Realistic or Modern &nbsp; The Harbingers | Main Thread [Madi x Ama]

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Grif (

When joining a gang, one simply has to count on encountering violence and then some. River had no illusions when she came here and asked Jackson to try and put in some good word for her with Trevor. Her brother had already spent enough time with the Harbingers and while he was not the absolute inner circle, he was slowly making his way up the hierarchy and was closer to Trevor than not. He sweet talked him into taking River and and honestly, one look was enough for the leader to agree. River looked like all those other lost kids that had come to him throughout the years. She had that lost glimmer on her eyes and was looking for more, for something else that the world was not giving her. Family, the real one. The feeling that she belonged. And Trevor knew he could give it to her.

And now the same man who made River a part of something was lying in front of her and his heart was not beating. The realization had no time to settle in before River stared in the barrel of a gun and she awaited that moment when she would follow Trevor to whatever afterlife really was. She was no believer, she didn’t believe in heaven and hell. But there was a tiny little hope in her that there had to be something more than just death. Blank. Darkness. Nothing. And yet, it never happened as Griffin spared her the trip. On the other hand, it gave her the chance to truly look at the man in front of her. Trevor. The man who helped her when no one else could.

But if River thought this was bad, then she was sorely mistaken. When Kyler came and noticed the face of his dearest friend, he crumpled and River saw his tough guy mask shatter into millions of tiny pieces. He dropped to his knees, incapable of completing a full sentence. Griffin joined them shortly and to try and hold her tears back, River looked aside at the dead Hellhound. It turned out to be a mistake because when Griffin turned him over and River noticed those hollow green eyes, her stomach churned and those tears just ran down her cheeks, River not being able to stop them. She was mad. Her blood was boiling and all those emotions were whirling inside her. Sadness, anger, fear. They all created a cocktail of something so horrible she could barely handle. If she had to protect herself or whoever else, she would have failed and that was making her even angrier. River was helpless and that made her useless in these situations. And that simply had to change.

Rising to her feet, she looked at the couple in front of her and her heart fluttered. There was nothing she could do for Trevor and no greater help for Kyler than Stevie. Instead, she simply walked back to the bar. Maybe Griffin was annoying, maybe he irritated her more than most and maybe he was just an insufferable fool. But nothing could change the fact that he saved her life tonight and River was not the kind of bitch to ignore that. She walked in just as the bottle crashed and Griff punched the wall. The hit made her flinch and for a moment, she pondered over leaving him alone with his thoughts. Though that also felt like a cowardly way. Instead, she exhaled softly and walked over to the boy, taking his hurt hand in hers. She was no nurse and her skills didn’t match half of what Stevie could do but she could handle a scrape, hopefully. “Come on. We can continue hating each other tomorrow.” she said gently and led him to the bar where she pushed him on a stool. It took her a few seconds to get a clean wet rag and a bottle of vodka since she had no idea where the first aid kit was. Tears still ran down her face, creating black webs of mascara on her cheeks and her lower lip trembled. “You saved my life.” she said quietly, pouring a small amount of vodka in the wound before pressing the rag onto it. “I guess what I wanted to say is…thank you.”

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Sep 1, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

bar

broken

interactions

Stevie (

Red covered Kyler’s gaze as he walked out of the clubhouse and engaged in the fight. His mindset immediately turned the fight mode on, the very same one Kyle used in the pits whenever he went there. He was like a berserker and it didn’t matter what he did to a guy as long as he was a Hellhound. There were a few girls on the enemy side as well and they were the only ones safe from his wrath because no matter what, Kyler vowed never to hit a girl under any circumstances. It was one of the most disgusting acts he knew and maybe it was going to cost him dearly one day, especially in fights like this, but he refused to break this role of his. Besides, there were plenty of Harbinger ladies who could kick the Hellbitch asses so Kyler focused on the rest, leaving blood and destruction in its wake.

But literally nothing could prepare him for what he found in the alley. He made his way over there after destroying the faces of over a dozen men and when he passed Griffin, he was still slightly grinning, especially seeing the clean shot Griff performed. Hence the praise. Kyle was long lost to sensitivity and the Hellhound was not only an enemy but also an enemy endangering their own. Griff did good and Ky would definitely mention him to Trevor and proposing a promotion for the mechanic. Griff deserved and earned it tonight. And then, after riding his sort of fight high, Kyler was slapped from his cloud. Not slapped, kicked and battered and when he hit the ground, his body broke.

Trevor was his best friend and the closest person to the family Kyler ever had. Their fathers grew up together as well and so did their sons. When Kyler was born, his father was already a Harbinger under the leadership of Trevor’s father. They were almost the same age and there was not one day they wouldn’t be up to some shenanigans together. So many times their parents scoured the town in search for their sons only to find them hidden in their secret hideouts, already asleep after a long of mischief. It only made sense that when Trevor took over, he kept Ky close, appointing him his second in command. It sealed their bond even more and the two had each other’s back under all circumstances. There was no one else Kyle loved more than his brother. And now he was staring at his face, life long gone from his eyes. He fell to his knees and words betrayed him.

Stevie’s soft voice was the only thing piercing his barriers and he felt her body lean into him. Smell of her shampoo snaked in his nose as she rested her head on his shoulder but he couldn’t tear his gaze from that one point in the distance he was staring at. He didn’t even notice when Griffin and River left, or that they did for that matter. His arm wrapped around Stevie’s lean form and he held her close. They both were covered in blood although Kyler definitely looked like he took a bath in it in comparison to the nurse. Tears stained his rough features and his jaw was clenched so tight it made his teeth hurt. Stevie’s presence was the only anchor he had to the world at the moment and he blinked a few times, looking down at the girl. “We’ll move him to the infirmary for now. Until the funeral.” he spoke, his words shaking. And then he buried his face in her silky chocolate locks and squeezed his eyes shut. “I have no idea what to do now, Stevie. What to do without him.” he whispered and for the first time, Kyler showed her the vulnerable little boy hiding in his heart.

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Sep 2, 2022

the mother hen

location

outside the clubhouse.

outfit

x, x.

mentions

Griffin, River.

interactions

Kyler (

stephania torrero.

Any semblance of the party that had been occurring in the bar moment earlier was gone. There was no more cheering or laughter. Her mind was entirely clear, any trace of alcohol that had been coursing through her veins was completely gone. She was as sober as when she had awoken that morning. She should have known that the one night she was finally starting to normal again after Clark's death that it would be ripped away from her again. When a trickle of permanent happiness began to stream down, it would immediately be blocked by tragedy. What had she ever done to deserve it? What had any of them done to deserve this type of repetitive heartbreak? She was so tired of it all, she just wanted it all to end. Stevie looked over as Griffin turned the Hellhound over with a nudge, wanting to see the face of the almost murderer. She thought it would make her feel better, reveling in the fact that the man who had wanted to kill her and River a few minutes ago was dead. But when she saw his face, her heart even more. He was just a kid, barely older than drinking age. How did he end up at their compound, attacking their friends? What had led to that evening, and why? The brunette couldn't quite wrap her mind around it.

Stephania was pulled from her thoughts by Griffin's half-hearted words, the mechanic not even waiting for a response before rushing inside. She wanted to go after him for a moment, to check on him and make sure he was okay in that maternal way of hers. Because, at the end of the day, all she wanted was to protect and care for her friends. But she couldn't pull herself away from Kyler's side, nor did she want to. Despite everything that was happening, being so close to him felt safe and warm. And thankfully, River rose and went after him, both of their forms disappearing into the confines of the bar once again. That left Stevie and Kyler with their fallen leader in the quiet alley. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a butter knife. She knew how close Ky and Trevor had been, how they had grown up together in the Harbingers and were practically inseparable. She didn't have any friends as close as they had been and honestly couldn't imagine what the man beside her was going through. But, she was going to be there for him regardless, for as long as he needed her.

They sat there without words for a long moment, listening to the soundtrack of the city, a symphony of car alarms, bus honks, and train chimes. The brunette nurse felt a few stray tears slide down her cheeks, the catharsis of it all leaving only exhaustion in its wake. After a while, Stevie felt Kyler wrap an arm around her, and she let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Her chocolate brown gaze looked up to his face, choosing to ignore how covered he was in blood that most certainly wasn't all his own. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen the rough-and-tough Harbinger cry and was only slightly surprised when she saw tears streak down his cheeks. She offered him a slight smile, only what she could muster when he looked down at her. "Of course," she answered softly, glancing over her shoulder when she heard the sound of footsteps on gravel approach. A small group of Harbingers stood a few yards away, some with widened eyes and others quite roughed up as they realized the scene before them. "Take all those that need it to my infirmary, I will meet you there," she directed them softly, waiting for them to slowly walk away before turning her attention back to Kyler.

In any other situation, Stevie would have been surprised that they listened so readily without a snarky comeback or teasing comment. But the gravity of the situation was enough to instill stoicism in all of them. Kyler buried his face into her hair, and Stevie immediately wrapped her arms around the man. She held him tight to her, gently running her hands up and down his back in comfort. "I know, I'm so sorry," she replied softly. Seeing Kyler so broken and saddened hurt her deeper than she expected it to. She had never seen him that way, and all she wanted to do was make it better. But Stevie was a nurse, not a necromancer. She couldn't bring his best friend back to life any more than she could have saved him from the fatal gunshot wound that took it. Peering down at Trevor one more time, the nurse placed her hands gently on Kyler's cheeks and pulled his face so she could look him in the eyes. Using her thumbs she wiped a couple of his tears away. Smiling gently, Stevie closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his. "You're not alone, Kyler," she murmured, "I will always be here for you. We will figure all of this out, okay? Whatever it takes."

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Sep 3, 2022

the mechanic

location

bar.

outfit

x.

mentions

none.

interactions

River(

griffin hendrix.

