Realistic or Modern &nbsp; The Harbingers | Main Thread [Madi x Ama]

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Clicks of a shutter were the only sounds that were cutting through the otherwise peaceful atmosphere of the panoramic view of the whole place as its whole composition was being captured in the memory of River’s Nikkon. She valued that thing more than she valued some people and it definitely belonged to her top three possessions along with her bike and the small flat she managed to keep after leaving her parents’ palace. This place, a hill over the town, was her go-to when she wanted to be alone, think, cry, clear her head or, just like now, take a few breath-taking pictures of nature at the beginning of the summer with fresh green leaves enveloping crowns of the trees, fluffy clouds soaring in the sky and the meadow covered in colorful tiny wildflowers.

Going through her shots, a small smile was gracing RIver’s lips. Red locks, tied into a high ponytail, fluttered in a soft breeze, a few of them brushing her cheek every now and then. There were a few really good pictures, she was getting so much better at this. A self-taught photographer brought the camera up to her face again as a flock of butterflies appeared, dancing around some tall wildflowers River didn’t know the names of and she tried to capture the perfect shot when her back pocket buzzed. In all her focus, she didn’t expect it and it scared her that she almost dropped the camera. “Son of a—” she cursed, biting the rest of it, swallowing hard, as she fished out her phone, wondering who was bugging her now.

The device kept vibrating in her hand and not even a bitter evil eye from River made the name of her mother disappear from the screen. Swiping her thumb to the right, she picked up, barking a sharp ‘what do you want’ at the woman. The longer she talked, the more annoyed and exasperated River grew, the frown between her perfectly plucked brows deepened and her lips twisted in a scary grimace. “I've told you many times, I'm not coming. I moved out, I have my own flat now. No. No, I won't be your messenger, call him yourself.” she cut the woman after a while, not wanting to listen to the dry rant any longer. As usual, her mother was trying to convince her daughter to move back home and try to fix her life. Not that River thought it needed fixing. Just her mother was convinced that the gang life was not suitable for her daughter, especially after the good woman had lost her first-born son to it as well.

The thing was, she and her parents, they were not exactly on speaking terms. Like ever. The Morranos were people who started out as that perfect white picket fence family. A real dream which ended way too soon when daddy couldn't keep it in his pants around a young assistant at the university where he taught. River's world came down crumbling and with every passing day, it was becoming more and more unbearable to stay at the family home where everything reminded her of a father who had betrayed them and a brother who couldn't bear it anymore so he left. And her mother just wailed or drank or both at the same time, unable to pull herself out of her own misery. River was sick and tired of it and after a few rounds of shenanigans, she followed in her brother's footsteps.

After saying all River wanted to say to her mother, she just hung up on her, tucking her phone back to her pocket. Her hazel gaze found the spot where the butterflies had been but the moment was gone. And so were the butterflies. With a soft sigh, she turned on her heel, walking back to her bike and she tucked the camera into the pouch, zipping it into one of her saddle bags, fastened on her Yamaha. Just in time to come home, get a nice hot shower, change into fresh clothes and get her ass to the bar where she would finally get the drink she craved and turn off for the evening. Swinging one leg through the air, River got on her bike, the engine revved and she sped down the hill, back to her tiny place. The anger bubbling in her veins, one ignited by the phone call which was supposed to do nothing but rile her up, served like the best fuel in River whipping the best out of her steel steed.

“Honey, I’m home!” she exclaimed once the door of her empty apartment opened. A smirk graced her features as she knew there was no one to answer and had not been in a long time. The real question here was, would there ever be someone to create home with her or was she sentenced to living her life in eternal solitude, scarred with one night stands and TV dinner? Oh, Riri, come on, not the time to be sour…

It was a record half an hour later that the little miss walked in the clubhouse. It was already pretty full. Members of the Harbingers were lounging around, enjoying drinks and company. The place was loud with music playing in the background and thick smoke raising towards the ceiling as almost everyone was squeezing a cigarette between their lips. It was just another casual night at the clubhouse and the only difference for River was that tonight she was not working the bar. Finally a night off, she didn't have one of those in forever. Sporting an affectionate smirk, she strutted towards the bar, red locks cascading around her face this time, and grabbed one of the high chairs to take a seat. "Bourbon over ice. And make it double." she winked at the handsome bartender who seemed to be new here and crossed her legs. It was exactly this place, these people who made River feel like she was at home.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 1, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

whatshername's place > bar

wondering

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A heap of sheets shifted on the bed, covering whatever or whoever was under until a whiny voice sounded and a pale arm moved the comforter slightly aside. “But…but you promised…” the brunette pouted, lifting her slender form up, pressing the white blanket on her front. “No, kitten, I told you I gotta go, can’t stay.” Another voice joined in and another figure resurfaced from the soft pile, skin visibly darker, shaggy bed hair, three-day old stubble covering his face and a smirk curling his lips making his whole expression more than a mischievous one. “I already stayed with you for much longer than I was supposed to, candy stripper.” he winked at the girl, not able to remember her name for the world so he just nicknamed her teasingly. It apparently worked because she started to giggle like a school girl which Kyler used to press one more passionate kiss on her lips and swung his feet to the right, rolling out of the bed.

Another whiny sound left the girl’s mouth and it was one too many than Kyler could handle. Yep, she was definitely the one-night-stand material. Or in this case, one-afternoon-stand. He had somewhere else to be and while it was nothing more than a casual night with his family, it was way more important to him than listening to cries and empty bullshit which meant nothing. He would much rather spend the night with his boys and girls, drinking their time away.

His naked form was stumbling around the room, looking for the individual items of his clothing. He had his shit, his pants, even the leather jacket was neatly hanging from a chair but where the fuck did he throw the boxer shorts? Had he been more attentive to the surroundings, he would have noticed the cunning, playful grin on the girl’s face. But since she stopped being interesting the second she became clingy, he just shrugged it off, not seeing it as a problem and just pulled the pants on his bare ass, making the girl gasp in surprise. That was really not something she expected.

“Have a great night, honey bear.” Kyle sent her a wink and slipped his jacket on. Only too late did she realize he was truly serious about leaving and by the time she jumped out of the bed, Kyle vanished outside of her small flat, running down the stairs, taking them by two. “Fucking hell…” he mumbled and already regretted his decision to go on this kind of adventure. He should have gone to the pits, no one was clingy there. Then again, if he got his face fucked up for the third week in a row, he was not sure Stevie would let him forget that.

The faithful stallion called Honda was loyally waiting for him in front of the seedy apartment building and Kyler never wasted a second, hopped on it, not even bothering with a helmet, and sped away, never to see the girl or this building again. There was no reason anyway. He came, he saw, he fucked. Cute little brunette…Sharon or Janet, something extremely mundane like that. She was good though. Very skilled with her lips…and body, too. A smile, or rather an impish grin twisted Kyle’s features as he remembered that tiny form on him or under him…yeah, okay, he should stop. Coming to hang out with his friends with a boner was not exactly what he should be doing.

Checking the time once he parked his bike in front of the bar, he was not exactly late so that was good, right? And even if he was, they would all understood, especially if he blessed them with detailed stories from under the sheets. Kyler was never really bothered by shame or embarrassment. He was his own person, lived his life the way he wanted and was more than aware that in his line of work, one minute could change everything. Turf wars and power struggles were their everyday matter to deal with and as the Harbinger leader's right-hand man, Kyle had to count on any development. One moment, he was here and the next one, who knew? His parents were nothing but proof of that.

Walking towards the door, his boots were leaving echoes of dull thuds. The place was getting a bit louder as quite a crowd was already inside. Kyler shook hands, patted backs, hollered a few greetings but ultimately, he wanted to get a drink. As if he uttered a wish to the genie, a beer bottle found its way to his hand and a grin of his friend Mason entered his sight. We thought you were not coming, dude. I do hope she was worth it." he laughed and Kyle joined him, taking a long gulp from the beer right after. "You bet your ass she was. I'll be right with you, okay?" he clasped Mason's back and beelined towards the bar to get something stronger to chase with his beer.

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 4, 2022

the mother hen

location

infirmary -> bar.

outfit

x, x.

mentions

none.

interactions

River (

stephania torrero.

The music was pumping, the bass beating against the walls of Stevie's infirmary office. The rather large room was directly placed over the main clubhouse floor. That evening, the normal bar sounds of chatter and playful banter made their way through the walls and added to the ambiance. The walls of the infirmary were painted a light cream color, while furniture was made from dark metal contrasted against white hospital linens. An emerald office chair along with some smaller items on her desk was the only real pops of color in the room. Her desk was placed in a corner, angled to face the door. It was rather dark, the room only illuminated by a desk lamp she had turned on to read through a few files. Therefore, the dark-haired woman who sat in that desk chair was mostly hidden in the shadows.

Stephania Torrero loosely held a highball glass in one hand, an amber liquid she knew all too well filling it up halfway. There was an apricot pink stain delicately placed on the rim, perfectly matching the color of her lips. She was reading through a file folder labeled 'Clark Matthews,' received as a favor from an old nursing school classmate who now worked in the medical examiner's office. She read through it now and again, looking for small details that might point to her. But nothing was ever clear. Just in case, she kept the file under lock and key, tucked away in her desk. It was hard to believe that it had already been several years since his death. And yet, the trauma and worry that he would someday show back up in her life still haunted her. Somewhere, in her mind, the only way she could convince herself that Clark was truly gone was by seeing the crude stab wounds and slash marks drawn on the generic male sketch in the autopsy report.

