Realistic or Modern A Family Affair: The Irish Mob - IC (Ended)

Jason Costello

"Alright, you can like drinkin' alone," Jason playfully answered, raising his free hand defensively and getting to his feet as though he were about to leave her in peace. "I'll just be heading back to my table, then -" Before he could get far, however, the woman quickly added that she would appreciate the company of anyone who would buy her drinks, and he immediately twisted back into his seat with a fresh smile on his face. Something about her made him want to be irresponsible - he had already struggled to stick to a budget over the past month, and with the deposit, reservation fee and first month's rent of his new place in Dublin knocking him back down to practically nothing, he had had to sacrifice his first electricity bill. But the girl seemed fun, and he wanted to make an impression on her. Being an adept pickpocket, Jason could practically smell the money in the wallets of every spectator in the room, so even if he had to spend the next day pulling tricks he knew he would come away with enough money to fund his drinking habits. If keeping her glass filled would keep her in his company, then it was a risk he was willing to take. He raised his glass and lightly touched it against hers with a soft clink.

"Then I'll call you Gwen, too," he said. When she asked him for his name, he hesitated, taking a long, burning swig of his whiskey as he thought about how to answer her question. Over the many years he had spent conning people, Jason had learned to only give out fake names. He even carried a list of them in his head, for times like this. But this time something was stopping him. It can't be the girl, he thought. Sure I don't know her enough to care... In the end, Jason decided that giving out a fake name in a potential performance venue might lower his chances of re-branding his real one; he would rather people forget his past crimes and instead come to know him as a dancer, like his mother and sisters. So he placed his glass down on the bar and let the heat in his throat subside before looking up to Gwen and replying, "It's Jason."

The next singer began her song: a slow, soulful version of 'Deed I Do unlike any other he had heard before. Jason felt the sentimental melody flood through him and he closed his eyes, momentarily losing himself in the music. "I'll be coming back here, for sure for sure," he said softly, gently swaying to the music with eyes still closed. He mouthed the lyrics to himself until the first verse was over, then opened his eyes and looked Gwen over once more, taking in her extraordinary, almost intimidating beauty. He would have to be careful not to let the music affect his mood too much while sitting next to such an attractive woman, or he might end up mistaking it for the feeling of falling in love. "I only moved to this city last month, so I'm still gettin' to know the best clubs," he told her. "But already, this might be at the top...Don't be surprised if you see me here again every night this week." A small, flirtatious smile crept upon his face as he playfully suggested, "Maybe if you decide to stop drinkin' alone, you'll join me? 'Course, that's unless you don't see yourself comin' back here."

Interactions
Bellz Gwen

Syd Porter

Leo's death had come as a shock to all. Syd had barely had the chance to acknowledge Rayna and Matteo's presence, as, at least for him, their arrival was overshadowed by a dark, gloomy cloud of grief that always drifted through the halls of the house after a mob member passed away. Despite the period that Leo had dated Delilah for, Syd had never made much of an effort to get to know the lad. As such, he had been able to avoid a repeat of the depression that had followed from the previous deaths fairly easily. What he hadn't escaped, however, was the harrowing reminder of mortality that the young man's murder had brought. Syd had always carried a naive sense of invincibility throughout his youth, and while the deaths of Alan, Milton and Tommy had made him question it, none had quite shattered the illusion like Leo's death had. The lad had only been a few months younger than him, and despite managing to busy himself with comforting his sisters as well as with the arrival of his baby brother, the anxiety for the upcoming job had started to gnaw away at him.

On the morning of Leo's funeral, as with every morning, Syd had risen with the sun. Being a morning person, he never bothered to fully close his curtains, preferring to be awoken by natural light than the harsh, brittle sound of an alarm clock. At the months went by, he was waking up earlier and earlier, and after a rather sleepless week he was beginning to regret it. Still, the nervous energy he always got before a job would be enough to keep him going for the day. By 5:45, he was up and out to walk the dogs with the accompaniment of a willing guard. The dogs exuded a happiness on their morning walk that spread to him almost instantly. The job tonight was to be a dark one - after his conversation with James the previous week about not showing mercy to the Duncans, it seemed that they would be finally following through. Even though the prospect of death was at the very forefront of his mind right now, Syd had to remind himself of the passion he had felt during that conversation. He had never set out to kill anyone before, but if it had to happen, then it had to happen. He would do anything for the benefit of the mob - it didn't seem worth wasting time questioning the ethics of it all, or he might start wanting to draw a line somewhere. It was better for business to just get the jobs done as and when needed.

The funeral service was good enough, and plenty of effort had been put into the wake. Syd never really grasped them, though - to him, it always seemed oddly impersonal to say goodbye to somebody in such a structured way, and with everyone else present. While he hadn't had much experience with loss, funerals still rarely brought him closure as he believed that goodbyes should be down to the individual. The event had just created an inescapably gloomy atmosphere, and Syd had had to go out into the garden to play with the dogs again to stop his spirits from falling.

When the time to go out on the job came, Syd set out to look for his father and eventually found him in the kitchen. "Hey, Rudy," he cheerfully greeted the man, before moving towards his mother, who was cradling Thomas. "And hello, you," he added with a sweet smile, gently tickling the baby's chest with his finger. Thomas reached up, his tiny hands flailing about but failing to grasp anything. "Are we ready to head out?" he asked, looking to his father for direction as he gently toyed with Thomas' hands. Not wanting to ignore the tears on his mother's cheeks, he gave her a quick kiss on the side of her head and draped his other arm around her as a comforting gesture. "Please don't worry, mam," he said, layering on the confidence as best he could. "We need you to believe in us. Let this little nightmare keep you busy while we're gone -" he locked eyes with his brother as he said this, "- and you won't even notice the time go by."

Interactions Misty Gray James
Bellz Lucy
Shireling Rudy

Finn saw the blood fading away in George’s cheeks, not missing the way he looked at him. The doctor continued to back up slowly not wanting to make George uncomfortable in an sort of way. He spoke his name…or rather his formal name flatly nodding his way as if to simply acknowledge his existence and nothing more. Finn tried to keep the hurt from his features as he to nodded his head towards the man. The thickness in the air was crushing his soul and the very thing that Finn had set out to do was becoming lost to him. Shuffling from one foot to the other, he contemplated his decisions. It had been so easy to say that he was going to admit how he felt but when George was standing there so close to him…things changed, he changed.

Finn noticed George looked past him and the man honestly couldn’t blame him for thinking about leaving. He wouldn’t stop him if George decided to go, though he was sure if he did, Finn would never search for him again. Who the hell are you kidding? A voice in the back of his head hollered at him. The doctor was surprised when George spoke to him in a much softer tone this time, apologizing for bumping into him though Finn was sure that was more his fault than anything…

Then the man apologized for complicating things the last time they had spoken with one another to which Finn couldn’t find the words to say anything too for a long moment. Luckily for him George continued to speak asking him how he was. This simple question rang in Finn ears as he thought hard about what he came here to do, it certainly wasn’t to make small talk, though he had missed his friend dearly.

”I can’t sleep…” Finn openly admitted all of the sudden, breathing out the confession as if he had been holding his breath. ”Fuck that’s not all, mate.” He reached his hand around to scratch the back of his neck, the street light flicking ever so slightly. Finn looked up at it, ”I haven’t been able to eat…and do you know why? because I can’t…I just can’t seem to figure it out.” The man let out a low a nervous laugh as he shook his head and turned his head to look behind him, looking where George had been looking. ”I wish…I could just walk away from this agony I thought it was the women keeping me from happiness Georgie…I tried to love them…all of them.” His voice portrayed how broken he was, how lost he was.