Why was Griffin dealt the hand of cards he had? Even from childhood, his life was anything but perfect. Sure, it was better than many of his fellow Harbingers. They had all shared stories over a few drinks at the bar, conversing in what Griffin had deemed the gang's form of therapy. Slurring words and revealing emotions? Sure seemed like therapy to him. But the brunette mechanic had always been a bit apprehensive to share stories of his own at those little gatherings. The other guys talked about being born into the life, murdered family members, overdoses and drug addictions, shoplifting at a young age to survive, and joining the gang out of necessity to stay not be homeless. While it had grown on them and almost everyone felt like this was where they belonged, where their family was, it wasn't a choice for most of them. That was the exact opposite for Griffin. He moved away from his hometown in search of an unconditional family. While he loved his mom and stepdad and they loved him unconditionally, he could say the same about each other. That combined with the fact that his biological father wanted absolutely nothing to do with him, Griffin hadn't known what family truly was.

But, while working at a local mechanic shop, he met a guy by the name of Wade. A patched member for the Harbingers, Wade was impressed by Grif's skills and showed up a couple of days later with Trevor. He didn't know who Trevor was at the time, only that he had a sick muscle car with original parts and upholstery. It was before he bought his Impala and fixed it up, and it was everything he wanted in a car. At the time Grif didn't realize it was a test, that Trevor wanted to assess how good he actually was before he recruited him. And so Griffin worked on that car for weeks, searching far and wide to continue to find original parts until it was completely restored to its disco-era glory. Trevor was impressed, and immediately offered him a position with the Harbingers as a mechanic. At first, the thought of joining a gang was terrifying to him. Why would he even want something like that? But then he thought a little deeper and realized that it could be exactly what he had been searching for his whole life. Plus the huge bump in pay meant he could move out of the rinky-dink backroom he rented and into a real, full-sized apartment. So Griffin took the job. And for a long time, he thought it was one of the best decisions of his life.

But as he stood in the bar, listening to the rhythmic beats of his blood dripping to the floor, the second guess thought passed through his mind, if only for a brief moment. It was true, he loved being a part of the Harbingers. So much so that he worked hard to climb the hierarchy and make it to lower-ranked patched member status. He belonged there. But, up until that night, he hadn't realized how well he fit in. Kyler was known for his ruthless fighting abilities, and Trevor was cruel when he needed to be. And now, Griffin had learned that he could kill in the blink of an eye. So, he was a true Harbinger after all. Despite being a part of the gang for several years, for growing and learning there, for training for situations exactly like that night, a part of him deep down never believed that he could do what he did. But that part was gone now, a chip in his humanity that could never be repaired. A piece of his soul was gone, and darkness replaced it. Griffin let out a heavy sigh, running his uninjured hand through his hair as he turned towards the barback in search of something that would numb him. Instead, he found River standing in the doorway looking at him, and his heart inexplicably clenched in his chest once more.

"Hey," Griffin murmured halfheartedly, feeling a bit awkward. He didn't have any sarcastic banter or teasing quips to throw in her direction, it didn't feel appropriate. Instead, his ocean blue eyes followed her movements as she walked over to him. The mechanic found himself looking down at her, holding his breath for a moment as she took his hand. Maybe it was the rush of emotions he felt, but for once, he didn't feel like teasing her or making fun of her or trying to annoy her. Instead, he felt... Well, he wasn't quite sure what that feeling was. But it felt nice. "Sure," he answered softly, letting her lead him to the bar to sit on a stool. His eyes could leave her as moved about the bar in search of supplies. He appraised her face, seeing the ruined make-up and tear streaks. And just with those few words that fell from her lips, Griffin felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest and things were at least a bit lighter. He reached out his uninjured hand to push a stray strand of red hair behind River's ear, offering a sincere smile instead of a sarcastic smirk for once. "You're welcome. I would do it a thousand times again." And he meant it.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Sep 6, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

bar

shaken

interactions

Grif (

Something moved inside River. Any other time, she would even mock herself for being a softie around Griffin because them getting along was almost impossible. It was one of those mythical occurrences that we can experience once in a lifetime and only if we’re lucky. The two were like fire and gasoline. River burned bright and the more Grif was around her, the stronger her flame was. They fueled each other but mostly in all the wrong ways but if you asked River why, she wouldn’t be able to give a straight, clear and reasonable answer. She and Griffin were snapping at each other for as long as she could remember and one might say it had already become a habit so deeply rooted in them, they didn’t know what else to do and how else to do things.

But now, now it was different. There were only two of them inside the bar but the atmosphere was so thick River felt she could cut off small pieces and create a hole in it. Never being one for the soft words and comfort, River found herself in a situation that was completely new to her but her fingers still found Griffin’s hand and she led him to the bar so she could take care of his injured knuckles and torn bleeding skin. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she was sure her face was a mess of tears, dust, ruined makeup and dried blood of a man who pointed his gun at her. She caught the direct hit and a few streaks ended up smearing her neck as well. Her hands trembled as she worked and for the briefest of moments, she considered going outside and asking Stevie for help. But no. Stevie was with Kyler and even carefree River had to admit that the right hand man needed her presence way more. She could take care of a scrape.

Never before did River have to be afraid for her life. Back when she lived at home, when all her clothes were pastel colors and her hair cascaded on her back in golden locks, there was no worry in the world for her. She had her friends, her squad, her pink bubble life. And even after her transformation, even after joining the Harbingers, she felt safe when surrounded by so many rough, frightening, dangerous men. She never had to be brave or strong or fight for herself. And the fact now came to bite her in the ass. That sudden realization washed over her and her eyes darkened for a brief second before she focused on Grif’s hand, trying to forget how useless she actually was.

What came as a surprise was Griffin’s hand on her cheek. She looked up, holding his hand wrapped in a rag and her eyes sparkled with tears. Her heart fluttered over the genuine statement and a ball clogged her throat so there was no way she could actually speak at that very moment. She just nodded but silently wished no one would every have to take a life for her. And if such a need arose, it had to be her to do it, River needed to learn how to protect her own behind. River cleared her throat and blinked a few times in a row to get rid of the tears. She tied the rag around his hand to secure it in a makeshift bandage and her hand reached to touch his on the side of her head. She leaned into his touch and let out a shaky breath. “Let me take you home, come on. Let’s get out of here.” she half-whispered and laced their fingers so she could lead him outside where her bike was still hopefully parked. She held onto him, drawing strength from the man or else, she would crumple to the floor like a rag doll and cry for hours. The clubhouse was a mess, Trevor was dead and the Hellhounds felt high and mighty. Was there even a glimpse of that light on the end of the tunnel?

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Sep 6, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

bar

vengeful

interactions

Stevie (

There were never any illusions about what being in a gang meant. Kyler was very clear on the subject, he was brought up to become a member and while his parents loved him and wanted the best for their only boy, they never filled his head with misleading ideas about what it meant to be a Harbinger. It was a dangerous occupation and it devoured the whole person. There was no way the inner circle could afford dividing their focus between the gang and keeping a job. They had their own activities which brought money in and Kyle’s job, and a few other members’ too, was to make sure things were running smoothly. The clubhouse was their perfect hideout and only a few people knew what really was in the basement. Trevor only scratched the surface on the whole deal but still he made sure it stayed under the lid. Not many people knew and were allowed to find out until the whole business started flourishing. But absolutely nothing in this world could prepare Kyler for this.

Staring in the silent face of his best friend, of his brother, his partner in crime, was not fair. They were supposed to go down together. Guns blazing with a cigarette hanging from the corner of their mouth while laughing maniacally. That had always been the idea. Not this. Not tearing them apart by the veil of death. Trevor was gone and Kyle… What was he supposed to do? In the very first moment, he felt incredibly lost, unable to find the beacon in the darkness, the lighthouse to guide him home. All he knew, all he understood was that Trevor’s eyes were closed forever and he was never coming back again.

Until he felt that warm familiar touch and a whiff of shampoo tickled his nostrils. He hugged Stevie tight and her arms wrapped around him as well. Her small frame offered a humongous amount of support and comfort and Kyler was drowning in it, seeking more and more as if he was trying to drain her life force. Her soft voice hummed in his ears and his embrace tightened so much he might squash her if he kept it up. He was broken more than ever before and putting the pieces of him back together was going to take more than a visit to the infirmary. Whenever he came to Stevie after a fight, it was his body that needed mending. This time, it was his heart and soul and not even Stevie had that sort of medicine in her kit. And yet, having her near him, feeling her presence, the warmth radiating from her body, was more than anyone could do at that very moment. And Kyler didn’t want them to do anything. All he needed was her.

Her hands took his face and their foreheads met. The touch of her thumbs was as light as the wings of butterflies. “I know.” he breathed and his fingers ran through her long chocolate tresses. “I know, doll. You’ve always been my firefly. Bringing me light in the darkness.” he mumbled and squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to let go of her. They were sitting there in that dark alley and when he opened his eyes again, his fellow Harbingers were back to pick Trevor’s body up. Seeing his body leave the ground, Kyle tensed but it was Stevie’s touch that held him back. “I promise you, brother…” Kyle growled, staring at Trevor’s lifeless body.” “...I will hunt them down and kill every single one of those mutts for what they did to you.” he added and his body tensed, his jawline was firm as ever and a thick vein throbbed on his temple as he watched his friends turn the corner. And then they were alone. “They will pay for what they did, babygirl.” he then turned to Stevie and slowly scurried to his feet. He reached his hands for her and helped her up as well, pulling the pretty nurse closer in his arms again. “I will kill them all.”

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Sep 9, 2022

the mother hen

location

main clubhouse.

outfit

x.

mentions

Kyler (

interactions

open.

stephania torrero.

"I told you to take it easy from the gym for a week, Mason. But I can tell you ignored my recommendations," Stephania said, turning the large man's hands over in her own to examine them. The tissue across his knuckles was red and inflamed, the torn areas barely scabbing and leaking slightly. What had started as simple lacerations from a fight had nearly turned into an infection. Glancing up, her chocolate brown gaze softened as she saw the sheepish smile on Mason's face. He was one of the older Harbinger members, and definitely had years of experience and respect over her. But he had always been nice to her, always appreciated her nursing skills and all she had done for the gang. "I'm sorry, Stevie. You know we're just trying to prepare for..." and he trailed off, the sheepish look changing to one of slight sadness. Without words, Stevie knew exactly what he was talking about. Hell, they had just buried the ashes of their previous fearless leader barely an hour before.