So, with that thought, Stevie closed the file, locked it away in her desk drawer, threw back the rest of the glass of whiskey, and stood. She crossed the room to carefully remove the Frank Sinatra record from its player, tucking it away in its sleeve. She assessed herself in the infirmary's full-length mirror once more, determining that her outfit of a black leather mini skirt, a white tank over a black bralette, and black combat boots was good enough for the night's events, and slipped out the door to the clubhouse below. A small smile graced her lips as she could more clearly hear those in the bar, peaking through the glass door and teasingly wondering how many of her fellow Harbingers would end up in her infirmary tomorrow. Little did she know. Some were already playfully arguing, even sparring in some scenarios. As long as things didn't get too drunk and childish, the worst tomorrow would be a minor set of stitches. Shaking the thought away, she pushed through the door and into the bar.

A cluster of Harbingers filled the space, some dancing to the music, others chatting by the bar, and a few out on the patio. Stevie's chocolate brown gaze assessed the area, reading facial expressions and looking for anyone that might need her. She had been with the gang for a while and, given her nursing background, had taken on a mom/caretaker role for its members. She made sure she knew every single member, wanting to help them in any way they may need or want. If push came to shove and worst came to worst, Stevie would gladly put her life on the line for any Harbinger. She wasn't quite sure she could say the same about the "friends of the family," not yet anyway. But one day she hoped that she could. Satisfied that everyone appeared to be okay, Stevie decided that her two pours of whiskey earlier weren't quite enough for the evening. And so, she moved towards the bar, pulling up right alongside River as she ordered. "Make that two," Stephania said to the bartender, raising two fingers with a smirk as she took the seat next to the redhead. "How have you been, River?"

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 4, 2022

the mechanic

location

apartment -> bar.

outfit

x.

mentions

none.

interactions

Stevie, River (

griffin hendrix.

The soft sounds of TV news chattered in the background of the relatively dim apartment, casting light onto the light heather gray walls in a flickering pattern. Generic department store art barely decorated studio space, somehow giving it personality while not alluding to that of the actual occupant. The furniture was made from dark wood and, to the discerning eye, mismatched. A queen-sized bed was centered in the far corner, covered in sapphire and black bed linens. A black leather sofa facing a flatscreen sat opposite the bed, accenting the fairly open floor plan. Though the scrapes and tears on the furniture alluded to the secondhand nature in which they were acquired, the space look relatively unlived in, as though for show or someone had just moved in. But in reality, the lease had just been renewed for another year.

The sounds of pressurized water streaming onto the ceramic bathtub floor were white noise, filtered underneath the bathroom door along with the water vapor. It wasn't long before the shower was cut off, and a brunette man stepped into the main living space with a beige bath towel wrapped loosely around his waist. Griffin Hendrix ran a hand through his damp hair, blue eyes immediately glancing around the room in search of any intruders that may have infiltrated his home. Like usual, he found none. But given his occupation and gang affiliation, one couldn't be too careful. He briefly glanced at the TV, rolling his eyes at another annoying story painting gangs in a bad light, with a brief mention of the Harbingers themselves. In a town that was pretty much underground-run by gangs, they certainly loved to talk bad about the people with guns and relatively low morals. One day, that would certainly come back to bite them in the ass. But today wasn't that day.

Had he been asked a few years ago if he would ever be part of a gang, Grif would have easily responded with a 'Hell no.' He had seen the horror that wrecked the downtrodden parts of New York City, and he had pulled himself out of that wreckage to get where he was. Though his new town wasn't much better, it certainly had better weather. That combined with the fact that it was practically as far away as possible while staying in the same country as his hometown made it an attractive place to move. It wasn't until Griffin met the Harbingers that he truly understood the family and brotherhood that made up a gang. They were groups of people that always had each other's backs, regardless of the blood that they shared. That was what he had been searching for his whole life.

As a now patched member and lead mechanic for the gang, Griffin was loyal to the Harbingers. He would follow the orders he was given, regardless of what crimes were committed. And it provided him with enough money to send home and help out his mother. She still hadn't gotten over the divorce, and he had been acting as a go-between for his stepfather and mother for a while. But, he loved them both and wasn't about to turn his back on either of them. Any stress and anger from that situation could be taken out at the gun range anyway. Pulling himself from his thoughts and realizing he did not want to be late for that night's gathering at the bar, Griffin quickly dressed in jeans and a white tee. He slipped on his signature leather jacket before leaving, locking the door behind him. The drive to the Harbingers compound didn't take long. Griffin pulled his 1967 Chevy Impala into the gated area, parking in line with the other motorcycles and muscle cars. The place was more packed than usual, and he could already feel the bass of the music inside vibrating his sternum. People milled about outside, most of which he recognized but some that he didn't. Grif cut the engine and headed inside, nodding to some familiar faces.

Though he had just gotten over the title of "new kid," for the most part, he had gained the respect of the guys with his in-depth knowledge of cars and motorcycles as well as his near-perfect aim. After all, he was sure it was rather nice to not have to pay the mechanic shop anymore. Grif took up a spot at the bar, raising a hand to order a beer. So far, everything seemed to be going smoothly. He could only hope it would stay that way. With a bottle set in front of him, Griffin raised it to take a sip, spotting a familiar flash of red and brunette hair. With a signature charming grin, he moved to stand by where River and Stevie sat. "Ladies, you look absolutely stunning this evening. The belles of the ball. You're going to need a bodyguard to keep all these rabid men at bay. May I offer my services?"

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 5, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

bar

trying to relax

interactions

Stevie, Grif (

Music filled the whole clubhouse and River felt it thumping in her chest as it was slowly becoming a part of her. A small, almost invisible, smile was sitting on her lips as she perched herself up on the high bar stool, throwing one slender leg over the other. Maroon heeled ankle boots hugged her feet nicely, matching her leather jacket almost perfectly in shade. It was nights like this one that convinced her she belonged here. Her own family fell apart when daddy decided he wanted something else and left mommy to cry her heart out at home. And since the moment he moved out, the happy Morrano home was not what it used to be. First Jackson, then dad. People were slowly leaving and before River would allow anyone else to leave her, she took matters in her own hands and packed her bags, searching for her happiness elsewhere. Former cheerleader never thought she would find it among tough guys and steel horses.

The redhead just ordered her drink when a familiar voice sounded by her side. Spotting a flash of chocolate locks, River didn’t even have to see her face to know Stevie arrived. “Hi!” she exclaimed and her face beamed with genuine joy upon seeing a woman who was more like an older sister to her. Stevie was the fresh element among all the guys who made the family of Harbingers. A breath of fresh air indeed. She was tough too, no debate on that. But whenever necessary, she could also be the listening ear to, a shoulder to cry on, the best confidante to River. Two glasses filled with an amber liquid appeared in front of the girls as the bartender served them, telling them to enjoy. A cube of ice was glimmering in the glasses, making the glass cool to touch. River’s fingers wrapped around one of them and she pulled her drink closer, stirring the liquid inside.

“Good, good. Just same old shit. Mom keeps calling me all the time. True, she limited herself to one phone call a day but she still keeps trying.” she shrugged, rolling her eyes over the constant rings. “She thinks that if she calls enough times I might return home.” she added and raised her glass to her lips, sipping a small amount. The liquor burned her tongue in a delicious way and River savored it for a moment before she swallowed. That definitely hit the right spot and she took one more sip before setting the glass down. “How about you? Any new gossip from the infirmary?” she grinned. And a few short moments later, another voice joined them. However, this time, River was less than excited as Griffin showed his face. “Oh great. Just what I needed tonight.” she mumbled in her drink, taking a long gulp. “Don’t you have somewhere to be, Griffin? We’re busy right now. Can we ignore you some other time?”

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 5, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

bar

amused

interactions

River, Stevie, Grif (

Ever since he was born, Kyler didn’t know anything but the Harbingers. In terms of family, of course. His parents were the old generation, pals with the parents of many men and ladies who were now building the young generation of the gang. Kyle belonged among them and his parents basically raised him for this life. The boy still remembered the day his father took him out on his bike for the first time. Like it was yesterday. Kyle was five years old and he screamed the whole time. At first, he screamed because he was terrified. Cold air was whipping his childish face and the road was vanishing behind him as his dad sped up more. But soon, his fear turned into excitement. It was thanks to his father’s body behind him, serving as a rock Kyler could always lean on. He did so back then, felt the warmth of his old man and realized he was actually enjoying himself. When they returned, his face was red with wind and joy. He screamed again but this time with laughter and knew he wanted a bike of his own.

And the day he got it, buying a motorbike for money he earned on his part-time jobs, he was extremely proud of himself. The bike was nothing amazing, it needed a lot of work before it was a real steed but he worked on it with his father. Or rather, his father fixed it and Kyle assisted. And when they went out on a ride together for the first time, Kyler was flooded with so much delight it could not be ever described with words. He loved his parents more than the world and when they were taken from him, in such a violent way at that, he wanted to grab the earth and tear it apart. He felt like a part of him died with his parents right on that hill, as if he himself was stabbed right in the heart and that stab killed the ability to love again. Had it not been for their fearless leader, Kyle would have ended up in jail. Or sex feet under.

It took a lot of time but he managed to crawl out of the pit of his own misery. Ironically enough, to get out of the pit he had to get down to the pits. The cages where he ended up at least once a week were holding his rage capped. He went in, fought like a mad dog, and then returned home, mostly appearing in Stevie’s office to ask her for help with wounds that required stitches and all other injuries. But not tonight. Tonight, he spent his excessive energy elsewhere and a big goofy grin was plastered across his face as he grabbed a whiskey shot from the bar and tossed it back, chasing it with a few gulps from his bear. “One more.” he asked the bartender and while he waited, he noticed a small group forming a few steps away from him. Hearing Grif’s words, he grinned widely. “These two are going to eat you alive, I would not test my luck here, kid.” he joined the trio and waved at the boy at the bar to show him where to serve his shot. “They might look like belles but in fact, they’re beasts.” he added, meaning it as a compliment to the girls’ ferocious sides. “Ladies…” he raised his shot in a toast, meeting the eyes of River and then, for a little longer, staring in Stevie’s golden brown pools, before tossing it back like it was water.