”I wish that I could say that we could be friends…because that would make things so much easier for us. But I’m afraid…terrified actually that this isn’t the case.” Finn walked closer to George slowly reaching for his hand, he took it in his own before standing straight before him. ”I’ve been living a lie…my whole life…its been a lie. We’ve only met just recently and without you, I can’t think straight.” Finn brought George’s hand to his heart and smiled slightly. ”I’m not letting you go..”
with: George Misty Gray

The redhead would have been a fool to miss the hesitation the man had upon being questioned for a name but any suspicions she had about him faded hone he finally answered with the name of Jason. Gwen turned to her drink and took another sip. The whiskey felt good going down, warming her chest with the familiar burn. The warm liquid proved to be more of a friend to her than most humans could be in tough times. With the lack of family she had in her life right now, it was like a mother and father all in one bottle. Gwen turned her attention back to Jason after a moment and found something she rarely saw anyone else besides herself do. A soft smile formed on her lips as Jason spoke, saying that he would be coming back to the club. It was amazing to see what the music could do to another soul like herself, a lover of music.

Gwen watched him until his eyes opened and she found him staring right back at her. She let out a small nervous laugh just as Jason spoke again, causing her to blush deeply. He explained that he had moved to the city only a month ago, which made sense to her since she had never seen him in here before and when they got customers they tended to be pretty loyal. His flirtatious invitation to join at the club every night this week caused her to smile even wider, reaching a hand to her hair, Gwen played with a strand of her hair flirtatiously.

It was refreshing to meet someone who didn’t already know who she was. Ironically, her own family didn’t really know who she was either…”I dunno, you sure you wanna come back to this lame joint? i hear the entertainment is a bunch of amateurs.” She nodded her head to the current sing on stage with the band, even though she knew they were killing this current set. Focusing on the strand of hair she was playing with for a moment, she let a beat or two past by before the song came to a close. Looking to the stage, Gwen applauded once more before finally deciding to answer Jason.

”I wouldn’t be surprised if you see me here almost every night this week, I’ve taken up some extra shifts for my boss and will be working double time.” Gwen shrugged her shoulders lightly but was unable to keep the flirtatious smile off her lips as she looked to Jason, really taking in his appearance now and liked what she saw. I’ll have to tell Darla you are a fan of hers, she really is a talented one..and easy on the eyes.”
with: Jason Pyroclast

Carter pulled his outer coat off of his shoulders, before scrunching the arms together. Walking over to one of the chairs in the living room, he spread the coat around its body. He then shifted his hands to his buttoned-up shirt, pressing in any rogue pieces back under his belt. "With the Porters? I can imagine," he rebutted to her 'much nicer' comment. He took one more glimpse of the view as he ran his hands around his belt once more to make sure he hadn't missed any. He looked back to her as she added that she had had much left, offering her a weak, empathetic smile.

He climbed up to the bar as she stepped behind it, leaning his weight on his elbows. He scrunched his eyebrows and looked up to the ceiling as if he were genuinely contemplating his options. "Well, Kingsway's bourbon was rubbish. You got some quality bourbon back there, barkeep?" He asked, smiling to her. He then looked back to the apartment, doing a full sweep with his gaze. "Hardly any furniture, but you got your priorities set," he added, seeing as the bar was fully stocked.

As he watched her fill up the drinks, he couldn't help but smile at the concentration on her face. He tilted his head lightly, memorizing her features as the sunlight hit the corner of her face perfectly. He couldn't believe she wasn't a model, for he had seen her too many times before to know it wasn't just the beautiful, natural lighting playing tricks.

He ran his thumb across the bottom of his lip, before resting both of his palms face down on the table. "One of your family members is in the Gardai, no?" He asked, leaning against the bar once more. "He's a bit of a prick," he chuckled, scrunching his lip to where the healed scar sat. He then shrugged lightly, hoping she didn't favor that family member in particular. They had both talked enough trash about each other's affiliations that it would be hard to get offended anymore.

Misty Gray (Arlene)

The past couple of weeks were chaotic for the bodyguard; James and Lucy had their baby, as well as Leo being murdered and the Sky Haven Restaurant experiencing an attack. Almost all the employees were put to work to ensure it didn't happen again, Nathan included. He spent the time performing small jobs, mainly picking up the pieces of recent events and protecting the Porter family closely. Whilst it was still business, Nathan felt even more obliged to protect the family since new life has arrived. Whilst the marksman has never experienced such joy, he could get comfort from fulfilling his duties and keeping James' family safe.

Despite the hectic weeks Nathan has been enduring, he never forgot about Saoirse and her brother. Mainly Saoirse. He made a promise to help her and he was certain to fulfill that promise. It may have been the foreign feelings he experienced when he looked at her that was motivating him; either way, it was his duty. Nathan felt a sense of trust from her; his gut feeling aiding him in his decision to meet with her. Nathan has never been this nervous. She was arriving soon and he wasn't even sure how to greet her. He managed to do it last time. Why was tonight so different? It surely couldn't be the alternate choice of restaurant.

Nathan adjusted his three-piece suit, hoping that it was ironed properly and fixed well. It was rare he treated himself this way, especially for someone else. He wanted to represent the Porter business well; at least that's what he told himself. He hasn't put this much effort into his style in his life, hopefully it would pay off. As it was getting nearer the time, he glanced down to his watch. "Deep breaths, Nathan. She's just a client." His words were quiet and reassuring. Most would think he's insane for talking to himself. It was how he coped.


As Saoirse entered, his breath was stolen and he froze in the moment. She looked beautiful; her outfit was formal yet attractive, professional yet inviting. Her skirt was rather generous to her curves and he took a mental note not to stare too much. The bodyguard quickly stood up, moving around the table to gesture over. As she made her way, he quickly pulled out her chair and smiled. He decided against any form of embrace or greeting. Nathan didn't want to seem desperate. "Miss Fitzgerald, you look... beautiful. How are you?"

Interactions & Mentions
James Porter; Saoirse Fitzgerald; Misty Gray

Jason Costello

Jason let out a low chuckle when Gwen made fun of the talent on stage. "Then balls to ever being professional," he spoke, his voice made light from the trance the music had lulled him into. "These amateurs will put all other clubs out of business, I'd bet my mam's life on it." He couldn't believe that she wasn't also enjoying the set. After all, if she hadn't come to the club to socialise, why else would she have come at all but for the enchanting music? Perhaps, by some odd coincidence, she was here under the same circumstances that he was. Before he could ask, however, the song came to a close and he applauded once again, his blue eyes lit up from having smiled all the way through it.

Gwen caught his eye with the way she twirled the strand of hair between her fingers. The deep blush on her cheeks and her sweet, alluring smile told Jason that he was doing something right. He was glad to hear that she would likely be coming back to the club every night, his initial idea to return now seeming like a solid plan. The live music and general atmosphere of the place was surely enough for him, but if she would be there too then he had even more reason to become a regular. It's not like he would have anywhere better to be. After all, what could be better than this?

What did confuse him though, was her vague suggestion of working shifts. She was smiling as she said it, distracting him with her seductive smile, which he couldn't help but mirror. When she started to speak of Darla, the woman who had sung that captivating song, Jason worked out what she had meant. His eyes drifted back to the stage where Darla still stood. She was attractive, he couldn't deny that to himself, and certainly had a voice to match, but he didn't much like the way Gwen seemed to be suggesting that he liked her. "You know this girl, then?" Jason asked after a moment, breaking his gaze from the singer and looking down into his drink as he swirled it about in the glass. After taking a sip, he raised his head again and instantly lost himself in Gwen's deep brown eyes. "You work here, is that it?" he continued, a crooked smile forming on his face. Perhaps, he selfishly thought, getting to know her could be his way in to performing on stage. "Isn't it a bit odd to spend your night off hanging out at work? You must really be obsessed with jazz, Gwen."

