Realistic or Modern Empire City: The Irish Mob - IC (Closed)

[Misty Gray]

Warren Taylor​

Warren had found it interesting hearing about Keegan's family, only able to imagine how lively the household must have been growing up with so many siblings. It appeared all of the brothers were loyal and working for James, which impressed Warren. Of course, he was aware Kevin had been killed and it had always been believed the Morettis had been behind it before they were swiftly taken out of the equation by the Porters. Warren had turned to look at Patrick, nodding his head in acknowledgement as Keegan pointed the man out to him. Whilst Keegan made a point about nothing being wrong with making an honest living, Warren felt he'd gone beyond that and for the time-being was committed to his brother's business.

With the scuffle ongoing, Keegan was quick to grab the collar of the man who had shoved the other onto the floor. The man on the ground rushed to his feet, clearly driven by his own embarrassment to retaliate against those who had wronged him. Warren quickly stepped in and grabbed the man's shirt by the shoulders, pushing him backwards before he had chance to swing for the guy Keegan was restraining. "You heard him, lads. None of your faces need to get messed up. Warren turned to the other two men who had so far kept to only verbal abuse rather than physical attacks. "Whoever's with him, take him with you and go drink elsewhere," he ordered, signalling to the man Keegan was holding back to get out of the club. The men were about to protest, but Warren released his grasp of the dishevelled man to point to the door. "Don't forget where you are. Get the fuck out before my friend here makes your face look like a Picasso!"

Soon enough, two of the guys rushed out of the club, muttering expletives on their way. Warren smirked to Keegan before addressing the two men he'd allowed to stay in the place. "Pick that up, seeing as you knocked it down," he told one of the men, pointing to the chair he'd dragged with him when he'd fallen to the floor. "Then sit down and enjoy the rest of your evening."

Warren turned back to Keegan and motioned towards the bar. "I don't know about you, but I'm in for another drink," he offered.


Bugsy (Keegan)

 

[Misty Gray]

Chapter 7: The Enemy of My Enemy
Saturday 7th August 1971
...7 days later...
Late Afternoon - Dry, Warm, Breezy
******************************

******************************

Midtown Medical Center
~ Midtown, Manhattan ~
​

Maddox Parker

That morning...

Maddox sat back in his seat as he listened to Conor speak about his troubles with Aliana and how his responsibilities towards his family's business was affecting his marriage. He explained how the woman had again threatened to take Leo away if he ended up back in prison. The counsellor kept his face neutral and nodded along as he encouraged the man to continue speaking. All the while, all he could think of was how the man hadn't deserved to have a wife and son in the first place. It never even threatened to show on his face, but the thought of Conor never seeing his kid again when he does end up back in prison was what made his patience worthwhile.

Conor continued to speak. "She doesn't have any faith in me to be smart about this. I've learned not to go punching people whenever they piss me off and I know I should approach disputes calmly. To use my head. Sorry, mate, but she doesn't seem to trust your judgement. I told her you'd never have helped get me out of here if you didn't think I'd become a better person." Conor smiled as he spoke to the man, grateful that he and Mitch had stayed patient with him for so long. Grateful that they believed in him. "I just know that I have to support my family. My sisters and nephew went through a lot last week, so how could I just leave them to deal with that shite on their own? Hearing what happened just brought me back to it all. Y'know, when I was tortured..."

Maddox nodded along, having spent a number of sessions talking about when Conor had been tortured two decades ago. Frankly, he was getting sick of hearing the man go on about it, especially now the information had served its purpose the previous weekend. He would feel bad for Conor, if he was an innocent man who had done nothing to invite the torture. But, as long as Conor's psychological wound remained opened, it could be manipulated. As could Conor's ever powerful need to protect his sisters. It had become apparent during the man's time in jail that he was prone to overreacting when anyone spoke of Lucy or Sinead in the wrong way. "Conor, you've been making amazing progress and though your wife might not see this yet, I have no doubts you will prove yourself to her. Despite everything that's been happening around you and to those you care about, you've stayed calm. In just a few more months, I can stop writing my reports for the parole board and you can live without your probation hanging over your head," Maddox said, in his subtle way of reminding him of how he still had power over the man's freedom. "I have some ideas of how we can tackle the past tortures that trouble you and if you're willing to face them head on, we will do it in your next session. What do you think?" After a brief hesitation, Conor quickly nodded in agreement. "Good. Now, tell me what you have planned for the rest of your day. I want you to stay out of trouble," he said, with a small grin.

"Jeez, alright, Mam!" Conor feigned offence at being lectured. "I'm heading to the gym after this and then I'm heading out to catch up with my cousin. Don't worry, he's a medical professional and an upstanding citizen, so best behaviour. Is that okay with you, Doc?" he joked.

******
​

After Conor's appointment, Maddox had some free time to head out into the city and grab himself lunch from a nearby cafe. Had there been more time, he would have arranged to meet with Ani. Things had been great for the couple over the last week and a the weight of hiding things from her had been lifted from his shoulders. Instead, he was able to be open and honest with her, to which she was thankfully understanding of. With all of the darkness in his life, she was the light that gave him hope for a future. One that he could look forward to after the Porters were defeated.

When he returned to his office, Maddox had a casual chat with Laura. His receptionist was just as blind to his darker side as Conor and Syd were. She was a sweet and hardworking woman, one whose presence Maddox welcomed. Even if she did persist in questioning him about his love life.

Maddox returned to his office and waited for his next client to arrive; Farrid Al-Assad. The man had been coming for counselling for a while, but it had only been recently that Maddox had learned the man was employed by the Porters. So far, he hadn't been instructed by Moretti of where to take Farrid's sessions and the information gathered from them. Still, Maddox couldn't ignore who the seemingly decent medic was loyal to.


Inb4Cloaker (Farrid)

Apartment Tower Block
~ Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan ~
​

James Porter

Warren slowed the car to a stop down the backstreet between the two tall apartment blocks. The side door to one of the buildings was kept ajar as one of Porter's guards stood by awaiting their arrival. Warren would remain in the car after James, Peter and Keegan had got out, keeping it parked up behind the line of residents' vehicles that already occupied some of the narrow street.

In the early hours of the morning, members of the mob had managed to ambush Luke Holland as the man walked home from his shift at the hotel he worked at. He'd been bundled into the back of their van and transported to the run down apartment block in Hell's Kitchen; a residency under Porter ownership. Since then, the man had been bound and guarded by two Porters guards, who hadn't made any effort to make sure the man had a comfortable time, given his role in Savannah's kidnapping a couple of weeks earlier.

As he sat in the front passenger seat, James reminded himself that along with Keegan, Peter was seated in the back seat of the car and was to be a part of their interrogation of Luke. Before any questioning would start, Peter would be able to confirm the man they had detained in the dingy apartment was indeed one of the men who had abducted Savannah. Then they would be able to proceed in dragging answers out of the slimy bastard.

"You good with this, Pete?" James calmly asked as he took final stock of the weapons he had concealed on himself. "You will both start off asking questions. If he doesn't want to answer, then we start encouraging him," he said, figuring both Peter and Keegan knew 'encouraging' would involve violence. "I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that bastard doesn't deserve to walk out of here alive for what he did to Savvy, but we need to be patient and make sure he's still able to give us answers when he's had enough." James wasn't outright saying Luke would walk out alive and that all depended on how the man in question would respond during his interrogation. He just wanted to make sure Peter was going to be able to stay in control of the situation, no matter how much it would be justified to kill the man who had hurt his daughter. James was feeling it too, especially whenever he thought of the men who had abducted his wife and son the previous week. He knew he'd have to adopt a massive amount of self-control not to kill those men on sight. "You alright with this too, Keegan?" he questioned. Though the man might not be as close to Savannah as they were, James understood Keegan had been close to Arlene and by now they'd pieced together that Luke was affiliated with the men who had recently murdered her.


