Loyalty Makes you Family

WARMTH: 10% – cold, selfish.

INTELLECT: 84% – cerebral, analytical.

EMOTIONAL STABILITY: 26% – irritable, moody.

AGGRESSIVENESS: 90% – controlling, tough.

LIVELINESS: 90% – wild, fun loving .

DUTIFULNESS: 10% – untraditional, rebellious.

SOCIAL ASSERTIVENESS: 90% – uninhibited, bold.

SENSITIVITY: 26% – coarse, tough.

PARANOIA:90% – wary, suspicious.

ABSRACTNESS: 26% – practical, regular

INTROVERSION: 74% – private, quiet.

ANXIETY: 10% – confident, self-assured.

OPENMINDEDNESS: 42% – closedminded, set in ways

INDEPENDENCE: 26% – social, out going.

PERFECTIONISM: 62% – orderly, thorough.

A coy smile etches into her feature when he mentions her making time for fun. “I know how to have a little fun.” She was certain it was not the way he thought it would be. Recently getting into fights with Russians was her new pastime.

“I don’t see any harm with having a few drinks.” She knew it wouldn’t be long until she was told to stay away from him too. “Oh, is that so?” Emilia had done some research on Archibald Hathaway, infamous club owner in the US, and nephew of her friend Cecelia. “I’ll have to come check it out when it’s ready to open.”

Archie smiled. ‘Well then, why don’t we get out of here. I know of a nice little place off Mayfair that you’ll love. Small, intimate, and an amazing selection of drinks.’ He looked over the office again. ‘And it’s definitely a step up from this place, mood wise.’  He stood up, and more out of habit than any real need or wish to, he held out his hand to the woman opposite him . ‘I’m sure they can spare you for a few hours.’ His impish grin returned as he said ‘or a night’  ‘As for the new place’ he continued. ‘Once the renovation is done, I’ll give you a personal VIP tour, I promise.’ He waited for her so that he could escort her outside, to his car. He was wondering what the night would bring, but it was definitely off to a fortuitous start.

For: All. @mobscene-starters​

When: 26.01.2023

Where: The Smoke & Mirrors.

‘‘Is that all you have to say.’’ 

The words came out harsher than she’d intended, scoffing while tears threatened to spill. She’d just been informed that the source she’d been using had some how turned up dead, hand clamping over her mouth as her back slumped into the chair. This wasn’t the first, or second, but the third that had either dropped off the radar or ended up six feet under.

This was bad. 

‘‘How can they keep getting away with this shit. People just keep dying.’‘ She quickly wiped away the excess liquid that had formed under her eyes, checking around to make sure no one heard the conversation she was having, before they asked if she’d like another drink to which she nodded; they’d meant to be meeting here.

She guessed this was a change of plans. 

Archie walked into the club. Usually he wasn’t much for the random discordant sounds that the French considered the height of music, but tonight he was in the mood for somewhere quiet, simple, somewhere where nothing happened. And smoke and mirrors was exactly that. And hey, their top shelf cognac was another good reason to endure the cat torture playing in the background. He figured jazz was one of the very few things Americans had actually greatly improved. Luckily it seemed that tonight they’d decided to display good taste as the sweet tones of Duke Ellington and Ivie Anderson’s ‘it don’t mean a thing’ drifted in the air. He looked around and his eye fell upon the pretty young journalist sitting alone at a table. She appeared somewhat agitated, but he decided he was going to say hi anyway. He walked over, and looked at her. ‘Hello. Is this seat taken?’  

Tagged: @mobscene-starters​

Location: At a club in Westminster (UTP what type/where)

Nights off weren’t necessarily rare for Giordana, but considering recent events in her sphere, they might be ill-advised. The greatest benefit of her work was drawn from anonymity, blending into shadows and places as nothing more than a passing figment in the crowd. She’d taken great care to hone that skill over several years and tonight it benefitted herself for once, rather than a high roller or the two men who occupied her first and second speed dials. 

Still, all play and no work made the brunette a sitting fucking duck and for that reason she pulled double duty. Consuming gin and tonics at the bar whilst keeping tabs on some Russian businessman socializing his way through a more exclusive area of the club. Just as he began walking in a new direction, Giordi’s view was obstructed by another body in the foreground sliding into the spot beside her. “Your timing is exceptional.” 

