finger at him, getting very close to his face as she wagged it around, "You clearly haven't made any progress because you taking your anger out on the wrong people!! You came in here like a tornado and tore everything apart in your wake, Syd! Do you think Roxie would approve of this behavior?? Do you think she wants to be with someone who abuses hjs family because he doesn't know how to handle himself? You are an abuser!! To a family who took you in when your parents were abusing you! Lucy's eyes burned with tears as she shook with anger, her face bright red.

Lucy was aware of the people around her and aware that she needed to start deflating the situation. Growling, Lucy grabbed her son's shirt by the collar and harshly tugged it so he would follow her. She was shaking violently as she drug him into James' office, wanting privacy away from everyone else. She didn't sit when she closed the door, "Sit down!" She barked at Syd, making sure he was seated before continuing on. "I know you want to find Roxie, I know you are scared for your child but Syd, for fuck sake! You are going to be a father! Start acting like one!" Her voice didn't lower as she crossed her arms, fists clenched. "This family is stronger when we are together, Conor did what he had to do but it seems like getting you out of there was a mistake! None of us deserves your temper-tantrums, NONE OF US. The only person who is tearing us apart is YOU. Not Maddox, not the Moretti's. YOU." Lucy didn't say anything after that for a few moments, allowing herself to catch her breath. Tears rolled down her face and Lucy moved her hands to her hair, giving it a harsh tug as she squeezed her eyes shut.

She was feeling like she was spiraling. Sure it was James' and hers responsibility to keep Syd in line but this incident in particularly was all her fault. Lucy was desperate to have her son home that she ignored the fact that it may have been too soon for him to leave. Her whole family was suffering because she was blinded by her emotions. Letting go of her hair, Lucy shook her head as her glossy eyes looked at her son once more. "I really thought you were ready...you looked so good today, I was so relieved. But I'm a horrible mother for selfishly taking you out of that hospital before you were ready. I tried so hard to make sure you were protected from this horrible life Syd. That's all I wanted but I failed, all of the trauma you have, I was suppose to bear those burdens for you. Look at you, I created this side of you. The old Syd, my son...he's gone." Staring openly at him, Lucy's eyes were full of guilt and regret. The shadow of who Syd use to be was fading away from her aging memory and was slowly starting to be replaced by this monster.
with: Syd Pyroclast
mentions: James + Conor Misty Gray ; Jackson Enzyme Melanin-Gxdess

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy​

Jackson's eyes narrowed on Syd as the boy snapped at him. His relaxed demeanor didn't flinch, but his expression turned cold as ice. He moved his arm off of Blake and sat up in a more alert position, staring up into Syd's tear-stained eyes. The kid looked hysterical, like a cornered, rabid dog, snarling at anyone who stepped close. As Syd's foot collided with the coffee table, Jackson's hand grabbed his beer by its neck, saving it from the hardwood floor. "Watch who yer' talkin' to, lad," Jackson grumbled, sitting back against the cushion.

Conor stepped in as Syd's tornado of rage spun into the living room, attempting to contain his destruction. Jackson let out an exasperated sigh as Conor managed to trap Syd in the corner. He shook his head at what Syd had become. No matter how much counseling he'd received, he was still an emotional wreck. Perhaps there was no going back. Maybe this was permanent. It was as if the sweet, happy boy he once trained was gone. He had been dragged from his shell, with only the emotional, unstable baggage left behind. Whether there was still hope for him or not, this had to have been rock bottom.

The situation seemed to be simmering, up until Syd threw a wild punch into Conor's face. Jackson instinctually stood up and moved behind Conor as his friend was socked. He wasn't sure what he was going to do if he got to Syd. The last thing he wanted to do was beat up his godson, but the kid desperately needed to be put in his place. The last people you ever put your hands on is your family, and what Syd had done to his uncle was unacceptable. Before Jackson had to juggle the option to step in and take Syd down, Lucy yanked Syd from the room. His rampage was ended by the slamming of the door, isolating the others from the scene. The only thing left was Lucy's muffled screaming, bleeding through the cracks of the doorframe.

"Fuckin' ay'..." Jackson mumbled, rubbing his jaw. He knew better than to ask if Conor was alright. Being in a dark space, only to be punched in the face, he was sure Conor was ready to strangle the life out of his nephew. They needed to direct their anger elsewhere. Jackson leaned against the wall with his beer, allowing their fuse to burn out slowly. "About Maddox," Jackson started, looking back to Conor. "You give me his address, and I'll take care of it." The look in his eyes suggested he was deathly serious. Whatever plans he had that day were gone, he was ready to up and leave that very moment.