Bugsy (Keegan) Bellz (Peter)

Lucky's Steakhouse and Bar
~ Midtown, Manhattan ~
​

Conor Sullivan

Earlier that day...

After his counselling session with Maddox, Conor had done as planned and headed to the gym. The prison gym had been just about adequate, but hadn't been anywhere near as well equipped as the one he was now paying to use in the city. Still, with such a comparison in mind, he didn't begrudge the membership fee at all. Besides, other than a couple of inmates the company in the prison gym hadn't been as pleasant as the people he was now working out with. There was only brief time to socialise as once Conor got started he was in a world of his own for the rest of his workout. Not only was it therapeutic and cathartic, but he was determined to regain all of the weight and muscle prison had caused him to lose.

Behind every forceful swing of his fist into the punchbag, were thoughts of the recent weeks. Seeing his loved ones injured and distraught the previous week had been lingering in the back of his mind. The fact those responsible had known about the torture that had happened decades earlier added to his frustration. Not only did he want to know how they knew so much but he was furious that they would use it to hurt his family now.

Knowing he wasn't able to help his sisters and nephews last week had motivated him to decide to go back to working for James. With Aliana and Leo in mind, he knew it would be difficult staying out of trouble but he also knew he'd come a long way over the last few years. So when his offer to help James and Peter interrogate Luke was declined by the boss, Conor accepted his brother-in-law's decision. Instead of arguing with James, he understood he had to sit the job out until he'd got used to being back on the field again and had proven he wouldn't lash out at the guy they were going to be questioning.

******
​

The counselling session and gym session had done the world of good for Conor, leaving him feeling relaxed in time for his evening out with Finn. Before getting ready to go out, Conor had relaxed around the Callahans' house. He'd been catching up with Braden and Emery, whilst Peter and Sinead were out of their house with plans of their own. His niece was rightly furious when talking about the men who had hurt her mother, as well as those who had attacked the theatre prior to that. He couldn't help but notice how much the fiery redhead resembled his own mother, Shannon. She was tough and outspoken. He didn't doubt the teenager's ongoing desire to work for James would cause problems for her parents as time went on. At the same time, he felt reassured that his niece was so confident and aware of her family's situation. As long as she kept out of trouble, he felt he didn't need to worry about her.

After getting ready, Conor drove out to Finn's new house to pick the man up so they could head into the city. After marvelling at his cousin's new house and briefly greeting George 'the bookworm', Conor and Finn set off to one of his favourite steakhouses, which he just had to treat his cousin to. Plus, the relaxed and laid back atmosphere was always a must, as Conor wanted to avoid the fancy places. All he had in mind for the evening was a catch up with his favourite cousin along with a hearty meal and a few pints.

Once they arrived at the restaurant, Conor requested a booth for them to be seated at by one of the windows. He couldn't help but smile at his cousin, looking forward to hanging out like they used to, even if they were both older and more sensible by now. He barely needed to look at the menu. He'd identified they hadn't stopped serving the large steak he used to order prior to his prison time, so his decision was already made. He placed the menu down flat on the table and sent Finn a cheesy grin. "I've missed you, mate," he admitted. "Come on. Tell me all about you and Georgie. It makes me real happy to see you happy."

​

Bellz (Finn)
Tags: RayPurchase (Tony) Melanin-Gxdess (Teddy)

Currently Active Cast: Misty Gray Bellz Pyroclast Melanin-Gxdess @Fletchawk Inb4Cloaker RayPurchase Bugsy
​

 

[Bellz]

Chapter 7:The Enemy of My Enemy
Saturday 7 August 1971
...8 days later...
Late Afternoon - Dry, Warm, Breezy
**

**

Roxie Carriveau​

Roxie stared at her reflection in the long mirror behind her door, straightening out the dress she had on and turning from left to right to make sure everything was in order. The phone call had been hard to make but Syd was on his way to the apartment now and there was one other thing she had to do before he arrived. Telling Savannah seemed like it was going to be a lot easier than telling Syd. She was very concerned about what her friend was going to thing of her but she really didn't see how this whole pregnancy thing would work out. In the few days of trying to figure her life out, Roxie came to the final decision that terminating her pregnancy would be the best way to go. She debated whether or not she should tell anyone else that she was pregnant, thinking it would just be better to terminate it and move on but something about that didn't settln je well with her and so here she was now, standing in front of the mirror about to break it to two people who are very important to her.

Turning her head to look at the clock on her nightstand, Roxie knew she should probably waste little time and talk with Savannah quickly. Moving to open the door, she stepped out of her room and walked into the living room looking for her roommate. "Savvy?" She called out, knowing that she must have been somewhere in the apartment. "I wanted to talk to you before Syd comes over.." She murmured and waited for the woman to walk into the room before clasping her hands in front of her.

"I know that these past couple of weeks have been so crazy for you and I am here with you every step of the way, kid. You have been so supportive of me in the past that I know somehow...you will forgive me for what I'm about to say next." Roxie sucked in her bottom lip and bit down on it hard for a moment, taking a second to gather her thoughts.

"Maybe let's have something to drink? You want a glass of wine? I can get that for you." Roxie's blue eyes widened for a moment before she turned to make her way towards the kitchen.

Now she was just stalling, and she was really bad at it. Moving to open the fridge, she grabbed the already opened bottle of wine and moved to set it on the counter before shutting the fridge and moving to the cabinets to grab a glass.

After practically shoving the glass towards the blonde woman, Roxie forced a small smile before leaning back on her heels, "I'm just going to come right out and say it...Savvy, I'm pregnant."

There was a heavy silence between the pair, just for a short moment as Roxie held in a breath before quickly following with, "And its Syd's. Maybe....no not maybe. Definitely, it's definitely his."
with: Savvy Misty Gray
mentions: Syd Pyroclast

Gwen Bryant​

Rehearsal were going as well as expected and Gwen was feeling pretty confident in herself. This week had been full of parties for her as she celebrated some wild birthdays with friends that she had met through some sketchy connections. But now she was ready to take the night to herself and just take it easy. She had another night out without Lorelei and as much as she loved the kid, she was ready to be by herself. Heading to the jazz club was the first thing that came to her mind and it had been years since she stepped into such a place.

Pulling into the parking lot, Gwen secured the parking break before turning the car off and getting out of the vehicle. For later in the afternoon, the place was pretty popping with life and Gwen was actually excited about being around a crowd for once. Locking up the car, she headed towards the door where a bouncer asked for some identification, to which she provided her ID for the man. He must have recognized that she was James' sister because his smile broadened and he said, "Let's try to not bother the boss tonight eh?" Rolling her eyes, Gwen forced a smile before replying, "That's always my number one priority."

With that she headed inside and was greeted by the sound of live jazz music, which caused her to actually smile widely. Slowing down near the bar, Gwen decided to get herself a dry martini before heading to sit near a table towards the front, near the dance floor.

The last time she had been in such a place, she had been with a man who took her breath away. Thinking about Jason and their encounter in the green room, she wondered where the man was at tonight...finding herself even wishing he was around.

They had made such lovely dance partners and the thought of dancing with him again made her smile to herself. Taking a seat at a table meant for two, she made herself comfortable with her drink and looked to the singer currently on stage, humming along happily as she did.
mentions: Pyroclast

 

[Misty Gray]

Savannah Callahan​

The last week for Savannah had been an eventful one, so much so that she'd found herself longing to see Danny again. The last time they'd met had been great for her and he'd helped her to be able to relax as well as making her feel good about herself when he said he liked spending time with her. The effects of that evening had soon been reversed when she found out what had happened to her mother, Syd and Lucy. It was scary to think that not only had she been recently hurt, but now her mother had been too. It was difficult to stick to her decision not to hide away, but she was determined to keep leaving the house every day and fight for her dreams.

