Realistic or Modern Gangs of the East End - IC (Closed)

[Misty Gray]

Harvey Woodward and Imogen Isaac ​

Harvey nodded along as Allison spoke about William and the risks of crossing the Morgan brothers. "Will is a smart man, so I'm sure he by now knows the risks of crossing us. However, he's also a gambling man and one I don't doubt actually likes taking risks. Hopefully his intelligence has won out over his ambition," he told her. "I don't think I have enough to work with right now, else I'd be straight in there to confront him."

Harvey's attention was distracted as he heard the familiar female voice nearby. He turned to see Imogen giving a couple of her female friends an earful, though he wasn't entirely sure what the feisty woman was lecturing them about. "Well, bye then.... traitors!" she half-jokingly called out to her friends as they both got into a cab which soon set off down the street. The redhead was about to return into the club when she noticed Allison and Harvey. She joined the two and dramatically placed her hands on her hips. "Can you believe I've been ditched for the bloody Russells?!" she complained. "I told them gambling is a waste of time and I don't mix with the Russells. Will has a lot to answer for!"

"Woah, slow down," Harvey calmly interrupted, sending Allison a knowing glance. "Where have your friends gone?"

"I don't know. They mentioned going to some shitty casino of Will Russell's and when they realised I don't exactly mix with that family, nor was I interested in wasting my money, they wouldn't tell me where it was," Imogen ranted.

"You're right. It's a waste of time. I wouldn't go around mentioning it again, though. It would be a shame to get people into trouble if the wrong people heard about this casino. Besides, I think Dottie was looking for you, inside," he said, motioning for Imogen to return into the club. Once she had gone, Harvey turned back to Allison and furrowed his brow. "I don't know about you, but that's all of the motivation I need to have a chat with our friend William." Harvey paused for a moment as he briefly thought over how best to initially approach this. "If you could find us an empty table, I'll go find Will. I'd prefer to try the civil approach to begin with. Agreed?"

Bellz

 

[nymphadora.]

Edie Monroe

[size= 2] edie woke up to the soft rustling from her fiancee, she shuffled underneath the bedsheets as she heard the shower echo then more rustling around the room. edie tried her best to keep her eyes shut, praying that she could get a few minutes more of sleep. but alas, her brain begged her to wake up. edie sat up in the bed after she watched the door close in front of her. edie stifled a yawn and climbed out of the bed, taking a quick shower and dressing herself in a pretty black dress. edie rushed around the room, grabbing her purse and headed outside to the curb, waving her hand as a yellow cab stopped on the side of the curb. edie flashed a sweet smile to the driver and asked him to drive her to abraham's, her fiancee, bar.

after twenty minutes of humming sweet jazz songs, edie jumped out of the taxi and raced inside the bar. the young woman wandered around the crowded bar, dodging and smiling at people as she tried to find abraham. a smile curled upon edie's red lips as she noticed a glass of champange being handed out, she picked up the glass as she twirled around in a swift motion. edie stumbled away from the crowd and finally found a familiar face. edie rushed over and slipped her arm around abraham's waist, placing a small kiss on his cheek. "hello, darling." edie smiled, her american accent flooding between her words, "sorry i'm late."
she apologised as she took a sip from her drink.

interacting with_ Lazy Taco [/size]

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

She nodded her head side to side. It was true that she had been driving herself crazy for this night, maybe she should just relax for a little. "Sure, once I finish the art auction and count our earnings, I will." She gave her another little smile before rubbing her arm. "Now go have fun, yeah?" Francis would then leave Billie to finish the final art auction of the night. It was becoming tiring, running back and forth, and she was beginning to even regret having so many damn auctions in the first place. 'It's all for the children.' she reminded herself.

Once she was back at the stage, she made her final announcement of the art auction. Not many people were really interested in it, already having spent their money on girls on clothes, however it was still a good turn out. With the final auction being finished, she encouraged them to dance and mingle and eat to their hearts content. By this time in the night, her feet were practically dying, but she managed to push through. Every so often she could be seen hugging, shaking hands, or taking pictures with several different people. People that held high titles would tell her how great of a turn out it all was and give her praise. As much as she tried not to let it all go to her head, it did. Didn't she have every right to let it? She was just glad there were no issues or drama breaking out. Though, it was still pretty early to tell.

Francis made her way over to the bar, where it seemed like everyone was gathering. "I hope you all are having a great evening, hm?" She briefly spoke to them as she rounded behind the bar towards Margaret. "You are my hero for handling all of this." With Margaret running the bar, she was able to focus on all the other aspects of the fundraiser. And to top it all off, she did so without complaint. Pulling her into a hug she smiled. "I'm going to go count the money and when I get back you're relieved from duty." She then whispered in her ear. "You should be having fun. Go meet a guy or something." She shot her a wink before making her to her office. "I won't be back here long!" She shouted while rounding the corner. When she went inside she leaned against the door and sighed.
"And thus, my favorite part begins." She said to herself quite sarcastically.

He then shoved one of his hands in his pocket while the other held another glass of scotch. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. She's had 2 glasses of brandy and at least 3 of scotch. She probably won't even remember that you were late." With a chuckle he took a sip of his own drink. It was funny how he was keeping tabs on his mother, but wasn't even keeping tabs on himself. Always in others business not even paying attention to his own. It was both a blessing and a curse. "You, my brother, need to go out and have fun. Drink a little." He watched as a girl in a red dressed walked by, giving him a wink. "Flirt a little." He was probably having a little too much fun scouting the women in the place, but it wasn't his fault. They were his weakness, and he knew it. "All work and no play has to make Abe a dull boy. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about buddy."

It wasn't until Abe's fiancee showed up that Timothy stopped talking about the flirting. Sure, he was trying to convince his brother to flirt with other girls as a way of fun but what woman would understand that? "Edie, so nice to see you. Just as late as Abe here." He joked. For some reason, he found joy in teasing her and would often do so whenever he got the opportunity. When she kissed his cheek he practically cringed. "Annnnnnnd public displays of affection. Nothing makes me cringe more."

So she wouldn't give away the surprise, Clementine dismissed herself from the table to step outside. She gave a slight nod to Allison and Harvey before going opposite of them for a quick smoke. She held her red cigarette holder between her fingers and took a deep breath. It was a nasty habit she had picked up since meeting her now ex husband that she had been meaning to get rid of. However, every time she did try she would just crack and smoke even more. It was something to do, something to keep her hands busy. Over the years she had developed a bit of a nerve problem. They were bad and every so often she needed to do something that would help calm them down.