Pyroclast (Syd) Misty Gray (Conor) Bellz (Lucy)

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

It all happened so quickly that Syd could only struggle against his uncle's vice-like grip as he was pressed into the wall. It paralleled the way the nurses and security staff had handled him in the hospital, causing him to wonder if he had truly escaped. He was no longer a man, but a wild animal that had to be restrained. Until he learned to manage his emotions, that was all anyone would ever treat him as. Already having lost enough self-worth to make an attempt on his own life, pressed up against the wall he could only believe that nothing had improved since then. The only reason he had been released from hospital was because they had cheated the system. He didn't deserve to be at home - he didn't belong there. The whole house was infected by a thick tension and Syd could feel everyone's eyes on him, everyone's shame and disappointment. Nobody wanted him there. With Conor suggesting that he let James and Lucy take him back to the psychiatric hospital, Syd found himself unable to deny that perhaps the man was right.

When he eventually pushed him away, Syd stumbled into the centre of the room and then stopped, raising his arms to hold himself. He was breathing heavily, struggling to recover from his burst of violent anger. As he listened to Conor he found himself rendered speechless. It was a lot to take on top of the highly distressing news he had received just a few minutes before. To accept that Maddox was still around and working with his family - to think that Syd was expected to owe gratitude towards the man who had driven him to suicide only added to his shock. Nevertheless, his uncle was making some sense; Syd definitely didn't want Conor to spend the rest of his life in prison, which would almost certainly happen if he murdered the highly-respected counsellor. No matter how much he wanted to see Maddox Parker six feet underground, right now, finding Roxie was his biggest priority.

Lucy jumped between the pair of them and when Syd finally looked up, he saw how Jackson was standing behind Conor as though ready to step in. Syd flinched as his furious mother reached out and grabbed his face, demanding a reason why he shouldn't be sent back to Hudson. Syd's heart raced as all the hope he had built up over the past month threatened to leave him, the possibility of being torn from his home once again becoming more and more real. He knew how much his mother had wanted him home - or at least, he thought he had - but to hear her now argue that he hadn't made any progress, that he was an abuser and that Roxie would be ashamed of him, made him severely doubt his place in the family. Just like he had told himself when he had had his PA-15 pressed against his head, he returned to believing that his family would all be better off without him.

Before he could work out a response, Lucy grabbed him by the collar and pulled him out of the room and into James' office, closing them off from the rest of the household with a slam of the door. Still in the same fearful, obedient mindset that the hospital staff had trained him into, Syd didn't hesitate to sit down when he was told. Glancing up to her, he struggled to remember a time when he had seen his mother this upset and angry. Even during his previous outbursts and breakdowns, she had always maintained some level of composure, always had some compassion left for him. Now, however, it appeared that she had reached the end of her tether and Syd was afraid there would be no coming back from it. Eyes brimming with fresh tears, Syd hung his head, filled with shame and guilt. He was an imposter in his own home, in his own family. His mother told him that he was the one causing his family's downfall, more so than Moretti or Maddox ever had been, and in that moment he could find no reason not to believe her. He kept his eyes on the ground, too shaken to move. Hearing her blame herself for thinking he was better hurt even more because he had really believed that he was better, too. Despite all of his suffering, the loneliness and the traumatic treatment that he had experienced in the hospital, Syd had felt himself gradually become more stable and more sure of himself. However, having been met with the ultimate test of his self-control and ability to handle his emotions just minutes after being discharged, he didn't feel stable at all. Lucy ended her speech by telling him that he was now completely detached from his old self, that she had lost her son, and she spoke with such conviction, such finality that Syd grew terrified of himself. In that moment, he had no idea who he was anymore.

He sat there for several minutes, as his suicidal thoughts twisted through his mind, taunting him and challenging him. They arrived with such tumultuous force that he felt like he might be sick again if he moved, so he just remained still while Lucy stood over him, folded over himself and shivering in his seat. "I-I'm..." he eventually murmured, interrupted by a lapse in confidence. He was afraid that anything he might say could anger his mother further, and, aware that she was crying, that was the last thing he wanted. Their entire 22-year-long relationship seemed suddenly to be hanging by a thread. "I'm sorry." Syd leaned down further until he was almost falling out of his chair, shrinking down to match his measure of self-worth. "I'm still here, I promise," he attempted, hoping with every fibre of his consciousness that she wouldn't just disregard him and completely give up. His voice was weak from the shame and nausea that dominated his body. "Please don't give up on me. I'm sorry I hurt everyone all the time. I don't want to. I'm just scared of losing her." More thick tears broke across his face and he bit down on his lip, terrified that he had lost his family and wouldn't be given any more chances. "I'm not going back to that place. I'll kill myself before you can send me back. But Roxie needs me and I can't -" His breath hitched as he pictured her losing hope in ever being found. "I can't let her down. Please let me make things right, please don't send me back, please. Mam..." Syd let his head drop into his hands and tried to stifle his cries, which came out as nothing more than a whimper. If getting upset again meant losing his family and his freedom, he had to make every effort to suppress his feelings. "I'm sorry."

