Title: Another Hectic Day.
Rating: M (Language and Situations)
A/N: Dick Wolf Owns LOCI characters, all others are mine. NO LINKS BETWEEN THIS CHAPTER & REALITY ARE INTENDED.
Waking the next day, Liza carefully disbands the embrace with her spouse, whom rouses from slumber behind her. "What is it, baby?" He asks. "I planned on surprising you with breakfast in bed, sexy. I've realized I haven't doted over you nearly enough, and my chance to change it was, almost blown. You know how, too." Liza vents. "Yeah. I don't want you to slave around, because it's unsafe and unequal. We don't let anyone else in our family do it, so why put yourself on a lower plain?" Jeremiah ponders. "I swore.." Liza starts. "I know. You've been magnificent about taking care of me, and loving me, since we first started out. I should've reminded you sooner, apparently, but we can still work with it. All it'd take is, you kissing me, trusting my word, and joining me in taking today from there." Jeremiah interrupts. Allowing actions to serve as her reply, Liza soon leads her hubby through their day-starting routine.
By the time they get into the living room, Tianna's at the front door. "Dad, Frank urgent texted me a bit ago. He's sending Tynie and Bobby over here, so she can be our bartender, and main cook, while he explains their part in yesterday's business. Frank very strongly advised we put it that way, because he heard on Channel 11, some pending disbarred attorneys are lashing out. As he understood it, they're going mob style violent, against anyone they want. I know our family usually doesn't trust the media, but Frank believed his interpretation, warrants an exemption. He's having Anita urgent text everyone else, telling one couple per house to come out here by carpool, as I speak, because of it." Markus proclaims. "How are Tynie and Bobby getting here?" Liza probes. "Frank's Harley. Anita gave spousal consent, so Tynie got time to check our stashes for issues, before she started on Frank's idea for our meeting. If any are found, she's to set up a partial restock, using one of our cars." Markus replies. "I'm not letting her do that, but Anita didn't know. It's fine, because I can have Bobby tell her, it's due to the news we just got." Jeremiah forbids. "Ok." Tianna sighs.
Several minutes later, Tianna goes from hearing a knock at the door, to welcoming Tynie and Bobby in. Honoring family trends for gathering at each other's houses from there, Tynie retreats to let the remaining group inside. Waiting until everyone's seated, and the house is secured, Bobby extolls "Frank changed my and my baby's part of the plan, while we were on our way here. He doesn't want her doing any restocks, until shit dies down, because of her connections to it. Most of you'll learn what I mean soon enough, but it means the one Anita required, is on me." "I know you mean well, brother. It's just, I'm more comfortable taking your place on that one, paying someone else to do your household's, and swearing it's due to your link to Tynie and her links to the news you're giving us." Mack protess. "Mack, if you'll agree to periodically put forty in my gas tank: I'll cover the middle part, and split the last one with you." Damian offers. "You guys should make it fifty, and blame that on news I heard, about Albany spiking the gas tax." Ted contradicts.
Walking over to Liza's fridge, Tynie barks "Ted, if you make that a family wide deal before I get back in there: I'll keep you in Jack Daniels fifths until hell freezes over!" "You don't have to do that, sis. I can just as easily ask the people by me to claim it was done behind their backs, on account of Frank's advice." La'Tario disapproves. "He's got it on my end, sis. In fact, I'm having my baby take over our part in this meeting, so I can help with yours." Kiki insists. "That makes two of us. We'll need someone to do the insurance report ins, though." Alicia corrects. "I'll handle that, ladies. Of course, it means my power of attorney will be used on any needed claims and Markus will be updated after they're filed." Tyler obliges. "Thanks for the heads up." Markus honors. "Anytime." Tyler demurs.
