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

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

"Oh, just his hairstyle, sometimes," Sinead enlightened Aliana as to why Conor had given the nickname 'Elvis' to Tommy. "I think Tommy is much cuter, though," she mischievously added. Sinead listened as her friend told her about fish being good for them. "Well, I'm more for white meat myself anyway." Really, she just loved chicken too much to deviate from it. "If only salmon could cure my worries."

Sinead listened as Lucy apologised and her words suggested she didn't know James had got Peter back working for him. "I'll kick his butt enough to hurt him but not too much that you won't be able to keep him," she reasoned. "I just think there's plenty of guys he can use without having to involve Peter." She sighed as she reminded herself she wasn't being completely fair on James or Peter's own ability to make decisions. "I mean, Petey wants to do it and thinks the Jazz Club is boring. Even if it was Petey's decision in the end, I just wish James hadn't encouraged him to do this." Realising she was getting into another rant and making herself worry again, she took a deep breath and mentally berated herself.

"Okay... dinner..." she said, by now a little flustered. "Lead the way, Ali. You can get us the best table," she playfully suggested. It was Aliana's restaurant, after all. "We all have a wedding to talk about too. Oh my God. What is the colour scheme?!" she excitedly asked Lucy. "See, I'll have to keep James alive so we get to go to another wedding."


Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana) Bellz (Lucy)

Skye Maisie McKendrick​

Skye couldn't help but smirk when Syd told Mallory she looked rough. She really wished she'd been at that party if everyone was as drunk as it seems they were. "Oh, I totally thought you were avoiding me, Syd. I cried myself to sleep every night," she playfully teased. "Not really... I only just got back from Scotland a couple of days ago. I was drunk most of the time, though it wasn't the same as being drunk over here," she informed him.

Skye watched on as Mallory explained the things Syd had missed as his mum's party. "You get to go to a wedding and you've got another niece. I bet you'll think twice about leaving again," she told Syd. Skye pulled a sad face when Mallory mentioned been left alone. "Aww man. Sorry you were left with the oldies. Didn't Delilah keep you entertained?" she asked, unaware she was busy dating Leo. Her eyes then widened as an idea came to her. "You know what needs to happen? The three of us and Delilah need to go out into the city one night. Very soon! No oldies allowed," she said. By oldies, she basically meant anyone out of their teens and with nobody babysitting them.



neverbackdown (Mallory) Pyroclast (Syd)

James Porter​

Once he'd finished his chat with Leo, James headed upstairs to get changed into a nicer shirt. Apparently, the Jazz Club had a dress code which his t-shirt and trainers contravened. Still, he wasn't committed enough to a night out to wear a suit, so he threw on a shirt, trousers and leather jacket. He then made his way out to one of the cars, dismissing the offer from one of the guys for a ride into town. He got into the worn silver Chevrolet which was due to be pulled apart for scraps soon. He didn't want any attention tonight so intentionally chose one of the less flashy of his cars.

James parked the car up in the Jazz Club parking lot, noticing Lucy's car was parked close by. Still, he wasn't joining his lovely wife yet and instead set off walking in the opposite direction to the club. As he walked downtown, James kept his eyes on his surroundings and was aware of the gun in his pocket should he happen to need it. Soon enough, he reached the Deli he's been walking towards and it didn't take him long to see his brother sat alone at one of the tables. For a man so unpredictable, Elijah still had some routines that were predictable. As he approached Elijah, James was intercepted by a waitress and so he ordered two coffees to his brother's table.

"Having fun, mate?" James asked as he pulled out a chair and sat opposite his brother. "You left the party before the fun started, last night." James wasn't angry with his brother for his aggressive and abrupt departure, he just wished he hadn't been rude to Lucy in the process.

Enzyme (Elijah)

 

[ElectricDandellion]

DELILAH PORTER

Delilah stood in the kitchen, slowly anticipating what was to come next. If Leo had told her father about them dating despite having asked him not to, then he’d be sorely mistaken in thinking that they’d be hanging out today or even talking civilly. The very gesture of admitting you had hidden something from a mob boss was terribly dangerous, perhaps even life threatening. The young woman wouldn’t be surprised if her father had him against the wall, threatening to break one of his bones if he ever hurt her. The very thought had her smirking. What would Leo even do in that situation? Delilah only hoped Leonard would come back out with his perfect head screwed on as it had been before he walked in, because she would be the first to rip it off in anger. Yes, her heart fluttered with his presence and yes, she probably wouldn’t be able to bring herself to get angry with him because he only wanted to be honest with her father. But that honesty could damn well drag her into hellish trouble if she weren’t careful enough. “Just play it cool,” she muttered comfortingly to herself, trying to convince herself that it was probably something else, and not necessarily about their relationship, but she couldn’t help thinking that the look Leo gave her when he said ‘private’ meant that it was about them. Clenching her jaw, she walked to get a small glass, filling it with a quarter of whisky and quickly downing it. The taste made her face scrunch up and, as she put the cup in the sink, she realised that she would need more than a little alcohol to get through the talk her father may give her.

Seeing Leo enter, she crossed her arms across her chest. “You didn’t,” she frowned, drowning in lost emotion. Admittedly, she was glad he had told her father, that way she didn’t have to, and she was happy to see him in tact. Delilah was lost- did she hug him or did she passive aggressively tell him to get out of the house. Gaze cold and almost threatening, she shook her head. Sneakers inched across the floor as she walked towards the hallway, ready to walk up to her bedroom. There was no way she was going to talk to him, if he wanted to so desperately, he could talk to her. To at least make the effort after what he had done. She knew he had done it by the way he was so relaxed walking out of that room. “I’m going upstairs,” Delilah softly mumbled, brows knitting together as she turned away. God, that hurt, acting annoyed when really she wanted to jump into his arms and thank him. She really was too stubborn for her own good. Slyly walking up the stairs, keeping one hand on the landing, she looked down between the banisters to catch a glimpse of Leo and his reaction before speeding up and walking into her room, slamming the door shut behind her. Leaping onto her bed, she grabbed her book from her bedside table and began to read it. Delilah hoped, she wished, even, that Leo would walk upstairs after her so she could express how grateful she was, but also how he shouldn’t go against her word.