On the Monday, Savannah had met with Andre and given a reporter the interview they were after. Whilst her emotions and experiences were genuine, it still felt cheap to tell her story to the local newspaper. For now, she knew she had to follow Andre's advice if she was going to rise up in show-business and not fade into obscurity. He'd also managed to get her some future modelling jobs, which she'd reluctantly agreed to. Whilst she herself liked the skimpy outfits she'd be modelling in, she was sure her parents would have something to say about the pictures if they saw them. The fact was, Savannah considered herself an adult and free to make her own decisions. Feeling helpless and defenceless the night she had been kidnapped had made her more determined to control her own life. She didn't want to be a victim and looked upon as fragile. She wanted to feel like she had some kind of power.

Savannah was both excited and nervous for her date with Danny. Even though they were only going to the movies, she still wanted to make an effort to look nice. The bruises on her face were now gone, leaving just the cut across her cheekbone that hadn't yet finished healing. She was glad she now only had to put on a little make-up and wasn't trying to hide the evidence of the trauma she endured. Not yet dressed for the evening out, Savannah quickly fastened her dressing gown when she heard Roxie call her name. She placed the powder brush down on the dressing table before standing up and leaving her bedroom.

Entering the living room, Savannah quirked her eyebrow when Roxie mentioned wanting to talk before Syd arrived. The blonde's initial thoughts were that Roxie had found out she was stoned the previous week and was going to lecture her, or worse, tell her Syd also knew. She bit her bottom lip and folded her arms across her stomach as she waiting for her friend to continue speaking. As Roxie continued, it became clear whatever the issue was it was to do with something Roxie had done rather than what Savannah had been up to. "Wha--" Savannah began, but her friend walked away to get her a glass of wine. "Okay. Yes, wine..." she agreed, a little confused about what was happening. She soon found herself grabbing the glass of wine before almost spilling it on herself after having it shoved towards her. "Calm down, yeah?" she asked, clearly perplexed by the situation.

Then, Roxie dropped the bombshell that she was pregnant and left Savannah struggling to get any initial words out in response. Her friend was then quick to assure her that the baby was Syd's. The blonde slowly nodded her head before taking a long drink from her glass of wine. "Okay..." she slowly spoke up, studying her friend's face. Her confusion soon turned into a smile as she processed the information. "I don't see why you'd think I'd need to forgive you for that. I think you and Syd are sweet together. And I'm not religious or anything like that, so it's not like I think you should be married first or something. My Mum wasn't married when she had me..." Savannah's smile broadened at the thought of Syd and Roxie having a baby. Sure, there were compilations with their parents disapproving of the relationship and there being no doubt in her mind that the pregnancy was unplanned. But still, she couldn't help be feel giddy about it. "I think you and Syd will make cute parents. Of course I'm going to be supportive of you... I certainly don't feel like you've done anything wrong. Nothing I should need to forgive you for."


Bellz (Roxie)
Mentions: Pyroclast (Syd, Danny)

 

[Misty Gray]

Moretti's Office/Apartment
- Murray Hill, Manhattan -

Spoiler: Apartment

Gabriel Moretti

Gabriel had been in his new office apartment for the last couple of hours. He'd arrived early for his meeting with Stefano and Alistair so he could spend a little more time getting used to the place. Despite having a designated meeting room, he intended to conduct the meeting in the lounge area as it was already his favourite room of the apartment, so he was inclined to indulge in it. As he stood by the large window looking down on the city from the 50th floor, he couldn't help but smile to himself as he admired the busy streets below. It was far more to his tastes than Miami had been and not a single regret entered his head about relocating.

The guard standing on the inside of the door responded to the knocking before granting a second guard access to the apartment. The new arrival slowly approached Gabriel who, despite knowing the man was walking towards him, chose not to turn around to greet him. "Sir, I managed to get an answer about Roberto's Restaurant. The Porters own it now," the guard informed him as he clasped his hands together behind his back.

Gabriel let out a low hum to acknowledge the information. He then looked back out of the window, arching his neck to look straight down to where he'd pinpointed the restaurant in question to be located. "When my brother, Francesco, was alive, I would often visit New York and we would take our families to eat there. It was his favourite restaurant in Manhattan and I too found it quite pleasant." Gabriel turned to face the guard and cocked his head in the direction of the door. "I want you to go there, order a pizza for takeout and bring it to me." He reached into his pocket and handed the man some cash to cover the cost.

"Um. I... What kind of pizza?" the man reluctantly asked, taking the cash from his boss.

"Ask the waiter which one he recommends and order that one," he said. His tone sounded abrupt, as if the guard should never have asked such a foolish question. "I want to know if the place is as good as I remember... before the Porters hand it over to me."

Once the other man had scurried off to the restaurant, Gabriel sat down on one of the large couches whilst he awaited the arrival of Stefano and Alistair.

Bellz (Stefano) Pyroclast (Alistair)

 

[Bellz]

Lucy Porter​

Lucy was worried about her family, as usual. But all the worrying in the world would never make things 100% better. With Syd reverting back to his darkest days and him fighting both James and herself tooth and nail it was becoming harder and harder to concentrate on the rest of the family. Today she decided that she was going to make up for it by having the ladies over for the late afternoon and for dinner.

"Lulu, I see you." Lucy said as she was preparing some coffee and iced teas, both of which could be spike with something extra if the guests wished it to be. Lorelei let out a small gasp before turning to face Lucy, who's back was actually turned to the girl. "How can you! You aren't even looking!" This caused the blonde to chuckle, "I've got eyes in the back of my head too." Lucy said teasingly to which Lorelei scoffed, "Oh yea? What was I doing?"

Placing a few mugs onto a tray, Lucy turned to face the miniature redhead before smirking, "I know you want cookies before dinner...but you are out of luck kid..." Her eyes caught someone moving in the hallway that led to the large kitchen. "Thomas? Are you asking Lorelei to sneak some cookies for you?"

"Damn it!" Thomas cursed, causing Lucy to give him a dirty look as he revealed himself. "Sorry mam..." Thomas muttered before looking to Lorelei, "We only wanted one."

Lucy turned back towards prepping some drinks as she shook her head. "Not until after dinner, like I've told you two before yes?" The two kids sighed before making their exit from the kitchen.

Once everything was set, Lucy moved into the lounge with the tray in her hands. "I've gotten a few drinks and snack to hold us over until dinner is ready. Which I will start in about an hour. Feel free to put whatever you want into the drinks, cream and sugar...or spike it with whatever you wish from the liquor cabinet." Lucy smiled widely with a teasing look in her eye before taking a seat in one of the lounge chairs across from the couch after setting the tray down on the coffee table.

"Thank you for coming over, ladies...its been hard lately. Its always nice to get this time to bond."
with: Aliana + Leo Melanin-Gxdess ; Sinead + Olivia Misty Gray

 

[Inb4Cloaker]

Farrid Al-Assad​

Midtown Medical Center
Post 1300 Hours
19710807

​

The medic had waited more than his fair share of time for the appointment he was about to walk into.

Between his meetings with Maddox, Assad would bottle up his emotions, or try to drown the flashbacks that indiscriminately struck when he least suspected. However, when he was with the physiological expert that probed at the nightmares he dealt with, the medic was able to use the short time to convey what he was dealing with. Unfortunately for Assad, the sessions were not having the exact effect he desired. He sought to be completely purified, and relinquish the memories that he didn’t want to keep at will, or at least find a way to diminish the power they held over him. Between Maddox, drinking, and seeking God, Assad was having a hard time finding out which one helped him the most. For his sake, he hoped it wouldn't always be the second option.

