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

[Fletchawk]

Ryan Donahue​

He nodded at Sinead's suggestion to join the go talk to the couple although he was tempted to feign offense to her calling the car a toy. Still, Sinead wasn't wrong as Ryan did indeed want to examine the vehicle, especially the engine, but he figured he would see it sooner or later as he and the car would share a similar space in the future. Ryan could see that James' mind was obviously not on the new Bentley and he wasn't about interrupt the moment to talk shop. So he listened as the women talked briefly and picked up the gist of why James' looked so cheery before they headed inside. Figuring that he'd let the man bask in the moment and he would be able to congratulate the man sometime later during the night, Ryan held off for the time being.

***​

Having taken off his cardigan and tucked it away somewhere out of the way, Ryan had been keeping a low profile near the fringes of the party. He sat in a rather plush chair, nursing a glass of whiskey as he watched everyone around him interact. Even though he made small talk with some of his fellow mobsters, Ryan couldn't help but feel a little lonely as he had been in Dublin for not even two months and hadn't really connected the local crew yet. Those that he had known from before had become distant in their own ways. Conor's relationship with Alex Romano had put a major rift between the two once friends and although Ryan was slowly coming to terms with it, they weren't on the best of terms for the time being. James had become the head of the family and was constantly busy with work, while they still had similar interests and he was still very loyal to the man, Ryan and James' haven't had many instances to actually pave out the rough spots of their friendship that had developed over the last decade. While Sinead had grown into a woman over the course of ten years, her base personality hadn't changed. Ryan however felt conflicted as he still felt protective of her but knew he had to keep her at a distance for his own well being. His mind wandered to the youngest Sullivan, Carrick, for moment as he moved a glass of whiskey in circular motion. Ryan had heard hide nor hair of him since his return to Chicago and thought that he had moved to Dublin with the rest of the family but had heard nary a word about him. Making a mental note to ask someone later about him, Ryan let his memories of Carrick slip back into the recesses of his mind.

While he had come to be on friendly terms with Finn, he was currently talking to Conor. Jackson had seemed to sociable fellow but Ryan thought that he ought to avoid the man for the evening as he prefered to be conscious for the job later that evening. Not wanting to be tempted by Jackson's riling of the partygoers, Ryan left the comfort of the chair and made his way the front of the manor and out on to the front porch. The sun had made its way below the horizon and he could feel temperature dropping but he paid little attention to it as leaned against one of the many support columns and looked over towards the garage, letting the thoughts of metal and oil occupy his thoughts until the cold would eventually drive him back inside.

Mentions: Misty Gray [James + Sinead + Conor] neverbackdown [Alexandra] Enzyme [Jackson] Bellz [Finn]

 

[Enzyme]

Carter Dresden​

Carter accepted her hand, leading her into a relaxed waltz. "You don't know the half of it," he chuckled, slowing rocking back and forth to the melody. He kept his eyes on the windows, which had been glossed over by snowflakes. Kids below on the street had gathered to carol, knocking on various doors. On most days, people would shoe away solicitors, but not on Christmas. Carter had never overly enjoyed the holidays. When he was living on the streets, it was just a reminder of how bitter cold his surroundings were, being in the dead center of winter. A longing to belong, be part of a family. Sit inside a warm house and drink hot chocolate around a bright Christmas tree. He always saw those ads on the television displays behind store windows. While he imagined those scenarios were romanticized, he would've given anything to be a part of that reality. To have a sense of belonging in a place that appreciated his existence.

The physical closeness with another human being made his mind wander, as he felt warm and secure enough to venture into his thoughts. "The families here love Christmas," he said as if verbally announcing his thoughts. "A tree in every home, covered in bright lights. No matter how brittle or cheap, they treat them all the same." His voice sounded distant as if he were still lost in his own mind. He gripped her soft hand lightly, subtly swaying to the slow tempo. "Y'know, you appreciate things more if they don't come easy. You should see those trees they have. Most are falling apart, tilt strangely, but they don't care. They're just happy to have a tree." He chuckled to himself lightly. "You'll never find families more caring than the ones here."

He rested his cheek beside hers, gently holding her in a rhythmic step. "People are so afraid to disturb their surroundings because it worked for them for so long." He spoke softly, almost in a whisper. The pin on the record shifted, starting the calm melody of 'Crazy He Calls Me.' "I mean, look at those kids out there for example," he motioned to the carolers outside, their singing distant from the glass separating them. "Their clothes barely fit, their gloves are torn, they're overlooked by every city official - but look how happy they are. I mean, I've never seen kids smiles' so bright." He couldn't help but smile, himself, seeing his past in those kids. "If they were only treated the way they deserve." He looked to Arlene, their faces mere inches apart. "Imagine if everything had worked out in both our worlds. I mean, truly worked out."

Misty Gray (Arlene)

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter
~Emery Callahan~​

James noticed Lucy looking a little distracted and was about to ask if she was okay, but she soon cleared her throat and instead addressed him. When his wife offered him a drink, James was about to casually decline, but it was too late as she poured some whiskey into a glass and handed the drink to him. "You're a bad influence Mrs. Porter," he told her, taking a sip of alcohol. He grinned when she told him their announcement wasn't so hard. "No, not when I step aside to let the attractive and charismatic one of us do the talking," he flirtatiously told her. He smiled contently as Lucy leaned into him and kissed his cheek. "You're the one who's had to suffer keeping this secret... Incidentally, for how many months do I need to contain my excitement? When is he or she due?" he asked. He spared a curious glance to Lucy's stomach, struggling to see any signs of her pregnancy yet. "Still looks like we have to wait a full nine months, love," he pointed out.

Hearing Jackson's voice as the man began making some kind of speech, James turned to face him, keeping his hand on Lucy's lower back. As the man continued to speak, it became pretty clear to James where things were heading and though he didn't have any problems with it, his sensible side still kicked in. "Have we got any designated sober attendees to keep eyes on the youngsters?" he muttered to Lucy. It looked like Sinead wasn't planning on going crazy with the drinks as she was still being mindful of her health, but she was still prone to acting impulsively on occasions. He glanced knowingly in Mallory's direction as Jackson pointed out the girl loved drinking. He wasn't blind to that fact, but it was Christmas so he chose to laugh along.

"Ah shit..." he commented as Jackson challenged everyone to take him and Conor on at drinking. He'd been out drinking with Conor back in Chicago, when he was years younger, and the mornings that followed those sessions were like hell on earth. Jackson seemed to cope much better with Conor's drinking stamina. So James was sure Jackson would be keeping his Cresta after Christmas. Still, the mere idea of drinking was calling to James. "Our house is going to be wrecked by tomorrow," he told Lucy. He then knocked back his whiskey. "I may as well enjoy the night before the mess, right?"

Lucy would feel something brush past her legs. James saw the small person out of the corner of his eye. "I can reach the bar!" Emery called out as she climbed onto a nearby stool, ready to grab a bottle.

"I don't think so..." James said as he placed his hands under the child's arms, lifted her high into the air and then placed her back down on the floor, shaking his head at the girl's plucky attempt.

Emery had been told by her parents to never ask for or demand presents, as it was rude. The adorable child had ways of getting around that and loopholes to take advantage of. Aware Lucy had not yet given her the present she'd mentioned, Emery decided to put her plan into action. Standing with her hands clasped together behind her back, she rocked her shoulders from side to side as she looked up to Lucy with an angelic smile on her face. "You must have been real good this year, Aunt Lucy. Santa brought you good presents!"


Bellz (Lucy)
Mention: Enzyme (Jackson)

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

Finn Sullivan​

Chuckling as James took the drink that she had poured for him, she shrugged her shoulders as he stated that she was a bad influence. "The devil can't posses you to do anything, only nudge you in the wrong direction." She said with a teasing tone in her voice. She'd heard that saying somewhere once, seemed like the right time to use it. Nodding her head along with his words, Lucy was content, surrounded by great friends and family with a few missing give or take. When asked about the due date, she smiled widely. "July is the expected month, so I'm sorry to say you'll be sharing a birthday month with our little one, hope you don't mind." Looking down at her stomach, she laughed as James said it looked like they would have to wait the full nine months. She was hardly showing at the moment, "If you look closely, it just looks like I've had a little to much food." She murmured, amused. Jackson took charge of the room, announcing that there would be a drinking game. "I can watch after the youngsters." She murmured to her husband. Her eyes too looked to Mallory, honestly, she wasn't surprised in the slightest. There was only so much James and herself could do to prevent their children from drinking underaged. Lucy would have to have a word with her at some point, but for now, she would let her enjoy the party. The blonde looked as people began walking towards the bar as directed, thinking that the house was going to look like a nuclear war zone in the morning. James apparently had been thinking the same thing as well, but he was open to enjoying the night for now. "Enjoy it my love! Don't worry about anything okay? I'll be taking care of it." She encouraged James to let loose.