Interactions
Bellz Gwen

George was taken by surprise when Finn suddenly confessed he couldn't sleep. The way the man had spoken his words seemed desperate, like he'd been dying to get them off of his mind for some time. It worried George to think such a kind and peaceful man was struggling. "Mate..." he began, but fell silent when the doctor went on to say lack of sleep wasn't his only problem. He hadn't been eating either. Finn seemed anxious and awkward, for which George couldn't help but feel guilty for putting him into such a position in the first place. He let out a deep breath as Finn explained how he'd struggled to love any of the women he'd been with. George couldn't help but wonder if the man before him wasn't so different from himself, but he wouldn't dream of speaking such thoughts and risking causing the man even more inner turmoil.

Hearing Finn reiterate that they couldn't be friends evoked a solemn nod from George. The man was well within his right to be uncomfortable with the idea of being friends with a gay man. Even if that awkwardness was potentially more a product of Finn's own sexuality. He wasn't expecting the man to take his hand and couldn't help but glance down to check he wasn't imagining it. "Oh, Finn. You can't talk like that. Even if you are now realising things about yourself you hadn't known before, your life has been a pathway leading up to this moment, right here. Don't write it off, simply move on from it." When Finn moved George's hand to his heart, he couldn't help but blush. A stray tear rolled down his cheek as the doctor said he wasn't letting him go. Despite the words, George still questioned if he was misreading the situation or only hearing what he wanted to. "What do you mean, Finn?" he softly asked, his heart now racing in his chest. "Do you want to try being friends again? Or... Or something else?"

Bellz (Finn)

Finn froze as George asked for clarification. It was his moment now, to say what he needed to and get it over with. But the doctor feared the unknown, what would happen if he took the risk. George could not want him now after Finn had so rudely rejected him…But the way he was speaking to him, trying to talk him through his own problems after everything Finn had done. He didn’t deserve someone so selfless. Looking to his face, Finn saw the stray tear rolling down George’s cheek and reached out to touch it with his index finger lightly. Wiping the tear away, Finn smiled suddenly. Knowing what he was going to say now. ”I mean I could always use a friend…I don’t have too many outside of my own family. At least…that’s where we could start, as friends…if you are unsure.”

Finn held his hand a little tighter as he looked closely at the man, hoping that he was saying the right thing. ”Those women, even though they meant the world to me…weren’t enough. Sure I shared similar interests with some of them but I was only doing what felt right to others, what felt right at the time to me. Instead of doing what I wanted to do…I did what other people wanted me to do.”

Reaching his other hand up, Finn took George’s hands in both of his own now and lifted it to his lips. Shaking slightly, he pressed his lips to the back of his hand before lowering it. ”I can’t move on from this lie I’ve been living…but what I can do is make things right. Starting with the one person who has opened my eyes and has shown me who I really am…” Finn eyes watered and he turned his head to the side as he let out a small sigh. After a moment he looked back to George, ”I want to thank you for showing me that I can finally be myself…There isn’t anything I can do that will even come close to repaying you, but I figured that I can start with this.” Leaning in, Finn closed the space between them and placed his lips against George’s gently, the kiss was tender and full of hesitation as if waiting for George to respond.

The kiss didn't last long however, because Finn broke it off before much else could happen. He backed away from George quickly, gently pushing him away as he stared at him openly. This feeling he was having, he was trying hard to be okay with it. He couldn't control the urges he had for George when he was around and he wasn't sure if he wanted to. Finn kept his distance as he looked to his open hands, confused as ever about what he wanted in life. "I'm so confused, Georgie."
With: George Misty Gray

Gwen smiled when Jason finally picked up on that she worked at the club causing her to set her drink down and slowly clap, ”Ding ding ding.” She said cheekily When suggesting that it was odd that she would be there on her day off, Gwen scrunched her nose at him before rolling her eyes and letting out a laugh. ”There is nothing wrong in taking advantage in the perks of your job..” She trailed off, looking to the stage in search of Kev. She received a nod from Kev who was off in the corner signaling that it was her time on the stage and nodded back before turning back to Jason. ”Jazz is certainly one of my favorite things in this world. Ain’t nothing like it.” Grabbing her glass of whiskey, she finished it off quickly with a satisfying sigh before hopping out of her stool.

A smirk played on her lips as she looked over her dress and ran her hand down the front of it, flipping her hair over one shoulder she looked to Jason. ”If you like the music, stick around…You are about to see something great.” With that, she turned and sauntered over towards the stage where she was being introduced by Kev himself. The audience applauded and hollered her name which made her pale cheeks blush as she took the steps climbing up to the center stage. Standing in front of the mic, the bright lights were only blinding for a moment. When it was over, she could see more clearly into the crowd staring back at her.

Gwen gave them all a charming smile before turning towards the band, who were waiting for their cue to begin. Nodding her head, the winds sounded off in their rendition of Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do by Billie Holiday. Gwen swayed her hips to the soulful rhythm, tapping her feet along, The stage was hers and nobody else owned it but her. Gwen let go of all her worries and fears in that moment and just let go.


The set had gone on longer than expected, several encores were made unexpectedly much to Gwen’s delight. Over the last few weeks, she had been doubting herself as an artist, doubting the good word of her mentors. But this performance felt different from all the rest, something much more…passionate. When Gwen finally made it off the stage, she made a beeline straight for Jason, a wide smile on her face as she returned to her seat beside him.

”Well?” She breathed out as she raised an eyebrow his way, ”Still think this place stands out above all the rest…or did I ruin such high expectations?”

with: Jason Pyroclast

Conor was able to crack a smile when he located Aliana and she made her quip about him being the chauffeur. "Tell me about it, Ali. I stay sober for two minutes and suddenly I'm the designated driver. Suppose it makes up for all the times I've been pissed as a fucking..." Conor silenced himself as he heard someone speak his name. His cheeks reddened as he realised it was Aliana's mother and she was just in time to hear him using profanity. He turned to face Seana - who he'd already recognised from the funeral - as she mentioned being glad he had been helping comfort Aliana. He didn't miss her remark alluding to him not doing so in the past, something he was working hard to make up for. "Ah, Ms. Cartwright, I'm here for your daughter now and for as long as she wants me to be. I'm sorry for your loss. Leo was a great lad and super smart. I'm going to miss having him around the place," he genuinely told the woman.

Maybe he could blame the tone of the day or perhaps it was the presence of Aliana's mother, but Conor was finding himself strangely lost for words around the woman. Aliana meant a lot to him and he was intending on being in their relationship for the long run. The fact he was now standing the the presence of her mother was a new and daunting experience. All of those years ago, when he was with Alex, the only time he expected he would meet her parents was if and when they intended on torturing or killing him. He'd never got as far as thinking of the parents of all of the other women he'd been with. Yet, here he was, in a situation he had never expected. He found himself hoping he wouldn't mess it up. If Seana took an instant dislike to him, he feared it could affect his relationship with her daughter. He was a charming and friendly man, but he also knew he probably wasn't the honest and decent kind of guy a mother would want her daughter with. "Can I get you two ladies a drink?" he asked Seana and Aliana.

Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana, Seana)

Once Peter had left the room, Sinead remained standing with her back to Savannah whilst she tried to regain her composure. As much as she was inclined to dwell on her husband's behaviour, she knew she had to push it aside for the time-being and keep all of her focus on her daughter. She turned and walked back to the sofa, sitting next to Savannah again, facing the empty seats where Matteo and Rayna might wish to sit on. "Your hair is so long and shiny," she softly fussed as she admired the girl's blonde locks.

Savannah was about to return her mother's compliment but was silenced when she saw Rayna and Matteo enter the room. For a few seconds, her wide-open eyes were fixed on her half-brother as she focused on his face. Like Sinead, the girl had noticed the resemblance to Angel. Whilst her mother had known the man in person, Savannah had only seen him in the photographs she kept in her "memories box", but she was still able to see the familiarity in his eyes and face. When the teenager called out her name, she quickly nodded her head and opened her mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out as she was overcome with shyness. She loved Peter and Sinead more than anything. Despite all of their squabbles, she adored Braden and Emery too. But there was always a sense that something was missing and a curiosity to know more about who she was. To now be in the presence of the only person she was aware of from her biological father's side of the family was a little overwhelming.

Matteo took the initiative to step forward and then introduced himself to her properly. Savannah smiled before feeling her mother's hand give her a slight, encouraging nudge forward by placing her hand on the girl's back. The blonde stood up and look up at Matteo. "You can call me Savvy. Everyone calls me Savvy," she sweetly told him. "Are you staying in Dublin for long? What's it like in Italy?" she curiously asked.

Sinead had greeted both Rayna and Matteo with a friendly greeting of her own, but she consciously made herself remain silent as her daughter stepped forward to speak to Matteo. She'd promised the girl she would sit back unless she needed encouragement or reassurance. She wanted to be present so she could get an impression of Matteo for herself and be sure he was a positive influence for Savannah to be around. She was sure Peter would also appreciate knowing they wouldn't have to worry.

Enzyme (Matteo) Bellz (Rayna)

George gasped slightly as Finn wiped away his stray tear, but soon relaxed and allowed a faint smile to form on his lips. The man then agreed he could used a friend but his words suggested there was potential for more, that he was open for more. George's smile widened at the prospect, despite the niggling in the back of his mind that he was completely misinterpreting things. Then Finn continued to explain that women had never been enough and he had only been doing what he believed others wanted him to do. Was he really building up to what George hoped?

When Finn took both of George's hand up to kiss the back of one, the other man's heart managed to beat even faster than it had already been doing. A lump form in his throat and a nervous feeling took over him in that moment. Still, a large smile consumed his features as he made no move to reject Finn's physical contact. "I'm glad I could help you find yourself, Finn." He quickly shook his head when the man said he couldn't do anything to repay him. "You don't have to..." George very quietly mumbled before been silenced as the object of his affection moved closer to him. Finn's lips pressed against his own and despite alarm bells sounding in his overthinking mind, he moved in to return the tender kiss.

When Finn soon broke off the kiss, George was mostly disappointed it had ended so suddenly, but he was also partly relieved. The relief came from his awareness that they were standing out in public. The street was quiet, but George was still concerned in case the wrong people saw them together. In an ideal world, it wouldn't matter if two men were seen kissing, but George knew all too well that many people would not be accepting of seeing two men in their position. Finn had by now pushed George away, leading the man to divert his eyes to the ground for a moment as he tried not to get upset by it.

George looked to Finn and nodded when the man told him he was confused. "I know what I want, Finn," he said, briefly pointing to the doctor. "But I don't want to push you into something you're not comfortable with." He let out a thoughtful sigh. "I can either continue walking home and give you more time to think. Or, we can both get in your car and go for a drive or something. Think, talk, anything you want." George then gestured to the open street around them. "I just don't think it would be safe for us to continue this out here..." he trailed off, hoping Finn knew what he was getting at.

Bellz (Finn)

Leo's death hadn't hit Jackson as hard as Tommy's had. Never really knowing the kid and not being even remotely responsible for his demise eased his conscience. Not to say his death wasn't tragic, but it helped motivate him for a strategic way to shut the IWU down once and for all. With Jared's death, there was hope that the IWU would collapse from within and disband. It was clear that they had immediately built themselves back up and had no desire to keep peace with the Porters. With that in mind, a full-blown war was on their doorstep. They needed to secure their property, and with James giving Jackson more control, the two had decided that the Duncans had been pardoned enough.

After the funeral, Jackson and Blake left immediately from the Porter Estate and ventured to a Diner in Temple Bar Square. The mansion had a depressed cloud cast over it, and the pair had no desire to linger about the mourning.

A festival was in the midst of being set up when they entered the establishment, workers slinging lights around the streetlamps. Jackson pointed out the large tents being hoisted in the park. "Looks like they're settin' up for the Summer Carnival. Should last all week, I reckon," he leaned over and said to Blake, squeezing her hand lightly. His mind quickly wandered back to the Diner's famous burgers, as his stomach had complete control over his thoughts.

By the time they stepped out of the Diner, the sun had set behind the tall towers. Bright lights emitted for the encircled park, illuminating the entire Square in festive colors. Loud music radiated from the tents, mixed with the sounds of children's laughter. "Hey, it's all set up," Jackson noted as he finished his mouthful of milkshake and placed the empty glass on the railing beside them.

"Wanna check it out?" he asked, grabbing hold of Blake's hand and crossing the street over to the park. Vendors crowded the area, offering everything from ice cream to stuffed animals. The big attraction for the kids, however, were the flashy tents that held exciting minigames with huge prizes.

A Ferris Wheel laid in the center, slowly rising and falling in a lullaby-like rhythm. The wheel towered over the carnival, each cart wrapped in glowing light strips. The warm air mixed with the cheerful atmosphere eased Jackson's mind, reminding him that there was life beyond their current hardships. While all this carnage was going on, the people of Dublin still had love to give.

Bellz (Blake)

Blake had been relieved to get away from all the funeral stuff after the morning they had. Leo’s death had come at a horrible time and although Blake had felt sad for the young man, she wasn’t mourning like the rest who knew them. Luckily for her, she wasn’t alone because Jackson was feeling the same way. The two took off after the funeral from the Porters house to get some grub in Temple Bar Square.

Out in the open, Blake felt like she could breath again…smile again. The square was bustling with activity and Blake looked around with interest. When Jackson informed her of the Summer Carnival being set up, the blonde let out a small squeal of delight, squeezing his hand in return. She wanted to stick around and check it out some more but it wasn’t done yet and she was really craving some fries. The date at the Diner had gone as wonderful as their dates always did and when they left the place they were full of food and happier than before.

Stepping back outside, it had grown darker and the lights from Carnival bounced off the towers all around the Square. It was a magical sight to behold. Blake’s eyes widened in excitement before she turned to Jackson with a look in her eyes, bouncing on her toes in anticipation. ”You read my mind!” She said happily before grabbing his hand and letting him lead her across the street.

The Carnival was every kids dream and by the amount of children she’d seen around, it was a big hit already. Blake was a kid at heart and she knew that Jackson was the same way, so this was a perfect outing. At the sight of the Ferris Wheel really excited her however and she turned to Jackson with a bright smile on her face, ”Can we please go on the Ferris Wheel! Please please please?”

Looking closer at his face she could see he had been in his thoughts and she tilted her head lightly in concern, ”Are you alright? I know this isn’t our usual scene…but hey we could find drinks somewhere soon if you want?”
with: Jackson Enzyme

Finn nodded his head a few times as George said that he knew what he wanted. Finn on some level, knew the same but just didn’t know how to handle it. He went on to add that he didn’t want to push the doctor into anything that he wasn’t comfortable with. Finn appreciated the gesture. The first idea left Finn frowning, clearly disappointed that George didn’t want to spend more time with him. The second one followed immediately afterwards and this caused the man to smile nervously now. Placing his hands in his pockets, Finn shuffled from foot to foot.

