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

[Bellz]

Finn Sullivan​

Finn gazed past his brother's shoulders as they embraced, eyes full of uncertainty. He was glad to see his brother, but unsure of what it all meant, for him to be here. Once released Finn felt like he could breathe a little easier. His brother looked him up and down and Finn raised an eyebrow watching as his brother did the same, answering his question. Finn wasn't sure if he believed his brother, very much aware of what he did for a living and how it could effect the family they had here. With mention of Maggie, Finn's expression only turned sour. She hadn't bothered to call Finn, just like the man before him, she too had given up on keeping in contact with him. Family was the most important thing to have and even though he was surrounded by it, he still felt alone. His siblings had abandoned him, and that was something a Sullivan couldn't forget.

A genuine and warm smile appeared on Finn's face at mention of Aunt Shannon, boasting to Ken about her 'favorite nephew.' His cheeks turned pink as he shoved his Aunt playfully, "Now now Aunty Shan, Conor might think I'm the favorite son!" He said with a wink. He was only buying himself time with the playful banter, not wanting to face the music. Regardless of how he felt, Finn turned back to his brother, trying his best to keep a warm smile on his face, "Yes, your little brother is a Doctor now, traveled the world for some time but I too thought it was best to head home." There was tone to Finn's voice, hard to place but it sounded slightly agitated. Clearing his throat, the man scratched the back of his neck slowly, a long awkward pause falling between the pair. "Well, I think I'm going to get a drink." Without so much as a second glance, Finn turned and headed for the kitchen. Rounding the corner in the hallway, he quickly stepped into the kitchen and headed for the cupboard where the glasses were held.

Everything was becoming too much for the man. With Eleanor on his mind and now his long lost brother was in the mix, everything was going to come crashing down. A drink. A drink would bring balance back to his universe. If only he could find the good stuff. Finn searched through the cupboards looking for the strongest liquor that the Porter's had, at least in the kitchen. His next stop would be the bar in the other room. Mind overwhelmed, he couldn't find what he was looking for, grabbing his glass he stumbled towards the bar. Finn tripped over his own foot in his frantic escape and the glass slipped from his fingers, shattering against the pristine white tile. "Oh shoot!" He growled before moving to grab a broom.
with: Shannon Misty Gray ; Kennedy mpower
mentions:

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

Lucy hated to see James so upset. He was mourning and Lucy had no idea who he was mourning over. She was patient however, letting him work through his feelings as he struggled to answer. Lucy sat down on his lap happily, welcoming his closeness as he kissed her cheek. The blonde closed her eyes before James finally answered her question. Unexpected, Lucy gasped and her eyes snapped open. Her thoughts immediately went to Ali, who she had just told to look for Tommy. The young man was gone. He wasn't safe at home...Jackson's face. Everything was making perfect sense now and the familiar sting of tears overwhelmed her. Biting the inside of her cheek, Lucy held back her own tears as she was focused on helping James.

Her husband looked into her eyes as he explained what happened at the meeting. His words stabbed her heart, causing her tears to fall down her cheeks. Lucy shook her head slowly, not able to answer such a question. She couldn't tell her husband that it wasn't fair, he wished his own death and that was something Lucy would never be able to live with. It wasn't fair, a young man's life was taken over the many men who were at the meeting. "I can't answer such a question James..." Lucy croaked, her hand reaching out to caress his cheek again. She held his face in her gentle grasp as she struggled to give him a proper answer, "I pray so hard...for you to make it home to me. Its not fair...but I'm so relieved you're here. " Lucy paused, "That's selfish of me, I know..." Tommy was gone and here she was, relieved that James was unharmed. He was questioning the fairness of it all and she was being selfish. Lucy leaned against James, burying her head into the crook of his neck.

Tommy would never be able to hold Ali like this, he would never see her again. They would never get that date. It reminded Lucy to love what she had, even if it seemed selfish. "You can't let his death be in vain." She spoke softly. "Tommy was a great man...just like all the others who died before him. You are apart of something bigger than all of this James, that's why you are unharmed."
with: James Misty Gray

 

[Bellz]

Blake Walsh​

The phone call Blake had received from James had her worried. There she had been waiting for Jackson, expecting the meeting to go well enough so that he would be able to return to the apartment. She had a surprise waiting for him but now it seemed that it would have to wait. Biting her lip, she looked to the bed where the rose petals were spread out across their comforter, which was covering the rope tied to the headboard underneath. Wasting no time, Blake quickly changed into a more suitable outfit and headed for the door. The drive was quite, with only static from the radio echoing in Blake's ears. Pulling into the Porter's driveway, Blake quickly got out of the car and headed to the front door. Her eyes searching for Jackson as she swung the front door open. The house was unusually quiet for the amount of people who lived there. "Hello?" Blake called out softly, shutting the door behind her. A small dog barking caused her to look down as the scrappy little yorkie Pistol sniffed her feet. "Shhh, noisy little thing." She knelt down and allowed the dog to sniff her hand before petting the small animal. The dog then quickly ran off, clearly having lost interest in Blake. The blonde stood quickly before making her way into the living room, checking to see if anyone was in the room. There she found Ali and Jackson embracing tightly.

The tears were obvious on their faces and Blake's brows furrowed in confusion at the situation. The only thing she could think of was that something had gone very wrong at the meeting. "Jackson?" Blake called softly, her voice gentle as she stepped towards the pair. Her eyes looked to Leo briefly, eyes questioning and wondering what happened. Aliana was clearly up set and Blake was trying to figure out who could have died for her to be this upset, her brother was in the room, who else did the woman have to lose? Stopping a few feet away from them, Blake kept her distance. Reaching inside her purse, she grabbed the steel flask full of whiskey from her belongings and held it out to them, "Anyone need a drink?" She asked.
with: Jackson Enzyme ; Aliana Melanin-Gxdess

 

[Misty Gray]

George Sanderson​

Peter pulled George's wrist back even more, causing the poor man to let out another pained groan. George met his cellmate's eyes, seeing the intense stare and trying to figure out what it was. Perhaps it was fury, but he couldn't help but detect a deep fear within the man. It didn't excuse him taking his anger out on the one prisoner who had shown him only respect, but it was still interesting. "Not touching you, mate," George defensively replied when Peter cried for him to get off. The other man's eyes seemed to soften as he apparently reconnected with the world everyone else was living in.

Peter eventually released George's wrist, then pushed him, causing the injured man to take a step back and begin to inspect the arm that had already been swollen before the attack. George looked back to Peter, his eyes following the man as he backed away and slid down against the wall, until he was sat on the floor. When Peter curled up in a ball and sobbed, George gritted his teeth and turned away from the troubled man. It was hard to listen to the guy sobbing, but George was hurt and offended that he had been attacked by a guy he'd been nothing but good to. The shock hadn't faded yet. He returned to the sink and mindlessly held his sore wrist underneath the cold rap water, trying his best but failing to block out Peter's cries.