When she was calm enough, she made her way back inside, gave herself a spritz of parfum to get rid of the smell, and went back to her table. Of course she spoke to a few people here and there about her upcoming launch and things of that nature but when she finished, she finally sat down. Her eyes landed on Jacky's new dress, the one she had seen her eyeball before. "Oooo someone's got a pretty new dress, hm? William buy it for you?" She asked, hiding her smile behind her wine glass.
​

Mention- Margaret ( NanLia ) Abraham ( Lazy Taco ) Edie ( nymphadora. ) Jacqueline ( Misty Gray )

 

[NanLia]

​

"Nice to meet you too," Steve said, returning his attention to his beer, the first of the night. He hadn't even wanted it but felt like he needed to something until Frankie's shin-dig was done. He sipped at it slowly, watching the crowds but was delighted to see the woman herself down from the stage and behind the bar. He couldn't help but over hearing she was nearly done for the night; it wasn't that he wanted to leave, but more to the fact that he wanted to spend time with her.

​

Maggie finished putting away the glassware just as Francis came around the bar to speak to her. "Really Frankie, it's alright." She reassured the woman; Mags didn't feel overwhelmed in the least by the evenings events; sure it was busier but she felt like between the two of them, and Frankie's amazing staff, everything was well at hand. "I'll be here." She called to Francis as she set off towards the back to go over the nights earnings. A quick glance to the bar she noted a few of the customers drinks were low and seeing as last call wasn't too far away she felt it best to top them up now. Mags had a good memory so he went to work refilling the few people that still lingered at the bar's drinks. She paused next to Des, setting a second Gin and Tonic beside him. "Did you hear that? Almost done for the night."

​

Jackie smiled to Clem as she came to sit with her at her table, she spied the woman curiously as she commented on the dress and the purchaser. She didn't doubt for a second that Clem knew exactly who had sent her the dress and what had been paid for it; after all it was her dress! She glanced to William a moment, wondering if he had had something to do with before she decided to play innocent. "I have no idea, really." She said playfully, "Could be a secret admirer, you know.... Maybe one of my many fans decided to dote upon me. I can't imagine who it could be though, there are so many of them."
Safton
Melanin-Gxdess

 

[Safton]

Desmond Forbes



​

Desmond nodded to Steve, but noted the man's turn of interest toward his beer. Des did not take it personally; he was hardly looking for a drinking pal in the first place. He had watched idly as the final art auction was completed, notably with far less fanfare than the previous auctions of the dates and dresses. Many prospective bidders had filtered into other parts of the establishment, notably the bar and dance floor. Mags seemed to take it in stride, however. She always did.

Desmond set his now-empty glass aside, the gin burning contently in his gut. He looked up to see Francis approaching, visibly relieved as she embraced the dutiful bartender. He grinned to himself, overhearing bits of their conversation. He was glad to see that Margaret's employer appreciated her talents as much as was deserved. He smiled up at his friend as she wasted no time in setting another drink down in front of him. "I did indeed," Des remarked, taking the drink up and sipping at it, peering at her over the rim before speaking quietly. "So do you have any plans for the night once Francis cuts you loose? Maybe grab a few drinks for yourself? Or a dance with a suitor?"

Interactions:
Margaret ( NanLia )

Mentions:
Steve ( NanLia )
Francis ( Melanin-Gxdess ) ​

 

[Misty Gray]

Dorothy Morgan​

Dottie couldn't help but notice the old man was still watching her and that just freaked her out a little. She saw her father and uncle at the bar with the the Russell boss. Obviously, the logical thing to do would be to tell them, but she was a teenage girl and she wasn't about to go running to her dad about it, especially if it jeopardised her presence at the club. She didn't want to be made to go home if they thought she couldn't look after herself. She might have gone to her mother, but she couldn't see her from where she was.

Dottie noticed a woman alone at the bar. She found her vaguely familiar and it took a while for her to place the woman's face, but she soon recognised the woman as Darius Romano's mother who she'd seen at various school events in the past. The teenager quickened her pace and slotted herself into a space at the bar, next to Alena. "Hey! You're Darius' mum, right?" she asked, smiling brightly at the woman. Darius was cute and she hoped he was out tonight too. "I'm Dottie. I go to the same school as him. Is he here tonight?" she curiously asked. In the back of her mind, she hoped the creepy man would leave her be now she wasn't walking around the club alone. "Your dress looks amazing, by the way!" she genuinely complimented the woman.

Interaction: sprouhtt
Mentions: ReverseTex (Oliver) Enzyme (Dexter/Darius) neverbackdown (Mallory)

 

[nymphadora.]

[size= 2] (im on mobile but once i get back to my sister’s dorm, i’ll make it look pretty !)

ALEKANDER RUSSELL

alek has a problem with liquor, it was oblivious. past lovers had tried to get him to stop, to become clean and sober. but alek had always disagreed, he was at his best not sober. his mind seemed sharper and more focused every time he took a sip of the devil’s juice. as he awoke to a pounding headache, his gaze flickered to a clock. a loud, tired groan escaped his lips as his hands rub his eyes groggily. “fucking shit, will is going to kill me.” alek muttered as he sat upright, his feet touching the cold floor. alek turned behind him and noticed a feminine figure sleeping peacefully under the white sheets. the male groaned once more, flicking the woman on her back with a quick whistle. “alright, love, time to go home.” alek earned a deathly glare from the woman before she dressed herself in last night’s clothes and scurried out.

alek lazily dresses himself in a black suit with matching slacks. his shoes, still, somehow clean. he quickly double checked his hair and left his humble abode, catching a taxi and heading straight to the pub. once he left the taxi, alek pulled out a simple cigarette and hung it between his lips as he headed inside. alek made a b-line straight towards his older brother, will, once his eyes caught sight of him. a charming smile appeared on his lips as he stood next to his brother, giving him a light tap on his shoulder. “sorry im late, had to deal with a small problem.” alek winked as he took a long drag from the cigarette.[/size]​

 

[Misty Gray]

Harvey Woodward and William Russell​

Harvey approached the bar and wasted no time in catching a barmaid's attention so he could order himself and Allison a drink each. He then turned his attention the three men he'd intended on addressing. It appeared Dexter, Oliver and Will had just about finished up their conversation - no doubt one of forced pleasantries and small talk. "Evening, Will," he greeted the man, sending him a friendly nod. "We have some business to discuss. Allison has found us a private booth right over there," he said, pointing to where the blonde was just getting seated. "Care to join us, Oliver?" he asked his mentor, figuring Dexter wouldn't be too bothered by the meeting and would prefer to just learn of the outcome.

