Realistic or Modern Family Ties: 1980s Gangs - IC (Ended)

[BasDorcha]

May's House
Bethnal Green, London
Maeve & Thomas Thatcher​

May was in a state of shock, wondering if Bruce had gotten the message and how they were going to get out of this. She suddenly realized she was useless compared to everyone else. In May’s pocket, she carried a folding knife, she always had since she worked in the bar, and was glad that she could feel its cool steel beneath her hand. The man behind her tried to force her to sit, but she looked over and saw Kerry start to cry and moved to sit by her, sliding her chair so she could sit arm to arm with her, grasping her hand and holding it. Tom watched her, keeping his gun trained, but not seeming concerned with her moving of the furniture.

May looked up at all the ladies, gulping, hand squeezing Kerry’s as comfortingly as possible. When her eyes met Harper’s across from her, she desperately wanted to say something, but wasn’t sure what. When She pulled her gun, May felt a surge of courage, pulling the knife from her pocket and flicking the blade open under the cover of the seats clothed arm. She turned the knife side to side slightly, trying to catch Kerry’s eye to let someone know she had some form of protection. It wasn’t much, but it was all she had.

The back and forth between the two suddenly became more familiar, and May narrowed her eyes at man. How did they know each other? While all eyes were on Harper and the man counting down to one, May prepared her knife and her nerves. When the word ‘one’ was shouted across the room, it seemed like time slowed for them to react – something May would later realize was just her brain trying to process everything that was going on. As the gun shot exploded from the end of the gun, the first man had no time to shoot back as the heavy painting above his head – a meadow painting that was old and faded with color – smacked him in the back of the head and caused the man to crumble, May lifted the knife, ready to strike.

Tom watched the events with a stoic expression – so far all he knew was that May seemed close to these women, and he wasn’t sure why. What were they to his sister? He had been so focused on May and Kerry, his mind rushing with how quickly this seemed to be escalating when it was suppose to be a quick in and out, he missed Harper pulling the gun until the sound exploded in his ears. His quick glance away was all May needed, and with a howl it was shoved into his thigh, sending pain ripping through his body.

“WHAT THE FUCK MAEVE, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?” Tom growled out, gripping the knife ready to pull it back out. His military training for field work kicked in and realizing that then knife was dangerously close to an artery, he left it alone, instead holding it in place. Leaning back against the wall, he breathed through the pain, the gun now pointed at the floor as he tried to regain control of himself. Standing, blocking the view of Darcey going for her gun, May stared at the masked figure, the voice scratching at her subconscious.

“Harper, you good sis?” May asked, her eyes never leaving the man. “You too Kerry, you alright?” Behind her, she knew Darcey must have reached the gun already, and she couldn’t wait any longer to find out if she suspicion she had was correct. May moved closer to the man with the knife sticking out of his leg, her body blocking the view of those behind her, when her hands reached for his mask. Instantly the gun was up and in her face, the barrel pressed between her eyes as the man stood and started to walk her backwards.

“Sister? So she’s your sister…” The voice sounded disappointed. Tom couldn’t believe that May had a sister here she hadn’t told him about. Did she find a whole new family here? Did they accept her the way he did? Did they love her as much as he did? The anger inside of him was building, ready to explode. Without thinking, he turned the gun towards Harper and fired, missing intentionally as it hit the wall behind her head and about a hands length higher. It was a scare tactic, if he’d meant to hit her he would have, but instead petty feelings of sibling rivalry were filling him. For a man who normally didn’t care about other people, this particular instance he cared a lot – his siblings were the only people he cared about, he didn’t want to share them with anyone else, they were his and his alone. He never even liked May dating because it meant sharing her with someone who could steal her love for him. “I’ll kill her. Sit the fuck down.” Tom was still leaning against the wall, blood running down his leg around the blade of the knife, as he retrained the gun on May, still unable to see the older woman behind her.

Mentions Misty Gray - Kerry
Melanin-Gxdess - Darcey
Bellz - Harper/Brady

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

May's Place
~London ~
Darcey Hargraves

​

The situation in May's apartment had immediately grown dire. Between watching Kerry have a breakdown and having to put Harper in such a predicament, Darcey was worried things would go wrong. She watched Harper pick up on her silent signal- immediately pulling out her gun. The gunman aimed his weapon for her next and as much as Darcey wanted to immediately move in front of his gun, she couldn't. She'd be further away from her own weapon and she couldn't get to it just yet. Timing was everything in a situation like this and right now the timing wasn't right. As the gunman spoke, she couldn't help but feel as though she recognized his voice. Her eyes narrowed at him as Harper shouted a retort and the moment he said her name she figured it out. "Oh, you've gotta be fuckin' jokin'!"

Braden had been the last person Darcey would have expected to come busting in pointing guns at them. He didn't seem like the type. But considering the events of the past month and all of Alex's stupid threats, it made sense. Darcey's hand was out - as if pleading with Braden not to shoot Harper. She had to believe that Braden wouldn't actually shoot her - his nephew's aunt - if she were going to get to her gun. Glancing at all the women in the room Darcey knew it was her job to protect all of them. She was, in a sense, the matriarch. She was in charge. And she was going to make sure they got out of here alive.

The closer Harper and Braden got to their countdown the harder Darcey's heart pounded in her chest. Her arms shifted from her bag to Braden to Harper. She had one shot and she wasn't going to fuck it up. Hearing '3', Darcey moved for her back and everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. In one swift motion, her gun was aimed at Tom. She walked over to Braden, kicking the gun away from his reach. She knelt to the ground, pulling the mask off his head to confirm what she'd already known- that Braden had come to London and done something very stupid. Hearing the other man calling May by her actual name confused Darcey- turning her attention back to him. "You've got one second before the next hole you get is from a bullet; who are you?!" From the corner of her eye, Darcey could see May moving closer to the masked man, shouting at her to stop but it was too late.

Tom had his gun placed between her eyes, Darcey immediately shouting at him. "Put the fucking gun down NOW!" She managed to keep the fear and uncertainty out of her voice but she was still scared- still worried. Tom seemed to be concerned with the fact that May had called Harper her sister. It was then that Darcey started to suspect that this was the brother May mentioned. But before she could think about it any longer Tom aimed his gun at Harper, shooting too close for comfort. The action set Darcey off, pissing her off more than she'd ever been. She trusted that May would react quickly before telling her to duck. Once she was sure she had a free shot Darcey pulled the trigger. She didn't want to kill Tom yet, so she made sure to only give him a scratch to distract him. Darcey then used her gun and pistol-whipped him and once on the ground she pressed her foot against the knife. "Throw it away," she ordered, talking about the gun, "Right fucking now." She glanced behind her, eyes glossy as she tried to contain her tears. "You okay," she asked Harper, afraid that the bullet had actually hit her.

Kerry ( Misty Gray )
Braden, Harper ( Bellz )
May ( BasDorcha )

 

[BasDorcha]

The Date
Dublin, Ireland
Michelle Romano​

Michelle slid into the car, admiring the niceness of the interior and giving it a touch of appreciation as she slid her hand across the dash. It was truly a beautiful car. When Edwards mentioned hoping she was ready, it was going to be a long night, a devilish looked crossed her face and the wild child she must have once been seemed to rejuvenate back to life. “I live for the long nights. I plan on holding you to your word, sir. Let’s go paint the town.” The car rumbled beneath them as he shifted into gear and took off. When he kept it docile, she decided she’d have to try and get him to loosen up a bit and put some speed behind it before he took her home.

He and Michelle drove without talking while listening to music, and that was perfectly okay with the woman. Sometimes silence said more then words. As she thought about her night ahead of her, and the past nights she had spent getting back to being herself, she was glad to be getting a chance to know who she was after being married for so long. As they rumbled to a stop, Michelle looked out, reading the name of the place in her head. She’d never been here before, but it was supposed to be very good. Edwards came around and helped her out, Michelle sliding her hand into his and keeping it in her grasp as he closed the door behind her.

She listened as he told her what his plans were for the night, giving him a playful smile. “Mr. Edwards, are you trying to get me alone under the stars?” She slid her hand from his up to the crook of his arm, thankful she had worn heels tonight. As they entered the dining room, Michelle admired how beautiful the room was, and the elegant feeling it had, though she was not big on fancy settings. Once in a while, it was lovely, she just wouldn’t be caught doing it all the time, she was too… down to earth to spend all her head in the clouds, like most of these people did. “It’s lovely here, Edwards, thank you for bringing me.”

Michelle was a bit underdressed too, it seemed, but unlike her date, she didn’t much care. As he helped her too her seat, she gave him another small smile. “Thank you, handsome, you’re very sweet.” And Michelle meant it, James Edwards seemed like a mild mannered man – at least with her – and polite, something not a lot of men were these days. As he took his seat and the waiter left them with their menu’s, he mentioned that he hoped he hadn’t gone too overboard.

“I think this is great, give yourself some credit. You picked a lovely restaurant, you had all the plans, and you look amazing.” She settled in, glancing through the menu. “I don’t know about you, but this is my first, first date since I met my ex-husband, and that was over a decade ago. I don’t know the first thing about dating anymore, I only know how to be a mom.” Deciding on a pasta dish, she looked up at him, her honey eyes meeting his. “So we’ll relearn this whole going out thing together, deal?”

Mentions BloodLightning27 - James Edwards

 

[Misty Gray]

May's House
~ Bethnal Green, London ~

Kerry Patrick​

Kerry had snapped out of her overpowering thoughts when one of the intruders addressed Harper by name. It wasn't just what he said that caught her attention, but the familiarity in his voice. She couldn't help but stare at him as though if she focused for long enough she'd be able to see beneath his mask. She was already sure she knew but part of her still questioned whether she was imagining it or her messed up thoughts somehow wanted it to be Braden. He was one of the few of the Sullivans who had been kind to her in the past despite the known hatred Conor and others had for her.

With May seated next to her, Kerry returned the squeeze of the hand her friend had given her. She glanced to the knife May had, but made sure to avert her eyes so as not to draw more attention to it. "Just. Stop!" Kerry spoke to the masked men, as if the words on her mind had unintentionally left her mouth. When she saw Braden look her way, she met his gaze with a tearful desperation in her eyes. She didn't want any of her friends to be killed or hurt. She couldn't bear to be forced to watch on as it happened, like she was forced to watched her friends and colleagues at the jazz club be killed. Somehow, hearing Braden counting down took her back to having Steve counting down in her ear as he forced her to choose who he would shoot first. But surely Braden wasn't like that. No matter what his business here was and his family's war with the Kings, surely he was the decent man she'd believed and not some monster like those she'd encountered in New York. She couldn't bring herself to think someone so closely related to Sinead and Savannah could be so cruel.

There was a sudden commotion and the firing of a gun, prompting Kerry to tightly close her eyes. When she looked up again, she saw Braden had been knocked to the floor by a falling painting. She heard Harper threatening the Irish men and warning them about what would happen when her brothers arrived. Part of her felt comforted by the thought of the King men arriving, but the other worried in case it turned into more violence. She didn't want to see any of them get hurt.

Despite not being okay, Kerry quickly nodded her head when May asked if she was. The next moment, May stabbed the other intruder in the leg. Kerry gasped as Tom pointed the gun at May's face. For some reason, the man then seemed to disapprove of May calling Harper her sister, prompting a curious look from Kerry.

Kerry's attention was then directed to Darcey as the woman approached Braden and kicked the gun away from him. When the older woman removed his mask, Kerry looked to his face and shook her head, a desperation in her eyes as she silently pleaded with him to put a stop to the madness before it escalated. "Braden. Please! This is not what your mother and sister would want. Nor your brother. You can stop this," she told him, hoping he'd see reason.

Kerry's head snapped to the side as Tom fired his gun towards Harper. "What the fuck? What is wrong with you?!" she angrily snapped, mostly intended for Tom. Thankfully, Darcey stepped in to hit Tom with her gun and press against the knife sticking out of his leg.