Something brush past her leg and Lucy looked down just in time too see Emery climbing on a stool, hollering that she could reach the bar. Lucy laughed loudly and covered her mouth as James grabbed the girl from off the bar stool. "What are you doing silly girl!?" Lucy asked sweetly. The girl definitely had presents on the brain, looking much like her mother had when she was a young girl, always getting what she wanted. "Santa has been very good to me this year." Lucy murmured to the child. Things were beginning to get a little too loud for the woman. Turning to James, she smiled and kissed him,"Go win that Cresta. I love you." She murmured as she took Emery's hand and led her towards a more quiet area.

"I guess I have to give you your present now eh?" She asked Emery. In the other lounge area, Lucy patted for the girl to sit on the couch. "No wandering off little missy, I have to go get your gift." With that, Lucy quickly made the trek up the stairs and into her bedroom. Grabbing up the little calico kitten, she nestled it in her arms and adjusted the little bow tied around its neck before heading back down the stairs. "Now I know its not a rainbow one, but it was the best nature could do." Lucy said as she arrived back in the room Emery was in, revealing the little kitten to her as she sat down on the couch beside her. "You get to name him, but you have to promise you will take care of him. He's the smallest one out of the litter."

Finn just shook his head as Conor pushed for him to explain. There really wasn't anything to explain to him, most of it was just in Finn's head. Luckily, Jackson interrupted them and saved Finn sometime to think about what to say. The man hardly smiled as it was made known that there would be a drinking game tonight, the prize Jackson's Cresta. As intriguing as it all was, Finn didn't want to drink his woes away. Clenching his teeth together in frustration, he shook his head once again before turning to Conor. Maybe it would be better to get all this stuff off his chest before playing. "Like i said, its nothing that she's directly doing, but I guess I'm just feeling abandoned." Finn bit his lip and looked down at the floor, noting the patterns of the nice rug beneath them, he just hoped they would stay nice by the time this game was over.

"Eleanor isn't doing anything wrong, I think its me, mate." Finn had gone through all the possibilities as to why they seemed so distant from one another. If they were having problems right now and nothing was being done to fix them, was this relationship even worth saving. "Ever since we got back, things between us have been at an arms length, I'm losing her and I don't even know how to fix it." The usually happy and bubbly man looked defeated as he looked to his cousin. There were so many things going through his mind, trying to figure out what he could possibly do. Maybe there was nothing he could do.

"Maybe there is nothing to fix...maybe this is just it." The tone of his voice sounded tired, ready to just give up on everything.Finn went quiet and things stayed that way for a few moments. He was forcing himself to enjoy the time he had with his family, getting into that mindset. Clearing his throat, Finn managed to let one of his signature smiles show, placing his hand on Conor's shoulder, "You ready to get your ass handed to you?" With that, Finn made a beeline for the bar. "Alright you lot, prepare for a beatin'!"
With: James + Conor +Emery Misty Gray
Mentions: Jackson Enzyme (Blake up next )

 

[Bellz]

Blake Walsh​

Blake was wondering what the hell Jacksons was up to as he stood up on the table, stating that he was going to make their normal drinking game more interesting. Blake stood back and watched with a bit of awe as Jackson took the room by storm. Blake had always been amazed with the way Jackson could control a room of people, perhaps control wasn't the right word for it, but he sure knew how to speak to a crowd. The way he brought everyone together and made the room feel welcome was something that Blake could only dream of doing. He was so at ease, in his own element when speaking to a crowd of people, it made her envious. His words rang true, more often than not, Blake heard Jackson being referred to as "Porter", even she was referred to that on some occasions. Being apart of the gang ran so much deeper than work, these people were really one big family. Thinking back to the IWU she couldn't remember a time where she felt this type of energy, warmth. Technically speaking, she was still working for that lot. She didn't want to go back, she didn't want to live that life anymore. Her days still felt numbered and here she was casually waiting for them to end it all.

Jackson chose Conor as his drinking partner, something to probably save his ass from Blake drinking circles around him. The Cresta was the prize, and that was like a baby to Blake. She may have not voiced it as much, but Blake loved the Cresta. Glaring at Jackson as he stepped down from the table, she playfully shoved him as the catering staff helped him line up a bunch of drinks. "You are giving the Cresta away?!" She asked in mock alarm, shaking her head at him, "You know we have to get around somehow right?" She teased further before moving to sit on one of the bar stools. Her eyes were bright with the though of a challenge. Looking at everyone who was not afraid of a challenge, Blake saw that this game was a real sausage fest. "I need some ladies in this game! Oh Ladies!" She called out to anyone who would listen and be willing to play. Once the drinks were poured and all the glasses were line up, Blake looked at Jackson once more, "You are going to realize that you want your Cresta and you know who's gonna swoop in to save your ass?" The smug look on her face was already revealing the answer, "It definitely won't be Superman!" Blake had to win the Cresta back, she wasn't willing to part with such a beauty even if Jackson was.
With: Jackson Enzyme
Mentions:

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan and Thomas Dempsey​

Sinead allowed her jaw to drop in over-exaggerated offence when Aliana said she knew the truth about her. "Hmm. Well, we'll just have to keep it between the two of us, won't we?" she playfully told her. She snickered when her friend told her she had to tell her all about when she'd tested the theory. After being reassured by Aliana and receiving a peck on her forehead, Sinead softly smiled. She was glad to have people around her to help make her feel better, though she wasn't sure if they'd be able to keep it up for another five or so months. They certainly couldn't replace the kind of intimacy and warmth her husband gave her.

When Aliana stood up to explain the situation with Tommy, Sinead looked up to her, her big eyes wide open as she paid full attention. She softly smiled as she listened to her friend suggest Tommy had softened her heart and made her want to open up. "Aww, that's so cute..." she sweetly gushed as she was told about how he'd brushed some loose her from Aliana's face at one point. "You say no guy has done that before. Did you like it? I get the feeling that's the kind of guy he is. Sweet and thoughtful," she informed her. Her smile dropped a little at the thought of something having upset Tommy. She was about to speak up, when the man in question entered the house. "Well, I think now is your chance to talk to him, maybe?" she suggestively nudged her.


Tommy placed a few gift bags to one side, having bought the kids some little treats. He kept a smaller bag in his hand as he greeted those around him with Christmas wishes. He'd tried to time it so he wouldn't have to spend too much time socialising before the job. As much as he wanted to, he figured it best he kept away from James as much as he could whilst he was still trying to get his head around the information he'd been given about his mother's killer and how he was going to deal with it. He straightened his jacket out before approaching Aliana and Sinead. "Merry Christmas," he greeted the two ladies, his eyes lingering on Aliana for longer. "You doing alright, Ali? Sorry I haven't been around so much," he apologised. He then handed Aliana the small gift bag. "A peace offering from Santa," he told her. There was a box inside the gift bag which contained a silver bracelet; nothing too flashy or pricey but elegant nevertheless.


Sinead noticed Ryan had seemed a little distracted and this was further confirmed when her old friend stepped out of the house. Deciding she could do with a little air herself, given the house was turning into a crazy drinking competition, she stood up from the sofa and put her scarf on around her neck. "I'll leave you two beautiful people to catch up. I won't be long," she told Aliana and Tommy, giving the lady a quick hug.

When Sinead stepped outside via the front door, she saw Ryan leaned against a support column. She let out a small cough to warn him of her presence. "What are you doing out here, Mister?" she asked him. She then followed the line of sight he'd been holding before she disturbed him. "Oh jeez," she said, realising he'd been looking to the garage. "You're pining for your toy box, aren't you?" she half-joked, referring to the garage and its contents. She folded her arms around her chest and briefly looked back to the Porters house. "It's not quite the same as all of those Christmases way back in Chicago, huh? Some people are missing and there's plenty of new additions," she said, thinking back to being younger and having her father around to spoil the family "I guess the one constant is there will always be a lot of alcohol," she pointed out. She let out a sigh before looking to Ryan, remembering how he and Finn had helped her a few weeks ago. She owed her friend the same kind of courtesy. "Are you okay, Ryan? I mean, you're out here and the fun is inside..." she pointed out, even if she wasn't feeling like she could have as much fun as the others.

Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana) Fletchawk (Ryan}

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

"No Sinead, it's not cute. It's an absolute freakin nightmare. I have all these weird, feelings I can't explain for too many people." She still had a smile on her face, but she was deathly serious. During her childhood, she was never taught how to deal with things such as this. Her go to was steeling herself and her emotions and not sharing them with anyone. Opening up was never an option and for good reasons. She placed her hand on her cheek when Sinead asked her if she liked when Tommy moved hair from her face. "I mean... A little? It was new to be honest and I didn't know how to react to it.." Before she had a chance to finish, she heard Jackson challenge a drinking contest that she was for sure interested in. However, Tommy's sudden appearance delayed her response.

This was the first she had seen him in days and he didn't look the same to her. A little more rugged and tired would probably be what she used to describe his appearance. She wasn't upset with him for not having been around, in fact she was relieved. It gave her a chance to figure out how she felt towards him but really it didn't. She was still unsure but did know she liked him a lot. "Merry Christmas, Stranger." She joked with a smile. Giving Sinead a hug, she turned her attention back to Tommy and nudged his shoulder before taking his gift. "Don't worry about me. Being there for Sinead has actually distracted me." While she said this, she was opening her gift delicately. There was a soft gasp as she gave him a "You shouldn't have" look. There was also a slight hesitation before she gave into the overwhelming sensation to just kiss him. When she pulled away she couldn't help but smile. No one, or rather guy, had ever bought her anything before; not even for her birthday. She put out her wrist to put it on before shaking her head. "I love it, thank you." It took a few moments for her to realize she had just kissed him and her eyes grew wide.

"I just kissed you, didn't I? Perhaps we should go play with Jackson to forget about it, hm?"​

Tommy ( Misty Gray )

 

[Fletchawk]

Ryan Donahue​

Although his thoughts were elsewhere, the streets of Chicago and his Corps training didn't allow Ryan to be completely lost in thought, so he was aware of someone's approach from brief clarity of sound of the ongoing party from the door being used followed by the light footsteps against the frozen wood flooring of the porch once they came close enough. Ryan was a little surprised the the person was Sinead though as she looked quite at home immersed in the festivities when he stepped out. "You lost, princess?" He asked teasingly in response to Sinead making her presence known. Ryan greeted the redhead with a warm smile as he was happy she sought him out but it didn't quite reach his eyes as he reminded himself to keep her at an emotional distance. "Dunno if I would call it pining but yeah, my head was definitely in the gearbox. My Ma is always giving me grief about it, even in the letters she sends." Ryan shrugged slightly in indifference almost instinctively to the topic.

Moving away from the column, Ryan took a sip of the whiskey that he'd been ignoring since he came outside and set it down on the frosted railing nearby to chill in the evening air as he listened to Sinead nostalgia about past Christmases. "Yeah..." Ryan's thoughts got hung up on the people missing part as he remembered those he had lost over the years; his father, his fellow marines, and a few people in Chicago after he returned. His father, Karl, was an old scar but it was deep and ached from time to time, even without the Romano woman to remind him of the past. Ryan also lost a lot a good friends in Korea, the Christmas after Chosin was especially depressing and he subconsciously rubbed the tattoo hidden by his shirt on his left forearm at the memory. While Chicago had calmed down since the Sullivan/Romano gang war, it still was dangerous and had claimed lives of some that Ryan had gotten close to. Realizing that his dour thoughts had been showing on his face, he tried to switch to a better subject. "You know, since I got back to Chicago, they started putting more of those really big Christmas trees around the city, like that one the Mayor always had in Grant Park." He chuckled softly when Sinead pointed out that alcohol always seemed to flow around Christmas time. "Very true but then again, when have you Sullivans ever been shy with the hooch?

Then of course came the main question and what he figured brought Sinead out on the cold porch. Her concern for him was endearing but he cautioned himself again about getting too close to her. Ryan grabbed the glass of whiskey that he had set down took another sip of it before looking away from her concerned face. He wanted to share with her his thoughts about those around him but most of those problems that would take care of themselves in time, with the exception of his feelings towards the woman, and Ryan didn't want to unnecessarily add to Sinead's worries as he deemed she had enough on her plate. Turning his head back towards the redhead, he flashed a reassuring smile. "I'm just hiding out. Got a job later on tonight that James would probably prefer me sober for and we both know how Conor is when the hooch starts flowing, also I don't wanna be dragged into oblivion by Jackson. So here I am." Ryan paused for a second as he made a small gesture to area around them. "Besides, the cold air helps with keeping me sober." Ryan used the gesture as a start to turn away from Sinead and put his hands on the railing as he leaned outwards towards the surrounding land that made up the Porter Estate, dimly lit by the lights coming from the manor. While he hadn't lied to Sinead, Ryan still felt guilty for not being completely open with her. His misty breath caught his attention as he had little else to focus on while staring out into the dark and it alerted him that the temperature was still dropping. With his body still facing away from her, he turned his head sideways in order to send her off. "You should probably head inside, princess. A cold isn't going do you any favors when you're chasing your kids. I'll be in before long to top off my glass, so don't you worry about me." Ryan returned his gaze to the yard and took another sip of his diminishing beverage, the liquid providing an illusion of warmth that would help him stay outside for a little bit longer.


Misty Gray [Sinead]

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

Sinead couldn't help but grin when Ryan asked her if she was lost and called her "princess", a name she remembered from when they were all kids playing make-belief games. Though the "princess" was another name that had stuck with her into adulthood, just as 'Tinkerbell' had. Her smile turned to a smirk as he confirmed he was indeed thinking about the garage, just as she'd expected. "Well, we all have our interests, Ryan. For instance, I can't stop thinking about the piano in my sister's lounge right now," she assured him. Still, it had been a while since she'd last played and she was't sure if her deeper emotions would reflect in her music. She figured those inside would want to hear more festive and upbeat music playing through the house.

She could see there were things on Ryan's mind as they were showing on the man's gloomy expression. She wondered if she would be a hypocrite to tell him he should be happy at Christmas. Apparently that was a general rule about the day and one she too wasn't exactly adhering to. A small smile flashed up on her lips as he mentioned the Sullivans' reputation with drinking. That was true, even if she couldn't handle as much alcohol as the others it still didn't change the fact she too had been very drunk on many occassions. The only one who never really got into the heavy drinking was Carrick, but he was a whole other story. Though they had made some kind of progress back in Chicago, Sinead could never forget the way her younger brother had treated her, no matter how much she tried to. As children, the two young siblings had got along well, but that relationship broke down when Sinead got older and actively tried to distance herself from the Sullivan familly business. The thing that stands out in her mind, even to this day, are the cruel and hurtful words he used towards her unborn child when he first found out she was pregnant with Savannah. No matter how shocking her confession had been or how much he tried to make it up to her when he eventually softened to the idea, she couldn't forget those words. Especially not after how nasty he'd been towards her in the years that had led up to it. When she looked backed to Ryan, she remembered how he and Carrick had been friends as kids, being that they were of the same age. She was sure he managed to miss any of her younger brother's bitterness. She knew her mother and probably even Conor or Lucy still kept in touch with Carrick from time to time, but she no longer cared to ask about him.

"I didn't quite inherit the ability to actually handle that much alcohol, though. I think Luce and Conor took those traits before I had chance!" she remarked.

When Ryan looked away from her, Sinead comfortingly folded her arms, though the oversized jumper's sleeves were doing a good job at keeping her hands warm anyway. He soon turned his head back to face her and his smile did its job at reassuring her she hadn't said anything out of place. She listened and nodded her head as he explained what was on his mind and that he needed to avoid getting drunk before his job that evening. Soon enough, he steered the conversation away from his troubles and instead suggested she returned inside to avoid catching a cold. "Well, alright. Just don't you spend too long out here when there's plenty of people who want you around inside," she told him. She turned away from him, but stopped and twisted back around, briefly placing her small hand on his upper arm. "Be careful tonight, Ryan. I don't care how easy the job is, I don't want anyone else getting locked up or hurt," she warned him. "If you, Syd and Tommy aren't all back here drinking by the end of the night, I will hunt you all down and slap you silly!" she lightly warned him. Despite the humour in her voice, they both knew full well it was a genuine concern of hers. It was a concern she'd had long before Peter got himself arrested and thus confirmed her fears.