Being out of the room for a moment, away from the horrified eyes of his family, Syd felt marginally less overwhelmed. Coming from a hospital where he had no friends to being surrounded by people waiting to celebrate his return and pay attention to him, he felt drained and anxious. He was sure he could have managed it fine if he hadn't just learned of the trouble Roxie and his baby were in, but in the given circumstances, he found the busy room of people to be stifling and fed into his already heightened state of anxiety and stress. Still, he knew he had to return eventually. When he did enter the room again, he did so with extreme caution, slowly edging around the door and looking between everyone with immense shame in his eyes. "I'm sorry for storming in before," he drew out, taking a deep breath to calm himself down before looking over to Conor. His hand still held onto the door, ready to leave as he expected everyone would command him to. He still felt unsure of the man's decision to trust Maddox, nor had he got over the fact that his whole family had kept the truth from him. However, he loved his family more than he could ever hate his old counsellor, so after all the fear his mother had instilled in him about potentially being cast out of his family forever, Syd had to decide whether it was worth losing them over. "I'm sorry I punched you, Uncle Conor. That wasn't right. I hope you'll forgive me." His head dropped, wishing he could go back and start all over again. He had missed everyone so much while he had been away, and now, after the way he had acted, he wasn't sure how to express how much it meant to him to finally be back with them. "I-I need..." he started, struggling to ask for anything now that he believed he wasn't worth his place in the family. "Roxie needs your help. Please."

Interactions
Misty Gray Conor, James
Enzyme Jackson
Bellz Lucy, Blake
Melanin-Gxdess Aliana

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan and James Porter​

James had stood by Lucy's side as Syd continued his tirade. Confident Conor and Jackson could fend off the younger man, he accepted Lucy's hand whilst giving it a reassuring squeeze. This was all already difficult for her and James was concerned for her health as the stresses kept piling up. When his son kicked the coffee table, James sprang forward but stopped himself as he remained aware of Conor towering over the man, so doubted outnumbering Syd would make the situation any better. This was followed by Conor pushing Syd back towards the wall and away from centre of everyone. He expected Syd would feel cornered by the move but he was also confident Conor could physically handle himself. Catching Lucy's helpless look, James stepped closer to her to try help calm her nerves.

Another part of why James was holding back from kicking off at Syd was the fact he believed this was Conor's place to explain what was happening with Maddox. James supported his brother-in-law's decision and believed it to be the wisest, most proactive course of action. Still, there was the natural and perhaps emotionally-driven part of James, lurking deep in the back of his mind, that understood Syd's anger. James would like nothing more than to pay a visit to Maddox and kill the bastard for screwing with the family. That was something even James couldn't push away completely. Regardless, logic would always win over and the benefits to working with Maddox outweighed anything he'd get out of murdering the counsellor. James was sure Conor could explain the situation to Syd with more conviction than he might.

"SYD!" James' voice roared when his son hit Conor. Suddenly, James' confidence in Conor being able to handle Syd turned into fear that Conor really could handle Syd. The last thing he wanted was for his son to be on the receiving end of Conor's violent temper. "Luce--" James began, stepping forward and hoping to stop his wife from getting caught up on the violence. Much to James' relief, Conor didn't beat the crap out of Syd and instead restrained him against the wall. Once again, James recognised how much his brother-in-law had changed and he couldn't help but take further hope from the man's display of self-control. Soon enough, Lucy dragged Syd away to the office and James followed them, only stopping when the door was slammed shut before he could enter. He nodded to himself, knowing this was something he would be wiser to step back from. Not only would he end up shouting at his son, but he'd also get in the way of the progress Lucy was likely to make in her more tactful way of handling their son. James returned to the lounge, stopping in the doorway so he could keep listening to the raised voices coming from his office. If a change in tone or cause for him to be concerned arose, he wouldn't hesitate to storm into his office to step in.

*****​

When Syd was dragged off by Lucy, Conor let out a low growl before gliding his tongue across his bottom lip to brush away the blood. Were the situation not so tense and dramatic, Conor might have found some humour in the way Lucy had stepped in and berated Syd for hitting her 'little brother'. Regardless, it was reassuring to know Lucy wasn't disappointed with him about the way he'd handled Syd. Conor shook his head as Lucy and Syd left the room, then let out a long, exasperated breath. His attention was drawn to Jackson as the man mumbled something. Conor simply nodded his head in acknowledgement of the messy situation. His friend soon mentioned Maddox, which was enough to pull Conor away from dwelling on how much it seemed like his nephew now hated him.