Her chest tightened at the thought, having read over Trevor's autopsy reports more times than she could count in the past week. Stevie couldn't help but think that there was something she could have done. But the report spoke otherwise, the fatal wound too brutal to come back from. So, she simply answered, "I know, I know." They sat in silence as the brunette nurse applied some antibiotic ointment to Mason's wounds before rewrapping them in gauze and bandages. Double-checking her work, she smiled at the bearded man and stood from her stool. "Alright, well if you want to avoid losing your fingers, I suggest you actually stay out of the gym for a week," she said, opening her medicine cabinet and scanning across the bottle. Finally landing on one labeled 'amoxicillin' that was almost empty, Stevie tossed the bottle to the man as he stood from her examination table. Satisfied that he caught it, she said, "Take one of those every day until they run out. And get some rest, please." Looking at the bottle, Mason let out a low chuckle before offering her a lazy two-fingered salute. "Yeah, Miss Torrero, just after the reception. Hopefully, you do as well." And with that, he left.

Once she was alone again, the smile immediately left Stevie's face. Glancing over to the full-length mirror by her desk, she appraised herself. Her brown hair hung around her shoulders in beach waves, and the mid-thigh black dress was an appropriate level of classy. Her black strappy heels were easily five inches tall, and she wished she had worn flats. But it was too late, and she was due at the reception soon. The only reason Stephania had even gone up to the infirmary after the funeral was the sight of Mason's knuckles. She had practically dragged him up there against his will to fix him up. But that was consistent across the past week. She had spent that entire time in the infirmary, taking quick naps when she could and fixing up those Harbingers that had been too injured to go home. Some had even been on IVs of fluids and antibiotics. Thankfully, however, she had sent the last one home that morning, confident he had recovered enough that his wife could effectively care for him. So, for the first time in a week, the infirmary was quiet, and she was alone.

Finally, the brunette nurse looked at the reflection of her face. Though the concealer hid the dark circles and bags, it was impossible to mistake the exhaustion in her eyes. Letting out a sigh, Stevie turned to exit the infirmary, heading down to the main clubhouse floor where the reception was being held. People milled about, all dressed in black though that was mostly due to their leather jackets and sneakers. Some were still battered and bruised from the fight a week ago. But for the most part, everyone seemed to be healed or healing, physically at least. Unfortunately, Stevie was no therapist and could only do her best to help in that regard. The brunette nurse moved through the crowd, nodding and greeting those that glanced her way. She searched for the familiar mop of dark brown hair, wanting to make sure he was okay. Despite checking in with him as often as she could, she still worried about Kyler and couldn't possibly imagine what he was going through. Or maybe she could. Unable to find him, Stevie ended up at the bar where Rob stood, sullenly serving drinks. One glance in her direction and he poured a double glass of amber liquid, setting it in front of her. With a soft smile, she said, "Thanks, Rob," and took a sip knowing she would probably need several more before the end of the evening.

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Sep 9, 2022

the mechanic

location

garage -> clubhouse.

outfit

x.

mentions

Kyler, River (

interactions

open.

griffin hendrix.

Loud rock music filled the garage, causing the walls to vibrate rather violently. The walls were lined with metal shelves filled with parts, chemicals, and other automotive repair supplies. A few old muscle cars were parked in the bays, including the remains of a black, singed Impala hidden beneath a blue tarp. A couple of large, rusty toolboxes on wheels were scattered around the room, no doubt filled with hand-me-down tools. A man stood in one corner of the garage, a large punching bag hanging in front of him. His hands were wrapped in white bandages, forcing them into fists. One right after the other, he threw several strong punches into the bag, sending it swinging back and forth like a pendulum. He was covered in sweat, and his chest rose and fell rapidly. He knew he was overexerting himself. But if he didn't, the emotions would build up inside of him until he couldn't control them any longer. And the last thing he wanted to do was feel them.

After what seemed like an hour, and probably was, Griffin sent one last unfocused punch into the bag before letting his arms fall limply to his sides. They felt heavy, as though he was holding free weights. His breaths were sharp and fast but were slowing down along with his heart. Letting out a sigh, he turned to the open bay door of the garage, ocean blue eyes landing on his fellow Harbinger that stood there, leaning against the frame and watching him, probably waiting for him to finish his impromptu workout. Barely catching his breath, Grif immediately knew why he was there. Grossing to the metal shop sink, he dampened a rag with cold water and ran it across the back of his neck. "I take it it's time for the reception?" he asked, glancing back at Charlie with a quirked brow. "Yeah, man. You know Trevor would kill any of us that didn't throw down in his honor," the blue responded with a teasing tone that wasn't entirely convinced. Grif was a bit too tired at that moment, but he knew Charlie was right. He unwrapped his knuckles and dropped the bandages on a nearby rack. "Alright, I'll be over in a few. Gotta make sure I don't like a sweaty wreck." With that, Charlie just nodded and disappeared back towards the clubhouse.

Turning back to the sink, Griffin pulled his white tank top over his head, standing shirtless for a moment. He wiped his sweat away to seem at least somewhat put together. Dropping the rag into the sink, he gripped the sides of it. Looking at his reflection in the dirty mirror, Griffin bit the inside of his cheek in thought. For the past week, he had been stuck in an internal battle about what he had done. On the one hand, he had taken someone's life without hesitation, and his fellow Harbingers congratulated him for it. Hell, he was even up for a promotion because of it. But on the other hand, he killed someone for the first time. Everything he knew and learned growing up from his parents and his life was against that act. Hell, the law was against that. So why didn't he feel bad about it? Shouldn't he feel bad about it? Was there something wrong with him? There had to be. He couldn't even muster up the courage to call his mom who didn't even know what he had done. Not because he was ashamed, but because he knew she would be ashamed of and disappointed in him if she found out.

And then, on top of all that, there was River. What the hell had happened in the bar? What was that weird feeling that had filled his chest when she got close to him? When he had moved her hair behind her ear and it felt like everything moved in slow motion? When she leaned into him and wrapped his injured hands? When she took him home and nothing else happened? He had spent pretty much his entire time knowing her throwing sarcastic comments and quips her way. But they hadn't interacted much over the past week with him constantly working either on cars and bikes or out gathering intel. Well, it was probably nothing anyway. Shaking those thoughts away, Griffin turned towards his locker to grab a fresh plain gray tee and his leather jacket. Slinging them over his shoulders, he took one last look in the mirror and left the garage towards the clubhouse. The area was filled with idle chatter, the mood very clearly down and the total opposite of what Trevor would have wanted. It was supposed to be a celebration of life right? Griffin made his way through the crowd towards the pool table and grabbed a cue off the wall. "Alright, let's get this started. Who's down for a game?"

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Sep 11, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

clubhouse

feeling empty

interactions

Stevie (

“You need to pull your shit together, River. These things happen. They fucking suck, I know, but you knew what you were getting yourself into.” Jackson sighed, his tall frame leaning against the door frame. He had been staring at his sister’s back for the past thirty minutes, thirty seven to be exact, he timed it. And River wouldn’t even look at him. The only movement she made was when she turned to the bottle and refilled her glass every so often.. The ice cube in her tumbler was long gone but she drank her whiskey even then. She was a mess. After what she had seen, felt, experienced, River couldn’t seem to get it together. The last sane thing she did was taking Griffin home from the clubhouse and when she finally reached her own humble abode, she crumbled down on the bed and ugly-cried herself to sleep. Waking up the next morning was hard, she had a splitting headache, her ruined makeup made her look good ten years older and sparrows could nest in her red mane. Bags under her eyes were so dark and swollen she could barely see and she hadn’t left her home since then, called in sick at work and just…wallowed.

That miserable feeling of helplessness, which appeared right after she realized it was only thanks to Griffin that she was still alive, stayed with her, became her permanent roommate and stuck to her wherever she went, whatever she did. There was no hiding from it and she couldn’t bring herself to face other people while her own shame and misery were slapping her this way and that. “I mean it, sis. What’s all this good for? Hiding and drinking won’t solve shit. Get your ass out there to the clubhouse and at least try to be respectful for one day.” Jackson was losing his patience. He loved his little sister to the moon and back, she was his only family that he was willing to acknowledge but she was acting ridiculous.

River finally turned around, her eyes puffy and face pale, almost sickly from not seeing the sun for a week. Her bottom lip trembled as she stared at her brother and all of a sudden, the tumbler glass left her hand as she hurled it at him. Jax’s reflexes were on point, he stepped aside and the glass hit the wall anyway, shattering into a million tiny pieces. “I almost died, Jackson! I almost fucking died and there would be nothing I could do about it. Do you get it? Do you even care?” she yelled, balling her hands into fists as she stared daggers at Jax. “SO DID I!” he roared, sick and tired of her attitude. “We all did. We all were there and fought and bled and almost died! But guess what! Nobody is throwing a pity party for themselves because we all know who we are. This is what it means to be a Harbinger, River. Now think about it. Think about it long and well, little girl, if you have what it takes to be one, too. I know this sucks. Trevor is dead and nobody knows what the future holds for us. But we’re all out there because together we’re stronger. You know what? Stay here, drink yourself to another ignorant bliss and make it all about you again. I don’t fucking care, River. But don’t you dare to make today about anyone else but Trevor. You don’t wanna come? Fine with me!” Jackson was seriously yelling at her, he was yelling in a way he had never raised his voice at her before and River trembled. Then he spun on his heel and left her apartment, slamming the door behind him so hard the glass panes in windows shook.

Standing there, River stared at the door and her hands shook. Another salve of tears came down her cheeks and she let out a few choking sobs. Because the worst part of it all was that Jackson was right. He was right and she hated that.