Bellz (Harper, Braden) BasDorcha (May, Tom) Melanin-Gxdess (Darcey)

 

[Bellz]

Harper King
Braden Callahan
May's House
~ London ~​

Harper flinched as Tom shouted, watching the man back up towards the wall as she kept her gun trained on him. She could have fucking shot him right there but him saying May's name had stopped her. Darcey had pulled the mask off of Braden and Harper inched closer to the older man to ensure he didn't get up. When she saw the blood coming from the wound on the back of his head, her stomach churned and her vision blurred, mouth going try as the panic set in. It didn't matter if she killed him or not, regardless of it all, it would make it clear to Savannah that Harper was no longer on her side...when that wasn't true at all. "Is he-?" The woman tried to ask but stopped herself short from being concerned as May asked if she was okay now.

Harper's eyes found her sisters and the blonde nodded once silently. Her eyes also followed May's to Kerry, the woman looking like she was about to be sicker than Harper felt at that moment. May started moving closer to Tom and Harper growled out for her to stop, but she didn't listen. Darcey and she had their guns trained on him as the older woman told Tom to put down the gun. The man questioned Harper being May's sister and a chill ran down the blonde's spine as there was a beat of a pause that seemed to go on forever.

She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but suddenly the man turned his gun on her, spinning around so quickly that her mind struggled to keep up. The barrel of a gun was once again staring her in the face but Harper knew this man had no reason to hesitate. The moment the gun fired, Harper had every intention to dive for the ground but she was slow in her movements, her limbs failing her as they struggled to understand what was going on. She could hear it whizz above her, landing in the wall only a hands length above her head. Kerry screamed at Tom but Harper was acting on autopilot, not allowing the fear to get to her.

Braden's eyes had snapped open, his head pounding as he looked around him. His eyes had caught Kerry's as she said something to him, it sounded like she was pleading with him to stop this all. Saying that this wasn't what Savvy or his mother would want. The man blinked slowly, trying to process the tears on her face and the desperation in her eyes as he moved to try and get up.

Seeing Braden moving to get back up as Darcey was quick to fire at Tom, Harper bounded across the small space to Braden who was now on all fours struggling. From the corner of her eye, she saw the rope that he must have brought with him, plenty of it to tie him and Tom both. Before he could get up completely, Harper swung her foot out, her combat boot catching him in the ribs as the man let out a groan, though he didn't move from his all-fours position. "Stay down, Brady!" Harper growled out, the man spitting up some blood onto the carpet in a response of defiance as he tried to shoot up off the ground much faster now. The squeeze of the trigger surprised her just as much as it did him as she shot him in the foot. He let out a scream that Harper was sure would be seared into her head for the rest of her days.

"Please just fuckin' stay down!!" She begged him now, the tears burning her eyes as she brought the butt of her handgun down on his spine hard before giving him another kick to the ribs. That brought him down again, laying flat on the ground. Harper put the gun against the back of his head, "You move, I kill you." The woman threatened though the fear in her voice made her sound less fierce as she moved to grab some rope. Putting her knee on his spine, Harper grabbed it before strapping her gun back in its holster for a moment.

Brady didn't move, too dizzy and weak now as Harper tied his wrists. Harper looked up as Darcey turned her attention to her, asking her if she was okay. The tears in Darcey's eyes brought tears to Harper's but she nodded her head. "Fine." She managed to ground out before tying Braden's wrists tighter. "There's rope, Darce, May...tie the other one up." Once her quick work was finished, Harper tugged on Braden's arm. "Get up." She demanded, helping him get to his good foot while pulling her gun back out.

Harper put the gun to the back of Braden's head before looking at Tom. "I don't know what you came here to do, but clearly, it isn't going to work. So unless you want to explain to the Sullivans why one of their flesh and blood died at the hands of 4 girls and you are the only one who lived to tell the tale, I suggest you cooperate." Of course, Harper had no intention of killing Braden...but if she needed to get her point across, she would. Looking at Braden, Harper couldn't hide the hurt on her face. "Why would you do this to him? He's our nephew. He's just as much of our family as he is yours!"

Braden was silent, looking at Tom with wide eyes now that told him to relent. The blood from the wound the painting gave him was now dripping down his back to his wrists, covering both his hands and Harper's in it. Harper looked at it briefly and thought she'd be sick right then and there. She moved her eyes to another sight, the broken painting now on the floor, faded but the calming picture of a meadow distracted her for a moment. As simple as it may have looked, the image steeled her nerves in a way she couldn't understand. Perhaps giving her some hope that they would get out of this alive...all of them including Braden and Tom. The former was looking pale now at the blood loss, so much so that he was wobbling on his good foot. Harper tried to hold him, to keep him steady as the panic rose in her chest.

"Darcey, what do we do?" The blonde asked out loud, looking to her again as tears flowed down her face, her eyes then moving to look to Kerry and May as well.
with: Melanin-Gxdess BasDorcha Misty Gray

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Tower Bridge
~London ~
Marco & Erik
​

Erik wasn’t surprised when Billy started yelling at him for being reckless. He was desperate to get Spencer back, however, so he was more than willing to put up with it for now. “Will you shut up?!” He said, watching as the van swerved. Just as the van was pierced by construction materials Erik slammed his foot on the brake. They’d skidded to a stop not to far away, bodies jerking forwards while the two of them scrambled out of the car. Billy had already taken off, Erik shouting after him but it was too late.

Erik grumbled, muttering under his breath about how stupid he was before running towards the van himself. It was hard to see, but Erik was managing to find his way around. He ran up to the driver’s side of the van, immediately hit with a wave of nausea at the sight of Glynn. He’d never seen something so… Graphic before in his life. He gagged, pressing his hand against the side of the van before turning around.

He could hear sounds of people grunting and fists landing - both from Billy and Spencer. As he began to seek out the location of both sounds his eyes caught sight of Dermot. He was standing nearby, a menacing look on his face. Erik frowned, patting himself down. He didn’t have any weapons on his which was unfortunate - Dermot being significantly taller than him. Erik just had to hope his fighting skills were up to par. “Hey! You Irish putz!” He shouted, starting for him. “You fucked up this time around.”

Marco wasn’t expecting for things to escalate so quickly. One second he’s got his hand on Chase’s shoulder, explaining to Spencer it wasn’t fair that they’d killed his friend. The next, he’s laying on the floor with a raging headache. Sometime during the crash he’d hit his head, groaning the moment it happened. Though he was disoriented he knew exactly what was happening - the van had crashed into something and they were fucked. He got onto his hands an knees- one hand pressed against his temple. “The fu-,” his words got caught in his throat upon seeing the mangled mess that was Glynn. It made Marco sick to his stomach to see and he had to turn away from it.

Luckily Dermot shouted at him, warning him they needed to hurry up and get out of the van. He wasted no time in following the man after making sure his weapons were still on him. Because he couldn’t tell where Billy and Erik had gone, Marco wanted to make sure he was alert. It was difficult to do with his head banging and his vision getting blurry but he was making do. The rain was doing little to help with Marcos vision. He could barely hear over the falling raindrops let alone see. Which is why when Billy came at him Marco had been shocked.

Marco’s head hit the asphalt upon impact and again when Billy punched him. The headache he already had was now getting worse, which only pissed Marco off. The next time he saw an opening, he grabbed his arm and threw his foot into Billy’s chest to push him off. For a moment he rolled to his side trying to gather his bearings. The rain stung his eyes and no matter how many times he wiped his face it didn’t help. “Hijo de puta!” He shouted, finally getting up to his feet. “I would apologize for what’s about to happen but I’m not, really,” he said, taking out the knife Spencer had on him.

Dermot ( Misty Gray )
Billy ( Pyroclast )

 

[Misty Gray]

Tower Bridge
~ City of London, London ~

Spencer King and Dermot Murphy​

Chase retaliated to Spencer's attack by slamming his palm up against his chin, forcing his head to jolt back on impact. Stunned by the blow, Spencer wasn't able to dodge being pushed and then kicked by Chase, an action which then allowed the Cuban to wrap his hands around his neck. Chase forced Spencer to move so he was leaning backwards over the back of the passenger seat. Spencer instantly felt the heat from the fire that was spreading too close by for comfort. As he tried to kick at Chase's legs to affect his balance, he soon had to stop as he felt everything behind him getting hotter. He attempted to reach for Chase's throat with one hand whilst feeling around his nearby surroundings with the other. The flame brushed the back of his hand, causing Spencer to tense and hiss in pain. He snapped his hand away from the fire but not without first grabbing a shard of glass that he was quick to drive into the top of Chase's bicep and drag down his skin towards the man's elbow.

As Chase loosened his grip around Spencer's neck, the Londoner was able to break from his grip and push him away. Rushing forward away from the fire, Spencer then slammed the bottom of his shoe into the side of Chase's hip to knock him back further. By now, the heat of the fire he'd been dangerously close to had caused Spencer to break out into a sweat, the droplets of perspiration running down his face to create lines that trailing down his blood-soaked skin. That wasn't the only heat Spencer was feeling as he had to quickly pat down a small flame that had spread to his sleeve, but he managed to put it out before it burned through to his skin. Spencer side-stepped away from the fire before lunging back towards Chase, slamming the side of the man's head against the wall of the van before using his other hand to punch him in the stomach.

*****​

After jumping out of the back of the van, Dermot saw Billy rush towards them and go for Marco. Certain Marco could hold his own for now, he looked around for the other man he was aware of that had been in the car with Billy. He didn't want any of them to be ambushed by the man in question. Soon enough, Erik made his presence known as he shouted out, calling Dermot an 'Irish putz' before saying he'd fucked up. Without hesitation, Dermot rushed towards Erik and ducked aside to avoid any anticipated blow. He then swiftly outstretched his arm and gripped the side of Erik's neck, slamming his head against the exterior of the van and adding to the apparent thuds coming from inside the vehicle. He had to wonder if Chase had been able to put Spencer down for good yet.

Keeping one hand on Erik's neck to hold his head in place, Dermot retrieved his gun from the holster and didn't hesitate to press the barrel into the side of Erik's skull. "I think you've fucked up, mate," he growled back at him. The reminder of the public place and witnesses around was enough of a deterrent to stop him from actually firing the gun and drawing unwanted attention to them. Dermot instead hit the back of Erik's head with the handle on the gun. Letting go of Erik he took a couple of steps back and discharged the magazine from the weapon to render it useless if Erik was to take it. Slotting the weapon into his holster, he quickly removed the hunters knife from his belt instead.

Pyroclast (Chase, Billy) Melanin-Gxdess (Marco, Erik)

 

[Pyroclast]

Tower Bridge
~ London ~

Chase Zegarra​

Still with his hands gripping Spencer by the throat, Chase lowered the man over the hungry flames, hoping to overstimulate him with pain coming from multiple directions to put off his ability to fight back. He watched as the Londoner reached up with a hand to try and grab Chase by the neck in return but he wasn't having it, and only squeezed harder against the man's trachea, digging his thumbs in to block his airway. What he failed to notice, however, was the shard of glass within Spencer's reach; his target suddenly reached up and stabbed Chase in his bicep, dragging it downwards as deeply as he could. Chase's grip inevitably loosened as he hissed and growled in pain at the glass tearing through the muscle of his arm, and so Spencer was able to escape his hold, pushing him away and delivering a swift kick to Chase's side to create further distance. He stumbled into the side of the van, tripping over something in the process, which turned out to be the severed head still rolling on the floor.

Once again, the grotesque sight occupied him for a second too long, and Spencer took advantage, able to slam Chase's head against the wall and deliver a powerful punch to his stomach. Naturally, he doubled over, emitting a strained cough - he had taken worse hits, though, and he knew he had to keep up the pace or Spencer was only going to escape, so Chase spun round and grabbed hold of the man, driving him back towards where Glynn's body remained. Blood and rain showered over them as he took a fistful of Spencer's hair and slammed his face down on the metal girder twice, splitting his eyebrow open. The two men were covered in Glynn's and each others' blood, and at this point he had no reason not to make things messier. So, yanking his head back up by his hair, Chase drew out his own knife and stabbed Spencer deep in the gut, his eyes glowering down on him. He found himself savouring every second of the man's pain, as his mind went back to Aidan and how his life had been cut short.