"No, mate..." he began to deny Jackson's suggestion that he paid the counsellor a visit. Conor felt it was his place to deal with Maddox and he shouldn't expect his friend to get involved in the mess. However, given what had just happened, Conor wasn't sure if he'd be as restrained as he had been. What if seeing how hurt Syd had been only drove him to kill Maddox to make his nephew feel better? Conor was sure he wouldn't go that far, but the fact there was doubt was enough to know he could risk it. Eventually, Conor nodded his head to Jackson and moved to the notepad by the telephone to scrawl down the address of Maddox's apartment. He handed the piece of paper to Jackson. "If we can keep the bloke alive, I'd appreciate that," he reminded him, obviously referring to his fragile parole. "And be careful. Make sure no Morettis are spying on his place," he was quick to add. Perhaps another strong reason for the likes of himself or James to avoid being seen at the counsellor's place was how easily they'd stand out to any Moretti spies.

James had been listening and had no arguments with Jackson's suggestion of visiting Maddox. They needed to utilise all resources they had at their disposal to find out where Roxie was and hopefully get to her in time. Soon, the voices in the office had quietened down before Lucy and Syd emerged from the room. When he began to apologise, James sent his son a reassuring nod. There was a lot to talk about and still a long way for Syd to go, but James couldn't reject him or shun him for what had happened. Syd was his son and he cared too much about him to keep pushing him away.

Conor turned from Jackson when he heard Syd's voice. He looked over to his nephew and studied him for a moment, seeing the lad was now much calmer. Maybe Lucy's talk had successfully calmed him down. Conor didn't like being physically or verbally attacked, so he was inclined to keep his distance from Syd out of disappointment. However, the unexpected turnaround and apology that came from his nephew caused Conor to have a quick change of heart. Syd was family and the fact he'd sucked up his pride to offer an apology for punching him was all Conor needed to forgive the lad on the spot. "Yeah. That was a bit of a dick move, wasn't it?" Conor drily replied, though his features softened. "Of course I forgive you, mate, and how about we don't do that shit again?" he suggested, flashing a brief smile.

When Syd then mentioned Roxie needed their help, Conor motioned in Jackson's direction. "You've got it. Jackson's going to pay Parker a visit and see what information we can squeeze from the bloke. The rest of us will see what information we can find out from other sources in the meantime..." he said, pausing as he looked to James to make sure the boss was on board.

"Exactly what Conor said," James spoke up, unable to shake off the positive observations he was making about Conor. James headed towards the telephone so he could start making some calls now the shouting and tension had died down.

Bellz Enzyme Pyroclast

 

[Bugsy]

KEEGAN LYNCH

Shell Station

Keegan could only apply more pressure to Basir's neck, less than he wanted but more to make the man squirm. His mother had tried to teach him not to play with his food, but considering the grounds that he was treading on now, he was going to defy that rule. When Basir started to babble about the radio, and whether or not they needed to trash it, he had gone to meet Chris's eyes - raising a brow and jerking his head towards where the radio sound had come from. "I think we can find use for it." There was no point in it being found in Basir's posession, the Porter's might as well commandeer the radio for themselves to stay one step ahead of the game when it came to the cops. It had been a while since he had popped anyone in such close proximity; never having gotten the chance with Teddy or the man before him. His hand held Basir down, his other having grabbed his piece. Keegan brought the muzzle to gently graze against Basir's neck. "Better start with those prayers, Basir."

That was when Basir answered them, that the stacks were on the radiator in the back. Keegan had glanced up when the door had rang, his blue eyes narrowing as he watched the figures walking in. He shifted himself so that his piece was hidden and it simply looked as if he was an unhappy customer. There were two of them. Keegan flicked his eyes between the man behind the shelves, only his top of his head showing and that of the man with the tracksuit looked as if he had ran straight into the headlights of an oncoming car, Keegan could sense recognition when he saw it - let alone being asked by his full name.

It had his hairs on the back of his neck standing, his eyes focused on the man in the tracksuit. His lips pressed in a thin line, his brows furrowed. Muscles in his body tensed as his hand was never that far from his piece, his eyes never leaving that of the man in front of him. "Fucks asking?"

TAG: Enzyme (Chris), Bellz (mystery man) - sorry for the shortness of the post!

 

[Enzyme]

Shell Station​

Basir's eyes shut tight as he heard the sound of a hammer being cocked, along with the cool steel rubbing against his neck. This was it for him, and it was all at the hands of his foolish brother, Ahmed. The sounds of the door jingling were that of music as Basir's eyes shot open. The two men who walked in were a gift from God, and maybe enough to intervene in his murder. As the man questioned Keegan about his identity, Basir contemplated if he should shout for their help. If the men didn't intrude, it would solidify his fate. Perhaps if he stayed quiet and didn't complicate things for the collecter and the enforcer, his life would be spared.

