Realistic or Modern Empire City: Weekly Character AMA

[Fletchawk]

Current AMA: Rebel Holt & Bellz

Next Week's AMA: ???
​

Every week (roughly), I'll pick someone from those that have chosen to participate, seemingly at random, to answer questions either in character, or about the character while OOC.

• In most cases, the person will be announced a week before their character's AMA will start.
• During this week, if the person has more than one character, there will be a poll on which character.
• Once a character's AMA has begun, everyone else in the Empire City RP may ask questions to, or about the character.
• Each person may ask up to five (5) questions, and they may be addressed to the character or the roleplayer, like so
  >Character Name< : How many Snickers bars have you stolen?
  >Roleplayer Name< : Why is >Character Name< so rude?
• The AMA will last until the next week, when another character is chosen. So make sure to get your questions in early!
• If for whatever reason, you can't participate after being announced, or there is a character you wish to be excluded from the list, let me know.

So without further ado, let's get this shindig started. ALSO, if you're just here for the answers, turn on Reader Mode in the Index.

Spoiler: Current Participants

Misty Gray
Pyroclast
RayPurchase
Inb4Cloaker
Melanin-Gxdess
Fletchawk
Bellz
Bugsy
Enzyme

 

[Fletchawk]

The first AMA guests will be the recently deceased Arlene Sullivan, and her current roleplayer, Misty Gray

You may now feel free to ask your questions!

 

[Misty Gray]

Arlene Sullivan


​

Arlene: How did you get caught by the East Harlem gang?
I was on my way to the night shift at the casino. I'd left Olivia with the babysitter and was heading to my car in the parking lot before I was grabbed by two of the blokes. I tried to fight off the bastards, but they were too strong and I hadn't been able to reach for my gun in time. I did manage to scratch a chunk of flesh off one of the guys' cheeks with my fingernails! Then, I was knocked out and presumably bundled into the van I'd seen parked close by.


Misty: What were some to changes to Arlene's character after taking her over from
When I agreed with Enzyme to take Arlene on back in Family Affair I didn't want to change too much of his creation. We discussed her history and how she was adopted by the Sullivans, so I built up on that. One thing I never did touch on, which I was told of later, was that Enzyme had intended on Arlene being attracted to women. It's not something I covered when playing her.

For the present RP, I obviously added more history to her. Mainly, her relationship with Julian which resulted in the birth of Olivia before he was killed in jail. This led to her change of heart after his and Liam's death, where she chose to lay low and build up a secure home for Olivia - something she had never had. Before she was killed, Arlene had been in a serious enough relationship with a law-abiding man named Patrick.


Arlene: Did you manage to reconnect with Liam before his death?
Yes, I moved back to America in 1962. After the IWU were wiped out, I stuck around but I never felt challenged enough. James seemed to have things under control and didn't really give me any juicy jobs to carry out. I didn't put up too much of an argument, if I'm honest. I know Carter Dresden was a prick and loyal to the IWU, but we connected before the union was all blown up. I suppose it felt wrong to demand being included in James' business when I'd kept such a secret from everyone.

When I got back to New York, I offered my help to Liam and he seemed happy to have me back. He'd forgiven me for screwing up the hit on Ethan Turner and it seemed like he needed someone else he could trust by his side. When I fell pregnant with Olivia, I stepped back from Liam's business and tried to settle down for Olivia's sake. Liam came to see us a few times before he was killed.


Arlene: Weapon of choice?
Other than my tongue? I always favoured a sniper rifle. No need to get personal about the job.


Misty: Why kill off Arlene?
There were a few reasons why I decided to kill Arlene. The first reason was simply that the East Harlem Gang were going to kill someone and it needed to be a main character; one important to the Porter family. Given that Arlene was the one who wounded Ethan and killed his wife back in 1957, when Liam Sullivan was running things, there was the personal desire for revenge on Ethan's part. The initial reason Arlene came to mind, however, was in conversation with Bella where she said Lucy wanted to adopt another child. Well, now Arlene is dead, Olivia is a little orphan girl...

Fletchawk


A long time ago, you found yourself romantically involved with one of the deadliest enemies of the Porters, Carter Dresden. When you look back to that time, how do you feel about it? Was it something you took to the grave?
Whilst I hated betraying my family, my feelings for Carter were at the time genuine. After I was forced by that smarmy prick, Jared, to spend time in Carter's company, I ended up spending a lot of time talking with the guy. Carter understood the crappy childhood I'd had because he'd experienced similar. I think what really sold it for me was when he bought me the music box for Christmas, after I told him about how I'd longed for one as a child whose parents never bought me any toys. It was thoughtful and sentimental. Ignoring the fact we worked for each others'' enemies, both Carter and I understood each other. I took my relationship with him to the grave. Had he not been killed with the rest of the IWU, I might have come clean, but I guess we'll never truly know, will we?