Farrid sat silently in his truck, waiting patiently as he thought about what to bring up for the counselor to provide insight about. With an occasional glance at his watch, he observed the traffic on the road beside where he parked and relinquished a peaceful sigh. In some ways he was also not looking forward to what he was about to step into, mostly because he felt decent that day. Considering all his circumstances, Assad was in a somewhat acceptable mood, and had been pushing himself to come to terms with what unfolded some time earlier. It wasn’t easy, but every day didn’t end with him drinking himself to sleep as of lately, he shaved a little, and he was back on track with dealing with his original issues. The passing of Bailey amplified his problems, but, like always, he was getting a grip with reality again.

Allowing himself another minute or so of waiting, the medic finally pushed open the door to his truck and stepped out. Tan boots lightly connected with the pavement as he locked up his vehicle and made his way into the building that his councilor resided in. Assad found it a little strange to refer to Maddox as “Doc,” since that was a phrase he was brought up to understand as something one would use to refer to someone who practiced physical medicine. Mentally doing his best to not undermine psychology, Assad avoided calling the mental study “fake medicine,” as to not upset his psychologist, as well as dismantle the negative view he first had when it came to receiving counseling.

With a silent push, Farrid entered the building and approached the reception desk, embracing the fairly quiet environment and lowering his voice before addressing the woman behind the counter. Seeing as he had been present more than a few times, he assumed that she would recognize him, but he always went through the same steps each time he visited.

“Hello, I’m here to see Mister Maddox? I’m Al-Assad... Farrid.” He spoke, rolling down the sleeves of his light brown button up before cuffing them, obscuring the various scars and tattoos along his arms. Simultaneously, he removed his sunglasses and tucked them into the breast pocket of his shirt as he familiarized himself with the environment again.

خطوة الى الامام

Mentions: None.
Interactions: Maddox Misty Gray​

 

[Bellz]

Stefano Carriveau ​

Stefano had about had it with his incompetent drivers, so he decided to take matters into his own hands for the meeting today. Rather than risk being late, he decided to drive one of his sports cars that had just been delivered from his summer home in Rome. "You don't have to fuss over my tie dear, I am a grown man, exceedingly grown.." He said in a deep rumbling voice to Angelic as she fixed his tie. Stefano didn't make any effort to stop her however, knowing the woman wanted to help him and her brother in anyway that she could when it came to the business.

Looking at himself in the tall mirror covered accent wall in their room, he squinted at himself before letting his eyes relax. "I've got to get going." He told his wife before she nodded her head and finished her work. She stood on her tip toes to give the man a kiss and Stefano returned it delicately. "I'll be home for supper." He promised before making his way out of the room and headed towards the elevator, which would lead him to the garage below.

Though there was a lot of people living in the building, he had his own section of the garage that was meant specifically for his vehicles and they were kept safe with top notch security. Pursing his lips as he got closer to his cars, Stefano eyed each one of them before his eyes returned to one car in particular. The Aston Martin DB5 was a beauty and more than capable of getting him where he needed to go and on time.

Asking security for the keys, he set off hopping inside the car before starting the engine, which gave him a satisfying sound off before he pulled out of the garage and headed towards Moretti's place.

The ride didn't take very long and once he figured out the parking situation to the building, Stefano made his way up to the apartment. Finding the right door, Stefano cleared his throat and straightened out his suit jacket before moving to knock at the door, the knocks were loud were loud enough to be heard from deep inside the apartment so that his presence would be known.

The door opened quickly as it seemed like Moretti had a few guards lurking around. Stefano didn't smile nor did he waste time greeting the guard as he stepped inside and moved to shrug off his light overcoat.

"Moretti." He hummed as he moved towards the lounge, seeing the man on one of the large couches. Taking a look around for a moment, Stefano nodded his head to himself and offered the Italian a small smile in approval. "Finding New York to your satisfaction I see." He commented.
with: Gabe Misty Gray ; Alistair Pyroclast

 

[Bellz]

Peter Callahan ​

Peter sat in the back of the car waiting patiently as they were getting ready to face the man who helped abduct his daughter a couple of weeks ago. The man's heart was racing in his chest as he looked out the back window behind him, wondering if anyone was following them. He was always paranoid of that now, seeing as they had family members who ended up in danger over the last couple of weeks, anything could happen to them now.

He pulled out his pistol from his coat pocket and looked at it for a few moments before James' voice caught his attention, asking him if he was good with the interrogation. Peter looked up at the man and nodded his head once, "More than good." He said, his voice was deeper than usual. Peter may not have been as proactive in the business like the other men in the car, but this was for his daughter. He was ready to stare down the man who took her from him, he was ready to do whatever it took to make sure the man would take and give them the answers they were looking for.

James expressed that the bastard didn't deserve to walk out alive and Peter all too eagerly nodded his head in agreement with that statement. He was going to make sure that this Luke Holland wasn't going to live to see another day. They weren't going to make any mistakes like that, not anymore.

But first, they needed answers and Peter needed to remind himself that he needed to stay calm. "Get the answers we need first, and then we can deal with the pest problem." He recited to James before blowing out a deep, calming breath.

Looking to Keegan, Peter wondered if the man was going to be okay with this as well. He knew that the man had been close to Arlene and give that this Luke character had some connection to the men who had abducted Lucy, Sinead and Syd it would be satisfying to take out this prick...at least for Peter.
with: James Misty Gray ; Keegan Bugsy

 

[Bellz]

Roxie Carriveau ​

Roxie knew she should have mentioned she was wanting to get an abortion right after she said she was pregnant. Her heart sunk right into her stomach and she felt queasy as Savvy stated she wasn't sure why Roxie needed her forgiveness. She painfully added on that Syd and her were sweet together and Roxie wrapped her arms around her abdomen uncomfortably.

The brunette agreed with the statement Savvy made but that wasn't the only thing to take into consideration with making a big decision like this. Unable to say another word in that moment, Roxie watched in horror as Savvy's smile grew, seeming to like the idea of Roxie having Syd's child more and more which each passing thought.

"Sav.." Roxie croaked out as she shook her head slowly. She went on to say that the pair would make cute parents and Roxie was lost for words again, hushed into silence over the support that her best friend was giving her. "I don't know...how to.." She stumbled over her words as Roxie looked anywhere but Savannah.

"I can't go through with this pregnancy." She finally said, finding her voice again and it surprisingly sounded firm as she said it. "I've decided to get an abortion. This is why I need you to forgive me."

Looking to the clock on the wall behind Savannah, Roxie wondered how much time she would have to explain herself before Syd arrived and she would have to do the whole process over again.

"I do like Syd very much...don't get me wrong. But we barely know each other to take such a big step like this. I'm just starting out in my career, I have school to finish so that I can move even further ahead with it. And to be honest with you I never got a lick of affection as a child so what do I know about being a cute parent."

Roxie sucked in a deep breath as she paused before her eyes finally looked to Savvy, desperation reflected in her bright blue orbs and she sought forgiveness. "This is just something I've thought a lot about over the week...and I'm positive that this is what is best for both Syd and myself. I've seen how he fights with his parents over me, I can bare to think about separating him from your family, especially with a baby nobody wants."
with: Savvy Misty Gray
mentions: Syd Pyroclast

 

[Misty Gray]

Sinead Callahan
~ Olivia Sullivan ~​

Sinead was knelt on the carpet in front of the couch whilst Olivia sat behind her combing her hair. The woman had barely left the house in the last week and styling her hair hadn't seemed important, especially not when attempting to do so had caused her to painfully stretch the healing skin on her arm. Though she didn't have to keep the wound covered, she chose to keep a thin dressing wrapped around it. She didn't want to look at the wound any longer than she had to and she was dreading Finn coming over to remove the stitches for her. As she gazed towards her covered wound, she was distracted when Bruno, the Rottweiler pup, pushed his nose between her hands and looked up to command the woman's attention.