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 7, 2022

the mother hen

location

bar.

outfit

x, x.

mentions

none.

interactions

River, Kyler (

_amaranth_ ), Griffin.

stephania torrero.

When Stevie had first joined the Harbingers, it was more about protection and family than rebellion and power. Sure, she had a loving family of her own, with parents who cared for her deeply and two younger brothers that looked up to her. The Harbingers, however, became an extension of that family, people she cared for as if they were blood. That relationship grew over time, especially with a select few like River, Kyler, and more recently, Griffin. But her ex, Clark, was a brutal man, eventually revealing his true colors to her after several months of dating. He wasn't afraid to hurt anyone just to get his point across, Stevie included. The rest of the Harbingers no doubt saw the bruises and marks he inflicted, some of whom even stood up for her against Clark. But he was high in the ranks, barely below the boss and the right-hand man. So, when Clark shot someone a death glare, they were immediately silenced.

When her brunette boyfriend showed up at her apartment that night, he was already drunk and angry. He and some of the guys at the clubhouse had gotten into it over something stupid. But, instead of roughhousing it out with them, he decided she was a better outlet. Now and again, she could avoid the abuse, tricking him with dinner or more alcohol or even sex. But not that night. No, almost as soon as she opened the door, his hand was around her neck, gripping so hard she could barely breathe as he pressed her back into the wall. "Can't you ever do anything right?" he growled into her face, smirking as he saw the fear in her eyes. That's what he wanted, what fueled him. He yanked her jaw in one direction, ignoring the single tear that ran down her cheek. Pulling out his blade, Clark let out a maniacally chuckle as he dragged it down her collar bone. Stevie wanted to cry out, feeling the warm sticky blood soak into her top. But she knew if she did, it would be much worse for her. A few hours later, he was gone.

The brunette nurse pulled herself from those thoughts, not wanting to remember it anymore. Instead, she put her focus on the fiery redhead alongside her, a soft smile forming on her apricot lips. River was like the little sister that Stevie never had. Sure, she had two younger brothers that were her world, whom she would do absolutely anything for. But sisters were different, and she felt a need to protect her from what she had been through. "Eventually, she'll come around and realize that you're an adult that can make your own decisions," she responded, taking a sip of her whiskey as it was sat in front of her. "Not really. It's the same old, same old down there. Giving Kyler stitches every other week, icing some bruises. You know, the usual." But before their conversation could go any further, a familiar face appeared alongside them. Griffin was many things. Flirty, hard-working, maybe a little temperamental. But he had a good heart deep down, she could see that. But River certainty couldn't.

River shot back a snarky response of her own, and Stephania couldn't help but giggle, almost choking on her bourbon. River and Griffin never seemed to be able to get along. But there was something about their snarky back-and-forth that Stevie just didn't fully believe. Before she could comment don't that though, a familiar voice spoke up from alongside her, and she was surprised that she hadn't heard him approach. Her golden brown eyes assessed Kyler, noting the ruffled brunette hair that could have been from the wind of a motorcycle ride, but probably wasn't. When Clark was still around, Kyler was one of the few people to notice when Stevie showed up with bruises and marks and even seemed concerned for her at times. She had a bit of a soft spot for him because of that, though she would never admit it to him. Pushing those thoughts away, Stevie put on a smirk and turned to face him.

"Beasts, huh? You certainly know how to flatter a lady, don't you?" she shot back with a sip from her glass. Stevie held his gaze as her smirk turned into a genuine smile, but only for a moment. Stephania turned her attention back to Griffin. He had some skeletons of his own. But he was handsome and, as far as she knew, it was clear to both of them that the shameless flirting would go nowhere. Didn't mean it wasn't fun though. "River might not, but I certainly wouldn't mind your services," she replied with a wink, throwing back the rest of her whiskey. Almost as soon as she sat the empty high ball glass on the bar, it was replaced with a full one. "Thanks, Rob," Stevie said to the bartender. Despite him being fairly new, she still knew his name. That was just how she was. If she were asked, the brunette nurse could probably glance around the room and every Harbinger. "So boys," the brunette said, crossing one leg over the other as she glanced between Griffin and Kyler. "What sort of trouble are we saving you from tonight?"

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 7, 2022

the mechanic

location

bar.

outfit

x.

mentions

none.

interactions

Stevie, River, Kyler (

griffin hendrix.

Being a seasoned member of the Harbingers, Griffin finally felt as though he fit in fairly well. For the first time in his life, he had a consistent family he trusted, people he could fall back on if he were to need it. Several of the members were like the brothers he never had, role models he looked up to and wanted to be like. They were tough, take-no-shit types who protected their own regardless of the consequences. The women were just as tough, some potentially even more so for dealing with the guys. It was dysfunctional, sure, and there were several rounds of fighting and getting fixed up. But it was home. He still had a family back in New York, and still had parents though they were separated. But this type of family put his mind at ease. He didn't have to worry about fighting or being the messenger. No, the Harbingers were where he was supposed to be.

One of Griffin's flaws was his flirtatious nature, even when he didn't notice he was doing it. He had inadvertently been quite the heartbreaker over the years, despite not wanting or trying to be. He couldn't quite help it, being surrounded by so many physically and mentally attractive women. Case and point were the two beautiful women sitting in front of him. But while he was attracted to both of them, as soon as River opened her mouth, he remembered why there was some strife between them. "Busy doing what, River? Playing hard-to-get just to boost your ego?" To be honest, he wasn't quite sure when and where it had started. But he and River had never gotten along in all the years they had known one another, which was quite a few. Was it something either of them had said or done? Who knew? It was lost to history by that point. But that didn't stop them from snapping at each other's throats each chance they got.

Thankfully, they were cut off before the argument could go any further by Kyler joining their group. Though things were not as sharp between them as they were with River, Griffin and Kyler still stood on rocky ground. One day, they were like brothers, and on another, they fought like cats and dogs. The brunette man let out a chuckle at Kyle's words. "No risk, no reward, my friend," he answered, taking another sip from his beer. The presence of Stevie and Kyler in the same place made him perk up a bit, a knowing smirk finding its way onto his face. Unlike Stevie seemed to be, Grif wasn't oblivious to the way Kyle felt about the nurse. Sure, he didn't know the full extent of that or their relationship, nor did he know about Clark and Stevie. But it was clear that Mad Dog cared about her more than most others. And it was with that knowledge that Grif was able to push the right-hand man's buttons. His minor flirty comments now and again were enough to annoy Kyler. But maybe, just maybe, he was pushing them together bit by bit.

"No, my beautiful lady," Griffin answered, glancing back to Stevie with a mischievous grin, "I think we're all getting in trouble tonight. This is a bar after all. So, how about I order us some shots, we turn up the music, and show the others how it's done? I would gladly pay money for the two of you to hop up on that bar and dance for us," he said with a grin, raising a hand to the bartender. "Hey man! A round of tequila and play something upbeat for these ladies, would ya?" In most cases, the bartender would have probably ignored such a request. But Grif was patched, and the bartender seemed intrigued enough that he rolled his eyes and obliged. The music's tempo and volume increased, not enough that they couldn't at least have a conversation over it. But creating a much livelier atmosphere. Could he get in trouble for this? Maybe. But who cared, right? "How about it, ladies? Ready to get this party started?"

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 7, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

bar

feeling provocative

interactions

Stevie, Grif (

Having Stevie by her side was making River feel extra comfortable. She was like the older sister she never had but craved very much. Jackson was fine, he was cool and all but he just…simply said, he was not a girl, he could never understand River so much. So when the redhead joined the Harbingers, not only she found a family where she felt like she belonged with all her flaws and problems, she also found Stevie, the only person in the whole world who was able to tame the fire burning bright in the young girl. Stevie was probably indeed the only person who could talk some sense into her and River always listened when the brunette was talking. It was a true rarity and even her brother was in awe, seeing the change in River when she was around the Harbingers’ nurse. But it worked, he wouldn’t have it otherwise. And River beamed that she finally found herself a sister and basically a best friend in one person.

“I wish it was sooner rather than later. She is becoming really obnoxious and honestly, only the fact that she’s my mom is stopping me from sending her to hell.” River mumbled in her drink before moving on, changing the gloomy topic of her own family drama. A playful smirk appeared on her face and she was about to ask for more Kyler gossip when they were interrupted and it took all River had to suppress loud groans crawling up her throat when Griffin joined them. Why he was so annoying to her, she couldn’t tell but that certain animosity between the two of them was growing with every interaction. Which was a pity. He was totally her type. Tall, lean, ripped, with a square jawline that could cut paper, his lopsided grin was to die for and she was more than sure those hands of his could do way more than tinker with bikes and cars all day. And yet… Yeah. What a pity.

Soft angry blush covered her cheeks, shining brighter than the blusher she had used on her pale skin before coming here. With another snarky comment already on the tip of her tongue, River was ready to engage in another verbal exchange with the mechanic but they were probably both saved by Kyler’s arrival. And with Stevie’s smooth answers to everything. A part of River wanted to be more like her nurse friend. She seemed to get along with everyone, usually de-escalated all trouble and there was no drama between her and other Harbingers. Unlike River, who already caused her fair share of the trouble.