Back in Dublin you were always keen to carry out work for James, but once you had moved back to the US you distanced yourself somewhat from the rest of the mob. What were your personal reasons for moving? Family, business or something else?
I started to consider distancing myself from the business when I fell pregnant, though I was still keen to help Liam out even then. But when Julian was arrested and then died in prison, I realised I was the only one around for Olivia. With so many enemies of my own and Liam making even more, I decided I had to move away from New York. I had a shitty childhood and my parents neglected me, so the last thing I wanted was for Olivia to have the same. I wanted her to be safe and that meant I couldn't keep pissing off dangerous people.


Who would shorten your name to Arlie? Was it a nickname you liked?
My old man, Jack Sullivan, was the first to shorten my name. I liked Jack and he used it in an endearing way, so how could I not like it?


What did you spend most of your time doing after you settled back in the US?
I reconnected with Liam, who had by then forgiven me for not killing Ethan Turner. I carried out a few jobs for him, including a couple of successful hits on his request! Whilst working for my brother, I met Julian during that time and soon enough I fell pregnant with Olivia. When I gave up working for the mob, I settled down in Connecticut with Olivia. I found work in a casino over there and met a guy named Patrick. He was a good guy and he didn't care about my past. He'd never broken the law in his life and I surprisingly liked that about him. I was ready for stability so Olivia could have a loving home and maybe eventually I'd have let Patrick get to know her more. The closest thing I could get to a normal family.


Would you say you feel fulfilled after the life you had? (Or is there someone you intend to haunt the shit out of?)
Had I not have Olivia, I'd have said my life was fulfilled enough and I'd have accepted my inevitable premature death. However, it wasn't fulfilled, was it? I never got to see Olivia grow up and all I could do was hope my family would be able to take care of her.

Oh, I fully intend on haunting the shit out of Alistair and Ethan. Fuck those guys...

Pyroclast

 

[Pyroclast]

Hi there Arlene, sorry for murdering you. I hope you've found peace in the afterlife. I've got a few last-minute questions for you:

1 - A long time ago, you found yourself romantically involved with one of the deadliest enemies of the Porters, Carter Dresden. When you look back to that time, how do you feel about it? Was it something you took to the grave?

2 - Back in Dublin you were always keen to carry out work for James, but once you had moved back to the US you distanced yourself somewhat from the rest of the mob. What were your personal reasons for moving? Family, business or something else?

3 - Who would shorten your name to Arlie? Was it a nickname you liked?

4 - What did you spend most of your time doing after you settled back in the US?

5 - Would you say you feel fulfilled after the life you had? (Or is there someone you intend to haunt the shit out of?)

Thanks for your time. Rest in peace x

 

[Fletchawk]

Syd Porter

The Syd Porter and Pyroclast AMA is now in session!

You may now ask your questions! (or not...)
Misty Gray Bellz Melanin-Gxdess Inb4Cloaker seasonedcat shadowz1995 RayPurchase​

 

[Fletchawk]

Pyro: How has your adoration for Mr. Stan (Syd's FC) affected Syd's personality, if at all?
Syd: What is your biggest pet peeve?
Syd: Why have you chosen to stay in the family "business" when most of your other siblings did not?
Syd: Roxie or Skye? (Yes, you must choose.)
Pyro: What is one scene in the roleplay that you wanted, but never got?

Pyroclast

 

[Misty Gray]

Syd: How do you feel about your parents adopting you into their criminal lifestyle?
Syd: If you could have any other job, what would it be? Why?
Syd: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Pyro: Are there any characters you'd like to have Syd spend more scene time with?
Syd: Has your family ever done anything that deeply disappointed you?

Pyroclast

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

​

Pyro: How has your adoration for Mr. Stan (Syd's FC) affected Syd's personality, if at all?

Very interesting question! I actually often wonder about this myself so it doesn't surprise me that you're wondering too. On the whole I wouldn't say that it affects how I write Syd. He's a character I've grown deeply attached to and I believe I know him well enough to justify his actions, the way he thinks and every aspect of his personality in general. Anyone can tell I care about him a lot, he means something special to me and I can't deny I have an adoration for Sebastian Stan that has lead to him meaning something special to me too, but I actually find it very easy to keep the two separate, especially since I became actively involved with Stan's expansive fan base. I never use Syd to play out any kind of fantasies - all of his story and development has been written without any influence from his FCs. There are some interesting parallels that run between Syd and one or two of the characters that Stan has played, but I think that's because he tends to play quite emotional, troubled characters, which fits well with Syd. At the time of choosing the FC however, I hadn't seen much of Stan's work at all so it kind of turned out to be a lucky coincidence. I never base what I'm writing off a certain picture or gif, because writing my characters realistically is much more important to me than having a suitable FC. Having said that, I don't believe there's anyone that would visually represent Syd better than Sebastian at this stage in his life.