When she returned inside, Sinead noticed Aliana was still with Tommy, so decided to head somewhere quiet for a time so she didn't put a downer on everyone's celebrations. As she headed towards the kitchen, she was intercepted by Braden. The boy handed her one of the walkie-talkies that Aliana had bought him. He explained Sinead needed to keep one on her at all times, in case there was an emergency and she needed Superman to step in. "Alright, my little hero. I'll be sure to call you," she confirmed, crouching down to place a kiss on her son's cheek. "Until then, you'd better go play with your new toys while you can. I hear Superman gets real busy, so you'd best play before the work starts coming in," she played along.

Once she reached her destination of the empty kitchen, Sinead filled the kettle and put it on the stove to boil so she could make herself a hot chocolate. As she waited, she leaned on the worktop and gazed out of the kitchen window to the Porters' back garden. She knew Peter wouldn't have such a nice view, but she hoped he could still see the snow and that his Christmas wasn't as terrible as she imagined the day would be in jail.

Fletchawk (Ryan)

 

[Misty Gray]

Thomas Dempsey​

Tommy grinned when Aliana wished him a Merry Christmas and referred to him as a stranger. He knew he'd been distant and shouldn't have shut Aliana out when she wasn't the cause of the anger he'd been tried to get on top of over the last couple of weeks. Seeing her now made him realise he should have stuck around her as just seeing her now seemed to block out some of his frustrations and instead draw some joy out of him. He stepped aside as Sinead and Aliana hugged, before the redhead slipped away, presumably in an attempt to leave Tommy and Aliana alone together.

Tommy watched as Aliana uwrapped her gift. All the while, he felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness about how she would take the present. He hoped she liked it but he also hoped it wasn't too much, too soon. She was the person he most enjoyed spending his time with and cared for her as more than a friend, so he couldn't help but buy her a gift she deserved. "It's good to know you and Sinead have each other," he noted. His attention was then diverted to her reaction to the gift. The gasp and expression on her face certainly reassured him he'd done a good job at choosing a present she would like. He didn't get chance to make any comment before she moved in and kissed him. The gesture led Tommy to then smile brightly and blush ever so slightly. "I'm glad you love it, Ali. I deliberated over it for some time. I thought the jeweller would evict me from the shop at one point," he remarked.

Aliana then spoke of the kiss she had just given him and suggested forgetting about it by playing Jackson's drinking game. He looked over his shoulder to the guys and girls presently knocking back the alcohol. He knew he couldn't get drunk until after the job, but that was irrelevant in this moment anyway. He looked back to Aliana with a flirtatious expression. "You did just kiss me, but why would I want to forget about it?" he curiously asked her. "My only issue with the kiss is that it didn't last long enough," he suggestively admitted. He took a step closer to her and looked into her eyes. "Unless, of course, you want to forget about it?"

Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana)

Conor Sullivan​

Conor frowned when Finn mentioned he was feeling abandoned. Perhaps he was biased, but he didn't understand how anyone could treat his cousin that way. If anyone deserved love and affection, it was Finn. He listened as the man continued to voice his concerns and didn't like to hear how defeated he sounded about the whole thing. "Why do you think it's your fault? Do you really think this is it and it can't be fixed?" he seriously asked him. "I like Eleanor and I think you're both bloody awesome together, but... If you feel like you're losing her and you don't know if it can be fixed... I don't know, mate." Conor didn't want the couple to split up and seeing Finn happy with Eleanor over the years had been great to observe. However, he felt it would be worse to encourage his cousin to stick with the relationship if it was doomed in the long run. "Maybe you need to sit down and talk to her. One thing for sure is neither of you should force your relationship to last. If you do that, it's only going to drag it out and make things worse in the long run. If either of you is having any doubts, you've got to address them now." He squeezed Finn's shoulder. "Don't waste precious time on something if both of your hearts aren't in it."

Conor's attention was briefly drawn towards Tommy and Aliana, as he saw his former bed partner kiss the younger man. The sight seemed to momentarily catch Conor off-guard and he lost what else he was about to tell Finn. He was glad to see Tommy seemed to have finally made some progress on the relationship front, but at the same time, he wasn't sure how he felt about seeing Aliana with someone else. He knew he had no right to have an opinion on Aliana's love life, yet it was still uncomfortable to see her kissing someone else.

Conor turned back in time to see Finn with a smile on his face. "Like you could ever beat me at drinking!" Conor confidentially argued and gave the man a quick bear hug. He then followed Finn to the bar, a wide smile on his face. "You lot are fucked now!" he teased those who were drinking.

Bellz (Finn)
Mention: Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana)

Emery Callahan​

Emery took Lucy's hand and allowed Lucy to lead her away from the centre of the drinking game, which was about to get more rowdy as Conor and Finn joined the scene. "Silly boys are going to get sent to bed..." Emery said in exasperation as she heard Conor say one of the "really bad swears'".

Once they were in the quieter lounge, the child listened intently to her aunt's words, quickly nodding her head at mention of her present. "Promise I'll stay here," she assured her. As Lucy rushed off to retrieve the gift, Emery hummed 'Jingle Bells' to herself as she waited patiently. A humoured grin then crossed her face as she decided to quietly sing the song to herself instead. "Jingle Bells, Braden smells, Savvy... um..." She scratched the back of her head as she tried to think of something that rhymed. Once she knew what that was, she was totally going to unleash her new song on her siblings.

Emery's thoughts were pushed aside as Lucy returned holding a kitten in her arms. "HOLY SHIT!" she exclaimed. Realising she'd shouted rather than sworn, she placed her finger over her own mouth to hush herself. "I mean... holy shit," she whispered. "He's... for me?" she asked, her eyes now open wide as she was taken by surprise. "It doesn't matter that he's not a rainbow cat, because he's the most cutest cat I've seen in real life. Emery shuffled closer to Lucy on the couch and carefully reached out to stroke the cat. "I promise I will take care of him and I will be gentle with him, because I'm always careful with things that are smaller than me." She let out a content sigh. "I love my present. You're my favourite Aunt called Lucy... No, actually, you're my favourite auntie." She gazed longingly towards the kitten and smiled as she tried to think of a name. "Hmmm. I'm calling him Mr. Oswald Santa Claws. But that's a long name, so Ozzy, for short."


Bellz (Lucy)

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

When Mallory enquired about the job that he would be going along with later, Syd tapped his nose and winked at her. "That's classified information, sister," he teased. "You'd just follow us if you knew where we were going. I know what you're like." He looked at her for a second with slight suspicion in his eyes. Mallory had a knack for finding a way to get what she wanted, and no one could ever easily stop her. Even though the job tonight was not supposed to be a dangerous one, he still didn't want her to attempt to string along as he knew she would end up on her own.
It surprised Syd a little that Mal instantly opened up about her dating life with such nonchalance, seeing as she was so good at keeping her private life private. The surprise didn't show on his face however, he only looked on with mild curiosity as she gave him a few minor details - not even a name, he noted. Raising his eyebrows, he drained the last of his drink and said, "Well, if you plan on getting serious with this guy, just make sure he's serious about you...or the last thing he'll see'll be a petrol bomb flying in through the window of his bar." Syd let out a short laugh to show her he was joking. But if the guy did decide to mess her around, he would at least fantasise about it.

The room was beginning to fill as more and more friends and family joined the party, rendering the music near inaudible. Just as he reached to turn up the volume slightly, he saw his parents walk through the door and noticed his mother had tears in her eyes. It didn't strike him as unusual for her to be tearful on Christmas day, as being surrounded by loved ones often made one feel warm and a bit overwhelmed - especially with alcohol in the system. But when he saw the same look on his father's face, he felt deeply curious. Syd wasn't sure he had ever seen James cry, and his eyes rested on him as he chatted away at the bar. Perhaps he had been mistaken. In any case, his thoughts were interrupted when Blake raised a toast and he stood up, setting his now empty glass down on the coffee table. When Lucy began to speak he took a step forward; it was clear his parents were hiding something and he couldn't bear the suspense.