Deep down, Finn knew what he wanted as well. The barriers that society created were going to be hard to hurdle over in the beginning but he knew with George’s help, he would be able to just be himself in the end…well, within reason. Looking around the open street as George suggested that it wasn’t safe to be doing something like this out here, the man slowly nodded his head in understanding before nodding his head over his shoulder in the direction of where his car had been. ”Come on then, the car is already on and waiting for us.” He murmured, waiting for George to catch up to him before turning and walking beside the man.

Nothing was said as the two men walked towards the car. The reality of what Finn had done was now weighing heavily in his mind. He had certainly liked the feeling of George’s soft lips against his own…it felt right in a way that he just couldn’t explain in words. But as his thoughts went to the kiss, he couldn’t help but wonder what his own family would think about his choice in partners. He didn’t care what they thought about George as a person, Finn knew that George was a good man regardless of anything he had done in the past. Finn was willing to be there by the man’s side through it all..but what would they think about two men being together?

He’d never really heard the subject be talked about at all in public before, so he had no idea what his family even thought on the matter. This made him nervous as they finally got to his car. He ground his teeth slowly as he rounded the car to get into the driver side. Once both men were in the car, Finn waited until George had buckled up to drive away. Turning right down the street, he wasn’t too sure of where he was headed off to, just driving to drive.

”I’m sorry for that.” He finally spoke, apologizing for his kiss out in the middle of the street. ”I suppose now things are..different, we should be more careful with the way we handle things.” Finn turned to look at George briefly before turning back to look at the road. There was another long pause in between the two men before Finn broke the silence again, his thoughts getting the best of him.

”I can’t help this feeling that I have anymore…I’ve tried for weeks to get you out of my head, to get what you have said to me out of my head…” The man shook his head slowly. ”Its tiring to deny what you are truly feeling…and when I said I’m confused…its more that I just don’t know what I’m doing. I know what I want George…”

With: George Misty Gray

Conor had kept his demeanor warm and friendly as he spoke with Aliana's mother, both out of nature and the desire to make a good impression on Seana. However, the older woman soon took on a darker tone, which made him listen to her next words with deeper intent. In his mind, it was clear the woman wanted Leo's murderer punished and her words made it clear vengeance was undoubtedly the appropriate response. Although he caught the disapproving look Aliana sent her mother, Conor firmly nodded his head in agreement with Seana's sentiment. "Of course, Ms. Cartwright. It goes without saying," he seriously told her, a hint of darkness breaking into his own voice. The same people who had killed Leo were also behind Tommy's death. The same organisation that wouldn't think twice about harming any of his family members and friends. Why did the IWU deserve anything less than death?

It seemed like Aliana didn't want the conversation to happen, as she protested to her mother. Conor silenced himself for a time, letting the two ladies to exchange their words, rather than putting himself in the middle of it and risk the wrath of one or both of them.

Aliana continued to tell Seana not to ask her question, causing the man to quirk a curious eyebrow, not entirely sure what what going on. Aliana gave up, paving the way for Seana to address the man directly again. "Am I happy?" he repeated the woman's question. In the present moment, as he was still dressed in funeral clothes, imagining violence, whilst his family remained troubled, he had much room for improvement. However, he looked to Aliana and flashed a warm, loving smile as he thought of the strong and beautiful woman he had deep feelings for. He looked to Seana again and quickly nodded his head. "Yeah, I'm happy," he assured her. "I'm bloody made up," he firmly backed up his words. "Ali certainly has some input in that."

Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana, Seana)

Jackson found it more and more challenging to enjoy merry moments, without any negative thoughts creeping up from his subconscious. It was for a good reason too, as it had always been calmness before the storm in the recent past. He had expected that, in any second, he'd hear the sporadic bursts of a gunman's rifle or the turning of a car key would result in a massive fireball in the parking lot. It was hard to settle down and enjoy the moment, believing that he could just let his guard down when so many times in the past had proven him wrong.

When Blake asked if he was alright, it took him a few seconds to realize he'd been staring off into space. He blinked twice, before looking to her and regrowing his toothy smile. "Nah, I'm fine, luv'," he reassured her, before looking up to the tall Ferris Wheel she had mentioned. "Let's give that wheel a spin."

Approaching the Ferris Wheel, a small line had formed by the entrance, thin rope holding people in place. Jackson tucked his hands into his pocket and stepped between the cables, looking down to Blake. "Too late to say I'm afraid of heights?" he joked, looking back up to the full height of the wheel.

Once they reached the entrance, a cart slowly halted in front of them, swaying back and forth. Jackson lightly placed his hand on Blake's lower back and helped her up the stair by her hand. Once she was secure, he stepped up himself. He sat down beside her, adjusting himself in his seat so the handgun in his waistband wasn't pressing into his back.

"All set?" the operator asked them. "Yes'sir," Jackson responded with a small nod. He then looked to Blake, giving her an exaggerated excited expression.

With the confirmation, the operator pressed the switch, causing the cart to raise. The Ferris Wheel was relaxed to the point where it took Jackson a few seconds to realize that they were lifting off. Once his feet left the ground, the tall wheel picked up the pace. Soon, the people below them looked like ants scurrying about the carnival.

The Dublin skyline was gorgeous, a layer of fog covering the ground. It felt as if they were sitting on top of a cloud, The mist around the city glowed from the city's bright lights, lighting up the dark sky. The stunning moment felt incredibly intimate. There was enough space between the carts below that it truly felt like they were the only two in the world.

"This is amazing," Jackson awed at its beauty, the warm wind blowing through his hair. "You made a good choice, Blake." He raised his arm and wrapped it around Blake's shoulder to pull her closer to him. He then placed a soft kiss on the side of her cheek and leaned his head against hers, enjoying the spectacular view of Dublin.

Bellz (Blake)

Once inside the restaurant, Saoirse stood and looked around to see if Nathan was already waiting. Just as the hostess was about to welcome her, Saoirse noticed Nathan stand up and wave her over to his table. Saoirse quietly excused herself from the restaurant's employee as she began walking towards the man she was meeting. Her heels clicked on the wooden floor as she walked with effortless poise, having had the importance of keeping good posture practically beaten into her when she was a child.

"Good evening, Mr. Bennett," she politely greeted him. "Thank you," she said, acknowledging that he had pulled her chair our for her. She sent him a friendly smile which soon escalated into a beaming grin which she had to consciously rein in whilst reminding herself this was business and the last thing the bodyguard would have on his mind was flirtations. Regardless, it hadn't stopped her from admiring how attractive he looked in his smart suit. She was glad she'd made a good judgement and put in an equal effort with her own attire.

When Nathan said she looked beautiful, Saoirse couldn't help but blush and give off a somewhat shy laugh at the compliment. "You're too kind..." She was about to point out how handsome he looked in his suit, but she didn't want it to come across as trying to butter him up or her trying to use flirting to get her own way. As desperate as she was to be heard, she wanted to do it respectfully, for both Bridget and Griffin. Still, she was sure she was at least permitted to silently admire him. "I'm doing okay," she said, quickly nodding her head to back up her words. "I'm sorry about how things ended the last time we tried to speak. It was all just too familiar being caught up in a shooting for a second time and I panicked," she said. The thought of both occasions taking place in a restaurant caused her to cautiously look around, as if to make sure there wasn't any sign of danger in the current place. Her attention was broken as the waiter briefly appeared to pour them a glass of water each. She then looked to Nathan again. "And you? How are you? I know your, erm.... Colleagues? Friends?" she said, not sure what the Porters were to Nathan. "I understand that the guy who was killed was close with them."