Syd: What is your biggest pet peeve?

That patronising tone of voice people put on when they're trying to put themselves above you. God, it just really gets to me. I've done a lot of shit I'm not proud of, and I know I need help sometimes, but I know what I'm doing. I have no time for smug bastards that wanna tread on me. I'm a grown man and if you don't treat me like one you can expect to get punched in the face. Or something to that effect.

Syd: Why have you chosen to stay in the family "business" when most of your other siblings did not?

Because it's important to me. Delilah and Mallory always used to try and get involved, but I think dad was a little more protective of them because they both had a habit of throwing themselves into dangerous situations without telling the rest of the mob. Sure they wanted to do their part, but Delilah wasn't the most sound of mind and Mal was too bold for her own good. So even though I really miss them, I'm glad they decided to go down other routes instead. That never made me want to leave, though. Working for the family was all I ever wanted to do. It teaches you a lot, gives you a reason to stay focused, keeps you on top of training. It gave me a sense of purpose and made me feel closer to my family, so all of that's really rewarding. There have been long periods where I've had to take time out and I always ended up just feeling totally useless and out of touch. So I don't think I could ever really let it go. It's part of my identity now.

Syd: Roxie or Skye? (Yes, you must choose.)

Jesus, really? Fucking hell... I mean, look, Roxie has made a big impression on me, I won't deny that. I do wanna see how far things can go with her because I actually like her a lot, I think she's sweet and fun and beautiful and everything I don't deserve. Plus, you know, I never imagined myself feeling like this about another woman so it's pretty crazy. But because there's so much standing between the two of us right now, I haven't got too attached yet. Thing is, if there is such a thing as 'the one' then I've already had mine. Roxie and I will only work if she can accept and respect that. I'm holding out hope for us, but right now my love for Skye remains unmatched. So yeah, if you want an answer to that fucked up question, then...it's gotta be Skye.

Pyro: What is one scene in the roleplay that you wanted, but never got?

Assuming you mean in Family Affair since we're not that far into Empire City, I think I'd have liked for Syd to meet Adam* again at some point. Syd has always been a very territorial person and therefore very protective of his sisters. He also didn't tend to get on too well with other guys his age so there would have been immediate conflict. It would also have been a natural way for Adam and Mallory's affair to get exposed to the mob. The reason it didn't happen was because with Never's decrease in activity, Mallory just wasn't available to interact with enough, so it probably would have lead nowhere and ended up being unfinished, which I always hate. Other than that, I'm satisfied with Syd's storyline.

*Adam was a close family friend of the Porters' rivals and son to someone who worked for them, and was in a secret relationship with Mallory Porter, Syd's sister.

From Fletchawk


Syd: How do you feel about your parents adopting you into their criminal lifestyle?

It's the best thing that ever happened to me. I mean, I guess it exposed me to some pretty scary shit that most kids don't have to witness, but after the bad start I got in Chicago I was already set apart from my classmates anyway. It has been traumatic at times, there are definitely some moments I wish I could wipe from my memory, but altogether I think my parents saved me from something far worse when they adopted me. I had nothing until I had them. So I didn't mind the crime. My parents became role models to me pretty early on, so I accepted the lifestyle as something I could get into. School was never gonna get me far 'cause I was a little shit, so even though I didn't really know what was going on, I always saw the business as a solid career path. None of my friends ever had anything like this to fall back on. I feel lucky, more than anything else.

Syd: If you could have any other job, what would it be? Why?

If I wasn't in the mob and I didn't have my nightclub? I'd probably go into motorsports. It's a bit of a fantasy but I'm good with cars, hot-rodding and specialised modification and shit, so I think it'd be cool to get involved in that industry. I could work for NASCAR! Maybe even get into racing myself... Don't tell my mam, though. She'd go ballistic!

Syd: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Honestly, I'm pretty happy where I am so this isn't really something I've ever thought about. I don't speak any other languages and I don't really like travelling so I haven't seen much of the world. I like cities, I like the action and being surrounded by people and always having something to do. I don't think I'd ever go back to Chicago unless my family moved there for some reason...Dublin has a lot of strong memories, but I don't think I could go back to living there, either. New York is kinda perfect for me, actually.

Pyro: Are there any characters you'd like to have Syd spend more scene time with?

There are several, actually. For me it's interesting because he acts so differently with each character that every scene is a chance for me to explore a side to him that he might not often show. I'd like to see him interact with the main members of the mob more, like Ryan and Conor and Peter, because their relationships would surely be quite different compared to how they were in Family Affair now that Syd is grown up and has a lot more experience in the mob and the business world. Savannah is another one, because they grew very close after Skye passed away and now that they have Roxie in common I think they could have some interesting scenes together. I'd also love to get more scene time with Inb4Cloaker 's Farrid, because their friendship I would say is uniquely significant to Syd. So far, pretty much all the people he's been close to have been members of the family, which comes with a different dynamic. He's always had plenty of people to talk to, but aside from his love interests and his sisters, there haven't really been any his own age until now.