Melanin-Gxdess​

 

[Enzyme]

Eli Porter​

Eli's glassy eyes had been traced on the chiffchaffs, who were systematically pecking at the crumbs of bread on the sidewalk. His right hand gripped a pen, which had already dropped down notes on the birds' behaviors and activities. The local Arboretum was close by; housing various birds, both exotic and common, who tended to wander from the trees in search for man-made foods. The way they moved so contemplatively and robotic-like, even in the presence of potential predators, intrigued Eli. He was so enveloped in watching their every twitch, that he hardly noticed his brother at his table. Only after James made is presence known, vocally, did he turn to face him.

Eli muttered lightly when James asked if he was enjoying himself. It was more complex than that. It were as if Eli was a college student focusing in on a lecture. He wasn't doing it for pleasure, but to simply study and understand the complex species. "Fun?" Eli couldn't help but scoff when James brought up the party. He rested the pen on the side of the notepad, shifting his body towards James. "I woulda' had more fun tearin' a bloody fork from me' eye than I would've rubbin' elbows wit' some of those snobs." He shook his head lightly, exaggerating his instinctual over-bite.

"Look, I know I disrespected you and your family and I'm sorry - I love you lot. Especially Lucy, I said some very nasty things to her that I didn't mean. It's just... Who are you anymore, mate?" He tilted his head to the side and scrunched his eyebrows, letting the question sit. "I looked up to you my whole life... Everyone did. No one messed with James, everyone respected him. I was proud to call you my brotha'." Despite the lack of emotion in his facial features, his eyes appeared genuine. "Since when did having a family become so important to you?"

Misty Gray (James)

Pictures wouldn't upload : (

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter​

James glanced to the notes Elijah had been jotting down and briefly to the birds on the sidewalk, but didn't comment on it. His brother was entitled to his interests and he figured he'd talk about it with him if he wanted to. More than anything, it was good to see him focused and on something not deemed dangerous.

"Damn, you should have said. I could have stuck a fork in your eye for you to make your evening more exciting," James remarked. He listened as his brother apologised for being rude to the family and he believed his words. "We love you too, Eli," he assured him. He placed his elbows on the table and interlaced his fingers together, resting his chin on his hands. "I'm the same person, but I've grown up. Why can't you accept that?" He quickly shook his head. "It became important to me when I realised I was allowed to have a family. Before fucking Romano killed our dad, we had a family. Then your uncle dragged you away and I had nobody. It was just me, on my own, for years. It made prison seem less lonely, despite the fact I was tortured until pain no longer bothered me. When I was released, I lived never expecting a tomorrow and the closest I got to human contact was firing a bullet into some guy's skull." James, took a deep breath. "Then I got close to Lucy and I realised I was entitled to a future, that someone could actually love me. The warmth of her family - now my family - that gave me a reason to want a tomorrow. I'd be dead by now if I'd never changed. We both went through a lot of shit when we were separated, so I won't pretend my shit was worse than yours. But all I know is having Lucy and then a family finally made me feel happy. Is that so wrong?"

James sat back as the waitress placed the two mugs of coffee on the table. He wasn't sure if Elijah wanted it, but it was there if he did. He lowered his hands so he could take a sip of the unsweetened drink. As he placed the mug back down, he observed his brother's face for a short time. "Is this really how you feel about me, or has Ciara played any part in it?"

Enzyme (Elijah)

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan

Peter was relieved and ready to head out for this job when Jackson arrived back in the car. He listened intensely as Jackson rearranged the plan slightly and Peter would be doing the talking. He smirked at Jackson's reasoning for choosing him to speak but didn't say anything as he went into further detail. Peter eyed Jackson before looking to Tommy as he was instructed to keep quiet and to shoot anyone who was deemed suspicious. Peter wondered if the lad was ready for such a task but nodded regardless, if anything, Peter knew how to handle his own weapon. "See you soon mate." Peter told Jackson as he got out of the car. With that, Peter sighed and stepped out of the car as well. He pressed a hand to his side hostler, which was covered and tucked away by his over coat.

Peter had explained to the doorman what they were here for and quickly followed after him when he understood where they needed to be. Peter looked for any strange or dangerous reaction from the man, but was relieved to know that the man didn't seem to be aware of where he was leading them. Peter thanked the man as he showed them inside the private room and left them alone with the man named John Reynolds and the girl, Nora who was lounging casually on the couch. Peter saw her sit forward with interest as they entered but kept his eyes locked on the man for the time being. "We are the two who are here to escort you miss...the third is keeping an eye out. But before we do anything more, I believe there is cash to be presented." Peter's eyes flicked from the man to Nora and then back again. "Quickly now." He urged John before looking over at Tommy. Whistling once, he nodded his head towards Nora. "The Vest." He told the lad before looking back at John.

With:Tommy Misty Gray ; Jackson Enzyme Mentions:

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter

Lucy could understand her sister's frustrations over Peter working for James again. It appeared to be the same frustrations that Lucy had at times when James was away so much. She knew that Sinead wasn't use to living the same life that she lived, and she couldn't blame her for having a hard time adjusting to such a life. Lucy placed a hand on her sister's back and rubbed her should lightly. "I'm sure Peter won't be needed for longer than necessary Sin. I just know James said he needed help and Peter was the one guy he could turn to and trust to trust our family without having to go through all the formalities." Lucy tried to ease her sister's troubled mind but she knew that was going to get them all no where, instead she decided to let her sister rant on, but it seemed that she would stop herself from doing so.