Misty Gray Spencer

Billy King​

As Billy was raising his arm for another punch, Marco managed to raise his leg up between them and shove Billy off with a kick to the chest. There wasn’t quite enough momentum for it to hurt, but it did throw him off balance and he lost his position over the man as he fell to the side. He landed on his wounded shoulder and the intense pain overrode all his senses for a moment, but it didn’t pull his focus away entirely and he managed to reset his focus on his opponent soon enough. Awkwardly pushing himself off the wet ground, he tried not to let the spreading pain weaken him. He was there to defend his brother and get him back to safety, and if ever there was a reason to push through the pain, that was it.

Without having had a proper look at the man, it wasn’t until he heard him shout something in Spanish that he realised he was dealing with an actual Irishman. Still, the Irish mob was a melting pot of different nationalities so it was no surprise to hear a language he didn’t understand. With both of them now on their feet, Marco prefaced his action by claiming to not be sorry for what he was about to do - and then he got out a knife. But Billy recognised the knife immediately. It was one of Spencer’s oldest flick knives, one he carried frequently if not at all times, and one he would even take with him on camping trips when they were younger. A wave of anxiety came over him as he wondered how Marco had managed to retrieve it from his brother, only hoping that he hadn’t looted it from his dead body. “Oh, you will be,” Billy growled through the violent rain.

He had a knife on him, too, but he thought it best to keep it a secret for now, and that it was still better to prioritise disarming his opponent first. So, he lunged forward and swung his palm across the man’s face in a heavy smack to distract him and avert his gaze. Before he could recover, Billy quickly grabbed Marco’s arm and snapped it backwards over his own, just above the elbow where it wouldn’t naturally bend. The bone gave a sickening crack and the knife fell out of his hand and into a puddle at their feet, which Billy didn’t hesitate to stoop and pick up.

Interactions
Melanin-Gxdess Marco

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Tower Bridge
~London ~
Marco & Erik
​

With the knife in his hand, Marco flicked it open in order to prepare himself. He let a chuckle as Billy threatened him watching his every move. For split second Marco was taken off guard by the blood dripping down his face. He wasn’t sure where it was coming from but mixed with the rain his vision was only getting worse. He’d raised his hand to try and wipe some of it away, but he wasn’t quick enough. Billy’s hand smacking him in the face was unexpected- he’d never been slapped in a fight before. But it seemed to be enough for Billy to catch him slacking.

Marco threw a fist only for Billy to end up grabbing his arm and before he could yank it back, broke it. He let out a loud shout feeling the bones shatter. He stumbled backwards, using his left arm to grip onto his right. Now he was truly pissed. At himself for letting Billy catch him offguard and at Billy for breaking his arm to begin with! Realizing his back was turned to the man, he turned around and took a deep breath. “You sonofabitch!”

The knife lay on the ground a few feet away- closer to Billy than himself. As much as he believed in his fighting abilities, he didn’t think he’d be able to even try to go for it. Unarmed and broken, he was just going to have to figure out how he was going defend himself and remain alive. Watching as Billy took out a knife of his own Marco sighed, shaking his head. How much worse, he wondered, could his fucking luck get? The adrenaline coursing through his veins had been enough to subside a good portion of the pain for now. Billy came for him and Marco immediately side stepped. Because there wasn’t much he could do to be effective, Marco was trying to find a way out. Dermot and Chase were both busy so he couldn’t rely on them. There were far too many people around for him to use his gun. So for now, he danced with a grin. “Come on.”

Erik always had an issue where we spoke before thinking about the situation - this time was no different. The moment Dermot was made aware of his presence he started for him. Dermot grabbed the side of Erik’s neck, the former grunting and clawing at his arm in response. Despite how many times he brought his free hand down on the man’s arm he didn’t let go. He found himself being pressed against the side of the van, wincing as his head collided with the wet metal. Erik tried his best to land some sort of blow against Dermot - kicking at him, punching, something. But the moment he watched the man take out his gun he momentarily froze.

For a moment he wondered if Dermot were actually going to do it. Not in a crowded place, he thought. Especially given how quiet they’d been trying to be in the beginning. Erik was right- Dermot letting him go but not before slamming his gun against his head. Erik winced, pressing the palm of his head against the spot. When he looked back up Dermot was holding a knife in his hand. Erik walked closer to Dermot, putting his hands up and getting ready for a fight.

After analyzing the situation a bit more Erik started for the bigger man, aiming for his waist. He charged at him, wrapped his arms around his waist, and begun punching him in the side. If he would just get him down against the ground, Erik thought, maybe he would have the upper hand.

 

[Misty Gray]

Tower Bridge
~ City of London, London ~

Spencer King and Dermot Murphy​

Although he was aware of the severed head on the floor of the van, the fact it belonged to a Sullivan and Spencer was presently trying to get out of the situation alive meant he was able to block it out. He was sure if he made it home tonight, that was a memory that would haunt him for a while. From the heat, blows and wounds already inflicted on him, he was finding himself having to take a moment to catch his breath and calculate his next move.

The split-second hesitation meant Chase was able to grab him and drag him backwards towards where Glynn's body sat. His head and body soaked, Spencer was no longer sure how much of it was his own blood or that of others, not to mention the rain sprinkling in amongst the flames through the now glassless front windows. He didn’t get much time to process as his head was slammed down, his eyebrow colliding painfully with the steel beam. Before he could process that pain, his eyebrow was smacked against the girder again. Spencer let out a pained groan as the effects of the blow took over the whole of his forehead and he felt his vision blurring. He fell down onto his knees but before he could clutch his intensely throbbing skull, Chase grabbed him by the hair and snapped his head back up. Too dazed and stunned to react quickly, he couldn't stop the other man from thrusting the knife into his abdomen. Spencer let out a choked groan which was quickly overtaken by a cough and splutter as a delayed reaction from Chase's hand gripping his throat a short time earlier. He was sure this time was it and he wasn't going to luck out.

Beneath the haze and blurriness, he managed to meet Chase's eyes. He could see this was personal to Chase too, no doubt for what had happened to Aidan. "Bastard–" Spencer spat out before lowering his head and breaking any eye-contact. Gasping for air, Spencer clutched at the bleeding stab wound in his abdomen and doubled over collapsing onto his side. No longer focused on Chase, his eyes were stuck on the ever-growing fire which had now completely taken over the front of the van and was only a matter of time before the whole vehicle was engulfed.

*****​

Erik rushed towards Dermot, wrapping his arms around his waist before punching him in the side. Although the blows knocked him slightly, he was able to remain standing firmly on his feet. He forcefully wriggled out of Erik's hold, slashing the man's elbow with the blade of his knife. He then pushed Erik backwards, forcing him towards the side of the burning van.
Although he was holding the knife in his hand, Dermot flicked it around so the blade was pointing downwards. Rather than using the weapon for its usual purpose yet, he clutched the handle with his fist and punched Erik directly in the jaw, the grip on the handle adding more power to the punch. Erik's stance had clearly made it apparent he wanted a fight, so Dermot happily obliged, grinning at the man.

"I know you," he spoke as he still moved. "I also know Moretti called off the peace deal..."

Dermot then dealt another blow to his gut. Anticipating the man to retaliate in kind, he flipped the knife in his hand so it was pointing upwards again. As he prepared to swipe his hand and slice Erik's throat with the blade, a wave of fire blew outwards, prompting Dermot to duck and avoid any flames. His arm still swiped, but likely causing a much less drastic cut to the man's chest than what his actual intention had been.

Pyroclast (Chase, Billy) Melanin-Gxdess (Marco, Erik)

 

[Pyroclast]

Tower Bridge
~ London ~

Billy King
​

There were cars on the bridge full of witnesses, no doubt watching them. There was Erik locked in a fight of his own and somewhere was his brother, in the van judging by the thuds coming from inside. Yet Billy couldn't let his eyes off the man before him. He had broken his arm, which no longer left Billy disadvantaged with his injured shoulder, and he didn't appear to have a weapon. The two were dancing around each other like something from West Side Story, and Billy smirked at him, feeling confident as he flipped Spencer's knife in his hand. What would happen if he just waited? He didn't want to kill anyone - that would just be leaving more of a mess behind, not to mention the fact he was in the public eye. But that would only work if he could be certain Spencer could get out of his situation without help, and since he had no idea how injured his brother was, he couldn't just leave it to chance. So, he lunged.

The first was just a tease, trying to make the man flinch and to really test if Marco didn't have any weapons up his sleeve that he was saving for the last minute. But when he came up with nothing, Billy emitted a confident laugh and struck again, this time with the intention of stabbing him. Similar to the move he used to tackle him to the ground, Billy leapt forward and grabbed him before reaching round and driving the knife into the man's back.

Melanin-Gxdess Marco

Chase Zegarra​

Letting Spencer drop to the floor, Chase looked down on the pitiful state of him. A beaten, bleeding, breathless mess whose strength appeared to be draining from him almost as rapidly as the blood. The stench of burning flesh was beginning to fill the van and Chase followed Spencer’s eyeline to the fire that was spreading throughout the vehicle, the fierce flames by now having claimed Glynn’s body. There was no time to dwell on his comrade’s death, however - time was running out, and he had to get himself and the rest of his team away before the police caught up with them.

Chase swung his boot into Spencer’s head for one last heavy blow and then, rather than say anything else, he simply spat on him and turned to leave the van. He closed the doors behind him to trap Spencer in more of the smoke and, after looking around, picked up a small metal pipe and jammed it through the handles of the doors, effectively locking it shut from the outside so the man couldn’t get out. Having left him with enough ways to die, Chase’s priority was now to get his men as far away as possible - especially before the flaming van could blow up.

Staying mindful of where his gun was, Chase spotted Dermot and Erik fighting just outside the van, which was essentially a ticking time bomb at this point. “Forget him, we need to go!” he called out to Dermot. The urgency to leave took precedence over checking the men for injuries - they could do that on the road. But they first needed to find a new getaway vehicle.

“Oye!” he yelled to Marco, who was locked in close combat with Billy. It was looking like it could get messy, and if either Dermot or Marco got seriously injured it would slow down their escape. “Get over here!”

The sound of distant sirens momentarily pulled Chase’s attention away; they were definitely getting louder, but he trusted that there was enough traffic to buy them some time. The problem with being on a bridge, however, was that it was easy to get blocked from both sides. They had to move before they got trapped. Unable to discriminate, Chase ran up to the nearest car with a clear route back onto the road. He didn’t like to involve civilians, but he had no other option. So, he opened the car door and pointed his gun at the driver. “Out,” he commanded, hurrying them with an impatient gesture. The deep tear going down his arm was beginning to sting but he was running on adrenaline - the only reason he remembered was for the look the startled driver gave him, horrified not just by the crash, the violence or the carjacking, but also the up-close view of torn flesh down Chase’s bicep.

Interactions
Misty Gray Spencer, Dermot
Melanin-Gxdess Marco

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Tower Bridge
~London ~
Marco & Erik
​

Marco could tell based on the look on his face that Billy was feeling a bit confident. Scratch that, very confident and he didn’t like it. Still, he kept that cocky little grin on his face as if taunting Billy. As if saying that despite his broken arm he was still going to find some way out or beat his ass. The moment Billy lunged at him he managed not to flinch despite his body itching to. To do so, he thought, meant to show fear and Marco wasn’t afraid of Billy. If anything he was afraid of what Dermot and Chase were going to say about his injuries.