At first he wasn't sure he had heard right - they hadn't mentioned anything to him about trying to have a baby - but the look of joy on his parents faces was unmistakable. Syd let out short breath, a smile spreading across his own face as he realised that he was going to get a little baby sibling. Congratulations were passed around and celebratory drinks were poured and Syd merely watched on as the scene unfolded. It wasn't long before everyone's attention was drawn to the ever-charismatic Jackson, calling people up for a drinking contest. With his Cresta set as the prize, Syd wished he could join in, but he remained resolute in staying sober enough for the job. If this was a test of his commitment to the business, he was determined to pass.

The party soon settled back into their drinking and conversing. Syd felt his attention return to his surroundings and was suddenly compelled to find his mother. She was sitting with Emery, passing to her a kitten. Overcome with excitement, even the cutest of baby animals couldn't have distracted him and he moved in to interrupt the exchange without hesitation.
"Mam, congratulations," he said, already kneeling down with his arms wrapped tightly around her. "I can't believe I get to be a big brother to a tiny little kid! You must have been going mad sitting on a secret like that. I'm really happy for you."


Interactions
neverbackdown Mallory
Bellz Lucy

 

[Misty Gray]

Arlene Sullivan​

As she danced close to Carter, Arlene noticed his attention drawn to the window. She soon allowed her own thoughts to take over as she evaluated her present situation. Mostly, the fact that she was dancing close to the man who had abducted her. The same man who had hurt members of her family. Was she now a traitor? The fact she was quite enjoying their dance made her feel like one. She snapped out of her thoughts as the man spoke to her. He expressed thoughts about how the families around the place who loved Christmas and then endearing words about cheap - but still loved - Christmas trees. She looked to her hand as he lightly gripped it, then continued to sway to the music.

Arlene followed Carter's attention to the scene out of the window, watching the kids playing outside. "That's the magic of Christmas. Most people can find their own enjoyment and sentiment about the occasion. Whether it's spending times with loved ones or receiving a gift that's special to them, regardless of value." She slowly nodded her head in agreement for his comment about them deserving to be treated the way they actually deserved. She couldn't formulate a response as she had become aware of how physically close they now were to each other. Her face was far too close to a man considered the enemy, yet she didn't feel compelled to pull away. She wasn't exactly a romantic or one who'd had much opportunity to share her emotions, yet she couldn't deny this felt like one of those intimate moments she'd read in stories or seen in movies. She softly smiled at his comment about how things had worked out in both of their worlds. "Hmm. Who knows? Maybe I would be wearing this dress through choice as I serve a festive roast to my five children and my lazy, sexist husband," she sarcastically remarked. It was hard for her to imagine being anyone other than who she was now. Whether she was a bad person or not, it didn't alter the fact that she was who she was and nothing could change that now. "All we can choose or change now is the future. Whether it's our long-term goals or... our imminent paths..." she trailed off, making it clear she was aware of their close proximity.

Enzyme (Carter)

 

[Pyroclast]

Adam Morgan

Christmas was always a little understated in the Morgan household. The constant blaze of the fire was comforting, there were modest decorations hung up in the hallway and of course they had a reasonably large tree to fill the space in the high-ceiling front room. Being just the two of them it had always been very relaxing, but with no large family to share the day with it didn't often feel like much of a celebration. In recent years, however, the Morgans had come to be good friends with Oliver's business associates, the Armstrongs. It was to their house that he was heading now, a large bottle of champagne in one hand and a freshly baked Christmas cake in the other. As owners of a local bakery, he thought the family would appreciate something homemade, and so he had baked it for them that morning as a gift. He could still feel the heat emanating from the box in which he carried it. Although he still refused to follow his father in joining the IWU, he enjoyed the company of the Armstrongs and was honoured to be sharing the festivities with them this year. Having managed to get through their high security with relative ease - he couldn't have looked less threatening if he tried - he rang the doorbell and patiently awaited their reception.

Interactions
Misty Gray Jared/Grace
Bellz Faye
Fletchawk Quinn

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Ali's breath caught when Tommy stepped closer to her. In all honesty, she was kind of annoyed that she was feeling so nervous and on edge around this man. She saw the expression on his face and gave him a flirtatious smile of her own. It wasn't that she thought he would be upset or wouldn't like the kiss, more like she wanted to see how she felt about it. To say she liked it would be the understatement of the year. From the corner of her eye, she could see Conor glance over and decided to run with it. She closed the gap between the two of them, looking into his eyes. "Now now Mr. Dempsey. I only suggested forgetting about it because I didn't know how you'd feel about it." She did, of course, but she wasn't going to admit to that. "Kissing someone you've had a crush on for forever is kind of nerve wrecking, isn't it?" Her attempt to catch him off guard was so she could feel better about jumping the gun to kiss him. She then stood on her tip toes a bit to whisper into his ear. "If you want a kiss that'll last longer, you'll have to buy me dinner first." After a kiss on the cheek, she winked at him before linking her arm with his. "Let's join the adults in the drinking game!"

Before Tommy could protest, she walked over to the bar where those who were drinking stood. "You lot think you're going to will but Aliana Cartwright has a liver of steel." Again, a joke but at the same time it wasn't considering she had been drinking since she was around 2 years old. "Question. Is Jackie boy over here the only one betting something? If not, the best seat at the restaurant and free meals for a month is also on the table." Subconsciously, she started playing with her bracelet, it feeling like a foreign object on her wrist. She wanted to look at Tommy and smile about it again, but it would ruin her tease.

Tommy( Misty Gray )​

 

[Misty Gray]

Jared and Grace Armstrong
​

When Faye turned into him for comfort from the ghastly sight of the hand in the box, Jared held her close. "Shhh..." he softly hushed her, kissing the top of her head. The hand didn't disturb him, though the fact he wasn't disturbed was disturbing in itself. Still, he managed to maintain the act and give off the impression he was equally shocked by the horrific 'gift'. When Faye looked to him, he could see the tears in his wife's eyes and that thought did bring genuine upset to him. He never wanted to see his family hurt or afraid. He glanced to Grace and Quinn before looking back to Faye. "Why? Because they're filthy criminals, love. This is exactly why Dublin will never be safe with those gangsters threatening people and intimidating the innocent." Then his wife followed with another question. "It's the Porters. It has to be. I've made promises to the good people of this city that I would make the streets safe again and that means getting in the Porters' way. The Mob like to think of themselves as one big family and clearly I've got to them. This is the reason I needed to toughen security around here..." Jared caught Quinn's look, one which look sickened but perhaps also needed an answer. "I can't back down on this. I have the power and the voice to make a difference."

The sound of the doorbell suddenly disrupted the conversation, somewhat to Jared's relief. Grace was about to rush to answer the door and escape the scene in the lounge, but Jared rushed to his feet and held his hand out to stop her. "I'll get it," he firmly told his family. After the gift he'd just opened, he wasn't taking chances letting his kids answer the door. When he reached the door, Jared peered through the small window next to it and saw Adam standing alone on the doorstep. Whilst Jared had expected to see Oliver there too, he wasn't surprised at his absence. The man didn't usually come across as the festive type and he figured Morgan would no doubt be spending his time at home working on politics or doing anything to avoid fun. Jared pulled the door open and motioned for Adam to step into the house. "Merry Christmas," he greeted the lad in a friendly manner. "Do I smell cake?" he lightly remarked, quirking an eyebrow. He closed the door behind them and secured the lock before leading Adam into the main lounge.

Grace remained close to Quinn as she saw their friend enter the room. She bit her bottom lip, trying to stop it from trembling as she was still trying to overcome the shock of what she'd seen. "Hi Adam," she kindly greeted him. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. It wasn't just to try not to say or do anything to embarrass herself in front of the attractive young man, but now it was also to try hide how scared she was feeling. "Where's.... where's your dad?" she curiously asked. Her eyes briefly glanced back to the box on the coffee table as her thoughts darted back to the awful contents. Adam was holding a bottle of champagne in one hand, but Grace pointed to the box Adam was holding in the other. "What have you brought?" she asked. She didn't mean to sound abrupt, but the contents of the last box she'd seen had now set her on edge.

Jared picked up the box that contained Gary's hand and started walking out of the lounge. "I'm going to go deal with this. I need to make some phone calls," he told the others, though his eyes were on Faye. He then continued out of the room so he could retreat to his own study. Once there, he lit up a cigar to smoke and sat in his office chair, staring at the closed box set down at the other end of the desk. He needed to decide how he was going to approach this one. In his own company he could switch off the disgusted act and instead sit back in a calm, collected manner. His natural inclination was to get revenge and repay James in kind. However, as much as he hated to admit it, a part of him was affected by the man's gesture. The severed hand and the handwritten message were a clear threat on Armstrong's family. Whilst he didn't fear for his own safety, he feared for theirs. Jared knew he couldn't risk harm coming to Faye or the kids, so he knew he needed to reassess how he would handle this war with the Porters.