Instead Sinead brought up dinner once again and looked to Ali for direction to the place next door claiming that she could get them the best table. Lucy laughed at this, knowing that the statement was true because it was Ali's restaurant. Lucy smiled widely as Sinead went on to discuss wedding details, details that Lucy hadn't quite thought of since the proposal the night before, as her mind was swimming from drinking so much. Color schemes hadn't been on her mind in her sleep so she was a bit unprepared to answer her sister's question. "Oh God! I don't know! I drank so much last night, I slept through the day!" Lucy answered, her palms suddenly breaking out in sweats as she discussed the wedding plans. Anxiety crept into her chest and she forced herself to breathe normally. "Depends on when we have this wedding as well. What do you think?"
______________________________________________________
With: Sinead Misty Gray ; Aliana Melanin-Gxdess Mentions:

Spoiler

posting for Lucy now just in case I can't later

 

[Misty Gray]

Thomas Dempsey
~ Nora Vasile ~​

Nora briefly smirked as Peter gave a vague answer to her question. "Ah, more talkers, John. Aren't I the lucky one?" she remarked, standing up to show she was ready to get the Hell out of the hotel.

Ryan ignored Nora's comment and instead kept his attention on Peter. "You are correct," he confirmed. He opened the briefcase and spun it around so Peter could take a look inside at the wads of cash. He would stand by patiently for as long as Peter needed to check the amount over. "The other half will be handed to you at the port," he reminded him.

Tommy, meanwhile, had approached Nora on his friend's word. As he held out the vest to her, she hesitantly took it from him and looked it over. "Well, this doesn't fill me with confidence," she admitted. Still, she put the vest on over her dress and enlisted in Tommy's help to secure it. "Hmm, doesn't exactly go with the outfit." She retrieved her long black trench coat and put it on to conceal the vest she was wearing, so attention wouldn't be drawn to them rather than as a fashion statement.

Once Peter was satisfied that they could leave, Tommy would briefly catch him by the door. "If you stay close to Nora and keep hold of the case, I'll cover you both. Who's driving?" he asked.

As they made their way through the hotel and towards the exit, Tommy kept focused and closely scanning everything around the three of them. He couldn't shift that paranoid feeling, that at any moment any seemingly random person could open fire or jump them to get to Nora. Still, as he watched, everyone appeared perfectly natural, just getting on with their evening with no knowledge of what was taking place near to them in that moment. As they reached the door, Tommy stepped outside first, quickly looking around to make sure everything outside appeared just as safe.

As they approached the car, Tommy casually checked the vehicle out before Nora was escorted into the back seat. James had always told him to be cautious when returning to his vehicle and even knowing Jackson was watching them from nearby, he still couldn't risk the chance anyone had tampered with the car. He looked back to Peter, awaiting his next instruction.


Bellz (Peter) Enzyme (Jackson)

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy​

As Jacksons heavy dress shoes stomped up the gravel steps, his eyes scanned the corners of the building like a predator. Due to the hotel being upscale, most of the residents wore expensive suits and carried thick briefcases; allowing Jackson to slip in unnoticed. He casually made his way through the lobby and to the elevator, checking his surroundings before stepping inside. As he was incased inside the metal box, he examined himself in the reflective doors. His eyes trailed up his clenched hand, which gripped the thin suitcase. Other than the gloves, there was nothing conspicuous about him. He fixed the dark blue tie up to his neck, feeling the suspenders restrain his movements.

The elevator stopped just short of Jackson's destination, only able to reach the 15th floor. He slipped through the minimal traffic on the floor, only briefly catching the eye of the maid, who was already moving into a patron's room. As Jackson passed by, he swiped the broom from the maids cleaning cart, before subtly making his way through the staircase door. The decision to take the elevator all the way up proved to be the right choice, as he only had to climb up a set of stairs before reaching the roof. Once outside the door, he slid the broom through the handle to restrict access from the inside.

The wind had died down, only just breezy enough to push the hair out of Jackson's face. He made his way towards the edge of the building, which was lined with a two-foot-tall layer of concrete. He was confident that no one could see him up there, the closest building in stature merely reaching half the height of the building. He placed the suitcase beside him, snapping up the metallic clips. Inside were parts of a rifle, each separately fitted into foam slots. He crouched down on one knee and began assembling the rifle. After fitting on the last piece, the 2x20mm scope, he slapped in the five round capacity magazine and pulled the bolt back, loading in a .308 round.

He kept his trigger finger on the side of the rifle, using the scope primary to track down Peter and Thomas. His open eye scanned the base of the unsuspecting streets, impatiently tapping his finger to the side of the scope. After catching sight of Peter's blazer, he lowered the rifle to get a better look. An overwhelmingly easy feeling complied in his chest at the sight of Nora. Despite how relieved he was to see that they had got the woman out, seemingly without trouble, he knew there was still a long ways to go. Jackson, however, was just glad to know that if anything was going to go down now, the bullets in his magazine were going to have a say.

Misty Gray (Thomas/ Nora) Bellz (Peter)

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Ali started laughing as Sinead explained why she called Tommy 'Elvis'. She was definitely going to start calling him that and she was sure he'd hate it. "That is great." She said, trying to catch her breath. Once she recovered, she nodded her head towards the door at the two ladies. The three of them made their way back to Ali's restaurant, where she and the maî·tre d' led them to a private table. In this spot, you could see everything but no one would be able to see you. It was the perfect spot and she loved it. "Now Lucy, if you say that you have to understand that I will definitely be over more. Or at least until I get a soft bed."

The thought of Lucy's wedding made her smile. 'Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.' She thought to herself. Although, if she were truly being honest with herself it was because of her. Either way, she was still pretty excited. "Well obivously you want plenty of time to get it all planned, I assume. But not too much time that the feeling goes away, you know?"

To say he was surprised at the outcome of the whole ordeal was an understatement. He was expecting more yelling, a little bit of choking, some 'stay away from my daughter' lines. But, he wasn't going to sit and complain about any of it. He was actually grateful he was let off easier than he imagined. To top it all off, he got his first job and was sort of excited. The thought of Aliana finding out didn't even cross his mind and probably wouldn't until much much later.

