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

[Misty Gray]

Chapter 12: Devil in Disguise
Monday 11th January 1960
Evening - Cold, Frosty, Clear skies
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Garda Station
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Detective Stephen Donnelly

Donnelly stood at his desk as he was handed a file by one of the police officers who had made an arrest just a few hours ago. He quickly read through the report, shaking his head as he did. "That's an awful lot of drugs for anyone working for the Ballymun brothers, don't you think?" he asked, glancing up to the cop.

"Do you think he's shifting it for the Porters?"

"Why would I think that?" Donnelly asked, handing the paperwork back to the young officer. Whilst the Detective favoured the Porters over the rest of Dublin's scum and found it useful to have James on side, that wasn't his reason for brushing off the cop's assumption. "The Ballymuns don't like the Porters and that feeling's mutual. They're not going to start selling gear for them and this doesn't fit the the Porters' usual behaviours. I will look into it and see who's really pulling the strings on this one. In the meantime, you get back into the interview room and keep at him. Chances are he won't intentionally give you anything useful, but the Ballymuns aren't known for their intelligence, so there's a chance he'll let something slip accidentally."

Donnelly grabbed his coat and slotted his firearm into its holster at his hip as he prepared to head out onto a separate case. As he walked towards the exit, he noticed Detective Sullivan who was finishing up his shift for the day. Donnelly knew of Kennedy's familial relationship to the Sullivans and therefore potential ties to the Porters. Given his own on and off alliance with James Porter, Donnelly believed his colleague could be an asset to helping keep the city under control. The Porters were criminals and thugs, but they were the lesser evil when it came to the city's corruption and James seemed to show more humanity than the other rats crawling out of the woodwork.

"Have a good evening, Sullivan," Donnelly told the man. He stopped at the door, keeping his hand rested on the handle whilst he turned to face his colleague. "Sadly, my shift doesn't end for a few hours yet... I think we could both find it beneficial if we discuss some of our related case files the next time we're both down here," he suggested. Once Kennedy had responded, Donnelly headed out to his police car, signalling for one of the cops on duty to join him.


mpower (Kennedy)

Porters House
​

Shannon and Arlene Sullivan

Shannon had been enjoying a smoke in peace when Arlene joined her in the conservatory, doing nothing to hide the irritation from her pretty young face. The older woman sat back on the sofa and took a long drag of the cigarette as she glared at the blonde who had sat herself on the opposite seat. "Fuck sake, Arlene. You've got a face like a slapped arse. You haven't cracked a bloody smile since your disappearing act at Christmas."

"I suppose I didn't expect Dublin to be so boring, Aunt Shannon," Arlene pointed out as she glanced towards the window. The lack of work from James was certainly a driving force for her boredom, but her mind was also still on Carter. That 'beady-eye bastard', who also happened to have presented her with one of the most meaningful gifts she'd ever been given. It wasn't just the music box that caused her to feel conflicted about the man, but it had been the conversations they had and the similar dark pasts they'd endured. The man also happened to be a fine dancer. Shocking taste in women's clothing, but a smooth dancer, nonetheless. It could be easy to get lost in those thoughts, but Arlene had other concerns she would voice to Shannon. "It seems like everyone's out working whilst I'm sat her bored to tears... Really, a meeting between our family and the IWU? They're all too stubborn to come to any agreement and nothing good will come of it. James should have invited me along to stop it from turning into a dick measuring contest..."

"Jesus... Stop bloody whinging before I slap you so hard you'll end up back in New York!" Shannon impatiently stubbed out her cigarette into the silver ashtray. "Here's what we're going to do, Arlene. You're going to get a shower and get dressed up. I'm expecting Kennedy any minute and I promised I'd help him settle in until his dear brother Finnian returns home from the prison. Once he does get back, you and I are going out for drinks. No arguments, darling!"

Once Arlene had left her alone, Shannon lit up another cigarette and sat back in her seat as she listened out of the doorbell which would signal Kennedy's arrival...


mpower (Kennedy)
Mentions: Enzyme (Carter) Bellz (Finn)







Callahan Children

Tommy had asked Aliana to meet him at the Porters house so he could spend some time with her and perhaps even take her for that dinner they'd discussed at Christmas. However, one thing had led to another and Tommy had found himself agreeing to attend the meeting with James and the others. He'd promised Aliana he'd be back before the evening was done so they could at least have a few drinks and a chat together.

The children were being looked after by Lucy but had also begged Aliana to stick around too as they were all very fond of Sinead's friend. Soon enough, Emery was fast asleep on the main living room sofa and Braden was alone in the kitchen playing with his colouring books. Savannah popped herself next to Aliana and when she mistakenly thought Lucy wasn't listening, the child decided to ask something that had been on her mind for some time. "Ali, do you have two boyfriends?" she asked. "I saw you kissing my Uncle Conor, but I thought Tommy was your boyfriend. I think they're both pretty cool," she trailed off, not realising she may have said too much, too loudly...

Bellz (Lucy) Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana)

Dublin County Prison
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George Sanderson

George hadn't managed to sleep well over the last three nights, due to the fact he'd been forced to try sleeping on the freezing floor of the cold, dark cell, with only a thin blanket to curl up beneath. Solitary confinement, or "the hole", was the worst place a prisoner could be thrown into within the walls of the jail. No light, no heat and certainly no company. For a sociable person like George, the lack of human interaction was probably worse than the horrific conditions of the tiny, windowless room he'd been suffering in for the last few days. This wasn't the first time he'd found himself in solitary confinement, but it never got any easier. George hadn't meant to get into trouble, but it wasn't always easy to avoid in prison. He'd been working in the kitchen when three prisoners sneaked in to beat another man to an inch of his life. The wardens didn't believe George's story that he hadn't seen anything and when Officer Frost persisted to drag information out of him, George ended up using profanity to tell the warden where to go with his accusations. Long story short, Frost had never liked George and the prisoner was now suffering in the small, damp cell. Still, the alternative would be much worse and George knew if he'd told the wardens anything about the attack, he'd be in the infirmary or even dead by now. Squealers rarely survived.

George finished forcing down the food that had gone cold long before it reached him. It was probably a good thing it was too dark to see what he was eating as whoever had been working in the kitchen during his absence was an appalling cook. He placed the empty tray in the hatch, ready to be collected and taken away by the staff. Right now, he'd settle for even a conversation with one of the wardens. As he thought about human interactions, he once again found his thoughts returning to his cellmate. He hadn't seen Peter since the brutal beating he'd received on Christmas Day, at the hands of Darius and his friends. George wondered if Peter was out of hospital yet and was eager to see the man again, believing him to be a decent guy despite his mob affiliations.

George was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard footsteps down the basement corridor and then the sound of jingling keys approaching. The powerful voice boomed from outside the cell for George to stand back against the wall. Soon enough, the door was unlocked and pushed open, allowed the light from the corridor to burst into the dark cell. It wasn't that bright, but still seemed to blind George for a moment as his eyes had already grown so used to the pitch blackness of the cell. Any complaints he would voice were pushed aside when the guard informed him his punishment was over and he was to shower before seeing his visitor. It had been a few weeks since he'd last seen any of his family, so the news managed to bring an overdue smile to his face.

The shower had been surprisingly warm and George felt like he was defrosting beneath the water. It wasn't long before it ended and the prisoner was led back to his cell. George stepped inside and the first thing he did was toss himself down on the mattress, his aching back enjoying the soft landing beneath it. "I never thought I'd appreciate this grubby bed, Peter," he finally spoke up, turning his head to look to his cellmate. He looked the man over for a moment, checking to see if he'd recovered well from his terrible beating. "Am I glad to see you... How long have you been out of the hospital?" he asked. "You alright?"

"Callahan! Sanderson!" a voice called from the corridor. "Visiting time. You've got five seconds to join the line," he bluntly warned them.

"Oh, thank God..." George said, rushing to his feet and ignoring his backache. "I bet you're looking forward to seeing your wife... I hope she brought her cousin with her," he joked, raising a suggestive eyebrow. He then wiped the smile from his face as he joined the queue and began walking to the visiting room with everyone else...


Sinead Callahan

Sinead had tried to keep herself busy since Christmas, hoping to get the next few months out of the way as soon as possible and finally have her husband back home. Really, all her plan had managed to do was make her more exhausted and so she'd spent less time over at Lucy's house than everyone was used to. In addition to looking after the children and the furry addition known as Ozzy, Sinead had also been spending more time at the Jazz Club, hoping taking an active role would distract her from the whirlwind of emotions that was constantly occupying her mind. As well as managing the club, she was also looking to get herself some gigs lined up thanks to something Savannah had recently said to her. The child had become obsessed with the roller skates Conor had bought her for Christmas. The explanation the child gave her mother was that doing the things she was good at and the things she enjoyed made her feel happier whenever she felt sad. Aside from making Sinead realise how much Peter's absence was affecting the children, it also made her realise she needed to do some nice things for herself to help ease her own aching heart. Singing always helped in the past.

With Skye sick and resting in her room at the Callahans house, the three children were staying at the Porters place for the evening to allow Sinead and Finn to visit Peter. The two cousins hadn't seen Peter since before Christmas as visits had been cancelled every time something big kicked off on his prison wing, some of which Sinead was unaware related directly to her husband being beaten up by the other prisoners. Today was the second time Sinead had been searched by the prison staff and it felt just as uncomfortable as it had the first time. Still, she'd decided not to dress down on today's visit as she felt Peter would want to see her in her usual clothes. Therefore, she'd put on a pretty yellow dress, a pair of heels and had made an extra effort to style her hair. She hoped the bright colours would bring them both a little light today.

As they stood waiting to be let into the visiting room, Sinead linked her arm with Finn's and stood close to him. "How am I going to stop myself from running in there and jumping right on top of Petey? I miss hugging him and being held in his arms..." she trailed off. She knew she couldn't go ahead with her desires as she would most likely be removed from the visiting room before she could have any time with Peter. She let out a sigh before looking up to Finn, knowing he'd not been having a great time himself lately due to his troubles with Eleanor. "I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately, Teddy. How are you feeling, honey? I don't like to see you down. We're both loving souls with big hearts and I know how much it can hurt to feel alone. You deserve to be so, so happy and the World will realise that," she softly reassured her cousin.

Bellz (Peter, Finn)

Currently Active Cast: Misty Gray Bellz Enzyme Melanin-Gxdess Pyroclast Fletchawk Shireling mpower
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Shireling - Enzyme will follow up with a couple more scenes which will feature Jared, Jack, Carter, Evan, James, Jackson, Alduos, Tommy... and Syd, Rudy, Conor.
Pyroclast Fletchawk - I believe you are planning the Adam and Quinn scene which Pyro will introduce.
Bellz Melanin-Gxdess - I'll leave Lucy and Aliana in your hands.

 

[Fletchawk]

Alexander Quinn Armstrong
Little Sicily
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The face of Quinn's wristwatch glinted when he glanced at it. He had arrived fairly early and so Quinn was standing in the small waiting area, looking out past a glass pane with his reflection seemingly staring back at him. The sleeve of his suit jacket slipped over the watch as his hand returned to idle in his pocket and Quinn wondered absentmindedly when Adam would arrive. He had not seen the man since the Christmas party and Quinn wasn't as social he should have been due to the unexpected 'present' from the Porters.

Although Quinn stayed close to home during the holidays, he had decided that he would not be cowed by the Porter's gesture once the initial shock wore off. He knew this parents were not taken by the idea of him roaming the streets on his own but Quinn had grown to feel suffocated and he considered the risk worth his freedom. Still, the feeling that someone may come for his life was discomforting at best.