No amount of concealer could cover the red spots and swollen eyes, no matter how much River tried. She did what she could, got dressed and left to the clubhouse where everyone gathered to raise a toast for their late fearless leader. It almost felt unfamiliar to enter that place again. Heeding Jackson’s warning not to be the center of attention, she took her sunglasses off, even though she would prefer not to and headed straight towards the bar. Rob saw her coming and offered her a soft small smile but River just nodded. Without saying a word, he served her two fingers of whiskey and River climbed on the stool next to her friend. “Hey.” she spoke, her voice course and rough. She reached for the glass and downed it in one go, unable to look at Stevie. River disappeared, shut everyone out and refused to talk to people for the whole week. Nobody deserved that. The least of them, Stevie. “I’m sorry I vanished. I just couldn’t…yeah…you know.” she mumbled, knowing there was no point in lying to the nurse.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Sep 11, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

clubhouse

trying to be strong

interactions

Grif (

“We need to do something about this, Kyle. Can’t just let them get away with this shit.” Ace spoke, tapping his fingers on the wooden desk of the table. His left knee was bouncing up and down, twitching with nerves as he stared at the gloomy figure across the room. “What do you want me to do, Ace?” Kyler asked, staring in the distance, his voice weak, the look in his eyes nothing short of defeated. “I don’t know, man. You’re the boss.”

“I’m not the boss. I’m just a…” Kyler stopped mid-sentence, that sudden realization dawning upon him heavily. For the first time, he realized the harsh truth. “I’m the boss.” he spoke quietly. He was the damn leader of the Harbingers now and for the whole week, he didn’t even realize that once. Kyler never wanted this, he was more than glad to be the right hand, the adviser, the one in the shadow. The Harbingers had been under the leadership of Trevor’s family for so long that no one could even remember if there ever was someone else in charge. And the plan was that once Trevor had a child, he wanted to raise his people another leader. That plan was out with the wind now. Kyler was on top and as much as he didn’t want it, leaving, hiding, not being there for his fellow members would be weak, it would be the textbook example of cowardice.

“Let’s not deal with this now, Ace. Make sure the last orders are packed and sent today and that will be it for today. Then come join us upstairs. Let’s make today count.” he sighed and placed a cigarette between his lips. In the past week, he got older. At least his face suggested that. Cigarette butts in his ashtray piled up like Mount Kilimanjaro and the old bruises were reopened, accompanied by some fresh ones from last night. Kyler never claimed he could handle loss. After all, he never really recovered from losing his parents. Trevor being dead only added to his list of defeats and in the past week, he went to the pits every night. He turned into a wild animal down there and last night was the peak. He was limitless, couldn’t see, couldn’t hear. They had to pull him off the kid he was fighting against as he was beating him unconscious. And this whole time, he had Trevor in front of his eyes, as a reminder that his death was a nonsensical one, came too soon and needed to be avenged. And then there was that green-eyed kid who tried to take even more from him by pointing a gun at the last person who still kept him human.

As he walked upstairs, making sure that no curious ass was going to enter the basement, he looked around. Everyone was here. The clubhouse was alive as ever, nobody was quiet. Of course, the heavy feeling was hanging in the air as they lost someone dear to them all but they all were also more than aware that Trevor would have hated grim gatherings with tears and moping. This was a reception to commemorate how he lived, not how he died. Rolling his shoulders, he winced as a sharp sting of pain echoed in his back. The last fight was truly overdoing it and he shouldn’t have gone. And he didn’t even let Stevie look at his fresh wounds since she had her hands full with the rest of the Harbingers. Kyle didn’t want to add to her worries. Maybe now that the situation was slightly calmer, he would go ask for favors.

Crossing the room, people stopped him, he shook hands, clapped backs, they congratulated him which he honestly hated and they wished him all the best in his new position. Ky just wished they wouldn’t. He knew all those words were coming from a good place but the fact that everyone realized before him just made him tired. They could start dealing with business tomorrow. Today was their day off to honor Trevor.

“I’ll play with you, kid.” he smirked, clapping Griffin on the shoulder as he approached the table. The cigarette was still hanging from the corner of his mouth as he reached for the cue and he pointed at the balls, indicating Grif to break them. “How you're holding up?” he asked, measuring the boy with a serious look in his eyes. Ky knew Grif was not too excited about how things happened and while to him, Grif proved his worth to the gang, the uneasy look in his eyes that night told Kyler everything he needed to know. “Just so you know. Everyone’s proud of you.” he breathed and to him, that was all he would speak on the topic. Unless Griffin felt he needed to talk about it some more. Though Ky felt that wasn't the case.

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Sep 17, 2022

the mother hen

location

main clubhouse.

outfit

x.

mentions

Kyler, Griffin.

interactions

River (

stephania torrero.

When Stevie first came to the Harbingers, she was so blissfully ignorant compared to what she knew now. The young brunette walked into that compound completely unaware of the danger she was surrounding herself with. Weapons, drugs, assault, and even murder. And that was just the beginning of the laundry list of crimes the Harbingers had on their records. While Clark wasn't necessarily shy about all of it after they had been dating for a while, the brunette nurse didn't completely understand the implications. At least, not in the beginning. Eventually, she became comfortable with many of the Harbingers, a lot of which she considered her friends. Despite turning a blind eye to the abuse Clark instilled upon her later on, Trevor was one of those people. At first, he didn't like the idea of Clark bringing someone like Stephania into the gang. After all, she came from a good family who was all still alive, did pretty well in school, and wasn't the "bad girl" type. But, eventually, he saw more potential in her than just that naive brunette girl and welcomed her with open arms, even though he was sometimes an ass.

Maybe it was emotional maturity, or maybe it was past trauma. But, it took a lot to get Stevie truly, bitterly angry. Despite the Latina blood that coursed through her veins, she didn't have that stereotypical temper associated with it. As a child, while other kids would throw temper tantrums or cry when they didn't get their way, she was simply quiet, in her head. Another kid would push her down on the playground, and Stevie would get back up and tell them it was okay. For a while, her parents thought there was something wrong with her. After all, what kind of child doesn't throw a fit? But all the doctors and psychologists they took her to said that she was fine. Little did they know the cynicism and reservation that was brewing in that little mind of her, and how it would continue to be there, even expand and grow as she did into her adult years.

Maybe that was what made her a good nurse, her ability to keep a level head, at least on the outside. Over the years, she had had patients yell at her, cry, and beg for things she couldn't do, some even threatened her. And, though she most certainly felt anxious and panicked on the inside in some of those situations, she was calm, cool, and collected on the outside. She responded with wisdom as directly as she could, and provided caring words of kindness that were still honest. The brunette's ability to keep up that loyal, maternal persona made her approachable and accessible, which is one of the reasons why she felt the rough-and-tough Harbingers felt open to talking to her. Including River. The sound of another pour caught Stevie's attention, and she looked up to find Rob silently making another drink. Considering her whiskey was still full, it most certainly wasn't for her. But those thoughts were quickly squelched by the sound of the stool next to her.

Chocolate brown eyes glanced over, finding her redheaded friend a little worse for wear. The brunette nurse hadn't heard from River much in the past week and had worried about her. But, after running into Jackson a couple of times around the compound, Stephania knew it was probably best to let River come to her rather than bother her while she was grieving. "Hey, Riv," she answered softly, offering her friend a soft smile before taking a sip from her whiskey. Stevie paused with her glass raised, watching as River downed her entire glass at once. She honestly couldn't say that she blamed her. Shaking her head, the nurse quickly responded, "No, River, you don't need to apologize. I completely understand. It's been a rough week. For everyone." Turning on her stool to glance out over the clubhouse, Stevie caught sight of Kyler and Griffin by the pool table, biting down on the inside of her cheek. Everyone had been distant, even them. "Is there anything I can do to help, River?"

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Sep 18, 2022

the mechanic

location

main clubhouse.

outfit

x.

mentions

none.

interactions

Kyler (

griffin hendrix.

Standing there in the clubhouse was a bit surreal. The normally lively space was now dark and tense, not even the typical background rock music lightening the mood. But, billiards had always held a special place in Griffin's heart, despite the dingy bar and dangerous hustle often associated with the game. To be truthful, he was more versed in the professional form of the sport due to his stepfather's interest in it. Raymond Samuels was many things: a businessman, a hunter, a chef, and an avid Atlanta Braves fan. But, what some might not expect was his affinity for the old, noble Northern European game. While Raymond was still married to Grif's mother, he was rarely home due to his taxing job. But, when he was, he wanted to make sure he had a good relationship with Griffin. And so, along with teaching him how to fix cars and hunt, he also taught him how to play pool.

The brunette man remembered his stepfather letting him tag along to the pool hall. He loved billiards, loved everything about the game. It involved equal parts of mind games, strategy, and skill: all things that challenged his mind when the core concepts of school couldn't. If he were being honest, those games of pool combined with his mother's immigrant mindset created the foundation for Grif's determined and hardworking ways. There wasn't really any reason for him to grow up and become a gang member. Sure, for the majority of his early childhood, he lived in a not-so-great part of town and was forced to grow up fast while his mother worked several jobs just to put food on the table. But he was never all that unhappy. Though, he did feel lonely sometimes, like he didn't have the typical family that the other kids in school had. He got a taste of it when Ray pulled them out of that shitty apartment and moved them to a nicer borough in New York City, and even after they divorced. But it's hard to make up for an entire childhood of solitude with a few years of a semi-descent family.

Pulling him from his thoughts, Griffin heard a familiar voice from behind him before he felt a hand on his shoulder. Ever since Trevor's death, Kyler had been in charge, whether he wanted to be or not. If anyone had stress on his shoulders, it was the Harbingers' new fearless leader. "You know, one of these days you're going to have to stop calling me kid. I'm only a year younger than you, and it's hurting my rep," the mechanic responded, teasingly rolling his eyes. Chalking the tip of his cue, he paused for a moment with Ky's more serious question and the following statement. It wasn't lost on Grif that the others were proud of him. He had seen it in their eyes when they looked at him, in the grins and the pats on the back he had received over the last week. In the way elder members who only seemed to talk to those at the highest points in the hierarchy began talking to him. But he was still coming to terms with being proud of himself. So, ever the tough guy, he simply responded, "Thanks, man."