Billy lunged for him for real this time and aimed his knife for Marco’s back. He felt the tip of the knife and before Billy was able to stab him, Marco kicked at his ankle to try and knock him down. He then swung his head back to headbutt him, staggering back himself. Why had he done that, he chastised. His head was already pounding at that just made it worse.
Before he could even linger on the thought for too much longer, he heard sirens in the distance. He tried to search for them only Chase’s voice caught his attention first. It was still hard to see with the blood and water mixing in his eyes but he’d managed just enough to watch Chase take someone’s car. He looked to Billy once more shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders. “El deber llama,” he shouted, making his get away to Chase.

Dermot’s blows landed in Erik’s side and he grunted, but still didn’t let up. It wasn’t until Dermot managed to find his way out of his hold that Erik found himself struggle to take the bigger man down. He’d been cut on his elbow, deeper than initially thought, but he couldn’t focus on that right now. With another punch to the jaw, Erik retaliated with another punch of his own directly into Dermot’s kidney. For the brief moment he was allowed to catch his breath Erik glanced back over to Billy- making sure he was okay.

When Dermot started talking he turned his head to him. It was the first time that he’d realized that immunity he had no longer existed; he was now just like any other man. But he wasn’t afraid of dying. He just smiled at Dermot shrugging his shoulders. “That shit was never gonna last anyway and we both know it.”

Erik let out another grunt as he was punched in the stomach, gripping onto Dermot’s arm to prevent himself from falling to the ground. He stood back up rearing himself to kick at him when the flames flew in their direction. Instead of getting a surprise hook in on Dermot, Erik shouted and stepped back. There was a long gash in his chest bleeding profusely. He got to his knees, one hand over the wound as he tried to crawl away from Dermot. Maybe luck would kick in, he thought, knowing there was no way he was about to beat a giant like him.

 

[Misty Gray]

Tower Bridge
~ City of London, London ~

Spencer King and Dermot Murphy​

Spencer felt Chase’s final blow as the man kicked him in the head. His already beaten and exhausted body registered the pain, allowing him to become distracted and confused for a brief time. His intention to try to get out of the van as soon as Chase left him was soon made more complicated when he heard the van doors being slammed shut from the outside. Up until that point, even with a bleeding stab wound, he’d still had some confidence that he could escape the van before it was too late. Suddenly, the chances of that happening were rapidly fading. He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, groaning in pain as the movement pulled against the stab wound in his abdomen.

Spencer crawled a short distance to reach the doors but kept low to try to avoid the majority of the smoke from overcoming him. It wasn’t quite enough, as he’d breathed enough in to cause him to cough and splutter. With the strength that remained, he attempted to push the van doors open but they weren’t budging - clearly they’d been jammed from the outside. Weakened, he clutched at his abdomen with his hand and he once again collapsed onto his side. The heat inside the vehicle was becoming unbearable and despite there no longer being any glass in the front windows, the oxygen in the back of the van was depleting, causing Spencer’s breathing to become strained.

Having heard sounds coming from outside the van, Spencer began repeatedly kicking the doors from the inside, hoping Billy, Erik, or anyone else not with the Sullivans, would hear him and let him out. Still kicking the doors, he remained laid out on the floor. The heat was intense and despite his attempts to get someone to hear him, his mind was now facing the fact that this was it. After a lifetime of fighting for survival and fighting for power, he was destined to die in the back of a burning van and at the hands of the Sullivans. It wasn’t that he believed he deserved better or expected to die as an old man from natural causes, but he just thought he would have had more time. More time to love and care for his family. He called out for help and followed it with a couple more kicks of the door, but he was immediately rewarded with another short coughing fit, prompting him to cover his mouth and nose with his arm.

Forcing himself to look away from the fire, he turned his head to the van doors next to him. He made sure he was thinking of Shona and Eddie. As it was becoming apparent his thoughts now would likely be his last, he wanted his wife and son to be the last thing he ever thought about. He had no doubts his family would continue to look after Shona with him gone, so he knew she and Eddie would never go without. He didn’t fear his own death, but he feared not being alive and missing out on watching his boy grow up. He’d promised Eddie and Shona he’d never leave them, yet here he was now breaking that promise, even if through no direct choice of his own. Kicking the doors a few more times, he closed his eyes and focused his thoughts on the people he most loved.

*****​

Dermot nodded in agreement and briefly smirked when Erik acknowledged they both knew the peace deal was never going to last. With so many egos in charge - Moretti’s the largest - Dermot wasn’t surprised things had fallen apart with the agreement. In a way, he was glad as he didn’t much like tip-toeing around the Italians considering what they’d done to the Irish Mob over the years.

After slashing Erik across the chest with his knife, Dermot watched as the man made an attempt to crawl away. Staying standing on the spot, he let Erik move away enough to give him a false sense of security, intending to step back into action before they were in view of the witnesses. About to rush at Erik with the intention of kicking him in the ribs and then beating the shit out of him, Dermot hesitated as he became aware of the approaching sirens.

Hearing Chase shout at him to leave Erik alone, Dermot looked to his friend before reluctantly nodding his head. He wasn’t sure if he was going to kill Erik anyway. Regardless of the fact there was no longer an agreement in place, he figured actually killing one of the Morettis would need to be an order from the top. Neither Syd nor Conor had done so with the present mission being about the Kings. “Alright, killjoy,” Dermot sarcastically remarked to Chase as he slid his knife back into his belt. As he walked past Erik, he briefly patted the man on the shoulder. “We’ll finish this another time, mate.”

Regrouping with Chase and Marco, the former proceeded to lead them to the nearest car where he ordered the civilian driver to get out. Rounding the front of the vehicle, Dermot nodded to Chase, noticing the man’s bleeding arm. “I can drive us outta here if you prefer,” he offered. Dermot then pointed to Marco’s broken arm. “You can ride in the back. That arm’s going to hold you back… well, maybe not physically in that state,” he teased. Despite the joke, he was trying his hardest not to think about what had happened to his colleague, Glynn. Those were the kinds of thoughts he would have to process once they were out of danger and away from the cops.

Pyroclast (Chase, Billy) Melanin-Gxdess (Marco, Erik)

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Le Diner
~Bethnal Green, London~
Alexander King ​

It wasn't that Alex didn't appreciate everything his family was doing for him when it came to looking for Callum. Helping him search, using all their resources, and even staying up late with him sometimes. He did. More than he'd ever appreciated them before. But right now their words meant nothing. Their sympathies meant nothing because he still felt like shit. He still didn't have his kid back and he still didn't know where he was. It was the only thing, he thought, that could ease his mind. Alex wasn't entirely sure if there were some other hidden reasons he was going crazy. Could it have been something with his ego? Was he pissed because he hadn't thought of keeping Callum and running away with him first? The target of all his anger was unknown to him but he did know that the moment he found Savannah he was going to let her have all of it.

But then again, could he? It wasn't entirely her fault that felt the need to take Callum and run. All the threats and intimidation tactics couldn't have helped whatsoever. Both sides were to blame, sure, but Alex felt it was more her side than his. With Conor butting his stupid nose into their business he felt the man had made things worse. It was all Sullivan's fault, he thought. On the outside, all of his thoughts were showing up on his face. From the sadness he felt about his kid to the anger at Conor for interfering. He'd had a difficult time keeping it hidden away these past couple of days. All the emotions he tried to pretend he didn't have were breaking through.

His pager went off, Alex barely registering what it was. The moment he read the number on it he knew who it was; Kit was finally back at the safe house. Not wanting to attract too much attention - considering no one knew about what he was doing - he excused himself from the table. "I have to take this," he muttered, acting as if it weren't important. He asked the waitress if they had a phone he could borrow- the woman pointed to a payphone by the bathroom. Alex wasted no time putting the coins in and immediately dialing the number. The woman on the other end answered, Alex clutching the bottom of the receiver to speak into. He kept his body turned so that he could see people as they walked by, wanting to make sure neither Bruce nor Jeremy snuck up on him. His voice was low as he continued reminding her not to harm them. Truly part of him regretted sending Kit and Jocelyn - mostly because the former was an unpredictable psycho. How and why his family employed someone like that was a good question. One no one seemed to have an answer for.

The phone call didn't last long, Alex walking back to the table in a matter of minutes. By the time he'd reached it Bruce go a page. Alex thought nothing of it, standing off to the side waiting for the man to let him back inside the booth. It wasn't until he watched his uncle jump up in a hurry that Alex felt himself fill with anxiety. "What is it? Is it something with Callum?!" He looked at the man with desperate eyes, wanting him to say yes and when he didn't he was disappointed once more. That disappointment, however, didn't last long as Bruce informed them Harper, Darcey, Kerry, and May were in trouble. They'd only gotten a partial page with an address. Back by the payphones, there had been a directory, Alex storming back over. Hopefully, he thought, the stupid girl had registered and was inside. The moment he found it he slammed the book closed and turned back to Jeremy and Bruce. "I got it, lets go."

Bruce sent Jeremy and Alex ahead whilst he went to go get Spencer. Alex was sure the man would be home by now so he suggested he head there. He and Jeremy, on the other hand, raced through the streets of London to get to May's place. Now, on top of worrying about Callum, he had three others. Technically four, but Alex was still iffy when it came to May. The idea of anything happening to them - again - wasn't something Alex wanted to think about, so he forced himself to think about something else; killing the men who dared set foot in May's apartment was more like it. He hoped there weren't too many men, despite feeling confident. He was sure he and Jeremy would be able to handle things on their own. Except, by the time they'd gotten there it looked like their help wasn't needed.

Jeremy and Alex had decided to sneak into the house, guns drawn, trying to make sure no one else was there. By the time they'd gotten to the living room, Braden was on the ground and Darcey was standing over Tom. Her gun was trained on him, Alex's own gun pointing between Braden and Tom. The moment he made eye contact with the man, however, his eyes grew wide. With his gun trained on Braden Alex glanced around the room- doing a double take as his eyes met Kerry's. He hadn't been the best with her, as of late, and knew he had a bunch to make up for. And seeing her right then, scared out of her mind, he felt horrible. Harper was next; seeing the gun in her hand didn't feel right. Though she may have been training on how to use it, he was still getting used to the idea. He turned his attention back to Braden then, a deep frown on his face. "The fuck are you doing here, Braden, and why shouldn't I shoot you right. Now?!"

Jeremy, May, Tom ( BasDorcha )
Kerry ( Misty Gray )
Harper,Braden ( Bellz )
Bruce ( Pyroclast )

 

[BasDorcha]

May's House
Bethnal Green, London
Maeve & Thomas Thatcher​

Everything had spiraled out of control in the worst way. Braden, unmasked and bleeding from multiple places beside him, was down for the count and that left him against two guns, his sister, and the girl having a mental break. His sister was under his aim, but he had no intention of ever firing a bullet at her. He had hoped she would surrender, she had always been so quick to give in back home, when had she become so… brave? Strong? It caused anger feelings to explode in his head, confusion not something he was comfortable with.

As Darcey shouted out for her to duck, May dropped to an all fours on the ground position, head tucked to her chest. The sound of another bullet being fired went off, and a moment later, the remaining masked man shouted out a curse in Gaelic, and the crushing suspicion May felt became down right sickening. Tom grabbed his shoulder, the bullet passing clean though the outer muscle mass. Unthinking, he clenched down on his pistol as the pain ripped through his arm, contracting the muscles even as he tried to stop it. With his finger already on the trigger, a bullet exploded from the end, grazing May’s leg and landing in the furniture behind her without hitting anyone else.

May stood shaking, the shock in her so bad that she didn’t even respond to the feel of blood running down her thigh. As the masked figure was thrown to the floor and the gun stomped out of his grasp, the breath finally rushed back into her, her body exploding in pain. Kerry behind her could be heard begging for everyone to stop, but May’s brain was not processing fast enough for any of it. It hadn’t even hit her yet that Harper had been fired at, until Harper fired off a shot and the man named Brady screamed. She looked over to see Harper tying him up.