The event hadn't exactly haunted Quinn but he often thought about the now embedded memories and the message they carried. Not wanting it stain his evening, Quinn closed his eyes and breathed deep to expel the thoughts from his mind. Now is not the time for that, he chided himself. Quinn had not the chance to catch up with Adam at the party since his sibling seemed quite captivated by the man and as she needed the distraction, he did not intrude. So Quinn gave Adam a call a few days after and they decided to do so over dinner.

Quinn's eyes refocused on the dark street outside when he saw a familiar figure step into the light cast on the sidewalk from the restaurant. A smile reflexively spread across his face when he confirmed Adam's identity but didn't move until the man walked through the door of the establishment they had chosen to have dinner at. Forcing his face into somewhat of a scowl, he approached Adam, voicing disdain as he tapped his watch. "Mr. Morgan. You're late."

He managed to keep the facade for a few seconds before he chuckled lightly and the smile returned to his face, "How are you, Adam?" he inquired as they both walked towards the hostess booth. "Welcome to Little Sicily!" The visually appealing young woman with dark hair said cheerfully, mostly to Adam as Quinn had already been greeted when he arrived not long ago. "Would you like to check your coats before you're seated at your table, sirs?" Quinn merely nodded and handed over the coat that had been tucked in the crook of his arm, not being particularly interested in the lady, before the two men were escorted to their table.

Pyroclast [Adam]

 

[mpower]

Kennedy Sullivan
Garda Station




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Kennedy was exhausted, to say at least. His arms were hanging down and his shoulder barely kept themselves straightened into his usual posture. After all, a Detective of his status had to keep up a certain image in public, confidence and dominance were important, even if totally sucked out of energy. His shift, one of many, took its tributes. One junkie arrested and put into an interrogation room to get the dealer's ID or any contact established, a usual system he had to follow to get his grips on bigger fishes, and one homicide case without any further progress after one week.

Usually, he headed back to his small apartment in the outskirts of Dublin, his 1956 Dodge Coronet and the wind blowing through the opened windows were the usual companions during his travel Today though was a different day.
His absence from the family cut a hole in his heart. The lack of social friends not helping that case. Now, after a dozen years of not seeing his relatives, it was time for him to go home, even if "home" is considered to be Dublin now.

Career and history put aside, he had to be a useful asset for them, or at least attempt it. After all, the corruption in this area is already infecting everyone, working for the family was no longer a crime and no one in this godforsaken PD had the right to judge him. Trembling with these thoughts, mid changing of clothes, his partner Donnelly interrupted his inner monologue of confused and mixed emotions, made him stop and turn his attention to him. The Sullivan member could spare a simple nod for him, not being a man of many words, as usual, he simply answered him with a:

"Gotta do your duty, Donny, good luck out there...and yeah...we can see 'bout that", he finished up with the dressing and headed out into the clear skyed cold winter day of a typical Dublin January. Today he wore a just right fitted dark blue three-piece with a white shirt and a dark tie, a black fur trenchcoat increasing the size of his silhouette more, all of this kept him partially warm, although the weather seemed to try its best to change that. His black leather gloves surrounded his hands in a comfortable way, yet he rubbed his palms together to warm his arms and shoulders up. As he stepped down the stairs he nodded to the nightguard, entered his trustworthy car and ignited the engine, but not before that certain moment of silence he enjoyed every day on multiple occasions.

Gotta keep the nerves going.-
I could really need a shot right now.
Next one is planned for 6 AM, keep it going Ked.

During the thirty minutes ride, elongated thanks to the icy roads and careful drivers, an unknown nervosity came up in his head. From all the situations and different life confrontations he encountered, this one was new. He did not know if his family rejected him after all the silence, if his brother and his sister still loved him and if they are still the same persons he used to know. All of this he thought for his other relatives...Uncles, Aunties, Cousins, Nephews even? He never was near to what could be called a fatherly figure, how could he be an Uncle then?

Aunty Shannon will welcome him, he had talked with her on the phone, heard that his other relatives were out of the house and busy during the start of his visit. So many questions, and now, as he was arriving at the driveway at the security gate, he asked himself, how is he gonna greet Aunty Shannon? They're both adults, so Aunty might be somewhat obsolete. Aunt Shannon sounds cheap, Shannon might indicate to a lack of respect and calling her Ma'am or Miss is just plain foreign.
Speaking of which, he did not tell them about his occupation and did not plan to do that yet, but he had to tell it to the head of the family, James and his cousin Lucy, and after that, he will see how much the situation will reveal. Ken was more than sure that some of them did not like Coppers, even if he was family, he possibly might look like a traitor to them, a snake, a snitch, a monster..he had many words thrown at him from usual scum like thieves, drug dealers, murderers and rapists already, even though they just took him for a usual cop, not a cop with a name.

After Kennedy identified himself and mentioned that his brother and Shannon were waiting for him, he was granted passage without any further dialogue, he lead his car up the path to the next parking spot, stuffed his badge and his gun in the glove compartment, exited the vehicle and got to the main entrance, his left hand cramped together as he used it to knock on the main door, waiting for a second he simply squinted his eyes and noticed the doorbell, ringing it.

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan​

tick...tock...tick...tock
His eyes barely opened to stare at the clock across the infirmary, taunting him, mocking him. Peter's blonde brows furrowed and he ground his teeth together, "Watch it!" He hissed out, not bothering to be polite about it. The nervous nurse before him stuttered out an apology as she continued to sew up the last of his new stitchings. Leaning back slightly, he did this to give the poor dear a little better lighting, which turned out to be a mistake. He hissed out again, groaning in pain as the thread was pulled too taunt. Luckily, the torture seemed to be over as the shaky handed nurse soon tied off the thread, finishing her work. Without another word, she picked up her metal tray full of tools and scurried out of Peter's sight. The doctor arrived shortly after that and examined him one final time. He would be heading back to his cell today. "Well, like the last time I saw you, you are still one lucky son of a bitch." He looked down at his chart as he walked towards Peter. Grabbing his stethoscope, he placed the cold metal against Peter's bare chest, which caused him to curse out slightly. The doctor then placed it against his back and asked him to take in a few deep breaths. With effort, Peter managed to do so. "Let's just try to stay out of fights from now on." The doctor told him to which Peter let out a low chuckle, "Can't make any promises." He told the doc. With those parting words, he was given a new shirt and was escorted back to his cell.

When he arrived back in his cell, George was no where to be seen. Having spent some time in isolation due to his wounds, Peter was looking forward to some interaction now that he was out. Sitting on mattress of his bed, he looked out towards the cell door. He stared out of it until George appeared, looking like he had just been at the showers. His fists clutched the sheets beneath him as he thought about that place. Breathing accelerated and her skin grew cold and clammy. The man casually walked in side during Peter's silent panic attack, tossing himself down on his own mattress. Peter ground his teeth and forced himself to breath through his nose. His face remained neutral as his friend spoke up now. When George looked his way, Peter managed a small smile, though it didn't meet his eyes. "Good as new...for the most part." He lied to the man, "I was just released today." Before he could speak anymore about the subject, a voice rang out from the corridor, calling their names and announcing that it was visiting time.

The blonde's heart almost stopped. He couldn't see anyone today. Sinead couldn't see him like this, the bitter and beaten man that he had become. He wasn't the same Peter that she knew. Regardless of his feelings, his feet carried him towards the line behind George. His heart pounding out of his chest as George spoke of Peter being excited to see Sinead. The joke about Finn almost passed by him. Peter cracked a dull smile before following the line towards the visiting room. It didn't take long to enter the room. It was the same situation as last time he'd been able to visit with his love and Finn. After being seated down at the table they had chosen for him and his visitors, Peter took a quick glance around the room, wondering if his attackers were present. His chest burned with anticipation, and his eyes frantically continued to search the room, body ready for a fight. When he saw that they were no where to be found, Peter sighed with relieve. Peter could just make out his own reflection in the table he was sitting at. When the visiting room finally opened itself up to the visitors, Peter looked towards the door and tried to put on a smile for his wife, bruises, stitches and all.

Finn Sullivan​

Finn had been excited about the distraction today, going and seeing Peter for the first time in weeks. When she had asked him to go with her again, he couldn't have answered quicker, anything to get his mind off of Eleanor. It was becoming a hurdle that he just couldn't hop over. Eleanor had been his love for 10 years, those years that seemed so perfect and so right were now wasted. Finn shifted back and forth on his feet as they waited to be let into the prisons visiting room, feeling anxious about the whole encounter for some reason. A man came to his mind, the one who had been smiling at him all those weeks ago, a friendly fellow. He clasped his sweaty palms together nervously before Sinead took his arm and linked hers through it. Finn was glad for the distraction as Sinead spoke. Chuckling softly, Finn sympathized with his cousin, knowing how it felt to miss being in someone's arms. "I bet he misses being held by you very much." Finn told Sinead as he held her close to him. Silence fell between them for a moment before Sinead let out a sigh, and looked up to Finn. The tall man looked down at the small woman with a smile, which faded quickly as she apologized for not being around lately. Finn cleared his throat and looked towards the ground, unable to meet Sinead's gaze.

He had been down lately. Every time he told himself that he would pick himself back up again, here he was, negative Nelly. Christmas blew by, and so did New Years, now that he was getting lost in the days everything seemed to be speeding past him, unable to stop. Finn knew he would have to answer his cousin's questions, the woman compared him to herself... Finn wasn't pure like Sinead was, she talked about him having a big heart, then why couldn't he find happiness. His story felt like it was coming to an end rather than just beginning, he felt that there wasn't any story to tell now. "Maybe..." Was all he said in response to Sinead's reassurance before the guards began letting the visitors into the visiting room. Once they were seated at the table with Peter, Finn took a close look at the man, clearly, he had been through some shit over the last few weeks. Finn wrapped his arm around Sinead's shoulder comfortingly.
with: Misty Gray
mentions:

 

[Pyroclast]

Adam Morgan

Adam stepped out of his car and immediately shivered from the change in temperature. The city air somehow tasted fresher on cold, clear nights such as this and Adam breathed it in, momentarily distracted by the stars above. It would always be harder to trace the outlines of the constellations from standing in the centre of Dublin, but they still shone brightly enough that he could appreciate them. Not wanting to let himself get too distracted, he began to walk briskly down the street in the direction of the restaurant where he was to meet Quinn.

The soft, yellow light that beamed through the restaurant's windows out onto the cobbled street was inviting and made him subconsciously pick up his pace a little. Upon entering the room, Adam was welcomed by its gentle murmur and cosy ambience and he rubbed his hands together as he looked around for his friend. But it was Quinn's voice that he heard first, and he didn't sound overly pleased. All the same, Adam couldn't help but smile at the young man.
"So it would seem to someone who arrives early - I think you'll find I am right on time!" he joked, relieved to see that Quinn wasn't being serious after all. Before he could answer his question, however, a bright-eyed, young waitress spoke up, offering to take their coats. Adam sent her a charming smile and took off his coat to hand over to her. "Thank you, I think I would," he answered, then allowing her to lead them to a table on the far right hand side of the room. A lamp hung low from a beam on the wall beside them, casting warm light onto the tablecloth. He took a seat, and waited for her to leave before replying to Quinn.