Needing to shake off that tension and negative energy, Grif finished chalking his cue and began to fill the rack with the ceramic balls. One of their usual dancers/waitresses walked by, and he paused what he was doing to stop her. "Grab me a double shot of tequila from the bar, and one for Kyler here. I'm sure Trevor would want us ringing our new leader the Harbinger way. She returned just as the mechanic finished filling the rack. Offering her a wink, he said, "Thanks, sweetheart." Despite the sadness of the event, he was still a flirt. Handing the second double-shot glass to Ky, Griffin raised his own in honor of both their fallen and new boss. "To Trevor. A hell of a kingpin, and a hell of Harbinger. And to you, man. You'll do him proud." In a rare moment of non-snark or sarcasm directed towards the older brunette man, Grif nodded in his direction before throwing back the shots. They burned on the way down, but he didn't care. The sooner he could push any unsavory feelings away, the better. Setting the shot glass on the table a little harder than intended, he shrugged and turned back toward Kyler. "Care to break?"

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Sep 24, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

clubhouse

broken

interactions

Stevie (

The week went by in such a haze River never even realized it was the celebration of life day until Jackson rang at her door. She opened and he just clicked his tongue and wrapped her in one of his brotherly bear hugs before they got into another argument. Jackson knew it was hard. Hell, he was having difficulties embracing the new situation himself. But he couldn’t look at his kiddo sister all pale and puffy-eyed. And he was sure she hadn’t really eaten and prescribed herself a liquid diet for the whole week. River did. She barely ate and drank way too much, smoked more cigarettes than ever and her life turned into a vicious roller coaster of drunken haze and rare sober moments when she snacked on a bag of chips and refilled her glass way too many times. She looked horrible and she knew it. The week of self-loathing and wallowing left her in a state that reminded a scrying soul rather than a girl.

Friends were important but in that moment, in her state of mind, River closed herself to the outer world and decided not to let anyone else see her own misery. Back in the days of her being a pink and blonde cheerleader, she would die for her girlfriends and there wouldn’t be a day in her life she would not at least text them. Those days were gone and so were those friends. River’s life was way different now but she should have stuck to at least some old habits. Instead, she cut herself off in a week that made her apartment look and smell like an alcohol dump. Even Jackson wrinkled his nose when he entered.

And yet, it was Jax’s harsh voice that provided that much needed awakening and River left the safety of her home to go and say her last goodbye, toast to Trevor’s memory and finally meet people, especially those who could help her get over herself and fill the hole in her chest that seemed to be getting bigger with every step she took. And when she saw Stevie for the first time after the events in the alley, her heart sunk deep into her stomach. A part of River thought the nurse would hate her for vanishing but another part hoped that with her nature, Stevie would find it in her heart to forgive her.

And just as she expected, Stevie had the warmest of smiles for her, even if the smile was filled with sadness. “It was. I just…I should have reached out.” River said and turned her face to Stevie. Her eyes were still puffy all around and yet somehow sunken, her cheeks as well since no real food made its way to her stomach and her usually healthy glow was gone, replaced by the pale blotchy skin. She almost looked sickly. “I just couldn’t. I…don’t know. Stevie. Is there? The thing is…” Rob served her another shot and River reached for it but this time, just held it, babysat it in her hands and stared at its surface. “I feel useless.” she sighed. “Back then, we couldn’t have helped Trevor. But if…if….if something had happened, I couldn’t…you know what I mean?” she asked quietly and looked back up, tears glimmering in her eyes. “I am useless, Stevie, and I hate myself for it and I just cannot get over what happened and I just feel like I’m making shit about myself and Jackson was just right…” And as much as she wanted to throw that shot back one more time, she forced herself not to because her blood was already filled with whiskey way too much.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Sep 24, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

clubhouse

starting to relax a bit

interactions

Grif (

Leadership was never what Kyler truly wanted. If it was given to him, he would have probably politely rejected it because he never considered himself the kind of guy to lead, especially not the pack of Harbingers. He was overly emotional, choleric, his fuse was probably one of the shortest out there and many times, he acted before the thought things through. Most of his personal attributes were screaming a disaster and even as Trevor’s right-hand man, he sometimes doubted himself and whether he was right for the honor given to him. He wondered whether Trevor did the right thing by keeping him this close to important matters and whether it was not just because they were friends. But none of it mattered now. Trevor was gone and to top the whole milkshake of fucked up off, Kyler was the leader now, whether he liked it or not.

The past week was stressful and quite honestly, Ky had no idea what he was doing. He was simply trying to keep the Harbingers at home since many were seeking revenge. And that was going to come. Trevor would be avenged and Kyler himself would dissect the bastard who dared to attack his best friend. But he couldn’t have his guys running wildly around the town, beating shit out of every Hellhound they found. No, this was calling for a thought through plan, a carefully put together strategy and a planned out action. Exactly what Kyler couldn’t do. But it didn’t mean he was not going to attempt to do it. However, only tonight it truly occurred to him that he was not just substituting for Trevor. He was the leader now indeed. People expected him to have his shit together and make decisions. And when the realization hit, it felt like a bag of bricks landing on top of his head.

To clear his head a bit, Kyler joined the crowd upstairs and he soon noticed Griffin. Naturally, his steps led right to the mechanic. “You’re still gonna be kid.” he smirked after Griffin asked him not to call him that. “Don’t worry, ladies around here will call you a big boy if you’re good to them.” he then added, laughing at how funny he was. And if Kyle wanted to forget his new role, he had to reconsider since soon after that, Grif ordered shots. Kyler winced a little but fixed his face right away and when Wendy, the pretty waitress, returned with the shots, he took his and stared at it for a moment. “To Trevor. To the best man I’ve ever fucking met.” Ky nodded, adding a few words to the toast, and drank his shot in a go. “Fucking tequila, man.” he sighed, setting the glass aside.

“I’m gonna be honest with you though.” he said after a while. “I have no idea how to do all of this. Trevor was a fucking visionary, he had an idea, a plan. Shit came naturally to him and people followed.” he shook his head and moved to the other side of the table where he chalked up his cue. “Revenge is holding these people together. But what happens after they get their share of blood? You know…” Ky shrugged and leaned over the table, staring at the white ball for a while before hitting it with precision. The ball started running and broke the carefully put triangle of the colored balls into an abstract picture spread across the table. The hit was nice, flawless even, alas, not one of the balls ended up in the pockets. “Shit.” he growled and motioned for Grif to take his shot. “Sweetness, we’ll have two more.” he called at Wendy as she was passing by and the girl hurried to serve the new leader. “So anyway, you having revenge thoughts as well? Or you’re up to something else these days?” Kyler asked, his cheeks getting a little more color since he noticed his favorite person at the bar when ordering shots. He should go and see Stevie as well. And he would. With less people around.

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Oct 3, 2022

the mother hen

location

bar.

outfit

x.

mentions

Kyler.

interactions

River (

stephania torrero.

Stephania couldn't deny that the past week had been hard, for everyone involved. Everyone was mourning the loss of a leader, of a friend, of a brother in arms. Some were angry, others sad, but the one thing combining them all? The need for revenge. Some had kept their feelings well hidden while others shouted their curse words and claims of murder around the compound without care. Whatever their choice, it was clear that the Harbingers were working towards a retaliation. And from the snips and pieces she heard through the rumor mill, it was going to be a big one. Stevie refused to let her mind dwell on it for too long. But she knew that what was to come would be far worse and far more exhausting than the past week. More would be lost, more autopsy reports would pile up on her desk, and more blood would be shed. And she would work herself to the bone, maybe even to death, to take care of of them, her adopted family, the people she cared about. But if this was the way they reacted to Trevor's death, what would they think if they found out what really happened to Clark?

The combined stress caused her stomach to clench, and the brunette nurse quickly took another sip of whiskey in an attempt to push those feelings away. She didn't have time to break down, couldn't with all those that counted on her around and watching. No, instead she had bottled up her feelings for the past week and vowed to save her tears for her pillowcase once she finally was able to go back to her room. In a way, Stevie could probably understand what River was going through. They had almost died in that alley, had stared down the barrel of a gun that was intended to kill them. And instead, their leader paid the price. While she had been in that moment before, had her continuance of life held in the hands of someone else, she didn't know if River had ever felt that before. And by the way her redheaded friend had reacted, Stevie couldn't help but think that she probably hadn't. When she killed Clark, the one thing she wanted more than anything else was someone to talk to. And so, Stevie would be that for River. If she wanted her to be, anyway.

As Stevie took another sip from her whiskey, her chocolate gaze met River's hazel. She saw the redness around her eyes, the normal glow of her skin dulled, and the brunette immediately felt worried. How long had it been since River last ate? From the look of her alone, Stevie could tell she was dehydrated, exhausted, maybe even a little sick. Almost like the beginnings of alcoholism. And that scared the nurse. But she knew better than to say something about it when Riv was already vulnerable. Instead, she finished off her own whiskey, holding out the glass for Rob to place another pour. "Two waters too, if you don't mind, Rob," she added softly, offering the man a smile before focusing on River once more. River began to ramble a bit, but eventually, she caught up with her words. We couldn't have helped Trevor. Stevie still wasn't entirely sure she believed that, but kept those thoughts to herself. The redheaded bartender didn't need to hear about her own insecurities. When she had quieted, the brunette reached over and pushed the shot glass from her friend's fingers, replacing it with the glass of water Rob had supplied. Ever the mom friend, she was.

"You're not useless, River. You're talented and intelligent and headstrong and independent. What's more, you went through something traumatic. It's okay if things need to be about you for a while too. Those types of experiences and feelings don't just go away on their own," Stephania said softly, pulling her amber liquid to her lips and ignoring the hypocrisy of her words, the way she gave advice that she should be taking herself. "It sucks, but sometimes processing feelings means we need the help of others. I have an old friend who's a damn good therapist. If you ever need someone on the outside to talk to..." and she trailed off, leaving the invitation there but not forcing it upon her friend. And with another sip from her whiskey and an inadvertent glance around the room, her eyes finally found who she had been subconsciously looking for the entire time: Kyler. She felt herself relax ever so slightly at the sight of him, something about it making her feel safer. Realizing she was staring a bit, Stevie returned her attention to River and offered her friend a smile. "How about we take a smoke break? Get out of the heavy air in here for a second?"

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Oct 3, 2022

the mechanic

location

pool table.

outfit

x.

mentions

none.

interactions

Kyler (

griffin hendrix.