A playful smirk appeared on her face when Griffin proposed more fun and dancing and even made it happen, together with the shots. As the small glasses of tequila landed in front of them, River was not shy and grabbed one immediately, forcing its contents down her throat. “You’re playing with things you cannot possibly handle.” she smirked at Griffin and slid down from her chair, removing the distance between them. Her fingers gently wrapped around the lapels of his leather jacket and she fixed it a little. “Help me up, would you, Ace?” she asked and with the last syllable, her eyes moved behind Grif, reaching her hand toward a Harbinger standing over there as she slid away from the handsome mechanic. With an ease, Ace grabbed her small waist and hoisted her up on top of the hard wood of the counter and River, sassy as always, shimmied out of her own jacket dropping it on Griffin a mere second before her hips started to move in the rhythm of the music. “You’re welcome to join me anytime, Stevie.” she laughed and her heeled feet skillfully maneuvered around glasses and bottles on the bar as she threw her hip here and tossed her hair there, slowly but surely turning eyes on her.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 7, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

bar

flirty

interactions

River, Stevie, Grif (

Every time Kyler found himself around a certain brunette nurse, he felt like it was impossible not to smile. It was like a Pavlov dog reflex at this point. The second his eyes caught the sight of her, his lips spread in a wide smile. And this has been going on ever since she first appeared among the Harbingers. She wasn’t like Kyle, born and raised a gang member. He knew exactly how she found her way to them and the memory of his former brother in arms always made him grind his teeth. Kyler wasn’t a good guy, he knew that and never pretended to be a hero from romantic comedies. He was an asshole, the guy who promised to call but never would, his temper was short and his explosions destructive. But never ever he tried to hide who he really was. Under all that rough and scruffy surface, there was a good heart, beating hard for his family, his friends, his loved ones.

It was not just once or twice he saw Stevie’s skin covered in dark maps of bruises. She tried to cover it up and hide but to some people, especially violent gang members who knew their fair share about injuries, that was unmissable. Kyle was one of them and knew exactly what those bruises meant. With every next time, he was growing more and more restless and ready to help the second Stevie would indicate she needed or wanted him to do so. However, that impulse never came and so Kyle babysat those tense angry feelings inside, only ever confiding in Trevor, their fearless leader. The man was their leader for a reason, his father started the Harbingers. He was the very same man Kyler’s dad basically worked for. Kyle and Trevor grew up side by side and when Trevor’s dad died, it was only logical his only son and heir would take over. It was his birthright. Kyle became his second in command and since the two had been friends since early childhood, Kyle went to him with his concerns. Several times even.

After Trevor grabbed his throat and explicitly wanted them not to mix himself into Clark and Stevie’s affairs, Kyle nodded and never mentioned it again. But it bothered him because he knew Clark, he knew exactly what kind of a man that guy was and he also knew what he was doing. And there was absolutely nothing the brunette could do to stop it. Kyle developed feelings for Stevie and he was very much aware how he could never act on them. Stevie was not available, she was with his fellow Harbinger and there was this unwritten agreement among the members that their women were off limits. Until Clark turned up dead one morning. No one knew what happened, how it happened or what he had gotten himself into. He was simply dead, found in an alley and no evidence found. And since he was a known gang member, the cops didn’t really spend too much time on investigation anyway. But after that, Kyle still didn’t think it was time to confess his feelings to the gorgeous nurse.

He was surely flirty with her, he did it all the time and wasn’t even sorry. Even now, staring at her, throwing teasing comments her way, receiving some back, he pretended it was all just good fun to him. But whoever paid attention to his eyes would realize one thing. If Kyler was a cartoon character, his eyes would be two large pulsing hearts whenever looking at the brunette girl. However, now, Griffin came up with a little distraction, daring the girls to start having more fun. River, the firecracker and provocateur she always was, immediately jumped at the opportunity to mess with the mechanic and her antics elicited chuckles from Kyle. “Careful, kid. That’s some attitude right there.” he laughed and watched the small redhead hop on the bar and start her little performance which had Kyle shaking his head. Whatever it was between her and Griffin, he refused to believe they truly hated each other so much. If you asked Kyle, he’d say it was quite the contrary.

“Want me to help you up as well?” he nudged Stevie’s side, offering his hand if she would take it. “I’ll be more than happy to watch your take on that choreography.” he winked, finishing his beer in one go. “I’ll even be your bodyguard, seems like the younglings are too absorbed in each other anyway.” he added in whispers as he leaned closer to Stevie’s ear.

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 13, 2022

the mother hen

location

bar.

outfit

x, x.

mentions

none.

interactions

River, Kyler (

_amaranth_ ), Griffin.

stephania torrero.

There seemed to be a little bit of tension in the air between her two friends, Stevie couldn't deny that. But, at the end of the day, she knew that it was all fun and games. There was more there, she could tell from the rosy tinge on River's cheeks. Every once in a while, the brunette nurse would look at her fellow Harbingers and wonder what they thought of her, said behind closed doors. As far as she knew, they were all entirely oblivious to what had happened to Clark Matthews. She had just made it seem as though Clark died in gang violence. There weren't a lot of people he was close to, only a few guys in the Harbingers. But that was enough people that some had noticed things weren't entirely that cut and dry. Nevertheless, no one spent the time to look into it further. After all, they seemed to believe the lies Stevie told, how he had left their apartment late that night and never returned. They trusted her, didn't think she had a reason to lie. So even his best friends had let it go. Stevie, however, couldn't help but be a bit terrified that one day someone else would find out her secret, the blood on her hands she so desperately wanted to leave behind in her past.

Stevie sipped on her new glass of bourbon and looked around all the faces in the clubhouse with mild interest. It was something she did naturally, constantly checking on her friends and fellow Harbingers to make sure that they didn't need her. A virtue, or maybe a vice in some aspects, Stephania Torrero would gladly throw herself in harm's way if that meant she could protect them. It was why she kept her true family, her little brothers and her parents, at arm's length. She talked to them all once a week or so but otherwise kept them in the dark about what she did. They believed she was a nurse in the city at a clinic, helping families with minor ailments. If only they knew. At the end of the day, though, the Harbingers were part of her family as well. And she was just as happy to be around them. Stevie found herself turning her attention back to River, letting out another laugh at her snarky comeback to Griffin. While the brunette was much more on the serious side of things with responsibility and wisdom as virtues, she often envied River's tenacity.

The round of shots was sat on the counter just as River was hoisted on top of it, immediately beginning to dance. "Kyler's right," Stevie added, her golden brown eyes flickering to where Griffin stood, slightly awestruck. "You have no idea what you're dealing with when it comes to that one." And it was true. The fiery redhead was unpredictable in ways Stevie could only dream of being. She smiled as she watched River dance down the bar, wishing she could be as carefree. Feeling Kyle nudge her side, she looked at him questioningly as she sipped her bourbon. "Me? Up there? I think I'm going to need a couple of shots before I attempt something like that. I haven't danced on a bar since college," the brunette answered with a laugh, watching River for a moment longer. At the beginning of her nursing night classes, Stevie had been just like any college student. She worked a long day job and spent the nights she did have off out partying with her friends. In many ways, she was a lot like River back then. But that was before she moved in with Clark and learned what type of man he really was underneath the handsome external bravado. Before she learned caution and cynicism.

But why couldn't she be that way again? Clark was gone. He was never coming back, and Stevie would rather be dead than let that happen to her again. She was stronger, smarter. She learned to defend herself. Hell, she had killed a man. She was so many things that teenage her had never imagined becoming. So maybe, she deserved to get up on that bar and let loose a bit. Hell, it had been a while since she last had. But it was probably like riding a bike, she would remember what to do as soon as she started again. River called to her and she made her decision. "You know what?" Stephania said after a moment, eyes lighting up in a way that they hadn't for a while. She grabbed one tequila shot and threw it back, immediately chasing it with another before turning back to Kyler. "I would love for you to help me up there." He leaned in a bit and whispered in her ear, and she felt a noticeable shiver run down her spine. Stevie placed her hand in his, a smirk playing on her lips. "Just don't let me fall, okay?" she answered softly, winking at the fighter. Without saying anything more, she used his support to step up onto the barstool and then the bar.

As soon as her boot-clad feet met the wood, a bit of nervousness settled into her chest. But almost immediately thereafter, the mix of bourbon and tequila in her veins squelched those feelings. She could hear the music, the base vibrating her sternum. And River had already easily made her way down the bar, eliciting some whistles and cat calls from the Harbingers across the clubhouse. Letting out a breath, Stevie found herself feeling more carefree than she had in quite a long while. She adjusted her leather mini skirt before she too moved her hips to the music, spinning and dancing her way down the bar towards River. The cheering got louder, and she found herself singing along. It was unlike her in so many ways, but maybe that meant this was growth? That she was finally beginning to move on from her past and open up again? Whatever the case, it was a step in the right direction. The brunette reached River and grabbed her hand to spin her, unable to keep from smiling. "You were right," she said just loud enough for the redhead to hear her over the music, "This is so much fun!"

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 13, 2022

the mechanic

location

bar.

outfit

x.

mentions

none.

interactions

Stevie, River, Kyler (

griffin hendrix.

Gang hierarchies were an interesting concept, so similar in dynamic and structure to the very government they generally oppose. Griffin knew that his position was closer to the top of the pack, that his advisement to Trevor was taken into consideration more than some others. That being said, he didn't always agree with the orders or decisions made. But, it was his job to follow in line and do as he was told by Trevor or, much to his annoyance in some cases, Kyler as well. After all, loyalty was everything. Growing up in New York City had certainly prepared Griffin to be loyal, to hope for the best and expect the worst. His mother had him when she was young, a fresh face in town straight from Rome. She had been used to Italian city life. But things were different in America, moreso than she could have expected. Without money or preparation, she ended up mixed up in the wrong crowds and ultimately pregnant. While she knew for sure who his father was, that man didn't agree, and he left her on the streets to care for a child all by herself. That all being said, Grif had a fairly decent childhood. Sure, he grew up running around back alleys and getting into trouble far too young. But he felt that it taught him street smarts, things he wouldn't have otherwise learned.