Kissing their spouse's cheeks, that group heads to join Tynie, who's treating Liza's fridge like a search warrant's just been issued on it. "Damnit! The motor in this motherfucker's dyin', so now we have to rig an urgent appliance clear out, replacement, and partial restock." Tynie condemns. "Tyler, how much will I owe you for taking her to cover the last two parts?!" Liza barks. "A Sake King, after we have the latest plan change settled!" Tyler booms. "Liza, before you answer him; you need to know. They can leave the clear out to us, and use my car on the rest!" Kiki declares. "Babe, would you be pissed if I made it a gift?" Tynie frets. "I'd stand by it, because you're right. This is another time, it's too dangerous for us to do urgent loans." Bobby negates. "Ok. Sorry, I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to risk lying to our bank on it." Tynie justifies. "It's Ok, sweetheart." Bobby retorts. "Sounds like we have a new deal, guys." Liza assumes. Curtly nodding, Tynie's group disperses, to honor their parts in this arrangement. As Kiki's is finished, they rejoin the others in Liza's house, and get debriefed by Bobby. Glancing around himself, he sees several pairs of eyes bulge, in shock at the news. Composing herself, Alicia hopes "Jeremiah, Bobby, please forgive me for essentially making a decision against your bank accounts. It's just, I believe it'd be better if you let Liza's plan change, involve the only emergency loan we make until shit dies down." Surprising them, Liza's text alert goes off. Obtaining her phone, she gets a message from Tynie, who sent it because Tyler's driving. "Guys, I just got word. Tyler suspects it's only a matter of time before a mix of the news Frank got and what inspired our deal on our gas tanks, will bring on a shitload of problems. He's asked us to revoke that, and put a moratorium on getting takeout until things calm down, because of it." Liza expounds. "What'll it mean for Tynie's house being restocked?" Alicia wonders. "If they can get someone to watch over her and Anita: she'll ask Frank, to split those with Bobby." Liza answers. "Let her know it just became my turf and I'll text Frank if anything comes up?" Damian requests. "On it now, brother." Liza submits.
A few minutes later, the family's luck with text to speech apps, returns. Due to it, everyone by Liza hears an automated voice say "I'd prefer Damian rigs a rotation, and texts it to Frank, by tomorrow afternoon. They may think it's paranoid, but we don't know if anyone who fits Tyler's theory has stalking cases, especially violent ones, in their rap sheets. As I understand privacy laws, we can't find out, until we're criminally victimized. Frankly, I'd rather we avoid it, as best we can; especially since five of us have court dates for more major cases coming up." "Liza, will you tell her we have a new deal?" Damian ponders. "Sure." Liza dubs. Retaining her word, and ending the chat by kin customs, she sits back. "Markus, if I were you: I'd use that as my grounds for taking Jeremiah's spot on the loan. That way, you can swear to Tom, your decision came out because of your rank on the insurance; and the retaliation risks Tynie and Tyler mentioned." Ted advises. "Actually guys, it'd be better if we urgent texted the others. Should they ask, tell them my advice came out, so they can make finding out who else was affected by Liza's fridge issue part of my baby's advice on emergency loans." La'Tario interrupts. "I'll tell you what, brother. If Markus uses your advice to support acting on Ted's, I'll split that with you." Bobby counteroffers. "We have another new deal, Bobby." Markus intends.
Catching the hint, La'Tario enforces his end of it, learning that was perfectly timed. Of course, a repeat of how Liza's chat with Tynie changed, made it so everyone by him got the same education. "Guys, believe it or not, I'm glad that happened. Several people in our family will be driving soon, and God knows if any new cops who're hellbent on coming off as hardasses will be out. I'd rather not have any of us get that "yes," over cellphone driving tickets, we can just as easily avoid." Kiki garners. "Same here, sis." Jeremiah teases. Settling it on that note, Jeremiah's living room goes silent, until Tynie uses Kiki's emergency access key. Seconds after hearing it, Ted rushes to help them bring stuff in, with La'Tario and Bobby in tow. As he sets the last load aside, Tynie races to secure the house, and meet with Markus. "Tyler didn't want me to confess this, over the phone. He said, our luck with certain apps made it too dangerous, which is why I'm about to French kiss pissing Tianna off. You'll feel what I mean by that, shortly." Tynie admits. "Ok." Markus slurs.
Deftly storing the papers in his breast pocket, she looks to Tianna, whom refuses "I'm not mad about what you just did, sis. We got proof Tyler was justified, before you two made it back here. Unfortunately, that evidence came with some, we're lucky no one in our family's gotten sick from eating out of our fridges." "Son of an assfucked bitch!" Tynie snaps. "It's ok, sis. We have it set, so that should be settled, before we share good night messages. I'd make it an absolute, but I can't, because we don't know how bad delivery delays will get." Markus lulls. "Considering the fact, Tyler and I have to wait an hour on this one, even though it was set as an emergency, you're justified. Hopefully, Bobby understands the choice I had. On one side, I could spend nearly four grand on your new fridge, it's lifetime warranty, and having Liza's current one removed. On the other, I could bring back you guys' risk of getting sick, by buying a brand linked to AmeriCool's manufacturers. You just got the red tape on what I picked, but the others were urgent texted a warning on it, before Tyler and I left Allwen's parking lot." Tynie interferes. "Bobby, I just realized. AmeriCool Corporate can be sued or investigated, if not both, over leaving people with her choice. So, I think it'd be best, if that's used to back pulling the emergency loan deal." Kiki confesses. "Guys, we'd be safest using a mix of her point and the proof Tianna mentioned, as grounds to update the others later." Mack adds.