It had been quite a few days since Archie had been able to relax. Despite not actually physically doing the renovations himself, it definitely kept him busy. It seemed like every hour some new obstacle to the construction needed solved. Dryrot in the woodwork, water damage in the basement, and even when things were running smooth, the workmen or decorator needed his opinion on something drab. But tonight he finally got some time to himself, so he went downtown. ‘After spending all week building a club, I spend my night off visiting one’ He thought to himself, quite aware of the irony. He sat down on a chair at the bar,and sighed. When he heard the voice beside him, a somewhat familiar one, he turned to face the woman it belonged to. ‘I do tend to be very punctual, but I must say you have me at a disadvantage here.’  

Her brows crease when he mentions being away for work. A hand reaches out to gesture for him to sit in the chair across from her at her desk. “You have nothing to apologise for.” The blonde meant that. 

She sits back down, a smile seeping into her features. “It’s been eventful since the last time I saw you. Definitely been busy.” Her life seemed to have changed the since their last encounter. “I have been spending more time here. We seem to be getting more girls in and I like to be involved.” She wasn’t allowed to be involved like she used to be back in Launceston. 

“How are you?”

---

Archie smiled appreciatively. She really seemed to have made this thing work. “Lot of work eh? Hope you still make time to have fun now and again. All work and no play and all...”  He chuckled slightly, then his more serious expression returned. “In fact, we should definitely go out for drinks again some time soon.” He then turned to look around the office again. “And you know, if you need help with this place, let me know. I’m planning to put some roots down in the city,, even hoping to open a new club.” 

Where: un nouveau départ shelter When: Jan 3, 2023 Who: @archibaldhathaway·

Emilia sat back in her chair in her office at the shelter, turned to gaze out the window, watching the sun set. She had found that most of her time had been spent here, or out doing some interview to promote her cause. It kept her busy and distracted. It was what she needed. 

With the change in her life, pulling away slightly from the French because it reminded her of a life she wasn’t a part of anymore. She missed being out and in the grit of it. There was no point trying to find a way back, Delphine and Varden were adamant that she was out, and she was guilty of doing anything for her family.

A knock on the door pulled her away from her thoughts, turning her chair back around. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and she knew her bodyguard, on the other side of the door wouldn’t let anyone in that wasn’t part of their organisation. 

“Come in.” She calls out, standing up when the door opens and she is surprised to see Archie there. He was the last person she was expecting. 

“Archie? It has been awhile.”

Archie walked inside and smiled. “Hello Emilia, it has been a while indeed. Unfortunately business drew me away from the city, so I haven’t had time to come visit. I apologise.” He had been up north dealing with some rather unpleasant business with the supply to his club, and therefore he had not been around when the nastiness went down here. He hadn’t expected her of all people to get hit, but apparently she’d bounced back. He made a show of looking around before turning back to her.  “Nice place you got here. How are you?”

Her head slants and her face deadpans when he asks who her brother was. A true Hathaway. Emilia snorts. “Oh, it isn’t you he’s worried about. It’s me. And, trust me, he always has someone watching.” She could never fault him for why he did it. He had only a few left that mattered to him, and she never wanted to be the reason for his pain. 

“Touché.” Being in a gang meant most had sides of them that tended to lean towards violence. There was always a motive. 

Her brows furrow and she thinks about his words. There was no harm in dinner, but he so kindly informed her that it was a date. If she didn’t go, Emilia would end up back home with a bottle of wine and her notebook, trying to piece her information together. 

“Dinner, that is all. Then I am going home.” She picks up her notebook and tucks it away into her bag. 

Archie nodded at her. He wouldn’t mind if this grew into something more. But there was something about her, something, else, that was the only way to describe it really. A quick one night stand, even a romantic entanglement, it wouldn’t live up. No there was something way more important than that. He held out his arm, if she wanted, more a reflexive move than anything. And then led her out of the club to his car. He wondered if she’d come by car, but considering the exorbitant parking fees, he doubted it. “I’m still getting used to driving on the wrong side of the road, so bear with me” he joked as he smiled. Then headed out towards the restaurant.