Sensing Peter had sat up, George stopped the running tap and turned to look at him, perhaps not wanting to keep his back turned to the man for too long. The man began to apologise, his trembling lip reflecting the real anguish inside of him. "Nobody else was here," George finally replied. Confident Peter wasn't going to attack him again, George went and sat on the end of his own bed and began redressing his arm. He'd make sure to omit Peter's attack when he reported to the doctor about the swelling later. George saw Peter's eyes pleading with him as he said he was his only friend. The man then permitted him to hate him for the attack.

"Friends don't attack their friends. Not even in this God awful hellhole," he calmly replied to Peter. The man was clearly suffering enough without him adding to it. "I don't hate you, Peter. I'm bloody shocked you would attack me, but... I'm not sure if that was you. You're messed up, mate, and you need to get a handle on it before you attack someone with a better chance at fighting back." George groaned at himself, wondering if he was a pushover or if he just cared too much. "I don't think that was you. What happened? You seemed to think someone else was here... Are you still struggling from what happened at Christmas?" he asked. His face had by now softened and was hopefully calming Peter. "You need help. I don't just mean overcoming what's going on in your head. I mean, you had a good hold on my arm, but your kids are probably stronger than me anyway," he remarked. He hoped his words wouldn't offend Peter, but at the same time, he'd needed a reality check. "I don't like violence, but you need it to survive in here. So you should start working out during recreation and make it so you don't end up back in that infirmary. I know someone who might help you, but he won't fight your battles for you. He might just help you fight your battles for yourself."


Bellz (Peter)

James Porter​

James nodded his head when Lucy said she couldn't answer his question. He knew the answer didn't have to be confirmed to him. The pure fact was, Tommy didn't deserve to be dead and certainly not in the way it had happened. James had some very questionable men working for him and though it was always his intention for every one of his gang to walk away unharmed, he knew those others had invited death on a much grander scale. He had done so too. "You're not selfish at all, love. Back in Chicago, coming home to you was the reason I started valuing my life and trying harder to keep it." He let out a sigh. "On top of being a decent and hardworking young man, Tommy had similar reason to return home too, but he didn't make it tonight... He had that look in his eyes all evening, along with that boyish smile of his. Tommy wanted to come back home for Aliana."

James softly stroked Lucy's hair as she buried her face in his neck. He listened to her words about Tommy's death not been in vain and about his own role as the boss, but he simply nodded his head in agreement. "We were the only family he had left. I'm going to make sure he's given the best. And I can't give him back his life or make it so he can have that date with Aliana, but I'll make sure those responsible for this will pay." He tightened his jaw as he thought back to his own altercation at the restaurant. "I was so fucking close to killing Jared tonight. I had him in one hand and a knife in the other. If I'd known in that moment Tommy was dead, I'd have killed Armstrong right there. Jared, Carter, Evan... the rest of those bastards need to pay for this." He glanced to the file on his desk. "Tommy was going to talk to me about his mother's killer tonight. He found out who was responsible and I'm certain he wanted my help... I never gave Tommy the one thing he wanted from me when he was alive and I won't disrespect him by ignoring it now. The cop responsible will pay for what he did." Tommy had lost both parents because of the crooked police force and that had directed the lad on the path to his untimely death today.

James took a deep breath and tried to pull himself away from such darkness in front of his wife... and their unborn child. "I'm so lucky to have you," he said, wrapping his arms tightly around her to pull her in close. "You and the kids keep me grounded."


Bellz (Lucy)

 

[Pyroclast]

Adam Morgan

It was clear from the look on Quinn's face that he was having a hard time processing Adam's words. Adam couldn't help but feel bad for him, having to suddenly question his father's morals. But in a way he was relieved that he was at least taking him seriously, rather than just dismissing what he had said. Evidently the man did have an independent mind - yet from the distress in his breathing, Adam could tell that Quinn's own sense of morality was clashing with his loyalty to his father. He watched as his friend sat in silence, the conflicting thoughts stirring within him, rising up; when they eventually surfaced, Adam sat back in his chair and sighed. Evidence. That would be a very hard thing to bring to the table - even Adam himself hadn't seen any actual evidence. His own worries about the situation were effectively based on Mallory's word alone.

"I understand," he said, softly. "Just be careful, Quinn. I know you don't want to lose anyone - I don't, either - but keep what I've said in mind, won't you?"
The two men then sat forward and began to eat in silence. While the tension had simmered down significantly, the air around them was still serious. It had never been Adam's intention to bring the mood down like this, for they had only met tonight to have a pleasant catch-up over dinner, but he found it was hard to turn the conversation around. It was Quinn, in the end, that steered it back to Mallory.

Adam nodded to confirm her name. "Believe me, that's the last thing I want to do," he asserted. However, he understood there was a possibility that the consequences of their relationship could go beyond his control. For Mallory, and for the Armstrongs, Adam was determined to do all he could to prevent that from happening. He gave a small smile when Quinn called him an idiot, grateful that he was being more understanding than expected. "Thank you," he uttered quietly. Despite the hint of concern still present in Quinn's eye, Adam did feel better now knowing that somebody else knew. Somebody he was willing to trust. "I understand if you'd rather distance yourself from this situation," he spoke up, after taking a sip of wine. "But please know that I would be happy to introduce you to her, should you want to put a face to the name. I know I've already given you a lot to think about tonight - perhaps too much...but if you want evidence, I'm afraid she's the only one who can give it to you."

Interactions
Fletchawk Quinn

 

[Fletchawk]

Ryan Donahue
​

His fragile facade was already threatening to fracture completely, but when Sinead's arms wrapped around his torso, everything stopped. Ryan no longer felt the chill of the winter night, hear the muffled voices coming through the door, or even the dull ache in his leg. When Ryan looked down at her, all he saw was her ember colored head of hair tucked to the side of his chest.

Ryan couldn't help but naturally feel rise in his mood at the contact, but anxiety and then fear soon followed as the full realization of what was happening came to his mind. His body stiffened as indecision of wanting to wrap the small woman in his arms, and knowing that he should separate himself from her. Meanwhile, his hand clenched on the cane that he'd been slightly leaning on.

It was her concerned words and following sob that broke the stalemate. "Christ, Sinny," he said softly in an almost defeated tone as Ryan wrapped his free arm around Sinead's body and cradled her head to his chest as she cried. He wanted to chastise himself for not being strong enough to push her away, but it quickly faded away with the moment as the need to console someone he cared about overrode everything else.

After a few moments, Ryan could start to feel the cold outside air and it brought him back to reality. "Sinead," Ryan said quietly, although he still held her close. "I have to find out what's happened," he felt surprisingly clear-headed compared to earlier. The thoughts and worries in his mind were still there, but they felt muffled and detached. He worried that if was an effect of having Sinead in his clutches and didn't entirely want to let her go.

Brian had only told him about Tommy's death and that Sinead was to be escorted home. From that it was inferred that the meeting went badly, but Ryan had no idea what actually happened. To find out, however, required separating from Sinead and eventually he did so, albeit reluctantly.

Stepping back to look at the woman and see what kind of shape she was in, "Are you going to be alright?" he asked with concern.

Misty Gray [Sinead]

 

[mpower]

It was certain for him that the mention of their sister might have brought up a negative aspect for Finnian and especially his emotion, as she had abandoned him apparently as Kennedy partially did, but yet he was surprised to notice the facial expression of Finnian turning so drastically, not continuing on that topic anyway.