James' threat brought him back to reality as he nodded the head. "Oh, no sir. I wouldn't even think about that... Although now that I think about it..." He started with a deep sigh and a shake of his head, "She's going to be pissed." Really he was speaking to himself, kind of figuring James would make him deal with it on his own. As the two of them walked to the kitchen, Leo put his hands in his pockets and nodded. "You know, Mr. Porter, I really appreciate all of this. There's just uh.. One more thing." Again he started nervously fidgeting, rubbing the back of his neck and rocking on his heels. "Don't tell Ali? I want to tell her on my own; the woman is crazy when she's upset." He stated. How he would mention it to her, knowing she didn't want him working for the Porter's would be difficult.

Once they reached the kitchen, he saw Delilah and defensively put his hands up. "Okay, now Del, don't be mad, okay?" He started, trying to keep her calm. She was a stubborn girl and it was sort of why he liked her. Looking at her frown, he knew she was absolutely pissed. With James having left, the poor kid didn't have anyone to help him with his current woman issue. As she started up the stairs he called out for her. "C'mon Del." He was now trying to decide if he was going to go after her or not and ended up outside her bedroom door. Leo wasn't one to leave a bad situation unsolved and he certainly didn't want to leave his girlfriend upset. He knocked before he entered the room, praying it was unlocked before he closed it behind him. "Don't be pissed at me, alright?"

Mentions: Deliliah ( ElectricDandellion ) Sinead ( Misty Gray ) Lucy ( Bellz )​

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan

Peter smirked at Nora's remark to his answer, he wasn't one for terribly detailed answers, especially when it wasn't necessary. His eyes looked over the cash and he quickly took a step forward. His hands lightly touched the cash before he reached to count it quickly. Peter wasn't one to mess around with deals either, many would consider it rude not to trust the amount given...but Peter would make sure these people kept to their word. Once he was satisfied, he took a step back and nodded his head, understanding that the rest would be given once they successfully got her to the Port. "Fair enough." He said with a firm nod before turning to Nora as she spoke. He smirked again at her little remarks. "Only an extra precaution Miss, I assure you that you are in the best of hands." He said with confidence before nodding in satisfaction as Tommy finished securing the vest on her. The woman reminded him a lot of Sinead, and a heaviness settled in his bones as he wondered how she was doing.

The thought of her had to be pushed away however, as there was work that still needed to be done. He caught Tommy by the door and nodded along with the young man's words. "This way Miss." Peter told Nora as he waited for her to walk out the door with him. He held the case firmly in his free hand before he looked behind him, "Pleasure doing business with you." He told them men before the doors were once again closed behind them. "I'll drive Tommy boy, just stay in the back with Nora and keep watch" He told Tommy as they saw the car in front of them. Peter looked around the surrounding area and the car before nodding to Tommy who seemed to be doing the same. It was amusing that both of them seemed to have taken James words very seriously. "Watch your head Miss," Peter told Nora before watching her get into the back seat with Tommy following after her. Peter then moved to the driver side door and got inside quickly. He started the car and pulled out of the hotel lot before turning in the direction of the port.

With:Tommy Misty Gray ; Jackson Enzyme Mentions:

 

[Shireling]

Rudy Meyers and Kieran Joyce

(sorry, I got busy for a bit)

As Lucy walked away, Rudy nursed his cigarette with a blank look on his face and let out a long sigh. He then finished his smoke and went out to look for his employer in the garden where he had last seen him, but upon walking over he had discovered that James was no longer there. He nodded once to himself and muttered, "Right" before walking back into the house through the kitchen. By now, Kieran had disappeared leaving the refuse of their late lunch for whomever wanted it. Rudy interrogated a few of the guards before arriving at the definitive statement that his boss had let out for the Jazz Club. Maybe he hadn't seen his car in the drive. Either way, Rudolph piled into his VW and drove downtown.

Arriving at the Club, it was starting to get a bit late. He looked around but noticed that James nor any of the other usual suspects that could point him in the right direction were around. Sighing, and about to resign himself to his apartment for the night, he decided instead to make an attempt at getting roaring drunk. He took up residence at the bar and, slapping a high-value note on the counter without bothering to see exactly what it was, he asked for whiskey on ice and was rewarded with the familiar fire-flavored amber concoction.

Kieran, meanwhile, had retired to his guest room upstairs. He had been content to listen to the record player and read a magazine when he heard the shuffling of feet a few doors over and became aware of a conversation, naturally Leo and Delilah whom he had since pegged as lovers. Knowing that eaves dropping was impolite, but possessed with immense curiosity about the whole affair, Kieran slowly turned the phonograph off and feigned reading as his ears strained to pick up what was said through the wall.​

 

[ElectricDandellion]

DELILAH PORTER

Delilah watched as Leo raised his hands defectively, and spoke of her not being mad. Cocking an eyebrow, she shook her head. “You know I wanted to tell him.” She states bluntly, eyes glaring at his coldly, though they couldn’t help shattering and growing warm. The young woman felt herself dragging her hand through her thick hair roughly, leaning over the countertop towards him. “And now he will have words with me for not telling him, and you telling him instead,” Pulling herself away from the counter, a playful yet stroppy pout pursed on her lips. Now crossing her arms across her chest, she took a deep inhale. She really found it difficult to stay annoyed at him, but in this situation, she had to leave him knowing that what he had done was unacceptable, despite being somewhat grateful that she no longer had to hide her feelings for Leo. And, they’d be able to see each other more often without excuses. That would make life much easier and created much less of a hastle for them. But, what would her father say? Would he make it more awkward and make them do stupid things like leave the door open in her room when he was round, or check in on them every five minutes? The thought made her face sour.

Hearing him call her as she climbed the stairs, she found herself suddenly smiling. And, when he entered her room, she put her book down, eyes following his as he closed the door behind him. “Alright,” Delilah shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not mad,” she looked over at him, smirking slightly, though she felt annoyed still. “Don’t be pissed either though when I tell Ali about us before you do. Right? Except, that’s not the same because my dad could’ve ripped your fucking head off,” Delilah found her eyes narrowing to look back at her book as she folded the page she was reading and slammed the cover back on, placing the book down. “Mob fathers and boyfriends? I’m not sure you quite figured that one out,” Clenching her jaw slightly, she sat up and padded her hand at the empty space on her king size bed, inviting him to sit with her. Truth be told, she wasn’t as annoyed as she was portraying. “I missed you,” she whispered. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever,”

Melanin-Gxdess
​

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy

​

Jackson observed from above as the trio quickly made their way down the car. He lifted the rifle stock to his shoulder, keeping the barrel on the cement wall to act as a tripod. He used the crosshairs to follow the cruiser as it pulled out onto the busy road. Jackson took heavy breaths to calm his nerves and slow down his rapidly beating heart. No matter how tense he felt leading up to this, this exact moment kicked off what would be one of the most stressful events of his life.