***​

The table fell quiet, Bruce and Jeremy watching Alex as he fell back into his own mind, lost to his troubles. Jeremy desperately wished he had an answer for the man, he deserved it. He had been working so hard to be a better dad for his son, and Jeremy had seen the change in the man, he was so close to ending a chapter in his life and that had been blown apart for the time being thanks to this. When the man stood up and left the table, Bruce standing next to them while he walked off. Jeremy mused out loud, “I wonder what that is about.” Still, no response was received. He knew that Bruce had a lot on his mind too, but like Alex, he wasn’t sure how best to broach the subject. For all his helping, he felt useless.

A few moments later, Alex returned, and Jeremy watched him carefully. He had a deep gut feeling something was up, the way Alex was acting, but was distracted as Bruce got another page – this time causing the man to jump up. Impatiently, Jeremy had stood from the table and was tapping his foot waiting, hoping, that May was listed. Harper had the address with her, and like an idiot, he hadn’t thought to write it down for himself. He was turning out to be a terrible bodyguard – but he never expected with the likes of Darcey around anyone would try anything. Leave it to the Sullivan’s to be completely shitty.

As the minutes ticked by, Jeremy felt each and every one of them as they rushed up to May’s place. The fear in his throat. Every damn time he let that woman out of his sight, she was getting into trouble. He shook his head, a new hole chewed in his thumb before they got there. As they pulled up down the street, Jeremy spotted a suspicious looking van, driving past it and parking at the house just past May’s. They doubled back through the yard, following the attackers tracks through the wet yard into the backdoor. Following the already muddy tracks in the house, they cleared the rooms, getting there just in time to see Darcey standing over Tom, and Harper holding a gun on a man clearly bleeding from multiple places. Braden… Good girl, Harper. There was a moment of pride in him, looking at her, and he couldn’t help the grin that came to his lips, though he was obviously struggling to keep it under check.

As if on auto pilot, May stepped forward knowing that Kerry was in no condition to assist. She would do it for her friend. Grabbing another length of the rope, she stepped up to the man who Darcey was holding in position, the gun jettisoned from his hand, groaning under the pressure of her foot. Instead, Jeremy, seeing the look on May’s face and the paleness added to shaking, stepped in and took the rope from her hands. Tom knew he couldn’t fight back anymore, and quietly began to mentally prepare himself for what was about to happen. May was going to find out it was him that trained a gun on her, that he almost shot her … sister? He didn’t know how this was going to end, but it wasn’t going to be pretty. The tears were already streaming from her eyes as she approached him only to be stopped by a large man that had a look of death in his eyes. He rolled to his stomach without a fight, letting him secure his bonds. He moved him to a standing position beside Braden and Harper.

May stepped around in front of him, a hand slowly lifting to his face. Tom closed his eyes, unable to look at her as the heartbreak in her eyes was clear – she already knew it was him. The hand paused once it had grabbed the fabric and slowly pulled it off. As Tom’s face came into view, the silent crying became loud, broken, a series of broken sobs between cries of pain and betrayal. “Why, why are you here? Tommy why would you do this? THESE ARE MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY YOU’RE TRYING TO SHOOT AT! YOU’RE MY FUCKING BROTHER! WHY? Why…” May’s hand pointed at the bullet behind Harper’s head, causing Jeremy’s eyes to follow. The obvious bullet hole, Harper’s purse nearly directly under it, Jeremy was able to easily put together that Tom had shot at Harper. A animalist growl escaped his lips, the man suddenly slamming Tom up against the wall, his arm across his neck, shoving until he was turning purple. Harper yelled something, breaking his concentration, and he released the man, stepping away.

Falling to her knees, May covered her mouth, trying to stifle the noise with her fist. Tom took a step towards her while gasping, trying to force the air back into his lungs that Jeremy had shoved out. Like a bat out of hell she pushed backwards, falling on her bottom and scootching back as fast as she could until she hit Kerry. Realizing she had made plenty of distance from him, May fell back to pieces. She wrapped her arms around her head, resting the whole package on her knees. The silence was deafening in the room, with only May’s sobs breaking it. It felt like time had stopped, and they were all just standing there, staring at her, though her brain tried to remind her it likely wasn’t as long as it felt, it went unheard through the panic and destruction she was feeling.

Jeremy looked up from May’s defeated form, to Thomas Thatcher, half brother, Sullivan employee, and with his mask off, he was certain it was the same body shape, face shape as the man from the Chinese restaurant. He did not mention this out loud, instead just looked between the two. May looked the perfect victim, but Jeremy still had his doubts. Pulling his second pistol, he focused on both Tom and May, his voice flat and emotionless as he stared her down. “Maeve Thatcher, the King’s accepted you even though they acknowledge you’re a Sullivan, accepting you still once it came to be known you were also related to the King’s.” He looked around at all the women, sure he was about to become the most unpopular choice in the room, but someone had to cover the obvious – had May some how been involved in this?

“You have to choose, now.” He didn’t need to expand on the statement to make his point. May seemed to have caught and held her breath, everything happening too fast for her to keep up. Jeremy’s gun in her face, as well as the underlying threat, was overwhelming. Jeremy felt his soft spot warming up but forced himself to stop. If anyone tried to move to defend her before she answered, Jeremy gave them a scathing look and firmly told them to stop, repeating he needed the answer.

Minutes ticked away, before finally May seemed to calm herself – something he was happy to allow her time to do because he did not believe in rash decisions – before a coolness passed over her sad face. She shook her head, causing Jeremy to tension on the trigger, but he quickly released as May’s soft and conquered voice filled the room. “Not him. Never again.”

Mentions Melanin-Gxdess Misty Gray Bellz

 

[Bellz]

Harper King
Braden Callahan
May's House
~ London ~​

Harper was wondering if Darcey and she would be forced to kill the two men in May's living room. While the young woman desired to be involved in the business, she had absolutely none to kill someone. Especially her nephew's Irish Uncle. "CAN SOMEONE TAKE THE GUN AWAY FROM HIM!" Harper shouted as Tom fired his gun accidentally at May. She didn't move from her spot with Braden in case the man tried anything funny, but she looked over May. "You alright?!" The woman didn't respond.

Suddenly Alex and Jeremy burst into the room. While relief was the first feeling she felt, dread quickly destroyed it all. Harper was caught in a moral battle. She wouldn't have to kill Braden...but surely Alex would. The woman's grip on Braden tightened, her nails biting into his skin. Alex's eyes found hers and the man frowned deeply as he then looked at Braden. Harper's eyes moved from Alex to Jeremy, seeing the approval in his eyes while he looked over her, the grin he was trying to hide showing slightly on his face. The woman gave him a slight nod to inform him that she was alright...physically anyway. Tom had seemed to understand the predicament he was in now as May tried to tie him. Jeremy stepped in for her and Harper looked to Alex as he shouted at Braden. "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOOT HIM!" She blurted out.

Braden was unflinching, deathly still through it all even as Alex questioned him. But...the two men had never gotten along and Brady enjoyed taunting him. If he was going to die, at least he would do it without just accepting his death. His sister had suffered at the hands of this man, he was the reason that his sister went off the radar along with his nephew. Harper, he at least respected enough, knowing that he put her in a position that he really shouldn't have. Alex deserved none of his respect and as such wouldn't get it. The man opened his mouth to speak, a smirk on his face as Jeremy brought Tom over beside him. The young man's mask wasn't even off yet and Braden fell silent as May moved to face her brother. There was definitely no turning back now and the man had a feeling that May would definitely side with the Kings after Tom royally fucked up in trying to shoot Harper.

Harper watched May take off the mask and it was clear that May recognized the man. Calling him by name, Harper knew who he was and it left her torn even further now as she looked from Braden to Tom. Not only had Tom shot May, but he shot at her...missing narrowly. While Harper could have been dead now, she couldn't bring herself to think that she wished the same for the man. May's hand gestured behind Harper and the woman's neck turned, catching the bullet hole in the wall and her purse scattered on the floor. The blonde's head snapped around so quickly as she heard Jeremy let out a growl. "Jere, don't!" Harper tried to reason but it was too late as he slammed Tommy back into the wall.

"Jeremy, love! Let him go!" Harper yelled, not really thinking about the term of endearment she used with him. The woman looked to May who was doing her best to contain her tears. Tom lurched towards her once released and May stumbled back, falling. Harper looked at her worriedly, her eyes then moving to find Darcey's as she silently willed the woman to check on her. Harper's eyes found Alex, wondering if he'd do anything to Braden if she let go of him. Braden was hardly able to stand on his own without leaning into Harper now.

Her mind was feeling like it was being split into two. Jeremy looked like he was thinking and Harper was trying to read his thoughts as she stared at his face. It wasn't until he pulled out his second pistol that she let go of Braden's wrists. The man stumbled forward, falling to the ground hard. Harper was sure that he wouldn't be able to move as the woman watched Jeremy carefully. His eyes met hers and Harper shook her head in disapproval. "She's been through enough." The blonde voiced but he was forcing May to voice whose side she was on now. The look he gave her brought out the defiant energy in her but she held her tongue as he insisted he needed an answer.

When May expressed that she wouldn't side with her brother, Harper let out a small sigh. But that relief didn't last long as Jeremy turned both of his guns on Tom, stepping towards the man as if he was going to take care of him right now. Harper quickly moved to stand in front of Tom, staring down Jeremy's pistols with wide eyes. "Wait!" She commanded.

Braden hadn't moved from his position on the floor, only having pushed himself up into a seated position. "We need to let them go." Harper stated and she watched as everyone gave her a crazy look. Deciding that the best person to look at right now was the man in front of her, her blue eyes found Jeremy's, "What good will it do? To kill them now? What is it going to accomplish?" She reasoned before looking to her brother, who was giving her a look she'd never seen on his face before. The tears burned in her eyes but the woman stood her ground. "We aren't any better than these pricks. Think of Callum, Alex, at all he stands to lose when you do find him. What he could have lost today?"

Harper's eyes looked to Darcey and then to Kerry, wondering if either of them was going to back her up on this. "He could have lost me, but he didn't. But none of that will matter if you kill Brady. And May has already been through enough...killing her brother isn't going change anything either." The adrenaline was now catching up with her, the moments that seemed to be moving in slow motion were now starting to get back to a normal pace. Her limbs shook violently as she stood in front of Jeremy's guns, her eyes pleading for him to just lower them.

"Someone's got to break this fuckin' cycle! This constant killing. It should be you, Alex. It should be you who proves to Savvy and your son that you're better than her dirtbag brother."
with: Melanin-Gxdess BasDorcha Misty Gray

 

[Misty Gray]

A Mean Place
~ Sutton, Dublin ~

Sinead and Liam Callahan​

Having a gun pointed at her meant Sinead had no choice but to enter the building as indicated by Jocelyn. Still, the redhead spent most of that walk looking over her shoulder, unable to tear her eyes away from Liam for as long as it was possible for her to still see her youngest child. When inside, Sinead was nudged further into the grim looking room, where a single light hung above the chair. It wasn't the first time she had found herself in such a situation but it didn't make the woman any less scared. As Jocelyn tied her arms to the chair, tears began to roll down Sinead's cheeks. She couldn't help but recall the time she was in a similar position along with Lucy and Syd, being tortured and tormented alongside her loved ones. She couldn't bear to go through that pain again, but more than her own suffering, she was terrified she'd have to watch Liam get hurt too. "He's just a child," she firmly told Jocelyn. Watching Jocelyn walk back to the door, she slammed her foot down on the ground. "You must be all messed up in the head to drag an innocent kid into this!" she snapped.

Sinead lowered her head as she was left alone in the room. Aside from the fear, she was exhausted. She'd been exhausted with everything for as long as she could remember, but now, she was no longer sure if her innate need to be near all of her family was worth putting her most immediate family at risk. Liam was now caught up in the very mess he'd been condemning his family for being involved in and Sinead herself couldn't blame him for ever feeling that way. She'd felt it too.

Liam, meanwhile, had to hold his tongue when Nikita responded to him. He was rapidly learning not many people appreciated being reminded of morals and basic humanity. He wished he could be as patient as others were when faced with bullies, but all he wanted to do was lash out and speak his mind. Nikita and Jocelyn sure did seem like bullies right now. When led into the room, Liam looked directly to Sinead, not wanting to look away from his mother as if him being there was somehow reassuring to her. As Nikita tied him to the chair, he didn't exactly make it easy, resisting where she wanted to secure his arms. "Watch it," he grumbled at her.