"Bruno is mostly my puppy now, but I let Uncle James share him with me. I let my uncle feed Bruno because I don't like how the dog food smells anyway," Olivia informed Sinead. "And your hair is really pretty. Most of the ladies I know have blonde hair like me so it's so fun to look at other hair," she continued to talk on. The child continued to comb her aunt's hair and then let out a small sigh. "I hope you feel better soon, and Lucy too. There's horrible people and I hope those people go away." Arlene hadn't been one to sugarcoat things and Olivia was a perceptive person. Not to mention she'd intentionally overheard the adults talking over the last few weeks. She had a good idea of what was happening to her family, especially as far as a child her age could understand.

"Thank you, sweetie," Sinead said, upon being complimented on her hair. She softly stroked Bruno's head and couldn't help but take some comfort from the puppy. When Olivia spoke of the kidnappers going away soon, she carefully nodded her head, not wanting to disrupt the child who was playing with her hair. Sinead knew where Peter was and she knew why he was there. They had one of the men who hurt Savannah and they intended to drag answers out of him. She hoped they would get the answers, but to her own dismay, she also hoped the horrible man would suffer... no matter how severely. "I hope they go away too," Sinead quietly replied.

When Lucy returned to the lounge, Olivia finished what she was doing and hopped down from the couch to let the adults talk. "Come on, Bruno. Let's go find the others!" she excitedly called up as she skipped out of the room to find her cousins.

"Thanks, Luce," Sinead said as the tray was placed on the coffee table. The redhead got up from the floor and sat on the sofa where Olivia had been. She then proceeded to adding a lot of cream and sugar to her drink to weaken the unpleasant taste of coffee. "That's okay, Luce. I had to get out of the house before I went crazy. Well, Emmy said some very blunt things to that effect," she admitted. "Are you and Syd okay?" she quietly asked, biting her lip as she tried not to imagine too much of their recent ordeal. She then looked to her friend. "Ali, how are you? We haven't caught up much in a while."

Bellz (Lucy, Thomas) Melanin-Gxdess (Aliana, Leo)

 

[Misty Gray]

Maddox Parker​

Laura pleasantly smiled when Farrid introduced himself. "Of course. I'll let him know you're here," she politely told him. The secretary knocked on the counsellor's door before pushing it open. "Mr. Al-Assad is here," she informed the man. After being instructed, the young woman turned back to Farrid. "You can go right in," she told him. She held the door open for the man to enter and then delicately closed it behind him.

When Farrid stepped into the counsellor's office, Maddox was standing ready to greet him. "Good afternoon, Farrid. Would you like anything to drink? Tea, coffee..?" he offered. The doctor remained standing as he offered his client the pick of seats. Maddox himself then sat in the armchair opposite Farrid and adopted an open seating position, resting his elbow on the seat arm. "How have you been since we last spoke?" he enquired. His voice remained calm and encouraging, inviting Farrid to freely answer his question. Of course, Maddox already had some idea of how the man had been. He'd heard Bailey, the lady he was in a relationship with, had been killed, though the fact she had been loyal to the Porters rendered Maddox unable to feel any pity for the poor woman.

"It feels like quite some time since our last session. How would you say that time has been for you? Any particular thoughts or experiences you'd like to talk about today?" he gently prompted Farrid.

Inb4Cloaker (Farrid)

 

[Misty Gray]

Savannah Callahan​

Savannah was once again puzzled when Roxie was stumbling over her words. She would have figured it was the excitement, but her friend's face and body language weren't giving out that kind of vibe. The brunette then went on to say she couldn't go through with the pregnancy. Savannah figured it was just nerves and normal worries about becoming a mother. She was about to reassure her friend when she informed her she'd decided to have an abortion. "Oh, no, Roxie. You just need more time to get used to the idea and to talk it through with Syd. It's just the shock talking. I'm sure most people have these kinds of doubts," she gently told her.

Savannah remained silent as Roxie mentioned how she was starting out with her career and finish with school. She looked down to her own hands as she anxiously ran her thumbs back and forth along her freshly painted fingernails. She understood that her friend wanted to make a career for herself, especially as she was so driven towards achieving her own professional goals. But she wasn't sure what to think about the idea of terminating the pregnancy. Aborting her cousin's child.

Roxie then told her she'd been thinking about it over the week. She spoke of Syd's fighting with his parents and suggested nobody would want the baby. Savannah felt uncomfortable and reached for her drink, taking a big mouthful before placing the glass back down on the table. "You might regret it. I'm sure people wouldn't reject the baby and you could all love it." She ran her fingers through her long hair before finally looking Roxie in the eyes. "My mum didn't know my dad all that well. My family hated the man because he caused them a lot of pain and he even murdered my grandfather. I know that people were telling my mum to abort me. Saying she wasn't ready; the baby was the devil's, whatever... People change and my aunt & uncle would surely come around. My grandmother hated the idea of me until I was born, but now she loves me and I love her." Savannah quickly wiped her tearful eyes. She didn't want to get upset when it was her friend's dilemma, but it all felt too close and personal to her. "I'm sorry, I just... I have this whole life and my own thoughts, feelings, memories, interests, relationships. I have a family I love and I... I could so easily have never been born and never got to exist in this world. You could have a child who would have you, Syd, and so many other people who love them. Imagine what impact they could have in this world if only they're given a chance."

Savannah didn't mean to sound preachy and she was all for women being able to choose, but she just couldn't see past how personal the topic was to her.

Bellz (Roxie)
Mention: Pyroclast (Syd)

 

[Bellz]

Finn Sullivan ​

The hospital had been working him since he said he officially was moving to New York and boy was Finn tired. Long nights that turned into early mornings that turned into more long nights again were his life now and he hardly had anytime to stop and appreciate George's help with the transition and the unpacking.

Luckily for him, Finn had snagged a day off and was able to spend some time with Georgie in the morning time. He still had a bit of paperwork to do from his desk at home but he was sure to put it off until after he had his visit with Conor, who was arriving any moment.

Finn helped George pick up whatever messes Finn had made in his wake earlier in the day and was pleased when Conor arrived shortly after that. Showing off their new home with pride, Finn was sure to give Georgie a sweet kiss goodbye before him and Conor headed out to a steakhouse for dinner, something he was looking forward to.

Once they were seated inside the steakhouse, Finn took a look out the window for a moment before looking down to the menu with hungry eyes, it had been a moment since he had a good steak. There was one steak in particular that caught his eye and Finn smiled as he closed his menu, ready to order when the waitress returned.

Smiling even wider as his cousin revealed that he missed him, Finn chuckled along as Conor wished to hear about Georgie and himself. The man felt his cheeks warm as he set his menu in front of him. "Ah Georgie and I are great." Finn started off, "The house is almost too big for just the two of us but we aren't planning on it just being the two of us." He revealed happily.

"But for now, if you need more room or anything, Georgie and I would be happy to have you. There are plenty of bedrooms just waiting to be occupied and we have beds set up in them and everything."

Taking another moment to look out the window, Finn looked at the bustling cityscape around them with wide eyes, "This place is so much different than Ireland. The hospital just...never sleeps. I wish I had more time to spend with Georgie, you, and the rest of the family but for now it seems like things aren't slowing down anytime soon." Looking back to Conor, he took in the man's cheesy grin. He seemed as happy as ever on the outside and Finn was honestly relieved that he was in such good spirits, especially given everything that has happened.

"How are you appointments with the therapist going? I think its great you are seeing Dr. Parker. He comes to the hospital often and has a great reputation."
with: Conor Misty Gray

 

[Bellz]

Roxie Carriveau​

Roxie bit her lip so hard that she thought it was going to start gushing blood, her hands clasped her hip bones as she squeezed herself tightly. Seeing the uncomfortable look on her friends face was the last thing she wanted to see and she regretted saying anything to her.