"I'm doing well, thank you. I've had several busy nights at work recently due to New Year celebrations, so it's nice to get some time off. And, well, this looks a perfect place to enjoy it!" Adam sat back in his chair, taking a moment to admire the Italian-style decor. The ornate wall niches containing small, topiary olive trees and the beautiful china plates painted in traditional reds, blues and yellows made this place stand out as unique among the ordinary Irish pubs and restaurants of Dublin. Although Adam had never been to Italy, he believed in its authenticity. In one of the niches there stood a framed portrait of a young, fair-skinned woman, a small bouquet of red flowers resting beside it. He assumed it was some kind of memorial, but couldn't read the name on the frame's plaque.
"Tell me," he said suddenly, his attention returning to the young man. "How was your New Year, Quinn? The last time I saw you, there was some..." He lowered his voice and waved his hand through the air as he pondered the best way to phrase it. "Unsavoury business, shall we say, going on in the house. I hope things are looking less dark by now? How have you been?"

"Can I take your drink orders, gentlemen?" The friendly waitress had returned, a light blush on her cheeks from having interrupted the conversation.
"Hm...I'll take a large glass of the Gasparini, please," he said, stopping his finger randomly on the excessive wine list. Adam kept his eyes on the table, waiting patiently for her to leave so that they could return to the conversation in private.

Interactions
Fletchawk Quinn

 

[Misty Gray]

Shannon Sullivan
​

Shannon stubbed out her cigarette as she heard the doorbell sound. She was pretty confident it would be her nephew ringing the bell, but was prepared for anyone. If it was a copper, she was sure one of the guards would have given prior warning, especially given the woman's uninhibited distaste for the pigs. Anyone else, she was sure she could deal with diplomatically. Unless it was that dangerous, rugged Russian who had a habit of showing up when the house was near empty. The woman hummed a melody to herself as she walked towards the front door, shooing the barking rottweiler away as she did. "Go lie down, Samson!" she commanded the canine, to which he obeyed and returned to his nearby dog bed.

The woman pulled open the front door and was greeted by the sight of her nephew. "Look who finally decided to drop by," she drily remarked, stepping aside and motioning for Kennedy to step into the house. She'd last seen the man when he was in his twenties and even his Uncle Emmet had still been alive back then. Though her nephew was more than a decade older now, she still recognised him with ease. "How are you, Kennedy?" she asked as she led him to the conservatory where they could talk. "Would you like a drink? Hot, cold, alcoholic?" she offered.

Shannon offered her nephew a seat and sat in the opposite chair. "You're lucky that you've timed your arrival so well. This house is usually in loud chaos, but everyone's out and about right now. Finnian is with Sinead, visiting Peter at the prison," she explained. She knew Kennedy won't have met Peter, but she wasn't sure how much he knew about his family's recent goings on. "Your brother shouldn't be too long, but you're stuck with your Aunt in the meantime. Tell me what you've been doing with your life. You've not been very good at keeping in touch!" she berated him. "You've got years of gossip to share with me by now."

mpower (Kennedy)

George Sanderson and Sinead Callahan​

George could tell Peter was in low spirits and somewhat agitated, but it came as no surprise to him. Really, he'd have been more shocked if his friend was laughing and joking so soon after being released from the infirmary following such a severe beating. One thing for sure was they had plenty to talk about once visits were over with. The way George saw it, Peter needed to have a plan by now to ensure his survival. Either he made himself useful to the prisoners and 'bought' friends, or he figured out a way to defend himself and fight back against his attackers. George had managed to choose the path of non-violence, but he knew that wasn't always an option. Darius had made that point crystal clear on numerous occasions.

Once in the visiting room, George sat at the table next to Peter's and looked towards the door in anticipation of his visitors. It hadn't quite registered with him when the guard had told him he had a visitor rather than using plurals, but when he saw only his brother approaching his table it became clear their sister wasn't joining them that evening. "How are ya, mate? Where's Jessica?" he asked Michael before the younger man even had time to get comfortable in his seat.

"I'm good, George. Missed your ugly face, mind you," the man remarked. "Jess couldn't make it. You know Oscar doesn't like her attending these evening visits. I mean, who on Earth will make his dinner and get the children ready for bed if she's here?" he sarcastically asked, at their brother-in-law's expense.

"I have yet to meet the guy and I already dislike him. He sounds more like Dad as the days go by..." George's attention was drawn to the familiar man seated opposite Peter. He couldn't stop the small grin that grew on his face as he fixated on how attractive Finn was. Sure, Peter had mentioned something about the man's relationship with Eleanor, but he wasn't about to let that stop him from having a good look and a bit of fun. God knows, the prisoners all needed some of that. As he continued his conversation with his brother, George couldn't help but keep looking in Finn's direction, at one point even making eye-contact and sending the man a friendly smile. Or was it a flirty smile? Who knew how Finn would perceive it...

Sinead was relieved when they were finally allowed to enter the visiting room, having feared the whole thing would be called off at the last minute and she would be deprived of seeing her sweet husband yet again. She walked quickly towards Peter's table, as every second was precious to her. However, when she caught sight of his bruises and stitches, her pace slowed and for a split second she froze on the spot before continuing to walk with Finn. Her eyes were fixated on her husband as she sat in the chair next to Finn's and she was only snapped out of it when she felt her cousin's arm around her shoulder. She looked into her husband's eyes, sensing his smile was a hollow one and there was a deeply troubled man beneath it all. She sniffled before taking a deep breath and reminding herself she had to keep her emotions under control. "Who did this you, Petey? Why would they be so cruel to you?" she asked. Though her tone was soft, it was clearly laced with anger and frustration. She wanted to scratch out the eyeballs of the scum responsible for hurting Peter. She was torn as she wanted to hug her husband and kiss all of his pain away, but she knew he wouldn't want her to smother him in front of the other prisoners. She wasn't locked up but she felt like her freedom of expression was being forcefully suppressed by the prison's awful environment. "I've missed you so much," she told Peter. She stretched out her arms in her husband's direction, hoping Peter would hold her hands across the table like they had done on their first visit. It seemed to be the most physical contact they could get away with having.

Sinead found a rare, awkward silence overcome her for a time. She looked down to her hands as she tried to push aside the feeling of tension. She wanted to yell at those who had hurt Peter and she wanted to hold him in her arms, but she wasn't permitted to do either. She cleared her throat and reminded herself she needed to make the most of their time, as well as hopefully distracting him. "The children all send their love," she said, looking up to Peter and sending him a warm smile. "Savvy has become obsessed with her new rollerskates and she's decided she wants to be a professional ice-skater on top of that! Brady's decided he wants to be a soldier now, but I've told him that ain't happening whilst I'm breathing!" she said, letting out a small laugh. The thought of their son fighting in a war actually terrified her. "As for Emmy... Well, don't be mad, but I told Luce it was okay to buy her a kitten. So we now have a pet... but he's the most adorable little cat with the most outrageous name, but we can just call him Ozzy," she explained, hoping something in her words would cheer Peter up a little. She then used the back of her hand to wipe her eyes as she felt the tears forming. "The most exciting news of all is that Luce and James are having a baby. Our little niece or nephew is going to be born after you get out. You and I will get to meet the little gift together and I'm so excited..." she said, the joyful tears now rolling down her cheeks.

Sinead took a moment to get herself together. In that time, her eyes caught sight of George who was looking to their table. This wasn't the first time she'd noticed it and she was about to ask Peter why his cellmate kept looking at her. That was until she realised the man was in fact looking and smiling at Finn, which admittedly puzzled her even more. She looked to Peter and tilted her head in the direction of George. "Why does your cellmate keep looking at Finn?" she asked Peter. She then turned to Finn and raised a curious eyebrow. "He smiled at you. Do you two know each other?" she innocently asked.

Bellz (Peter, Finn)

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy
The Meeting​

The preparation for the meeting had taken a week to set up. Using Dax Resturant, a neutral joint, as their desired spot, men had been anonymously hired to make sure both parties weren't armed. Despite this, Jackson made it a point for everyone to wear plate armor, no matter how uncomfortable it was. Using webbing in the dress shirts, they'd be able to hold the heavy plates just under the neck. Both the IWU and Porters had armed men waiting outside the restaurant, as a precaution. Both were well aware of how serious their actions would be taken. One small slip up could lead to a bloodbath. Even with men on the outside, Jackson kept a small PPK tucked into a sock holster. James would be too focused on speaking with Jared to detect danger, Alduos wasn't exactly one he'd primarily trust with a firearm, and Tommy was still recovering from a concussion. Without much to rely on, having some heat strapped to him would settle his nerves. He would've preferred if Ryan had tagged along, but he understood why the man had decided to stay out of this one.

Jackson grew ever more unsettled in his seat, second-guessing the precautions he had taken to secure the meeting, feeling as if they still weren't enough. "Remember, lads, The plates only work if that's what the bastards are aiming for. Keep your chests puffed out, make it an eyesore." This was the fifth time Jackson had briefed them on the armor, but he still wasn't satisfied. For all the IWU had done, he found it hard to believe that this would be a peaceful dinner - no matter how much they had seemingly shaken Jared. Before Jackson could go over the safety features of the steel again, they were greeted by the large sign reading "DAX." "Oh boy, show time," Jackson muttered, shuffling up in his seat.

The men standing at the front looked as if they were pro-wrestlers, forced to be stuffed into tuxedos that barely fit. They stood out from the usual waiting staff but still held the door open for the Porters as they entered. Jackson was surprised to see how packed the restaurant had been. He hadn't made any special requests to shut down the restaurant, seeing as free, unbiased witnesses helped their cause. Still, the place was filled to the brim.

Jackson's eyes flickered to the restaurant's windows past the crowd, allowing him to catch sight of the large vehicle parked across the street - where the Porter goons were keeping watch. He nodded to one of them on the lookout, who returned his glance. As he turned back, he was greeted by one of the large beef-cake guards. They ordered him to spread his arms and legs, which he happily obliged. To his dismay, however, the man quickly found the handgun while patting down his legs. "Now, how did that get there?" Jackson sarcastically asked with a puzzled expression. The guard ignored him, pulling out the magazine and placing the handgun in a plastic box.

The group had been seated at a round table in the corner, where the IWU representatives were already waiting. Jackson awkwardly shook the hands of those that were willing, excluding Carter - who was leaning against the edge with his arm comfortably tucked into its sling. "Gentleman," Jackson greeted them, before taking a seat.

Misty Gray (James/Jared/Tommy/Evan) Shireling (Alduos/Jack)

 

[Misty Gray]

Dax Restaurant
The Meeting

Spoiler: SEATING PLAN

Evan Shaw and Jared Armstrong

Evan sat at his place at the round table, taking a long drink from the pint of beer he had ordered from the bar as soon as he entered the restaurant. The place felt stuffy to him, being than he tended to avoid dining out in restaurants. Unless it was simple pub food, he felt there was too much pretence around the whole affair of meals out when all he wanted to do was tuck into a hearty meal. Here he was though, and aside from helping himself to a drink before the Porter representatives had even arrived, he'd at least made an effort to put on a nice jumper and trousers, but he wasn't willing to wear a suit. Suits felt too much like uniforms and uniforms simply reminded him of his days as a soldier in the real war. He certainly was not going to wear a suit for the Porters. Forcing civilities was already above and beyond, without him dressing like a rich clown too.

The man was glad to be seated with Carter to his right side, deeming his IWU colleague as one of his closer allies and perhaps even a friend. They were fighting for the same things and that made him a respectable man in his eyes. To his left would be one of Porter's men, though he wasn't entirely sure who the man was yet. James, Jackson and Tommy were all familiar to him, but he had yet to set eyes on the man known as Aldous. In a way, he was a little disappointed to know Conor Sullivan wouldn't be present as he'd heard much about the thug and wanted to size him up from a close proximity to see if he really was so physically imposing.