"Of course, Harvey. I'm sure I can spare a few minutes for you," Will replied, glancing to his watch as though only he only had a small amount of time to spare for the Morgans. "I will just take Jacky her drink and I'll be right over to join you." Before he had chance to step away from the bar, Alek joined him and apologised for being late. "No worries. You're right on time, brother. We're about to go discuss some business with the Morgans, apparently," he informed him. "Follow me, Alek."

Will returned to Jacky and set her drink down in front of her. "Sorry it took so long," he apologised, before leaning in to place a kiss on her cheek. "I'll ask you all about the clothes auction in a little while. It appears the Morgans want to talk business rather than enjoy this nice evening," he said, rolling his eyes. "I'll be back soon, love." Will gently squeezed his fiancee's shoulder before approaching the table Harvey had pointed out, expecting his brother to follow.

******​

Harvey had taken a seat between Oliver and Allison as they patiently waited for Will to join them. He'd caught the way the Russell leader had glanced at his watch and made it seem like they were troubling him for his time. He would let it slide though, as he figured it was aimed more at Oliver, seeing how the two men clearly didn't like each other. Harvey wasn't even sure if he would like Will all that much by the end of the night. Taking the opportunity to speak before the Russells rejoined them, Harvey turned to Oliver. "I've heard a couple of rumours that Will is running some underground casino he hasn't told us about and I'm going to start by asking him nicely if it's true. I'd like to give him the opportunity to be straight with us, first..." Harvey fell silent as he saw Will and Alek approaching.

"So, what's this all about?" Will asked as he sat directly opposite Harvey, putting his pint down on the table that separated them.

"I figured having us all under one roof at the same time would be a good opportunity for an update on how things are going for the Russells these days. It shouldn't take too long," Harvey began. He clasped his hands together on the surface of the table and glanced to Alek before looking directly at Will. "I've overheard a few things tonight that I found quite surprising. Is there anything you need to tell us, Will?" Harvey separated his hands and outstretched his arms a little, inviting the men opposite him to open up.

"Harvey, I don't believe there is ever anything I need to tell you," Will said, folding his arms on the table and leaning forward slightly. Whilst he knew it was usually better to keep a friendly tone with the Morgans, having Oliver present only brought out his more antagonistic side. "Perhaps the question you should have asked is if there is anything you think you need to know."

Harvey turned to Oliver and sent his mentor a knowing glance. He then looked back to Will and shook his head, annoyed the man wanted to play it the hard way. "You know, things have always worked pretty well. You've always kept to your end of the deal and paid up where payment is due. We haven't much needed to intervene in your shitty little corner of town. Your pubs, butchers, the garage... no skin off our noses. You know where tread and what not to do. So, I'll give you one more chance to answer my question. Perhaps Alek might have the sense to answer me straight," he said, glancing to the younger of the two Russells. "Do you have any businesses you haven't told us about?" he asked, placing stress on each word. He then looked to Oliver, signalling his own pleasant approach was coming to an end. Harvey only stayed friendly for a short time before his patience would wear thin.

Will shook his head and chuckled to himself, before taking a sip of his beer and calmly setting the glass back down. "How could I possibly run anything without your watchful eyes knowing about it? Surely you're not suggesting you have no control over the city?" he remarked. Will knew he had undeclared businesses, but he wasn't sure which one of them the Morgans were on to. The casino or the drugs? He hoped it was the former as he'd hate for any of the drugs mess to come back on Francis after she'd had such a successful evening.

Interactions: ReverseTex (Oliver) nymphadora. (Alek) NanLia (Jacky)
Mentions: Bellz (Allison) Melanin-Gxdess (Francis) Enzyme (Dexter)

 

[ReverseTex]

Oliver Morgan

Interactions/Mentions:
Misty Gray
Bellz
Safton

The conversation with his brother was quite blasé, in which he lost interest fairly quickly. He knew he did most of the work for Dexter, that was his sole purpose. But Oliver’s interest quickly shifted towards his protégée, who called him name with a wave. Giving a nod to his brother, he picked up his scotch and began the long limp over to Harvey.

Taking a seat at the end of the boot allowing him to rest his cane outside, Harvey say to his right with Allison next to him. Keeping silent as he adjusted his glasses, he stared at his sister. She always say besides him, mostly just in case he needed to use his weapon, but now... Snapping from thought as Harvey spoke, he took note of the details. “Wouldn't surprise me... Just keep your cards folded Harvey, you know how to play the game.”

When William Russell arrived, Oliver was sipping his scotch, his deadly icicles of eyes watched with precision as the man sat. Staying silent throughout Harvey’s first move, he allowed his protégée to do the work for him. There was a time and place for his words, Harvey learned that years ago, and his words now were only segueing Will into the pits of the game...

Once Harvey had finished, Oliver chuckled softly, adjusting his glasses before setting a hand on the table. “The thing is you can’t. We wouldn’t be making these inquires if we had no information nor reason to suspect William... Now i’m not a particular fan of a retold story, so please don’t try and explain anything, I don’t want a headache.” Taking a sip of his scotch, he continued. “So let’s keep your shipments and hobby quiet eh? If you don’t silence them, I will. And I think you know what they call me... Am I correct?” Pausing for the man’s answer, he nodded.

“Precisely. Now... I do think there isn’t much more to discuss, especially not at such a lovely event like this. Francis did really outdo herself, don't you agree?”

