Raimi

His was grimy, yet again, and toddling along with an unsteady gait as he tottered onto Carver's Bridge. The running water was a soothing sound, and little Raimi sank down, grasping the wooden railing and leaning out precariously, trying to touch the water as he cooed softly, teetering dangerously.

Sheryl McTaryn

With her boyfriend heading out to the bars in search of Kakashi and the others, Sheryl found herself with little to do. And despite Jame's adamant warning not to go to the bridge by herself, that's the first place she went to. After all, she just had to see these interesting people he told her of. If it wasn't for the wounds he had, she wouldn't have believed his reports of a 'ninja' gang coming to town.

Rather than finding as sword-weilding masked ninja, Sheryl's attention was caught by a toddler. Seeing no one else around, and noting his precarious position on the bridge, the older teen rushed forward, "Sweetie, hold on there!" She called out, stumbling a few times in her high heels before reaching Raimi. "Woah there!" She said as she went to scoop him up, "What's a little fellow like you doing out here by yourself?" As she got a good look at the face, a spark of recognition lit in her mind. Could this be... no, she'd wait to show James.

Raimi

With the suddeness of thought, Raimi was swooped into the arms of this foreign female, but he was not instantaneously alarmed as most children would have been. Sheryl's voice was soft and sweet, and he turned a cutely dimpled smile to her, cooing wordlessly. A shock of crimson hair, blue eyes, tiny ears built close to the head that offset a broad, sloping forehead and chubby cheeks.

A glance from anyone who might have known his brother would think Raimi was the ghost of Ratri, who'd once been one of the most influential members of Brushfire, the gang that had ruled Atroe City before the newcome CrypticSilver threatened, wounded, and murdered them into submission.

But Raimi had never met either Ratri or Raven, who'd led Brushfire into a dominion-like reign over the streets of the city. They'd died long before Raimi's birth. But he so closely resembled Ratri... put black hair on the toddler and you'd have his brother's miniature. It was this sweet, trusting face that gazed up into Sheryl's.

McTaryn

"Just look at you." She said with a smile, though there was a look of suspicious wonder in her light brown eyes. "Just where did you come from?" Sheryl asked next, though she didn't expect any answer from the young kid.

The teen stood up, holding Raimi against one hip with her hind, while brushing a few locks of dark auburn hair behind her shoulder. Her build was tall and slender, though there was a faint gauntness to her face and darkness under her eyes that attested to one of her past-times. Cocaine.

"Hello? Is anyone out here?" She began to call out, doubting her initial inklings that this child was somehow related to the Carlyles. But if she could find no parent to claim the child, she'd give her boyfriend a call. If anyone knew, he would.

Raimi

Hair... it had always fascinated the boy. As she called out, he reached up a hand to feel a strand of it, finding it so soft and pleasant. He continued to coo, not yet using real words. but finally, as she called, he lifted his tiny voice in a vaguely sorrowful call. Ras-Ras? Ras-Ras! He missed his brother... where had he gone?

He looked up at Sheryl, a soft frown creasing his little face. Sheryl knew where Ras-Ras was... right?

Sheryl McTaryn

It soon became clear that there was no one else around, and that Raimi was on his own. By his appearance alone, she could have assumed as much, although given the living arrangements of some of the families around here, you could never tell for sure.

"Ras? Is that your name?" Sheryl smiled, speaking in a soft voice as he played with her hair. "I can't just leave you out here by yourself now..." The teen said, her words drifting into silence as she thought about what she should do. Her light eyes were drawn back to his face, and again, she got the feeling she was looking at a familiar face.

"Aw, it's alright sweetie. You're safe with me." She cooed, seeing worry begin to show on his face. Rocking him gently, she took out her cellphone and called her boyfriend.

"James. Hey, where are you? Are you at the Night Club?".....
"James! What the h- what are you doing? James?!"
"No, it can’t. Listen, I found this little boy. I think he’s been abaonded or something." ....
"Shut up, I’m serious! I looks like that one kid from the Brushfire Gang." ....
"I’m out by Carver’s Bridge." ....

Sheryl clicked the phone shut and turned her attention back to Raimi, "We'll get this sorted out, little guy. You're too adorble; who would just leave you out here all alone?" The teen moved back towards where her car was parked, and sat on the low hood while she waited for James.

Raimi

Soft voices always comforted the little boy, and he went back to cooing, even laughing lightly at her as she argued with James on the phone.

He giggled and bounced on her lap, not really understanding what was going on, but glad to have a friend.

Sheryl, James, & Lanny

Sheryl spoke and cooed with the toddler as she waited for her boyfriend to arrive. And it didn't take long; in less than five minutes, James pulled up beside her car.

"So, you were at the Night Club!" She accused right away, since it was not far from the Bridge.

James rolled his eyes, "Not again, Sheryl. So this is the kid?" He said, quickly trying to change the subject before a familiar argument errupted.

As James looked over Raimi, Lanny got out of the car and stood beside his brother, looking at the toddler, "Hey, you know what... that looks like that one kid. You know, the one that had black hair?"

James nodded slowly, trying to place a name to the familiar features. "Ratri! The Carlyles!" He said suddenly, a smirk spreading across his lean, darkly complextioned Italion face. "His mother was murdered a few months back. The father's a drunkard."

Sheryl looked from face to face, trying to figure out what her boyfriend and his brother were thinking. "Well...?"