He simply chuckled as he saw the playful way his brother handled their aunt, being free of any bad thoughts all of the sudden, although Kennedy was well aware that the "serious" talk will happen in any nearby future soon, as his absence clearly must have affected his younger brother, over all those years. Even though his brother tried to suppress it, the older one noticed the rather restless nature of the pristine-looking man in front of him. To the explanation of his brother's profession, Kennedy could only smile, which slightly cracked down for a brief second as he noticed the last words intentions and the change of tone. Yet, Kennedy kept playing the little charade of happy emotions and simply chuckled, shaking his head in theatrical unbelief to the Doctor title he just imagines in front of the letters forming the name: "Finnian Sullivan", hell, he even felt proud of being the direct relative of a Doctor by now.

His eyebrows sparked upwards again as he noticed the awkward pause between them, he almost opened his mouth to address another topic or offer him to have a seat and to have a good talk, but instead, his brother, seemingly nervous, called out his wish for a drink and went off. Kennedy looked at Shannon with a slightly worried expression forming upon his face, his eyebrow still raised as he listened to the small silence followed by a loud sound of a glass breaking down.

Kennedy's eyes widened up as he looked briefly to Shannon and then to her directing nod towards the Kitchen. Now nervous himself, as he would get the chance to talk to his brother in private, he slowly made his way down the hallway to the kitchen, entering it and looking for Finnian, only to notice the noises coming from the bar, to which he headed and remained in the doorway.

His hands were shoved down into his trouser's pockets as his head slowly lowered itself and let his eyes gaze upon his brother using a broom to clean up a recent mess he apparently made.

"Usually Doctors don't have shaky hands", Ken teased as he tried to pull up all his thoughts together to understand why his brother might be not only happy of his arrival.

Bellz

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

Ryan's reciprocation of the embrace was accompanied by a defeated-sounding comment from Ryan which only served to confused the small redhead even more. This uncertainty added to the terrible news about Tommy, making her heart ache and her head seem to spin under the pressure of having so many questions.

The man eventually spoke up again and told her he needed to find out what had happened to poor Tommy. She quickly nodded her head and allowed Ryan to step back from their comforting hug. She believed herself to be selfish for still thinking about her own troubles when Tommy's death was so heavy on their minds and she knew Ryan needed to find out what had happened. When Ryan asked her if she was going to be alright, she once again nodded her head. "Yes, of course..." she answered him, ensuring her tone was stripped of any inner-anguish that could in any way cause her friend to worry. "Just... never avoid talking. Don't hide from me."

Sinead sent Ryan a soft, reassuring smile before she approached the front door and opened it. Her attention was immediately drawn to Aliana, who was thankfully being comforted by Jackson and Blake. She knew how close her friend was with Tommy, so it made her sad to know Aliana had lost someone so important to her. She would make sure to sit with Aliana before the night was over with, but she first needed to check in on her children. It didn't take long for her to establish what had happened to Tommy and also that her children had been taken to their beds already.

Sinead first checked in on Savannah and Emery in the bedrooms they slept in when staying with the Porters. Both daughters were fast asleep in their beds and the small kitten was curled up in his little cat bed on Emery's floor. When she checked in on Braden, the boy was say up awake in his bed with a worried expression on his face. The boy had overheard the conversations about Tommy and was clearly fretting about what he'd heard. With Peter's incarceration already weighing heavy on the boy's mind, Sinead was devastated that she would have to tell her boy that one of his other role models was gone. Whilst Peter would be coming home, she would have to tell Braden that he would never see Tommy again.

Sinead climbed onto Braden's bed, asking him to shuffle to one side so she could lay next to him on the outside of the cover. She placed her arm around Braden's shoulder and kissed the side of his head as she built up to confirming the news to her son. The day had been a heavy one by all accounts and Sinead wanted so much to shut herself away and curl up in a ball, but she knew she had to push her feelings to one side so she could put her little ones first.

Fletchawk (Ryan)
Mentions: Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana)

Conor Sullivan​

Conor and the others stuck around at the 'Archers Pub' long enough to finish up their friendly game of poker with the Duncans. With the exception of the two men he and Rudy had taken down, Conor was pleased with the fact the job had ended in good spirits and it didn't turn out to be some kind of shoot out. Whilst he didn't find any evidence for the Duncans' underground casino, Conor didn't for a minute believe they were telling the truth. He was certain they were breaking their agreement but he was hoping common sense would prevail and the Duncans would shut the operation down now. Next time he's asked to spring a visit on them, they might not be so lucky.

When Conor, Syd and Rudy arrived back home, Brian greeted them with the news about Tommy. The revelation managed to send off the good spirits that Conor had been in and instead replaced it with a terrible silence. When he'd parked the car up and taken the key out of the ignition, Conor didn't follow the other two out of the vehicle. He remained in the driver's seat and slammed the side of his fist against the steering wheel. Since Christmas, he'd been carrying guilt with him as Tommy spoke of his feelings for Aliana to him. Conor had so desperately wanted to come clean with the man about kissing Aliana, but he'd promised her he wouldn't say anything. He'd promised he wouldn't say or do a thing that would jeopardise her relationship with Tommy, if he were the man she chose to be with. Conor was upset about Tommy, but at the same time, he kept telling himself he wasn't allowed to be upset after what happened on Christmas Day.

Conor eventually got out of the car and made his way inside to seek out Aliana. Soon enough, he saw her, along with Jackson and Blake. The man rushed into the lounge, first giving his good friend, Jackson, a tight hug. "Mate, I'm really sorry," he said, rubbing the man's back. It was clear to see that Jackson had been through a very rough evening and he could only imagine how awful it had been for him trying to help their dying friend. Confident Blake was going to look after Jackson, Conor broke from the hug and turned his attention to Aliana. There could have been some awkwardness or tension between them, but under the circumstances, that was thrown aside. Aliana was clearly distraught and it wasn't the slightest bit surprising.

"Ali..." he began, his voice quivering as he forced himself to keep his emotions held back. The last thing she needed was to see him either crying or letting out his anger by yelling and smashing things up. He hadn't been there for her was Leo was injured, so he wanted to make sure he was there for her now. Regardless of what their relationship status was even meant to be, Aliana was his friend, not matter what. He placed his arms firmly on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Ali... What do you need?" he softly asked. He was clearly opening himself up. Whether she wanted a cuddle or to let some aggression out, he was happy to hug her or be her punchbag. He simply wanted to be there for her, this time.


Pyroclast (Syd) Shireling (Rudy) Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana) Enzyme (Jackson) Bellz (Blake)

Skye McKendrick​

Skye had been sick with a bad cold for over a week and not being able to do the things she normally did was really getting to her. She missed going for jogs and working out. She missed having the energy to teach and play with the children. She really missed being able to go out have fun with her sweetheart, Syd. Having started to get stir crazy stuck in her room at the Callahans' place, she'd carried out her duvet and set up a comfortable bed in front of the log fire. Jazz music from Sinead's record collection played quietly, so as not to enrage her ongoing migraine but audible enough to keep the young lady occupied.