Bellz (Faye) Fletchawk (Quinn) Pyroclast (Adam)

 

[Pyroclast]

Adam Morgan

Adam greeted Jared with a broad smile when the door eventually opened. "Merry Christmas!" he said cheerfully. "You are indeed smelling cake, sir. It wouldn't have felt right to come without bringing a small something for you all."
Adam followed after Jared down the hall, admiring the tasteful décor as he went. The Armstrong's house was impressive, its interior equally grand to its exterior. Although the family did their best to make Adam feel at home when he visited, he always felt wary of accidentally damaging their property in some way and so often it took a while for him to properly relax.

Grace was next to greet him. Immediately Adam noticed that she seemed to be lacking her usual enthusiasm, and wondered if she was alright. "Hello, Grace," he smiled, instinctively speaking in a calmer tone in response to her apparent unease. "Quinn, Faye, Merry Christmas! Yes, I'm sorry about my dad, his leg was acting up quite badly this morning so he told me to go along without him. He sends his greetings and wishes you all well."

Adam glanced between his hosts; it was becoming clear that something upsetting may have happened. Quinn stood stiffly, his face pallid, and Faye had clearly been crying. Grace too seemed very on edge, and that worried him most of all, as he had only ever known her to be bright and cheerful. Still, he moved towards the table without comment, set the bottle of champagne down and opened up the box. "It's a Christmas cake - I made it fresh this morning, so it's still warm. I don't suppose it will compare to your delicious cakes though," he said, looking to Faye with a charming smile.

As he placed the cake on the table, Jared picked up a closed, but unwrapped, box and made a mysterious comment about dealing with something. Adam watched the man leave before turning back to the rest of the Armstrong family. He wanted to lift the mood, but it seemed almost too heavy an atmosphere and put him rather out of his depth. "Excuse me if it's not my place to ask," he said, after a brief silence crossed the room. "But is...is something the matter? Are you all well?"

Interactions
Misty Gray Grace, Jared
Fletchawk Quinn
Bellz Faye

 

[Misty Gray]

Thomas Dempsey
~ James Porter ~​

Tommy flashed a devilish grin as Aliana stepped closer and spoke to him. "It's certainly more nerve-wracking than I've ever felt in the past," he admitted. "But totally worth it." When she stood on her tiptoes to whisper into his ear, he first thought she was moving in for another kiss. Though he was a little disappointed about his misjudgement, it barely put a dampener on their moment. He chuckled as she told him he'd had to take her for dinner if he wanted a longer kiss. "Sure, let's cut this party loose and get dinner now," he half-joked, pointing to the front door. With their arms linked, he walked to the bar with Aliana. "I'm afraid I can't joint the drinking game. At least not until I get back from the job James has got me doing."

Tommy stood and listened as Aliana announced she was joining in on the drinking game and even threw in stakes of her own. "Damn, if only I could join this. Would dinner at your place count or does that make me tight-fisted?" he playfully asked, referring back to what he would have to do for a longer kiss. It was clear he was joking and he would indeed take her somewhere special for their dinner.

Tommy's eyes fell on Conor who was at that moment looking towards him and Aliana. He was about to ask Conor and Finn if they were alright, but James stepped in and asked how Tommy's Christmas had been so far. The younger man cleared his throat, sliding away the whiskey shot someone had poured out for him. "My day has been pretty uneventful," he flatly informed James. "This time of year hasn't been the same since I lost my mother." Tommy wanted so badly to talk to James about what Gideon had revealed to him about his mother's killer, but he feared it was too risky. Whilst he expected Porter would be understanding, he also expected the man would get in the way of the vengeance he felt he deserved to seek or try to stop him. Still, it was bugging him to no end that he couldn't ask James outright if he knew which cop had killed his mother and had kept the information from him. "Perhaps after the job I can get into the Christmas spirit. I'd like to stay focused until then," he explained.

"Alright, Tommy..." James said, nodding his head. He wasn't blind to the flatness in Tommy's tone, but knew now was neither the time nor place to pull him up on it.

Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana)
Anyone else present...

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

"Emery! Mouth!" Lucy scolded with a smile on her face, shaking her head. It wasn't unusual for the girl to use such a word, surely it was used at least 100 times a day by the men in the family. When she whispered the words, Lucy gave Emery a look. Slowly, she nodded her head as her niece asked if the cat was for her, "Of course it is!" She said. Chuckling at her reaction, she was relieved to hear Emery didn't care if the cat was rainbow colored or not. She didn't want to find the girl painting the kitten. When Emery shuffled closer to Lucy on the couch, Lucy moved her hands away from the kitten to allow it to explore her lap.

He purred sweetly as Emery stroked his fur and promised to take care of the sweet thing. "Good, because he needs all the care and love in the world, especially at such a small age." Lucy too stroked the small kittens fur, scratching behind the creatures ear gently. A burst of laughter escaped her as Emery claimed she was her favorite aunt, "Well kid, I think I'm your only Aunt, at least for the time being. Glad to know I'm the favorite though." With that, she leaned in towards the girl and wrapped her arms around her. Kissing the top of her head gently, she squeezed her niece, "Merry Christmas Em ." She murmured into her hair before letting her go after a long moment. Emery already had a name for the kitten and Lucy laughed at such a formal and long name. "Mr. Oswald Santa Claws?" She questioned as she lifted the kitten up from her lap, holding it eye level with herself, " Such a long name for such a tiny thing but," Lucy paused to set Mr. Claws down on Emery's lap, "Ozzy is very fitting." Lucy was about to continue, wanting to mention what they would need to get to properly take care of Ozzy when a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Syd." Lucy said, her smile fading slightly as she was reminded what she was anxious about. By now, she was sure the news about her pregnancy was already passed around and she was unsure how her children would take it. Surely they were old enough to understand that nothing could ever replace them in this world, not even a child that was her own flesh and blood. Regardless, she would always have love in her heart for all her children, blood or not and James felt the exact same way. Syd, Delilah and Mallory shaped the people James and herself are today. If it weren't for all the experiences they shared, they wouldn't be ready for the baby they were going to have. Lucy was relieved when her son kneeled down to embrace her, congratulating her on the baby. Pleased to hear that he was excited, she held him tightly and kissed his cheek. Her emotions got the best of her and she pulled away to look at him closely, "It was driving me crazy." She chuckled as tears swelled in her eyes. "Thank you dear, I'm so relieved that you are happy!" Lucy held on to her son's hands, "We love you all so much and I just want to tell you that no matter what happens, we will always be there for you. You are our kids, that's what you were always meant to be."
With:
Emery Misty Gray ; Syd Pyroclast

Faye Armstrong​

The tears still fell and Faye gave up, she was allowed to be upset in this moment. Looking to her husband and meeting his eyes, she listened to him, fixated on every word. The Porters were the ones to blame for this. Someone died and the blood was on the Porters hands. Faye's eyes slowly ventured to look to her children, who looked just as terrified and sickened as she felt. She wanted to comfort her children, but how could she do that when there was so many questions unanswered, the safety of their family seemed to be threaten by such a message. The redhead said nothing as Jared stated he couldn't back down, that he had the power and voice to make a difference. As valiant as her husband was, she feared what would happen if he was to fuel the fire. Faye tended to stay out of everyone else's business, not one for gossip...but she had heard things about these Porters.