As their car settled at a red light, Jackson kept his index finger hovering over the trigger. Something about them being stopped in the open made his stomach twist. Jackson felt slightly relieved as the light switched to green, however, the car infront of theirs hadn't departed. "C'mon..." Jackson muttered under his breath, keeping his eye stuck to the scope. He figured the car in front hadn't noticed the switch, however, things turned for the worst as it backed up directly into Peter and Thomas' bumper. It didn't take Jackson long to put together what was going on, just in time for the car behind them to slam into their back as well, forcibly keeping them in place.

Two men emerged from the front vehicle, both visibly armed with handguns. The bald man to the right walked up to the side of the car and fired a single round, aimed at Peter's head. The bullet smashed into the reinforced windshield, but luckily exploded on impact and only left a imprint on the glass. Jackson quickly snapped his aim to the bald man who, looked to be ready to fire again. Jackson attempted to control his breatheing as he moved the middle of the crosshairs to the man's torso. He slowly settled his finger on the trigger and released his pent up breath.

The powerful round punched through the bald man's chest like a rock through wet paper. The force of the impact was enough to suspend him six inches in the air and leave him speechless. The man was airborne shortly, before flying into the neighboring Cafe. His lifeless body smashed against the large window, causing cracks to run across the glass.

Jackson hadn't had time to react to the hit, seeing more targets appear from both sides of their car. He slammed back the bolt, allowing the steaming shell to fly out of the cartridge. As he slammed the bolt back into the rifle, a fresh round loaded in.

Misty Gray (Thomas/Nora) Bellz (Peter)

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Leo couldn't tell if she were truly upset with him or not and it was frustrating. It was possibly the most frustrating thing about her is he could almost never tell when she was truly mad or not. She kept giving him teasing looks and then frowns. It was really messing with his head and he wished James hadn't left. Rubbing his hand over his face, he gave a deep sigh. "I had to be honest with the man, you know this. Besides, your affections last night may have sparked assumptions anyway." He knew that her telling him meant a great deal, but this was about more than just them. If he were to be working for her father, he needed to be honest. He wasn't completely sure if he would understand that much if he tried to explain, so he just filed it away for another time.

Watching her stand up and give him a smirk, he calmed a little. "I'm not mad." She said. His eyes narrowed at her when she said this, waiting for more to come. Then she threatened to tell Ali. While he wasn't that afraid of her finding out, he was afraid of her scrutinizing the girl and possibly scaring her off. "Don't. At least not in my absence, please? Al's... Not mentally stable and can be very uh.." He looked up at the ceiling looking for the right word to use. When he found out he looked back at her. "Judgmental." He was trying to warn her, to protect her from his over-bearing sister. Instead of sitting next to her, he squatted in front of her and took her hands in his. “Look, I’m just trying to do the right thing. Don’t want your father hating me or thinking I corrupted you.” Even though he didn’t believe James would think that, it added on to his point. To lighten things up he smiled. “Awww you missed me? How sweet is that.”

Mentions: Delilah ( ElectricDandellion )​

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan

Peter didn't relax as he pulled out onto the busy road and headed towards the first stoplight on the corner. He was stopped at a light and waited for the light to turn, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel impatiently. His eyes looked to Tommy and Nora in the back seat before looking even further out the back. His eyes narrowed as he observed the person in the car behind them, something was off..before he could do anything, the light had turned green after his eyes flicked back to the front. He was about to honk on the horn for the car in front of him to move, "Let's G-!" Before he could finish his demand, the car in front of him slammed into his bumper before the car behind him slammed into him as well. "GET DOWN NOW!" he told Tommy and Nora before reaching for his gun resting at his side. Peter's head turned to look out his window, just in time to see a bald man aiming a gun at his head, "SHIT!" Peter cursed out loud before ducking low into the seat, the glass shattered around him and luckily the window had taken the bullet for him. He lifted his head just in time to see bullets tearing through his shooter, silently thanking Jackson for heading to higher ground. "Stay here! Watch the girl!" He commanded Tommy before opening his car door quickly.

He brushed glass off of himself and felt for the extra bullets in his back pocket. He lifted his gun and aimed towards the nearest person,firing two shots at them before diving behind an empty vehicle parked on the side of the road. People were driving off quickly around them, others passing by on foot were running for their lives and screaming in terror. Peter leaned up against the side of the car, lifting his head to see through the window's as a few men were beginning to take interest in Tommy and Nora inside. Peter hoped Jackson could see what was happening as he stood up and began opening fire on the men. His aim was a little shaky at first, hitting the men in the arms and chest. He cursed at himself for thinking he would be able to just jump back into shit like this. He dove back down as a few of the men returned fire, penetrating the car and hitting the windows causing more glass to shatter around him. Peter stepped out from his protective vehicle and advanced on the men. His finger stayed with the trigger as he aimed and fired a single bullet into a man's skull. "Tommy! NOW would be a good time to use that gun!" He shouted as he fired a few more shots. A sharp pain ripped through his shoulder and made him turn around quickly on instinct. Peter hissed out and grabbed his shoulder, his gun now empty of bullets falling to the floor.

The man advanced closer and was ready to take the shot, that's when Peter jumped towards him. The man's aim failed him and they both went falling to the floor. Peter slapped the handgun from his grasp before grabbing at the man's face and neck, wanting to hold him in a choke hold as he reached for the loaded gun he had slapped a few inches out of reach.