Skye's forehead rested on one of her pillows as she laid on her stomach. Her eyes were closed as she thought about the Syd - the one person who was able to overtake her illness as the most important subject on her mind. Sure, many of her thoughts were about how much she loved and enjoyed being with Syd. More than that, she was spending the evening worrying about him. She didn't like to suffocate and coddle him, but she knew how much the failed job on Christmas Day had got to him. He'd seen one of the gang members die and was attacked himself. Knowing he was currently out on another job worried her. Perhaps Sinead's fretting had rubbed off on her or perhaps it was just natural to worry about someone she cared so much about. She just hoped Conor and Rudolph were looking out for him...

Pyroclast (Syd)

 

[Misty Gray]

Jared and Grace Armstrong​

Jared glanced to the frying pan in Faye's hand as she informed him that Jack had already called the house to warn her to stay safe indoors. That revelation gave Jared at least one point in favour of considering Jack a trustworthy man within the IWU. He reluctantly shook his head at mention of the Porters. "No, it wasn't them. This time, the Porters weren't behind the chaos and violence," he admitted. "Though Mr. Porter would likely have killed me right there had there not been witnesses..."

"Dad!" Grace interrupted, stepping aside from Faye and folding her arms. "You all treat me like I can't think for myself, but I know what I saw. He didn't kill you because he saw me watching. I know what I saw and he didn't want to hurt you in front of me. In fact, I'm not so sure I'm as afraid of him as you've told me to be. And what about that day at the parade..."

"Lily!" Jared firmly spoke her name. "This is not helping and you know better than to trust a gang of violent criminals."

Grace looked to the floor as her father berated, having rarely gotten into trouble with him to get used to being told off by him. Still, she felt she was in the right this time and her father was in the wrong as long as he stuck by the IWU. She snapped her head up with concern when her mother mentioned getting Quinn home and asked where he was headed. "He went out to meet Adam for dinner, but I don't remember where they were going," she explained. In honesty, when Quinn had told her where he was going her mind had been focused on figuring out how she would follow her father that evening. "I'm not sure, but I think he said it was an Italian place..." she trailed off, kicking herself for not paying attention. "I'll call Adam's place and see if he's back home. Or maybe his dad knows," she said, rushing off before anyone could argue.

"Lily. If Oliver is home, keep him on the line. I need to speak with him," Jared called out to his daughter. Oliver Morgan was one of his most loyal employees and he needed to inform him of what had transpired, as well as to warn him of the potential dangers from the snakes within the organisation.

Jared looked back to Faye and tried to gauge whether he should step closer to his wife, wanting to wrap a comforting arm around her. "The meeting was intended to be a peaceful one and the Porters seemed to be in agreement with that. Unfortunately, some of those within the IWU are still harbouring the need for extreme measures to fight for the cause. The same kind of insanity that I learned Ciara had been promoting," he explained. "I'm going to have to dig to find out which members of the organisation are responsible so I can remove them. I can't dismantle dangerous organisations such as James Porter's if there are dangerous people in the very organisation I speak for." He glanced to Grace as she stood impatiently waiting for someone to answer her call. He then looked back to Faye and rubbed his throbbing jaw, which was bound to bruise following James' punch. As much as he was questioning the true intentions and integrity of Porter, he had no choice but to continue maintaining the facade of the Porters being the only dangerous organisation in the city. "I don't know what Grace was doing there. She managed to get caught up in it at the same time as the shooting started. It sickens my stomach to think of our daughter in any pain."


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

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

When Brian informed the three men of Tommy's death, Syd didn't know how to respond. As they approached the house, he found himself looking at it in the same way he had after returning from the job on Christmas Day. Being such a warm, convivial and comfortable house, it almost seemed to demand a feeling of resulting comfort or reassurance when you walked through the door. However, Syd knew that, much like after the last attack, it would offer him little comfort tonight. The sight of it now filled him with a familiar sense of dread, as he pictured the grief and despair that would no doubt be going on behind the door. It was too hard to fathom that Tommy was gone just yet; Syd wasn't ready to see the faces of his friends and family mourning him. A heavy sensation had begun to form in his chest and when they reached the front porch he suddenly grabbed Rudy's arm.

"I'm not coming in," he said, his voice hollow and unsteady. "If anyone asks, let them know I've gone to see Skye."
When the door closed, he put out a hand blindly to one of the beams and leaned against it for a few minutes to give his whirring mind a chance to stabilise. He couldn't think straight enough to even let the fact sink in that another of their men had died in such a short space of time. He had put so much effort into getting over Alan's death, and now the helpless feeling was rising up inside of him all over again. It came as yet another reminder of his own mortality.

It wasn't until Conor walked past him to go inside that he remembered about going over to the Callahan's. It would be quieter there, he thought, and much less overwhelming. The door was unlocked so he let himself in, and instantly caught the sound of soft jazz music playing from down the hall. He took his shoes and coat off slowly and calmly, in an attempt to keep his emotions under control. Really, he was thinking about the pack of cigarettes in his coat pocket. But in the end, he chose not to indulge himself - having carried such a negative image of his birth parents with him his whole life, he had always hated the idea of getting addicted to anything. The past couple of weeks had just tested him and so recently he had found himself giving in to whatever helped prevent him from going under.

The ache in his chest intensified as he followed the sound of the music, and more still when he saw Skye lying all wrapped up on the floor beside the fire. He was suddenly overcome with an urge to cry. Instead, he made his way over to her and lay down beside her, propping himself up on one arm.

"Hey, you," he whispered, forcing himself to smile. He brought a hand to her forehead to feel her temperature. "How are you feeling?"

Interactions
Shireling Rudy
Misty Gray Skye

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan​

When George said that no one was here, attacking him, Peter nodded his head slowly. Something had happened to him that was far beyond his control. Peter's head hung as George also added that friends don't attack each other. George should have hated him but instead he continued to speak, voicing his concern. Peter's brows furrowed and he looked up to meet his cellmate's eyes. He wasn't use to this, the mental breakdown he was now having. He had spent so many years helping Sinead with her mental issues that he didn't take the time to evaluate himself. He broke so easily and he hadn't been here long. What would his wife and children think? How was he suppose to defend his family when he couldn't even defend himself. The man shook his head as George asked what happened, "I was back in the showers...and I was being attacked by those thugs all over again, I couldn't control it." He murmured. He was definitely in agreement that he needed some help, but when George went on to speak of his strength, Peter slowly shook his head. He didn't want to be a fighter. He would only fight when completely necessary...

There was a long silence between them before Peter responded to all the information and words George had said. "My wife...is very fragile like a tea cup. Physically and mentally at times. I've spent years, reading everything I could to understand what she was going through, how to help. I never realized that I was just as weak." A deep frown and a sigh came from him before he continued, "I've tried for years, to not be violent. I'm so different from everyone else in the Porter's gang, I'm sure I've been made fun of for it." At times like this, Peter missed his wife the most. He could imagine the warm smile she would give him, her amazing hugs, the way she told him that everything would be alright. God how he missed her. He regretted the way he had been acting with her during the visit, it wasn't him. He had to prove that he was strong enough for his love, for his children...if he couldn't then he could lose them for good if he wasn't careful.