LateForDinner (Nathan)

When Carter made his comment about her nicer abodes being with the Porters, Arlene shrugged her shoulders. "No quite. Mostly the Sullivans or through my own initiative. The best of the places I've been in were back in New York. And you shouldn't underestimate my ability to talk my way into the best venues and hotels rooms," she pointed out. She knew more than anything that a pretty face could only get a lady so far. Intelligence and cunning had been what enabled her to take advantage of her targets rather than being the one taken advantage of. Her beauty just made it easier to distract the weaker-willed.

Arlene retrieved the only bottle of bourbon she had and held it up for Carter to see. "I make no promises on the quality, other than it'll be better than Kingsway's," she told him. She nodded along as he spoke up about her apartment's furnishings. "I figured I'd start with the necessities and fill the rest in later," she remarked, clearly in no rush to go out shopping for fancy cushions and matching candles.

Once the alcohol was poured, she handed the glass to Carter. She briefly contemplated what to drink herself before going with the same, seeing as the bottle was still in her hand. She poured her own glass as she listened to the man mention the Gardai. She scrunched her eyes for a moment, seemingly surprised by his words. She tightly screwed the cap back on the bottle as he mentioned the cop was a prick. "I wouldn't know," she flatly replied. She turned away to return the bottle to its shelf with the rest of the alcohol. She then quickly turned back and moved to lean on the counter again, facing Carter. "Which one is it, then?" she asked. It would be clear she was unaware of one of her family members being a cop and she made no effort to hide it. It wasn't a surprise to be in the dark about it. Why would anyone shout about being a cop?


Enzyme (Carter)

George couldn't hide the smile from his face, pleased that Finn had chosen to go for a drive with him rather than to let him go on his way alone. He walked alongside the man to the car, choosing not to break the silence as he wanted to give Finn a little time to think for himself. He didn't want lead or influence the man into accepting something if it wasn't what he truly wanted. He figured this was difficult for Finn. It wasn't just the acceptance of his own feelings, which he'd only just started to discover, but it was also the worries of how his family would take it. George had almost no family left, with his parents by now as good as dead to him. Finn, however, had a big family and George understood how worried he might be of their reactions to his sexuality. He only hoped they weren't as judgemental as his own parents were.

George climbed into the passenger seat and couldn't help but shake his head as Finn apologised for the kiss. "You can kiss me all you want, mate," he playfully told him. Then Finn acknowledged the risk of doing so in public, causing George to take a more serious approach. "Sadly, you are correct. Most people are unable to look past what society dictates as appropriate. Too closed-minded to accept that two men are allowed to love each other... The last thing I want is for you to get hurt in all of this."

"Finn, this is new to you and it stands to reason you're confused. It's a lot to get your head around, right?" he softly asked him. "I know I want you... but I'm a patient man and the last thing I want to do is push you into anything." George looked ahead, out onto the road. "Do you believe you want to be with me, Finn? If you do, then that's a starting point. We can take things as slow as you want to. I'm not going anywhere... unless you want me to."


Bellz (Finn)

Jason Costello

Jason set his drink down and smiled when Gwen told him that jazz was one of her favourite things. He hadn't known what kind of night he was in for when he decided to check out this particular club - perhaps some good music, a few "free" drinks; maybe some terrible music and a run-in with trouble. Looking into the eyes of a gorgeous girl with a sweet laugh who shared his passions and was willing to give him the time of day was definitely beyond his expectations.

It could have been the alcohol - that's certainly what he would have blamed it on - but Jason suddenly found himself unable to look away from her without making a conscious effort. She stood up, and his eyes followed her hands as they slowly smoothed down the front of her dress. It almost seemed like she was doing it for him. Continuing with her teasing manner, she told him to stay put and await more great music, to which he raised a quizzical eyebrow. But Jason had already worked out what she was hinting at. Watching her walk over to the stage through a crowd of adoring fans, he chuckled to himself and passed a hand over his eyes as their conversation played over in his head. How oblivious he must have sounded! Well, she was certainly showing him now. Even the bartender was shaking his head and laughing at him.

When the applause died down and the song began, the atmosphere of the room settled into something wholly new, making everything suddenly feel like a dream. It wasn't just the hypnotic way in which her hips swayed, but there was something about the song, too. Something painfully familiar about it. It was only when Gwen came in with the first verse that Jason worked out what it was. During his childhood, his mother had sung that song on stage many times - it was one of her favourites to perform, and a real crowd-pleaser. For years, he couldn't listen to it without the pain rising back up in him, and had always turned the radio off. Once, after his release from prison, his own mother's voice had come through the speakers - that had hurt more than anything. By now, Jason's smile had faded and a lump had formed in his throat. Yet, as he continued to watch and listen, he realised that he was hearing the song in a different way. Tonight's band was much fuller than the minimal accompaniment his mother had had twenty years ago, and Gwen added a certain unique flare to the number. The way she engaged the musicians and held the audience in rapture, the way she swung her hips and improvised with the melody - she made it entirely her own. So powerful was her rendition of the song, in fact, that Jason felt its association with his mother begin to weaken and be overwritten. Now, he would likely think of Gwen when he heard it, and smile like he was smiling now. The trip eventually reached its end and the resounding applause filled the room, but Jason was still held in awe by her performance and only continued to stare at her rather than clap. He blinked until his eyes were once again dry, then sat back to enjoy the rest of her set, feeling refreshed and happier than ever.

After the many well-deserved encores, Gwen headed straight back to him and Jason reflected her beaming smile. She had so many fans in the room that he felt special to be the first to speak to her after the set. "This aul' dive? Nah, not worth my money," he joked, but the happiness seemed to radiate from him as he looked her in the eye. Knocking loudly on the bar, Jason brought the bartender over to them and ordered two more whiskeys.

"I have to tell ye, Gwen, you've got one hell of a voice," he admitted, as he handed the drink to her. He brought his own glass to his lips, but only managed to take a small sip before breaking out into light, boyish laughter. A blush came to his cheeks just from being in her presence. "I don't know what you've done t'me, Gwen, I really don't," he grinned, a lock of hair falling across his eyes as he looked down into his drink. He quickly swept it back, and reset his gaze on her. "You cast a spell on the whole room with that performance. I'd better watch how I go, after seeing what you're capable of doing to me," he smirked. Jason set his glass down and outstretched his hand to her. "Don't be tellin' me ye don't dance too, now," he confidently offered. "If ye want somethin' great in return, you'll come to the dancefloor wit' me."

Interactions
Bellz Gwen

Blake frowned as it took Jackson a moment to respond, but when he finally did he stated that he was fine. She chose to believe him, leaving the subject alone as she turned her attention to the Ferris Wheel. She smiled happily as he agreed to go on with her. Walking towards it, Blake looked up at the large wheel, her cheeks hurting from how wide she was smiling. Jackson made a joke about being afraid of heights and Blake laughed sweetly, looking to him as he looked up at the wheel. ”Well its been an awfully long time since I’ve been on one of these things. I promise to hold your hand if you get scared.” She teased in return before the line moved forward.

Reaching the entrance after a short wait, the cart they would be riding in moved in front of them. Blake moved up the stair first, moving into the seat and sliding over. She was already looking out to see the people moving about the Carnival as Jackson moved in beside of her. She whipped her head around as the operator asked if they were ready, she bobbed her head once and away they went. Blake returned the excited look and let out a laugh as they began to move high up into the sky.