Sinead looked to Nikita when the woman addressed her to explained how she expected things would go down, going on to say she didn't want to go through the back and forth, especially when she couldn't hurt her. The phone ringing cut the words short, but Sinead still looked curiously to the woman as she tried to process why Nikita would admit she couldn't hurt her. What leverage would she even have if she couldn't hurt her? Who was calling the shots to give Nikita such an order?

Soon enough, Nikita focused her attention back on Sinead and Liam, clearly irritated by the call she'd taken. Liam listened as he was addressed to explain how Jocelyn - or Morgyn - had been hurt because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She pointed out the similarities in his and Sinead's current situation. He was about to respond but kept silent as he was dragged in his chair to face Sinead. When the woman played with his hair, Liam moved his head away to try shake her off.

"Don't you touch him!" Sinead angrily commanded Nikita. She then quickly shook her head in frustration when asked where Savannah and Callum were. "I don't know where they are! I wish I did, because I'd have gone with them. They left because of people like you and those sickos you work for. Alex has already asked where they are and I told him the same thing. I don't know!" she asserted. It broke her heart that she didn't know, but even more that Savannah had felt she had no choice but to leave with Callum. She loved and understood Savannah, but it hurt that she could have left. Admittedly, Sinead was growing frustrated by what she and her family had been left to deal with because of Savannah's disappearance. Still, she felt the blame was on herself, for never being firm and strong enough to live away from Conor and Lucy. Somewhere her kids could have grown up to have a safer life. "This is pointless. I swear I don't know," she reiterated. "Alex is wasting your time," she pointed out, figuring he had to be behind this.

BasDorcha (Jocelyn) Melanin-Gxdess (Kit)

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

May's House
~Bethnal Green, London~
Alexander King & Darcey Hargraves​

Never in a million years did Darcey think she would be in a predicament like this. She'd gone decades without ever having to shoot someone- without ever having to defend herself and the lives of others in such a way. That wasn't her job, she thought, that was Bruce and Spencer and Alex and Billy. They were the violent ones who went around whipping out guns, powder coating their fingertips; not Darcey. Yet now, feeling that thin coat sticking to her skin, Darcey knew things were about to change.

May did as told, ducking to the ground only to end up getting grazed by Tom. Based on the way she reacted it didn't need her immediate attention, so she kept her gun trained on Tom. Hearing a creak behind her, however, she turned around ready to shoot. Seeing it was Alex she felt relieved- she didn't have to do this alone. Jeremy then rounded the corner, his gun also aimed at Braden and Tom. However, before she could say anything to him his attention was focused on Braden. Harper shouted at him and stepped between the two men. "Harper!" Darcey shouted, not wanting her to get hurt. Alex stared at his sister, clearly irritated with her. His grip around the gun tightened. "Oh, I'm not, huh? You fuckin' sure about that Harper?" The question was rhetorical of course. Alex was in just the state of mind to shoot Braden- someone who'd hated him from the very beginning.

It was the smirk Braden had given him that truly pissed him off. There were people in Savannah's family that liked him enough - Sinead being one of those people - and those who didn't - Braden leading the charge. When he and Sav were together he didn't give a shit about what Braden thought or had to say; he wasn't fucking him. And even now, staring into those taunting little eyes of his, he didn't like him. But Alex knew something Braden. And despite every fiber of his being screaming at him not to, he gave the man a crooked smile. "You don't know where my kid and your sister are, huh? What about Sinead and Liam? You know where they are?" It was the taunting tone of his voice, that 'I know something you don't' air that Alex used. Which, he did. And that was that Kit had both of them tied up in an abandoned home. Despite making sure no harm was to come of them, mentally and emotionally there was sure to be some.

The room was at a standstill - Braden, Harper, and Darcey on one side with May, Tom, Jeremy, and Kerry on the other. Both sides had different things going on- Alex focusing more on Braden than anything else. Darcey, on the other hand, was trying her best to stay present for both sides. She felt bad for Kerry and her being in the middle of it all; the only thing she was guilty of was being present. Taking a deep breath Darcey broke the silence. "Let's- okay, let's just calm down, okay? Alex, where's your uncle?" It wasn't that Darcey couldn't handle what was happening; she could just feel her confidence wavering and cracking. Alex didn't answer her. And it only made the situation worse.

Tom was put next to Braden then to separate him from the rest. What happened next Darcey wasn't expecting - watching the room erupt in high tensions and heartbreak. First, it was May. The man standing there causing all this chaos had been her brother. And the moment it clicked and Alex processed the information he went wild. His head slowly turned towards May, looking her up and down. He then turned to Harper when he heard Tom had tried to shoot her, eyes wide once more. Jeremy beat him to Tom. But that meant he was able to go after May instead. "I fuckin' knew it!" Though Alex was unaware that she didn't have anything to do with it, Alex didn't care. All he knew was that she was related to the man that attempted to kill his sister, girlfriend, and aunt. And that was something he wasn't about to let slide. But the moment he started for her Darcey moved as well. "Alex, I'm asking you nicely. Don't." Her voice was stern and she knew that she was more than likely going to get shit for protecting May later. Right now, she didn't care.

Alex looked at her in disbelief. "She's the reason you're all in this goddamn predicament and you-you're protecting her?!" Darcey closed her eyes and shook her head before looking at him again. "She didn't know! You don't have to believe her but you can believe me- she didn't know." Alex struggled with this information, struggled as he tried to figure out what the proper way to respond was. It showed on his face and as much as Darcey wanted to reach out to him she couldn't right now. Harper's use of the word 'love' hadn't been missed by Alex nor Darcey, but this wasn't the time for them to comment on it. Alex did watch as Jeremy let Tom go narrowing his eyes at the man. Alex felt like he was the only sane person in this room, watching as they should the three imposters mercy. Jeremy then gave May a choice - Tom or the Kings. And when she seemed to hesitate, Alex aimed his gun at her too to make her speed it up. She chose smartly by the end, but Alex's gun was still on her. He still didn't trust her- it could all be a game.

Harper's action of moving in front of Jeremy's guns shocked both Darcey and Alex- the former furious with the girl's reckless actions. "Harper!" Alex and Darcey both shouted. Out of protective instinct Darcey aimed her gun at Jeremy. She knew he would never actually shoot her, but she was running on pure adrenaline at the moment. "Down. Now, Jeremy." Alex, on the other hand, had pointed his gun back to Braden. Harper was pleading their case for them and for a moment Alex hesitated. His eyes glistened looking down at his sister, wondering if she was right. "D'you think they thought of me, Harper?! What takin' my kid away would do to me?!" The emotions he was feeling had become overbearing and there was nothing he could do to hold it in. Now, people he would never let in were seeing exactly how emotional he'd been this past month. "Why the fuck should I be the bigger person? D'you think they thought about 'what could have happened' when they blew up the Mercury with you in it?! Or when they attacked Billy?! Or Spencer?! Fuck, even Darcey! I could've lost my baby sister," he paused, thinking back to the scene he ran up to. "I could've lost my little brother. I could've lost my older brother," he then gestured to Darcey, who was trying her best not to let the tears fall. "I could've lost the woman who raised me!"

"I could've lost all of you and yet you're standing there fucking defending him!" He could never understand having mercy for people like the Sullivans; in his eyes, they were scum and didn't deserve it. Yet here and now, despite everything they'd done, she was pleading for them. A crazed and dark chuckle emitted from Alex, tears falling from his eyes. "Look at that- protecting pieces of shit when they don't owe you a damn thing. When they're done nothing but make your life hell. Y-You really are like mom."

"Alex!" Darcey shouted, her voice cracking. But again, he ignored her keeling over in laughter. He couldn't believe the predicament he found himself in and once it subsided he sighed. All he could see now was Braden and the trigger being pulled. Harper continued to plead on his behalf and it was confusing him now. Was she right? Was she wrong? He had no fucking idea. He didn't want to fuck things up any more than he already had- already was. The gun suddenly felt heavy in his hands as his fingered toyed with the trigger. All eyes were on him now- breaths being held in anticipation. It wasn't until he glanced at Kerry- the one person who'd been in his corner throughout his redemption that his eyes softened. If he did this, if he shot both Tom and Braden right then, he was no better than the men who'd killed a restaurant full of people, right? Then everything she ever said to him about being a good person and truly changing went down the drain. With a groan and heavy sigh he turned his attention to Jeremy. "Put it down," he said, not wanting to hear the man argue. But just because Alex wasn't going to shoot Braden then and there didn't mean he wasn't about to leave his mark. With the safety clicked back on, Alex kept the gun in his hand and promptly punched Braden in the face before delivering a swift kick to his abdomen. He squatted down to him, grabbing a fist full of hair. "You tell your fucking sister I want my kid back and let this be the LAST time I ever see your goddamn face here."

Standing up, he turned to both Darcey and Harper, defeat all over his face. "You fucking happy?!"

Jeremy, May,Tom ( BasDorcha )
Harper, Braden ( Bellz )
Kerry ( Misty Gray )

 

[Misty Gray]

BodyWorks Gym
~ Dublin City Centre, Dublin ~

Olivia Sullivan​

Following her shift at the gym, Olivia had taken some time to work out by herself. Once done and showered, she'd made her way to the entrance area of the gym only to find herself temporarily watching the front desk whilst her colleague took a smoke break. Leaning against the counter, she absent-mindedly observed a couple of guys training by the punchbags some distance away. The men were familiar but she'd never spoken to them, so she made a point of quickly averting her eyes before it looked like she was staring.

Looking to the doorway just in time to see the familiar man making a beeline for her, she internally groaned. "Is Adam around?" Cormac Sweeney asked, not even bothering with any pleasantries. When Olivia confirmed the man in question wasn't present, Cormac gripped the edge of the desk and rocked on his heels with agitation. "Call him up. He ain't at his place either, but you can track him down, can't ya?"

"I don't know where he is," Olivia firmly told Cormac. Though she could take a few guesses where the man would be if he was off-duty, she wasn't going to tell the man in front of her anything, especially when he was being so rude. "I can leave a message for him to call you when he's next around here."

"Listen. I need to speak to him now. My brother is lying half-dead in the hospital and I want to know why. Adam's gotta know and he'll be able to tell me who was behind it. This ain't right."

Cormac attempted to round the desk but Olivia stepped in his path and looked up at him, quickly shaking her head. "You ever think this isn't my family's or Adam's problem?" she asked, standing straight as if to try reduce the difference in height with Cormac, who was taller. "Phelan's been getting into his own trouble for ages and off his own back. Wasn't too long ago he was harassing me. No disrespect, but he probably got stabbed because he pissed off the wrong people and why should Adam have to waste his time trying to fix that for you?" she asked.

"Just call Adam for me," Cormac forcefully demanded, pointing to the telephone as he hovered over the young woman. "I'd rather not start any shit with you, Olivia, so just do as I'm telling you."

"Back the fuck off and don't go getting in my face. You might be worried about Phelan, but squaring up to me like this won't go down well with my family." Although she was trying to stand her ground, there was a part of Olivia that was worried the stressed man could lash out.

BasDorcha (Samuel)

 

[BasDorcha]

With both of their guns relinquished, their hands tied and them both bleeding, Tom was focused solely on his sister, and the look she gave him as she swore that she’d never choose him again. “May, I was trying to protect you! I came here to see if they were holding you against your will! You must believe me!” Tom, no longer caring about anyone else in the room, cried out to her, trying to push past Jeremy who, although no longer aiming his weapon at him, still blocked his way. Jeremy crossed his arms across his chest, and suddenly appeared bigger than ever.