Mere seconds later, Tianna's text alert sounds, causing her to quickly grab her phone. Skimming over the latest message, she reports "Guys, I just found out. About fifteen minutes ago, Channel 11 had a story, that proved the "if not both" part of Kiki's theory right. Thanks to it, Lori, Annalise, Terry, and Russ insist on using their powers of attorney on our insurance policy updates. Dean was asked to text me, so I could warn you, we'll probably be contacted, to vouch their decision was OK by us." Before anyone can react, Tynie grabs her phone, then calls Frank. Answering on the third ring, he learns all about emergency loan and gas tank deals, that were made and revoked. Then, he's told she's hellbent on tying the latest decision to them, and asks him to be ready to defend it. "You know this'll run you a round of Jack Daniels, right sis?" Frank challenges. "You know where I keep it, so go ahead and get some of my last, brother." Tynie pardons. "I will, after our call's over." Frank hinders. "Alright. Unless new shit starts going live, I'll text you before me and Bobby head home." Tynie forestalls. "Sounds good, sis." Frank permits. Ending the call on that note, she calls Tom, to prove her most recent plan.
Twenty minutes later, Tynie stashes her phone, and reclines in her seat. Staring into her eyes, Liza worries "Is everything OK, sis?" "Not really. The only good news I got, was Tom could use my statement to mass-verify the decision Dean texted. I got word, Tom's already been swamped with proof, we're among very few clients who had the heart to go that route. What makes it worse is, I doubt he could professionally survive, without the assholes. If that were different, I'd have advised him to start dropping them." Tynie grouses. "Sis, I hate saying it, but you're mostly right. Tom would probably lose his professional ass, if he dropped those fuckers, for anything shy of failing to pay premiums or fraud. We all know, bastards like them are the same kind who love to trump up bullshit lawsuits. What you may not realize is, I can use your timing, to support taking your place on dealing with the delivery. I know it's not much; but it's the best I can do, for now." Markus decries. "If you need my help situating Liza's fridge; just holler. I'll show you how it can be segued into our meeting, and have everything taken from there." Tynie persists. "Will do." Markus teases.
Considering it a cue, Tyler prepares for the cited meeting, Markus following suit. Over the next hour, those two men go from dealing with the delivery, to hollering for Tynie. Scurrying to join them, she learns from an Allwen's staffer named Darren: their anti-lawsuit rules require she sign the delivery papers; because she used her power of attorney on Markus's insurance to arrange it. "Darren, I know you're used to apologizing to customers about that kind of thing. My family and I pride ourselves in not being that petty, especially the people who do it are decent with us. You were, so the least I can do is; make this end of your shift easy on you. Of course, it'll mean I borrow a pen and get about five minutes to settle these papers." Tynie disclaims. "None of that's a problem, Mrs. Vantman." Darren nullifies. Proving it, he sees her split the copies, and put hers in her pocket. "That's temporary, Darren. I'll have it moved to the permanent location, after you get an armed escort to your truck. Before you worry, it's a family safety protocol, I'm pretty sure I can get my cousin Tyler to cover. He's learning now, it'd mean he gets a Sake King next time he's at my house." Tynie cautions. "She just found out, we have a deal, Darren." Tyler predicts.
Enacting it, Tyler reenters the house, and locks up. As that occurs, Markus gets the latest papers, and goes to secure it all. Using it as another cue, Liza, Kiki, and Tianna head to the kitchen, then share loading the new fridge. Soon after they're done, Bobby, Jeremiah and Tynie collaborate on putting the new coolers up. Closing the gap between herself and the head of this household, Tynie queries "Do you want me to start bartending?" "We should split it, so Jeremiah can report in to Markus, honey. You gave us the news, that explains why, too." Bobby interrupts. "Sis, he merely beat me to suggesting that, by a couple minutes." Jeremiah discloses. "Ok." Tynie rasps.
Separating to act on the newest arrangement, those three quietly serve, and rejoin the others. "Jeremiah, please forgive me for making a decision against your house. It's just, you're the head of it, and you're still dealing with post surgery restrictions. On top of it, Tynie's made a habit of periodically throwing hers to the wind lately. She's lucky it's been truly justified every time, but I don't want her taxing that luck too much. Bobby can cuss me out while kicking my ass for it, if he wants, but I'm a lot more comfortable risking that than spiking the chances of you or Tynie landing in the ER. I know, it means I'll be calling in unowed favors from everyone else here until we leave. They're learning now, I'll gladly flip this, whenever they need it. Beyond it, we'll be as safe as we can, and keep Markus posted. You know why we have to do that, too." Damian apprises. "Damian, all you did was: give my baby and Jeremiah another example, of how you'll care for them. I understand you weren't sure I'd see it that way; because of today's news, so it's alright." Bobby discredits. "He's right, Damian. We're good, and so's your plan." Jeremiah deems. "He may be OK with that, but I'm not. Bobby and Liza shouldn't have to juggle keeping eyes on Tynie and Jeremiah, with trying to help us. I believe it'd be fairer if we made a deal, that lets them focus on the first part. If it means I do double duty, so be it." Ted objects. "That's unfair to, and unsafe for you, brother. You're better off helping me cleanup, and leaving the rest to everyone else." Alicia disapproves. "She's right. Hell, I'll even risk owing someone here an unowed favor, for their help on our next meal." Alice counters. "I'd feel better if we split it with Tianna, sis. You can blame it on Tom's current client situation, too." Tyler implores. "La'Tario, would you help me on coffee table prep and meal cleanup?" Damian inquires. "I'm more comfortable with asking Kiki and Markus to back me on the prep part, brother. We just got reminded of why, but you didn't know yet, so it's OK." Mack refutes. "It's fine by me. How about you, Kiki?" Markus goads. "Definitely." Kiki claims. "Guys, your hearts are in the right place. I just don't feel right not contributing. So, I'll help with the cleanup, if Liza will watch over my baby while I do it." Bobby disallows. "Ted, he's right. Although your plan change was sweet, theirs is safer, especially since we don't know how much glass or grease will get involved. They missed a base, but I'm pretty sure I can clear it, by running debts with my baby, Liza, and Alicia. Basically, I'm doing it so our next drink round's covered, without changing your plan too much." Tynie recognizes. "You can clear my end of it, by making sure Frank's Harley's in my garage, sis. We've been lucky the weather hasn't turned to shit, but Lord knows when that'll change." Liza mandates. "I'll be back in a bit then, sis." Tynie recuses.
Exiting the area, long enough to prove herself, she affords the others a chance to do this round of cleanup. "Tynie, I had Tianna text Frank while you were away. He's been asked to get his Harley in a couple days, because of Liza's weather concern. You don't have to worry about how you'll get home, because I have room in my Expedition." Mack conveys. "You guys had perfect timing. On my way back in here, I got a system standard text, that said we're under a thunderstorm warning, until one tomorrow morning. Honestly, that's why I'm about to owe Liza and Damian bottles of White Zin, in exchange for them urgent texting the rest of our family. If they'll take the deal, and swear it came out so we only contact each other in dire emergencies until morning, I'll get the bottles next time I go shopping." Tynie recalls. "Liza, I hope you'll forgive me for refusing her offer, on your name. I feel it beats us breaking our deal on not making debt ones, especially since the storms may take out power." Damian wishes. "You just gave me another reason to do as she advised. I know you weren't sure, but now, we can use your logic in those messages." Liza rebuffs. "Let's do it." Damian coaxes.
Sharing a short nod, those two grab their phones, using them to honor the newest deal. Receiving a blend of the family's understanding, an update on their day, and usual good night messages in the reply, Damian and Liza send the last regard back. Storing their phones, Liza updates the people by her, whom nod in their own understanding. "Tynie, I just got an idea. In order for it to work, I'll need you to come sit at my right, and try to relax." Jeremiah redirects. Curious, she smirks, obeys half his directive, and feels his right arm drape around her. Leaning to align gazes with her; Liza coaxes "It's Ok, sis. He's just trying to make my next part in our meeting easy. He just didn't realize, I'd prefer it entail Damian taking my spot, long enough for me to get my baby's pain meds, yet." "I'll need my honey to make Jeremiah a round of Frank's Hazelnut Paradice, then. You didn't know it yet, but that's one reason why I got y'all an Xaviera Multi-Serve coffee maker, with a single serve option. The other, I found out Carafeman is a subsidiary of Caughman, and they're reputed for making endangerment level shitty coffee makers. I learned that, back when I was Frank's judicially afforded defender." Tynie rambles. "Those multi-serves usually run four hundred a piece. You spent four grand on the fridge, and God knows how much on the rest of our partial restock." Tianna mopes. "Twenty three hundred forty bucks, after tax. I'm good with it, because I know you guys would be, if the tables were flipped. Besides, now Bobby has the figure, and can make a deal with Markus for the proof. God knows if our bank will bitch about it, but the clerk I dealt with stapled my evidence to the top left hand corner of my first round of delivery papers. If it weren't for that, I'd have planted it on my baby, the minute I got back here." Tynie recounts. "It's ok, sis. We keep a staple puller in Dad's home office, that I'll use to get Bobby the receipt, if he makes the round you just advised." Markus sates. "Deal." Bobby quips.
Detouring to kiss his wife's cheek, he sets off a chain of activity, that ends with Markus's deal being finished. Whirling to face her, he regrets "You may get rather upset with me, sis. I had to hold your receipt, so the payment form was visible, when I used the staple puller. After that, I checked for damage that shouldn't be there, and discovered you and Liza share shopping tactics. You may not have realized it, but I should've asked you if it was alright, to find that out." "All you did was, use one of my evidence saving moves, brother. Now, I can use what you just learned about me and Liza, to ease Tianna's mind. I'd need y'all to swear, you'll make rotations out of watching how me and Liza shop, then try it yourselves from now on, for that to work. If you'll do it, and promise to let the others know my preference another time because of the latest news; everything will be good between us." Tynie defies. "You've got it on my end, sis." Markus instills. Alternating who repeats that, the remaining folks by Tynie show her, another new deal's been made. Sipping his coffee, and taking a dose of his pain meds, Jeremiah causes his niece, to face him. "You just helped me realize, I missed a couple bases. It's cool, because I'm fairly sure I can fix it right now. All that'd take is: finding out where you stash those pills, getting word on if Liza's OK with me accessing that area, learning if it extends to my keeping the bottle on me when we're by each other, making a deal to keeping you on your dose schedule during the same time; and swearing I'll plant the bottle on Liza or Markus before we separate." Tynie divests. "Liza, if I were in your shoes: I'd put two conditions on that. One, a requirement to be told who's standing in for her, and why. The other, a mandate to learn where to find the bottle, so I can get it back if any new shit hits during her timelines." Damian confesses. "I planned on it, brother. You didn't know yet, but our new deals don't take effect, until the next time we meet here. She may not like it, but she's been working her ass off for the past two days, and we all know her medical constraints. I believe this is fairest, because of them." Liza quantifies. "I'm cool with it, actually. She wasn't sure, so it's ok." Tynie rebels. "Sis, I can see it in your eyes. You don't believe you've done enough for me. That's a damn lie, because you've been central to how my life's evolved for the best, since the day we first met. Sorry that rhymed, but I know the same's true for everyone in our family. We know how your ethics are, but you said it yourself. There's no foul in giving reminders, especially when they can ease minds. All I'm trying to do is, show you it fits our current situation, perfectly." Jeremiah adjudicates. "I know, and I fuckin' adore you for it. You just, didn't know I've been battling flashback nightmares, and ones where shit ended up worse, since the day you left St. Lucia's. I didn't tell you, because I didn't want it to put you at risk of violating your restrictions, or causing new medical shit to go live. You're my elder, and our family's third in line for main elder, so it didn't feel right." Tynie admits. "We've been in the same boat, this whole time." Liza grumbles. "Ladies, you just gave me perfect grounds to have Bobby create a rotation, on who overtakes your latest deal. If he'll do it, and ask you to be ready to defend it: I'll pull a Tynie by keeping him in Glenlivet fifths until the literal Apocalypse." Mack intrudes. "I'm stealing that last phrase." Tynie rejoinders. "We figured you would, sugar. He doesn't have to prove the full force of it, though. I'm more comfortable with it being downgraded to us having a couple rounds together, when we meet at our house, because of our family's luck with packaging conditions. He may not have been sure, so it's alright." Bobby overrules. "Fair enough." Mack relays. "How can we get Tynie and Liza over what they've endured?" Alicia worries. "Love them, and cut deals like this one. Believe me sis, if there was another way; I'd take lead on it." Tyler relents. "Technically, you just did, babe. We'll have to periodically check with Bobby and Jeremiah to get reminded of their limits, so we don't disrespect them, though." Damian contends. "Isn't it easier to base it on what they've allowed before; and go from there?" La'Tario queries. "Yes. It's also safer, given our family's luck with certain phone apps, and traffic issues." Alice verifies.