Blake dared to moved her feet as they dangled below, swinging them softly and raising her hands up. The breeze brushed her hair behind her shoulders and caused her to close her eyes briefly as they continued to soar upwards. Once they slowed down at the top, she opened her eyes again and relaxed her arms back against her sides, taking in the scenery before them, it was truly breathtaking.

Jackson spoke first, mirroring her exact thoughts. Blake’s cheeks warmed as he complimented her choice in rides before he pulled her in close. She looked on to the scene before them as he leaned his head against hers. ”Its nice…to escape reality for awhile.” The blonde murmured, truly feeling that way. It was hard to deal with what was going on in their lives down below. ”I’ve missed you lately.”

Turning her head lightly, she looked up at him, her nose brushing against his chin. She pulled him closer and closed her eyes once more. The view was nice but she was much more interested in enjoying who she had by her side.
with: Jackson Enzyme

It frustrated Finn that society couldn’t accept George and himself for how they felt. It wasn’t right in the slightest but it felt like people weren’t going to be close to understand them. It warmed his heart to know that George was looking out for him, not wanting him to get hurt. As sweet as it was, Finn knew that he would be able to handle whatever came his way…eventually. Finn wanted to be able to do the same for George, look out for him in the same way.

Finn stepped on the brakes as the traffic light in front of him turned red, slowly coming to a stop. He turned to look at George as he spoke to him again, stating that this was new to him and that it was reasonable for him to e confused. The Doctor, who knew a lot of things in this world was very confused for the first time in his life and he nodded his head in agreement, it was a lot to get his head around. Finn’s cheeks turned pink as George made it known that he wanted him again, stating that he was a patient man. Once again, the man was looking out for Finn. He couldn’t help but think that he didn’t deserve such a man.

The light turned green and Finn looked ahead, stepping on the gas as they headed in the direction of nowhere in particular, simply heading where the road happened to take them. Perhaps this whole trip in the car they were taking now was like what they were trying to do with their lives. Finn knew that he wanted George, he had fought hard to come to such a realization and even though he was confused…he knew that much.

”I…I do want you. This confusion I have…its not about you, its never been. From the first day we met, everything had begun to make more sense to me. I was never happy with Eleanor, Georgie.” Finn shook his head, ”I can’t believe I allowed myself to live this long like that…so…unhappy. She was a friend, a dear dear friend who I will never forget. That was the problem, that’s all she was for me.” Finn made another turn, heading into a direction he felt was right for them.

”This road we are taking, I don’t know where it goes…what I do know is that I couldn’t leave you alone to go home by yourself. It doesn’t feel right, I need you with me. We will travel through life together. I need to take things slow…but I promise that I will never hurt you..” Turning his head, Finn looked to George for a split second. ”I haven’t felt more sure about anything in a very long time..”
with: George Misty Gray

Gwen really wasn’t sure what she was expecting Jason to say about her performance. She had lead him on with confidence but there was no telling if he would truly appreciate the performance that she had put on. Graciously accepting the drink he offered, Gwen smiled happily as Jason admitted that she had one hell of a voice, easing her worries immediately. Gwen brought her glass to her lips at the same time Jason did but unlike him, she managed to get a nice gulp in feeling very thirsty from her set. The burning liquid quenched her thirst and she set the glass down a moment later, laughing sweetly with Jason taking in his blush as he stated that he didn’t know what she had done to him.

Gwen smirked and gave the man a wink as he grinned, turning her attention to her drink again before moving to cross her legs, hoping to draw some attention to them for a moment as she took another long sip. She couldn’t help but notice as she peaked at Jason, the way his hair fell across his eyes, Gwen wondered what it felt like to run her hands through it. The redhead’s cheeks felt warm as Jason went on to compliment her performance, stating again that he should watch out.

She set her glass down and Jason hand outstretched to her, offering to dance. Raising an eyebrow, he confidently told her that if she wanted something great in return, she would come with him to the dance floor. Curiosity and excitement willed her to follow him, ”Take me there.” She spoke smoothly as she allowed him to lead her to the dance floor.

Gwen was a great singer but when it came to dancing, she hadn’t a lot of practice in the art form. But she was definitely willing to try new things and if it meant getting to dance with a man who was more than interested in her, then she would do it. Making their way over, the next set was about to begin as the band rearranged themselves and the next singer was making their way over to the stage. ”I hope you know what you are doing, I haven’t really danced before..” She was embarrassed by this, hoping this wouldn’t turn Jason off in any kind of way.
with: Jason Pyroclast

Jason Costello

Gwen placed her hand in his and allowed Jason to lead her to the open space in front of the stage. Nobody else in the room was dancing, so when Gwen told him she didn't believe she could dance, it made her seem even more fun and daring for coming up with him in front of the audience.

"You've got soul, you've got rhythm - that's all ye need," he grinned, placing his right hand on her back and taking her hand in with his left. "Just relax, feel the pulse of the music and go where I lead you, alright?"

The band came in with Artie Shaw's Begin the Beguine at a fairly easy tempo and Jason sent Gwen a flirtatious wink before easing her into the dance. He drew her close to him, then raising her hand above her head and sending her out in a twirling motion. When he gently pulled her back in towards him, he caught her by both hands and spun her into a close embrace. She may not have been an experienced dancer, but Jason hadn't danced with another person in quite some time and had forgotten how magical it could feel. The momentum the pair created as they glided across the floor sent sparks flying and his heartbeat raced to meet the band's lively rhythm. Jason filled the breaks with elaborate footwork, the space between them opening and closing as they stepped together in graceful harmony. Her skirt billowed as she spun towards him and when he caught her, his heart jumped with excitement.

The song eventually slowed down and Jason ended by guiding her into an effortless dip. With her now laying suspended in his arms, his eyes finally settled on hers. The singer of the band gave the two of them a personal acknowledgement, but Jason wasn't listening to the extended applause. The electricity between them in that moment was so intense that it momentarily paralysed him and all he could do was look down into her eyes. It was only once the applause died down that he lifted her back onto her feet and let go of her hand.

"Gwen..." he said, breathlessly, taking a step back and sweeping his hair out of his eyes again. There was a pause as he found himself momentarily lost for words. Then, after taking a deep breath to compose himself, he beamed at her and said, "Thanks."

Feeling somewhat elated, he lead her back to the bar and drained his glass of whiskey, which went down much more smoothly now. His vision wavered for a second, and he couldn't tell if it was the alcohol or Gwen making him feel giddy. "So now that you're actually off work for the night," he said, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile as he turned to face her. "How about we get outta' here? My bike's out front, I'll drive you anywhere you want - you know the city better than I do."

Interactions
Bellz Gwen

Gwen’s heart was racing as Jason lead her to the open dance floor. Nobody else had chosen to dance, which made the whole situation even more terrifying to her. Regardless of that, she stuck to it and stepped in front of Jason as he instructed her on what to do, her cheeks turned pink again as he told her that she had soul and rhythm…apparently it was all she would need. Putting her trust in the man before her, she let him place his hand on her back before taking her hand with his left one. The band started up and Jason gave Gwen a flirtatious wink which caused the redhead to giggle lightly. Her breath caught as he drew her close to him, gasping at the sudden closeness before he moved to twirl her around.