When the four representatives for the Porters joined them, Evan couldn't help but send Carter a glance. His friend had a good enough excuse not to shake the enemy's hands, but Evan decided he would humour everyone and play nice as Jared had made it clear this was to be a civilised and productive meeting.

Jared had spent the rest of Christmas with his family, working overtime to comfort and reassure them following the tasteless gift the Porters had sent their way. It wasn't until two days into the new year that James finally made contact and agreed to the meeting. That was, of course, after the Irishman had furiously pointed out that his men had been attacked and his alcohol shipment destroyed the same night Jared had requested a peaceful meeting. Jared had explained it had been too late to call the attack off and even expressed his condolences for what had happened. Jared was surprised that Arlene's abduction hadn't been mentioned during James' scathing phonecall. Regardless, they eventually agreed to this evening's meeting. Though he wanted to believe James was going to conduct himself like a grown adult, he knew not to get too comfortable where the Porters were concerned. After everything the IWU had sent their way, it was unfortunately understandable they might use tonight to retaliate.

Jared remained standing as he waited for the Porters to arrive. He had his trusty right-hand man, Carter, who would be seated to his left and to his right would be Jack, a man whose eloquent words reflected his commitment to the cause. Evan was also present. The man was another asset to the IWU, not only for his physical strength but his ability to interpret foreign languages and read body language. He was certain the three men with him were far from fans of the Porters, but he expected them to conduct themselves appropriately and in turn he would respect any ideas or arguments they may bring to the table themselves. Jared's main goal was to cool off the war with the Porters so he could focus on the election and were he to become the new mayor, the IWU's voice would hold even more power.


Thomas Dempsey and James Porter

Tommy hadn't intended on attending the meeting. He was intending on spending the evening with Aliana once he'd spoken with James about what had been on his mind during recent weeks. As tempting as it had been to go after the cop who had murdered his mother, he knew he wouldn't able to do it alone without getting himself killed or spending the rest of his life in the same hole Peter was currently residing in. Instead, he'd decided to put his trust in James and ask his boss to help him get the vengeance he'd been wishing for over the last few years. When Tommy earlier approached his boss, he mentioned that they needed to talk about his mother's death and James agreed to do so after the evening's meeting. That was when James asked Tommy if he would join him at the restaurant as Ryan was still recovering from the attack on Christmas Day. Tommy jumped at the chance to get involved in the meeting as his last few jobs had been dangerous and during two of which he'd ended up getting shot. At least he could indulge in a tasty meal and some drinks on this one.

On the way to the restaurant, Tommy's mind was half on the job ahead and half on Aliana. He hoped she wasn't annoyed with him for cancelling dinner at such short notice and he'd be sure to make it up to her once the meeting was over with. His mind was brought back to the present as he was reminded of the uncomfortable armour he was wearing. Jackson had been very insistent on them wearing the plates, so he wasn't about to argue with his friend. "I hope there's room in these for me to finish off a meal in there. James is paying tonight, right?" he remarked, sending his boss a boyish grin.

Tommy followed Jackson into the restaurant and stood still as the beefy guard patted him down for a search. Unlike Jackson, Tommy hadn't attempted to sneak any weapons in and was allowed entry into the eatery without any bother. When they arrived at the round table, Tommy shook Evan's hand, followed by Jack's hand. He even shook Jared's hand, pausing for a moment as he took in the tall man's stern, intense, facial features. Most people likely saw a very handsome and smooth gentleman, but Tommy was under no illusions about what was really behind Jared's enticing gaze. There was a fourth member of the IWU present and Tommy had met the man before. Tommy was a charming and friendly young man, even willing to shake Armstrong's hand. Carter, however, he was not willing to shake hands with and he was grateful he didn't have to openly refuse, seeing as the prick stood back with his arm in a sling. Tommy's hatred for the man was warranted, considering he was the one who had hospitalised Leo, injured Delilah and even shot Tommy himself. Not to mention being the one who caused Sinead's poisoning.

Tommy bit his lip and turned back to Jackson, wishing to divert his attention from thinking of how an injured arm was the very least Carter deserved. Tommy took his seat between Jackson and Jack, having no prior altercations with the latter so having no animosity for sitting alongside him.


James had been furious to find Syd, Ryan and Tommy had been hurt during their last job, as well as learning some of his men had been killed on the scene. The fact this had happened after Jared's phonecall made him extremely cautious of arranging the meeting. Still, Jared assured him it had been too late to call all the attack and that if he'd opened James' message sooner he might have been able to call off his men in time. James was always a cautious man and no matter how sincere Armstrong had sounded, he would never be able to trust the IWU leader. Still, he agreed to have the meeting. At the very least, it was allow him to study Jared and his men closely, to humour them if they began talking shite. At best, they may come to come agreement, a way to stop the bloody war that was starting to feel familiar to his years back in Chicago. The last thing James wanted was for his family to keep getting hurt or live looking over their shoulders. There was a baby on the way and children already becoming familiar with gang violence. His family was the reason he was willing to hear Jared out this evening. Were he not responsible for their safety, he would have taken more violent measures to wipe out the IWU by now.

James ran his hand over his head, still getting used to the shorter haircut he'd opted for last week. He then stood on the spot to allow the guard to pat him down. He couldn't help but feel slightly amused at Jackson's failed attempt, mostly because it's the kind of stunt he would have pulled in the past. He always felt naked without a gun in his hand. James walked behind in three men, taking time to scan the faces of the customers in the restaurant. Having so many neutral witnesses on the scene reassured him that the meeting would indeed be a civil one. "Evening, all," he greeted the four present IWU members.

He sent Carter a simple nod, not adopting any kind of fake smile or friendliness for the man who had recently hurt his daughter along with others he cared for. He shook Evan's hand, making a mental note of the other man's heavy grasp. He then shook Jack's, a man whose writing skills and content he was aware of. James finally stopped to face Jared directly and reached out to shake the man's hand, both of them gripping the other's hand firmly. James looked the man in the eyes, acknowledging that Jared was obviously the tallest of the two. Still, height did nothing to intimidate Porter and he didn't have any doubts that he could beat the man in combat. James wasn't being cocky in his thoughts, as he acknowledged Jared appeared strong, but he felt the Englishman lacked experience at truly surviving - having to fight to stay alive. James had grown up fighting to survive and it was by now second nature to him.

After an amicable nod from James, both men ended the handshake and took their places at the table. In a bid to break any remaining awkward tensions, Jared raised his hand to catch the waiter's attention. "Let's all get our orders in before we develop a thirst," the man suggested to the others present.

Enzyme (Jackson, Carter) Shireling (Jack, Aldous)
((Just letting everyone settle in before the real diaologue. Plus, I've already written way too much!))[/imagefloat]

 

[Shireling]

Jack Brady
​

Whatever Jack thought about Jared was irrelevant now; he was in the thick of it. He half-expected that the meeting would devolve into a fusillade before much of consequence had been said, but he was nevertheless not a coward and found his place at the boss's right hand. In one sense it was an honor, and a statement of respect from his employer, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the whole meeting was unnecessary. If Ciara hadn't crossed the Porters and then Jared have come in and made his business the business of the IWU, they wouldn't be sitting across the table right now. Porter was a thief with delusions of honor, a person he could understand. Thus, when James shook his hand he met his gaze stonily before offering a polite smile and nod. He took his seat as Jared suggested ordering drinks. The hostess was about, and Jack snagged her first.

"I'll just have a brandy," he said to her, handing over his drink menu without looking at it. There was only one type of brandy in-house so he didn't need to clarify anymore. Making himself comfortable, the young man took a package of cigarettes from his coat and set them on the table, endeavoring not to be the first to speak.

He surveyed the man across from him, the lawyer, who he thought looked ridiculous with the bullet-proof vest puffing up the chest of his tuxedo. Evidently Aldous thought so too, as he had a sort of sideways grin that one has when making fun of themselves. He looked to Jared, then James Porter hoping they could, as the Americans would say, skip the foreplay and go straight to the fuckin'.

Aldous Penshurst
​

The London lawyer, for his part, was not a stranger to guns and tense meetings. He was, however, given little time to prepare for the meeting. As James's legal counsel, he had to read up on the legal status of his client and had made some suggestions beforehand. For example, he had accosted James for arranging the meeting over the phone, fearing that the Garda may have tapped the phonelines. He advised him from now on to send messages by the word of a courier's mouth, but that was another matter. The interactions between James and Jared for of a distinctly illicit nature, so he was there more as an observer and consigliere than anything else.

He walked into the restaurant dressed for the occasion, but forced to wear this ridiculous bullet proof vest which, he was sure, would not save his life if anyone started shooting. After introductions and the call to drinks, he took his seat to the right of James. And after the young man across from him had ordered brandy, he flagged the hostess down and ordered an mildly-expensive drink. It was of no importance to him what filled his glass because tonight he would be drinking very little and thinking very hard.

Misty Gray Enzyme (And all others present)

 

[mpower]

Ken
​

As the barking of the dog reached his ears, his mind could not help itself, it got sucked back into a memory splinter from many years ago. For the brink of a second, he could see himself run hysterically with his team of soldiers in a city, guns in their hands and barking echoed through the unnaturally silent alleyways as the only noise interrupting this harmony of animal noises and the wind was a hail of bullets directed at their escape route, accompanied by German slurs and insults. Ken reassured himself quickly that he is still in Dublin, Ireland, his eyes focussing on the now opened door, and the presence of his aunt.
A smirk forced itself on his face as he saw Shannon. It quickly became meaningful and honest as he gazed her up and down and inspected the change of her present and past self, a few wrinkles here and there and maybe a slightly less bright light in her eyes, but yet, she looked younger than she probably was.

His hand stopped with the cramps and he shook it a few times discreetly to get it relaxed again. Kennedy followed her inside, remained silent on the remark of his long absence but instead, he replied: "Wonderful to see you again...Aunty Shannon. I am fine, cannot complain, what about you?". He followed her further on into the building, letting his eyes trail left and right, noticing details such as portraits and furniture, marks, carpet formations, light types and variations and the different styles of the doorknobs-.a habit he could not drop as a cop, even though this might be his future home if this introduction worked fine. They made their way into a rather inviting and welcoming room, he stood still to enjoy this moment, it felt like a change, the warmth caressed his cheeks and his frozen limbs.
His hands formed fists and loosened themselves then, after all these years there was a warm emotion turning back into him.

Baile

He zipped back from his little rush of emotions, nodded to his aunt as he answered: "I'd like to have a good tea, no milk or sugar though, please."