Leaning back against the cool wall behind him, Peter looked at George. "I'm not going to do this for me, mate. None of this surviving that I will be doing is for me...its for my family that I have waiting for me outside of this shithole. You're right, I need help...a lot of it. I'm so sorry again, I don't know what came over me...and I will do my best to control it if it ever happens again." There was short pause before he asked, "So who can help me?"

with: George Misty Gray
mentions:

 

[Bellz]

Finn Sullivan​

Anything to escape that awkward encounter with his brother, Finn was hastily sweeping away at the mess he had made on the floor. Briefly he looked to the doorway in front of him to see if James or Lucy were nearby, he knew how much Lucy liked her glassware. He hadn't heard his brother step into the bar area until he spoke up, causing Finn to flinch slightly as he bent down to pick up the dust pan full of glass. He let out a nervous laugh, one that was accidentally a little too loud. His cheeks turned a bright pink color as he quickly shuffled over to the trash can and emptied the contents of the dust pan. Clearing his throat, he looked to his brother, trying his best to smile at his teasing. "Normally not this shaky." He murmured before his smile faded away. He definitely needed that drink now. Once again, with more steady hands, he grabbed a glass from the many shelves in the bar before looking through vast liquor collection that the Porter's had. Grabbing the strongest alcohol he could find, he filled the glass to the brim, taking a long drink once he put the bottle down.

Setting the glass down, he finally made eye contact with his brother. "Do you..ah..want a drink?" He asked, unable to keep eye contact for too long as he turned around and went to fetch another glass, regardless of his brother's answer. Anything to distract his mind at the moment. His brother was standing only a few feet away and yet Finn still felt empty and alone. The reminder of Maggie only made the wound bigger, oh how he missed his sister. At one point, he had missed Kennedy greatly, a hollow ache in his chest reminded him of such pain. He didn't know what to think or what to do...and he only wished his parents were around to give him advice. His thoughts rarely went to them nowadays, finding it too hard even now to think of them as if they were alive. They had been dead for so long. "So...Ken...where have you been?" In all honesty, Finn really didn't want to know what his brother had been up to this whole time. He had been wherever he was because he hadn't been with his family. Not to mention his choice of profession. As much as he tried to see the good in what he did, Finn also knew what a danger he could be to the rest of the family.

"I mean...I haven't seen you in, well, years. What could you have possibly been up to that was more important than being with your family?" The tone that came from Finn was one that he himself was not very familiar with. He was rarely angry. But as he lifted his glass to take another long gulp, that's how he truly felt. Angry. At everyone who had abandoned him.
with: Shannon Misty Gray ; Kennedy mpower
mentions:

 

[Bellz]

Faye Armstrong​

Faye tilted her head in confusion, this talk of the Porters being the good guys was something to be confused about. After everything she had heard about the gang, it would be hard to believe that they had suddenly changed. As her husband revealed that he could have been killed by Mr. Porter, her heart nearly stopped and she gasped, eyes going wide. They couldn't have been good people. Grace suddenly interrupted and stepped out of Faye's grasp. The woman took a step towards her daughter, eyes full of tears and concern. She looked at the wound on her arm and couldn't believe that her daughter had been put in danger. "Sweetie..." Faye said trying to calm her daughter down. She was speaking nonsense about Mr.Porter stopping because he had saw her. Faye was well aware that the gang boss hadn't a family but that was the most she knew about it. Faye looked to her husband with helplessness in her eyes as Grace spoke about not being afraid of Mr. Porter. She loved her daughter dearly but she had a way of getting herself into messes far too easily.

She was worried about her families well being, especially Quinn who was out somewhere, not protected. Faye looked to her daughter as Jared put a stop to her words. Awaiting an answer from anyone, Faye was about to speak up again when Grace provided an answer on where her brother was. "Please do call." Faye murmured to her before she rushed off. Faye wasn't sure how to feel at that moment in time. There was a lot of new information she had received and now she had the time to process it. Faye's eyes flickered to Jared as he watched her closely. The heavy weight and her hand reminded her that she was holding a pan. She felt like throwing it. Her anger boiling up inside her, angry that one of her children was hurt. instead of doing so however, she side stepped and placed the pan down on the ground. She didn't move back or step forward to embrace Jared, listening as he explained what had happened. Their was traitors within the IWU and that was a dangerous threat against Jared. Faye was overwhelmed and as her husband rubbed his jaw, she couldn't help but take a step forward.

As much as she wanted to be upset with him, he was sickened that Grace was hurt and Faye was sickened that they both were hurt. Without hesitating any longer, Faye closed the gap between herself and her husband and wrapped her arms around his neck, embracing him tightly standing up on her tiptoes. "I'm so glad you're okay." She said, her voice thick with tears.

with: Jared Misty Gray

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

Tommy was certainly family in everyone's eyes, and he would be truly missed. Lucy was thankful that her husband understood the feeling that she was having at the moment. Poor Tommy was looking forward to returning home to Ali, she was sure of it, and it only made things even sadder. Her husbands vow to make sure those responsible was both reassuring and a little bit frightening. As everything was when it came to the family business, there was anxiety. James was a determined man, especially when it came to those he care about. This determination was scary, because sometimes, he will stop at nothing to succeed. He was calculated in his plans, a brilliant leader but he too had his fatal flaws as he was only human. Comforted by him stroking her hair, Lucy listened on as her husband revealed how close he was to killing Armstrong. Lucy couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if James did kill Jared. It couldn't have all just ended so simply. Jared's death would only be the final nail in the coffin...

When James turned his head to look at the file on his desk, Lucy turned her head to briefly peek at it as well. It was very tragic what happened to Tommy's parents. The poor lad has lost them to early in life and now, he joined them. Lucy's bottom lip trembled slightly, feeling horrible for the young man and Ali, they would never be together...the whole conversation on who she should choose...she would never have the opportunity to decide. Tears fell down her cheeks as her husband took a deep breath. Lucy sniffled lightly as James expressed how lucky he was to have her, wrapping his arms around her. She felt safe inside his embrace, relieved that he had lived to see another day. As am I to have you. This family would fall apart without you James." She murmured into his neck before kissing it lightly. "Thank you for keeping yourself safe and always coming home to me." She whispered. "I love you."
with: James Misty Gray

 

[Misty Gray]

Skye McKendrick​

When Syd laid down next to her and whispered into her ear, Skye roll over onto her back from her curled up position on her side. A groggy smile smile took over her lips as she felt his hand touch her forehead. She was very relieved to see him back and in one piece, having spent the day worrying due to what happened on his last big job. She wasn't a worrier but she felt she had perfectly good reason to be concerned about him this time. "I can finally breathe again and the sore throat has just about gone, so I'm feeling better," she told him. "I just wish the headache would leave now," she grumbled.