 

[Lazy Taco]

Abraham had to look at Timothy with a questioning gaze as he told him about how their mother wouldn't be bothered considering that she had been drinking, but the questioning came when he said that he should drink. "What do I have in my hand Tim? It's a drink isn't it?" He questioned him while drinking the beverage. Maybe Timothy was too drunk, that's why the guy haven't seen the drink on his hand, having to question himself if he should take said drink away from him. "Flirt? Last I remember I'm already engaged so I really can't do that unless it's with Edie." He gulped down the drink fast before shaking his head at his brother. It wasn't that he didn't really want to flirt, it just that to him, loyalty came first and he wasn't gonna go flirt with someone just because his fiancee wasn't here. "You should take my advice instead and find yourself a girl, I mean I'm still 20 yet I'm engaged and you are how old? Yet you are single, shame shame big brother, I would have expected to see some niece or nephews from my older brothers but it looks like I won't be seeing any anytime soon." He joked before turning to look as Edie arrived, making him smile before returning the kiss after she had kissed him on the cheeks. "No worries my dear, I just arrived like 10 or 5 minutes ago." He said to her when she had apologized about being late before suddenly bursting out laughing when Timothy commented. "You should find your special one, that way it won't make you sick." Melanin-Gxdess nymphadora.

 

[Rysesaka]

Liam Redwyne

Location: The Alley Cat
Interaction: Evelyn ( Bellz ), Hanna ( San Andreas ), Timothy ( Melanin-Gxdess ), Leon ( Hokage )
Mentioned: N/A


When the woman approached her, he immediately recognized her. Liam was surprised that Hanna was here. He would shake her hand.

"Ma'am Reyne. I'm surprised that you are here." Liam smiled at her.

"By the way, this is my girlfriend. Evelyn. Evelyn, this is Hanna Reyne. The owner of the Reyne Bistro, one of the best restaurants in London." Liam would smile at them both.

When Timothy interrupt their conversation and introduce himself to Hanna would just listen to their conversation. He just stood there until he realized that his older brother was here. He shift his gaze towards to his girlfriend and began to speak with her.

"Hey, I'll be back. I'll just be on the toilet." Liam smiled as he walk away from the scene.

Liam would signal his older brother using his eyes as he is walking towards to the male's toilet.


​

 

[San Andreas]

Hanna Reyne

​

Location: The Alley Cat
Interacting: Liam Redwyne ( Rysesaka ), Evelyn Russell ( Bellz ), Timothy Russell ( Melanin-Gxdess )
Mentioned: N/A

Hanna shift her gaze to Evelyn after Liam introduced his girlfriend to her. Hanna looks at Evelyn from head to toe, smiling. She never thought that the Russells also have a style.

"It's pleasure to meet you, Evelyn." Hanna would offer Evelyn a handshake.

When a man suddenly approach the scene. The man was going to 'harass' Liam but noticed her remarkable appearance. The man introduced himself to Hanna, realizing that he is one of Evelyn's brothers, a Russell perhaps however she was not pleased a bit as the man doesn't know her despite the fact she has a small percentage of fame and influence in the East End.

"I am Hanna Reyne, the owner of the Reyne Bistro. I am a bit surprised you do not know me." Hanna replied with a serious tone but she chuckled after.

And after that, Evelyn and Timothy would have a little conversation and left the scene anyways. As Liam would go to the man's toilet, she encourage Evelyn to come with her.

"How about you come with me? For a drink?" Hanna smiled, patiently waiting for the late teenager's response.

 

[Misty Gray]

Harvey Woodward and William Russell​

Will looked to Oliver as the man spoke and made it clear they had information which had raised their suspicions. Unless they said it out loud, Will would continue to dance around the subject. He probably wouldn't give them the full light of day if they outright asked him if he was running a casino. As time went on, he was growing less inclined to bow to other criminals and crooked cops. "I don't think any of us want a headache, Oliver," he agreed, with a smirk. "You can rest assured, I can make sure whatever it is you're suggesting I'm doing will remain quiet. It would be like it doesn't even exist," he remarked, grinning as he took another drink from his pint.

Harvey sat back as Will addressed Oliver. He'd played this game with many men before and it didn't escape his attention that Will had not outright denied any undeclared businesses. He would get it out of him or even Alek, even if it wasn't tonight. He brought his glass to his mouth and took a sip of scotch, almost as if using it to mask the small devious smile that was sneaking on his lips. Harvey had done his research on Will and the Russells. He knew exactly how to draw an emotional reaction out of the man but he was saving it for when most needed. As Will's ambition grew, so did the impact of the bait Harvey had under his sleeve. For now, Harvey looked directly towards Alek, curious as to what kind of information the younger Russell could provide.

Will flashed a genuine, wide smile when conversation turned to Francis' hard work. "You're right about that. She never fails to put on a good show. I think one thing we can all agree on is that events like these are exactly what the city needs. Even rogues like us care about the community and to put money into such a good cause is what separates us from the real criminals who sit in parliament and ignore those in need." It was in that moment, that Will also found himself holding back. He knew full well that Harvey's own father had been a corrupt Chief Superintendent, but for the sake of civility he would not mention the corrupt members of the police force. "No, I think Francis needs to hold more events like these. A chance for everyone and their families to relax and socialise under the same roof." The mention of family reminded him of something he'd noticed earlier. "Just a heads up... I noticed some guy bothering Dexter's youngest kid a little while ago. She removed herself from the situation, but I'd be cautious of the man as he didn't seem like he'd got the message." Will wasn't using the information to detract from himself. He believed Dottie to be just as innocent and uninvolved as Evelyn was, so the last thing he wanted was to think of a young girl being harmed when he could have prevented it. Events like these tended to attract some shady characters.


Interactions: ReverseTex (Oliver)
Mentions: nymphadora. (Alek)

 

[ReverseTex]

Oliver Morgan

Interactions/Mentions:
Misty Gray
Bellz

Oliver sat still as Will spoke, a plastered simper on his face as the gears in his head turned. He knew the Russell’s wouldn’t blatantly admit their wrong-doings, and he didn’t want them to. He hadn’t lied about not liking recycled intel, finding the best lies always hugged close to the truth... “Excellent. I don’t want problems with you Will, I already have enough to manage as is.” Giving a faint nod as the two agreed, he took a sip of his scotch.

“Couldn’t agree more. Her work for charity is quite admirable, and all the donations made tonight i’m sure will find a splendid home.” Smiling, he gave a quick glance at his watch, then back up at the man as he began to speak of his niece.

“Dottie is a smart girl, but thank you for voicing your concern William. I’ll have a chat with her later tonight about it...” So the Russells did keep a close eye on the Morgan’s... Will probably didn’t realize it, but the information he just disclosed could be spun in many ways to fuel any sort of suit Oliver needed. He had hoped Harvey caught that, knowing a good challenge was good for his protégée.