Nevertheless, none of that prepared him to be a gang member, not entirely anyway. Though, the Harbingers weren't a usual gang. Sure, they meddled in guns and illegal activities. But there was more to it than just that. It was a family, a brotherhood, a place of belonging for misfits. And Grif was certainly a misfit. Taking another drink from his beer, he realized it was nearly gone and decided to just empty the bottle. He sat it on the counter just as the tequila shots were delivered, allowing for the real party. "It's time for the bad decisions to begin," he said to the group with a grin, immediately throwing one of the tequila shots back. He was oblivious to the effect his snarky jabs had on River. But to others, that was a common theme in their friendship. Each was completely unaware of their true feelings as well as the feelings of the other. His smirk continued as the redhead also took a shot before climbing off her stool. For a moment, Grif thought that meant she was going to dance with him. So when River moved around him to Ace instead, there was a drop of disappointment into his gut.

But that feeling dissipated as soon as she dropped her jacket onto him. Somehow, that little bit of sass was enough to get the fire burning again, and despite how much he told himself he disliked her, it drew him in even more. Every time they fought or shot sarcastic comments at one another, it gave him another push to keep going, or to keep chasing after River, as his fellow Harbingers might put it. His stormy blue gaze followed the redhead as she moved her way down the bar, flaunting her sex appeal with every step, thrust, and movement. River was a stunner and, despite their arguments, he couldn't help but sprinkle in his flirtatious side when she was around. For a moment, he couldn't take his eyes off her. "Oh, I think I know exactly what I'm playing with," he answered Kyler and Stevie, letting out an entertained chuckle as River continued down the bar. Yeah, maybe it was playing with fire, in more ways than one. But it gave him something to do aside from working on cars or playing pool.

Griffin finally looked away just in time to see Kyler help Stevie up onto the bar. Those two were something else. For a long while, Stevie belonged to Clark. It was an archaic system, but that's how the Harbingers worked. The partners of the members were off limits to the others. But anyone with eyes could tell that every time the Harbingers' right-hand man looked at the brunette nurse, he fell for her just a little bit more. Even if she seemed to still have her walls and he slept with every girl in the city. Some days he just wanted to shout at them both, ruin whatever this fake back and forth thing they had going was. But, he couldn't deny that it was fun to mess with Kyler now and again. As cool as Stevie was, she wasn't his type. But, Grif enjoyed their flirtatious banter as a way to annoy Kyler. A more enlightened Griffin might realize how ironic that was. But of course, he wasn't. The brunette mechanic grabbed a new beer bottle that was placed on the counter for him, taking a drink from it. He nudged the right-hand man with a knowing grin, nodding to the two women on top of the bar. "So are you glad I suggested this now?"

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 15, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

bar

feeling provocative

interactions

Stevie, Grif (

MadiRaiCat ), Kyler

If River didn’t already have a middle name, it could easily be Provocation. Pushing buttons of people around her was one of her favorite hobbies, especially if those people were trying to rile her up before or after. Only a few guys here knew, though, how to truly poke her enough to make her livid and sometimes, Griffin was one of them. Okay, maybe more often than sometimes. In comparison to him, River was not as high on the gang ladder as the mechanic, she was merely a sister of one of the patches. However, that didn’t make her any less of a member, even if she wasn’t fully involved in everything the Harbingers had their share in. And still, this group of rough men and tough women was still the best family she could ask for. They accepted her with her flaws and with her past and while there were still some who teased her for being that barbie doll girl and called her Cheerleader, she learned to accept it and not pout for hours.

Tonight was the textbook example of how Friday nights with the gang looked like. The place was packed and basically everyone was here. And River didn’t waste a second, letting Ace hoist her up on the bar so she could grace everyone with her own Coyote Ugly action. Deep down she knew she was dancing because Griffin suggested that and her sultry hip throws and luscious movements were directed at him but there was no chance in hell she would ever admit that. Not even to herself. That hell would sooner freeze over than that would happen. The redhead and the mechanic had this weird relationship, if one could even call it that. Most of the time, they threw snark and sarcasm at each other, they went through several arguments already and River would insist on how much he frustrated her. Jackson sometimes teased her for that being their courting dance or whatever but River only bashed him over the head with the first thing she could grab and glowered at him. Her brother knew nothing, right? How could he anyway?

By the time the song was in the middle, River earned attention from everyone. She could even see her brother in the crowd but Jackson was just rolling her eyes over her antics and lit up another cigarette. River ignored him and sent a few flirty winks and waves over to the crowd when she noticed Stevie on the bar too, walking towards her. “Stevie!” she squealed, so incredibly happy to have her sister from another mister joining her kind of fun. River knew this was not exactly the brunette’s style but it only made her happier. Their hands met and River fell in the rhythm with her. River already had the crowd going loud for her but the duet with Stevie was making them go wild.

“I told you. We should do this way more often.” River giggled and placed her hands on Stevie’s hips. Rob the bartender was smart enough to remove the glasses from under their feet so the girls could freely dance on top of the sturdy oak counter, not minding any obstacle which might result in a twisted ankle, a deep cut or something worse. The song was slowly coming to an end but it meant nothing as it was immediately replaced by Cherry Bomb by The Runaways. River laughed out loud shaking her head. “You guys need better playlists or what?” she looked at the bartender but it still didn’t stop her from dropping to her knees only to reach for two more tequila shots. And while down there, she noticed something that had her grinning.

And when she stood back up and handed Stevie one of the shots, she winked. “There is a pair of green eyes unable to stop staring.” she mumbled just enough for the nurse to hear her. “And he is definitely not looking at me.” she shrugged and clinked the glasses together before throwing hers back. “Robbie, baby, be a doll and serve those guys something good on me. They look particularly thirsty tonight.” she laughed, grinning widely in the direction where Grif and Kyle were standing.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 15, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

bar

flirty

interactions

River, Stevie, Grif (

The clubhouse was definitely the second best place for Kyler right after his small apartment. That place was his man cave and his comfort place when he sought solitude and quiet but the clubhouse was the meeting point. While the saying is that all roads lead to Rome, for Harbingers, it worked a little differently. All roads definitely led to their clubhouse, especially every Friday night. It was the only place where they all truly came together, had a drink, all conflicts, or at least the major ones, were pushed aside and it was the same feeling many families experience on Thanksgiving or Christmas when everyone sits at the same table and love is shared. That was exactly what the clubhouse was for the Harbingers and Kyle loved coming here so he could just turn off, forget business, troubles, nightmares and the pits.

Sure, he didn’t have any real family anymore but his guys and girls perfectly replaced the hole in his chest. Not entirely and Kyler could feel there was still some space that was not easily covered by anyone but this was pretty damn close enough to the real happiness for the gangster. Even with all their flaws and vices, they were people Kyle loved the most. A smirk graced his features and he quirked his eyebrow up when River slid off her chair and played Grif so easily. His eyes followed her body as she was placed on top of the bar and soon, he found himself suggesting Stevie should join her.

“Really? Since College? I bet you’d look amazing up there, hm?” he nudged her playfully and stared at the shots suggestively. Shortly after, Stevie grabbed some of them and the shots disappeared down her throat. And when she turned to Kyle asking for his help, he was more than ready. His hard calloused hand took hers and the other hand secured her waist. “Never.” he spoke in resolute whispers, leaning closer to her so he could smell her shampoo. “I got you. Always.” he added and held her tight until she was safely up there, making her way towards River. The redhead looked gorgeous on that bar but to Kyler, Stevie was magnetic. His eyes were glued to her, to every move she made, to the way her his swirled in the rhythm of the song and he reached for his own shot, staring until Griffin’s voice reached his ears.

“You have your bright moments, kid.” Kyle smirked, tracing his lower lip with his thumb, watching the show in front of her. And he kept staring until his eyes met River and her knowing grin. “So!” he took a deep breath in, suddenly torn out of his reverie. He looked at Grif with a grin of his own. “Are you finally going to ask her out? Or are you going to keep pretending you hate her?” he asked, his voice laced with tease, motioning his head towards River just as she threw her mocking comment. Soon after, Rob placed two glasses with ice water in front of the guys. “Bottoms up, gentlemen.” he laughed and Kyle scowled, staring daggers at the bartender. “Thirsty my ass.” he growled and tapped the bar, ordering a series of more shots, ignoring the tall water glasses completely. But his gaze still traveled to his favorite nurse and he felt those pleasant tingles at the back of his neck. “Or…” Kyle turned back to the mechanic. “...are you afraid of what Jackson might say about that?”

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 17, 2022

the mother hen

location

bar.

outfit

x, x.

mentions

none.

interactions

River, Kyler (

_amaranth_ ), Griffin.

stephania torrero.

Stephania had never been much of a performer. Despite her parents' best interests, growing up as the oldest child certainly had drawbacks. Her mother and father had modest jobs, the former working at a nursing home and the latter doing house calls as a plumber. They worked long hours, so Stevie was often left home to take care of her brothers. Don't get her wrong, she loved her brothers, probably more than anyone else in the world. But, there were times that the brunette wondered what life would have been like if she wasn't a stand-in parent for them, if she wasn't forced to grow up so fast and her parents had been there for her more. Would they have caught on to her relationship with Clark earlier, talked her out of dating him sooner? They certainly had tried to when she dropped the "I'm-moving-in-with-my-boyfriend" bomb. But by then, it was too late. She was already smitten with him. And that would be her eventual downfall.

But being with Clark wasn't all bad. She was shy before she had met him, an introvert with few friends and lots of self-doubts. On a whim, she had gone to that party with her high school best friend. If she were being honest, she didn't want to go originally. There were often too many people and bad decisions at parties, and Stevie had felt awkward at them. Like she didn't fit. But, her friend had talked her into it and, after several bouts of peer pressure, Stevie found herself underage drinking with the best of them. While she had stepped outside to take a breather, he showed up. With piercings, tattoos, and drugs, Clark was exactly the type of bad boy that could bring out her rebellious side. But, instead, their conversations that night seemed real. He was the older guy that she just felt drawn to. They took things slow at first, chatted back and forth, and went on a few dates. Though she had been on a couple of dates before, Clark became her first boyfriend. But what she thought was going to be a fairy tale quickly turned into a nightmare.