With:Tommy + Nora Misty Gray ; Jackson Enzyme Mentions:

 

[Enzyme]

Jackson McCarthy

​

The man quickly bolted from his car, clasping the submachine gun in his hands. He moved his attention towards Peter, firing half the magazine from the hip at the car he was hiding behind. Believing Peter was the only shooter in the area, he charged towards the back door of the idling car, his furious eyes locked on Nora. Before he could get within five feet - a loud, distant BANG echoed throughout the block. The defining explosion was followed by a fast whizz, mimicking the sound of a fighter jet ripping through the sky. The powerful round connected with the man's knee, forcing him into a violent spin, half a foot off the road. The man slammed onto the asphalt, his mangled leg inhumanly unrecognizable. Maimed and in complete shell shock, he reached for the door handle of the car to pull himself up. The man barely had enough time to lock eyes with Nora before another round sliced through the air. The round connected dead center with the back of the his skull, his exit wound contents coating the window of the car.

Jackson released yet another melting shell, his eyes darting from car to car, as if he were a rabbit dog. They were everywhere, like a never ending flood of ants pouring out of a crack in the ground. Jackson wasn't satisfied with his position, unable to see every corner of the street. Risking his safety, he stood up from cover, now free holding the rifle without any support. He rested his foot on the cement wall, he was hiding behind a second ago, and leaned over the chaotic streets. He snapped the scope up to his eye once more, ready to put down any threats advancing.

Misty Gray (Thomas/Nora) Bellz (Peter)

 

[Misty Gray]

Thomas Dempsey
~ Nora Vasile ~​

Tommy sat in the back seat, next to Nora, who he'd told to slough down a little so her head and face weren't exposed through the car windows. Though the woman seemed relatively calm, it didn't stop the naturally tense atmosphere during the drive. Small talk might have broken the tense feeling, but they all needed to focus and so there wasn't room for any talking. As they sat at the lights and watched them turn green, Tommy was about to mutter something about the driver in front needing to get out of the way. Before anyone could say it, the car in front reversed into them, followed by the car behind slamming into the back of them, practically sandwiching their car in the middle.

Nora let out a yelp just before Tommy looked to her. Hearing Peter order them to get down, Tommy put his hand on Nora's shoulder and made her crouch down so her head was hidden and protected by the car interior and seats around her. She instinctively covered the back of her head and neck with her arms. Tommy leaned over her, resting his arm on her shoulder and he retrieved his gun, holding it tight and ready to fire. Tommy flinched as the car window was shot through, but the man attempting to shoot Peter was soon taken down by one of Jackson's bullets. When Peter got out of the car, Tommy kept his eyes focused and scanning every car window, particularly the driver's side which was now glass-free and exposed. "Stay down, Miss Vasile, we've got you covered."

Tommy listened out to the gunfire and wished he could be outside helping his two friends out with taking the bastards down, but he knew his objective was to protect Nora and not leave her side. If he had time to let his mind stray, he would surely apologise to the young lady for currently resting against her, though any bullets would hit him before they got her, so surely she'd be most grateful for it.

Hearing Peter shout for him to use his gun, he looked outside just in time to see his friend grab at his shoulder, apparently hit. "Fuck..." he hissed. Those bastards. "Stay down, Miss Vasile, and excuse my language," Tommy told her as he learned forward. Peter was on the floor, trying to reach for a handgun whilst attempting to choke one of the attackers. Tommy focused his aim and fired a bullet directly into the centre of the forehead of the man battling with Peter. All of the target practice and the rigorous training, as well as all of the nights prepared to fire a bullet at any given moment, they had all paid off. Those targets were now real people and Tommy didn't have chance to process that huge milestone.

There were some guys out of Jackson's view and about to advance on on Peter who now had the opportunity to grab the gun from the ground. Tommy meanwhile continued to fire off more bullets, stopping three more men in their tracks before they could get to Peter. He briefly took cover again as he reloaded the Colt 1911. "You doing alright down there?" he casually asked Nora, not letting the severity of the situation hit yet.

"Oh yeah, just fantastic..." Nora sarcastically replied. Still, she was grateful for all of this. Tommy nodded and smirked to himself as he returned to focusing and looking out for any men Jackson hadn't been able to hit.


Bellz (Peter) Enzyme (Jackson)

((I'll post Sinead later))

 

[ElectricDandellion]

DELILAH PORTER

“My affections didn’t strike any assumptions, I’m sure; someone would’ve mentioned something about it and they’re yet to confront me about it,” Delilah watched him rub his hand over his face. She knew that she was frustrating him, but in all fairness, he had frustrated her by telling her father something private and at that, something she had wished she had been able to tell him, in her own time. Eyes darting to the corner of the bedroom, she bit her inner cheek, expression softening. “I’m surprised he didn’t throw you out of the house, if I’m quite honest,” Lifting her gaze to meet his again, she cocked an eyebrow. Delilah was glad he hadn’t been kicked out; that was at least a good sign, and perhaps her father even trusted him. That’d be nice. “But I’m sure your honesty is what kept you intact. My father admires honesty.” She spoke softly, completely over the moon that her dad had practically accepted Leo. The mere gesture of not ripping him to shreds surely said enough. A smile gently peeled at her lips as she dropped her gaze back to the floor, cheeks bunching up slightly, hair curtaining her face with her dipped head.

Seeing his eyes narrow, she narrowed hers in childish imitation. Delilah really needed to stop being such a sly and mixed-emotion girl, because she knew it irritated others and the clearly mixed signals she sent to Leo were seemingly getting to him. And she didn’t want to scare him off, but she knew at this rate she might. But, she really hoped it would end well. That this shuffle of an argument would soon blow over, her father would be completely happy about it, and she didn’t have to make their relationship a secret anymore. Which, she guessed from this point on, she didn’t have to hide it. When he started speaking of her comments about Ali, she quietly sighed, lifting a hand to brush through her thick, curly hair. She stayed quiet, listening to the almost pleading tons of of voice. “I hardly ever see her. You can bet that I won’t tell her, especially without your permission,” she quickly spoke, a subtle attack in her words. After all, he didn’t have her permission to speak to her father about their relationship. “You could’ve at least brought me with you to tell him. We don’t keep secrets in this family; now that you’ve told him and not with me, he’ll get pissy,” But, as he spoke of Ali being judgemental, she shrugged her shoulders lightly. “Judgemental as in judging me because of my background here?” Delilah questioned, curious as to what he meant by judgemental. Surely his sister wouldn’t just look her over and decide she wasn’t good enough. But, then again, she didn’t want to risk that happening and ruining her relationship with Leo.