"But, you're home and safe, so that's brightened up my day," she said, smiling brightly as she reached her hand up to stroke his cheek. "How did the job go, babe? Seeing as you're not covered in blood and you're here with me, I can only assume it went well," she guessed. However, she still felt there was something hiding beneath his smile and this forced a sadness to form in her own eyes. "I know you're still upset about Alan, but there's nothing more you could have done for him, Syd. I know I've been out of it since getting sick, but just tell me how I can make you feel better," she softly offered to him. She didn't have a clue about Tommy's death, so she could only link Syd's sadness to what had happened on Christmas Day.

Pyroclast (Syd)

 

[Misty Gray]

George Sanderson​

George listened as Peter explained his mind had taken him back to the day he was attacked in the showers and that he couldn't control what he was seeing. "Sounds like what happened that evening is weighing heavy on your mind. I'm really sorry it's stuck with you in such a bad way," he said. The natural advice would be to tell his cellmate he needed to speak to someone who was an expert in the field of mental troubles, but he knew that was easier said than done in prison. There was always the chance of saying too much and then implicating the guilty parties, which was one of the worst rules to break for a prisoner. One would have a death wish to grass on a fellow prisoner, even if unintentional.

When he heard of how fragile Peter's wife was, a frown took over George's face. He figured it must have been really difficult for both Peter and Sinead, being separated from each other for so long. "You're not weak. I've seen prisoners crumble in a short time and under less pressure than you've been placed under. You might lack the physical strength, but you seem like a fighter. Just don't let that crazy shit going on in your head take over. Your sentence is relatively short and you have a whole bunch of good reasons on the outside for you to fight for. I'm not saying you have to become violent, but you have to be ready to defend yourself if you need to. Unfortunately, violence may be the only way."

George faintly smiled when Peter seems to come around to the idea of taking him up on his offer. Although he pointed out it wasn't for his own survival, George simply accepted it. Peter's family seemed to be his motivator and in turn they could unknowingly help the man survive the next four months. "Apology accepted. Just don't go using me as a punchbag outside of recreation time," he pointed out, barely managing a smile. "I think Dale could help you. You might have seen him about. Big guy, looks like he could snap your neck just by looking at you, and spends his recreation time in the gym," he remarked, his dry tone making it clear he knew Peter probably hadn't stepped foot in the exercise room. "I've helped him out a couple of times but have yet to call in a favour from him in return..." he explained. "Though I'm probably giving myself too much credit. The bloke actually came here asking for you not long after you ended up back in the infirmary. Apparently he has contacts within your lot so he might not need much persuading from me anyway," he remarked, referring to the Porters. "Just remember. He's not going to go fighting your battles for you and imagine you have too much integrity to ask him to."

Bellz (Peter)
Pyroclast ??

 

[mpower]

Kennedy Sullivan​

Today seemed a busy day for Kennedy's eyebrows, judged by the sight of them still being raised as his brother answered him. Finn seemed to get the broken glass together and disposed of rather fast, he did not intend to help, rather keeping his distance, for now, to evaluate his brother further on. After all Finnian was nervous, his voice went up and down, it almost reminded him of their days back when they were kids, his behaviour and way of talking right now, seemingly his presence made Finnian confused, which did not upset Kennedy really, but still left an unspoken weight on his heart, something he first tried not to have on his first encounter with his brother for years.

Surely he sent him letters once in a while, but those were vague and usually not really personal, a rushed mixture of set phrases and brotherly stereotypical questions, exchangeable with anyone else's letter to their brother. Not speaking of his sister, as he always thought she'd stayed with her younger brother, which lead him to write to "them" always and not to each of them individually.

As his brother reached for the alcoholic beverage, a smirk formed up on Ken's face, not really joyful or humorous as the ones before, because of the undertone this action had. This could only signal that his sibling was either in stress and used alcohol to compensate, or was one who grabs the bottle at least twice a day. The former was most likely.
Kennedy was the opposite, as his brother was previously not establishing much eye contact, his own eyes were pinned on the man in front of him, trying to catch up every positive or negative detail, analysing his behavioural patterns already. "Thanks, but no, I am not drinking alcohol, only on feasts or bigger events", he redirected his hands to his hips, shoving them into each side as he was still standing in the doorway.
A sigh escaped his lips as the topic finally got cracked open, the question of where he had been and for the reason of the absence of him from his family. Now Kennedy broke up the eye contact and looked down on the floor for a brief moment, letting silence flow through the room, except the possible sipping sounds of Finnian. The anger in the voice of his brother made itself apparent, and Kennedy couldn't really blame him, he felt guilty and bad in general, looking at his brother like that, having to meet him and approach him like a foreigner again.

After all he looked up, with a crooked smile planted on his face, answering: "I've been here and there, Europe and UK, multiple professions...you know 'em all....my present one as well...even though I'd appreciate it if you let me tell the rest personally...but now I am back, to the place where I belong to." A small pause occurred as he tried to stammer together the hard truth: "Look...I know you're angry...but I had no other choice over the years." A small glimmer of sadness hushed over his eyes, them unfocusing for a second as he started trying to emphasise with the emotions of his brother.

Bellz , Finnian

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

The comfort that he was sure he wouldn't have found in his own home was right there in Skye's eyes. Syd looked into them desperately, knowing that the light would disappear from them the second he told her the news. He was glad at least that she seemed to be feeling a bit better. "Good enough for me," he lightly joked, and leaned in to plant a kiss on her lips. But there was a slight awkwardness in the way he moved, his body stiff from fighting to rein in his emotions. His eyes dropped to the floor in front of him as he strained to focus on what she was saying. "It was fine," he nodded. Normally he would have said more, but it felt strange to talk about it now; going on a successful job had filled him with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction and helped to reassure him that not all jobs would end as disastrously as his first. In fact, it sickened him to think he had felt good about it, now knowing that the meeting - which he knew was supposed to be peaceful - had ended in such tragedy.

Her mention of Alan shook him slightly, and he very nearly lost his composure. It was obvious how it had affected him in the weeks since his death, but Syd still didn't like to talk about it. Instead he pretended he couldn't see the way people acted around him, as if to convince himself he was doing a better job at pretending to be fine than he actually was. But every now and then someone brought attention to it and though deep down he appreciated their concern, on the surface he still wished they would go along with his facade.

He could feel his breathing get harder and harder to control as Skye went on. She was so kind to him he couldn't bear it. Part of him wanted to leave her in peace, feeling guilty for ever letting her see him like this, but another part of him needed her there. Soon the grief welling up inside of him became too much to handle, and he curled up against her, pulling her into him so she wouldn't see the tears fall from his eyes. It broke his heart that she didn't know what was going on, but he had to give himself a few minutes to address the pain before he was able to speak.
"I don't know," he whispered. The weakness in his voice made him hold her even tighter, burying his face into her shoulder to stifle the sobs that escaped him. "We lost Tommy."

Interactions
Misty Gray Skye

 

[Misty Gray]

Skye McKendrick​

Skye grinned when Syd leaned into her so the pair could kiss each others' lips. She always felt a wave of happiness overcome her when she was in his company, having never believed she would find someone who would want to get so close to her. Years of being told by those in the orphanage she would amount to nothing and would never find anyone willing to care about her had been thrown out of the window now she had Syd in her life. Regardless, those thoughts didn't stop her from noticing the young man still wasn't quite himself and it saddened her to see how badly he was taking Alan's death. She wished there was some way she could make it all okay again.