Savannah mentioned that she might regret the decision to have an abortion and Roxie didn't argue with her, it was certainly something she thought about. Savvy's eyes met hers and Roxie was trapped in her gaze as she spoke. Speaking of her parents and the relationship her mother had before Peter was something that Roxie never heard before. The woman's heart sank at the comparison to her own siuation and Roxie placed a hand over her mouth as she tried to shut out the nausea that was brewing inside of her.

Seeing Savvy's tears in her eyes, Roxie felt her own eyes burning and she had to look up to the ceiling to make sure they wouldn't fall. She had a feeling that today was going to be full of tears.

"Don't..." Roxie said, pausing as Savvy apologized. "You have nothing to be sorry for." She whispered. It was hard to imagine a world without her friend in it, if her mother had listened to her family telling her to get an abortion. Wasn't that what Roxie was doing? Listening to her father? She had been so strong when facing him head on, denying that she would have an abortion but now she wanted one...

Or at least she'd been talking herself into having one. "To think...you wouldn't have such a successful career...if your mother had listened to your family." Roxie said almost numbly.

Now she wasn't sure of herself and that scared her more than anything. She had just been so sure an abortion was what she wanted...Roxie felt sick.

Was it fair of her not to give this kid the chance he or she deserved? No. It wasn't.

"I don't know what to do Savvy, I've never been this scared before, of anything. I am bringing Syd over here to tell him about the abortion but now what am I suppose to say? How are we suppose to make this work?" Roxie's eyes watered again and she shook her head.

"I just don't think I can do this..." She whispered.
with: Misty Gray

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

Agreeing to take time out of the business was something Syd had quickly regretted. Between Arlene's murder, Bailey's murder, Savannah's kidnapping and the abduction and torture of Sinead, Lucy and himself, he was finding it impossible to keep his mind free of anxiety and distress. Once it had reached a point where he was afraid to be alone with his thoughts, he began to redirect his focus to managing his nightclub. Yet, even in that area of life, he was struggling to not let it be affected by his rapidly dwindling mental state. Meditation, exercise, work and social interaction only did so much to keep the panic attacks, breakdowns and nightmares at bay, but he knew how important it was to his parents that he dedicated some time to recover so he continued to manage it to the best of his ability. Besides, he wanted to get back to business as soon as possible.

One thought that kept him going was that of seeing Roxie again. After the occasions on which his vulnerable side was revealed to her, Syd was determined to wait until he felt more stable before allowing himself to see her again. That day they had shared together had been perfect until his parents had shown up. Remembering her in that leather outfit, the slow dancing, the kiss, the sex - it helped to rival the negative thoughts that plagued him each day, reminding him of how wonderful it felt to be around her. That's the life that he wanted to get back to; to pick up where they had left off.

However, he had never contacted her to explain his reasons for taking a step back. Again, putting her off was something he really didn't want to do so he hadn't even told her about what had happened to him the previous week. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, she didn't seem to be as patient to wait as he was. After all, she wouldn't have known why he hadn't got in touch with her. When she called him up and invited him round so that they could "figure things out", part of him was afraid that she had grown tired of him and wanted to end things for good.

Despite his anxious mind playing out the possibilities over and over again in his head, he still hadn't come up with an ending that he liked. By the time he found himself standing outside the door to her apartment, all he could do was take a deep breath and ready himself for whatever it was she wanted to get off her chest. He knocked, and as he waited, his heart gave a small, unexpected flutter of excitement at the thought of seeing her beautiful face again.

Interactions
Bellz Roxie
Misty Gray Savannah

 

[Pyroclast]

Alistair Sawyer

The last couple of months had gone very well from Alistair's point of view. Forming ties with the Moretti crime family had been a decision made primarily with his own interests at heart, but with the success the East Harlem Gang had had so far in weakening the infrastructure of the Irish Mob he was certain that Gabriel would be pleased. As their power in New York was challenged, Alistair could already feel a shift began to take place, one that was creating space for the Moretti gang to move into and the East Harlem Gang with it. Having been working alongside Gabriel and Stefano Carriveau for a while now, Alistair was eager to make further progress now that the boss was in town for good.

The journey to his Manhattan apartment from East Harlem took no time at all. Only a minute after Stefano arrived, Alistair made his entrance. A charming smile spread across his face when he saw the two men. "Afternoon, gentlemen," he greeted them, removing his coat and blindly passing it to one of the guards. "Stefano." He shook the man's hand before moving over to the boss to make the same gesture. "Gabriel - good to finally have you here in New York. I'm looking forward to doing business with the two of you in a closer proximity."

Alistair straightened his suit jacket and followed the men to the seating area where the meeting would take place. He took a moment to look around the room; light and spacious with no more furniture than was necessary, everything there had its place and seemed to have been designed to match or complement each other. It looked like something out of a luxury magazine. "I have to admire your apartment. It's a fine place you have here," he commented, before settling his gaze back on Gabriel. "Anyway, I'd better slow down with the small talk - we have much to discuss and report today. Tell us where you'd like to begin, Mr. Moretti."

Interactions
Misty Gray Gabe
Bellz Stefano

 

[Misty Gray]

Savannah Callahan​

Savannah bashfully smiled when Roxie mentioned her successful career, but it was only brief as she still couldn't shake the sadness she was feeling about Roxie's dilemma. When her friend told her how scared she was, the blonde let out a soft sigh. "You should talk to him about it. See what he thinks. Surely it doesn't have to affect your career... and screw everyone's parents. You're both adults and if they don't like what you choose to do, then they'll have to lump it." Savannah knew her words might be naive and perhaps idealistic, but the baby was Roxie's and Syd's, so she believed it was up to them and not their parents.

When Roxie's eyes began to water, Savannah got up from her seat and approached her. "Hey, you can do this. Whatever you decide, you can do it. You're a tough lady - way stronger than I am," she reassured her. She then wrapped her arms around her friend's shoulders for a warm hug. "You just have to talk to Syd, though. Don't do anything drastic before you've both talked," she told her. "Maybe my mum--" Savannah was cut off from being about to suggest asking Sinead for advice as the sound of knocking at the door distracted them.

Savannah walked to the door and peered through the spy-hole to see Syd standing outside the apartment. "Roxie, you need to come let him in," she gently suggested. "For starters, I'm not letting my cousin see me half dressed. That's just gross," she remarked, tightening the dressing gown around her waist. "You can do this, Roxie," she gave her friend a last minute piece of encouragement.

*****​

After getting dressed and doing the finishing touches to her make-up, Savannah was ready to leave for her date. She gave Syd and Roxie a brief farewell before heading out of the apartment to catch the cab she'd called. She was sure at least one of her uncle's would be tailing the car on the way to the cinema but she trusted they knew better than to continue babysitting her once she entered the move theatre.

As planned, Savannah arrived at the cinema right on time and stood by the main entrance as she looked around for Danny. Though she knew they were only going to watch a film, she'd still made an effort with her outfit; wearing a stylish dress and high heels. She liked to dress up and feel glamorous, so why shouldn't she do so for her date, regardless of where it was?

Thoughts of her conversation with Roxie and the ongoing upset about her family members being tortured were lingering on her mind. She hoped her time with Danny would distract her for at least a while...


Bellz (Roxie) Pyroclast (Danny, Syd)

 

[Bellz]

Roxie Carriveau ​

Roxie accepted the hug that Savvy gave her and squeezed her tight as she closed her eyes tightly. It was becoming too much to handle but the confidence Savannah seemed to have in her was helping her see things a little clearer. Nodding her head, Roxie understood that she definitely needed to talk with Syd about the pregnancy.

As someone knocked at the door, nausea overcame her a moment and she stumbled back to grab onto the bar top behind her. Savannah looked to see who it was but Roxie already knew. She had run out of time and was going to have to do the whole speech over again. With a firm nod, Roxie sucked in a breath and moved towards the door, making sure Savvy was in her room before opening the door.