As he squatted in front of her, she felt her heart rattle like a caged bird, and couldn’t help her cheeks turn slightly rose as he cupped her hands in his. The warmth in his hands and the gentle softness made her stomach flip, and she had to take a light swallow to calm her fluttering heart. “He doesn’t hate you.” As Leo spoke of corruption, she couldn’t help but laugh. “My father is a gang leader, and you’re worried that you’ll corrupt me?” A smile twisted onto her plump lips. “Don’t flatter yourself so,” She joked, giving his hands a gentle squeeze. Seeing him smile only widened her own, but as he spoke, she teasingly moved her hands away from his. “I’m not sweet,” Delilah pressed her lips together, failing to suppress her growing smile. “And, now that you say it like that, maybe I should take it back?” Crossing her arms across her chest, she frowned jokingly, before leaning forwards and planting a small kiss on his forehead before moving back to her original space on the bed. “Are we going to hang out here today or go somewhere else?”

Melanin-Gxdess​

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan​

Sinead sighed as Lucy continued to provide reason for James' decision. She knew it made sense and that he needed trustwothy people working for him, she just wished it didn't have to be Peter. She'd already had it out with her husband and knew it was what he wanted to do, but that didn't mean James was off the hook. Sinead could be quite stubborn and when she had her heart set on something, she wasn't going to back off. Right now, she wanted to give James a ticking off! "I know you're right and James needs people he can trust, but I'm still going to give him what for!" she firmly promised.

Sinead grinned as Lucy made it clear she hadn't had chance to think about the fine details of the wedding. Sinead missed out on being maid of honour the first time, due to being pregnant, stressed and not her family's favourite person for sleeping with their enemy. She was going to make up for it this time and they would just have to deal with Bossy Tinkerbell. "Ali is right, that you need plenty of time to plan this. Which is why the planning starts immediately," she firmly told her sister. "We're going to plan the heck out of this wedding and it will be just perfect" she told her. Even if perfect was impossible, it couldn't be worse than the first disaster, surely? She then sent a mischievous grin to Aliana, not wanting to make her feel excluded. "Who knows, maybe Ali and Tommy will attend as a couple," she teased. As if that wasn't clear enough, Sinead still mouthed her next words to Lucy: "Ali thinks Tommy is cute!"


Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana) Bellz (Lucy)

Conor Sullivan​

Conor grinned when Michelle said she didn't think he was annoying. "Aw, thanks. That means a lot, kiddo," he told her. When the child followed up by saying Alex loved him, he looked to the lady in question and sent her a warm smile whilst his cheeks turned a deep shade of red. This was an awkward situation. Of course he still loved Alex, but he wasn't sure if she felt the same. It was tricky to approach this, either he would upset Michelle or he could get her hopes up for nothing. He nodded to Alex before awkwardly scratching the back of his head. "Well, I love your Mam too. We've just got to talk about things first, though. 10 years is a lot of catching up for us to do, don't you think?" he asked. The last thing he wanted to do was trap Alex in an awkward position without first discussing each other's feelings in private.


neverbackdown (Alex, Michelle)

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter​

Syd burst out laughing as Skye told them about her drunken antics - or lack thereof - in Scotland. "That's because you ain't got us," he laughed. "I mean, how much fun do you expect to have if we're not there to get you into trouble?"

When Mallory reeled off all the things he'd missed in such a casual manner, he retracted his arm from behind her and sat up to look at her directly, a look of confusion and disbelief on his face. He needed a moment to process what she'd said.
"Back up just a second there, sis," he said, reaching up to rub at his eyes. "I have another niece? Just like that? Where'd she come from? Who is she? And mam and dad are getting married again? Damn...hell, I leave for two weeks, man, and it's like I come back to a different world." He stood up and wandered a few feet away. A sort of excitement had begun to course through his veins, overriding the tiredness, and he didn't much feel like he could sit still anymore. Hearing updates of the changes and events that had occurred while he had been away, albeit vague, made him realise how much he missed his family. Even if Mallory answered his string of questions, it would probably pass over him as he thought deeply for a moment about his parents' last wedding. They had come so far in overcoming their shared trauma, and it made him happy to know his parents were still so in love. From where he stood, things were looking positive for his family now and he wanted to make sure he was around more from this point on. To miss anything else would just make him feel detached.

Syd snapped out of his brief spell of pensiveness when Skye suggested going on a night out. "YES!" he replied enthusiastically, his smile returning. "Let's make it happen! It's been so long." Glancing at Mallory, he added, "I mean, when you guys feel ready to face alcohol again...you know, no rush...Where is Delilah anyway? I didn't hear anyone about when I got home, but maybe I missed her. I did think it was odd to come home to a seemingly empty house when everyone should be nursing their hangovers today."



neverbackdown Mallory (you don't need to answer the qs if you've just had that convo, I don't want to keep things going in circles but thought it'd be natural for him to question things!)
Misty Gray Skye

 

[Enzyme]

Eli Porter

​

Eli pushed the coffee to the side and kept his drooped eyes locked on James. He suddenly cringed and scrunched his eyebrows, as if James had said something repulsive. "The warmth of family," Eli repeated in a surreal tone. "You tellin' me the whole time yous was extorting cash and blowing holes in blokes heads, you was really yearning to settle down with the Mrs. and have a basin of gravy?" Eli could see how vulnerable and open James was about this subject. While the average person would feel compassion, Eli found it quite pathetic. "When was the last time you gave someone a shiner? Even fired a bloody handgun?" Eli leaned back in his seat, his facial expression dropping. "I come back to see my lovely brother, but you want this whole 'family affair'. Where do I fit in this? Am I supposed to be the fun uncle and take the little youngins to get ice cream, give them piggyback rides?"