"Well," James continued, looking pointedly to his girlfriend, "I know there's at least two other Carlyles out there somewhere. His father and an older brother. We take this runt, and we really put our names out there. Maybe get that other brother to show his face, and end the Carlyle line for good."

Raimi

Raimi cooed and giggled as these strangers looked him over, but seemed disturbed when Sheryl's voice became so heated. He reached a tiny hand up to her face, a small whine coming from his mouth as his face fell a bit.

He turned and glared a look at James, his expressions not Ratri's, but Conan's. James was making Sheryl unhappy! Shupa mann bum bum harfff he squealed at James.

Sheryl, James, & Lanny

Sheryl held Raimi tighter, turning her back slightly to her boyfriend as she scowled out him, "Hush it, you're making him upset!" The lady accused, feeling a sudden impulse to protect the kid. Creating a happy, soft face once more, she spoke in light, cooing words to try and reassure Raimi again. "As long as this little guy isn't hurt. He can be our baby."

"Uggh!" James groaned in exasperation, rolling his eyes and turning to his brother, "You see, Lanny? This is why it's better to be single."

Sheryl grinned contently, still fussing over Raimi as she replied to her boyfriend, "We'll call him... Randy." She stated merrily, deriving the name from the initial 'Rass' she heard the boy say, which she believed to be part of his name.

Lanny was quite enjoying the little argument, knowing that the couple rarely escaladed their debates further than shouting matches. They certainly had their issues, but despite their violent gang lives, he had never seen James lay a cruel hand on Sheryl. He may be a cold-blooded murderer, but ironically enough, they had been raised to treat 'their woman' properly.

Raimi

As usual, the soft voice soothed the toddler, and he began to coo again, soft words and smiles. Beeeeerup! Raaa.... Rannddeee. He said it with parroting tone peculiar to children of that age, smiling up at Sheryl as if to make her notice this accomplishment. Raaaanddddeee. Randy.

Sheryl, James, & Lanny

"Randy, that's right!" Sheryl repeated, praising the child with a warm laugh, "Our little Randy. How would you like to go home with us?"

Seeing that the decision was out of hands at this point, James gave up any petty little arguement he might have had and focused on the upside to the situation. Whether this was a longterm 'adoption' or not, he planned on having 'Randy' around long enough to gain the attention of the other Carlyles. And to make a bold statement to the other gangs.

James took a quick look around, just making sure there was no danger lurking about, "So, 'mommy', what's are next move?"

Sheryl gave her boyfriend a playful shove, knowing by his tone that she had won the brief dispute, "Well, he's going to need to get to know you, 'daddy'. Here, hold him." Grinning, she handed the toddler over to the unexpecting James.

Lanny couldn't help but laugh, though to his surprise, James reached out with careful arms to take up the kid. "Randy Zelkovi, huh?" Unlike Sheryl, he held the boy at length, and not up close to him. As if he were a trophy being insepcted.

Raimi

Raimi's cooing dissipated a little as he transfered hands. He was looking up at James, studying the young man much as he was studying him. James... seemed way too serious. So he gave James that cute grin, babbling some more. That always made adults smile. Hyyyyy moo. Boot reeee sarrr. Randy Randy Randy.

Who was this Randy they were talking about? It was just a word he'd parroted, and he hadn't yet attached it to himself.

Sheryl, James, & Lanny

"Aw, he likes you!" Sheryl said, clasping her hands in front of her face. "Look at that smile!" Unable to resist, she reached a hand out and ruffled the kid's fiery hair.

Despite himself, James gave a little smile, "He just likes attention." The young man tried to put off the suggestion by Sheryl. "Zelkovi. Try that one out, squirt. Zel-ko-vi." James said, stressing out the syllabls.

Lanny inched closer now, hanging his head over his brother's shoulder to get a better look at the kid. "Zel-ko-vi." He piped up, eager to get the kid to repeat their last name.

Sheryl shook her head at the long word they were trying to get the young kid to repeat, but was happy with the entertainment they were getting out of Raimi.

Raimi

Ah, there was a smile! The toddler's grin grew in answer, cooing as Sheryl ruffled his hair. Now everything was good, and everyone was happy. So he obligingly began to parrot again. Ze... Zecohbby. And, as James and Lanny pronounced it more clearly, he screwed up his face in concentration and tried again. Zeko... Zekovi! Not quite, but close, and the slight mispronunciation was obviously due to a baby's fumbly words.

He grinned up at James, repeating. Zekovi kovi kovi!

Sheryl, James, & Lanny

Raimi's response brought laughs to all three, and especially delighted Sheryl, who took hold of the toddler. "You're a smart one, aren't you?" Holding him close, she moved to the car, "Lets feed him and get him some new clothes. Oh! I've got to call Tanya, she'll just love shopping with me!" Sheryl declared with girlish excitement.

James jumped at the opportinuty to show of their new posession, and get word circulating around town. The more places they went with the kid, the more likely Michael and Conan were to find out. "Food first. We'll check out that restaurant down town." He decided, getting into his own car. "Lanny, drive Sheryl's car over and meet us there."

Taking the keys from his brother's girlfriend, while she cuddled with Raimi in the front passenger seat of James' car, Lanny obeyed the instructions. The group headed for the Restaurant.

Raimi

Everyone's excited responses made him coo and smile, now forgiving James for his angry tone earlier. As Sheryl hopped in the front passenger seat with him, he squealed and giggled, so happy to be among 'friends' again.