The man in the tracksuit cocked a nefarious smirk as Keegan practically verified who he was. He didn't need a solid confirmation, as he'd been given a picture of his target prior. The prize on Keegan's head had bounced around the Moretti soldiers for months, none ever able to collect it, most too afraid to attempt. The man in the tracksuit was going to do what none of his brothers could. "The last guy you'll ever look at," the man spat, brandishing his loaded Steyr GB into sight. Before anyone in the room could so much as twitch, the man slammed back the trigger six times. The first round caught Basir in the neck, as the man had been standing in front of Keegan. Basir's eyes widened as the 9mm round ripped clear through his esophagus, finding its way through his tissue and into the bridge of Keegan's nose.

The next four rounds scattered into Keegan's thorax, ripping through the front of his shirt and lodging themselves into his organs, causing bursts of blood to shoot back out the entrance wounds. The last bullet fired spat directly into Keegan's skull, landing just above his right eyebrow. The man continued to fire with a wild stare, even after Keegan had crumbled. His finger slowly slipped off the trigger only after the bouncing combustions had nearly deafened everyone still standing. This ended the ballet of gunfire, to which the accumulated smoke from the firearms rose to the ceiling and activated the sprinklers. He looked to his counterpart with approval, who had undoubtedly fired upon Keegan as well. His eyes then traced to Chris, who had cowered out of pulling his firearm and instead dug himself into the corner of the cupboards.

Chris looked out at the pair through his soaked hair, which had begun to shroud his terrified orbs. "Please!" Chris spat the immense water from his face. He raised his trembling hand as if to deflect oncoming bullets, should they choose to fire upon him as well. "Please!" Was all he could muster out, nervously dancing in his corner. The collector seemed to be nothing more than a coward, which caused the man in the tracksuit to smile widely. The man looked back to his buddy beside him, a tell in his glance.

Bugsy (Keegan) Bellz (Mysterious Man)

 

[Misty Gray]

Adam Harper
~ Trent ~​

Adam listened as Danny spoke, explaining that he was aware the murdered man was named Ryan Donahue but he didn't know him. He then went on to assure him he'd given nothing incriminating to the cops. "That's exactly what I was asking," Adam confirmed. Danny continued to explain how they'd secured the drugs and money, as well as the fact the police had stopped questioning them about what had happened. What did become clear was that Danny didn't know who Ryan was and he was unaware of who was behind the explosion. James seemed to think he knew those responsible were some powerful guys Ryan had pissed off over at the other side of America, but the mystery was why Ryan had been at Danny's and Owen's place. "Someone was on your tail?" he repeated. "You sure they were following you?" he asked for clarification, though he suspected Ryan was the one being followed.

"I take offence to that," he coldly replied upon being compared to the police, not meeting Danny's laughter in the slightest. "I ain't no filthy pig. And as far as you're both concerned: you never tell the cops anything. The only law in this city that matters is... well, I don't need to spell it out. You come to us with anything important and never involve the cops."

Adam's focus shifted to Owen as the young man spoke up. He explained that Ryan had been following him for a month and had delivered a letter. Adam rubbed his chin as he processed the story, trying to make some sense of it all. Why was Ryan bothering with Owen and Danny? "Ahh, you should have gone to the Emerald like he told you," Adam ominously remarked. If Ryan had told Owen to go to the pub, then there had to be good reason for it. Adam hadn't know Ryan personally, but his boss and Conor seemed pretty trusting over the guy so there had to be some explanation as to why he was following Owen and why he would tell him to go to the Sullivan-owned establishment. "No, you won't be forgetting about what happened until I find out why it happened. "The letter Mr. Donahue gave to you. What exactly did it say? And I want all of the details - no conveniently missing bits out. Whatever is in that letter must be important or at least provide some explanation."

Adam sat back, waiting for the details. He hadn't even got to the matter of Danny and Owen nearly losing the drugs. For the moment, he was invested in finding out more about the events surrounding Ryan's death. Why were the two small-timers in front of him brought into Ryan's business?



Pyroclast (Danny) Fletchawk (Owen)

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy​

Jackson sucked his lips lightly as Conor shot down his offer. He was disappointed, sure, yet he understood. After seeing Syd berate Conor so harshly for his involvement with Maddox, it was easy to see why Conor would want to set things straight on his own. He just hoped Conor didn't break the shrink in half after what he'd just been put through. He looked back up to Conor to see a falter in his expression. Maybe Conor was thinking the same thing. He met his friend's eye line once more, and his assumption was confirmed. Jackson nodded, leaning back against the wall. He watched Conor walk to the notepad by the phone to scribble down the address, locking Jackson down for the job.

Jackson accepted the paper from Conor, nodding along as he told him they'd prefer Maddox to survive the encounter. His eyes flickered back up to Conor's as the man informed him that Moretti's could be surveying the area. While Jackson wasn't all too familiar with the layout of the city, he knew most of it was scaffolding; he was confident he could outrun a few fat Italians. "I'll be my usual careful self," he responded with a tongue-in-cheek smirk.