Despite his alright childhood, and if he were being entirely honest with himself, the Harbingers gave Griffin more of a family feeling than his own ever could. Because, even though family was supposed to be built on unconditional love and trust, his own had betrayed one another and fallen apart. They weren't forever. With the Harbingers, it was like a brotherhood. As long as you were loyal, everyone looked out for one another. Griffin could walk into a bar knowing that a fight was about to go down, and he would not doubt that any of the other Harbingers there would have his back. He would gladly take a bullet for his brothers and sisters, and he knew that they would do the same for him. It was a community, a family with bonds that went far deeper than the job or sharing blood. Every so often, he thought about his parents and his old life, and Grif couldn't help but feel a bit conflicted. How could something that was clearly criminal be such a better fit for him? And after what happened a week ago, could he still say that it was?

Griffin was no stranger to fighting. Throwing down in bars. Nearly beating some asshole's face in who looked at him wrong. Hell, he had definitely decked a Hellhound or a Hunter a time or two. But this was different. With Trevor's death, it was no longer some stupid bar fight between two guys trying to prove they're more manly. No, now it was about an eye for an eye, a life for a life. And while everyone else seemed to want to act on that, the still-human part of Grif couldn't help but wonder if the debt had already been paid. After all, he watched the life drain from that kid's eyes as his bullet ended him. With the death and the equal amount of injured gang members, wasn't the score even? But then again, maybe that was the problem. Everyone wanted to be on top, the most powerful, the alpha. And that could never happen if the scores simply stayed even. So, there was no doubt in his mind that the Hellhounds had done far more than simply destroy some cars, punch some people, or even kill the Harbinger leader. They had started a war.

The mechanic nodded towards Kyler, letting out a low chuckle at his teasing statement. "Fine, if it makes you feel better about your little willy, you can call me whatever you need to," he shot right back, attempting once again to break the tension in the air with a little bit of humor. With a smirk, Griffin quickly added, "Don't worry, they already do." Grabbing his shot, he raised it for a moment, nodding along with the new leader's toast. "To Trevor," he agreed before throwing back the strong, bitter liquid just as quickly. It burned on the way down, but he didn't mind. It might not be his favorite alcohol in the world, but it certainly took the pain and insecurity away in just a few drinks. Letting out a breath, Griffin chuckled and wiped the clear liquid away from the corner of his mouth. "Ain't that the truth." And while his original intention with the booze was to turn mourning into a celebration of life, it didn't seem like that was going to happen anytime soon.

For a moment, Griffin wasn't quite sure what to say. Kyler had a point. Trevor had a way of keeping things going, even when it seemed like they wouldn't be able to. He always had an answer, a goal. Everything in his mind was like a chess game, and he was six moves ahead at any given moment. There was a reason the Harbingers were one of the most prolific criminal organizations in their part of the world. And it was all because of him. Now that he was gone, it was all on Kyler's shoulders to keep that momentum going. So, while their usual banter was free-spirited and sibling-esque, this conversation was far from that. "I think you know more than you think you do," Griffin responded with a mostly nonchalant shrug. "After all, Trevor chose your ass as his righthand man for some reason. So he must have seen something in you that made him think you could lead the Harbingers the way he would want us led." Looking up a Ky, a smirk graced his lips as he teasingly added, "Though I'm not quite sure what that could be."

With a moment's pause, Griffin was more serious and said, "My father once said that 'the point of revenge is not in the completion but in the process' or some prolific shit. Pretty sure he read it in one of those self-help books. Whatever the case, I have a feeling that revenge will bring the gang closer, to each other, and to you at the helm. And when it's done, maybe everyone can finally move on and things can go back to semi-normal." The mechanic took a step back, watching as Kyler leaned over the table to break the rack. It was a good shot, the cue ball hitting the pyramid in the very center. But none of the balls made it to the pockets. "Nice shot, man," Griffin said with a smirk, immediately scanning the table for what the best next shot would be. When he found it, he moved around the table to line up, easily knocking the solid red ball into a corner pocket. But as he aimed at the solid yellow, Kyler's words caught him off-guard and he missed entirely. "Yeah," the brunette man half-lied. He had been thinking about it, but his feelings weren't as strong as everyone else's seemed to be. Should they? "But fixing up that fucking car has got my mind a little preoccupied. Do you know how impossible it is to find parts for a '67 Impala? Almost entirely. I need a distraction."

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Oct 22, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

clubhouse

getting better

interactions

Stevie (

River felt selfish. So damn selfish for making this her own show. Nobody cared about one person getting emotionally hurt when the Hellhounds not only overstepped by coming to the Harbinger turf but they also dared to kill Trevor. How could she think she could come here and make shit all about her? She came here because it was a decent thing to do and Trevor had always been extremely nice to her. He was just another older brother for her, even taught her a thing or two when Jackson was too busy with his lady friends. It was Trevor who let her ride his bike alone and when she crashed it, he laughed it off and told her not to worry about that old thing. And then she found out he diligently collected every screw and took his beloved bike to have it fixed. Trevor only looked like a terrifying grizzly but inside, he was a total teddy bear and River loved it about him. Not coming to say her last goodbye would be disrespectful as hell.

Talking to Stevie helped. It helped more than River expected and just having her big sister around and getting the chance to talk it out was a huge relief on River’s soul. She realized now that locking inside her apartment might have been a mistake. Stevie’s gentle voice reached her ears and tore River out of her trance. Her head jerked to the side and her eyes met with the nurse’s. Her voice was so tantalizing in convincing River she actually packed some worth that she didn’t even really notice her whiskey being replaced with water. Hearing about a therapist had her flinch slightly and the words of her mother reappeared when the good old woman proposed seeing one after their family broke down. River refused saying she was not going to any shrink just because her parents decided to fuck up her life. And she never went there. Now she was hearing it again but this time, it didn’t sound like the worst idea.

However, she just nodded, didn’t say yes or no and appreciated Stevie even more for not pushing it on her. The option was there for River to take it whenever she was ready. Or not. It was all her decision. Bringing the glass to her lips again, River scrunched her nose after tasting nothing but water. She looked down and noticed the swap. Her whiskey was still there, pushed aside. Letting out a shaky breath, River drank a half of her glass in one go and actually felt a bit better. Finally drinking something that did not pack a punch was both refreshing and surprising. “I could smoke.” she spoke quietly and slid from her chair. At first, she wanted to leave her water but then decided otherwise, clutching the glass on her chest.

As she walked, her eyes found a pair at the pool table and her heart fluttered. For the briefest of moments, her eyes met Kyler’s and he looked like he was about to come over. Not waiting for him to do it, River removed the eye contact and hurried to the back door, ever so familiar. Night air kissed her face immediately and caused goosebumps to spring all over her skin. Her shaky fingers brought a cigarette to her lips and she waited for Stevie to help with the lighter. Finally the cherry lit up and River’s lungs were filled with her usual dose of nicotine. I know I’ve said it before but I truly am sorry for disappearing. I should have stayed in touch. At least with you.” she told Stevie and took another drag. “No one deserves to be shut out and definitely not you. And I think I do need help. Maybe not a therapist right away but maybe a friend. A sister.” she added and her free hand found Stevie’s. Their fingers laced and River offered a soft squeeze. Even after a short talk with her friend, she was already feeling much better. It was like magic and Stevie held the wand.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Oct 22, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

clubhouse

starting to relax a bit

interactions

Grif (

It was indeed time to stop wallowing and start celebrating the man Trevor was. A friend, a leader, a brother, an absolute strategic mastermind and in fact, the most perfect glue to hold together a band of misfits like the Harbingers. This was not a damn college sorority where you either belonged or not based on your favorite teenage movie or a kind of beer. This was a gang and it took everyone. It provided home to all lost souls who were searching for it and all it asked for in return was loyalty. And maybe the Harbingers were not the largest gang out there, they certainly were effective. Their revenue on their activities was vastly surpassing every other gang and they owned a rather large chunk of the territory which they defended with their bodies and souls. Maybe Hellhounds had more members but Harbingers definitely had more heart.

Now it was up to Kyler to uphold that order and he definitely had his doubts whether he could ever walk in Trevor’s shoes. And he was sure there were others who doubted him as well. And maybe all Kyler needed to do was, as they say, fake it till he made it. Put his game face on and just jump in, hold it firmly in his hands and steer the ship. Success would eventually come. And maybe he was too naive. One way or another, this was supposed to be a celebration of life and it was time to stop whining. Tequila should help so he emptied the glass in his mouth which only made him wince. “Swear to god there is not worse liquor in the world than that.” he groaned but it didn’t stop him from having more of those shots.

“Oh and… My willy is none of your business, kid.” he laughed and sent a smirk Griffin’s way. They should focus on the game anyway. And the kid was right again. Trevor had to see something in Kyle if he wanted him to be his right hand. “You want to get your ass beaten tonight? Keep talking like a big guy and might as well have your wish come true.” Ky growled as he leaned over the table. But he wasn’t angry, not even annoyed. This teasing conversation was exactly what he needed to take his mind off of things. And after sinking two balls, he missed and made way for his friend.

The waitress brought more shots, just as Kyler had asked her, and also a bowl of peanuts. He took a handful and crunched them down. He then reached for a toothpick and bit down on it and just then, he noticed River staring his way. She and Stevie were going outside and Ky made one stop towards them which seemed to scare River enough to look away. They disappeared outside and the brunette man was half tempted to follow. Something in the girl was forcing him to go and check on her. Moreover, Stevie was there as well and he wanted to talk to her tonight too. Yet, he forced himself to remain inside and at the pool table. “How’s that car looking?” he asked Griffin to change the topic somehow. “I know it paid the price the other day. Can it be fixed?”

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Oct 29, 2022

the mother hen

location

bar -> outside.

outfit

x.

mentions

Kyler.

interactions

River (

stephania torrero.