Syd: Has your family ever done anything that deeply disappointed you?

My sisters staying behind in Ireland, I guess. I'm not like, angry disappointed, because I want them to be happy and safe obviously, but I just miss them. We only had, what...16 years together? Yeah, not long enough. The selfish part of me wishes they'd come with us.

From Misty Gray



Pyro: What motivates you to break the standard mold of how a character should behave, meaning, what motivates you to write difficult characters?

Originality. I never want to be bored so each character has to have some unique qualities about them that helps me to figure out the driving force behind all their decisions, good and bad. But I think it's also realistic - people can be perfectly suited to something, but people also change and nobody is perfect at the end of the day. Currently Syd is my only character who has been trying to fit any kind of mold - Jason, Alistair and Danny don't care about fitting in and live by their own rules, but ever since he joined the mob Syd has been trying to meet the characteristics that being in the family business demands: professional, wise, courageous, selfless. And of course he's never quite fit them because he can't always tell what the best course of action to take is and his head can be too easily clouded by emotion, which affects a lot of his decisions. Syd is a challenging person yet very easy to write and I think that's because when a character is very complex you can be more specific in where their motives and lines of reasoning stem from. All the answers are already there in the form of his memories, experiences, beliefs, fears etc. so it kind of just writes itself. Just start creating without a mold, and the characters will always be unique.

Syd: Who is one person you can talk to about just anything and why?

Not counting Skye and the dogs? I wanna say my mam, but I think Maddox is probably the only one. He's the only person I can tell stuff to without being afraid of burdening him. Mam always wants to be there for me - well, usually - but I hate making her sad or worried. I want my dad to know what's going on, but I have to remind myself that he's the only one with the power to kick me out of the mob so that often puts me off going to him if I have a personal problem. If my counsellor can take my money, he can take all my other shit, too.

Syd: What is the one thing people always seem to misunderstand about you? Does it frustrate you? Why?

Oh man, that's really hard to tell. I know when I was younger I often used to feel underestimated, but in retrospect I think most people estimated me pretty accurately. Now I'm not really sure...Sometimes I think I give people the wrong idea, like if they see how well I get on with my mam they might think I'm soft and therefore easy to take down, or if they see me flip out they might think I'm just a horrible person. But you know, I don't really know what I am, so maybe if people judge for themselves it wouldn't be the worst thing. It would frustrate me most if any of the impressions I give off lead to me not being trusted to work in the mob, 'cause you know, that's my home. But it doesn't matter what I want, what I'm trying to do or where I'm trying to get to, 'cause at the end of the day people are gonna see what they see. I just can't really control that right now.

Syd: What is your biggest mistake so far in life? What did you learn from it?

I don't know if I should answer this...I mean, I have countless regrets and I've learned plenty of lessons. Getting myself sectioned was one of the worst things I've ever done, if that counts as a mistake? That taught me not to just try and deal with things on my own, but instead seek help before it's too late. And one thing I've learned from the business is that it's important to know who you're dealing with. When I first joined the mob I thought I was much bigger than I was, but the truth is I didn't understand shit about how this business really works. For example, you never pull out a gun in a fist fight when you're in unfamiliar territory, right? I put a lot of lives at risk that way and I've never forgotten it. From that night on I've been more careful to judge who I'm talking to and act accordingly.

Pyro: If you were to kill one of your characters off next chapter, who would it be and how would you do it?

First of all, Bella, what the fuck !! I've actually no idea what to say. Currently the only character whose death would have an impact on the plot, which is the only reason I'd want to kill off a character anyway, is Syd. But you and I have planned out so many upcoming scenes for him that it'd be too much of a waste to kill him in the next chapter. Bitch I wanna play out all the stuff we've planned! Jason's death would only impact Gwen, but it wouldn't be at its most effective right now if he were to die since she currently "hates" him. Danny hasn't got far enough with Savvy so his death would probably only affect Owen, who I think would advance in the story better with a friend to interact with. Alistair could die I guess, since he's at least had a small impact on the plot so far, but I still don't think next chapter would be a good time for it. Am I allowed to just go back to Ireland and kill Adam?

From Bellz



Syd: how satisfying was it to lay into Mitch in that now infamous stairwell? And looking back do you have any regrets about it?

Look, I won't lie, ever since that happened I've been trying not to think about it. It didn't feel great - well I guess maybe a little satisfying to put him in his place - but you know...he brought that out of me, with his smug fucking face and his high-and-mighty bullshit, and I can't say it felt good. It never really does. I don't regret it, though - I don't think I will unless he blabs to someone about what I did. What happened happened and I've got bigger things on my mind right now so I don't care how he's doing.

Pyro: What aspect of Syd do you find most enjoyable to RP?