As the friendly atmosphere was beginning to recover from the wreckage, Syd reentered the dining area. The tension immediately skyrocketed as a dreaded silence filled the room, with an underlying awkwardness. Jackson's eyes darted to Syd, the young man's furious expression replaced with that of somber. His face softened as Syd apologized to everyone and a large part of him felt sorry for the kid. It takes a lot of nerve to apologize after such a big outburst, one you can't control, and he could only commend the kid for having the stones to do it.

Conor and James informed Syd that Jackson would be the one to handle Maddox. He felt all the eyes on the room shift to him, but his soft gaze remained on Syd. He stepped closer to Syd, looking to his godson with a glimpse of hope, that this wasn't the end for anyone. Not Roxie. Not Syd. "I'll make things right," Jackson said softly to Syd, giving the kid a firm nod. "For you." He kept the tender stare for a moment longer, before looking to both Conor and James. He gave them a seldom nod, before moving back for the couch. He stopped in front of Blake, exhaling deeply. He knew she wanted to spend the day together as a family, but it seemed fate had other plans. "I'll be back, luv'." He then moved for the large Porter doors, stepping out into the October air.

Misty Gray (Conor) Pyroclast (Syd) Bellz (Blake)

 

[Pyroclast]

Jason Costello

This was the first time Gwen had ever seen Jason cry; even in his drunken state, he was all too aware of that. In fact, he was struggling to remember anyone who had ever seen this side of him. His family had never accommodated weakness, so as a young child he became an expert at suppressing any sensitivities of his to avoid causing conflict. Still, despite his embarrassment at finally revealing them to somebody, he welcomed the feeling of Gwen’s loving arms around him, taking comfort in her closeness and warmth. It reminded him that she was here, that their time together hadn’t ended, that the drugs hadn’t taken her from him yet. He just had to make the most of it while he still had her. Jason leaned into her as he wept silently, reaching round with one arm to draw her even closer to him. Locked in an embrace, it was even more evident that she had put on a healthy amount of weight in the last month.

Eventually, she directed him to look into her eyes. He could barely see them, his vision obscured by tears and however many bottles of whiskey he had got through since his last sleep. Nevertheless, his focus was on nothing else but her, now, only grateful that she was there with him. She calmly explained that she was a lot healthier now than she had been when he had last seen her, even going on to tell him that she was arranging to go into rehabilitation after the show was over. “You’re goin’ to rehab?” he quietly asked, voice jumping slightly as his breath caught on the residual sobs. While the news relieved him, the mention of the show brought more tears to his eyes as he realised that he would no longer be acting alongside her.

Closing his eyes, Jason leaned back against the cabinet and gently shook his head. He didn’t really understand what she was apologising for; as far as he was concerned, she had done nothing to hurt him and so he didn’t resent her in the slightest. He hooked his elbows around his knees and linked his hands together, letting his head drop forward. A throbbing pain beat through his skull, his eye now beginning to swell from the punch he had taken, but he just about managed to keep his attention on Gwen as she continued her plea for him to forgive her and to look after himself. The pain of smashing his head on the floor delayed his response, but he held himself as still as he could and did his best to concentrate on her. “Ah, there’s nothin’ to forgive,” he mumbled, raising his head just enough to look her in the eye. “I don’t need someone. Just you, Gwen. I just need you.”

At some point when Jason hadn’t been paying attention, Gwen had managed to put a glass of water in his hand. He looked to it with a slightly dazed expression before bringing it up to his eye. The cold glass eased the throbbing pain somewhat and he let out a low hum of relief, of course showing no interest in drinking the contents. It stole his attention for a moment, causing him to forget what he and Gwen had been discussing. Something about helping himself…

The ache in his head soon spread to his chest and he gave a heavy sigh as another wave of depression washed over him. He hadn’t let himself feel any of it, had never given himself a chance to address it. Now, Gwen was trying to tease it out of him, trying to sober him up, and he didn’t know what to say. “I didn’t mean to go off the deep end like this,” he eventually muttered, his sentence punctuated with a small hiccup. “A man like me’s not meant to have limits. I wanted t’see ye through all this…to the end, y'know? I just don’t know what else t’do when it gets hard. There’s no one I can talk to - there’s only drinking. It’s always there, waitin’ for me to come crawlin’ back...” He brought the glass down and looked over to her, his eyes watering once again. “Well, you know what that feels like.”

Absent-mindedly, Jason took a swig from the glass of water in his hand before grimacing at the taste and putting it down on the floor. His eyes lingered on it for a moment before they searched for Gwen again, his hands reaching out to take hers. “I went to rehab once,” he recounted. “It got me out of the habit of relying on it, but it didn’t give me anythin’ better to replace it with. It’s not you who has to be strong for us, Gwen, it’s me. You needed me, and I...I just fuckin’ left you again. You owe me nothin’. I don’t even know why you’re here, now. I want your forgiveness but you don’t owe it t’me. I did this to myself. It’s my fault, I left you on your own. But I never meant to leave you. Please believe me, Gwen…” The tears that had collected in his eyes finally spilled over, coursing down his face. He began to shake slightly and his hands gripped hers as though to let go would mean to lose her forever. "I want t'be with ye for the rest of time. You're the most important thing in my life and I can't imagine ever bein' without you. I just...lost hope too soon."