“Well William I am afraid my sister and I do have some buisness to discuss privately, but i’m glad we were able to clear up that hiccup. Now i’ll be sending a associate of mine over tomorrow to assure that said hiccup is extinguished. Also I do hope you don’t mind leaving this lovely booth, i’m afraid it’s a little hard for a cripple to move about.” Smiling, his moustache curling as he watched the Russell clan leave without complaint...

Turning to his sister and friend, he leaned a elbow on the table seeing no need for formality. “Alright protégée and Alli, tell me what you gathered from that little game?” He often did this with Harvey, a teaching experience the two often did for fun. Using a similar technique with his sister during childhood, he often did this to pick at his sister’s brain.

 

[Bellz]

Allison Morgan ​

with: Harvey Misty Gray ; Oliver ReverseTex mentions: Will Misty Gray
Allison had stayed awfully quiet, drinking her refilled glass as Harvey and Ollie sat down at the table, both men sitting on either side of her. She knew when and where to state her opinion but as the men began to speak about business, Allison became nothing more than an observer. Her eyes looked between Harvey and Oliver every so often, but at the moment her icy blue eyes were only focused William Russell. He was quite the interesting man in all aspects, especially as a small smirk played on his lips, thinking he was so clever in pulling a fast one over her and her family.

The man was neither verbally agreeing or disagreeing that he had businesses that shouldn't be. This was a red flag in Allison's eyes. His body language was relaxed but also very guarded. Everything about William in these moments seemed fake and almost robotic, as if he had gone through this routine with other many, many times before. The talk of business had turned into pleasantries and before she knew it, the Russell leader was leaving the table to let the Morgan's discuss their business. Allison looked to her brother as he spoke with her, wondering what both herself and Harvey thought of this little game that had just been played.

Allison smirked slightly before taking a sip of her drink, letting the warmth of her alcohol pool in her chest, she thought about how she should approach this. They had beat around the bush with William...and that clearly got them no where. So she was going to be blunt about it. "He's lying to your face." Allison murmured to her brother. Though she was sure that he knew this already. "He has a lot more going on than he's going to let on...and unfortunately I don't think he's smart enough to know what's good for his family." Will knew that he was playing with fire, but it seemed that he didn't care whether or not he was burned.

​

[/center]

 

[Misty Gray]

William Russell
​

Will nodded along as Oliver explained he would speak with Dottie later. He wasn't sure to what extent business outweighed family for the Morgans, so he'd be damned if he didn't draw attention to something they may neglect to notice. Hell, he'd even step in himself if he felt the kid needed defending. He'd experienced first hand what it was like to come second to business, as his father always put making money and gaining power before the safety of his kids.

"It's been a pleasure, as always," Will drily told Oliver as their meeting came to an end. "I look forward to the visit tomorrow. Let's hope your associate knows where to find me," he added. He was sure the Morgans would be informed enough to figure out which of his businesses he'd be at during the time they chose to call around. "Enjoy the rest of your night," he told Oliver, Allison and Harvey as he stood up and left the booth after Alek.

As they walked away, Will kept close to Alek so he could address him. "Don't mention a word to anyone about the gambling. If they want to know more, they ask me directly," he firmly told his brother. "Tonight's games will go ahead as planned, but I'll give them a call to make sure they do a thorough clean-up afterwards." Will patted his brother on the shoulder. "You enjoy the rest of your night. I still have some business to sort out."

Will headed off in the direction of Francis' office, figuring that's where she'd gone after the main events were done with. When he reached the door, he knocked loudly and waited for her to answer. When she did, he displayed a wide smile for her. "I won't keep you long, Francis. I just need a quick word," he said, stepped inside and closing the door behind him. "First of all, congratulations on tonight. I must confess, I didn't take the time out to bid on anything tonight. Instead, I will give you my donations directly," he told her. He removed an envelope of cash from inside his suit jacket and handed it to her. He then cleared his throat as he took on a more serious expression. "About our business arrangement, Francis... Is there a chance the Morgans have caught wind of it?" he asked her. He was certain the whole meeting had been about the gambling, but he still needed to make sure they hadn't heard about the drugs.

Interactions: ReverseTex (Oliver) nymphadora. (Alek) Melanin-Gxdess (Francis)​

Harvey Woodward
​

Harvey gave Will a simple nod as the man left the table. For now, he needed to maintain his civil relationship with the man, despite edging closer to showing his darker side at any given moment. Others had experienced it in the past, but Russell had managed to avoid it for some time and Harvey generally liked the man, despite being on opposing sides.

Harvey let Allison speak before giving his own answer to Oliver's question. "Allison is correct. Will never actually denied it to us, but he's still lying through omission." He shook his head and knocked back the last of his scotch. "It goes without saying that he cares about his family. He even seemed concerned about your niece. Regardless, I think he's losing sight of that and forgetting he's putting those he cares about at risk." Harvey sat back and tapped his fingertips on the side of his glass. "Will is getting too ambitious and too cocky, not unlike a man I've heard a lot about. Now, I didn't know Norman Russell personally, but I know he was a very dangerous man and one who would push his own son in front of a bus to make a little more money." Harvey would use such a suggestion to get an emotional rise out of Will, should the time for action come. "The fact is, Will is running some underground casino and he's ignoring the repercussions of not declaring it to us. I didn't even mind the guy, but he needs to be reminded of his place in all of this before he gets any more big ideas."

Interactions: Bellz (Allison) ReverseTex (Oliver)

Imogen Isaac​

Imogen had intended to find Dottie before she'd set eyes on a couple of musicians from the theatre. Whilst she enjoyed their company, she figured she had plenty of time to catch up with them during rehearsals. Once an appropriate gap in their conversation arose, Imogen excused herself and headed towards the bar for another cocktail. She loved socialising, but the best part of it was interacting with new people and making new friends.

As she made a beeline for the bar, she bumped into Alek. She was grateful she didn't have a drink in her hand at that time as it would no doubt have been all down her dress by now. "My apologies, Sir," she said, letting out a very brief laugh as she regained her composure. When she looked to the man's face it took a moment for her to pinpoint why he was familiar. He was one of the Russell brothers, of that she was sure. That knowledge did nothing to discourage her from deciding to continue to speak with him. "You're one of William's brothers, am I right?" she curiously asked. Even after just colliding with the man, she still managed to carry an elegance to her posture and tone.