Opening her mouth to ask another question, the sound of a doorbell saved them all from carrying on such a horrid conversation. She sat there quietly as Jared firmly stated that he would get the door. Her eyes casted towards the floor, she took another moment to herself, deep breathing and begging herself to let it all go for now. Once she felt better, she looked to her children, who still looked upset. Faye stood up slowly, brushing her hands down her dress, straightening out her dress...one of her nervous habits. Before she could comfort her children, Adam and Jared arrived in the main lounge. Clearing her throat slightly, Faye smiled, "Adam, dear, Merry Christmas!" There was a slight edge to her cheerful tone but regardless she stepped forward, "Would you like me to take these into the kitchen?" She asked, motioning to the champagne and the box in his hands. Her eyes looked behind him a moment, wondering where Oliver was. The woman pursed her lips, not surprised by the man's absence but rather annoyed with it. More often than not, Adam was on his own and it just didn't seem right to Faye. Call it whatever you will but Faye was a damn good parent to her children and so was Jared, it was important to have a strong parental system for a child's wellbeing. Jared announced that he had to make a few calls, his eyes on her. Faye nodded her head slowly to him as he left the room. Instead of questioning where Oliver was, as Grace had already beaten her to it, she looked to Quinn who was still silent. Stepping closer to him, she smiled lightly, "I know you have something on your mind..." She murmured, tilting her head and motioning to where Jared had gone, "Want to talk about it?"
With:
Fletchawk (Quinn) ; Misty Gray (Jared and Grace) ; Adam Pyroclast

 

[ElectricDandellion]

DELILAH PORTER

Delilah had been silently listening to her siblings chatter, smirk ever growing, especially so when Syd made a slightly protective comment towards their sister. “That’s pretty tame, Syd.” She sarcastically raised an eyebrow as she took the first sip from her punch, her expression souring almost instantly. “Jesus Christ- that’s strong. You guys didn’t think of putting any punch with the booze?” Her teasing was clear, especially since all 3 siblings seemed to have a tendency to drink huge quantities of alcohol if they so wanted. Or, from what Delilah had observed- Mallory was the biggest trooper for drinking out of the three, Delilah coming in at a close second (more than likely due to the fact that she was a huge lightweight and after already becoming ratassed, it was easier to down the next drinks). “But, back to your boy, I’d agree with Syd but I wouldn’t be as mild!” Eyes beaming lightly, she held her cup to her lips and sighed. She gently shoved Mallory on the shoulder though, when she realised they were previously talking about the business. “It’s okay Mal. We will find our ways into the business some way or another. And,” Her voice quietened to a whisper as she leaned towards her sister. “We can always talk to Syd about his mission again when he gets drunk enough. Hopefully he’ll spill the details and we can go,”

The mention of an announcement snapped Delilah’s attention to her parents, who’s slow and calm build up to, what obviously was about to be, very important or special information, was killing her internally. She found herself tapping the glass at the suspense, biting her inner cheek to settle her impatience. And, when the news came out, she grinned and ran to her parents, following Syd. Swinging her arms around both her brother and mother, she couldn’t withhold her excitement. “Mam! This is amazing! Congratulations!” Heart racing, she stayed quiet for a few moments, nodding in agreement with Syd. “It’ll be lush. This is the best Christmas gift any of us could’ve got. Ever,”

Bellz (Lucy) Pyroclast (Syd) neverbackdown (Mallory)​

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy​

Jackson smiled widely as the crowd gathered around the bar. This was how you probably celebrated the holidays. He allowed the caterers to place the three open bottles on the table, as shot glasses were handed out to those who joined. He threw his arm around Conor and moved to face Finn. "C'mon, lads. Let's show these lollies up." He looked at Conor, putting on a serious expression. "I'm putting my faith in you, mate. Last night was a warm-up." Most of the security guards were eagerly awaiting the shots. Jackson had drunk previously with most of them, so he knew just how tough this was going to be. Each had a turn to fill their shots up as the alcohol was passed around. A few were berated for filling their glasses halfway, being coaxed into filling it to the brim. The first shots burned, but no one dared to complain. The participants would exploit any sign of weakness. Jackson cringed slightly at the taste, looking at Conor and Finn to see how they were holding up.

After refilling his glass, he looked over at Blake. She didn't seem to happy about him putting the Cresta up for takers, seeing as how much they depended on it. With how many years he's had the Cresta, how many countless hours he'd spent suiting her up, it would be hard to believe that he would be willing to part ways. "Course I'm not giving my Cresta away," he smiled to her, lightly shaking his head. "Look 'round, luv'. No one stands a chance." While he seemed overly confident, he knew a lot of the people personally who were partaking in the game. He knew they couldn't hold their own against him.

The second round burned just as much, which proved they had a long way to go until things started to get serious. Jackson slapped the glass shot glass back on the table. "Honestly, you're the only one that worries me," he spoke to Blake. The thought of Blake beating him out at his own game was slightly worrisome. "If you beat me, you're gonna' be the one getting us home," he winked to her as the caterers refilled their glasses. Conor and Finn seemed to be holding up just fine, as they had all had plenty of experience under their belts. Three shots in and the game was just beginning.

Misty Gray (Conor) Bellz (Blake/Finn)

Anyone else in the game.

 

[Enzyme]

Carter Dresden​

Carter chuckled at Arlene’s remark as they swayed. “Well, I don’t know about that. I’d hate to meet the guy that could manage to keep you in that role.” He dragged his eyes back to hers, a small smile fighting to be shown. “You were robbed like the rest of us. You deserve so much more, just like they do.” As his words trailed off, the music blurred into a soft, inaudible symphany. There was no denying how calm and friendly their relationship had become over the few weeks they’d been in each others lives. Like a moth naturally drawn to light, there was something deeper connecting the two. Now with their physical closeness, he was at a loss of words. At that point, what was left to say?

His blue eyes flickered to hers, as the distance between them diminished slowly. His line of sight was unfaltered until his eyes finally closed. Tilting his head naturally, his heightened senses anticipated her touch. Before their lips could make contact, the moment was disturbed by the aggressive opening of the apartment room door. Due to Carter’s back facing the men, he was slow to pull away from Arlene.

“What is it?” He asked the men, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “It’s time. Everyone’s waiting in the lobby,” one of the guards informed Carter. There was a small pause as Carter looked at Arlene. There was a moment of hesitation, as if there was now a inner conflict going on inside him. “I... I got to go,” he slowly drew out. Any excitement he had for the mission would have to be resuscitated. He slowly turned from her, attempting to regain his composure. Moving for the door, he went to leave without any intention of looking back. He had no choice.

Misty Gray (Arlene)

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

The beaming smile remained on his face as Lucy pulled away from the embrace and took Syd's hands in hers. It did not waver when she spoke, although her words confused him slightly. For so long he had considered Lucy and James to be his true parents that he hadn't given much thought to the fact that adoption might not have been enough for them. That had never been an insecurity of his, yet the fact that she felt the need to clarify it now made him wonder if it was something she had been worrying about. Of course they would be just as much parents to their biological child as they were to him and his sisters...

Before he could think any more on the subject, Delilah joined at his side to share her excitement and his smile broadened further still. "I wish I could join the toast," Syd began. "But I've already had one drink and I need to make sure I'm -" Forgetting his mother's anxiety about him going on his first job, he decided to tactfully cut himself off before it slipped out. "I need to be responsible." At this time, responsible didn't just mean staying sober, but also quiet. Not only was it not a festive subject, but he didn't trust his sisters enough not to follow him if he accidentally gave away any details. Yet somehow it was all he could think about, stirring in his mind in a mixture of nerves and excitement. "But hey, have one for me! Wait, uh...I mean -" Remembering that his mother may be avoiding alcohol for now, he turned to point at Delilah. "You have one for me. I'm gonna go find Tommy." Syd kissed his mother on the cheek and grinned at the both of them as he got to his feet and made his way across the room.

James was standing beside Tommy, apparently in conversation, and in a rush of excitement he gave his father a punch in the ribs. "Congratulations on being a dad again! As if you don't have enough kids causing you trouble." In front of Tommy, Syd preferred to leave anything too heartfelt for a more private time. But he allowed himself a second or two to throw himself into his father's arms for a tight hug. Turning back to Tommy, he grinned at the man and said, "Hey, man, you ready to head out?" For whatever reason, Tommy didn't seem as excited as Syd. Probably, he thought, it was because he had been on many a job in the past and the novelty of it had simply worn off. Quickly scanning the room, Syd noticed that Ryan wasn't among them. He figured he might be having a cigarette and so opened the front door, where he found the man sitting alone with a glass in his hand. He frowned a little, wondering why he had removed himself from the party. "Ryan?" he said, swinging himself from the door frame. "Are you nearly done with that drink? We're gonna make a move when you're ready." Syd lightly beat a rhythm against the outer wall, as though trying to beat out his impatience, and did his best to hold back yet another smile.