Moving with the motion, she spun around gracefully before he caught her in his warm embrace. It was incredible what this man was doing to her. Normally, Gwen wasn’t for this type of stuff but her curiosity lead her to doing some crazy things. He made her feel magnificent as they glided across the dance floor together, light as a feather as he held her with his strong and sure arms. With breaks in the music, Jason showed off his talents with such incredible foot work that Gwen had lost her own rhythm for a split second as she stared in awe at him. Stumbling quickly to catch up, she got back into the swing of things, amazed with how well she was doing in that moment.

She spun towards him once more, her skirt spinning up with her before he caught her in his arms once more. Gwen stared into his eyes for a long moment before continuing on with where he was guiding her. By the time the song slowed down and came to an end, he sent her into a low dip, which she used as an opportunity to arch her back and showcase what she had to offer. Her big brown eyes stared into his and the intensity between them was really undeniable. Gwen couldn’t notice anything else around them as he lifted her back up into a standing position before letting go of her hand.

The woman felt disappointed at the lost of contact, the lack of warmth but she kept a smile on her face as her chest heaved up and down, trying to control her breathing from all of the dancing she had just done. Jason spoke her name breathlessly and a shiver ran down her spine, wanting him to say it again exactly like that. Unfortunately for her, he didn’t say it again, instead thanking her for the dance to which she gave him a surprised expression. ”I should be the one thanking you, that was incredible!” She murmured.

Following him back towards the bar, she watched as he finished off his whiskey, unable to wipe the smile off of her face. Her cheeks were beginning to hurt as she turned back towards her own drink. Finishing it off, she sighed happily before turning to Jason as he spoke again. He suggested that they go out. Speaking of having a motor bike Gwen’s heart began to race just as it had during their dance, ”Anywhere huh?” She asked. Biting her lip in thought of where she wanted to go, ”The Sullivan Pub is a pretty cool joint, my friend Sinead’s brother owns it.” She decided to leave out the fact that it was in the territory that her own brother’s mob protected. Gwen hadn’t resolved that issue as of yet, deciding to give it a more time before she approached the one and only James Porter. Jason was great but she still just met him and this secret was something she needed to keep under wraps.

”I hope your driving is as good as your dancing, you are helping me accomplish a lot of firsts. I’ve never been on one of those things but my mother use to call them death traps.”Laughing at her mothers words, she rolled her eyes before reaching out offering to take Jason’s hand again. After a moment she suddenly remember something, pulling her hand away. "Oh shit, sorry, I just need to go grab my cover up. Do you mind waiting while I head to the back? You're a doll! I won't be long." With that she headed off to the back quickly rushing through the crowd of people and disappearing behind them.
with: Jason Pyroclast

James pouted when Lucy took Thomas from him, but it was clear he was only teasing. Then Lucy told him she loved him, causing a warm smile to take over the man's features. He returned her kiss before moving his mouth to her ear. "I love you too," he softly told her. He knew Rudy was in the room, but standing with Lucy and Thomas was all too perfect, so he couldn't help but express his feelings on this occasion. "See you tonight, love," he told his wife and gently stroked the baby's head with the backs of his fingertips.

When Syd entered the kitchen, James took a step back to give his eldest son some time with Lucy and Thomas. He couldn't help but smile to himself as he watched the teenager interact with Lucy and Thomas. James nodded when Syd asked if they were ready to go. "Aye, let's get going before the pricks go out robbing," he remarked.

The Archers Pub

The drive to the Archers Pub went by relatively quickly. With Danny driving, James was free to spend his time talking things over once more as he secured his gun in its holster and stored his knife within easy reach inside his jacket. He'd hoped it wouldn't have come down to this, knowing Richard and Johaan were generally a nice enough blokes. Still, the fact was that they and the other Duncans had been given plenty of chances and warnings. They'd broken many rules, including robbing from Porter businesses and killing innocent civilians in the process. Tonight wasn't a warning. It was time to show the Duncans the consequences of crossing the Porters. Their deaths would also serve to set an example to anyone else planning on betraying the mob.

Once they arrived outside the pub, James, Syd and Rudy climbed out of the car, leaving Danny to keep watch from the nearby parked car. The three men then walked towards the building, James taking a last look around to make sure they weren't being watched or followed. He then pushed the door open and stepped into the familiar old pub. He was surprised to find the place empty and his cautious side told him that was never a sign to be trusted. Of course, the Duncans could be in the back getting their shit together for their next robbery. James reached down to the gun that was holstered at his hip, ready to grab the handle and take aim if needed...

Pyroclast Bellz Shireling Enzyme

((Sorry it's short/not descriptive. Not feeling well and I've been trying to do this for hours.))

Shannon had been busying herself of the last couple of weeks, spending quite a bit of time with Lucy as well as forcing her daughter to take it easy whilst doing the chores around the house on her behalf. Shannon had been thrilled when baby Thomas was born, excited that Lucy and James had finally got what they had been wishing to have for so long. Once again, it surprised the older woman just how happy she was to have yet another grandchild. She was very different to the young woman who hadn't been interested in family or having children. Then she'd met Emmet and it all seemed to change.

To say she was annoyed when she learned of Matteo's presence and bloodline was a massive understatement. Angel had murdered Emmet and he was the reason it had taken so long for Lucy to finally have a baby of her own. In order to stop herself from smashing the lad's face against the wall, she'd made a point of avoiding him altogether, which also meant she'd not yet made a move to catch up with her old friend, Rayna.

Time had worked in everyone's favour and following the stark reminder about how short life was, Shannon felt less angry and was keen to see Rayna. Reminding herself of how faultless Savannah was, despite her biological father, Shannon decided she would have to give Matteo a chance too. When she entered the guest lounge, she saw Savannah talking with the teenage boy - no doubt in her mind it was Matteo. She then set her eyes on Rayna and approached her, giving the woman a brief embrace. "Look who finally showed her face," she drily remarked. "How has life been treating you? How's the Aussie doing?" Shannon broke off for a moment as she saw Sinead on the sofa, obviously watching Savannah but clearly also worrying over something. "Sinead, love. You can go. I'll take over from here," she told her. It wasn't a suggestion - it was an order - and Sinead knew not to bother arguing. Besides, Shannon was feeling particularly nosy and wanted to form her own impression of Matteo,

Sinead nodded to her mother, not wishing to argue and spoil Savannah's meeting with Matteo. "Come find me if you need me, Princess," she said, kissing her daughter's cheek before leaving the room. She walked through the lounge, glad to see Conor was keeping Aliana company. She continued on into the kitchen where she was sure Lucy would still be preparing the food. "Hey, Luce," she sweetly greeted her sister. "Are you okay?" she asked, not missing the evidence in the blonde's reddened eyes that she had recently been crying. "I know, funerals are awful," she sadly began, remembering the only thing that had been keeping her from sobbing during Leo's service was that she wanted to stay strong for Savannah and Braden.

Sinead let out a sigh as she recognised Lucy was overworking herself with holding a wriggling baby and preparing the food. Not wanting to step on Lucy's toes in the kitchen, she decided to take on the duty of comforting her nephew. Besides, she hadn't held the baby all day and she loved babies. "If you insist on slaving in the kitchen, I'll be Thomas' chief cuddler for a bit." Sinead reached out to take her nephew from Lucy. Being a natural with babies by now, there was no reluctance or awkwardness when taking Thomas, comfortably cradling him in her arms. "Well, aren't you an adorable little boy?" she softly spoke to him, stroking his cheek with her thumb. She briefly hummed a little melody, looking down as her nephew's eyes stared in the direction of her face. He seemed content enough, so she looked to Lucy. "Are you coping well, Luce?" she asked. "You know I'm happy to babysit if you and James need a breather," she offered.

Bellz (Rayna, Lucy)
Mentioned: Enzyme (Matteo)