Syd then curled up with her and pulled her in close, bringing a content smile to her face as she closed her eyes. She could never grow tired of being held in his arms. She let out a small sigh as Syd said he wasn't sure what she could do to tell. There was a fragile tone to his voice and it left he wishing there was something she could do, but she knew she couldn't bring back the dead and she couldn't turn back time. If she could, she would have begged Syd not to go out on that job on Christmas Day.

Skye heard Syd say they'd lost Tommy. She didn't react at first, questioning in her head if she'd misheard what had been said. As she realised she wasn't mistaken, her eyes shot open wide and she pulled away a little so she could turn her head to look to Syd's face. "Tommy's dead?" she quietly asked. "How... how can that be? Surely not sweet Tommy..." Skye sat up and beckoned for Syd to do the same. She was shocked and saddened by the revelation, but she made sure she held herself together, for Syd's sake. "Come here..." she said, pulling her boyfriend in for a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, Syd. I'm so sorry another good man is gone," she softly told him. Although silent tears rolled down her cheeks, she was able to keep herself composed as she tried to comfort and reassure Syd.


Pyroclast (Syd)

 

[Misty Gray]

Jared and Grace Armstrong​

Jared's eyes fixed on the frying pan that Faye was still holding. For a short time, he was convinced she would throw it at him and so he remained on the spot so as not to trigger her to do so. Thankfully, she placed the pan down on the floor and Jared was reassured his face wasn't going to take any further blows that night. The faintest of smiles crossed his lips as Faye took a step towards him. Then, she moved even closer and wrapped her arms around him so they could embrace. He wrapped her arms around her waist and softly kissed her lips. He was pleased to hear her show concern about him being okay. Of course he was aware of how much he kept from his wife and the lies he had to tell her to hide his true role within the IWU, but he felt he did it to protect her and to protect their marriage. He loved Faye and didn't want to lose her. She and their kids were what stopped him from giving in completely to his dark side. Jared was sure he'd lose himself completely without them.

"I'm fine, my love," he assured her, gently rubbing her back. "This was an isolated incident and I will be having words with those responsible. I won't have them undermine me and risk wasting all of the hard work the IWU has done for the people." He took a deep breath. "Quinn will be home soon and we're all going to be fine. Grace is just shook up... Though I would like to know why on Earth she thought it would be a good idea to follow me," he said, his tone stern but concerned.

Bellz (Faye)

 

[Fletchawk]

Alexander Quinn Armstrong
​

Looking at the now mostly empty plate, Quinn was taking his time thinking about what he should say next whilst Adam's accusations danced in the back of his mind. He knew the fish was supposed to have been more flavorful, and yet he could barely taste it. Had their dinner gone differently, Quinn might have complained, but he had neither the inclination or the energy to deal it.

What he really wanted, no, needed was something to prove whether these assertions were true or not. Adam wasn't able readily write things into stone, but everything he said also fit eerily into place with the information that he'd obtained from the public's eye and gave reason for the rather personal sounding message that had been sent along the 'gift'. He wanted firm answers, but he knew that to acquire them would likely be risky. Even if Adam acted as a liaison, Quinn didn't particularly like entertaining the idea of meeting someone from such an ethically skewed family. Especially since he knew what they were capable of, but also because they believed that his father wronged them.

Quinn played with the last bit of fish on the plate in an attempt to thoroughly souse it for extra flavor while he spoke, "I doubt I have the choice to distance myself even if I wanted to. While I still have no intentions of hiding away, I'm not looking to rush towards those that might do me harm either. So, perhaps we shall put off the meet and greet until after I know exactly what is happening, yes?" With a bit of effort, Quinn mustered a roguish grin before finishing the last of his meal.

"That being said, I'm afraid dessert is not exactly appealing to me tonight, so how about we wrap this up? As much as I would like to catch up, I fear the evening has soured under such heavy subjects. Perhaps, another time? Along with a few ground rules to avoid a something similar, of course," he said as he signalled the waitress for the check. Quinn didn't like leaving on such short notice, but he felt the need to mull over the information and Little Sicily wasn't the proper locale for such a thing. He also need to figure out exactly where he stood on his friendship with Adam, not something he felt he could do in the man's presence.

After leaving enough plus a little extra with the cheque, Quinn bid Adam a good evening and made his way to street. Thankful that he picked a light meal as he still felt a bit nauseous, he decided against walking home in the dark since he no longer felt as brazen as he did earlier and made first attempt at hailing a cab.

* * *​

Although it took a few attempts, Quinn was able to get home in short order.

Wanting to be alone with his thoughts, Quinn had intended to make his way quietly to his room. He saw his parent entwined in an embrace and was going to make no attempt to interpret them and one of their moments. However, the tailend of his father's words caused him to pause. The thought of his sister being shook up agitated a mix of curiosity and concern, and so instead of continuing quietly to his sanctum, Quinn leaned against the opening to the room and cleared his thought to announce his presence. "The prodigal son returns. Now, what's this I hear about Lily being shaken up?" his voice held a bit facetious humor at first but became more suspect with the inquiry.

There were things he wanted to know of his father, but had decided to not confront the matter during the cab ride home since it would leave it little obvious as to the source of such accusations. Beside, his sister was more pressing concern for the moment.

Pyroclast [Adam] neverbackdown [Eavesdropper] Misty Gray [Jared] Bellz [Faye]

 

[Fletchawk]

Ryan Donahue
​

When Sinead told him not to hide away, Ryan felt sheepish since that had been exactly what he had been doing and it was very possible that he would have sought to do so again. He still wasn't sure if he could fulfill her demand as they tended to be more difficult than they initially seemed, but Ryan nodded in response anyways.

The cane, while making his stride shorter, it was much smoother as he followed Sinead into the manor. Having used it to visit the local corner store for medicine, he gotten rather proficient with it and didn't have to focus much on its use.

The scene inside was severe to be sure. Tommy's woman was a frightful sight in itself, but the added mood of the others in the room made the air thick with emotion. Which was something Ryan had currently had his fill of for the night. Besides, as much as he wanted to do something, he knew there wasn't much he could do to sate the thirst for revenge in her eyes. For now, anyways.

Not wanting to get caught up in the grief, Ryan moved on and was in front of the door to James' study. Since Jackson had been dealing with Ms. Cartwright and he didn't really want to talk about what happened without some kind of follow up, he avoided the lawyer that was there.

Ryan took a full minute to steel himself before knocking on the stylized oaken door and then waited a full ten count before opening the door. "Sir," it was darker than usual and he was about to wonder if the man had already retired for the evening when the figure of Mrs. Porter stood out, illuminated by the light of the desk lamp. "I'm just here to let you know that Sinead is back safely. If now is a bad time..."