Interactions
Bellz Gwen

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Aliana Cartwright-Sullivan

Ali's own personal life had been a bit more lax than others. Having started to see her father in prison more and more was something she was starting to love. Regret was always settling in on the rides home from the prison. How could she have gone this long without seeing her own father? Someone who wasn't nearly as horrible as her mother made him out to be. Granted, she couldn't just blame Seana as she was an adult and if at any time she truly wanted to see him she could. With Leo coming with her, occasionally Conor, things were looking up in that aspect. Now when it came to the family she was married into, that was a different story entirely. Ryan had been killed and the news hit her, but not as hard as it had hit her husband. She knew how close the two were and then to have to go back to Chicago for the funeral. Despite how she may have been feeling about the whole ordeal, she knew she had to be his rock until things were okay with Conor again. She had no problem with that of course, letting him unload on her whenever he felt the need to. Her drinking buddy, Blake, was in town which meant she could take a mommy load off whenever possible.

At some point in the lounge, Ali had drowned the noise of the kids playing out of her head. These days she had gotten so good at it that when Conor snapped she looked momentarily confused. Seeing Leo's lip about to part to say something confirmed to her that there had been some sort of noisy situation going on there. Leo glanced to his mother, almost pleading but she sided with Conor and nodded her head towards the garden. "Ah, you heard your father. Skedaddle, busylickum." Watching the kids leave the room, she tapped her fingers on her leg. Conor's own impatience at their nephew coming home was getting to her as well, driving her internally crazy. "Ever the impatient man, Conor." She commented, stroking the back of his head in an attempt to calm the both of them down. Ever since Syd had gotten checked in to the hospital, it had been on her mind with how broken he was and that the man responsible for fixing him was also the man who was breaking him. The situation had been explained to her, several times because she just couldn't wrap her mind around the idea. To top it off, Conor was still seeing him in session, albeit she understood but she didn't trust him. Regardless of Maddox telling them the truth, she didn't like nor trust the man any further than she could throw him. She saw him as the man who hurt her nephew and that was unforgivable.

She watched Jackson help try to calm Conor down, opening up windows as she gave a slight laugh to his comment before raising an eyebrow at Conor's retort. "Don't boost your head too much sweetheart, there's always time to fix that." For the moment things were calm and it always seemed that was when shit hit the fan. Syd, James and Lucy all came bursting into the house, Syd yelling about needing a gun. Confusion was settling in until she heard Roxie had been taking and that she was missing. From then on, things were getting heated and going down-hill to the point where Conor was being blamed. Watching Syd's fist connect to Conor's cheek and Conor hemming up his nephew, she jumped up just as everyone else did. "Conor!" Once he had let him go and pushed him away, she saw the fist that was forming and placed his hand, aggressively yet trying to calm him down. She understood, emotions were high, but that didn't mean everyone needed to go fighting each other. Lucy taking Syd from the room gave Ali a moment to try and make him see reason, as well as clean up Conor's lip. "I'm sure your face will be fine, but I think we should let him teach Leo how to throw a punch as well... Kid got you good..." It was a small joke, trying to lighten up the mood before Syd walked in apologizing.

The Roxie situation was weighing on her mind now, the poor girl was probably scared out of her mind. Ali had never been kidnapped, so she couldn't even try to put herself in the younger girl's shoes but she did know they needed to get to her. Syd was right; she was innocent and didn't deserve anything she got or was coming to her. Watching Jackson leave the house, she looked back at Conor before taking a seat next to Blake. "What do you want us to do? Roxie's a good girl so of course we'll help." While she did want to do everything she could to help out, she couldn't fight the need for a little bit of alcohol in system, her nerves were all over the place.
​

 

[Misty Gray]

Maddox Parker​

After dropping Ani off at the hospital, Maddox headed to the medical centre to retrieve some files and speak with Dr. Henderson. His colleague confirmed that Syd had been released from the hospital earlier that day and had been picked up by his family. The news came as a relief to Maddox, grateful that everything had gone to plan. He hoped the Porters would see that he had kept to his end of the bargain and that Conor would now do the same in return. After what he'd done, it was a big ask, but Maddox believed knew Conor by now and he was convinced the Sullivan man hadn't been stringing him along. With the paperwork in hand, Maddox left the medical centre, fighting the urge to give Laura some kind of farewell. His departure was not set in stone until he heard from Conor.