Interactions
Bellz Lucy
ElectricDandellion Delilah
Misty Gray James, Tommy
Fletchawk Ryan

 

[Bellz]

Finn Sullivan​

Blake Walsh ​

"You never know! I have some leverage over you tonight, Con." Finn told his cousin as they finally arrived at the bar. Finn did have an advantage, though to many it wasn't seen that way. Drinking when sad tends to make one forget how many glasses he's placed back on the bar. Finn ran a nervous hand through his hair as Conor stated that the others were all fucked now. Tonight wasn't the night to think about anything other than the present. Staring wide eyed at the glasses being filled to the brim, Finn's mind was trying to talk him out of doing this. He was going to pay for it in the morning. Nothing was going to get solved. I don't want to solve anything right now. He thought to himself as he was handed a large bottle of alcohol. "FILL IT TO THE BRIM!" Someone shouted at him and the man cracked a smile, "Alright Alright! Calm down!" He said,pouring the liquid into his shot glass, watching as some of it pooled over the brim and down the sides. Handing the bottle to Conor, he laughed and shook his head, "Like they've been saying, TO THE BRIM!" Finn took his first shot and it felt like fire was being forced down his throat. Normally Finn would be the one to complain about such a sensation, but he held in any complaints he had and slammed the glass down on the table.

Compared to the others around the bar, Finn was seriously lacking, it had been a while since he drank this much. Refilling his glass for the second time, he turned to Conor and leaned in slightly, "You are definitely going to beat my ass at this." He revealed to him with a laugh. The man wasn't confident that he would even get past the 3 round of drinks, but stranger things had happened.

***​

His eyes caught a familiar face in his search, one that made his heart stop right then and there. He looked to Eleanor as she slowly approached the building and tried not to stare like some sort of creep. His heart began to beat widely in his chest as she came closer and closer until finally he couldn't help but introduce himself. "Uh...Eleanor?"He gave a small wave in greeting and a bright charming Finn smile. "I'm uh...Finnian Sullivan...my cousin Sinead set us up."

Finn was struck hard by how adorable this woman was in front of him. The words were hard to formulate as he searched for the right things to say next. So far, introductions seemed to be going well. His heart leaped as she held out a dainty hand to him, to which he quickly took in his own large and calloused ones. He held it as if it were made of china glass, not wanting it to fracture or break. "Its swell to meet you!" SWELL?!?!?! Golly gee Finn why can't you say anything right?!His mind screamed at him as he smoothly shook the lady's hand.

***​

The first time he met Eleanor, it felt like rain had finally cure the drought he had been stuck in. For the first time, he felt like he could just be himself. For years as a child, he had been bullied about the way he acted, how flamboyant he tended to be. All that faded away, all the insecurities melted into nothing staring into Eleanor's eyes. Knocking back his second shot, Finn's thoughts inevitably were focused on the girl he loved, and was uncertain now if she shared the same feelings.
With: Conor Misty Gray

The first shot went down easy and Blake enjoyed watching the faces of others who seemed to have a much harder time choking down such a liquid. One face in particular stood out to her and she laughed as he cringed slightly, "Oh dear, the poor baby can't handle the taste of real alcohol hmmm? Maybe you should stick to the cocktails dearie." Blake smirked confidently as Jackson reassured her that the Cresta was safe. Her eyes glanced around the room as he told her to look around and a smile formed on her lips. "Someone's overly confident for cringing at the first drink." She commented, teasing and egging him on. "I don't even think you stand a chance against this beaut." She gestured to herself before taking the bottle and pouring herself another glass. She held it in her hand delicately. Her eyes looked to Conor and Finn who seemed to be better and in higher spirits on such a joyous holiday.

Blake took her second shot, which actually seemed easier than the first. Setting the glass down on the bar top rather harshly, she let out a giggle as Jackson reveal that she was the only one to worry him. "Don't worry love, I don't want your Cresta to keep. If I win, I'll be sure to give the car back to you. I think gloating as a prize for winning is good enough for me. Beating you at your own game is just fine." Blake clapped her hands together with excitement as the caterers began to fill up their glasses once more. "Keep it coming!" Ooo I also need a tall glass of water when one of you get the chance." That was the secret to drinking so much, staying hydrated. The men knew this trick as well, but their pride stood in the way of trying to stay healthy. Blake once again downed her glass, making it to round three with easy. The blonde only cringed slightly, hiding it well as she grabbed the edge of the bar, squeezing it tight.
With: Jackson Enzyme
Mentions:

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

Lucy looked to both Syd and Delilah, who had joined in on the hug and made Lucy feel even more relieved with her acceptance of this news. The blonde couldn't keep the smile off her face as they all broke away from one another. Lucy kissed Delilah's cheek and looked to the two of them as they expressed their excitement. Syd stated that he needed to stay responsible for the evening, which a skip of her heart told her what he really meant by it all. Lucy raised a hand and waved it nonchalantly, "Don't worry, we will do something together as a family to celebrate the news." Lucy chuckled as Syd told her to have a drink for him, she was about to inform him that she wouldn't be having many drinks now that she was pregnant when he turned to Delilah. "Be safe." Lucy told her son as he kissed her cheek and announced that he was going to find Tommy.

Turning back to Emery and Delilah, Lucy smiled at her daughter and reached a hand up to brush a strand of hair from her face. "You look beautiful tonight," Lucy complimented her daughter with a bright smile, "You're growing up too fast for me. Maybe you can tell time to slow down?" Lucy always talked about how time was moving too quickly for her liking, and it was true. It seemed like one minute they were in Chicago and the next they were here, in Ireland. "I have your gift from your father and I, but I'm afraid to travel through that sea of drunk men at the moment." Instead she patted the seat next to her, "You know we love you so much right? I was just telling Syd the same thing..." Lucy cleared her throat,"This baby..won't change that." The blonde was overreacting, she was sure of it. She knew that her children were happy for this new addition to the family. Nothing about their reaction told her otherwise. Something about this whole situation had her on edge, she didn't want to lose anymore family. Lucy let out a light laugh though it didn't meet her eyes, "You may not know this about me, but back in the day, I tended to mess things up a lot of the time." Lucy left out the dirty details but continued, "I lost some things that were important to me...well, people" Wrapping her arm around Delilah's shoulder, she pulled her close, "I don't want to lose you or your brother and sister."
With:
Emery Misty Gray ; Syd Pyroclast ; Delilah ElectricDandellion

 

[Misty Gray]

Thomas Dempsey and James Porter
​

James had knocked back another shot when Syd joined him and gave him a punch in the ribs followed by congratulating him on the baby news. "Cheers, mate. I figured you lot weren't giving me enough to worry about, so it was time for another addition to this amazing family." He was taken by surprise when his son suddenly gave him a tight hug, but that soon turned to a smile and he reciprocated the gesture. "I know it's a straightforward job, but be careful tonight," he lightly told Syd as they broke from the embrace. "And do what the other guys tell you. No giving the lads any lip!" he quickly added.

Tommy simply nodded to James to confirm he was on board with the plan and that he'd keep any eye on Syd. He then looked to the lad and nodded. "Of course I'm ready. Once this job's done, I'm getting pissed back here," he said, glancing to the rowdy lot around them. He sent Aliana one last look and a flirtatious wink, before heading outside with Syd so they could join Ryan.


Pyroclast (Syd) Fletchawk (Ryan)

Conor Sullivan​

Conor raised a curious eyebrow when Finn claimed he had leverage over him. "Unless you've sprouted an extra liver, you don't stand a chance, my darling Finnian!" he assured him, with a humoured chuckle. Still, he made a mental note with his presently sober self to keep an eye on Finn in case he needed to step in at any point. All being well, drunk Conor would be able to process that mental note if the time came. He smiled widely as Finn poured himself an overfilled shot. He did the same in return and knocked it back with ease.

When Jackson put his arm around him and pointed out he had put his faith in him, Conor let out an offended gasp. "I hope that's not doubt I sense in you, my dear boy!" he told his friend. "I spent most of my teens and twenties doing shots. These amateurs don't stand a chance!" he assured him. As if to prove his point, he filled another shot glass and knocked the drink back, savouring the feeling of the burning alcohol trickling down his throat.

When Finn leaned in to tell Conor he was going to beat his ass, the man chuckled. "I was joking about you not standing a chance. It's too early for that defeated kind of talk. Push yourself, lad! I'll make sure you have a sick bucket next to your bed tonight," he teased. "I might even hold your hair back for you."

Conor had noticed Tommy leave with Syd. His eyes briefly fell on Aliana again. They'd been drunk together in the past, so Conor didn't doubt the woman would give many of the others a run for their money. If they weren't on such awkward terms, he'd have made a point of cheering her on in the competition.

Bellz (Finn, Blake) Enzyme (Jackson) Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana)