Realistic or Modern Gangs of Birmingham - IC Thread [Open & Accepting]

[ReverseTex]

Finley Residence
Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham
Misty Gray

Dr. Richard Finley​

Richard took a sip of his drink generously, needing it desperately to cut the tension. He knew the longer he waited to say the full truth, Robert would get more frustrated. He rested his hands on the counter, pushing some of the weight off his leg as he stared at the counter. Robert was letting him have it, claiming he didn’t care for the family. His mustache curled, trying to maintain his composure. But it was clear, Robert knew what buttons to push. After being caught off guard with the suddenness of this conversation and shocked with how vile it got, his temper was at Witt’s end. “Shut up! Just for once Robert!” He slammed his fist down, the rattle on the counter rocking both their drinks.

“I was going to call you tonight, but here you are. You want to have it out now? Then let’s have it. Just because I do the moral and right thing for the majority, you accuse me of betraying the family? Seriously Robert! You’ve got to be fucking joking!” He made direct contact with his brother again, clearly hurt. “Tony Fletcher came to me because he had nowhere else to go. You and Carol wouldn’t be of help, and he was scared shitless after the Gala. He wanted my help to work out the differences between the two of you, before this Marco situation

“This Marco bullshit was unplanned! He appeared, and against Tony’s will, confessed. He told me all of it.” Richard bit his lip, uncomfortable with the details of how his nephew was slaughtered. When he spoke again, his tone softened. “As much as I loved Charles, an eye for an eye doesn’t solve anything. If he lives, then he has to live with the guilt the rest of his life. That in itself is greater suffering than anything you could do to that kid.”

“Not that you care, but he is remorseful.” Richard added, matter of factly. “So what did I do? I opted to do the right thing. Marco is going to see a court of law and be tried like anyone else.” He replied firmly, nearly chastising Robert. “You’ve lost any semblance of a moral compass! From this reaction today, to nearly losing Caroline, and now you questioning my compassion for your family? Unbelievable! All I’m trying to do is protect you from yourself! That’s all I’ve ever done! Why can’t you see that? Caroline does, but you never have!”

Now that his temper had risen once again, Richard knew he was stoking the fire.

 

[Misty Gray]

Finley Residence
- Birmingham, England -

Robert Walker​

Robert was surprised by Richard's sudden outburst telling him to shut up, followed by the slamming of his fist on the counter. Robert had been in many altercations, be they physical or verbal, so he was more than familiar with being on the receiving end of it. But the fact it was Richard doing the yelling this time was shocking to hear. It wasn't often the two men came to severe blows, but that unfamiliarity didn't mean Robert was about to back down and submit for the sake of peace.

Robert gave the drinking glasses an obvious glance, drily acknowledging how Richard's action had caused them to shake. He then shifted his stare back to his brother as the man began his tirade. Robert folded his arms, reminding himself not to interrupt and instead let the man get it off his chest... however much he had to fire at him. Whilst Richard said he had intended to call him, Robert didn't think that was good enough and he would have still wanted the conversation to be had in person.

He was surprised to hear that Tony went directly to Richard, but in the back of his mind he knew his brother likely came across as more approachable, or a softer touch, especially if the only other option was himself or Caroline. But when it came to it, Robert wasn't about to start picking fights about Tony. Since early on, he hadn't believed the man was the one who killed Charles, and he hoped it wouldn't transpire that the murder had been at all planned. Tony's confirmed innocence was something Robert wanted to stick, for the sake of their business together and to keep Caroline away from the Fletcher boss when the families were trying to cooperate.

Richard tried to assure him that Marco was full of remorse and would have to live with the guilt. Robert wanted to take comfort from that and not have to think his son was killed in cold blood, but it would be hard to ignore the months of enduring the unknown whilst Marco walked around knowing the truth. Any hints of Robert softening were quickly snapped away by the way Richard spoke to him in asserting Marco would be tried in court. It rubbed him up the wrong way and caused him to tense up as he held back from interrupting in that moment.

Perhaps it would have been better if had butted in, as his brother went on to push his buttons further. Not only questioning his moral compass, but bringing his marriage into it. Then claiming he was protecting him from himself. "Are you bloody serious?!" he snapped, now gripping the counter with both hands as if he keep himself at the opposite side of the counter to Richard. "If I'm lacking a moral compass, then it amazes me that you've been able to stand by me for so long! I have no idea how you've managed it," he sarcastically remarked. "And don't give me that sanctimonious bollocks about protecting me!" Robert gripped his glass and knocked back the rest of his drink, but kept the empty tumbler in his hand.

"You were right there with me when all of this started. You were even complicit in what had to be done to get this city under control. Birmingham was a mess when we came home from the war and I dread to think what kind of hellhole it would be now, without the steps my family took to clean up the city. Everything I have done has been to maintain what we built. The first sign of weakness, people will take advantage and drag Birmingham back down with them. So, what message does it send when I sit back and let my own son's killer walk into court unscathed? As much as you think you can be the Mayor who cleans the streets and rids it of crime, it will never work. Especially not when there are others willing to challenge both my family and the Fletchers."

With the glass still in his hand, he pointed his index finger at Richard. "This isn't the war. It doesn't sound like we're fighting on the same side this time. You're not protecting me, you're appeasing your voters."

ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[ReverseTex]

Finley Residence
Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham
Misty Gray

Dr. Richard Finley
​

After his tirade, Richard knew exactly what buttons he pressed. Some of his frustration was well-founded, decades of built up animosity. Robert and him stopped seeing eye to eye years ago, particularly after the death of (insert character’s name). After his actions in that situation, he vowed to himself more than anyone to prevent unnecessary violence. Robert never saw it that way, and he knew he never would. Which was why it was so important to keep his brother away from Marco. He watched as Robert’s hands clawed the counter, knowing the piece of granite was the only thing caging both men back. “Sanctimonious? Why yes, exactly! Since that's the only way to get you to look in the mirror these days!” He retorted back when Robert paused to knock back his drink. He wasn't going to bring Caroline into this, but her outburst had led to Robert looking inward as well.

His comment spurred his wingman further, and it was his turn once again to brace the storm. When Robert mentioned weakness, he shook his head, disappointed in the reasoning. “You’re wrong, Robert.” He muttered under his breath, letting him continue out. “If that logic were true, then the Gala wouldn’t have happened. If that logic were true, I wouldn't have had to deal with what I did all those years ago. You’ve never been weak, and no one thinks you are. That’s simply self-imposed paranoia!”

“And don’t bring this newfound political situation into this! This is entirely separate! Why shouldn't I help those in need in my position take precedent?” Not everything in this universe revolves around you. The thought of Robert not seeing his honest motives stung more than he’d like. Boiling down his aspirations to be purely motivated by power hurt him more than it should. "You’re just saying that because you’re angry; I know you don’t believe that." He tried to tell himself.

Richard paused to down the rest of his drink, his face growing more flush with frustration. “You allowing Marco to see a fair trial shows more composure and strength than you waltzing into the bloody station and boxing the boy to death.” He tsked. “If you want to boil down three decades of our friendship to my selfish ambition, which you’ve completely made up to avoid the real issue I’m forcing you to deal with, then I suggest you leave." In the hand he held his glass in, his index finger rose towards the living room. "I'm sorry for being a bloody good friend and wanting the best for you! If I realized I was so unwanted and tainted, then I should've left years ago. Oh? I bet Caroline would've been right behind me." He was treading a fine line: one he only danced with Caroline and not his brother. This was different. Firing these blows at his brother, his best friend,, fueled his rage more than he thought. "I'm the same man I've always been, brother; it's you who's withered away into sin!" Richard's words hung like asinine on his breath. All of this was Robert's fault; like it or not. The adultery that drove Caroline away. The lies that drove his mistress and estranged daughter away. The knife that killed Charles. If Robert hadn't been so greedy and revolved around business, then perhaps the house of cards wouldn't have crashed so violently. He supposed now, it was his turn.

 

[Misty Gray]

Finley Residence
- Birmingham, England -

Robert Walker​

Robert heard his brother mutter about him being wrong and when Richard said he wasn't weak, that it was paranoia, he wasn't going to argue. It was partly true. Robert didn't believe he was weak, especially not given how he'd managed to hold things together for the last three decades. But the fact remained in his mind, if he was seen to show weakness or not respond to attacks on his family or business, it could draw in adversaries to attack. Granted, it was true those who opened fire at the gala were brave enough to attack the two most powerful crime families at once.

Being berated for bringing Richard's new position as mayor into it didn't draw further reaction from Robert in that moment either. Except, of course, a rolling of the eyes when told the universe didn't revolve around him. Silently, Robert did harbour some reservations about it. He couldn't help but imagine many possibilities where his brother would be made to go against him in order to uphold his oath to the city. A passing joke from Caroline that morning had led him to further dwell on that scenario. "Perhaps I am," he simply agreed when Richard suggested he'd said what he had simply because he was angry. He was sure Richard would be loyal to the family, but he still expected the man would at some point have to choose his position as mayor over defending his family.