Roxie put on the best face she could and smiled at Syd as his face appeared as she opened the door, "Hi." She murmured warmly before stepping aside to let him in.

Biting her lip, Roxie tried to play cool, "Want something to drink? I was just about to get some water." She said before turning her back to the man and heading into the kitchen for a moment. Her mind was screaming at her now, saying that she was making the wrong decision by throwing away the relationship she had with Syd, but she was scared.

Savannah stepped back into the room and said her goodbyes, Roxie watched her go with desperation in her eyes, almost wishing she had somewhere else to be. Her hands were shaking as she reached for the glasses in the cabinet, eyes blurred with tears. She wanted to keep her composure but just the thought of what she was about to do was crushing her.

There was too much to lose, her freedom, her education and career, and she could lose her chance at finding happiness in a man who seemed to enjoy his time with her...all over a baby that wasn't even born yet. How could something so small set such big and scary events into motion? How could it already have so much control over her life?

She wasn't prepared for the responsibility. She'd never taken care of anything else other than herself, not even a dog as her parents never allowed her to have one. With the way she was raised, she was sure she would make a terrible mother and who knows if Syd would stick around.

Sure she's gotten to know him over the few weeks they had been together and that last date they had was so special to her but he could bail out at anytime and then what would she be left with? A fatherless child who probably would be better off without her in its life...she'd be stuck.

After pouring a glass of whatever Syd wanted and a glass of water for herself, Roxie knew if she didn't say what she needed to now then she never would.

"Look, I really like you Syd..." Roxie murmured slowly as she handed him the glass and moved towards the couch to sit. Her mouth was drying out so she took a sip of water before taking a seat. Whether he chose to follow was on him at this point. "But something has happened, something big...and I'm not sure if I can follow through with the responsibilities that come with it..."

Setting the glass down on the table, Roxie moved to hug her abdomen again before looking to Syd, her eyes finding his. "I'm pregnant..." She murmured as her eyes began to water. Looking away, she shook her head. "And I'm not ready to be. At all."
with: Syd Pyroclast
mentions: Savannah Misty Gray

 

[Misty Gray]

Gabriel Moretti​

Upon hearing the loud knocks at the door, Gabriel slowly got up to his feet whilst waiting for the guard to let the guest inside. Moretti took a few precise, confident steps into the centre of the room and stopped on the spot as he watched Stefano remove his jacket. He let the first arrival walk over to him before giving him a firm handshake. "Stefano. It's great to see you. How are your wife and daughter doing?" he enquired. When asked how he was finding New York, Gabriel couldn't help but flash him an impressed smile as he firmly nodded his head. "I have no complaints as yet. Thus far, it has lived up to my expectations," he confirmed.

The greeting had just be done with when Alistair arrived at the apartment. After greeting Stefano, Alistair approached Moretti who proceeded to firmly shake the man's hand. "It's good to finally be here. I can be much more productive right here in the city," he pointed out.

Gabriel led the two men to the seating area and held his arm out to invite them to sit down. Placed on the coffee table was an assortment of bottled spirits, along with some glass tumblers. "Help yourselves," he offered to them. He'd already poured himself a brandy so would continue to drink that first. He sat back down on the sofa and sent an acknowledging nod to Alistair following the compliment of the apartment. "It took a while to find this one, but I was sold the minute I set eyes upon it."

The men were keen to discuss business, which pleased Gabriel as he too was wishing to get to the matters at hand. "First of all, I've been satisfied with the progress made so far. The events of the charity venue meeting and theatre were personal favourites of mine. So I must commend you both on the successful execution of those plans," he told them. "Although not all of the leads on the drugs suppliers came good or cooperated, I understand at least a couple proved greatly worthwhile. So my intention is the drill further and take more of the suppliers from the hands of the Porters."

Gabriel took a sip of brandy before carefully placing the glass back down on the table. "I met with Dr. Parker last week and I'm content he's playing his part well. Conor Sullivan is a current work in progress, so I can't see him being much help to James Porter as time goes on. Another man Maddox has been working on is Syd Porter - the supposed heir to the mob's throne." He looked between Stefano and Alistair. "What are both of your thoughts on Porter's son?" he asked. He knew Alistair had been up close and personal with Syd the previous week, so was interested to hear what the East Harlem Gang leader thought of him. He wasn't sure how much exposure Stefano had to the younger man in question, so was interested to hear what impression he did have.


Bellz (Stefano) Pyroclast (Alistair)

 

[Pyroclast]

Moretti Residence, Staten Island​

Tatiana Moretti

The mansion that the Moretti family had moved into on Staten Island wasn't exactly what Tatiana had been expecting. Old-fashioned, looming and gothic, it felt a world away from their sunny home in Miami. However, as much as she knew she would miss the city she had made her home, she had to keep her mind open. It would be different if they had moved to the middle of nowhere, but New York would surely still have everything she could ever want - including the power that her family's business sought. The fact that the move would bring promise and prosperity to the business helped her to get over everything she had had to leave behind. She only hoped her siblings and mother would make the transition with such ease.

The first thing that Tatiana did when she arrived at the new family home was not to explore or unpack, but to go food shopping. Learning to cook had given her the power to bring a piece of her wherever she went, and so even when she found herself in an unfamiliar place or position, she could use it to make her feel right at home. She had even begun to crave it on their way over: the rich, sweet, creamy doughnut known as papanași - or otherwise as her favourite food. During the family's first week of living there, Tatiana had made sure that there was never a lack of papanași in the house.

As soon as her latest batch had cooled down enough, she set them on a tray and brought them through to the front room where her family were gathered. After setting them down on the table, she dropped heavily into one of the large velvet armchairs and gazed about the room. Every day since their arrival the place had looked slightly different as furniture and decorations were placed and rearranged. But now it looked the same as it had the previous day, giving her the impression that perhaps they were finally beginning to settle in.

"Are we keeping first impressions of New York to ourselves, or does someone want to go first?" she asked, taking a bite of the papanași as she leaned back into the armchair.

Interactions
Melanin-Gxdess Elvian
RayPurchase Marcus
Misty Gray Valentina

 

[Bellz]

Stefano Carriveau ​

Stefano shook Gabriel's hand before sighing at the question about Angelic and Roxanne, "They are well. Your family adjusting to the move I hope?" He asked in return before Alistair walked through the door. Stefano took the man's hand in a firm grip before letting it go and stepping aside so that he could greet Gabriel. Once greeting were out of the way, Moretti lead the men into the lounge where they were to be seated. Stefano took a comfortable chair on the corner of the area rug and did just as Gabriel offered. Helping himself to a glass of scotch, Stefano smirked lightly as he brought the glass to his lips and took a long drink.

It had been a day or two since he had a drink, the alcohol was satisfying on his tastebuds. Holding the glass firmly in his hand, he rested it against his knee as Gabriel explained how he came to chose the apartment they were in now.

Stefano was rather fond of the place but it was clear that Gabriel and himself had different taste in decor. When Gabriel began talking about business, Stefano sat forward in his seat with interest, nodding his head once at the compliment for both the charity venue attack and the theater attack. It had been quite risky involving his daughter in charity attack but it had worked out to their advantage.

Hearing about Dr. Parker's progress was good to hear, after the long week Stefano had, good news was always a blessing. Stefano nodded along and moved his glass to his lips again but just before he could take a drink, an all too familiar name caused him to pause.

An almost troubled look appeared on the Italian's face as he slowly brought the glass away from his face. Moving, he set it down on the table, slamming it a little harsher than necessary, he wore a stoic face as he looked to his colleagues. "Oh does that name ring a bell. An annoying, pestering, sniveling little bell." Stefano's voice was rough as he sneered at the name.