Nevertheless, Stevie's relationship with Clark taught her things about herself that she might not have found out otherwise. She learned how resilient she was, how brave and strong she could be, and how important it was to take care of others. If she could get through that relationship, then she could get through anything life wanted to throw at her. So, yeah, she deserved to dress up and look sexy, to have fun and dance on a bar once in a while. And this was her moment to do that again. Stevie felt an involuntary shiver run down her spine at Kyler's words but only smiled in response. There were feelings there, but she didn't acknowledge them, couldn't. Instead, the brunette nurse climbed on the bar and grinned when River squealed, letting out an excited laugh of her own. The number of cheers that filled the room gave her a newfound sense of confidence, moreso than she had before. "We definitely should," Stevie agreed, though part of that might be due to the alcohol running through her system. Maybe she would regret it tomorrow, would be embarrassed that she acted out against her normal responsible personality. But who cared right now? Definitely not her.

Stevie wrapped her arms loosely around River's neck, moving her body in time with her redheaded friend's. But when she dropped her knees, the brunette took a few steps back, giving herself a bit of space to twirl and move. She looked out over the bar patrons, and couldn't help the feeling of warmth that filled her chest at the sight of their happy faces. Everyone was having a good time, they were all safe. It was a good way to end the busy work week. "I feel like we need to add some variety to this playlist, but I can't be mad. This is a good song!" Taking the shot from River, Stevie easily threw it back easily and handed the empty glass to Rob. But her friend's words almost made the brunette nurse choke on the liquor. She turned back to glance at Kyler but found he had looked away. "You're full of it, River," Stevie said with a laugh, only slightly disappointed that he wasn't looking at her, at least not at that moment. She danced her way down the bar, no longer unsure on her feet. Singing along, she moved down the bar to where it met the while. Leaning her back against it, she slid down, reaching out to flirtatiously caress a Harbinger's cheek before sliding back up. Her movements were sexy and sultry, unlike the normally sensible Stevie. Well, inhibitions be damned, right?

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 17, 2022

the mechanic

location

bar.

outfit

x.

mentions

River, Stevie.

interactions

Kyler (

griffin hendrix.

At first, the room was filled with idle chatter, greetings and mild small talks. Those that arrived stopped every so often to greet a pretty woman or shake hands with a guy they recognized. Griffin usually did the same. It was a big family and, though he may only be a patched member, Griffin liked to get to know the people he worked with, whom he called his brothers. So, there were very few unfamiliar faces in the bar that night. But that was one of the things he loved about the gang. The stereotypical connotation of it all was that gangbangers were a group of hounds. They were loyal to one leader, named Trevor in the case of the Harbingers. They were obedient, doing as they were told without considering the consequences of their actions. Maybe it was dumb at times, but there was something kind of beautiful about the whole hierarchy. It was what originally had drawn Griffin in. Hell, before he had decided to join, he had seen them beat the shit out of someone else just for insulting a respected member.

Was that extreme? Eh, maybe. But it certainly got the point across. As he was glancing around those closest to the bar, he made eye contact with Ace. If Grif were being honest, he liked Ace. The guy was fun, knew how to party, and could drink most other Harbingers under the table. But, after the events of that evening up until that point, the sight of the guy left a bad taste in Griffin's mouth. He couldn't quite explain it, nor did he want to think about it further. Because, if he did, the brunette man would quickly find it all went back to River. She was a spitfire, the type of girl that didn't take shit from any man or woman. There was practically no filter in that head of hers and, though he mostly noticed it during their back-and-forth, neverending bickering, a part of him deep down found it strangely endearing. She could walk into a bar and make friends with absolutely anyone. Now that was a skill he didn't quite understand but was definitely jealous of. But these were all things that Griffin couldn't even admit to himself, let alone River.

Finishing off the last of the tequila shots, Grif smirked as he watched Stevie and River dance down the bar together. Coyote Ugly had never been one of his favorite movies before. But it certainly might be becoming one that night. They were probably the most stunning women in the bar, and it only had slightly to do with the fact that they were dancing on a bar. The rest of the Harbingers were going crazy, their loud cheers probably heard down the block. This was a typical Harbinger bar experience. Griffin glanced at Kyler, a knowing smirk on his face. How two people could be so obviously into each other yet completely oblivious at the same time, Grif would never know. But he also would never know how ironic that thought was. "Oh I know," he agreed with Kyler, stifling a chuckle as River caught them staring. But Kyler turned to look at him with a grin that Griffin knew all too well. His fellow Harbinger was about to say something annoying and teasing. And boy, did he.

"Ask our River? What- Are you serious? No way," the brunette mechanic responded, feeling like a high school girl trying to deny a stupid crush. Thankfully, Rob placed some glasses in front of them to save him from embarrassing himself ever further. "Just like River. Water as cold as her heart," he said loud enough for the taunted to hear, rolling his eyes with a smirk. "If we're thirsty, then what does that make them, the ones dancing on a bar?" he added, ignoring the water and reaching for one of the shots Kyle had ordered. Taking a sip and tasting rum, Griffin shrugged and threw back another shot. He could feel the alcohol begin to warm his body, slipping through his veins like lava and clouding his mind just a bit. "You and I both know that if Jackson and I were to get into the ring together, I would come out victorious." Okay, so maybe that was a bit of tipsy bravado talking, and he didn't know that for sure. But, he didn't really care.

Griffin knew he needed to slow down on the alcohol just a bit, having taken several shots in the past few minutes that would no doubt enter his bloodstream fairly soon. But, the mechanic had been known to make a few drunken mistakes in his day. So that night might as well be another one, right? And if Kyler was going to push his buttons, it was only fair that Grif returns the favor. Stevie slid down the wall with hooded eyes and a sexy smirk, giving him the perfect opening to annoy his friend. Using two fingers, Griffin catcalled the brunette nurse with a loud whistle that could be heard across the bar. "How about this, Ky," he began, knowing his words were going to elicit some sort of entertaining reaction, "I'll ask out River as soon as you get the balls to ask out Stevie."

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 22, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

bar

scared

interactions

Stevie, Grif (

MadiRaiCat ), Kyler

Dancing has literally been in River’s blood. She has always been drawn to this sort of art, always in motion. Even as a child, there was no day she would spend not running around, dancing to old MTV music videos, creating her own choreographies which she would then present to her parents and brother. Jackson mostly made fun of her but only to maintain his cool guy demeanor. Under no circumstances would he ever admit that it was actually adorable. So when River joined the cheer squad at high school, no one was surprised. It combined everything she craved, kept her fit, allowed her to come up with dance routines and it also fit in with her image of a popular high school blondie. But that was way too long ago. River was no longer Angelica Morrano, the cheer squad captain and the future prom queen. Nor did she care about these things now. High school was over and so was her old life. Only the love for dancing remained.

With so much fire in her veins, no one wondered when she truly hopped up on the bar and started her little sultry performance. It was one of those moments she could stop thinking, let the music embrace her and her hips did the talking for her. Apparently it worked, judging from all the reactions she was getting. But it was nothing in comparison to the roar when Stevie joined her on the counter. Because there is only one thing hotter for the Harbingers than a pretty girl dancing on the bar. Two gorgeous ladies dancing on the bar. River could laugh, it was almost adorable. But her friend joining her in the whirlwind of music and dancing made her so happy she forgot all about catcalls and focused on Stevie. Their bodies were soon moving in sync and River’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

“I am so not. You know it’s true.” she shrugged, glancing at the boys again. Kyle was now looking at Griffin and River grinned widely. Ah, poor boy. His crush was written all over his rough boy scruffy face and he was trying to pretend there was none. How cute was that? Rob served the boys with glasses of water but River stopped watching them after a while, instead turning around to see what her friend was up to. And damn, Stevie was quite a performer. Hollering encouragement, River spun around on the tip of her heeled boot, feeling alcohol mix in her veins. It was a miracle she was able to keep her balance. Well, they do say Lady Luck is sitting on the shoulders of the drunk ones. Apparently, tonight she was taking a piggy back ride on River.

The redhead moved back down, leaning on her knees as she beckoned Rob to come closer. She was in the middle of her request for a song when the walls shook. Quite literally. River’s head jerked up, lips parted in curiosity. Deafening explosion rumbled outside, as if a surprising thunder hit them but ten times the volume. Music in the clubhouse was immediately cut off and the sound was so surprising it sent River on her butt. “What was that?” she asked stupidly and for three horrible seconds, there was an absolute silence. Right after those three seconds, mayhem erupted as the Harbingers flooded outside. River saw Trevor making way towards Kyle in a great hurry but she couldn’t hear what he told his right-hand man. Then he was gone, as fast as he appeared. River was so confused, sitting on the bar while everyone around was hauling ass outside. Curiosity was taking over but when the gunshot echoed in the night, her heart started racing. “River! Get your ass out of here! Get out and hide!” A familiar voice hit her ears and she saw Jackson in a flash as he joined the group outside. But River froze in one place, her gaze trying to meet Stevie’s, feeling sick as more shots were fired and somehow she felt something really bad was about to happen tonight.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 22, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

bar

serious

interactions

River, Stevie, Grif (

This whole picture was almost too good to be true. Kyle found himself getting lost in the way her hips moved, hugged by that leather skirt which was almost too short but not really. Her movements were hypnotizing and for a moment, Kyler felt like there was no one else, like the clubhouse was empty and it was just him and Stevie, the stunning nurse offering him a private show. She walked that bar like she owned it, oozing confidence. It was one of those moments Kyler was truly happy. Surrounded by his family, a woman he adored right in front of him. He truly missed nothing as this place, as shitty as it could be, held the whole package the fighter needed to exist.