It was during the drive back to his apartment that Maddox stopped avoiding the other side of what he'd done. If Syd was released from hospital, then it was only a matter of time before Gabriel found out and demanded to know why Maddox had been unable to prevent it. Although he had his explanation practised in his head, Maddox still hoped he and Ani would be out of the city before the Morettis demanded a meeting. Maddox parked his car alongside the apartment block, once again having a grumble as his neighbour had taken up too much space with their car, as usual. Another thing Maddox would not miss.

Once inside the building, Maddox stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the third floor. It was difficult to shake off the feeling he was being watched, given his dealings with the Morettis and now the Porters. The brief time in the small elevator cab was a short reprieve from that kind of paranoia, able to let out a deep sigh and falter for just the briefest of moments without fear of being under surveillance. Once he reached the third floor, the ping was heard and the doors automatically opened. Maddox stepped out onto the corridor, looking each way to check nobody was standing around waiting for him.

Maddox unlocked the door to his apartment and stepped inside. He bolted the door behind him before dropping his keys into the bowl on the kitchen worktop. He then opened the refrigerator to grab himself a bottle of water before pushing the door shut. Something felt odd as he stood in the room, but when didn't it? Maddox let out a breath before rounding the corner to enter the dining and lounge area. Maddox froze on the spot as he saw a man seated at the glass kitchen table holding a gun in his hand. It didn't fit Gabriel's usual way of working, as the Italian was usually big-headed enough to show up himself and get off on the sound of his own voice before attacking. But if the Morettis had found out what he'd done, perhaps Gabriel simply didn't want to waste any more time in killing him. The other explanation was that it was the Porters and they had decided it was worth risking Conor's freedom now Maddox had served his purpose in getting Syd out. Either way, there was a man in Maddox's kitchen and the fact he was holding a handgun did nothing to reassure him that he would get out of New York alive. He only hoped they hadn't got to Ani too. Maddox took a controlled step into the room as he scanned around to assess if there were more hostile men in his home and if there was any chance of outrunning the potential bullets. He looked the man in the eyes, urging him to speak. "Who sent you, then?" he finally asked.


Enzyme (Jackson)
Bellz (Ani)

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

Lucy didn’t want to be so angry with Syd but everything had spiraled out of control so quickly that even her mind couldn’t keep up. Now that they were alone and she had spoken her mind, Lucy allowed Syd to take a moment to himself to calm down. Standing over him for a long moment, Lucy then moved to sit beside him on the couch, leaning back and covering her hands with her face as she allowed herself to cry.

She accepted his apologies and they both stepped out of the office when they were ready to. Lucy let Syd walk ahead of her as she slowly made her way to James, placing a hand on his shoulder as she looked at him tiredly. Syd apologized and to her relief everyone accepted it. Things had officially simmered down and Lucy was grateful for it. Jackson soon left and Lucy moved to her brothers side, taking a look at the cut on his lip. ”I’ll get you some ice.” She murmured, not having the heart to address what her son had done to him, not able to apologize for the mess herself. Moving to the kitchen, Lucy saw the kids playing outside, even Thomas joining in the fun. Relieved to see that he was doing alright after the whole ordeal, Lucy set out to making a tray with a few cups of coffee and pastries for whoever wanted them. Her heart was still throbbing almost painfully in her chest, but she tried to ignore it as she appeared in the lounge again. ”Now that things have calmed down, I thought we could use some caffeine and something to nibble on to help stimulate our weary brains.” Something crunched underneath her and Lucy looked down to see the glass on the floor. Sighing gently, the blonde moved to set the tray down on the table before heading back to the kitchen to grab the broom.

Once back in the lounge, Lucy had returned with some ice that she had forgotten to give Conor along with the broom. Handing the ice to her brother, Lucy started to sweep up the mess her son created. Her heart still pounded hard in her chest and suddenly, little splotches of color moved past her eyes, causing the mother to stop her efforts in cleaning and reach out for some support. Being closer to Syd, Lucy reached out and grabbed his arm as she felt like the ground was moving out from underneath her. Her breath hitched and she dropped the broom from her grasp as she squeezed her eyes shut. The feeling was over in seconds but Lucy was left breathless from it. Blinking a few times, Lucy looked around the room before muttering an apology. Releasing Syd, she cleared her throat before moving to grab the broom. ”I should probably show you where you’ll be sleeping, honey.” Lucy told her son before moving to place the broom up against the closest wall. ”Come on.” She said before taking his hand and leading him in a much gentler way towards the stairs.

She didn’t say anything as they made their way up the stairs. But she stopped at the door before turning to him, ”I-uh...I made something for you...but I feel like now isn’t the best time to give it to you…” Opening the door, everything in the bedroom was tidy and the bed perfectly made. A small brown crochet teddy bear sat on top of some towels with a note beside it. ”I’m sorry.” She murmured.
with: Syd Pyroclast
Mentions: Misty Gray ; Enzyme ; Melanin-Gxdess