Contorting to line her gaze with Liza, Tynie dares "I'm not arguing that, are you?" "No." Liza refutes. Allowing that to settle it for now, Bobby advises they have a round of drinks together. Barely two minutes later, Damian and Markus volunteer to help, then suggest it consists of White Zin, Jack and Cokes, and Jim Beam Highballs. "Count me in, guys." Bobby eludes. Arising to gather those, and serve everyone, that trio reclaims their seats. Surrounded by silence, that sect of Tynie's family fulfills her husband's drink plan, Mack, Alice, and Alicia clearing from it. Briefly meeting eyes with her spouse and mother, Kiki frets "Will you guys help me on our next meal? If so, do you think the others by us will mind, taking our original deal on that from there?" "Sweetie, I'm sure they'll be fine with that. As far as my end goes, I'll do it, after we get Ted's answer." Tianna surmises. "Lead the way, ladies." Ted taunts. Dusting a kiss to his cheek, Kiki complies, with her mom in tow. Deliberately keeping their voices low, those three make a deal on serving brats and steaks with all the sides, then separately begin honoring it. Behind their backs, Tianna's hunch on the prior meal arrangement, starts coming true. Assembling around the final result, the ladies in Liza's house get their shares first, by moments. True to a couple family norms, everything's enjoyed and cleared from, without interruption. By the time they rejoin each other, the predicted storms cue up, in a rage. "Guys, on nature's note, I'm curious. Who do you want me to have Mack swear on my ass, will be called if he has any issues getting home?" Tynie probes. "Liza, forgive me. I think it should be you, so Markus overhears why he has to drive, and where he's taking you guys. He may hate it, but that beats Jeremiah violating his restrictions, let alone Tianna risking a wreck so close to your last St. Lucia's visit. We all know bad weather brings out the shittiest drivers, especially later in the day. I swear, if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have advised against her driving." Ted appeals. "It's fine, brother. You're right about the weather and those assholes, but it means I need to ask Bobby a favor. I need him to promise; he won't let Tynie repeat how she handled Dad's St. Lucia's visit, so soon after using her power of attorney on my insurance." Markus interrupts. "You just explained why, stepping in like she did for Jeremiah, falls to me. Hopefully, it won't be needed; but I know what else inspired my baby. She wanted our contingency plan set up, without risking it being overheard by anyone who'd warp it into a criminal invitation. I stand by her decision, but figured you need specifics, in case you have to deal with Tom on it." Bobby contrives. "Mack, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear that was code. Roughly translated, you're supposed to swear on Tynie's ass: you'll call Markus or have him called if you have any issues getting home." Alicia guesses. "I think it's a dual sided code, sis. You just cleared up half, but the rest translates to: Bobby's decision came out so Liza knows what may trigger her retirement status being invoked. She can blame it on a mix of Jeremiah being on medical restrictions; and our family's pasts with AMT's and the NYPD, too." Kiki amends. "I'm planning on it. You weren't sure, so it's Ok." Liza signifies. "Why'd I just get a sense, we'll need to urgent text our family, telling them to brace themselves for a code red call out to St. Lucia's?" Alice snivels.
Urgently aligning gazes with her, Tynie gambles "I'll put twenty million bucks in cold, hard cash on Jeremiah's coffee table; on it being because: you suspect shitty, drunk or high drivers, ones in stolen cars, or ones who fit more than one of those bills at the same time, will force our hand. I hope to Christ they don't, but I'll gladly owe Liza a bottle of Dom Perignon, in exchange for her getting the word out. At least that way, she can blend my bet and my debt, into our code translations." "She only high rolls when…" Alicia starts. "She fears we're almost guaranteed to face the issues she names in one of her theories. Sadly, a combination of the weather change, and her traffic angle, justify it. Honestly, if I were Liza, I'd make that why her bet and debt aren't enforced." Damian finishes. "Great minds think alike, brother." Liza evades.
Wrapping his right arm around Tynie, Jeremiah feels her nestle up, then checks her heart rate. "She's good. I don't want her to so much as advise us on how to settle another situation today, because of this meeting's connection to our court hearing. She's been blessed not to land in St. Lucia's yet, but I don't want it to change, unless it absolutely can't be avoided." Jeremiah chides. "I know what you're about to say, honey. We love you, and your drive to help our family, but he's right. You shouldn't risk ER visits you can prevent, especially since we're waiting to be served for another major case, that's connected to a disbarment. If you did, the defense would probably warp it into grounds to get the cases thrown out. They'd most likely demand their clients be immediately released, because of it, too. Like Jeremiah, I'd prefer it stay that way, unless we have no choice in the matter." Bobby pre-empts.