His trance was torn only when River indirectly called him out. Thank god for dim lighting of the bar and his grown out stubble that hid warmth which was now spilling across his face. He felt like a kid caught with his hand in a cookie jar. If it was anyone else, Kyle was sure he could be let off but not the redheaded firecracker. She simply had to tease and point his drooling face out. The best thing, though admittedly not the smartest one, he could do now was jerk his head to the side so Stevie wouldn’t notice he was staring at her like some pervert. It was the last thing he needed, her having the wrong idea about the hearts in his eyes. However, based on the direction their conversation with Griffin went, he should have kept staring instead. It was more than obvious that whatever this thing between Grif and River was, it was not just plain mean bickering and throwing spunk and insults at each other. Kyle decided to turn the subject of conversation in that direction and for a moment, he knew he hit the jackpot. If Grif’s stuttering reaction proved something.

What Kyler didn’t expect was Grif striking back. His jaw dropped for a nanosecond and he grabbed another shot at the speed of sound. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” he mumbled and another rum disappeared down his throat, burning its way down his system. “My balls are very much in order, you don’t have to worry. And me and Stevie, we’re…” And that’s where he got stuck. What were they? Friends for sure but Kyler wanted more than that, right? He wanted her to become way more to him than just a friend to meet in the clubhouse on Friday night. Maybe he would like to meet her in other places than here and her office where she cleaned his wounds and put him together after a particularly nasty fight. Maybe he wanted her to see him without a shirt for other reasons than… Whoa, Kyle, okay, slow down!

Kyler never got to finish his sentence. He was saved by the bell. Or rather, an explosion. Something rang outside, definitely sounded like a bomb under the car going off if Kyle knew his explosions well. Something was up and he hated not knowing. Music stopped and people started to pile out of the bar. Guns were pulled, knives were ready in the hands of many and Kyle himself immediately sobered up. Especially when Trevor made his way towards him and gripped his shirt in front, pulling him closer almost violently. “It’s the Hellhounds! We’re under attack! Get everybody out safely and find me!” he yelled and River nodded. His face was no longer relaxed. His warm smile was now replaced with a marble serious mask with murder glimmering in his eyes. While a moment before, his heart stopped when Stevie slid down that wall like a goddess of seduction, now it was beating again, racing like a prized stallion as he approached the bar in a few long strides. “Come on, I’m getting you out of here.” he growled and reached for his favorite nurse, not waiting for her to accept his help. He simply took her off the bar and carried her towards the back entrance, bridal style. “Move your ass, kid! Grab River and come on!” he ordered and only put Stevie down after kicking the door open. “Get out of here, get to the safe house and stay there.” he told her, cupping her face in the rough palms of his hands. “Stay there, Stevie, and don’t come out. I’ll come for you as soon as I can. Promise me.” he insisted, staring in those dark honey eyes of hers. “Go now, both of you. They seem to be in the front so you have a chance to slip out unnoticed.” he instructed her and reached in his back pocket, pressing a small black butterfly knife in Stevie’s hands. “Stay safe.” he whispered to her and his lips touched her forehead before he disappeared back inside. Kyle reached to the back and pulled his gun from the waistline of his jeans. Gunshot seemed to be the soundtrack of this evening and he was about to join that fucked up movie.

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 25, 2022

the mother hen

location

bar -> outside the clubhouse.

outfit

x, x.

mentions

none.

interactions

River, Kyler (

_amaranth_ ), Griffin.

stephania torrero.

Originally, Stephania went to nursing school because she knew she wanted to help people, and she had been pretty good at biology in high school. She had no idea that it would take as much out of her as it had. Working all day while taking classes at night, she rarely had time to sleep, let alone free time to spend with friends and family. Maybe if she had dedicated more time to that, she would have realized what Clark was doing to her long before that fateful night. But, even on the first day, Stevie knew that nursing was what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. She loved helping people, loved taking care of them, and was honestly great at making snap, life-saving decisions. Before she became the official nurse and infirmary head for the Harbingers, she worked in the emergency room at the local hospital. It was there that she learned to repair gunshot and stab wounds, calm people down in stressful situations, and respond at a moment's notice. Stevie was good at her job, whether that was in the actual medical field or in what was technically a life of crime.

With a slightly blurry mind, the brunette nurse moved her leather-clad body back down the bar. Everything was going so great, she couldn't help but feel free. Like her wings were finally unfurling after so long of being clipped. But that was all cut short by the blaring sound of... Fireworks? An explosion? Stevie couldn't be entirely sure. Whatever it was, it immediately removed the fog from her mind, sending her consciousness back into perfect clarity. Her heart began to race and the adrenaline was quickly replacing any alcohol that had previously been coursing through her veins. "I don't know. Should we be worried about that?" she pondered out loud, turning her chocolate brown gaze towards River as she was already worrying. And for a brief moment, it was silent. The kind of silence that, if sat in long enough, could cause one to go mad. The kind of silence that filled the air with so much tension, any movement felt like it was being made through concrete. And when everything erupted into mayhem, it seemed to be in slow motion.

Stevie glanced around the room from her viewpoint on top of the bar, taking in as much information as she could. She saw Trevor approach Kyler and immediately wanted to make her way to them. But that was nearly impossible given the mass of bodies in the bar. And just as quickly, he was there at her feet, reaching toward her. "Out of here? No, Ky, I can--" But he didn't wait for an answer. In an instant, she was in his arms. If it weren't for the feeling of impending doom, she would have realized how good being so close to him felt. She could feel his heart racing in his chest, faster than hers even. This couldn't be happening, right? What felt like minutes later but was really seconds, Stevie was set on her feet once again. A light breeze caught her hair, fluttering it slightly. The normally dingy, warehouse air was tainted with the scent of smoke, and she could see the reflection of flames on the metal siding of the nearby mechanic shop. It glowed orange and yellow, and was kind of beautiful. But she knew that those flames were the product of something sinister.

Kyler's voice caught her attention, and the brunette nurse turned to look at him with a furrowed brow. "What? No. Kyler, I can-" she tried to say, tried to tell him that she could help, that it was her job to help. But the feeling of his palms on her cheeks gave her pause. He stared deep into her eyes, and the amount of concern and worry she saw there caused her heart to clench. "I promise," Stevie murmured. When he looked at her like that, how could she possibly say anything else? Griffin appeared out the same door they had exited, setting River alongside her. The maternal instinct in her told her that she had to protect her friends, protect her family, and the people she cared about. And then she looked down at the blade in her hand, feelings from the night Clark died flooding her system. But the kiss, even if it was only on her forehead, calmed her. And as the men disappeared back inside, gunshots began to fill the night air.

Despite what Kyler had told her, and despite the promise she made to him, Stephania couldn't leave her friends behind like that. Her nurse training might be the difference between someone's life and death that night. She could hear a few gunshots begin to go off in the distance on the other side of the clubhouse. They truly were under attack. "River, I have to help them. What if-" Stevie began glancing at her redheaded friend. But she was cut off by a gunshot, closer than the others. Turning around with wide eyes, she saw a form collapsed on the ground and another disappearing around the front of the clubhouse. "River, someone's hurt!" the brunette shouted, grabbing her friend's hand and sprinting towards the form on the ground. All logical thought went out the window, it was only instinct. She fell to the ground and rolled the body over, quickly realizing it was Trever with a gaping gunshot wound in his chest. And blood. Blood everywhere. But before she could even examine the wound properly, she heard a distinct click from behind them. The sound of a cocked gun.

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 25, 2022

the mechanic

location

bar -> outside the clubhouse.

outfit

x.

mentions

none.

interactions

Kyler, River(

_amaranth_ ), Stevie.

griffin hendrix.

Despite being in the Harbingers together, things hadn't always been so brotherly between Griffin and Kyler. And to be honest, it wasn't really that way then either. Drinking together on a weekend night with all the other gang members around? Yeah, civility and camaraderie were abundant in the clubhouse and made social interactions easy. But, when it was just the two of them without any alcohol? Let the sarcasm and jabs roll. Sometimes they would even scuffle. The fights never got too out of hand, mostly just angry wrestling and roughhousing like a big brother might with his younger brother. Griffin wasn't a total idiot. He knew what Kyler did in the underground fight club ring, and had heard the horror stories of the Mad Dog. So, he would never want to actually fight Kyler, knowing full well that, at his current skill level, he would most definitely lose. That being said, though, it was fun to push the older Harbinger's buttons now and again. And the pretty brunette nurse on the bar just happened to be the perfect gateway to be able to do that.

The sight of Kyle's jaw dropping, even for a moment, was enough that a feeling of satisfaction welled in his chest. A light smirk turned up the corners of his lips, knowing he had hit exactly where he had meant to. Grif watched as he took a shot, attempting to explain himself and stuttering just as the mechanic had moments earlier. If he were more aware of his emotions, or even emotions in general, it might be much easier to see that both men were hopelessly crushing on one of the women dancing on that bar. Wouldn't it be so much nicer to just express their feelings instead of tiptoeing around them? Either under the guise of despising or a so-called friendship? Then they could get on with the good moments. The first dates, the first kisses, the shared meals, the cuddles. Hell, even the first fights. They would date and maybe get married, maybe have a couple of kids running around. Or at the very least a toddler-like dog. Sure, they were part of a terrifying gang. But, that didn't mean they don't deserve a normal, content life like everyone else. Unfortunately, Griffin wasn't emotionally in-tune enough to realize any of that. Not then, anyway.