Forgive me if this is a cheat answer, but I actually love working out the dynamics of each relationship he has. He can be fiercely angry and aggressive, confident, assertive, shy, vulnerable, childish, playful, happy, optimistic and pessimistic. It all depends on who he's talking to and I really love exploring that. Of all the aspects of writing a gangster rp (and writing in general) I think emotion is my strongest point, so playing a sensitive character suits me well. It makes torturing him fun, and then when I get to write a happy scene for him it makes me feel happy too.

Syd: If you were a sandwich, what type would you be?

Probably a really fucking gross one so no one would want to eat me and I'd get to live out my days watching the world go by through the deli window. Next time you go past Roddy's on 102nd street, you'll see some shitey footlong draped clumsily across two cake stands, going soggy and stale at the same rate. That's me, man. No one's getting their greasy hands on me.

From RayPurchase

 

[RayPurchase]

Syd: How satisfying was it to lay into Mitch in that now infamous stairwell? And looking back do you have any regrets about it?

Pyro: What aspect of Syd do you find most enjoyable to RP?

Syd: If you were a sandwich, what type would you be?

 

[Bellz]

Pyro: What motivates you to break the standard mold of how a character should behave, meaning, what motivates you to write difficult characters?

Syd: Who is one person you can talk to about just anything and why?

Syd: What is the one thing people always seem to misunderstand about you? Does it frustrate you? Why?

Syd: What is your biggest mistake so far in life? What did you learn from it?

Pyro: If you were to kill one of your characters off next chapter, who would it be and how would you do it?

SORRY THESE ARE TRICKY But I love you

 

[Fletchawk]

Farrid Al-Assad



The Farrid Al-Assad and Inb4Cloaker AMA is now in session!
Since some useless git was tardy (me), this one one will go on till Aug. 5th.

You may now ask your questions!
Misty Gray RayPurchase Bellz Melanin-Gxdess seasonedcat shadowz1995 Pyroclast​

 

[Misty Gray]

Farrid: What do you think about the Porters as employers and as friends?
Inb4: Which characters are you most interested to have Farrid interact with?
Farrid: What is your biggest regret?
Farrid: Who do you feel you are closest to?
Farrid: How do you feel about Dante's methods?

Inb4Cloaker

 

[Fletchawk]

Inb4: What or who inspires your writing?
Farrid: Are there some American customs that still boggle your mind?
Inb4: What drew you to this RP?
Farrid: Everyone has that "unachievable" goal, what's yours?

Inb4Cloaker

 

[Inb4Cloaker]

Farrid Al-Assad
​

Farrid: What do you think about the Porters as employers and as friends?

“Hm, well, while they are my employers, above all, I have made some friends among the group. Strife brings people who would never originally be friends closer than brothers and sisters, and there’s been quite a lot of conflict in this business. As employers, the Porters have been fair with pay and relatively up-front about any tasks that I have to preform. I’m also able to rely on them to get me out of any uncomfortable predicament that I land myself in, and even those I do not know that well are kind enough to acknowledge me as a member of the organization and ally in arms. I assume most of them see it that way, I suppose.”

Mistee: Which characters are you most interested to have Farrid interact with?

I’d love to finally have a scene with Maddox, because I feel as though that would allow for more character development regarding the lifestyle and past of Farrid. I’d also like to see more interactions with Syd, kinda in a setting that is more business oriented or involving a job as well as casual, seeing as how their dynamic is already interesting, it’d be nice to see how they work together to accomplish a common goal. Aside from those two characters, I’m also interested to see how Farrid would interact with the Sarraf siblings, and the potential conflicts they would develop. Finally, I’d like to have more group gatherings like in the first scene, but with a more serious undertone like planning a job or discussing something that needs to be addressed in the organization. I’m also lowkey hoping for a group dinner with all the Porters so Farrid can make all the potato jokes he’s been holding for months.

Farrid: What is your biggest regret?

“This is hard to answer, because what really qualifies as the biggest regret one has? Everything I’ve done wrong, or that I wish I could take back, just seems to melt into one pot. As morbid as it sounds, I think my biggest regret is not being home with my family when it was shelled. Things may've been much simpler for myself and everyone else I encountered throughout my life. In reality, I might’ve saved more lives if I never picked up a rifle for a cause I didn’t completely understand myself. I could’ve saved my mother and father, and if not, I might’ve been too damaged to become a ‘freedom fighter.’ God, what a joke, those words are. My old man always called them terrorists, regardless of what they called themselves. Perhaps that was my biggest regret, actually. Being too easily persuaded to follow a lifestyle I know my mom and dad always fought to push me away from.”

Farrid: Who do you feel you are closest to?