Emilia nods her head. She wasn’t entirely sure if he would want to go visit his aunt. The blonde was curious if they were on good terms. It was something she could look into later. There was also something for her to do. “I am sure you did.” She raises her glass before taking another sip, the alcohol starting to make her feel warm. 

Trust also broke her in other ways, and she refused to ever put herself in that situation again. “Is this your way of wanting to get to know me?” Emilia gave a small snort. “You do realise who my brother is?” Most steered clear of her, unless business or family, because of Varden. It was exhausting at times. 

“You have club already opened in London?” It didn’t surprise her if he did. “I can’t make any promises,but I’ll try my best.”

-- He saw her confident demeanour rustled for a second, but he chose to ignore it. She doesn’t want it seen, don’t acknowledge it. And so he chuckled at her words.He looked at her quizically, and cocked his head as an impish smirk shone on his face. “Please, enlighten me. Who’s your brother again?” He chuckled slightly then waved his hand dismissively. “Varden’s a very busy man, and I’m sure he has more important things to worry about than little old me. And besides, if I had to steer clear of anyone with a family member who has a violent streak, I’d have very few people to talk to.” He took another drink then, after pausing for a long moment, he nodded. “I hope you’ll come. I really do.” He looked up at the wall for a second. “Did you have plans for dinner? There’s this West Indies place I’ve been wanting to try, but haven’t had a chance.”

He shook his head and laughed. “And before you ask, no I’m not asking you out on a date. Just dinner.” “

The way he called her miss, it made her feel old. “Emine. Call me Emine. Never call me miss.” She would hate to have to stab him. He didn’t seem like a horrible person, and the goal was to make new friends. 

The Turk nods her head at him, not quite sure of him. She knew if she stuck around a little longer, the whole thing would reveal itself. It wasn’t like she had anything better to do at the moment. “Coffee, I can handle coffee.”

A smirk toys on her features. “I’ll give you the best damn guide, but it will cost you a pretty penny.” Extra cash, was extra cash. “Where are you from again?” 

Archibald shrugged and smiled widely. He didn’t understand what people had against miss, she was the second person to tell  him. Maybe it was because of some fear of being treated as a young girl? “Emine then,” He said, emphasizing the last syllable as she had, instead of omiting it as he was sure she would have heard done a thousand times here in London. He wondered if he should have been more American there. “Funny story that.” He said in his slightly exxagerated drawl. “I was born and raised in Hell, mi.. eh Emine, Funny name, I know, but it’s true. Hell, Michigan. Which oddly enough freezes over at least a few times a year.” He’d gotten used to the lie, one he’d told so often it became truth in his voice. It was way more interesting than the truth, and besides, everyone liked a good country boy. Even foreigners.

Sofie shrugged, looking up at the sky once more. “I think it’ll stay gray and gloomy for an obnoxiously long time. Maybe occasionally we’ll get some rain. But I doubt there will be any truly nasty weather just yet.” She looked back at the other man, squinting slightly. Was he familiar from somewhere? If he was, Sofie couldn’t quite place it yet.

-- There was this myth about London always being gray and drizzly, while in fact it was one of the sunniest places in the UK. Of course it was no SoCal, but still. As a kid he’d spent a few weeks in a small town west of Glasgow, while his dad had some business there. It’d been the height of summer, but it had rained for three weeks straight, not a single ray of sunshine. But he had to admit, the weather was a bit dreary today. The woman seemed to be staring at him rather intently. “Where are my manners” He said with a short bow. “Archibald Hathaway. And before you ask, yes my parents really did call me Archibald.” He held out his hand in greeting.

“Archibald, are you trying to flirt? Thought you reserved that for your own kind, no?” Jesus, he really did come from the same family tree as Spencer. That thought made her smile and placer her hand on his shoulders. “Never thought I would see you in the daylight. Not bad, Hathaway, you clean up good.” 

Where the scene was hot, so if anything, he was going to do something along with the French. He wasn’t like Edward, his friends lay on the French side and that would be an issue for her. “Now, I think for all the times we’ve had before, you would owe it to me to invite me? Maybe first for a drink now and later to that future opening?” 