Before the mechanic could laugh and tease Kyler further, the clubhouse shooks, the walls seeming to want to cave in. His eyes widened in surprise. "What in the hell was that?" he questioned, glancing back towards the door. The room went silent, the music cut. Everyone seemed to be waiting on bated breath, waiting for some indication of what just happened. Another crash was heard and everyone began rushing outside. Griffin froze for a moment, watching his fellow Harbingers race towards any exit they could get out of. A voice caught his attention, and he realized Trevor had approached. "It's the Hellhounds! We're under attack! Get everybody out safely and find me!" Though he was talking specifically to his right-hand man, Grif took that as an order to him as well. His expression turned stoic, and he immediately went to reach for the gun held in a holster in the back of his pants, beneath his shirt. But before he could, Ky beelined towards the brunette nurse, shouting an order at him. Without a second thought, the mechanic moved the crowd to the bar. He reached out towards River, gently grabbing her arm and tugging so that she fell into his waiting arms. The feeling was electric but he had to ignore it. There were more pressing matters at hand.

Once outside, Griffin set the redhead on her feet alongside Stevie. He glanced at Kyler and, if things weren't as dire, he would have teased the brunette man for it. But then was more certainly not the time. Turning his gaze back to River, he felt his chest begin to tighten. He wanted to make sure she got to the safe house in one piece. But he couldn't, not with the gunfire popping off behind them. Grif wanted to say something to her, anything that might help calm the fear in her eyes and the concern he was sure shone in his. "It'll be alright," he said with as much faux confidence and humor as he could muster, "Don't worry, you'll get to dance on that bar again." Without waiting for a response, the mechanic followed his leader back into the bar. Grif had been in the gang for a while, saw people get shot or stabbed. Hell, he had even done some of those things himself. But he had yet to be in a gunfight on his turf and had yet to kill someone with his own weapons. But that would change before the end of the evening. The bar was still relatively quiet, no one necessarily brave enough to enter but everyone had certainly exited. Griffin made his way towards the front door, peering out the glass. Several Harbingers were fighting Hellhounds with bare fists and brass knuckles. A few others lay crumpled on the ground. But the most gruesome scene was the flames licking up the side of his perfectly restored 1967 Chevy Impala.

"No!" he shouted, shooting out the door without regard. He raced toward the car, but couldn't get very close before the fire began to singe his skin as well. "Son of a fucking bitch!" he shouted, anger surging through his veins like lava. He spun around and stalked towards the nearest Hellhound. Griffin immediately decked him in the face, blood shooting from his nose and splattering across the ground as he fell. "Who the fuck did that to my car? Tell me!" The Hellhound pointed to a man that was disappearing around the side of the clubhouse. Without a second thought, Grif punched him out cold before following the other. He stepped around the side of the building, bringing the alley into view. But what he saw froze him right in his tracks. That same guy held a gun directly pointed at River and Stevie. Everything seemed to go silent around him, the fear of losing those two causing his heart to race so intently he didn't even notice their bloodied leader at their feet. No, instead he pulled his gun from its holster and aimed. The next sounds he heard were the crack of the bullet and the lifeless body of the Hellhound attempting to murder those two women hitting the ground.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 28, 2022

river montana

the firecracker

bar

terrified

interactions

Stevie, Grif (

MadiRaiCat ), Kyler

The evening was blossoming into one of those comfortable moments. If this was a movie, it would be that scene with camera over the room, some sort of aerial shot, slowly moving away from a large group of people, friends, family, drinking, laughing, savoring the moments with those they loved. Music boomed from the speakers and again, if this was a movie, it would be the last scene, an absolute happy end, only credits would roll after the camera was far enough.

Alas, this was not a movie.

All good things come to an end. A line that most slow songs and ballads use and abuse and have done so for centuries. The explosion marked the beginning of the end of the pleasant night and the silence which fell upon the whole clubhouse was so loud it almost tore their eardrums. Before long, the Harbingers were making their ways out and River sat on the bar, completely dumbstruck. Goosebumps rose all over her body, more than visible on her arms and bare shoulders now that her leather jacket was gone, god knows where. Her doe eyes found Stevie and she parted her lips but closed them again, repeating the movement a few more times which made her look like a gaping fish out of the water.

Nothing made sense, chaos reigned everywhere and the noise and sounds of fighting coming from outside were making River’s heart pound faster. Only a hand tugging on her tore her out of her reverie and she fell from the bar. A pair of strong hands caught her and she felt his grip, holding her tight so he wouldn’t lose her. Griffin. The last person she expected to get her to safety. Her black-rimmed hazel eyes stared at his face and a part of her wanted to protest but instead, her hand gripped his shirt and River clung to him as if nowhere was safe but in Grif’s arms.

Things were happening too fast. One moment, she was on top of the bar, next one, she was standing outside, cold night air caressing her face and Griffin addressing her words which were everything but snarky. River gasped and wanted to say something, she even parted her lips but no sound came out. What was she supposed to say anyway? And then they were gone. Both Griffin and Kyler. River’s heart was slamming against her rib cage and it almost felt like it was going to break its way out of her chest. This was an open war and River hated she was useless. Stevie spoke to her and River nodded. Of course they were not going to hide. Hell would freeze over three times before River would run to safety with her family fighting for their lives. Her eyes hardened and she nodded again, ready to follow her friend to the trenches.

A shot cracked through the air and River’s head jerked in the direction from where it came from. When Stevie exclaimed someone was hurt, the redhead didn’t need to be told twice and hauled ass after Stevie, falling on the ground as well. But the moment her eyes fell upon the man’s face, her heart fell into her stomach. “Stevie…” she whispered. Unfortunately, the girls didn’t have time to chat it out. A click of a gun pointed at them convinced them both it was time to shut it. River looked up and stared right into a barrel of a gun. Her painted bottom lip trembled as she looked higher and the nasty grin, a satisfied grimace and darkest eyes she had ever seen convinced her to stay quiet. Seconds seemed like hours, River just stared the death in the eyes and counted seconds, waiting for that dark shroud to came and take her away. A shot echoed in the dark alley and River was only too surprised when no pain exploded in her forehead. Instead, her face was sprayed with something warm, making her close her eyes, and a loud thud told her the attacker was done for. She couldn’t see in the dark what happened, who was the shooter. What she could see was Trevor, lying on the ground, life gone from his bright blue eyes.

coded by natasha.

_amaranth_ · Aug 28, 2022

kyler monaghan

the right-hand man

bar

murderous

interactions

River, Stevie, Grif (

The second it was clear a war broke out out there, Kyler’s brain changed modes. He was less of a relaxed, slightly drunk guy and full-on Mad Dog from the underground pits. No one was allowed to come here and threaten his family. There were a few reasons why Trevor chose Kyler to be his right hand man and while them being childhood friends since Ky could remember was probably the bigger one, his nature of a pitbull also played its part. If out for blood, Kyler never stopped. Once his fangs sank into an enemy, he wouldn’t let go until blood painted all the walls around him or flooded the streets, streaming down the sidewalk and straight into the sewers.

When Trevor approached him and said the Hellhounds came to get some, Kyler’s jaw tightened and his grip on his glass turned painful. His mind immediately produced a to-do list, prepared in bullet points, so Kyle could just take them one by one, ticking them off. First things first, Stevie needed to be safe and that was exactly what Kyler did when he carried her outside, yelling at Griffin to do the same with River. And as much as he wanted to do more, he knew this was neither time, nor place. A kiss on the forehead had to be enough for him. Still, when his lips touched her skin, her heart fluttered and Kyle had to wrench himself away from the nurse. She promised. That was enough for him. And he would find her once he’d kick every Hellhound ass from their turf.

Walking across the clubhouse to the front entrance, Kyle took a deep breath and blinked a few times. Stevie was safe. She would be alright. She was a big girl and a damn strong one, knew how to take care of herself. One more deep breath and he kicked the door open, roaring vengeance at everyone who dared to cross his path. He didn’t need brass knuckles. His right hand balled into a fist, knuckles cracked and he pulled a Hellhound from one of the Harbingers, his fist meeting with his jaw. Blood spluttered from his face and he tried to swing at Kyler but he was ready, gripped his shirt and decked him again and again until he heard bones crack. Only then he threw him to the ground and kicked his ribs a few more times to make sure the fucker wouldn’t get up. “Come on!!!” he bellowed and continued his bloody way across the whole parking lot, showing everyone how he earned his nickname.

Kyler was deeply engaged in the fight, he saw red and not only because sprays of blood covered his face. He raged over the audacity of the Hellhounds. All Harbingers could stand their ground. Hell, there were some girls causing more damage than some men as well. Kyle was working on another Hellhound when, from the corner of his eye, he noticed a familiar figure. He looked up just in time to see Griffin disappearing around the corner. And just those few seconds were enough to score a hard hit in his mandible. “Oh, fuck you.” he looked at the man he was working on, gripped him tighter and head-butted him so hard he heard his nose break.

Following Griffin, Ky turned the corner when a shot was fired and one look was enough to know what was happening. His heart sank again when he saw Stevie in the distance. Patting Griffin on the shoulder, he hurried closer. “Nice shot, kid.” he praised him and approached the girls with a few long strides. “Why didn’t you-?” he started but then noticed a man sprawled on the ground. “No.” Kyler whispered. “Fuck, no, who…” He fell on his knees, red-stained fingers reached and gripped Trevor’s shoulder and Kyle felt that annoying prickle in his eyes. He knew those were tears. He hated tears and after losing his parents, he swore never to cry again. And yet, losing another person who was in his closest circle tore his heart out. Squeezing his eyes shut, Ky took a deep breath, then one more, another one, until he knew no tears were going to come out. And when he looked back up, a violent grimace twisted his features. “I will kill him with my bare hands.”

coded by natasha.

MadiRaiCat · Aug 28, 2022

the mother hen

location

outside the clubhouse.

outfit

x, x.

mentions

none.

interactions

River, Kyler (