“She said never again. Sounded pretty final to me. Don’t know what you expected, you must be a moron to think this is how you show someone you want to protect them.” Looking over at Harper, he knew he was not doing what she’d like him to do, she didn’t want him to put May through this, but if Bruce was here, Spencer, they would. It was the most logical action to take. Harper, his stubborn and incredibly large pain in the ass woman, moved quickly to stand between him, his pistols and Tom, and thinking about it, Jeremy couldn’t understand why. Still, he put his guns away, confident that in the state the two of them were in they weren’t hurrying anywhere quickly.

May was probably the only person in the room who was not looking at Harper like she had just said to release the devil upon the world to wreak havoc on humanity. In fact, as much as she could feel the hate and distrust building in her chest, she still didn’t want to see him dead. May wasn’t certain she could handle that. She shook her head at Harper, as if silently begging her to keep them from killing him. She tried to speak, her voice sounding raw from the crying and sobbing. “P-please… I-I kn-know he d-doesn’t de-deserve it, b-but p-please, d-don’t k-k-“She couldn’t even bring herself to say it, covering her hands as another cry broke out.

Jeremy looked down at May, considering her words. “At the very least, this shouldn’t be done in front of everyone. It would just be easier to let them go at this point – despite what I think we should really do. We don’t have clearance, Alex.” He grabbed Alex’s gaze, his own stone cold and unemotional – something Alex would usually appreciate. “We are already doing everything we can to find him, killing this piece of shit paddy isn’t going to make that easier. In fact, it might just send them into deeper hiding. Harper is right, someone has to break the cycle here, or they will just keep her so far hidden that no one knows where she in.” Alex wasn’t going to like what he said, but he only spoke the truth. The two had been through a lot together leading back to many years ago when Alex first helped him cover a mess he made that could have gotten him in a lot of hot water. He had trusted him then, he needed to trust him now. “Think it through mate.”

Once he was finished speaking, uncaring of the eyes in the room, he scooped Harper close, one arm around her waist, one hand going to her cheek as he pulled her trembling limbs into a firm and calming hold. “Are you okay?” He knew hell would fall on him later, especially since they hadn’t told anyone about them with everything that had been happening, but in that moment, watching her shake violently, all he wanted to do was comfort her. Looking up at Darcey, Jeremy answered the question Alex didn’t, “He went to find the other boys.”

Alex moved towards May, and she shrunk away, the tears instantly growing heavy. She was to blame. This was all because of her. She was a burden, and it would be better for her to be gone. Slowly she stood, backing away from everyone slowly. Her face was puffy and red, the rest of her pale as a ghost. Her brother, her brother had done this – the one person she trusted most in the world had betrayed her. Her heart felt empty, as did the rest of her body. She had never felt more alone or depressed in her life. When she reached the wall, May stopped, leaning back against it for support.

“D-do what you h-have to. J-just let me leave f-first p-please.” It took every ounce of strength May had to say it, but she was tired of being accused because of things like this. She just wanted somewhere to belong, someone to care about, people to care about her more than her mother ever had, not to mention the two sorry excuses she had for fathers. Turning away, May dropped to her knees, her body leaned against her left side, bracing the wall. She couldn’t look at the scene anymore.

Tom watched his sister, feeling what ever little bit of emotions he had left in him dry up. Spitting at her, he growled, “Should have known you’d be just like mum, choosing everyone over me like I’m just trash at your feet. FUCK YOU MAY. I guess its better this way, at least now I don’t have to worry about your stupid ass anymore. No wonder you’re so dumb, you’re only half Sullivan. Any real Sullivan wouldn’t turn traitor to this crop of murderers.” The hate in his face was like it had been etched in stone. He turned on her as quickly as he had begged her to forgive him. Seeing her completely reject him had ignited a psychotic break in his brain, and he was slowly feeling all logical reality slipping.

Looking around the room, Jeremy studied the situation. Harper needed to get out of this place. May needed to be treated, the gash on her leg was still bleeding, adding to the paleness she was exhibiting. The brush with the bullet had carved a four-to-five-inch gash that had yet to slow down across the top and side of her thigh. Leaving Tom restrained as he didn’t trust the look on his face not to get him killed, he released Harper after giving her another gentle squeeze, drawing his knife to cut the ropes around Braden’s hands. Jeremy looked up at Alex, hearing his question about them thinking of him and what losing his son would do to him. He was right, of course, Jeremy would be feeling the exact same way.

“She’s not defending him, Alex. She’s defending you. She’s protecting you. You do this, and you might lose your son forever, and that is the last thing any of us want for you.” Jeremy’s face showed no emotion, his voice still sounding flat, but his eyes said much more. When Alex started to put down Harper, he shot up, a finger pointed and waving at Alex as he took a step towards him, “Don’t, Alex. Don’t fucking do it. This isn’t her fault. She has never been involved in this shit. She’s you’re only –“he stopped, realizing what he was about to say. “She’s your little sister, treat her with some fucking respect she’s not one of the girls you can ditch whenever you want.”

His eyes flew to Kerry before he offered her an apologetic look and a mouthed, Sorry, Kerry, not you. Braden had just stopped rubbing his wrist when Alex attacked him. Jeremy didn’t bother to stop him, he was obviously not going to kill the man, he would have done so already. Stepping away from everything, Braden now even worse for the wear, he moved past May, guarding her as he opened the front door. “Keep their weapons. Now, get the fuck out before we change our minds.” There was a venom dripping from his words. As soon as the two were gone and they watched the white van drive away, Jeremy moved quickly to make arrangements to move everyone to Caspian’s place.

Tom sat in the back of the van seething. He was irate. How could she betray him like this? Her own blood? The one she was raised with, had had a life with? Instead she chose some family that she had barely met. Tom scratched him brain, trying to figure out how it was possible, but the only conclusion he could come to was that May’s father, not his father, must have been Harper’s father. He knew nothing about the man who sired May, he only ever thought of his father as her father, often forgetting they weren’t full blooded siblings. Unfortunately for May, she’d never have that. “Fuck her.” Tom mumbled under his breath as he dug through the first aid kit, looking for what he could find to patch himself and Braden up.

A few minutes later, he had wrapped a cloth with his belt around his shoulder, and formed a tourniquet for Braden’s foot. He also gave the man a clean shirt to hold to the back of his head where the bleed was running down the back of his neck. “We need Finn, get us there, and get us there as fast as you can.” Tom told their driver.

 

[Bellz]

Harper King
Braden Callahan
May's House
~ London ~​

Harper knew that Jeremy would lower his gun and when he did, the look of relief was there, only to quickly be replaced with anger. Tom was trying to justify what he was doing but Alex had her attention for now. "You're fuckin' kid is gone because you are playing into these dicks games, Alex!! How come none of you have the sense to see that?!" Harper yelled at her brother. He asked why he should be the bigger person and Harper shrugged her shoulders, "WOULD IT KILL YOU TO BE THE BIGGER PERSON FOR ONCE IN YOUR GODDAMN LIFE? IT CAN'T ALWAYS BE SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT!!" She was shaking so much now that it was hard to ignore, but her voice was still able to keep her in control, strong as she fought with Alex. That was up until he mentioned the Mercury. The tears rolled down Harper's cheeks, shaking her head as she refused to remember that night.

"The key words are could have!" Harper reminded him, "We are all here! Alive! Look around you, Alex. If they wanted to kill us they would have before you even had the chance to get here!" She reasoned. Harper's eyes caught May and the woman was shaking her head at her. She could see the fear in them and it triggered this protectiveness in Harper that she rarely ever felt. "I won't let them, May. I won't." She said, promised her voice going gentle for a moment as she watched her. Jeremy was considering her words too. Harper's head was nodding over and over as he defended what she was saying. They were doing everything they could, it wasn't going to do them any good. If Alex wanted Callum back, he needed to play nice.


Harper felt faint, the room was closing in around her and she was going to get crushed like she did the night of the Mercury that Alex so kindly reminded her of. She had barely noticed when Jeremy crossed the room, taking her into an embrace. He asked if she was okay and Harper shook her head. She wanted out, needed out. It was suffocating in here now. All the other words in the room were muffled up until the point Alex started to turn on May. Turning in Jeremy's arms, Harper looked at Alex, "DON'T YOU BLAME HER FOR YOUR FUCKIN' MISTAKE, ALEX? " Harper said with such aggression that it shocked her. She had always been sassy with her brothers, but the aggression with Alex now was full of hate as if she'd been holding it in for years.

May asked them to just let her leave first before they did anything and Harper shook her head, turning to Jeremy in his arms. "You're not going to kill either of them. You said it yourself, it's only going to make it more difficult." The woman said, trying to hold it together. Tom felt the need to turn on May now too and Harper gave him the deadliest gaze she could muster, "I am literally tearing myself apart for your pathetic arse! SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP." She commanded. "OR I WILL SHOOT AT YOU. THE DIFFERENCE IS I WON'T MISS."

Jeremy released her from his embrace to untie Braden's hands but the man didn't move from his spot on the floor. It wasn't until Alex mentioned her defending the Sullivans that Harper's attention was drawn back to her second oldest brother. Jeremy was the first to speak, defending her. He understood exactly what she was trying to do and just when she felt like she couldn't be more in love with him, he was there, proving her wrong. As soon as Alex told her that she was just like Laura, the woman crossed the room. "I'm sorry, maybe I didn't hear you fucking right, come again?!" Harper growled out. Jeremy gave her brother a warning before Harper could get to Alex, to do what, she wasn't sure about yet. The rage that she was feeling was unrecognizable as she watched Alex punch Braden, "LET HIM LEAVE YOU ARSE!" Harper shouted at him.

Braden hadn't said a word, knowing if he did his mouth would get him in trouble. Instead, he let Tom help him to his feet. Stealing one glance at Harper as she watched him with helplessness in her eyes, he gave her a subtle nod in thanks before the two Irish men hobbled out of the house towards the van.

The pregnant pause in May's house only lasted a mere second as Harper pointed a finger at Alex as he asked her if he was happy. "You listen to me, I may be like our mother but at least I have the decency, the fuckin' compassion to understand what is best for YOUR OWN FUCKIN' CHILD. That's the difference between you and me Alex, I care. Every fuckin' day, I can see why you're afraid of becoming Trevor. It's because you ARE HIM." The words came out like vomit, unable to stop them and completely unfiltered. "So fuck you, May lost a brother today and it looks like I have as well. For Callum's sake, I hope he stays in hiding. He deserves a better father than you." Her eyes were full of hate and fury as she said them, not looking at anyone else in the room but him.
with: Melanin-Gxdess BasDorcha Misty Gray

 

[BasDorcha]

Bodyworks Gym
Dublin, Ireland
Samuel McKinsley
​

Sam had been back in town for a few days now, just long enough to get through the adjustment to his schedule and start to rejuvenate his routine. The first week had been catching up on all the work he had been monitoring from a long distance over the last couple months. It had been hectic, lots of paperwork that had to be caught up on, but with his meticulous attention it was back in order in record time. Today was his first day to have some time to himself, and he was taking every minute of it. This morning, he had gone and gotten groomed and clipped, bought some new clothes, tidied up his house even though the house keeper he employed had been through regularly.

As he looked around the empty place, he realized how much he missed having someone around. For a moment, he thought back to how he had ended up back in Dublin in the first place. Thomas Porter, his former Sargent in the military, had set him up with a job over here shortly after they got out of the military. He had wondered why Thomas didn’t keep him nearby, he always felt better nearer to someone he trusted then someone he didn’t but he hadn’t held it against him. He now had a decent position with the Sullivan’s, making better money than he had in the military, and a fairly stable life.

Wondering where Thomas was now, Sam closed up the house, gym bag over his shoulder, and headed to Bodyworks where he had a permanent membership thanks to his employment. He had spent the better part of an hour working his upper body, fighting the unresponsive bag as it swayed towards him only to be knocked away again.

Taking a break, Sam took a cool down walk around the gym, swinging and flexing his arms along the way to keep them from getting stiff. As he rounded the far corner, he saw Cormack Sweeney and a blonde girl up at the counter, only Cormack looked like he was getting himself a little too worked up for talking to a lady. If there was one thing he couldn’t stand, it was rude men. Sure, Sam liked to pick up a girl and take her home just for fun, but he could still do that without disrespecting her. Especially someone like Cormack who basically towered over the other.