Robert lowered his gaze and set the glass down on the counter as he listened. He nodded when told letting Marco have a fair trial was better than barging into the station and beating up the lad. He was already resigning to that fact. His eyes snapped back up to his brother when he was told to leave if he wanted to question their 30 years of friendship. He nodded his head and moved slightly as he looked towards the living room. Some part of him considered leaving, as if it would make their lives easier to go their separate ways. But that was only a small, fleeting part, with the rest keeping him firmly glued to the spot directly across from Richard. He wasn't a man to walk away from a fight nor from a resolution.

Robert tapped his fingertips on the counter as Richard made his sarcastic apology for being a good friend. When he mentioned how he should have left years ago and then that Caroline would have been behind him, Robert felt his face burning up as the anger simmered beneath the surface. His supposed brother had crossed the line. The following comment about how he'd withered away into sin was the final straw.

Robert finally rounded the counter and grabbed the the collar of Richard's shirt with both hands, pushing him back towards the wall. Richard had never been unwanted to him and Robert would never want him to leave, but in the heat of the argument, there was no way his mind could focus on those facts. "If I'm reduced to sin and lacking any moral compass, you know what you should have done? You should have spared yourself and everyone else from having to suffer me. You should have left me to rot and die in Casablanca!"

ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[neverbackdown]

Tony & Julia Fletcher's House
- Aston, Birmingham, England -

Victoria "Rory" Fletcher
​

With everything that had happened in the last few weeks, Rory had found herself unable to investigate into the believed affair that her mother was having with Robert Walker. The thought had constantly been at the forefront of her mind but with emotions already running high due to her Gran's brush with death, Rory never found the opportunity to question Dorothy about it and the not knowing was frustrating her to no end.

Given the accusation she was bearing, Rory would have preferred to have spoken to her mother privately about the matter. She wasn't sure how her siblings would react to the news and she didn't want to tarnish her mother's name if she was wrong but with Dorothy choosing to remain in Manchester to look after their Grandmother, Rory felt she had no choice but to speak to Tony about it. She hoped that her brother would be able to put her mind at ease and tell her she was wrong but it seemed to be the only thing that could explain Robert's softness towards them.

Looking across at her brother, Rory held her cup of coffee between her hands as she examined him carefully, trying to gauge how he would take the news she was about to give him. She released a slow sigh as Tony told her to recount what had happened in the jail and she took a long sip of her coffee as she tried to get her words in order.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about that because I'm still not sure" she admitted. Rory placed her cup on the side table before crossing her legs under her and looking towards her brother once again. "So he came in, lectured me on my future, listened to my side of events, told me he believed me that it wasn't us that set the cars alight and then got me out" Rory bit her lip as she let her quick synopsis sink in, she had purposely left out the main reason she had been given by Robert and the most important thing he had said to her in that cell .. for her mother.. but she found herself unable to just blurt it out, rather she felt she needed to delicately approach the subject to get some more information before accusing their mother of such a horrible crime.

"Tony, do you know why the Walkers and Fletchers stopped being friends?" Whilst it may seem like the question was randomly asked, Rory's mannerisms and tone of voice would show that this was anything but random, rather it was a question that had been haunting her since she spoke to Robert in that jail cell weeks ago. "Like Mom and Caroline were friends once as were Robert and Dad from what I've picked up on over the years they were a close group weren't they? so what happened"

********
Misty Gray - Tony

 

[ReverseTex]

Finley Residence
Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham
Misty Gray

Dr. Richard Finley
​

Richard felt his stomach drop knowing what he set in motion. He could see Robert’s seething rage finally boil to the surface beyond words, his face painted red with anger. Before he had a chance to diffuse his brother, Robert was around the counter faster than he’d expect for their age. With his bum leg, there was much he could do. He was up against the kitchen wall before he knew it, pinned under the mountain of his brother’s rage.

Withering in his grasp, Richard tried to free himself without force at first. But as Robert shouted at him, the stress of the situation was boiling his temper back up to par. To leave his wingman in Casablanca? Now he was truly deranged. “Robert Walker,” he sternly said. He didn’t want to go this route. There was no point. If he could ground Robert, perhaps there would be a chance to calm him down. In order to try and loosen the grip on his collar, he placed his hands around Robert’s wrist. Robert’s rage was clearly winning the battle, and there were no signs of him letting go anytime soon. It was clear, a bit of anxiety was setting in on his part. “Robert, let me go.” He pleaded once again, tilting his head curiously. “I would have never done that. We’re not going to dig up what we buried in the sand. It has nothing to do with this.” As he spoke, his chest tightened, anxiety fully creeping in.