“I don’t have any family to confide in, and if I were to exclude my friends back out east, I’d have to say that Bailey is the person I feel closest to. Syd is also there too, and he is like a brother to me though. But, in terms of who I feel the most connected to right now, it’d have to be Bailey. She’s kinda nuts, y’know, and she wanted to shoot me I think, but honestly, it wasn’t the worst outcome. I could’ve actually been shot. So long as she doesn’t try to kill me again, I think we might have something going!”

Farrid: How do you feel about Dante’s methods?

“Not my style, but a type of information extraction that I have partook in before, and have grown to understand over time. I’m hoping to push myself away from acts of harm, and while it is unrealistic to believe that everything can be solved without inflicting harm, it is still something I will continue to reach for. Make no mistake, I don’t like it, yet I know people like Dante are a requirement in some circumstances. One day, maybe he too will see that there are other ways to solve issues. In the meantime, I’ll just deal with it, and clean up the mess afterwards.”

Fletcheagle: What or who inspires your writing?

A long while ago, I did some OpFor/Nation Building rp’s on different sites. Usually, I kinda played the “neutral” party that was designed to just pose a challenge for the main players with nations. I.e, Farrid Al-Assad was actually a cell leader in one of the rp’s I did, and the main players fought against his forces and purged his insurrection that he started. Unfortunately, following a series of poor rolls with the online dice we all used, the nations who fought his organization were unable to follow Farrid and detain or try him for his crimes. So, I got to thinking when I joined the Mob rp, who could I use? I figured since Farrid’s story never ended in the first rp, I brought him back in this one. Albeit, he isn’t the exact same as he was in the other one, but he is pretty similar overall.

Farrid: Are there some American customs that still boggle your mind?

“Eh, not that much anymore. Before I arrived here, I traveled to a few other places out east, and they were fairly diverse. I learned about western culture before I showed up, and had a fairly general understanding of how things worked here, so I wasn’t too surprised. Aside from the minor sense of impending doom I first got when standing in large crowds upon arrival, everything was smooth sailing. I’m glad everything is a bit more tame in terms of political stability compared to back home, since it got tired of tracking who was trying to overthrow what, but that’s about it. Actually, there is one thing. I still don’t understand why you tip people at restaurants.”

Fletchcanary: What drew you to this rp?

Some time ago, I saw the predecessor to this RP. A Family Affair was something that looked really interesting, but I saw it way too late, and thought that if another option to join showed up, I’d hop in. Well, I was lucky enough to check before all slots got filled and leaped on in. I’m happy with how to RP is going, and the premise is pretty unique to me, so it had my attention pretty quick. I also liked how it was long lasting, and didn’t end after only a few posts, so that was a huge plus to me.

Farrid: Everyone has that "unachievable" goal, what's yours?

“I want peace. I want people to lower their weapons, and seek respite in being able to not worry about another person gunning to take a life. Right now, I’m trying to achieve that goal for myself. One day, I’ll walk along the sands of Iraq and Syria again, and I won’t hear the sounds of gunshots. Or, maybe I’ll settle down here, and consider raising a child to have the life I never could. I don’t intend on living by the gun my entire life, and before I came to the US, I had a goal that involved fighting for a group of people that most likely wouldn’t fight for me; something I regret. One day, I’ll wash away those regrets, and have peace. If not for everyone, then for myself, and those that I am responsible for. It’d be a dream come true if I could retire for this after a few more years and tell myself; ‘Never again, will I have to prepare myself to kill another human, and so long as I live, I will make sure my wife, kid... and cat, hopefully... never have to see the things I saw.’ I don’t know if I’ll ever achieve that goal, but I’ll never stop trying.”

 

[Pyroclast]

Hey! In true Pyro style, I have some last minute questions for you

Farrid - Do you ever wish you hadn't been picked up by the mob? What would you have wanted to do instead?

Inb4 - Have you or would you ever write a solo piece, for instance a novel or short story? What kind of genre or themes would you choose to focus on?

Farrid - Who has been the most influential figure in your life? What did you learn from them?

Farrid - What do you do to wind down at the end of a hard day?

Farrid - What motivates you to keep going when things get tough?

Inb4Cloaker it's great to hear how you discovered this rp, I'm so glad you joined us!

 

[Bellz]

I just had to be more last minute than Pyro, so...I win.

Farrid - If you were a duck, what kind of duck would you be?
Farrid- The perfect woman for you, what would she be like?
Inb4- Do you find it hard to write with your job?
Farrid- I've read your story, but can you tell me more about how you came into this line of work?
Inb4- what was the motivation to write this character?

 

[Fletchawk]

Ryan Donahue



The Ryan Donahue and Fletchawk AMA is now in session!
Since I messed up the scheduling, this AMA will be ending on the 9th.