He got himself seated in front of his aunt, sitting rather stiff as he listened to her small explanation why the house was so visibly vacant. As the name 'Peter' occurred he raised an eyebrow, but in reality, he knew quite some basic info on every important figure, after all, he had to make himself aware of everyone important in town as a copper, be it family or not. "Peter? Not sure if I know that fella. But yes...gossip...I'll keep it brief. Joined the military, I think I still visited you before I got drafted in completely, then fighting in Europe and...and getting into a hospital in the UK. After that I got called to Ireland by a Private Investigator cooperation, they mainly deal with industrial espionage, a lucrative business. Words came to me that my dearest family is here for already a good amount of time...and well, here I am." He spread out his arms lightly, Ken smirked at her as he raised an eyebrow, hopefully not having been too brief or maybe too much of a liar at the end. Quickly he added a "And what about my dearest sister and brother? My cousin Lucy? You? My Cousins? Sorry for the overhaul of questions but I need to know what I've missed"

Misty Gray (Shannon)

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

It felt like the house had finally returned to normal after all the holiday festivities. Everything was spotless, just the way Lucy liked it. Lucy was more than happy to watch her nieces and nephew while Sinead and Finn went to visit Peter at the prison, loving the company that they children brought to her home. The blonde still kept a close eye on her wondering children, especially after the job that Syd had been on didn't go according to plan. Removing the last of the Christmas decorations from the stairs, she loaded it into a smaller box and placed it near the bottom of the stairs. She was going to need the assistance of the men in this house when they returned. Lucy tried not to dwell on where her husband happened to be at the moment along with the rest of the men that were close to her and the family's heart. Turning on her sore heels, she began walking towards the main living room when she heard Savannah's voice talking to Aliana. Her question made Lucy stop in her tracks, listening in on what the girl was saying to Ali. The blonde's brows furrowed together in confusion. She quickly stepped into the room, looking openly at Aliana for a moment before clearing her throat and turning to Savvy, "Now Savvy, its not polite to ask such prying questions." Lucy stood beside her niece and placed an arm around her small shoulders, squeezing her against herself.


Lucy looked to Aliana again, wondering if what Savvy was saying was true. The girl hardly lied about anything, unless she was told to keep a secret. She knew that it wasn't any of her business either, her brother was a man who could take care of himself...barely. Tommy and Aliana together seemed like such a sure thing, and what about Alex? Michelle? So many questions entered Lucy's mind, "Savvy..." Lucy said distractedly, "Why don't you go check on your sister? Make sure she has a blanket and pillow? Make sure she didn't crush Ozzy." Lucy squeezed her niece shoulder lightly before letting it go. Once Savannah was gone, Lucy turned to Aliana. "Now none of this is my business...but would you like to talk about it?"

with: Aliana Melanin-Gxdess ; Savvy Misty Gray

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan​

The reaction his wife gave him, the way she stopped dead in her tracks, only fueled the fire of rage that he was feeling deep down inside of his chest. He clenched his fists, he kept the smile on his face until his wife sat down along with Finn. A chuckled escaped his lips, something harsh and bitter, "Don't worry about me, love. I can handle a beatin' or two." He told her, voice gruff as he tried to rein in his own emotions. Sinead's small hands waited for him, outstretched and begging for him to take. Peter ground his teeth and stared at them for a moment. Slowly, he reached his hands over the table and grabbed hers. "I've missed you more." He murmured to his wife, an eyebrow raising slightly, daring her to challenge him. A silence fell between them that was rare and unfamiliar, Peter simply stared into Sinny's eyes with an intensity that was also unfamiliar. The constant reminder of who was to blame for this was only growing and growing as the silence when on. His visiting time was being affected by the assholes who had beaten him. He was about to say something, anything to break the awkward silence when Sinead took charge.

Peter's head snapped back up to look at his wife as she spoke about the children. The warm smile she sent his way caused his hands to squeeze hers lightly. The smile that appeared on Peter's lips was foreign, a ghost of the happiness he use to feel. He missed his children so much. The small things were always so big to them, the constant wonderment of the world around them. "A kitten eh? Ozzy? She really knows how to name them huh?" He said, chuckling lightly a genuine smile finding its way to his lips. "I miss our children so much Sin...even the tantrums and fighting." He murmured. Tears formed in his wife's eyes and Peter's brows furrowed with concern. Peter looked to Finn who looked just as concerned for Sinead. The news of the Porters having a baby surprised Peter. His smile only grew wider as he squeezed Sinead's hands again, "That's wonderful news!" He expressed, trying to pull himself together for his wife's sake. She needed him now more than ever, she couldn't seem him looking so weak.

He wanted to catch the tears that fell from her cheeks, but he knew the consequences of doing anything more than holding hands. It pained him to watch the tears fall from her cheeks to the table. Sinead was pulling herself together and Peter took a moment to look around again. That's when he too caught George staring Finn's way. Peter shook his head slowly and looked to Finn, gauging his reaction. Sinead's questioning caused Peter to chuckle, she was pure. "Yea Finn, you should go say hi to George."

Finn Sullivan​

Even though he was standing in the visiting room of a prison, Finn was glad to be out and about instead of wallowing in his room. Depression didn't look good on him, but it was hard to just kick it. After his little drunken fiasco at the Christmas party, Finn has stayed away from alcohol all together. Drinking wasn't the same when someone was sad, it really only made things worse. He was happy to be here for Sinead, knowing that going to this type of place must have been hard for her to do. Finn was trying to stay optimistic for her, but when he saw the condition that Peter was in, it was becoming harder and harder to do. Once he sat down at the table with Sinead by his side, he tried to tune out the conversation that they were now having, wanting to keep things on the private side for the couple. Instead of focusing on them, he turned his head to look at the other visitors and prisoners around them.

One particular prisoner caught his eye and caused his breathing to hitch in his throat. It was the same man from last time. Finn's head quickly turned to look back at Sinead and Peter, unsure of what to think of this feeling that had consumed him. Curiosity possessed him to take another glance, and another. Finn wasn't sure if he was seeing things correctly, this man, was sneaking glances his way. Finn dared to look up one more time and his eyes widened slightly as they met George's. His cheeks warmed as the man smiled at him, it was friendly but had the edge of something more to it. Finn tilted his head in confusion but offered a shy smile in return. Sinead turned to Finn and the man gasped slightly, cheeks blushing furiously as he broke the intense gaze. "Know him? I've never met someone like him in my entire life." He answered. Peter suggested that he go and talk to the man, to which Finn turned white as a ghost, "He- he's with someone right now..." He stuttered, "I can't just go over there and interrupt it!" Finn told Peter, looking like a deer in headlights. He couldn't help it, his eyes searched for George's again, looking for that smile that intrigued him.
with: Misty Gray
mentions:

 

[Fletchawk]

Alexander Quinn Armstrong

​

Quinn listened to Adam as he told how he had been busy with work over the New Year. His own among family was a little tense due to a recent event and his decision to stop hiding from the Porters. Adam's obvious liking towards the Italian motif led Quinn to remember his first time at the restaurant, "I'm rather fond of it myself, at least more so than the inamorata I first came here with. I've just not had the chance to return until now," his mouth shifted into a sly smile at the memory of a past conquest.

Letting Adam order his drink first allowed Quinn a little time to internally debate if he wanted to humor having wine with his meal but decided against it as it likely go unfinished. Flashing a quick smile at the young lady before answering, "Water, for now." Quinn waited for the woman to leave before he replied Adam's inquiry, "Unsavory. That would be an accurate description of what happened." He chuckled darkly before continuing, "It's been a little tense in the house since then to be sure. Especially since I voiced that I no longer wanted to hide away. My father thinks it's a foolhardy thing to do and he's likely correct. Still..." Quinn paused briefly as he mentally reconfirmed his conviction. "...I'm not a boy to be bullied into hiding behind my parents." His brow furrowed slightly as his mind reminded him of the possible dangers of this decision although his assured tone did not waver.

Not wanting the dark topic to impede on their good time, Quinn shook his head slowly as he waved his hand to seemingly clear the air. "However, I should thank you for keeping my sibling occupied for the evening." His mouth twisted into a slight smirk as he mentioned his sister. Quinn had guessed that Grace had harbored feelings for the man sitting across from him but watching her interact with Adam during the Christmas party confirmed his suspicions. "She was quite captivated by your presence. I'm sure she would appreciate seeing more of you, unless you are against it, of course." The smirk grew as he imagined Grace's face if she found out he just exposed her feelings and his eyes locked on to Adam, watching his reaction to its disclosure.

Pyroclast [Adam]

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy & Carter Dresden​

It didn't need to be verbally said for it to be known how uncomfortable the atmosphere was. While meetings like these happened all the time in the criminal underworld, to keep the streets clean, it felt unnatural to be sitting apart from each other with supposed content, given their recent past. It was attractive to Jackson, to say the least, to sit across from the four men. He had never had a chance to study their facial features to know what they looked like. Having heard most about them from word to mouth, he had built up an unreasonable expectation of these men, as if they were something supernatural. To be able to sit down and ingest the fact that these were just regular guys, in the loosest sense of the word, was somewhat mind-blowing. He looked over to see how James was reacting to the situation and he wasn't surprised when he was met with the man's usually serious expression. This made Jackson question how amateur he was in the light of his boss seemingly processing only business.

Jackson couldn't quite understand why he was so drawn to Carter, his eyes continually flicking to the man. There was a sense of familiarity that he just couldn't put his finger on. It was an impulsive sense of hatred, but he assumed it was due to the man's affiliation with the rest of the scum. It wasn't until Carter returned his glare, that it all came rushing back to him. Jackson aggressively squeezed the napkin in his hand on impulse as the memory of Carter striking Blake fluttered through his cluttered mind. "You," Jackson muttered in a hushed tone, slowly drawn out as if his thoughts leaked through his lips. It wasn't clear if Carter genuinely understood why the man was fiercely staring him down, nor did he care. Carter was sure he had done something awful to make the man reasonably upset. He confirmed this with the nod of his head, accompanied by a malicious smirk.

Jackson was so absorbed in his thoughts, that he didn't notice the waiter beside him. He felt the many eyes burning his subconscious to snap him out of his trance. He looked up the waiter, casually shrugging off the situation. Like a true Irishman, he sat up straight and confidently said, "I'll take a pint of your Guinness." His was confirmed by the sound of scribbles from the waiter's notepad, allowing Jackson to rest back in his chair. When the waiter's attention was drawn to Carter, the man took his time staring down Jackson a while longer before looking up. "Bourbon."

Misty Gray Shireling

 

[Misty Gray]

Shannon Sullivan
​

When Kennedy returned her question to ask how she was, Shannon let out an exaggerated groan. "Other than living in a madhouse and trying to keep up with our family's dramas, I'm fantastic. I'm just thankful for alcohol," she remarked. Shannon then went about making her nephew his requested tea along with a strong coffee for herself.

Shannon nodded when Kennedy confirmed he wasn't sure if he knew of Peter. "Well, perhaps you should stick around long enough to meet him when he's released from the slammer. Sinead bagged herself a good man there and it's a travesty the bloody pigs arrested him, of all people. I always thought Conor would be the one to end up behind bars!" she admitted. Not that she'd be any less annoyed with the cops if they did arrest her reckless son.

The woman listened as he then gave her a brief summary of what he'd been up to over the years. "It sounds like you've been busy, though you must indulge me in more detail over the coming days - don't make me wring the gossip out of you! Still, I'm sure your brother and sister have missed you dearly," she assured him.