"It would appear that my daughter has had relations with the little principe." The nickname was anything but endearing. "She broke the news to my wife and I that she is pregnant with his child." Stefano's hands curled into fists but his face remained calm. "I've been thinking about it all week...She is no longer on her family's side meaning she is no longer on our side. Her situation could be used to our advantage, as disgusting as it is."

Stefano shook his head as he reached for his glass again. "I've yet to meet this Porter but we have much to discuss." Downing his drink in one gulp, the man made a small face at the taste before looking to the men with an intense expression.
with:Gabriel Misty Gray ; Alistair Pyroclast
mentions: Syd

 

[Pyroclast]

Syd Porter

A warm smile crept onto Syd's face when Roxie opened the door. His nerves fell away for just a second at the sound of her sweet voice. "Hi," he replied, almost breathlessly. As he followed her into the room he couldn't help but notice how agitated she seemed. Without even hugging or kissing him, she turned and moved off into the kitchen as if she didn't even want to look at him. "Uh, water's fine," he answered, trying not to sound bothered by her behaviour - but he could feel his heartbeat begin to accelerate already and was growing more certain by the second that she was going to break up with him.

The appearance of Savannah momentarily broke him out of his thoughts and he smiled at her. "You look nice," he lightly commented. Before he could ask where she was off to, however, she made a swift exit, giving Syd the impression that she didn't want to stick around for whatever was to come. His smile fell away the second the door closed, and he looked to Roxie, wondering how long he could keep up his air of calm before giving in and asking her what was going on. He caught sight of her shaking hands and swallowed nervously. "I've missed you," he told her. Even though it was true, the hollowness of his voice made it clear he was trying to see if she would say it back. She didn't.

He watched her as she moved towards him, his mind racing ahead to prepare himself for the pain. Maybe he hadn't done enough for her, hadn't made her feel wanted; maybe his displays of emotional instability had put her off and it had just taken her time to realise it, or maybe someone had told her that his mental state had worsened and she no longer felt he was worth waiting for; maybe...deciding not to talk to her for a week had come back to bite him, and he had made her feel strung along. His eyes held a look of deep anxiety as he tried to be patient, but in the end it got too much for him. "Roxie...are you -"

He was cut off when the inevitable words fell from her lips. He exhaled shakily. "Oh god," he whispered to himself, suddenly unable to look her in the eye. She passed a glass of water to him but he just turned it in his hand before placing it down on the coffee table. Having prematurely filled in the rest of her sentence in his head, it surprised him to hear her go on to tell him that something big had happened. He looked to her, visibly concerned. "Is everything okay?" he asked, even though he knew it wasn't.

Roxie wrapped her arms around herself, making herself look small and vulnerable. Then her eyes met his and she told him she was pregnant, adding that she wasn't ready to be. At first they just sounded like meaningless words, not meant for him, and he stared at her waiting for her to continue. It took a few seconds for his mind to catch up and put two and two together. "S-sorry, you're...you're pregnant?" he questioned, eyes drifting to her concealed stomach. Having children was something Syd had dreamed about ever since he had fallen in love with Skye at the age of 18. When she was diagnosed with a terminal illness, however, he knew that letting go of her would mean having to let go of that dream, too. He never thought he would fall in love again, and as much as it pained him, he had let himself lose his grip on the idea of becoming a father just like his own. Hearing now that Roxie was pregnant stirred up a whirlwind of emotions inside of him and he took a few steps back, his vision softening as it dawned on him that his dreams were actually within reach. A tender smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You're pregnant..." he repeated, bringing a hand to his mouth to conceal his emotions. "And - and it's mine? I'm going to be a dad?"

Syd looked down to her again and noticed the apprehensive look on her face. He came and sat beside her, placing a comforting hand on her back. "Hey, it's okay," he assured her, unable to keep the smile off his face. "No one thinks they're ready, at first - that's what they say right? And the responsibilities aren't all yours, you know. The baby will have me, too. We'll work it out together." Saying the words aloud shook him a little and he raised his hands to his mouth, his whole body tingling with happiness. "I can't believe this. I thought you'd called me over to break up with me. But - God, I never imagined this would happen to me. I thought I was destined..." He trailed off, not even granting the sentence an ending. For the first time in a long time, Syd could see a future.

Interactions
Bellz Roxie
Misty Gray Savannah (mentioned)

 

[Bugsy]

KEEGAN LYNCH
​

It took them long enough to get the ball rolling, but Keegan was certain once the ball had started - it wasn't going to stop. His brothers knew that he was at the mercy of the boss, so they were not getting a ridealong as he disappeared into the backseat with Peter Callaghan. He had remained silent for the duration of the journey, his mind elsewhere as he stared at the passing scenery before them. Though on occasion, Keegan would return to the present to check for anyone following them by car - the last thing they wanted now was for all the planning and preparation to go down the drain.

An eye for an eye.

They kidnapped Savannah, the mob kidnapped one of theirs.

The question had rolled around to him, asking whether or not he was alright with the whole scenario. "All good, boss." He replied, a tight wry smile that almost hid the simmering violence - almost. But, he knew that it went far beyond skin-deep consideration of whether or not he was good with interrogating Luke Holland. They needed to keep themselves in line, push aside personal feelings for the time being as they were the front runners for asking questions. Each of them had their own personal reasons for wanting the bastard dead.

But Luke Holland had one saving grace, all they wanted to know was where Savannah was - and he could go home happy as Larry, if Larry was a dead guy buried eight feet under. He blew air from his nose, glancing down at the revolver he had taken out of his coat pocket, checking that it was loaded before replacing it back into its holster.

Keegan wasn't going to make it that easy, a bullet to the head was far too good for them - as he had previously mentioned to Warren. That was why Keegan hadn't only packed a revolver, but a set of brass knuckles. He had a point to make, a point that reiterated his brothers' feelings about the whole kidnapping as well as that of Arlene's death.

He took out a cigarette, offering the pack to Peter should the man want to take one as he lit his up and went about exiting the car.

Misty Gray (James), Bellz (Peter)

 

[Bellz]

Roxie Carriveau​

Roxie hadn't been thinking about how her words would be interpreted and now it was landing her in a whole world of hurt. Seeing Syd's reaction caused her chest to tighten. He sounded so excited and she honestly wasn't expecting it. Confusion shined in her eyes as he moved to sit beside her and Roxie couldn't help but stare at the smile on her boyfriend's face. When he confessed that he thought Roxie was going to break up with him, the woman shook her head slowly almost lethargic as her mind raced to find a way to say what she needed to now that she knew what his reaction was.

"Why would I break up with you? You are so sweet, funny, a lovely person to be around..." Oh god, was she trying to talk herself out of this? Clearing her throat, Roxie felt his hand on her back and tried not to move away.

Turning to look at the TV in front of them, she looked at their reflection a long moment, mustering up the courage to say what she had said to Savannah. It was proving to be a lot more difficult than she thought. "But Syd..."

"Don't you want a family with someone you know a little better than just a few weeks of dating?" There it was, the beginning to what could be the end of them. "This baby...I mean, this is a huge decision. A Life changing decision. " Where was she trying to go now? She didn't even know anymore.

"I mean I'm only 26, I still have my job and my schooling which I want to finish so that I can focus on my full time career. Having a baby...it could get in the way of that." Roxie turned her head to face Syd as she slowly scooted away from the man to the edge of the couch.

"It would be irresponsible to have a baby that I couldn't give my full and complete attention to. It would be selfish of me to let you think that this is what I want because right now, at this point in my life...I can't have it. I would never be a good mother...

Biting her lip, Roxie continued to hug herself tightly as she took in a deep breath. The room was starting to spin and she felt as though she was going to throw up at any point now. Her body trembled with anxiety and she ground her teeth together harshly before saying, "I want to get an abortion."
with: Syd Pyroclast