-- “My own kind, dear Adriana?” He said, looking slightly confused. “I never knew I had a kind.” He knew she was talking about affiliations, but he never really cared much for those, especially not when it came to sex. Not that he was really trying to get into her pants, not really any way. He nodded quietly then his impish smile returned. “I could do with a drink indeed, but I’ll admit I haven’t really gotten my bearings yet. You know of a good place?” He pondered for a moment. “And yes, you should definitely be at the opening.”

“Meanwhile the American in me just assumes that I’m besties with everyone almost immediately after meeting them,” Peyton laughed, though there were so many different cultures within the US that it didn’t surprise her that they both could do the opposite and still blame their upbringings. “But I would love that, especially if you’re buying. I spent most of my money this month on my cats.” 

-- Archie chuckled slightly, then nodded. “Well, it would only be proper, since I invited you.” He looked around awkwardly for a moment. “Just hope you know where to go. I haven’t really gotten my bearings yet.” His normal confident facade reappeared, as he looked at her. “And a good place for coffee seems like one of the first things I’ll need to sort after all”

Ah, so he remembered her from the Vixen days. Said a lot about his involvement in the family. She remembered him from there - yes. They had a few conversations, but in that space she wasn’t Adriana; she wasn’t there to do the job simply for the sake of dancing, there were other things for her to do, for Lara. Archie was the kind of guy who like to watch, at least that was the idea she had of him, of him when he was at the Vixen. 

“Ah, missing the family? And which ones would that be?” She asked, arching her brow in his direction. Their family was a hell of a lot, with a vide range of personalities; some she loves and adored, the others she hated. Archibald was still yet to be decided. “What’s the direction you’re going towards, then? I doubt you would have changed that much? And well, no, not for a while now. I’ve moved to something entirely different.”

-- Archie nodded. It seemed she had decided to pursue new opportunities. He had to admit, he always liked seeing her dance, so maybe he’d miss that. But then, there was that nosy streak, and her apparent talent for getting people to talk. He’d seen it with the guys around him. A few small words, certain special motions and they’d be singing like canaries. At one time he’d suspected Cecelia of putting her up to it, but then what would his aunt have to win. “Well, whatever it is you are doing nowadays, it must be agreeing with you.” He smiled warmly. “As for me, well, I’m in the entertainment venue business, I go where the scene is hot, and London is becoming a more and more popular hotspot. So who knows, I might open something here. Seems like a great place to stick around, for a while.”

With time between some of her business meetings, Adriana decided to get some fresh air and use the little bit of time to wonder about. Alone, she hoped, but that soon went out of the window as she noticed none other but Archibald Hathaway strolling around. 

Adriana was good friends with his uncle, Edward, she and his aunt Cece got along well enough, at least for a while… Besides, the whole Hathaway clan was intertwined enough for her to know who everyone was. Were it any other day, she would have called Spencer, asked him what in the world was happening. But she couldn’t do that. 

Instead, she walked over to him, her brow arched in surprise. “I didn’t realise you were in London. Back for a visit or are you looking to settle?”

-- Adriana Amaro, He definitely remembered her. He’d visited Vixen a few times, and she had been a very competent dancer, and definitely good on the eyes, though she did always seem a bit to inquisitive for his taste. He liked his dancers seen, not heard. Still, he had to admit he’d enjoyed her company and aunt Cecelia seemed to like her a lot, so there was no reason to be rude, hell, they might have a bit of good clean fun. So he turned to her and smiled. “Good day miss Amaro. Yes, a family visit, I suppose I’d call it. Not sure whether it will be a short or a long stay, but you never know in this line of work I guess. I’m surprised to see you here though. Aren’t you working for aunt Cecelia anymore?”

“Oh my GOD are you trying to make me sound like I’m an old lady?” Peyton asked, bursting out laughing, “please for the love of everything that is good, call me Peyton. I am not old enough to be “Ms. Harrow” yet. And hopefully I never will be. But to answer your question, it is for the most part. But as long as I get to dance the good will always outweigh the bad.” 

-- Archie laughed, a heartfelt laugh at that. “I would never mean to imply you are old ms... Peyton. It’s the American in me I guess. Not to assume that kind of familiarity. But I will remember.” He motioned towards the town in general. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the town, and that you are able to find time to practice your art.” He looked around for a moment. “I have to say, as much as I love the beauty of this place, I could do with a cup of coffee or something. Care to join me? Give us a chance to catch up a bit.”