You may now ask your questions!
Inb4Cloaker Misty Gray RayPurchase Bellz Melanin-Gxdess seasonedcat shadowz1995 Pyroclast​

 

[Misty Gray]

Ryan: What are your biggest regrets/things you would do differently if you could go back in time?
Ryan: What do you really think about the marriage between Peter and Sinead?
Fletchy: Will we ever meet Su-Yeong Yu? What's the relationship like between her and Ryan?
Ryan: What's the worst things you've had to do for your "employers" - both Irish Mob and those LA Italians!
Ryan: If you'd never got involved working for the mob, what do you think you'd be doing for a living now?

Fletchawk

 

[Fletchawk]

Ryan Donahue
​

From: Misty Gray
Ryan: What are your biggest regrets/things you would do differently if you could go back in time?
Ah. Regrets. I definitely have those in spades. Probably for the best that we're just doing the big ones, or we might've been here for a while.

Not telling Sinead about my feelings for her when I younger would probably be my first big one, could've saved myself a lot of heartache had I been braver back then. There's my time in Korea, and while I don't regret it as a whole, there was a lot of ugliness over there. A lot of little regrets there too, like if I'd done this or that instead, would it've saved one or more of my brothers-in-arms? But deciding to separate from Su-yeong after our short time together in Pusan? Seemed like a good idea at the time, but you know they say about hindsight. That was definitely my biggest regret, even to this day. But maybe it was for the best, because she didn't have to know about the monstrosities I committed when I returned to Chicago. Then there's the time I lost my temper when Alfie ripped me off. I was desperate, and five grand was a lot to lose, but if I'd known how it would've ended...

Needless to say, lesson learned.

Ryan: What do you really think about the marriage between Peter and Sinead?
While I think their marriage isn't perfect, they obviously care for each other. Peter seems to be a decent man, although he seems to be a bit aloof around me. I haven't been in Sinny's life much since I first left Chicago all those years ago, so I can't really form a detailed opinion. But I know that if their relationship had gotten too toxic, that her family would've "fixed" it one way or another. I have sensed that Sinead isn't entirely happy, but I currently don't know the source of it. If it turns out to be Peter, well, we'll have to have some words.

Fletchy: Will we ever meet Su-Yeong Yu? What's the relationship like between her and Ryan?
Perhaps, although I doubt it'll be through me. The reasons for that is two-fold; The first is that I'm a method writer, so when comes to roleplaying characters, it can take some time for me switch between between them, especially if they're going to interacting with each other regularly. The second is that the idea of roleplaying her when I already control Ryan and Owen just feels weird to me. But if someone else wants to pick her up, they're welcome to do so.

As for their relationship; it's as I said in Ryan's CS, but I suppose you want something more in depth. Officially, they're engaged. However, much to his mother's ire, the two of them agreed to not tie the knot until they found out what happened to Owen. While they aren't really a sensual couple, they still enjoy each other's company, and care for each other deeply. Actually, the nickname that is on Ryan's CS, "Lion" is her pet name for him. It came from the fact that when they initially met, she had troubles pronouncing the |R|in his name and it sounded like she was saying |L|. Since Su-yeong is the more empathetic of the two, her moral code is definitely more black and white compared to Ryan's, and it has definitely influenced his new, and more restrained modus operandi.

Ryan: What's the worst things you've had to do for your "employers" - both Irish Mob and those LA Italians!
I've done some less than savory things while working for both, but it was only for the LA Mafia that I did anything against my will. Since they were being slowly pushed out by negro gangs, and the Cartel, the things they ordered "Honest Perry" to do were truly horrendous, and I rather not go into detail. Let's just say it still haunts me.

Ryan: If you'd never got involved working for the mob, what do you think you'd be doing for a living now?
Most likely mechanical work, or perhaps racing even.

From: Melanin-Gxdess
Ryan: What do you think would have happened had you met Sinead before Peter?
Sinead and I actually knew each other since childhood. So while we've known each other for most of our lives, our paths haven't crossed very often since I joined the Marines in '49.

Ryan: How are you handling all the changes moving from Dublin to America?
Given that I was born and raised in Chicago, spent most of my life in the U.S., and not even a year in Dublin, I'd say I handled it pretty well.

Ryan: Have you told Sinead how you felt? If not will you ever?
I guess I never said it directly, but while she visited me while I recovering from the Christmas ambush in Dublin, I feel like got the message across. So, mostly yes.

From: Bellz
Ryan: Why are you such a loser? (Petey disguised as Bella)
Uh... Not sure if that term would totally apply to me, but I'll admit to being a bad person. As for why? That's a long list, so we're just going to put aside illegal stuff like the murders, exhortations, etc...
Because I wasn't there for the people that I care for when they needed me most.

Fletchy: Inspirations for Ryan? What are they? How did you come about making him?
There are a number of influences. Namely my social studies/english teacher in high school. He was a Marine, and a strict man in the classroom. Although, when he wasn't teaching, he had a snappy and censorious sense of humor. Definitely someone I looked up. A lot of Ryan's mannerism are based on him. However, Ryan's wit is similar to his FC, Jensen Ackles, an actor I very much enjoy watching. Initially, Ryan also had some bits and pieces of me in him, as do most of my characters, since it helps get into their mindset when I write, but in this RP, he's become less like me, and more of his own character, except for the more technical parts that rely on my experiences to portray accurately.