Some might say that the tension and attraction between Stephania and Kyler were far from subtle. From an outside perspective, it wasn't hard to see the shy looks they shot in one another's direction when the other wasn't looking, the twinkle in their eyes, the slight smiles on their lips, or even the way their bodies relaxed when the other was close. Hell, a few of the Harbingers had pointed those things out to Stevie more than once, usually under the guise of some semi-sarcastic joke like how an older sibling might tease the younger. But despite the feelings she knew were inside her heart, she couldn't bring herself to believe that he felt the same way, let alone feel those feelings. Why would someone like Kyler want someone like her anyway? He was handsome and able to get any woman he wished. He was strong and independent and apathetic and brave. And Stevie? Well, she was broken, unwilling to let herself feel destructive emotions, reserved.

In her mind, he deserved fire and she was ice. So, she believed any crush she had would go unrequited, so she might as well ignore them altogether. They worked well as friends, which would have to be enough for her. Though, over the past week, they had barely been that it seemed. Over the years, she had come to hang out with Kyler often, sometimes even multiple times a day. But now, she felt as though she hadn't seen or talked to him in over a week. Things were changing, but did that mean their friendship would too? Was she about to lose one of her best friends? Stevie pushed the thought away, not even wanting to consider it. Instead, she let that safe feeling continue to wash over her, drowning what remained of her amber liquid in one fell swoop and chasing it with a drink of water. Her golden brown eyes followed the glass in River's hand as she took a drink of water, feeling a bit of relief in her chest. Hopefully, the clear liquid would put some color back in her cheeks.

A slight smile turned up the corners of Stevie's lips and she took one final sip from her glass before hopping down from her stool. "Good, because it's getting a bit too stuffy in here," the brunette nurse responded with a grin. Her heels clicked against the cement floor as she made her way through the clubhouse, nodding to those that she slid past in greeting. It wasn't long before they stepped out the back door, the chilled nighttime breeze fluttering through her hair. She pulled a cigarette from her pack, and placed it between her painted lips, flicking her zippo lighter open to light it. She held it out for River, letting her light her own before tucking it away once again. Stevie inhaled deeply from her cancer stick, savoring the burning sensation in her chest. Aside from the distant sounds of the city and the lull of voices and music from inside, it was rather quiet.

The lights made the stars in the sky barely visible, but she could still make out some of them twinkling brightly. "I appreciate the apology, but it's not necessary, Riv. Besides, you weren't the only one who needed time to themselves this past week." She felt her fingertips intertwine with River's and Stevie looked up at her friend with slightly wide eyes. A sister. She could feel her heart clench in her chest. "Yeah, of course, any time," the brunette answered, squeezing River's hand once. They both needed something fun, something to take their minds off things, something that wasn't a funeral. "Maybe we should get out of here? We've shown our faces, we've mourned. We should go out, find something to do that's lighter. What do you think?"

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Nov 5, 2022

the mechanic

location

pool table.

outfit

x.

mentions

RIver.

interactions

Kyler (

griffin hendrix.

There was something about working on a car or a motorcycle that Griffin couldn't help but love. It was meditative to him. All he had to do was put in his earbuds, turn on some loud rock music, and get to work. He loved the feeling of cool metal against his fingertips, the vibration and sound of a ratchet, and the smell of cooling oil and gasoline. It put him in his zone, calmed his mind. In those moments, Grif was able to get out of his head and just do. No thinking required. He was the type of guy that enjoyed working with his hands. His mom always used to say that idle hands were the devil's workshop, though it sounded much more aggressive in his mother's native language of Italian. And so, growing up, he kept himself out of trouble in the Big Apple, somehow. Their side of town wasn't exactly the best, and there were times when Griffin was surprised it took him moving out of New York City to join a gang. But while he was there, his nose was clean.

To be honest, in some ways his nose was still clean even after working for the Harbingers for so long. Maybe not actually, but technically he had never had a run-in with the law, though he had certainly run from the law on several occasions. But he had evaded being put behind bars, had avoided handcuffs, at least the metal ones. Some of the guys used that fact to tease him, calling him names like "Pansy" and "Griffy B. Goode." But it never bothered the mechanic much. Why would he want to end up in jail anyway? The food was rumored to be bad, and everyone could watch you use the restroom. Plus he'd probably end up with a not-so-nice roommate, and he had gotten quite fond of having his own space. Griffin knew that many Harbingers used their arrests and jail time like badges of honor, patches that somehow gave them "street cred" and higher ranks. Well, he didn't need anything like that. He worked his way up the hard way, doing the shit jobs that no one else wanted and taking the beatings for a while. He proved himself as a hard worker, not a criminal. Maybe that was why the last week had been so rough on him.

But Griffin could only imagine what that time had been like for Kyler. Hell, he had barely even seen the slightly older brunette man throughout that whole time. But he had heard his orders, had followed some, had spent night and day fixing the destruction the Hellhounds had caused one spark plug at a time. Sure, he had gone out on a couple of intel missions. But Grif's best skills were in the garage, and Kyler probably knew that. So why put him anywhere else unless necessary? It was the smart move. Griffin let out a light laugh, shaking his head at Ky's complaint. "Not a tequila man, huh? It'll put some hair on your chest. Plus, I hear it lets people relax and let loose a bit. I think we could all use some of that right about now. Maybe you'll finally be brave enough to talk to Stevie," he answered with a smirk, raising an eyebrow at his new leader. Grif knew that Stevie and Kyler talked all the time. But a real conversation? Didn't seem like it.

The brunette mechanic heard Kyler's aggressive words. But there was no one he was being real about them, just trying to maintain his bad-boy aesthetic or something. Griffin chuckled and rolled his eyes, winking to the waitress as she brought more shots for them. Reaching for one, he threw it back with reckless abandon, ignoring the burn as it went down his throat. A few more shots and all his worries would be out the window, gone until he woke up hungover the following day. Turning back, Grif realized Kyler hadn't taken lined up his shot yet. He went to fire another teasing jab at him but paused with parted lips when he noticed Kyler staring across the clubhouse. His blue eyes followed his friend's line of sight and just caught a brief flash of red hair. He hadn't seen River since their time in the bar last week, and to be honest, that evening kind of confused him. They had never really liked one another, at least that's what he thought. But when they were sitting there, something just felt... different. Kyler's words pulled him from his thoughts before he could go into them too deeply. He let out a sigh and reached for another tequila shot. "Honestly not sure. I'm having to rebuild the cap from scratch, all new upholstery, and paneling. The engine is salvageable but who knows? I might be better off using it for parts and trying to find a newer one."

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Nov 17, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

clubhouse

getting better

interactions

Stevie (

Stepping outside, away from the noises of the clubhouse, away from that whole crowd of loud bikers, helped. It helped more than River expected. Being alone, drowning in alcohol and her own embarrassing self-pity was not helping either and it took her way too long to see before she found the courage to show her pale bloated face. For a moment, River felt it was the right decision but once she walked outside with only Stevie to keep her company, it felt so easy, so light, so comfortable to be away from men celebrating their late leader. River celebrated quite enough, whether she liked to admit it or not, her body absolutely didn’t need another shot of whiskey. And maybe she needed someone like her sister friend to pry the glass out of her hands and replace it with water. Her liver was surprised for sure when fresh water entered River’s system. For the first time, something without a proper kick. And yet, it seemed to kick the hardest.

Outside was pleasantly cool and the only sounds were the muffled laughter and expletives coming from behind the closed door. The air was like a cold kiss on River’s porcelain skin and when she placed the filter between her painted lips and inhaled her first drag, her chest was warmed in a familiar addiction as nicotine entered her lungs. Her fingers laced with Stevies and in that moment, maybe the time stopped for the two of them, maybe it was just River’s deep hidden romantic soul who thought there were moments between humans when time froze. One way or another, that very moment was certainly another step forward for the girls, their friendship deepened, reaching another level, greater understanding.

Stevie’s proposal came out of nowhere, River didn’t expect it. But once she thought about it, it made sense. Staying here would not be too bad, they would have fun eventually. But the whole reason for this gathering would be lingering over the clubhouse and no smile would be truly genuine, truly cheerful. Trevor loved life and he enjoyed it, he knew how to savor every second and many could learn from him. “I like the sound of that.” River smiled and for the first time in a week, her smile was honest. “Trevor would ditch this place if he was here.” Her small sigh was laced by a hint of laughter. “You have any place in mind? Maybe we could go dancing again. I do remember you showing some moves before…” River halted before finishing the sentence. They both know. A tinge of rouge colored her cheeks and she brought the cigarette to her lips again.

Shiver ran down her spine when the redhead looked around. The memory of a barrel in front of her eyes was too fresh. “Maybe we shouldn’t go alone though.” she added in a quiet voice and then an idea struck her. “Wait here, we need a bodyguard and I have just the person in mind.” River threw her unfinished cigarette away and slipped inside before Stevie could stop her. Her steps led straight to the pool table where Kyler was in the middle of the game with Griffin. River did her best not to look Grif’s way. Ever since she drove him home on the back of her bike that day, they hadn’t spoken. Something was different, she simply couldn’t name it. That night broke at least a part of the ice between them and in distress, River didn’t care. But now that it was all over, she had no idea how to treat the situation. She knew how to snark, how to be a bitch to him. But could she suddenly be civil? Could they both? And so she did what she could do the best. She ignored the whirlwind inside and spoke straight to Kyler.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Nov 17, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

clubhouse

surprised

interactions

Grif (

This past week was so filled with Harbinger duties Kyler barely had time to focus on himself and his hobbies. But when he really thought of it, what were his hobbies anyway? Even before all this mayhem, his days were filled with whatever task Trever had him doing. Basically, Kyle gave all his life, all his being to the Harbingers and whenever he happened to enjoy a free evening, he spent it down in the pits, venting his rage and frustration away on other men, brave or foolish enough to face him. He was the Mad Dog of the pits. He was the Mad Dog of the harbingers. His reputation preceded him and unfortunately, it was the source of ill talk now. There were many doubts if Ky was fit to lead the gang now that Trevor was no more. Not that these doubts were completely unfounded, Kyler was Trevor’s polar opposite, especially with his fiery choleric nature. But Trevor chose him for a reason, not just to be his guard dog. There had to be more to it.