When asked about Kennedy's brother and sister, Shannon thought for a moment. "Well, Maggie is still living in America. She visits from time to time, but seems happy where she is. I'll be sure to give you her number so you can call her," she explained. "As for Finnian, well he's a fine young man and I have no doubts your parents would have been proud of him. He's a doctor - something I never thought a Sullivan would achieve," she half-joked. "He's been with Eleanor for quite a few years now, but I think they're going through a rough patch. Regardless, he's going to be made up when he sees you, I'm sure of it." She then thought of her own kids when asked and faintly smiled. "Lucy is doing well and I'm so proud of the woman she's become. She and James have three adopted kids and they're expecting a baby in the summer. Conor is still Conor, but he has a 10-year old daughter, his own businesses and still finds the time to keep me worrying. Sinead, well I mentioned Peter, and they both have three young children and she has her own jazz club. The girl has an amazing voice and musical talent..." she began but decided to silence herself on this occasion. Her nephew didn't need to hear her rant about Sinead's wasted opportunities. Shannon then shrugged her shoulders. "As for me, I'm still looking for my next adventure to stop me from getting restless on my own here. Your aunt isn't looking for sympathy, but it can be nauseating watching old these young ones in love. Emmet would have loved watching the family grow, mind you." On that note, she got herself another cigarette and proceeded to light it up to put an end to any possibility of sympathy being thrown her way.

mpower (Kennedy)

 

[Misty Gray]

George Sanderson and Sinead Callahan​

Sinead had been relieved when Peter held her hands, allowing her to get the only physical contact she could have with her husband and for the first time in weeks. Still, the warmth of his hands around hers didn't seem to be matched by the warmth of the man she knew. She hated the prison and to see what being inside was doing to him. Still, she allowed a small laugh to escape her lips when Peter pointed out Emery's ability to come up with quirky names. "She sure does, honey. The full and correct name still escapes me at times. I believe the kitten's full name is Oswald Santa Claws," she informed him. She quickly nodded her head in agreement when Peter told her he missed the children and their squabbling. "Perhaps I'll tell them to save their disagreements until Daddy gets home!" she managed to joke. She wasn't sure if she was doing at all well to lift her husband's spirits, but she felt her only option was to try. She didn't want him to return to his cell feeling any worse than he already appeared to

When Peter told Finn he should speak to George, Sinead displayed a concerned expression. It crossed her mind that the other prisoner could be dangerous but then she reminded herself that Peter wouldn't have told her cousin to talk to him if that was the case. Her confusion was further cemented when Finn confirmed he'd never set eyes on George before now. "I wonder why he wants to talk to you..." she suspiciously pondered aloud. She caught the way George smiled at her cousin and the reddening of Finn's cheeks. If she didn't know anything about Finn, she would swear the two men were flirting and that kind of sweet thing always made her giddy. But Finn had been with Eleanor for a good ten years now, so was sure she was just imagining things. "What's your cellmate in here for?" Sinead suddenly asked, looking back to Peter.

"Earth to George!" Michael said, waving his hand to regain his brother's attention as he noticed the man sending flirtatious looks to the man seated a little to his own left side. George's brother was the only one on the outside who knew about his sexual preferences. If there was any chance of the man ever reconciling with his God-fearing parents it would be destroyed if they knew that truth, and their sister would undoubtedly struggle to keep anything secret from the rest of the family. "You're unbelievable, mate," he told George, letting out an amused chuckle. "Shall I head off home for my dinner now so he can sit here instead?" he half-joked, cocking his head towards Finn.

"That's not a bad idea..." George surprisingly agreed, with a mischievous smile on his face. He knew his brother wouldn't take offence as he likely only visited him half of the time out of duty or pity - knowing George rarely got any visitors other than his siblings. The two brothers said their parting words before Michael stood up and allowed one of the guards to escort him out of the visiting room. George then beckoned over one of the guards he deemed as being at least somewhat human. "Mr. Marshall. What are the chances of me sharing one of Callahan's visitors today? My brother had to leave early..."

"I'd say there's more chance of Marilyn Monroe knocking on my front door and dragging me into bed with her!" the guard quietly replied. "Has solitary got you feeling lonely?" he remarked.

"Ah, don't be like that. I'm sure you'll find yourself a pretty blonde one day." George sat forward and made eye-contact with the guard. "Cut me some slack, would ya? You know I'm trustworthy and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardise my parole hearing. Besides, don't you know the man's a doctor? There isn't much more trustworthy than a doctor!" he said, referring to Finn, having heard Peter previously mention that detail about his medical training. "Come on," he said, outstretching his arms in open submission.

"Alright, Sanderson. He has to sit there and next time he puts in an official request to see you," the guard relented, pointing to the chair Michael had previously occupied. "And if I find out he isn't a doctor, you'll be back in solitary." The guard was about to walk away but leaned back in to George and lowered his voice. "Also, I need some more advice from you about getting my second place insured on the cheap..."

George smirked and nodded his head, knowing he even had his uses for the guards. Once he'd been left alone, George leaned to the side to catch Peter's attention. He knew if he stood up to approach Finn himself, the officers would likely pounce and suspect he was up to no good. "Psst, Peter. Guard's given me permission to speak with Finn. If he wishes to, of course, would you tell him he's invited to sit with me at my exquisite table?" he lightly informed him. He then turned to look to Finn, sending him an inviting smile. Even if he was completely misreading Finn's signals, he would at least enjoy talking to a different person and hearing from someone other than Michael or Jessica. Nothing ventured, nothing gained...

Sinead was paying close attention to Peter, Finn and even George, as she tried to figure out what on Earth was going on. "Do you think George needs medical advice?" she finally asked Peter, wondering if her deduction was a reasonable one.

Bellz (Peter, Finn)

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan​

Finn Sullivan​

Peter couldn't help the smile that escaped him as Sinead kept questioning him about George and why he was looking over at Finn the way he was. He was going to have to talk to his cellmate about subtly and the importance of it during visiting hours. Peter rubbed his thumb across the back of Sinead's hand soothingly, his eyes didn't miss the interaction between George and Finn. Finn's cheeks reddened as George smiled his way. To someone who didn't know about George's preferences, this interaction would seem harmless...but his wife was smarter than that, and he didn't know what Finn was. At the question of why George was in prison, Peter leaned forward in his seat, "Don't worry, sweetheart. Fraud and Identity theft, he wouldn't hurt a fly." Peter reassured Sinead as he squeezed her hands lightly, "George is a good man. He was the one to save me from--" He paused, unable to go on in explaining what George had saved him from. Peter was very much aware of what he could have lost that day, his life. George's quick reaction to the beating really did save Peter from bleeding out or that's what he had to keep telling himself. The man refused to act violently, which Peter deeply respected as he was the same way, but would he have stood back and listened to George being beaten senselessly? The answer was to be decided. "He's one of the closest friends I have in this hellhole." He managed to say, having gone to a dark place without noticing. Peter's eyes found Sinead's and they reflected the fear and anger he felt.

Before he could say anything more about George, the man leaned towards him from his table and Peter leaned to listen to what he had to say. Surprisingly, George had gotten the guards to agree in letting Finn sit with him for a while. Nodding his head slowly, Peter looked to Finn briefly as he sat back up straight. Finn's attention was distracted as he openly stared at George and the smile he was giving him. Clearing his throat, Finn's eyes flickered back to look at Peter before they looked to Sinead, his cheeks still pink as if he had been left out in the cold. "As a matter of fact, George does want some medical advice." He said finally. "Do you think you would be able to help Finn?" Peter asked, a sly smile appearing on his lips. Finn looked confused on what to do, and a bit scared. "Well, I...I ...can do that." He stuttered out and wiped his sweat palms against his slacks. Finn stood slowly and turned to look at Sinead, "Don't leave without me." He said quietly before taking a few steps towards George's table. Peter watched him until he sat down at the table, turning his attention back to his wife. "He'll be fine, love. So Oswald Santa Claws? I think James and Lucy should let Emery name their baby."

Finn was surprised that he wasn't shaking like a leaf, his heart was racing and his breathing kept getting caught in his throat. He continued to wipe his clammy hands against his slacks as he stepped around the chair of the table and took a seat. The charming man in front of him was all smiles and it confused Finn to no end. He cleared his throat once, and then twice, continuing to rub his hands nervously against his pants. "Peter...he said you wanted medical advice? You know, I don't believe that for a second." Finn admitted to George, his tone taking on something bolder as he shifted in his seat. Placing both arms on the table, he leaned forward, staring openly at George as if he was trying to figure him out. There was something different about this man, something that he couldn't put his finger on. Finn liked challenges, solving problems that supposedly couldn't be solved. The smile on the man's face was beginning to relax Finn, he leaned back in his seat and flashed George his own smile, "Sorry...I'm normally not this rude. I just wasn't sure if you were...good or not?" He bit his lip hearing his own words and inwardly cringing at them. Taking a deep breath, Finn offered another smile and held out his hand to George, "Names Finnian...but everyone just calls me Finn. And from what I hear your name is George?"

with: Misty Gray
mentions:

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter and Jared Armstrong​

James and Jared both seemed to sit back to allow the other six men to order their drinks, either being polite or stubborn. Porter was using the time to scan the environment around them, taking in the exits, staff and furniture around them. He was eyeing up potential security flaws and looking for anyone nearby who looked at all shifty. He didn't trust Armstrong and he wanted to use these moments productively before he expected to become enthralled in deep discussion or potentially a disagreement. He heard Jared request a brandy before looking to the server and ordering a whiskey for himself, finishing his request off with a friendly smile.

James was a patient man and could have easily sat in silence for another hour before showing any kind of discomfort at the atmosphere. He sat back in his seat and retrieved his box of smokes from the table in front of him. He took a cigarette out for himself before placing it in his mouth and lighting it. He then handed the box to Jackson, making it clear the man could share the cigarettes with the rest of the Porter representatives. James sensed some of the others were tense or perhaps just wishing for the meeting to find a start as well as a fast conclusion. He decided not to torture them, especially the three men he had brought with him, as they didn't deserve to suffer through the charade for too long. He blew some smoke out of his mouth and balanced his cigarette on the ashtray before outstretching his arm in Jared's direction. "Alright, Armstrong. You requested this evening and escalated our hostilities, so it's only fair you start this meeting."

Jared studied James throughout the period of silence, trying to see beyond the Irishman's steely gaze. He found himself unable to pierce the man's exterior, but he knew there was bound to be some apprehension or cautiousness on the inside. He knew the man had fears and concerns, because their primary worries were the same. They both had families they loved and wished to protect. Their families were the reason they were both willing to sit opposite each other to talk and try to come to an agreement, rather than storm each other's bases with bullets and knives. When James pressed him to get started, Jared slowly nodded his head.

"I think we can both agree that this war between the IWU and your family has gone far enough. My organisation has other goals it should be focusing on and I wish to place my full attention on being productive." Jared took a sip from his glass, taking a moment to look to the three men he'd brought along, to gauge their reactions. Evan for one wasn't giving anything away, simply glancing between the two men as they spoke and only breaking his neutral gaze to look to his pint as he lifted it to his mouth. Jared looked back to James and pensively rubbed his chin. "When Ciara was arrested, it wasn't my intention to continue the personal and absurd war she'd started with you. However, your first act into my leadership was to destroy a warehouse full of weapons belonging to the IWU. My only choice was to retaliate in kind and show you that the IWU isn't intimidated by the Mob..."

"Ahhh, alright," James said, shaking his head whilst smirking. "We deprived a group of fanatics of their weapons and you responded 'in kind', did you?" James sat up straight and pressed his index finger into the wooden table as he set about making his next point. "You threatened to have my incarcerated brother killed. You tried to poison me, but almost killed a member of my family instead. My men were shot, my daughter assaulted. On Christmas Day my men were shot again and some were killed. My son was harmed. You are out of your fucking mind if you think that was in any way comparable to losing a few guns and bombs." James shook his head. "That's why I sent you that gift on Christmas Day. You crossed the line and made it clear to me the only way to get through to you is to threaten your family - the only thing that matters to you more than your own reflection."

Jared nodded his head, keeping his features stern. "The message was received and here we are now, Porter," he told him. It would be difficult to give in to any of the Irishman's demands, but Jared was willing to do it, at least until the election was over. After that, he would have no problem with screwing the Porters over. "It's time to end this and focus on our own businesses. The IWU and the election are my focus, not shootouts with dirty mobsters. We need to agree to draw a line and stay out from under each others' feet."