The tightness of the situation, the pressure from Robert and the wall fully boxed him in. But he could barely hear his brother’s retort, starting to slip into a fuzzy state. It was all too much. “Let go of me!” Richard shouted, unaware of how much force or loud he actually was. He thought he shoved his brother gently away, as if he were falling in the very sand they left behind in the desert. But, the thud that snapped him out of his panic suggested otherwise. At first, he thought it was his glasses that slid off his face. He knew well enough now when he slipped in those states, sounds weren’t as they seemed. But Robert staggering on the ground for a moment was all the proof he needed to ground him.

“I’m sorry. Shit, Robert…” Richard started to dip down, lending a hand to try and help him up.

 

[Misty Gray]

Finley Residence
- Birmingham, England -

Robert Walker​

Robert felt his brother's hands around his wrist, but it did nothing to make him loosen his grip on the man's shirt. Although Richard assured him he would never have left him in Casablanca and that they shouldn't bring up the ordeal endured at Max's hands, it was too late. Those memories were ones that, even in the years when they rarely sprang to mind, never left him. More recently, since Charles died, the flashbacks and nightmares had increased again. Be it stress or anxiety, those feelings tended to elevate the resurfacing of his worst traumas.

With the men locked into the tense situation, Richard finally snapped and loudly yelled at him. Along with his outburst, the man forcefully pushed Robert back, causing him to stumble over his own feet and fall backwards onto the floor, his arm colliding with the bottom edge of the counter as he landed. It wasn't enough of a blow to cause real damage, but still enough for him to immediately grip his grazed forearm for a moment.

He looked up as Richard apologised and offered his hand to help him get back up. Robert remained still for a brief time, the surprise leaving him momentarily dazed. As it was, the shock of the fall had at least been enough to snap him out of his anger and metaphorically bring him back down to earth - not just physically. Reaching up with his unaffected arm, he accepted his brother's hand - more of a courtesy than desperately needing the help.

Once on his feet, he smoothed out his shirt and loosened his tie as if it was restricting him. "Don't apologise," he told him. "I asked for it," he admitted, rubbing his forehead in frustration with himself. "I shouldn't have grabbed you."

Robert briefly paced on the spot and let out a deep sigh. "You've never been unwanted, Rich. If I didn't think you were a good friend, I'd have stopped calling you brother a long time ago. Whatever you think of my character and nature, at least believe that."

ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[Misty Gray]

Tony & Julia Fletcher's House
- Aston, Birmingham, England -

Tony Fletcher​

Tony curiously studied his sister when she said she wasn't sure about what had happened at the police station. He wondered what her uncertainty with it was all about, but he remained quiet to let her keep talking and give what detail she could. What Rory gave him was quite a simple recount of that night. After lecturing her and believing her side, Robert had helped get her released. "He gave you a lecture?" he rhetorically asked, managing a small smirk. "He is good at those."

Rory didn't elaborate further on the lectures or any details Robert had given her, but before Tony could press her, she surprised him by asking why their family and the Walkers had stopped being friends. "Our parents probably just came to realise how insufferable Caroline and Robert are," he remarked.

"What's got you so curious about them all of a sudden? You and Robert haven't become best mates now, have you?" Despite his joke, Tony could see Rory was quite serious in her question, so he conducted himself in kind. "Me an' Charles were sort of friends for a bit too. Just kids back then and played together, albeit he could be a bit overbearing back then too, hence why we stopped hanging out even before our families fell out. I vaguely remember our parents and the Walkers getting along," he recalled.

"It's obvious why they fell out, ain't it? Our family's business was doing well and Robert didn't like it. He wanted Birmingham all to himself and our dad was getting in his way, so the Walkers turned on us like they do everyone else who challenges them. I got the feeling Mum and Caroline were still mates for a bit even when Dad and Robert stopped being that. I remember Caroline bringing some gifts for you when you were a baby, but then I think she and Mum had a falling out, because that suddenly stopped one day and they were never on good terms again. Let's face it, Caroline is pretty unpleasant!" he pointed out.

"End of the day, it's all about money and control. Robert didn't like that our family was getting some of it, so his lot turned on us and fucked with us ever since." He then looked Rory in the eyes. "Why the curiosity though? What did he say to you? Just because Robert got you out of jail, doesn't mean he's your friend all of a sudden. I'm having to work with him and Alfie at the moment, but I'm under no illusions that this puts us on goods terms after or that the Walkers won't shaft us when the time is right."

neverbackdown (Rory)