Eli's aggression towards James' lifestyle came from a feeling of exclusion. Before he was taken away, Eli and James were inseparable. His father died, his uncle sent him to an asylum, he never knew his mother; James was the only family he ever truly had. He didn't care about 'fitting in' or finding someone who could stomach him enough to love him, but seeing James with this new family was a knife to his heart. "You're my brotha', mate," Eli started, his tone softening, "I would do anything for yous, but this... This fancy estate, snobby house guests... The loyalty status..." He shrugged, a thin sheet of water coating his eyes, "I can't be apart of that, no matter how much you mean to me. It's against everything I believe in."

Misty Gray (James)

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter​

"Pay attention, Eli. When I was blowing holes in every other guy's heads, that's all my life was. Having my own family never crossed my mind. Then I met Lucy and realised life didn't have to be like that..." James stopped himself and shook his head. "I don't even know why I'm bothering to explain it." He allowed his head to drop back and for a brief time stared up above as Eli questioned him. He then looked back to his brother. "Life isn't as simple as beating guys up and shooting at them. Not anymore," he told him.

"You're my brother. You fit into this whether you bloody like it or not. You don't have to take the kids on days out. I just want you to be a part of my life again." He bit his bottom lip and shook his head as his brother continued to speak. It was difficult being patient with Elijah at times, especially when he was being like this. Considering they were both aggressive men, the best he could do was stay patient, rather than risk either of them lashing out. "Nah, mate. I don't think you would do anything for me. You can't even be happy for me."

James sat back in his seat. "So, what? The IWU is everything you believe in?" he calmly asked. He then sat forward again. "You said you'd do anything for me? Then cut ties with the Union. They're not good for you. Ciara Hennessy is a dangerous and twisted woman. You need to stay away from her, for your sake and for mine. Can you at least do that?" he sincerely asked.


Enzyme (Elijah)

 

[Enzyme]

Eli Porter

​

"Frankly, I don't know why you bother neither... You expect me to just shoot up an' say, 'Oh, you fancied a girl an' shaped your whole life around her? Right on!'?" Eli's brow furrowed when James doubted his loyalty towards him. "Like looking' in a mirror, mate..." Eli said, keeping his gaze deadlocked. Eli was really the only one to truly know James, before he changed his mindset. Despite their current disparities, back in the day, they weren't too different. They were rugged, ruthless - shaped by grit and poverty. Now, the differences were night and day. That's what frustrated Eli the most, how his brother had the audacity to act as if he had led a miserable life, up until meeting Lucy.

Eli leaned back as James sprung the idea of leaving the Union. Despite his passive expression, he was completely blindsided by the proposition. Last time he had heard, they were business partners in practice; Ciara had even bugged Eli about attending James' party. Still, he thought it over for a second. He enjoyed what he did, without a doubt. What could be more enjoyable than cutting nobility throats from ear to ear? He spread his hands, before shrugging, "And then what? Go back to the mines... Or get thrown back in the padded cell? Without the Union, I won't have anything. Ciara gives me a home, food, and more importantly, somethin' to bloody do."

Eli moved for the back of his waistband, brandishing the fully loaded Colt 1903. Eli kept his eyes on James as his ringed fingers placed the pistol on the table. "When I was in the cage, they wouldn't let me hold one of these. I hada' break a guards nose and rip it out of his holster justa' feel it. Now that I can finally carry one on me, I'm never letting it go. Now, if you're asking me to resign from my job and go back to being a coal mina', then just pick it up off the table and blow me' brains out already."

Misty Gray (James)

 

[Misty Gray]

James Porter​

James shook his head when Elijah suggested he'd have to go back to the mines or a padded cell if he left the IWU. "No, you won't have to go back to either of those places. You can help me. Do jobs for our family and still be able to afford your own place away from my 'fancy estate'" James sighed. "You don't need the Union to get by. You certainly don't need Ciara to keep you going. You can't trust her, Eli. She's already turned on me and I was helping her as much as I could. So how long before she uses you or throws you to the dogs?"

James watched as Elijah placed his gun on the table, an intrigued expression on his face as he acknowledged the fact he himself had a Colt 1903 discreetly tucked away. For all of their differences, they still had much in common. "You can still carry that with you if you work for me... The IWU is bad news and I don't want you to get caught up in the middle of their shit. I know you're happy and content with them, so I wouldn't be saying all of this if I didn't need to."


Enzyme (Elijah)

 

[Enzyme]

Eli Porter

​

For some reason, that thought had never occurred to him. He was so caught up in the drastic transition in James' lifestyle, that he never even considered being a part of his business. Even a guy like Eli, however, had to have some sort of loyalty to Ciara. After all she had done for him, constantly sticking her neck out, how could he just turn his back on her? Despite not knowing exactly what James was referencing, he had noticed a shift in Ciara's demeanor. When he first joined her ranks, she was eager to make a monumental change for the people of her class. As time progressed, her focus became more and more self-centered. Maybe James was right; maybe it was only a matter of time before she threw him to the wolves.

Before Eli could respond, the table began to tremble. The violent shaking threw the ceramic coffee mugs onto the floor, ripping the nailed picture frames off the wall as well. The earthquake-like rumble was soon followed by the sound of an ear-splitting explosion. A bright flash lit the night sky a vicious orange and briefly illuminated all the buildings in the vacinity.

Eli quickly latched his hands to the sides of the table to steady himself, before standing to his feet. Using the support of the surrounding chairs, he moved himself towards the door, sure James was as eager to what was happening as Eli was. As he stepped out the doors, he was met with a strong, yet familiar, sulfur smell. He could now see the debris and ash falling from the sky like rain. The sounds of running and screaming helped direct Eli towards the cause of the commotion. An apartment room in a building close by was set ablaze, all the windows blown out.

Misty Gray (James)