Samuel walked closer to the counter, listening to the conversation as he pretended to be busy. Sam was never a man to take action without thinking it through, it’s what made him a good business man and a better sales person.

"Listen. I need to speak to him now. My brother is lying half-dead in the hospital and I want to know why. Adam's gotta know and he'll be able to tell me who was behind it. This ain't right." Cormack smarted off to her, obviously agitated. The girl had no problem standing back up to the man. By the time he made it to the counter, they were already chest to chest. Sam slid in between them, looping his arm over her shoulders kissing her on the side of her head. Did he know her? Not in the slightest. Did that stop him? Not for a minute.

“Hey babe, sorry I’m late.” He gave her a dashing smile, turning his head so he could wink at her without Cormack seeing. “Hey Cormack, you looking for Adam? He’s not around, but I’m sure my girl here would be happy to take a message for you and give it to him once she sees him.” As he turned to look at Cormack, a dangerous look changed his previously sweet seeming face into something that dared him to keep pushing his buttons. As he leaned next to the girl, he put one hand on the counter opposite here, effectively gating the back area. Sam may have been gone for a few months, but Cormack had helped stack cargo enough times to know who Sam was, and that he was not as low on the ladder as he was. If he was smart, he’d step back while he had a chance.

Turning back to her, a playful gleam in his eyes, he nodded towards the door, indicating leaving. “We are going to be late for dinner, I made plans at that restaurant you like. What do you say we get out of here?” Hoping she’d pick up on the invite as well as the play at hand, he gave the man beside him a pointed glare, as if to tell him to fuck off out of there promptly.

Mentions Misty Gray - Unexpected Girlfriend

 

[BloodLightning27]

~James Edwards: Date Night~~The Road --> Parking Lot (Closing Segment) | Dublin, Ireland~Given Michelle's response, looks like that was another thing the two of them had in common; appreciating the night life. This was something that Edwards had learned during his Military Career, because he would be work a lot during the day, especially if he was out on deployment. It was only during the night that he and his team would have any free time if they were not carrying out a late-night mission. The drive itself though was mostly silent, and he had put some music on as deafening silence often bothered him. But overall, Michelle seemed happy with the music playing in the background as they drove. One thing was for sure though, the open road helped him with his train of thought and felt peaceful.

---

Chez Hans | Dublin, Ireland

“Mr. Edwards, are you trying to get me alone under the stars?”

"By the end of the night, yes. But I think I'll have to work for it first." He replied.

Once she had slid her hand up to the crook of his arm, Edwards wasn't sure of how to react, mainly because this last happened at least ten years ago, probably even longer. For a first date though, it certainly was a first. Nonetheless, he escorted her into the restaurant, a smile on his face. The scene that had greeted them left Edwards feeling out of place. Well, mostly. But first time for everything, right?

“It’s lovely here, Edwards, thank you for bringing me.”

Well, at least Michelle was content with the setting that they were in. And that was enough for Edwards. Fine dining wasn't something he was accustomed to either, since this was a rarity if not a luxury when he was a Sailor. It wasn't long until a Server escorted them to their table. In turn, Edwards helped Michelle to her seat.

“Thank you, handsome, you’re very sweet.”

Edwards smiled as he sat down across from her shortly after. "Well, I'd like to think that's the goal, beautiful." He responded, chuckling a little, unable to keep a straight face and cracking a smile.

It wasn't long until he skimmed through the menu himself. Thankfully, despite not having been here before, he mostly knew what he wanted. And given that it was half-empty, perhaps dinner would arrive sooner rather then later.

“I don’t know about you, but this is my first, first date since I met my ex-husband, and that was over a decade ago. I don’t know the first thing about dating anymore, I only know how to be a mom.”

Edwards was a little taken aback by how she hasn't gone on a date for as long as him. So throughout her marriage, not a single date night here and there? At all? Then again, it was almost the same for him because of his constant deployments, but even when he came back home for a few weeks, there was at least two dates in between deployments. At least until he noticed that the romance had died a slow and painful death, fizzled out and arriving home to divorce papers after a painful deployment. Still, she was more well-off then him post-divorce. While she had her children and reuniting with her family, Edwards traded in one war for another. And gang warfare was way different from conventional war which he was used to. Urban warfare was still something he did have trouble with though, even if he had top-tier training as a former SEAL. "If it makes you feel any better, the only thing I've been good at...is being a Soldier." He replied while rolling up his sleeves and straightening out his collar.

For dinner, he decided to take his host with Seafood. For a head-start, he also got a starter for them to share, starting with Smoked Salmon, Smoked Mussels, Parsley Mayonnaise & Ink Bread...Wow that was a lot. Not to mention wine. This may have been a little overboard for a first date, but money wasn't much of a problem for Edwards, especially with what he used to do and what he currently did for a living.

“So we’ll relearn this whole going out thing together, deal?”

"Not a deal, but a promise." He replied, a smile returning to his face as they once more made eye contact.

Deep down though, Edwards did feel a little uneasy, because in his current line of work, he had to make sure he'd live long enough to keep the promise he was currently making.

---

Interactions: Michelle Romano BasDorcha

 

[Pyroclast]

Tower Bridge
~ London ~

Billy King​

He had almost had him - despite the force with which he thrust the knife into Marco’s back, it only scratched the surface before Billy was thrown off balance by a kick to the ankle. Their heads collided as Marco swung into him, but the motion of almost falling made the impact tolerable. Billy shook it off - he was more annoyed that he hadn’t managed to stab him in time, anyway. He re-established his grip on Spencer’s knife, ready to go again, but Marco just shrugged at him and said something in Spanish before running off to join his comrades. Billy watched him leave with a scowl on his face. “Fuckin’ coward!” he shouted after him.

His leaving drew Billy’s attention to the sirens blaring in the distance, and he looked around for Erik and Spencer. At this point, going after the enemy didn’t matter - he just wanted to get everyone home safe before the police arrived. The van was ablaze, black smoke billowing through the space where the windshield used to be. He noticed that doors were jammed shut and ran over, signalling Erik who was outside the vehicle. Naturally, there was a strong urge to drop everything and check that his boyfriend wasn’t badly hurt, but given that Spencer was trapped inside a burning van in God knows what condition, the fact that Erik was standing had to be good enough for now.

The piece of scrap metal wedged through the handle of the back doors wasn’t hard to extract and as soon as it was off, Billy flung them wide open. A huge plume of thick smoke surged up and outwards and he had to take a few steps back to avoid being blinded. There was a sickening stench of burning flesh that came out with it and that panicked him, concerned that he had got there too late. It was hard to make Spencer out for all the fire and smoke but he could see he was there, lying on the ground. With Erik to help, they managed to haul Spencer to his feet and Billy hooked the man’s arm around his neck to help carry him away. He was alive, at least.

Setting his eyes on the car, Billy walked his brother as fast as he could with Erik there to help. Spencer was covered in blood, his skin, hair and clothes all stained with smoke and he felt heavy against Billy’s shoulder, as if struggling to carry his own weight. It was alarming to see the man in such bad shape but there wasn’t time to assess him properly yet. “Almost there,” he encouraged his brother, keeping his eyes on the car ahead. “We’re gonna get ya’ to Caspian’s, alright?”

It was as he was bundling Spencer into the backseat that Billy could finally see the blood pulsing from a hole in his abdomen. “Uh, Erik, can you drive?” he asked, climbing into the backseat with his brother. “He’s - fuck, he’s been stabbed -”

Blood was pouring down Spencer’s face, from his eyebrow and his nose, and his breathing sounded strained, his lungs no doubt filled with smoke. But it was the stab wound he knew needed the most urgent attention. “Stay awake for us, Spence, yeah?” Billy encouraged, hastily unwrapping his jacket and balling it up to press as hard as he could against Spencer’s wound. “Erik’s the barmiest driver out there, he’ll get us to the doc in no time. This ain’t no life or death situation, neither - you are gonna be fine. Just stay awake for me, okay? Talk to me.”

Interactions
Misty Gray Spencer
Melanin-Gxdess Erik

 

[Misty Gray]

Around the City
~ City of London, London ~

Spencer King​

Laid on his side facing the rear doors of the van, Spencer remained with one hand pressed firmly against the bleeding stab wound in his abdomen. With his free arm, he used the crook of his elbow to cover his mouth and nose, attempting to minimise how much smoke entered his airways. Still, as the seconds went on and the heat intensified, he felt his strength waning, no doubt the blood loss adding to weakening him. With the sound of the crackling fire amongst his dulling senses, he wasn't able to process the sound caused by Billy removing the scrap metal that had been wedging the doors shut from the outside. He just figured it was something falling in the burning van. But then a sudden wave of air, an odd breeze laced with droplets of rain, blew against his forehead.

It took a delay before Spencer realised Billy and Erik were there, only really snapping back to reality when the two men hauling him out of the van sent a deep stinging pain as the flesh around his open stab wound was momentarily stretched. Usually in control - or demanding to be in control - of himself and others, it was a change for Spencer to leave himself in their hands. Given his state, he wouldn't have resisted it even if he wanted to. He was exhausted and content enough to let the two men take over now.

It was a struggle full of discomfort, but Spencer was helped towards the car, reassured by his brother's words about getting to Caspian's place. In his current state, he felt worse than he recalled feeling before and aware of the injuries he'd sustained, Spencer wasn't convinced he was going to make it to Caspian's. However, to resist would make it harder for Billy and Erik to get him to the car so he didn't protest. Despite the traffic and onlookers around him, it was all a blur with his mind only focused on the two men helping him and the immediate need to reach their vehicle.

Once in the backseat of the car, Spencer felt his airways tighten for a moment before breaking out in a short coughing fit. The action caused him to relax the pressure his hand was placing on the stab wound which in turn allowed a flow of blood to rush out and trickle between his fingertips. This didn't escape Billy's attention as the younger man informed Erik that Spencer had been stabbed. Spencer let out a groan as he allowed his head to drop back against the seat's headrest. He'd not been able to see how injured Erik was and hadn't quite processed Billy asking the man if he was able to drive.

When Billy told him to stay awake, Spencer gazed up towards the roof of the car. "Alright..." he deeply muttered, he voice lacking its usual assertiveness. Spencer was grateful for Billy using a jacket to apply pressure to his stab wound as it meant he could relax his arm at his side. He couldn't see himself, but given everything that had happened in the van and the way much of his skin felt, he imagined he looked a sight covered in blood. Spencer briefly closed his eyes before hearing Billy tell him to stay awake and reassuring him he was going to be fine. The streetlights around them would be enough to illuminate the back of the car for Billy to catch the brief, uneasy smile on his eldest brother's face.

Billy told him to talk to him, wanting to keep him awake until they got to Caspian's. Spencer lifted his arm so he could rest his hand on Billy's and give it a slight squeeze. "You did good. You both did..." Spencer reassured them, grateful for the two going after him and fighting to save him from the Sullivans. Keeping his head against the backrest, he turned it to look directly to Billy. "Listen, Bill..." he began, squeezing his brother's hand again to make sure he was listening. Spencer wasn't invincible and he wasn't sure how severe his wounds were, so he wasn't convinced he'd get to see Shona and Eddie again. "Look after Shona and Eddie... Keep 'em safe. I need you all to look after them and make sure Shona knows she's always a King." Spencer fell silent as he took a moment to catch his breath, wheezing before having to cough again, the smoke having got into his airways. Trying to stay awake as Billy had said, he fixed his eyes back on his brother. "I wasn't really happy until I met her. Fuck, I love her. If you have someone who makes to feel that way..." he trailed off before closing his eyes. Though he'd been about to mention Billy and Erik being together, his thoughts were dragged back to Shona and Eddie.

Melanin-Gxdess (Erik)
Pyroclast (Billy)