Ryan: Do you believe in the sanctity of marriage?
Um... That question feels oddly precise, but yes. I value to committing one's self to your partner when in a relationship. For example, even though Sue and I aren't legally married, our relationship is still a close union. At least, unless Sue decides otherwise, which I very much doubt will happen.

Fletchy: If things would have turned out differently for Sinead and Ryan, do you think they'd be happy?
Oh man, that's a toughy. I guess it depends on when exactly it turned out differently. If it had been early on, before Ryan's father was killed, it's very possible. Ryan would've had something to lose, and would've been much less likely to have joined the Marines as a result. However, I have my doubts that Ryan would've survived the war between the two families had he stayed.

Totally different story however if he'd pressed for Sinead's heart in Dublin. Had he been successful, the guilt of stealing her away from Peter would've eaten at him. He definitely would've done everything in his power to make Sinead happy, but I have a feeling it would've eaten at her as well. Of course, he would've been extremely torn when the letter from Su-yeong would've arrived. Ultimately, he would've been torn in two, and his relationship with Sinead would've devolved into something much worse than what Peter and Sinead have now.

But of course, this all just speculation.

Ryan: Who do you think you are?
A bad person trying to be the man that Su-yeong sees me as.

From: Pyroclast
Ryan: Who in your life would you most likely show your vulnerable side to?
Sue. Maybe Conor. Maybe.

Ryan: What has been your proudest moment in life so far?
Hard to say. A lot of what should of been proud moments for me were either marred, or I was absent. I want to say asking Sue to marry me, but I didn't really feel proud, it just felt like I was more complete. There was also that illegal Grand Prix through Chicago that I won before I left for Dublin though. Yeah, that was a pretty great feeling. I guess there's all that shit I survived too.

Ryan: What would you say is your biggest weakness?
I have the same major weakness as everyone else. Lead to the head. Barring that, an endangered loved one. Which is why Sue is staying in Chicago with Ma.

Ryan: I have always had you down as a realist, but you must have fantasised about one day having your son in your life. What's the best outcome you can imagine?
The best outcome would've been that he was returned home ten years. But that obviously didn't happen. Ten years without a hint of what happened to him, he just vanished.

Fletch: What about Ryan's character do you find the most challenging to write?
Easy answer? His mechanical knowledge. Everything mentioned relating to that skill set has required research. Sometimes hours of it.

But the more difficult answer would be that he's becoming less and less familiar as he experiences things that I never have. So the process of "what would Ryan do/say" can be hard at times. It's still enjoyable though, just increasingly time consuming.

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Ryan: What do you think would have happened had you met Sinead before Peter?

Ryan: How are you handling all the changes moving from Dublin to America?

Ryan: Have you told Sinead how you felt? If not will you ever?

 

[Bellz]

Ryan - Why are you such a loser? (Petey disguised as Bella)
Fletchy - Inspirations for Ryan? What are they? How did you come about making him?
Ryan - Do you believe in the sanctity of marriage?
Fletchy- If things would have turned out differently for Sinead and Ryan, do you think they'd be happy?
Ryan- Who do you think you are?

I do apologize, my jealous boy got the best of me while writing this. Hope you can answer. XD

 

[Fletchawk]

Peter Callahan



The Peter Callahan and Bellz AMA is now in session!
August 9th to August 16th

You may now ask your questions!
Inb4Cloaker Misty Gray RayPurchase Melanin-Gxdess seasonedcat shadowz1995 Pyroclast​

 

[Misty Gray]

Peter: You have three kids. Who's your favourite and why?
Peter: When you were arrested and jailed the first time, you were leading the cops away from catching James and Ryan. Do you feel any bitterness towards those two for that?
Peter: What would you do if it turned out Sinead had cheated on you?
Peter: What are the worst things that happened to you in jail?
Peter: Do you want more involvement in the family business and in what capacity?

Bellz

 

[Pyroclast]

Bella: Where does your inspiration for Peter's personality come from?

Peter: Before your first prison sentence, what sort of future had you envisioned for yourself?

Peter: What's on your bucket list?

Peter: Have you ever worried that your anxiety and PTSD will someday put you or others at risk during a job? What coping mechanisms do you have in place for when you do that kind of business?

Peter: What's your favourite memory of your children when they were small?

Bellz

 

[Fletchawk]

Bella: Why do you always wait until the last moment?

Peter: What are your three favorite moments?

Peter: Besides numbing yourself to oblivion, what are some hobbies you enjoy?

Bella: If you had to pick a way for Peter to die, what would it be?

Bella: Is there a scene you wish you could go back and change?

Bellz