James grinned and turned to Jackson and then Aldous, wondering what they thought of all this. It was commendable that Jared cared enough about his family to say what he was saying, but James also suspected it wasn't just for them. The man wanted to win an election and he knew the Porters could make that more difficult for him. "Well, I'm not going to send a vote your way, that's for sure." James flicked the large build-up of ash from the end of his cigarette into the ashtray and took the last remaining drags from the stick. He then stubbed it out in the ashtray before looking to Armstrong again. "You understand I can't just back off and leave you lot to do your own thing, don't you? Ciara was willing to blow shit up without giving a second thought about the lives of innocent people caught up in her protests. I'm far from a saint and I won't insult your intelligence by claiming to be, but I conduct my business whilst trying to minimise harm to innocent people. I don't believe you lot share that concern," he said, sending a glare towards Carter. He then looked back to Jared. "For a start, I'd expect the IWU to do away with its explosives and stop getting in the way of my shipments and trade." James looked to Jackson, Aldous and then Tommy. "What do you guys think?" he offered the discussion to them, knowing a good leader allowed his men to speak up and offer their point of view, whether contradictory to his own or not.

James then shifted his attention to Jared and the other IWU members. "In fact, what do your men think of all of this? This meeting and the possibility of getting out from under each others' feet?" he asked. He believed many IWU members were fanatical and he wasn't convinced they would all agree with what Jared was trying to do. He would have never got Ciara to sit around a table and talk, that was for sure. She'd have turned the whole meeting into chaos by this point.

Enzyme Shireling

 

[Misty Gray]

George Sanderson and Sinead Callahan​

Sinead was glad to hear Peter's explanation as to why George was in prison. She was relieved to know the man wasn't dangerous or at all threatening as she didn't want to see anything happen to her sweet cousin. "That's comforting to know. I didn't think he looked nasty, but we all know we can never go on looks alone," she pointed out. When Peter started to mention George had saved him from something, she was able to figure out he was trying to say his cellmate had helped him during whatever kind of situation he'd been in to end up getting hurt so badly. She looked to George and softly smiled at the prisoner, trusting her husband's words as he vouched for him. She looked back to her love when he said he was a close friend in the prison. "I'm glad you have a friend here with you. Anyone who doesn't like you is just a dumb jerk," she grumbled. She looked into his eyes, detecting his fear and anger. She hoped it would get better for him, that he wouldn't continue to suffer for the rest of his sentence. She certainly hoped he wouldn't get hurt again. "I wish I could make your suffering go away, Petey. You don't deserve to suffer in this place."

Sinead watched on as George leaned in to say something to Peter. Afterwards, Peter confirmed George indeed needed medical advice. "I suppose medical care in this place isn't great, is it?" she reasoned, helping herself believe that was what the prisoner wanted. However, she then noticed Peter's sly smile and this brought doubt back to the story. She grinned as she noticed Finn's awkwardness. Now she really was confused. She felt like George was into Finn, but she wasn't sure why her cousin was indulging him, considering he was clearly into women if his last ten years with Eleanor were anything to go by. All she knew was Finn would have no choice but to spill the beans during the drive home. "Of course I won't leave without you, love," she told Finn. "We came in your car, silly!" she playfully teased.

When her cousin had gone to join George, Sinead sent Peter a look that screamed to know what on Earth was going on. Her husband reassured her Finn would be fine so she nodded in agreement. She soon had a laugh dragged out of her as Peter suggested Emery named the new baby. "Oh my God, yes! That would be hilarious. Can you imagine James' face?!" she enthused. A whole flurry of crazy names began swirling around in her head - too many to even put into words for Peter's benefit.

************​

George couldn't hide the bright smile from his face when Finn had chosen to accept his invite and sat opposite him at the table. He looked up as the man spoke about Peter mentioning he needed medical advice. The handsome man made it clear he didn't believe that excuse. George looked at Finn's face for a moment, taking in his features from close up and finding the man even more attraction in closer proximity. "Well, maybe I could trouble you with a request for medical advice anyway," he began. He placed his arm on the top of the table and rolled his sleeve up to reveal a small bandage around his wrist before pulling his sleeve back down to cover it up again. "I sprained my wrist last month. Still causes me bother and the doctor here doesn't have a great bedside manner. Told me to deal with it, which I would do if I knew how," he remarked. His grin would suggest Finn really didn't have to give him medical advice, but he would still welcome it if he chose to.

George was glad to see Finn smile and relax back in his seat. He was at least willing to humour him if nothing else. "Rude? I don't think you're rude, mate. Five minutes locked up with some of these guys will show you what rude is really like." He smiled softly when Finn admitted he didn't know if he was good or bad. "Well, I suppose the default assumption would be that I'm bad, being that I'm in here. I suppose we all have different ideas and tolerances on what we deem good or bad." George awkwardly bit his lip as he realised he might now be rambling on - a little habit of his. He'd been pretty relaxed and excited about an interaction with Finn, but a slight nervousness was now cracking through his cool exterior.

"Aye, my name's George, but most people here call me Sanderson," he quipped, being that the prison guards and many inmates addressed each other by surname alone. "You can keep calling me George," he reassured him. He then sat up straight and smoothed out his top. "I hope I haven't made you feel too awkward, Finn. I could say I wanted to save you from being the gooseberry as the good man Peter spent time with his wife, but I can't claim altruism on that front," he admitted. "I guess I fancied... I fancied talking to someone new for a change. You just seem like an interesting man and I love to hear people's stories," he told him. He couldn't exactly say he noticed how attractive he was and wanted to try his luck at flirting with him. For all he knew, he'd got this all wrong and Finn was completely straight. "Peter told me you're a doctor. What made you choose that career?" He wanted to enquire about the girlfriend Peter had mentioned, but couldn't find a tactful way to do so. "Have you always lived in Ireland?" he followed up. This was becoming difficult for George - he just needed a signal. A sign. Something to tell him he wasn't imagining things.

Bellz (Peter, Finn)

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

With the idea of finishing the year out with a bang and an alright note, Aliana didn't think about the kiss she had shared with Conor or their guilty decision. She hadn't told Tommy anything and would only assume Conor hadn't either. Sure, maybe she shouldn't go into the New Year with this type of mess but she wanted to have at least one drama free moment. That and she hadn't exactly decided what she was going to do just yet. She did decide that she may need more time with Tommy, alone, to figure it all out. Which is partially why she Whether or not that would help her decision-making process was unknown but she did know it wouldn't help if they didn't go. It seemed like something was always popping up when they planned it; this time being he was shot and then had to attend a meeting. As with Leo, she stayed by his side until he was better, the guilt slowly eating away at her. There were so many moments she wanted to tell him everything but decided against it. He was healing and it didn't seem like the appropriate time. Instead, she would pretend she didn't have a decision that needed to be made.

Aliana wasn't going to pretend she wasn't annoyed by the fact their date had been rain-checked so many times. However, hearing the Callahan children wanted her around to help babysit gave her something else to be focused on. Anything they asked her for she would give it to them, including coming over. If ever she discovered she could bear children, Sinead's kids would be enough for her. While Lucy took down decorations in another room, she helped a bit by removing anything resembling Christmas while watching Savvy. When Savvy asked her about Tommy and Conor, she quickly put her hand over her mouth and shushed her. How had this sneaky little girl even seen that she wondered? But worse, who else knew and did Lucy hear? One of her questions was answered when Lucy stepped into the room, obviously having heard Savvy's question. She berated the girl and sent her out of the room before turning to her and asking her own question.

She ran her hand through her hair and then across her face before groaning and sitting down. "I made a mess, Lucy, and I have no idea what I'm doing." She took a small pause before sighing. This was probably the outlet she was looking for, being able to admit her guilt to someone. She wanted to tell Sinead, but every time she did try she just choked up. Yet here she was about to tell Lucy what was going on, mostly because she was already caught. Thanks, Savvy.

"To make a long story short, Conor and I... May have kissed? Uh during the Christmas party. But it's not just that either. You see.." She trailed off, trying the find the words as she beckoned her friend over to the seat next to her. Once she sat down, she would continue. "We admitted some things to each other and now my heads all a mess... People are going to get hurt and I didn't mean for it to happen."

Lucy ( Bellz )​

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy & Carter Dresden ​

Jackson casually sat up and accepted the cigarette box. Placing one between his lips, he moved the box over to Tommy, who was the only Porter at the table who hadn't indulged himself. Moving the coat flap aside with his hand, Jackson dug his fingers into his pocket to retrieve his zippo lighter. The sensation of inhaling the intoxicating smoke would settle his nerves, hopefully stopping him from jumping over the table and strangling Carter right where he sat. His attention was first drawn to James as he broke the silence, and then Jared as he picked up the ball and ran with it. Jackson almost made a snarky remark about his apartment but remembered that that was under different leadership. Instead, he sat back and let Jared continue, the string of smoke mirroring Jackson's patience as it slowly drew up from the burned tip, undisturbed. He used the opportunity to study Jared's facial features. Even the way that his steel eyes slid in their sockets seemed calculated. He was not your average fanatic, which led Jackson to question why the guy was even affiliated with the freaks.

Jackson slowly turned his head to James as he spoke. He couldn't have said it better himself. He laid everything out on the table, not allowing Jared's side of the story to slip past the magnifying glass. As James flipped past the significant events that had unfolded, it did its part in inducing the reality back to Jackson. The IWU had caused all those horrible events that James glossed over. And over what? A warehouse of explosives? It just didn't sit right with him. Why were they so inclined to attack them? Despite how fast Jackson's mind was racing, his exterior appeared calm and collected, only the squinting of his eyes gave a hint that he wasn't entirely there. When James turned the question over to the rest of them, Jackson slowly nodded his head. He grunted in confirmation, before parting his lips. "I reckon that sounds fair," He spoke in a grumble as he scrunched his nose as if those simple dictates should've already been understood.

Carter rolled over in his chair, finally taking his eyes off the painting that had been captivating his attention. "I'm sorry, but I don't think this is gonna' go how you're expecting." Cater tilted his head with a look of sincerity, his gaze unwavering from James' eyes. "I get that you're used to walkin' into a room with a bunch of gangstas' and layin' out your littl' set of rules - everyone's all happy, shaking hands," he spoke, scrunching his face as if he was disgusted with James' practices. "But we're not a bunch of gangstas'." He sat up in his chair, resting his injured arm just below the table. "If we wanted to end the Porters, we'd know where to aim; right in between the eyes of Mr. Porter himself," he bluntly spoke, pointing at James with his good arm. "What about you? Where would you aim? Mr. Armstrong?" He asked raising his eyebrow with a smirk, lightly shaking his head. "That's the difference between us, mate. You're a family, a natural chain of command, tied down by moral obligations." He shrugged lightly, gliding his fingers over the soft table sheet. "While we're the underdogs, a society of the forgotten class, an unbroken spirit. We've got nothing to lose, while you've got everything," His tone turned to a soft whisper, accompanied by an even more wicked smile. He stood up, moving the napkin off his lap and neatly slapping it on the table. "If you'll excuse me." He nodded to the men, making his way towards the bathrooms.

Misty Gray Shireling

 

[mpower]

Kennedy Sullivan​

As the word 'madhouse' came up, Kennedy could not help himself but slip out a chuckle, a roughened and small expression of joy he could produce. It reminded him of his spare years back in America, having family feasts and experiencing the wide variety of different personalities which were united under Emmet and the fact that they were blood-related. After all, they all got along one way or another, family can't decide family. While Shannon was making his tea and what was supposed to be a coffee for her, he could only remark: "Alcohol's too much of a burden for me to see it as an actual trouble solver. But I can't speak for you, judging by what you probably had to endure under this patched up roof of a hundred lives, everyone to himself I guess". Another smirk appeared on his face, he was a man of exaggerations but he hopefully was able to emphasize with Shannon there.