Interactions: nymphadora. (Alek)

 

[ReverseTex]

Oliver Morgan

Interactions/Mentions:
Misty Gray
Bellz

Oliver’s icy blue eyes were locked on his sisters identical pair as she spoke, nodding along at the correct points. Though her answers were quite simplistic, they were truthful, and he knew Harvey would elaborate further.

And so he did. Elaborating Allison’s points, he listened carefully to his observations about William, although missing a few points. But the mention of Norman Russell intrigued him, seeing that man as quite a minuscule threat.

Simpering as he adjusted his glasses, he cleared his throat. “Neither of you are wrong. I knew he was lying, and I wanted him to. Why? Because if we know he’s lying, then it’s quite simple to twist a lie. And coming from a good liar, all good lies hug close to the truth... He’ll slip up, act foolishly, and we’ll have him in the bag. And just like you said, he cares about his family, which is a easy target to use against him.” Taking a sip of his scotch, he continued.

“Now i’m disappointed neither of you picked up on this!” Oliver said with a amused laugh, wavering close to condescending. “But his mention of Dottie is a easy truth we can use to our advantage at any given point! Will meant well by it, but that doesn’t mean we might need the information later eh? But no. William made the mistake of observing Dexter Morgan’s youngest daughter... Because that alone we can bend. Possibly he was attracted to her? Maybe he was watching her for a possible kidnapping? We’ve already established the man lying tonight, he could’ve been lying about that!”

Oliver’s creative juices were flowing, truly enjoying analyzing the conversation with his peers. But that was the main reason he controlled his brother’s empire. He was able to control and contort words like a snake charmer and it’s viper...

 

[sprouhtt]

Dorothy Morgan​

Dottie couldn't help but notice the old man was still watching her and that just freaked her out a little. She saw her father and uncle at the bar with the the Russell boss. Obviously, the logical thing to do would be to tell them, but she was a teenage girl and she wasn't about to go running to her dad about it, especially if it jeopardised her presence at the club. She didn't want to be made to go home if they thought she couldn't look after herself. She might have gone to her mother, but she couldn't see her from where she was.

Dottie noticed a woman alone at the bar. She found her vaguely familiar and it took a while for her to place the woman's face, but she soon recognised the woman as Darius Romano's mother who she'd seen at various school events in the past. The teenager quickened her pace and slotted herself into a space at the bar, next to Alena. "Hey! You're Darius' mum, right?" she asked, smiling brightly at the woman. Darius was cute and she hoped he was out tonight too. "I'm Dottie. I go to the same school as him. Is he here tonight?" she curiously asked. In the back of her mind, she hoped the creepy man would leave her be now she wasn't walking around the club alone. "Your dress looks amazing, by the way!" she genuinely complimented the woman.

Interaction: sprouhtt
Mentions: ReverseTex (Oliver) Enzyme (Dexter/Darius) neverbackdown (Mallory)

Location: The Alley Cat
Interactions: Misty Gray
Mentioned: Enzyme (Darius)

Alena heard footsteps coming towards her and before she could turn her head in that direction, she was caught by surprise when a girl came up to her and began talking to her. She looked awfully young to be left all alone in a club with men who probably have nothing but lust wandering around in their brains. Alena could have sworn she had seen this girl from somewhere, but she couldn't put her finger on where. "Well...hello to you too darling." Alena finally answered the girl. She seemed to be a charming young lady and quite beautiful as well. When she listened to the young lady talks about her and Darius going to the same school, she couldn't help but smile. Alena never really got to meet some of Darius's friends and this was nice that this girl took the time to introduce herself. But she seemed that she wanted to know where Darius was. Maybe she had a small crush on him? Who knows? "I wish he was here tonight, but it seems as if he was occupied so I let him be," Alena said to Dottie. "Also, my name is Alena Romano. You can call me Alena," she told her as she flashed a genuine smile. "Thank you very much," Alena added.

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

There were quite a few stacks of money to go through. Some people had been trying to boast at how much money they had by paying in cash. Others were a bit modest, paying in checks. Either way, taking note of all the donations and who they were coming from was a lot of work. She was deep in concentration when she heard a knock at the door. Half a mind wasn't even paid to the person entering, it being William. "Yes, yes come in." She told him, her mind still on the task in front of her. His voice, now being closer to her, cause her to finally look up. With a smile on her face, she replied. "Why, thank you love. I hoped that it would pay off, considering I shut myself in for four months." With a nod, she took the envelope of cash he handed to her and looked through it, giving a satisfied nod. She quickly scribbled down some things in her book and closed it, shoving it away. "What do we need to discuss?" She asked as she stood up, cash safely locked inside of a box. Francis would then stand up and tell Will to turn away and when he did, she would hide it all behind her bookcase. It wasn't that she didn't trust Will, but just thought it better if he didn't know for his own sake.

When the conversation took a serious turn, she whipped her head around and stared at him. Her eyebrows were furrowed as she crossed her arms. "No, why would you ask that Russell? Everyone knows what'll happen if they ever told anyone else and all the regulars are vetted. The Morgan's aren't... suspicious are they? Because then they'd start to think I was choosing sides, which I'm not, by the way, and all hell would break lose." At this point, she was kind of freaking out. It wasn't because she was scared of the Morgan's but more she was afraid of what they could and would do to her business.

"Ack. You're no fun, whatsoever. Where's the fun brother? He knows how to have fun." He told him. Perhaps he should slow down on the drinks, not even seeing the cup in his brother's hand. When his love life was mentioned, he quickly put up his hands defensively. "Hey now, I'm living my life first with no attachments. I've got plenty of time to be tied down to one woman. I'm 20.... something." He said, momentarily forgetting his own age. Besides, I'm too wild right now to be dating anyone." He said honestly. stated. In reality, he sort of had it all planned out. By the time he's thirty, he'll have been married and have at least one kid. Of course, he'd never admit this to anyone. No one needed to know of his future plans, considering they'd probably try to force him to start sooner, they being his mother. "You'll get your precious nieces and nephews from Jack and Will soon I bet?" Timothy then shook his head as his brother laughed at his statement on PDA. "Even still, public displays of affection creep me out. Even if I did find a nice girl, I just couldn't.