Misty Gray [Sinead, James] Bellz [Lucy]
Mentions: Melanin-Gxdess [Aliana] Enzyme [Jackson] Shireling [Aldous]

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

With the way that the news had affected him and presumably everyone else back at his house, Syd had been dreading Skye's reaction. The thought of making her sad was so terrible to him, even if, like in this case, it wasn't his fault. When she pulled away to look at him, his first instinct was to turn his face into the floor, not wanting to see her pained expression nor her to see his. But despite the state he was in, he wanted to acknowledge her response properly, so he looked into her eyes when she addressed him.
"I don't know," he repeated, mirroring her when she sat up. "I haven't been home yet. I just wanted to see you."

Syd untangled the duvet between them so that they could sit closer, and let Skye pull him into a secure embrace. He wasn't used to crying like this, at all. But there was something in the way Skye held him that coaxed all his bottled up anguish to the surface, all the pain he had felt for Alan and now for Tommy, and he couldn't hold it back anymore. As his brain sped through possible explanations for Tommy's death, haunting images of the men from the ambush flashed across his mind. He hadn't realised how overbearing it had been to keep it all buried, how much it had exhausted him. Now that that barrier between them had collapsed, he found himself sobbing uninhibitedly in her arms. Her kind words stung as the reality sunk in deeper, the one Syd had been denying to himself since Christmas: that the family business wasn't just a game of monopoly, claiming territory and running businesses and climbing ladders. The power that his family had maintained in Dublin over the years came at a price. Syd thought back briefly to when his dad had first offered to train him; he had wondered if assuming a role in the business would rob him of his innocence, his playfulness, his carefree nature. At times like this, it certainly seemed to be the case. And yet, he wouldn't even consider backing out now. The IWU had killed and hurt too many people for him to step down - from Syd's point of view, it was them that had made their feud so personal. If anything, it would drive him to help out with business further. He just needed to learn to cope with loss. After all the training his father and uncle had given him, they had never touched on how to deal with the after effects of a traumatic job.

As this realisation came to him, he finally managed to pull himself together enough to break away from Skye's embrace and look into her eyes. With the worst of his breakdown now over, he gradually grew concious of the slow, gentle jazz music that still played in the background. It helped to pacify his mind, which suited him since he now lacked the energy to address the fresh anger he felt towards the IWU anyway. He raised an unsteady hand to her cheek to wipe away her tears. Then, closing his eyes, he rested his forehead against hers and said quietly, "I love you."

Interactions
Misty Gray Skye

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter​

James managed a small smile when Lucy whispered to him, telling him she loved him. "I love you too, Luce." He was always thankful that he had her in his life to calm and reassure him. Without her, he was certain he would be on a far different path. Before he fell in love with Lucy, he knew that path was a cold, brutal and solitary one. Whilst he would love nothing more than to put a bullet between the eyes of those who had harmed his friends and family, he knew the old James would have attacked the IWU indiscriminately, with no remorse nor concern for the body count he would leave behind. He was certain of that because it was what he did back in Chicago, when he would have laughed at the absurd thought of him ever running the mob. There was even a time when he wouldn't have hesitated to kill Alex, wanting to wipe out as many Romanos as he could. Lucy had opened his eyes and allowed him to show compassion, even for those tied to his enemies. Still, he couldn't help but wonder now. What if during his time in Chicago, as a relentless hitman, he'd killed a 'Tommy'? A decent young man who had fallen on hard times and pledged loyalty to the Romanos to survive?

The knocking at the door snapped James out of his thoughts and he managed to squeeze in a gentle kiss on Lucy's lips before he expected the door to be opened. When it was, James looked ahead to see Ryan standing in the doorway. Not wanting the man to feel awkward and also wanting his wife comfortable, James helped Lucy to her feet as he too stood up. He then offered his wife his chair at the desk before he switched on a couple of floor lamps to give his office more illumination. He then beckoned for Ryan to step deeper into his office, assuming he would advise if he wanted to discuss anything in private rather than with Lucy present.

"Thanks, mate," he said, upon hearing Sinead had been brought home safely. He rounded his desk and leaned back against it so he could speak directly with Ryan. "I hope she didn't cause you too much stress. We all know how Sinead can get if she's in one of her stubborn moods," he pointed out, turning back to Lucy briefly. Having had to escort a younger Sinead home on Emmet's words many times in Chicago, James knew how much of a fuss she could kick up if she was in such a frame of mind. Still, he expected the news about Tommy might have aided in her willingness to return home. "How are you doing?" he asked, visibly acknowledging the cane Ryan had with him. "I am grateful for all of your help here in Dublin. I'm just sorry you ended up getting injured along the way." James tried to gauge if Tommy's death was weighing heavy on Ryan too. Much like himself, James had Ryan down as someone who wasn't overly enthusiastic about being expressive with their emotions. So whilst he was sure Tommy's death affected him, he expected Ryan would only speak up about it if he was ready and willing to. Regardless, James would gladly listen to the man if he did want to share how he felt about it. That was something else he had to thank Lucy for, as she was the only person he felt comfortable enough with to fully share his upset over losing Tommy.

Fletchawk (Ryan) Bellz (Lucy)

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan​

Although his cellmate was telling him to his face that he wasn't weak, Peter still didn't want to believe him. For years, being with Sinead and her family had taken some getting use to. He was far different from the likes of her brother and brother in law. They could fight for themselves, fight for others. Peter was never much of a fighter. George was sitting here telling him he was one...maybe it was a different kind of fight. The relief was plain as could be on Peter's face as George continued to speak to him, even helping him stay afloat in a place like this. His apology was excepted and Peter managed a small smile in return to George's. Peter made a silent vow to himself that he would help George once he was on the outside, as he helped him in here. The man would need a support group once he was out, and although George had family, Peter knew that it would be a gamble if they were to support him.

George informed him of the muscle who would be able to help him survive in prison for the next four months. Dale was his name and Peter hoped he didn't look as intimidating as he sounded. The man tried to remember seeing such a man around but couldn't put his thumb on the image. Peter's nose scrunched at hearing that the man spent his time in the gym. He hadn't stepped foot inside that place since he arrive and he hadn't been planning on stepping foot in there at all...things were definitely going to change for him. Peter's brows shot up as George explained that Dale had been looking for him, mentioning that the man had contacts within the Porter gang. Someone who didn't want to punch him in the face just for being associated with the gang sounded like a good guy to Peter. "Got it." Peter said once George finished by telling him that Dale wouldn't fight Peter's battles for him. There was a brief silence before Peter spoke again, "Thank you George. Really. Again." Peter knew that without someone who offered such kindness, he would have been dead...or worse. "You will always have a place with my family if you ever need it. And any favor you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Knowing his brother in law and the rest of the bunch, he knew that if George needed a hand, they would back him up for Peter. Leaning his head back against the wall, he looked up to the ceiling. He only had four more months here, and then he would never have to return again...or at least he would do his very best not to. Sinead and the kids were the only thing that was keeping him breathing at this point, the only motivation he had left. He had spent some time dwelling on the past and with the strange hallucination that brought him back to the showers, he knew he could dwell no longer. "I don't know how you've done it, mate." Peter dropped his head to gaze at George a moment before returning it to the ceiling. "This sentence seems like forever but compared to yours..."

with: George Misty Gray
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