On the word of Connor, his cousin, who he initially did not ask about, his eyebrows raised. He knew he was a troublesome fella but thought he could control himself all the time, not that he was not aware of the outbursts of James' brother, everyone who got ears knew of it in this district. He did not react to Shannon's way of calling his profession, his stomach turned slightly though, he himself made a short notice in his mind to remember that his aunt was really not good to speak of him and his colleagues. "Would be good to meet the man of my cousin, see if he is as good as you say. How'd Peter got arrested anyway? And what for?". He was not around to stop it when his 'colleagues' handled Peter or the rest of the Porters, during that time Kennedy was out with a detachment, trying to bust a human trafficking ring with a task force of his and other districts in the Western regions.

Kennedy went silent then, listening to her closely while his fingers were tapping against each other, he only let his face tell his reactions to every member's doing and status, a nod to his brother and the mention of his parents, a smile to the fact that his sister is away from all of this, still...

My brother as a doctor, what a pleasant surprise. Never perceived his ass could comprehend more than 1+1...but that was when he was a child... It's like our family tree remained officially out of the mob business as our parents wanted. Me a Copper, him a Doctor and Maggie a proper housewife in the future, or a woman with ambitions even? Something tells me that I am the black sheep though, he's got a broad and I am sure Maggie got a husband or something near that as well. Lucie got James...but hey, you're here now, Ken.

He looked slightly baffled as he heard of the daughter of cousin Conor. Another smirk, wider and rather more amused as Kennedy could not imagine Conor with a daughter, those two terms just did not fit for him. "I am proud of cousin Lucie, three children and an incoming one is a great addition to the family... will have to talk to her as well, I think we haven't seen for a long time as well...basically like I haven't seen anyone...yeah. I'd love to talk to James as well, perhaps for some more in-depth matters as well. Sure thing I'd want to listen to Sinead's voice as well, I think I can remember her as a kid, we all loved to listen to her every once in a while. And I am sure my brother's going to be fine if he managed to get the medical degree he will get arranged with his girl as well." On the mention of Emmet, he slightly leaned backwards, rubbing his palms together, his posture dropped a little as he got reminded on how this tragedy all started. As she finished he remained silent for a moment, his gaze lost focus as he looked past her on nothing, in particular, seemingly he was not comfortable to talk about this but he went on anyway: "Emmet's loss was devastating for everyone. I hope everyone dealt with this gap however they could best, but surely it can never be filled. I haven't been here but I think folks need you here, Aunty Shannon. Family's like a chain, we gotta rely on each other, even if this is coming from me." He straightened his posture a little again, his shoulders stiffening as he smiled and said: "We can go golfing or somethin' if you are bored, I am sure I can keep you up one-week minimum with good stories".

Misty Gray (Aunty Shannon)

 

[Misty Gray]

Evan Shaw and Thomas Dempsey​

Evan listened as Jared and James had their conversation, raising an almost proud eyebrow as he heard the Porter boss summarise the attacks the IWU had carried out on his family. Yet they still continued to think they held any control over his organisation? When the discussion was opened up to the rest of the men present to share their thoughts, Evan had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Instead, Carter spoke up and expressed views which he echoed, leading Evan to show his agreement as he nodded along. When Carter stood up to use the bathroom, Evan sent his friend a glance before bringing his focus back to the men around the table.

"I fought in the war for the government. They armed me with guns and explosives - practically forced me to carry their weapons. And for what? After the war, I returned to Maine to find I didn't have anything. No job, no family and no real place to call home. Now, those in power want to take the weapons away from me because I'm not fighting their wars for them anymore. I stopped taking orders from our leaders long ago. Why would I want to take orders from a gang of criminals who were never elected?" The muscular man sat forward and knocked back the remaining beer from his glass. "Politicians and your lot already have an unfair advantage, without the IWU's cause being further weakened by surrendering any strength we do have," he told James, looking him straight in the eyes. He then sat back and stretched his arms out over his head for a moment. He then got to his feet and looked down to Jared. "I need to use the men's room too, so I'll let you guys continue to get the politics out of your system... If the waiter asks, I'll have another pint," he requested, pointing to his empty glass. He then made his way to the bathroom, hoping to avoid prolonged exposure to what he believed to be a useless discussion. He wasn't willing to be commanded by the Porters as it would do nothing to support the cause he now fought for and so he wouldn't agree to the man's terms.

Tommy sat patiently as he listened to James and Jared speaking. He was glad James hadn't held back in pointing out all of the attacks the IWU had carried out against the Porters, having been present on some of the occasions as well as injured himself. The healing cuts and bruises on his head were clear evidence of the most recent act against the Porters business. As much as he was concentrating on the meeting, Tommy's mind also became aware that all but he and Jackson had by now been served the drinks they'd ordered. The poor waitress had clearly forgotten to bring out the full order and judging by the way she was keeping back, she was clearly afraid of interrupting what appeared to be a serious meeting. He snapped out of his observations when James opened up the discussion to everyone. Jackson gave a simple response of agreement. Carter then spoke up and Tommy clenched his fist as he listened to the man's unwillingness to come to an agreement or compromise. He was glad when Carter departed from the table, and after giving his thoughts, Evan left too.

"I believe what James is proposing is fair. I don't discount what the IWU is trying to achieve, but I don't believe in the widely destructive methods that you and the others use to be heard," he said, looking to Jared as he spoke. He then shrugged his shoulders, not overly fond of meetings like this one. "Armstrong, I respect your willingness to try ease the tensions and come to some kind of agreement, but I suspect your men do not share your sentiment," he told the man, nodding towards the seats Carter and Evan temporarily excused themselves from.

Tommy turned to Jackson. "I think the server forgot to get our drinks and I think the poor young woman is intimidated some of the stern faces around this table." He pointed his thumb in the direction of the bar. "Come with me would ya, Jackson? We can fetch another drink for James and Aldous while we're there for our own," he suggested. It wasn't just that he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to stretch his legs but he could also see how Carter's presence was grating on Jackson too. He felt he and Jackson perhaps needed a little time to breath, or at least air their distaste for the prick to each other, away from the round table.

Once walking towards the bar and out of the group's earshot, he turned to Jackson. "I can't stand that fucker. I suspect you share my sentiment?" he remarked, referring to Carter. "To think, I missed out on a date with Ali for this," he added, flashing a smile to show he was only half joking.


Enzyme
Shireling

 

[Misty Gray]

Conor Sullivan​

With Rudy in the passenger seat and Syd in the back seat, Conor drove the car down the narrow cobbled street. He slowed the car down as they approached 'The Archers Pub', allowing them to take close look around the exterior of the business. He then focused his attention back in front and on driving safely, though the street was pretty quiet being a Monday evening. Instead of parking up close to the pub, Conor continued driving and turned the car down an empty backstreet before bringing the vehicle to a stop having decided his chosen parking space was secure and out of the way.

James had already briefed the three men on the purpose of the evening's job. 'The Archers Pub' was a relatively popular drinking hole, mostly frequented by the lower class. The place was run by a small gang known as the Duncan Crew. Though it was firmly implanted within the heart of Porter territory, James allowed them to run the pub in return for them paying him an affordable rent. Things had been running smoothly, or so the Porters thought. It had been brought to James' attention that the Duncans were running a gambling racket down in their basement and that was not part of the deal! It was time to put a stop to it.

Conor twisted his upper body sideways so he could address both Rudy and Syd from his spot in the driver's seat. "Alright, lads. You both ready? Make sure your guns stay out of sight unless we have real reason to use them. I'd rather not have a shootout in such a fine establishment," he explained. Conor was known to prefer using his muscle and fists rather than bringing out guns. Still, if pushed, he wouldn't rule out bringing bullets into it. "Syd, if you've got any questions or worries, remember to ask a grown-up," he said, pointing to Rudy rather than himself. "Or just speak to me," he mumbled. "Just don't do anything hasty else your old man will kick my teeth in." Conor rubbed his hands together before preparing to step out of the car. "We get the main pub empty and lock the doors before we think about inspecting that basement. The last thing we want is any kind of ambush. Those Duncans are criminals, don't you know?"

It was just a minute's walk to the pub and the street remained relatively empty. Conor stepped into the pub first, expecting Rudy and Syd to remain close by. He scanned the place, deducing there were only a dozen men drinking in the place. Nothing too taxing there. After setting eyes on the landlord, Conor nodded his head, making it clear he wanted the man's customers out. "Sorry, lads. This place is closing for the night and I need you all out," Conor ordered them, his voice still friendly but with a forcefulness about it. After hearing grumbles about unfinished pints, Conor reached into his back pocket so he could retrieve his wallet. He handed Syd some Irish Pound notes. "Compensate these kind gentlemen for their wasted drinks, would ya?" he asked. Once the men had all left, he asked Rudy to bolt the doors shut to stop anyone from coming back inside.

Conor then approached the bar where the landlord stood awaiting him. "How's it going, mate? It's quiet up here tonight." He walked around the bar so he could see into the back room where the stairs leading to the basement were located. Conor's close proximity to Mr. Duncan also accentuated his greater height and build compared to the landlord. "Care to show us how the business is doing downstairs?" he asked, by now spelling out that the Porters were aware of the gambling racket in the basement.


Pyroclast (Syd) Shireling (Rudy) Enzyme

 

[Misty Gray]

Shannon Sullivan
​

Shannon thought back to Peter's arrest, recalling the details that had been relayed to her. "He was out on a job with some of the others when the cops showed up. Peter and Jackson had the pigs chase them to divert the attention from the job itself. Peter ended up getting caught and arrested, for resisting arrest and carrying a weapon. It was hardly the crime of the century and he's far too good to be in that shithole," she assured him.

The woman took a drink from her coffee as Kennedy spoke of looking forward to speaking with the family he hadn't seen for some time. She placed the mug back down on the coffee table and nodded her head. "Lucy is around the house now, but she's babysitting Sinead's children. Grandma Shannon here needed a break from those adorable little energy drainers!" she drily remarked, having done her fair share of babysitting whilst Skye has been ill and Sinead has been out trying to maintain her presence at the jazz club. "James is attending to some important business meeting right now, but I expect he'll not be back at an ungodly hour. I don't doubt he'd want to speak with you too," she told him, knowing James liked to meet, or grill, newcomers to his home." She sent a reassuring smile as he spoke of his expectations for Finn. "Ah, Finnian is doing great. I'm just waiting for an engagement announcement already. I'm rather fond of attending weddings! And I imagine a wife and kids would really suit him as he's a natural with children."

Shannon pushed a loose strand of hair out from in front of her face as Kennedy spoke about Emmet. "It took time, but we all came to terms with it. His memory is still fresh for us all, even after so many years, but we recovered. Plus, it helps knowing that the men responsible are dead and where they belong," she pointed out. She was sure Kennedy would know of the Romanos and them being the ones to have Emmet killed back in Chicago. Still, she wouldn't go into detail when the man had only just arrived in the family home. Besides, it would no doubt lead to more revelations her nephew likely wasn't ready for, including the fact Savannah's biological father was the very man who had murdered Emmet.

"You could be right. If anything, they need me around to tell them when to stop whining too much," she remarked. A small chuckle escaped her at the offer of golf. "Well, love, we can certainly go play golf, but it will be a messy and frustrating affair. I can't say I've ever given the game a try!"

mpower (Kennedy)