As he spoke to his brother and future sister in law, his eyes watched his brothers and the Morgans. What business did they have to discuss at this moment? It kind of sent him on edge as he watched the entire interaction. He was very curious to know what had just transpired but knew that if it were important, they'd share. It wasn't until he disappeared around back that he truly began to get even more interested in what was going on and decided that he would ask about it.

"Yes well," she started as she began to switch her alcohol with tea, "Will is going to be very jealous of your secret admirer." She would keep up her poker face and just wouldn't tell her she bought it. At their wedding, the girl would need something, new, old, borrowed and blue and Clementine had just taken care of all of them. She was striving to be the best mother in law ever, even if she still didn't trust the girl completely. Her mouth opened to say something until she, too, caught sight of her sons joining the Russell's at a table off in the corner. Nothing ever good arose from the Morgan and Russell's being so close together, the fundraiser already being close enough. She took a deep sigh. "I do tire of the Morgan's sometimes... They couldn't wait until after the fundraiser to speak of business? No matter how important there's always a place and a time." She paused and glanced at Jacqueline. "If there's anything I ever say you pay attention to, it's that. There is always a time and a place for everything. No matter what." She then stifled a yawn and changed the topic, as she often did when discussing things she knew she probably shouldn't be in public. "I think I may retire soon."
​

Jacqueline ( NanLia ) William ( Misty Gray ) Abraham ( Lazy Taco )

 

[Misty Gray]

William Russell
​

"Four months? You've certainly earned yourself a break after tonight, Francis. Let people cater for you for a little while now," he pleasantly suggested. He knew how it felt to have most waking hours spent focusing on business. It hard occurred to him that the next time he'd made plans to take a break from work was his wedding day in a couple of months. It did dawn on him that it wasn't good enough, not if he wasn't paying enough attention to Jacky in the meantime. He simply wasn't sure if he could delay business right now.

Will obliged and turned away when Francis asked him to. He didn't care to know where she hid her money as he didn't take from people he considered friends and he certainly wouldn't take from money belonging to charity. He'd always tried to make sure his activities had as little impact on the innocent and poorer folk of London. It was the big businesses, politicians and criminal organisations he had no issue with crossing. That was why the focus of their next subject secretly tore him apart. He knew drugs could affect the innocent.

Will caught Francis' sudden reaction to his question and felt a little bad for instilling any sort of worry. "No, relax, it's okay," he calmly told her, keeping his face as neutral as he could. "I think if they were suspicious you'd know about it by now too. Your reaction alone reassures me it's not about the drugs," he commented, rubbing his chin between his thumb and index finger. "I've never expected you to take sides, Francis. Any business you do with the Morgans is completely your choice and I've never expressed distaste for that, have I?" He placed his hands in his trousers pockets and shook his head. "No, I don't believe you need to worry. I just had a little meeting with them and they were trying to get me to spill on some details they feel they need to know about. Don't worry, I won't fill you in on the details as it doesn't need to concern you." He managed a reassuring smile. "I'm sorry for needlessly worrying you, Francis. I just had to be sure."

Interaction: Melanin-Gxdess (Francis)


​

Dorothy Morgan​

Dottie smiled as Alena spoke to her. She wasn't sure what Darius' dad looked like, but she could already tell her schoolmate's good looks must have been hereditary. His mother was so pretty. "Hi, Alena. I'm actually called Dorothy Morgan, but my family only ever call me Dorothy when I'm in trouble. I mean... not that I'm in trouble very often, of course," she said, with a playful wink and a sudden blush evident on her rosy cheeks. She immediately mentally berated herself for getting flustered and talking to Darius' mother like that. It probably wasn't a good idea to tell the mother of the guy she crushed on that she wasn't always sensible. "Aww, man. It's a real shame he couldn't be here tonight. No offence, because you look so young anyway, but it's full of older people in here. I was kind of hoping to see more people my age tonight.


Interaction: sprouhtt (Alena)

​

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

"Oh trust me I will. I plan on going to a boxing match soon; should be very exciting." She replied, the excitement clear in her voice. Whose she wouldn't tell him, still keeping her relationship with Stephen a bit of a secret. "I think I will have people cater to me, now that I think about it. I'm always taking care of everyone else..." She was lost in thought, thinking of ways she could have people wait on her. It would be difficult, perhaps, since she could be a very complex woman at times. Though, she would have plenty of time to think it over in the next few months to come. It was all relaxing times from this moment on.

When Will reassured her that she had nothing to worry about, she hit him on the arm with her lips poked in. "William Russel, you almost gave me a bloody heart attack. My nerves are on edge as is tonight and you speaking of Morgan's knowing our business is not a good thing." She took a deep breath and put her hand over her heart, as if trying to calm it down. Francis then nodded her head side to side at his question. There was never a time that he questioned her business with the Morgan's and she was grateful for it. "You're right, you've just got me paranoid now is all." To help calm her nerves even more, she went behind her desk and pulled out a bottle of Brandy and too cups before pouring the alcohol in one. She'd offer William a glass and then down her own. She'd respect his decision not to fill her in, figuring if it were really important he'd fill her in. "It's fine," she said waving her hand, "I think I'll be okay." Though it would probably be far from the truth. ​

William ( Misty Gray )

 

[Misty Gray]

William Russell
​

A crooked smile crossed Will's lips as Francis mentioned a boxing match. "It's been a good while since I boxed professionally, but if you need any betting tips, I'm still well informed on the circuit these days," he told her. Whilst he still used boxing as one of his training techniques, he's put the competitive side of it the rest quite some years ago. His training was more for defence and intimidation, as much as he would have once preferred otherwise. "I'm sure you'll have a great time." He let out a chuckle as she mentioned having people cater for her. "Wow, I don't envy them. I expect you're quite difficult to please, Miss Boulavard!"

"Honestly, Francis. I'm sorry for worrying you. This is my problem and it doesn't need to involve you," he reassured her. He watched her walk around her desk and pour a couple of brandys. He gratefully accepted one of the glasses. "Thank you," he said, before knocking back the full contents. "You will be okay. Please, stop fretting. I'm certain this is nothing to do with our agreement. They're just throwing their weight around on my turf, so it's something I'll need to deal with." He placed the empty glass down on the desk. "Now, you go out there and relax. I believe your work is done, so you should go enjoy what's left of the evening. Meanwhile, I do believe I might have abandoned my fiancee and mother. The Morgans have nothing on the wrath those two might inflict on me if I keep away for too long. Or worse, they might start plotting against me whilst I'm not there," he joked, pretending to shudder.