Closing her eyes, she hears Tyler contest "Guys, Bobby and Jeremiah are right. We should jump at every chance to make Tynie stepping in, an ultimate last resort. I mean, from now on, so we don't have as high a risk of a future clash with society's assbags, landing her in St. Lucia's. Hell, if you want, I'll claim we already made a deal on it, when I get the word out." "I'd prefer we update the others in person. You can blame that on the power loss risk we're facing now, too." Liza rebukes. "Ok." Tyler murmurs. "Jeremiah, that decision, left me curious. Do you want me and my baby to get your LED lamps situated?" Kiki ponders. "I'll back them up, so they don't risk getting hurt." Mack intercedes. "Kiki, he just made it so, my answer's yes." Jeremiah imparts.
Enforcing their most recent promise, Ted, Kiki, and Mack rejoin the others, after fifteen minutes pass. "Tianna, Liza, Markus and Jeremiah, I need to apologize. I went into your areas, without warning you, to pre-set four LED lamps. Two are on the end tables, closest to your hallway door, and the others are on the ones, by your bathrooms. They're off for now, but a risk of power loss, doesn't give me a right to invade your privacy." Mack laments. "As I understood Jeremiah's reaction to Kiki's timing with those lamps, you guys got a coded consent for your idea. The only condition was, one of you had to tell one of them, how that chunk was set. You just extended it to all four of them, so I'm pretty sure, everything will be fine." Alicia assumes. "Sis, you're mostly right. I was going to ask them to tell me, so I learned how to answer it with Tom, if we have to file claims because of the storm. Hopefully we don't, but I'd rather know and not need to, than the other way around." Markus regards. "May the others by me, forgive me for lumping them into this, but we don't blame you. God knows; how fast Tom's asshole clients will start enforcing their reputations over storm related claims. I'd prefer to keep it that way, especially given how finding out they've already bombarded him once today, affected Tynie." Alice recognizes. "She missed a base, guys. There's also a question, of how many will do as she said, in what kind of timeline. Honestly, it's why I'm happy to risk offending the rest of our family, by saying she spoke for all of us. If they ask, tell them my decision came out, so we wouldn't violate our deal on phone contact for anything shy of a dire emergency. If it pisses any of them off, text me to let me know, and I'll settle it with them another day." La'Tario insists. "Will do." Tynie reclaims.
Switching off who repeats her, the rest of the people by La'Tario let him know, it's settled. Astounding Jeremiah, his niece checks his heart rate, like hers usually is, seemingly out of nowhere. "Babe, I need you to get me and Jeremiah Jack Daniels doubles. If Dr. Perez asks, this came out because I didn't want any of us spiking our risks of car wrecks in storms, just to get his pain meds refilled. If you use the last of that stash, text me saying you need me to get a couple fifths, before the next non-business family gathering we have here." Tynie instructs. "Bobby, our preferences clashed, but she didn't know they would. It's alright, but since she's due to cover more major ground soon, I'd prefer her last line's made my turf." Damian balks. "You guys got it." Bobby asserts.
Departing the room to prove himself, Bobby's back is turned when his wife maneuvers to kiss Jeremiah's cheek. Sleekly moving her lips to his right ear, she whispers "You're good. I was serious about our wreck risks, especially after the shift Tom had today, though." "Damian, I just got word. Tynie fears the wreck risks will stick around; because we don't know how often storms will hit our area, before the next court hearings. We agree, you'd be safest cutting your offer in half, and transporting it in a mini cooler, because of that." Jeremiah deceives. "Damian, there's a bonus. If you go that route, it'd cut your risks of our family's luck with packaging conditions issues returning, in half." Alicia reckons. "I have a different idea, sis. Should Damian find proof of that luck, he can text me saying his offer got revoked. He can blame it on a mix of Tynie's storm/wreck angle, and our views on avoiding ER visits, too." Tianna divulges.
Cautiously sitting back, Tynie's served a couple minutes ahead of her uncle, but he doesn't mind it. "Damian, there's a bit more to it. You're best off having a witness when you do that shopping, so you avoid false accusations of causing the packaging condition issue. God knows how the NYPD would handle it, especially given our family's past with them. You shouldn't risk finding out, when you have an alternative." Mack discloses. "We'd be better off, making it a family wide deal, another day. You guys just heard why, too." Bobby reviles. Agreeing with nods, Alicia, Alice and Tyler get up, to get everyone by Tynie and Jeremiah another drink round. Stealthily claiming his seat, Bobby's among the first to be served, but only by minutes. Gathered as they've been for most of today, that group repeats trends for drinking together, Mack, Damian and Tyler later rising to handle cleanup. "Babe, today's NYPD angles, left me curious. Are you Ok with using them, to support sharing the drive home with Mack?" Alicia proposes. "Yeah. I'll need Alice to cover his vow on Tynie's ass, though." La'Tario stalls. "No problem." Alice attests. "You guys would make amazing judicially afforded defenders. Trust me." Tynie reviews. "Sis, we do, with our lives. We're glad, you got another chance to experience more of what you've inspired, too." Alicia reiterates.