Despite all that talk, Harbingers seemed to come together, they stood as one and obeyed Kyle’s orders. There was a lot to take care of in the prior week and it was only thanks to the diligent work of his fellow gangsters that the clubhouse was ready to hold this event. Kyler was tired. Everyone who knew him was able to see it. He masked it well, never retired to his home before anyone else, quite the contrary. He was always the last to leave any premises, he barely rested and worked twice as hard than before. Being a leader didn’t mean to hold the absolute power and whip his loyal subjects until they fell with fatigue. Not to Trevor. And definitely not to Kyler. And a part of why he worked himself out so hard was also the ominous question of choosing his second in command. He was expected to do it soon, probably right after they laid Trevor to rest completely. But that was a decision requiring a lot of thought, time to consider options. Time Kyler didn’t have. And so he avoided solving this problem for as long as he could.

Celebration of Trevor’s life was no place to handle such matters anyway. Instead, he played pool and drank tequila with Griffin like there was no tomorrow. Even though he was no tequila fan which his grimace upon taking those shots proved more than well. “You shouldn’t talk about things that don’t concern you. Could earn you a black eye or two.” Ky mumbled when Grif teased him about Stevie again. He knew he should have spoken up. Damn, god knew he wanted to. But he and Stevie were in such a good place and the fear of ruining it was too great. Call him a coward, maybe he was one. But having Stevie as a friend was way better than not having her at all. Which he feared might happen if he actually confessed his feelings for her. What did this kid know about it anyway? Kyle saw the look in Griffin’s eyes whenever River walked around. It was the same one that lit up his own eyes when Stevie smiled at him. A low growl left his lips as he leaned down to play the ball but he was too distracted to take the shot. And then he noticed the girls walking out which threw his game off again so he rather changed the topic to the damaged car.

“Gimme a shout if you need help. I know nothing about fixing cars but I can get you in touch with a few dealerships. You know, being a big boss and all now.” Kyle grinned and finally took his shot, sending the white ball rolling straight towards a group of three others, sinking one of them elegantly. “I’d offer to get you a new piece as well but I feel you enjoy building yourself a vehicle way too much, eh?” Kyler walked around the table to find himself a new angle for his next shot when he was interrupted by a small redheaded figure. “Hey, kid. Good to see you again. Should put some color in those cheeks of yours tho, you look awfully pale.” he grinned at River who just rolled her eyes. “Charming, Kyle. A little tip though?If you talk to a girl, don’t tell her she looks horrible. Not many of us appreciate it. Stevie, for example.” she jabbed and Kyler huffed. These kids were awfully nosy these days and he wasn’t sure he appreciated it. “Anyway, me and Stevie were thinking about going elsewhere, some place more fun so…” Kyler froze and cut her off immediately. “No way. Absolutely not. You and Stevie are going to bring your cute little behinds right back inside and you’re not going to leave this place, definitely not on your own.” Ky ordered and set the cue on the pool table with more force than he wanted to, moving quite a few balls. “Shut up and listen, Kyler.” River groaned, making the leader raise his eyebrows. “I was about to ask you to come with us. So we did not go alone. Typical man thing, yapping before you have all the facts. Anyway, we’re ready to leave so see you outside in five.” she smirked and turned on her heel, strutting away like she wasn’t just talking to the leader.

“That kid needs to be put in her place and soon. Might have a few words with Jackson.” Ky shook his head and looked at Griffin. “Grab your shit, kid, you heard her. We’re leaving. I’m not going to let them walk out of here on their own. The way I know them, they’ll find trouble right behind the corner.” Kyler growled and threw in two more tequila shots before marching to the back door. “Move your ass, Griffin!”

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Nov 26, 2022

the mother hen

location

outside.

outfit

x.

mentions

none.

interactions

River, Kyler (

_amaranth_ ), Griffin.

stephania torrero.

Maybe it was considered running away from her problems or her feelings, leaving a funeral or celebration of life or whatever they wanted to call it. After all, who enjoyed sitting in those sad emotions and commiserating with other people? Certainly not Stephania. She constantly felt like she had to be there for others, the shoulder to cry on or an ear to vent to. But who was there to listen to her feelings, to provide a shoulder for her to cry on? The brunette nurse knew that if she really needed it, she could talk to River or Kyler or maybe even Griffin. She could call her parents or her brothers, but couldn't reveal too much to them. No, she would either lie by omission or by words if she had to talk to them. They still didn't know about her chosen path and thought she still worked at the hospital, thought she was helping people. And in reality, she was. But maybe not the people her parents and family would want her to help.

But, even if it was running away, she would also consider it self-care, for both herself and River. They had been through so much over the past week, they deserved to be pulled out of their negative emotions, even if it was only for an evening and through going out somewhere else. The light breeze was chilly against her skin, but Stevie didn't care. It was refreshing, calming, and she took a deep breath in, holding it for a moment before releasing it. Chasing that with another toke from her cigarette, she returned her golden brown gaze to River. For a moment, she thought she overstepped and River wouldn't want to go out on the town. After all, there were mourning the loss of a leader and... Well, he was more of an acquaintance to her, but a friend to River, Kyler, and Grif. The scars ran deep in their relationship, especially since he overlooked all that Clark did. But she wouldn't wish death on her worst enemy, let alone Trevor.

Much to her relief though, her redheaded friend was excited about the idea. "He definitely would," Stevie agreed with a light laugh, hugging herself to keep the chilly breeze at bay. Inhaling from her cancer stick once more, she thought for a moment. "Actually, I know of this dance club downtown. It's pretty fun, I used to go with friends was I was still in college. Club Pacifica. We can go there," she responded, a smile turning up the corners of her lips as she remember the fun, carefree times back then. Before things got far too complicated. "A bodyguard? Who--" Before the brunette nurse could finish her question though, River took off into the bar. Stevie laughed and finished off her cigarette, flicking the butt off into the alley somewhere, out of sight. Who was she going to ask to be their bodyguards? Did they really need them anyway?

A part of her knew that it was probably for the best. They still didn't know why the Hellhounds had attacked their compound, or how they knew where its weakest points would be that night. Stevie was sure that Kyler was looking into it. But no one was safe until then. Shivering slightly, Stevie turned around to head back inside but was met by River exiting once again. "Did you find us some bodyguards? I hope you picked some handsome ones," she teased, smirking. But it looked like River had, as Griffin and Kyler pushed through the door shortly thereafter. She offered both a smile, gaze lingering on Kyler a little longer. He looked alright for the most part, and she missed him. But she didn't want to press anything, not after he had just lost someone so close. "Hey guys, I guess you got roped into joining us. I hope you enjoy dancing!"

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Nov 26, 2022

the mechanic

location

pool table -> outside.

outfit

x.

mentions

none.

interactions

Kyler, River(

_amaranth_ ), Stevie.

griffin hendrix.

If Griffin lost that car, it wouldn't be the absolute end of the world. Though he had built it from the ground up, and it meant a lot to him, it would never truly be gone. It was about the memories he had in that car and the experience he gained from the project. So what if the Impala had been a martyr, a victim of the enemy's rage? That was what would put a fire in him to get his revenge in his own way and work that much harder to achieve justice. What id that word even mean in the context of a gang? Some sort of vigilante bullshit ruled by an eye for an eye with everyone one-upping everyone else? There was no winning that game, only losing over and over again until one side had lost too much to continue. That was one of the reasons gang members had such short lifespans, he was sure of it. Nevertheless, if he just had to part out his car, at least he could put it towards another car. Like an organ donor but in automotive form.

If there was one thing that was floating around the rumor mill in the compound, it was who Kyler would choose as his new second-in-command. Griffin could only imagine how impossible of a choice that would be. He could never imagine being in charge of a group as powerful as the Harbingers, and how much pressure that would put on someone's shoulders. He would never dream of being second-in-command, let alone in charge. Lucky for the mechanic, however, was that, even though he was a patched member and fairly high-ranking among the group, he didn't have seniority. He hadn't been in the gang since childhood, hadn't been on the roster long enough to have a stake in that throne. And he was certainly happy about that. But Grif did know that some of the other patched members were certainly pining for it. He had seen them working extra hard on missions, taking all kinds of initiatives that weren't exactly asked of them, and scrambling over one another to take credit for things that may or may not have been done by them.

"Huh, so I guess buttering up with the bus does have its perks. Who would've known?" Griffin responded with a cheeky grin. But, in a more serious tone, he added, "If you could, that would be fantastic. I'll honestly take any '67 Impala parts at this point. I've been hitting dead end after dead end and barely have enough to fix the gear shift, let alone the whole damn car." Griffin let out a low whistle at the shot, having a sinking suspicion that this game wasn't going to be a winning one for him. "It's too easy if I just buy one. Besides, it won't be as good if I don't put it together myself," he responded with a shrug, grabbing another tequila shot and throwing it back. Before they could continue their game, however, a familiar flash of redhead came into view. The mechanic's chest tightened at the sight of River, tilting his head curiously as she approached them. Neither one of them really knew how to go about things after what happened the other night. And that was clear as she spoke directly to Ky, not even acknowledging his existence.

Griffin stifled a laugh at River's sharp words in Kyler's direction, covering it with a cough to not further anger the new leader. But he couldn't deny that Ky was right. It wasn't safe for those associated with the Harbingers to go out on their own. And while he was sure Stevie and River could take care of themselves in most situations, there was only so much they could do if ambushed by a group of Harbinger assholes. But, in true River fashion, however, she said her piece, inviting what seemed like just Kyler to go with them, before turning on her heel and stomping away. "Always a firecracker, that one," he said with a chuckle. He gave him pause when Kyler told him to grab his stuff. "Oh, yeah, sure," Griffin responded, stuttering a bit. Tossing his pool cue onto the table, he grabbed his jacket from the back of a nearby high-top chair and was ready to go. "Alright, jeez, I'm coming," he muttered, jogging a bit to catch up with Ky and exit out the back door. With a grin, he saluted Stevie. "I don't know about enjoy, but a guy knows how to throw down," the brunette responded, "Should we take the Escalade so you two ladies don't get cold in those dresses?"

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Dec 10, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

clubhouse

getting better

interactions

Stevie (