After leaving Francis in her office, Will went straight to the bar and ordered himself a stronger drink than the beers he'd been having. He then approached the table where Jacky and Clementine were. "My mother and fiancee alone together. Should I be worried?" he remarked. He placed a kiss on his mother's cheek and then took a seat beside Jacky, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and kissing her lips. "Whatever my mum told you, it's not true. I was just a boy," he teased. "I'm sorry for my absences tonight, but I'm all yours now. Did I miss anything?" he asked them both. He was curious as to what Evelyn and Timmy were up to, but quite frankly he just needed some time to relax without them getting annoyed with him for showing his concern.

Interactions: Francis, Clementine ( Melanin-Gxdess ) Jacky ( NanLia )​

 

[NanLia]

​

Maggie smiled at Desmond and shook her head. "You seemed to be mistaking me with someone else. I'm not nearly that interesting or popular." She gave the man a playful wink, turning briefly to attend to another guest's order before returning. "I think, after this, I'm going to get a coffee and relax, then head home for the night. Nothing extravagant, nothing special." Maggie made an effort not to be seen drinking within the Alley Cat for several reasons but the main being she didn't like the idea of mixing work and pleasure. On her time off she would certainly visit a bar near her house: not nearly as well done or managed as Francis' place, but it did well for when she needed a drink after work, or just wanted a quick cheap bite to eat. Her world was rather simple and she liked it that way. She knew that Francis was likely up to other work and she was left out of it and Maggie really didn't mind. "What about you?" She watched Des carefully after a moment. "This your night off or are you here protecting your boss?"
Safton

​

Jacky smirked at Clementine, sipping at her glass of wine. "Will knows well enough he doesn't have to worry about anyone else." She knew Clem certainly didn't trust her fully but it didn't honestly bother Jacky. They had settled their differences long ago: She wasn't going anywhere no matter what Clem did or said. Meeting will had been a turning point for Jacky: he'd been a source of light in a world of darkness. She had no doubts about his work - while the man certainly didn't give her details, she knew what he was about long before they started dating. She never tread into his affairs but knew that day would soon come to pass, she would have to be involved. "Besides, those fans will be someone else's soon enough. I'm done with the stage."

She smiled at Will came back to the table to sit with them. "Speak of the devil." she murmured contently against his lips. "Nothing too serious, just planning out the rest of your life. Don't worry love, you'll enjoy it." She winked playfully at the man, patting his cheek.
Misty Gray
Melanin-Gxdess

 

[Safton]

Desmond Forbes

​

Desmond smiled at Margaret's self-deprecating dismissal of his suggestions -- ones that he disagreed with on both accounts. The "interesting" point was purely subjective and he was biased he'd readily admit, but he often had a feeling that Mags didn't realize just how popular she had become. Her dedication at the helm of the Alley Cat's bar hadn't gone unnoticed and allowed her to mix with all sorts of prominent characters in London's East Side. This was in spite of -- or perhaps even because of -- her steadfast commitment to remain neutral and clean in the face of the Russell or Morgan gang's less than savory enterprises.

In a sea of faces where loyalties always had to be ensured and trust was a dangerous commodity, Margaret was a friendly face. Her stellar performance tonight with the new responsibilities Francis had laid at her feet would no doubt only elevate her status in that regard. Still, her humility was endearing as far as Des was concerned. As Mags inquired about the nature of his visit tonight, he frowned, pausing slightly as he took a sip from the drink she had provided. Margaret was often careful to avoid questions pertaining to the nature of his work -- something he appreciated for both their sakes. He wasn't sure their friendship would survive a candid discussion on that topic.

All the same, he owed her an honest answer. "I'm on my own time, as it were," Desmond said with a shrug, speaking in a hushed tone. "With Francis's 'no-gun' rule, everyone's less worried about anything unpleasant happening. No one wants to break faith with your boss -- it would do more harm than good." Feeling the need to change the subject, he allowed his smile to return. "About your being neither interesting nor popular: I beg to differ, Miss Hughes. You've made quite the name for yourself tonight, whether you realize it or not."

Interactions:
Margaret ( NanLia )​

​

 

[Melanin-Gxdess]

Francis took everything Will said to heart. She did need to calm down and stop worrying so much. She knew that if anything were to happen that would effect her in any sort of way, she'd know about it. It was all because of the fundraiser and making sure things as smoothly as possible that she was so nervous in the first place. She saw Will out of her office and decided to linger a bit inside before taking his advice. Perhaps she should go out and mingle a bit more; it'd be good to start going easy now that the fundraiser was a success. The donations she had received proved to her that it was.

After leaving her office and locking things up, she would return to the bar and give Margaret another soft pat on her shoulder. "We're probably gonna wrap it up soon. Another half hour or so perhaps? I'm exhausted and I know you probably are too, love." She told her. Francis was truly impressed with how well Margaret had handled everything tonight. There was now no doubt in her mind that she made the right decision in making her her business partner; in the club department that is. She wouldn't outright tell her any of the other business ventures she was invested in, for her own safety of course. She wouldn't be able to tell the cops anything about her business if she didn't know about them right? That and it'd keep her out of jail if she were ever caught.

She took a glance and everyone who had gathered themselves around the bar. It was quite a few people and they were, once again, giving her congratulations and thanks for a great night. She could only try and be humble and thankful, but it was all getting to be quite annoying.

Clementine was about to say something more when Will presented himself. She gave a sort of snort when he started telling on himself. "You must have a guilty conscious, we weren't even discussing you." She took a bite of a cookie. "But now that you've put the thought in my mind," She turned to Jacqueline and patted her hand softly. "Remind me to show you the album. All the boys have their own and it's hilarious." She was probably a little tipsy at this point. Eating and telling embarrassing stories of her sons were signs of it. She slowly stood up, nearly falling over and stretched her arms upwards. "I'm afraid I'm terribly tired. What about the two of you?" She asked, completely ignoring the fact that she really almost fell. It was becoming a normal thing for her to just ignore things like that. "Oh! Darling, did you see the dress your wife got? Or is that a surprise?"
​

Mentions- Margaret ( NanLia ) William ( Misty Gray ) Jacqueline ( NanLia )