Smiling through a nod, Tynie joins the sect of her family that's by her, in relaxing for a while. Kissing her spouse's left cheek, Liza intrudes on it, long enough to use the restroom. Unwittingly restarting a family trend by doing so, she sees it get ended by Tyler. "Guys, I just realized. We have no clue what kind of people are on the roads, or what kind of cops are out. So, we'd probably be safest, hanging out, and maybe even having another meal together. I realize it changes our plan again, but that beats us getting into a wreck, or risking the NYPD getting anything they can warp into major felonies against us. The last part emphasizes Tynie, Bobby, Jeremiah and Liza, because of what they're waiting on, too." Ted confesses. Just as Liza's about to answer that, her text alert goes off, twice.
Hustling to find out why, she discovers messages from Frank, and their phone's system standard deliverer. Frank's advised they stay put, until they get the all clear, because a pileup hit three miles away from her house. Then, Liza finds out none of their remaining relatives were involved in that. Glancing up from her phone, she repeats the news, and sees Bobby grab his phone. "Babe, let me guess. You're about to text Frank, explaining Ted's work around, then swear it's our best way to obey the advice Liza got, and claim you did it so she can relax." Tynie presumes. "Yep." Bobby dubs. "Thanks brother." Liza gratifies. "Anytime." Bobby demurs. Retaining his word, Bobby hears the others discuss how they'll enact Ted's work around. As a deal, on having coffee with chili cheese nachos is made, the people who handled their last drink round, get up to gather this one. Distributing it, they give the group responsible for making meals a cue, to do it again. Enjoying this one, everyone in Liza's house, lets it segue into relaxing.
A short time later, Jeremiah re-initiates the family's restroom use trend, Tynie ending it. Ironically enough, Tyler uncovers news of the all clear, before she retakes her seat. Waiting for that, he repeats the update, and suggests Mack's vow on Tynie's ass lead into that group debriefing everyone else they love. "Worst case scenario, we have to delay the last line, because of a code red call out. Hopefully, that doesn't hit, but still." Alice allocutes. "There's another option, sis. All we'd have to do is, use your concern to back pick a DD, serve them coffee, and let it lead into Tyler's advice." Bobby contradicts. "Sis, he's right about that being best. Hell, I'll even risk getting cussed out by Jeremiah, long enough to give our entire family a mass consent. By it, if any of you has to file insurance claims; linked to the storms or the call out: you can invoke my bartending history on Bobby's idea, and have Tom call me to vouch it." Tynie sustains. "She only risks that when…" Damian initiates. "She suspects outside variables, like Tom being inundated with more problems with asshole clients, will affect our agenda. Considering the fact, we know it's already hit him once today, she's justified. Now, we can use her mass consent, as another way to show Tom, we'll never debase ourselves by joining those bastards' ranks." Mack finishes. "Guys, he just helped me realize, I missed another base. It's fine, because this one's fairlyeasy to settle. You need to understand, Iwon't let anyone in our family repay me, this time. If Tom's licensing boards heard I did, even as a rumor, they'd jump to use it against us all. God knows how fast the NYPD would celebrate our entire family becoming felons because of it, and frankly, I want Him to be the only one." Tynie redetermines. "I'm not arguing her decision, or cussing her out, guys. She's gone from helping us all avoid sickness and electrical fires, to essentially covering Tom three times in one day, so it wouldn't be right." Jeremiah rebuts.
Raising his left hand, La'Tario dares "Show of hands. Who'll join us in not disputing her?" A matter of seconds go by, before everyone from Alice to Liza lifts a hand. Witnessing it, Tynie runs her left hand through her hair, spurning a chain reaction amongst the ladies in that house. Closing it out, Liza sees her guests alternate leaving their seats, aiming to meet at the coffee table. Joining them, Jeremiah sees most of the group out, his son locking up.
Awaiting word on the others making it home safe, Tianna, Markus, Jeremiah and Liza are delayed by an hour and a half. When Markus finds out traffic's mainly to blame, he sends understanding and a good night wish, in his answer. Obtaining the same desire, he stashes his phone, then lets the adults by him know the latest. Accepting it with more understanding nods, that foursome disperses, to begin their day-adjourning routines. Conversely, everybody from Ted to Alicia lives out Bobby's advice for Tyler's, while hoping no call outs are necessary. By an infusion of good luck, that hope is eventually realized, which brings today to a peaceful close.
