Beneath the Earth {{Brennan; Jesse; Benji}}

[Benji Jakeman]

Benji struggled not to drop his side of the load. It was damn heavy though. And the slippery mud coating the ground wasn't a help neither. Brennan led him and Jesse. Not carrying anything. As usual. Damn. Benji wanted a drink. Needed one was more like it. Hadn't had one since the night before and that was far too long ago if you were asking him.

But they were heading toward the joint now. Soon enough he could have his hooch. And put this trucking trunk down! Is fingers protested and he hefted it up a little higher with a grunt of exertion. Jeeps creeps, these bottles weighed a ton and half. Good thing him and Brenn were so thick and all and that the kale was so good. Otherwise Benji would've put this whole scene aside and just shacked up with his dame, only thing that really mattered, Mattie.

Speaking of her, the little bearcat had caught him on his way out and demanded being taken along. He had been so close to a scott-free get-away and then her little head appeared over the side of the door jamb asking where he was going and then scrambling to get dressed "'Cause I'm a-comin' too!" Now she was marching along dutifully between him and Jesse, carrying her own little load; a box of cigarettes.

Sighing, Benji tried not to think about his little bearcat for the moment. "Cripes, Brenn, how much further?" he called, half-joking. They all had made the travel so many times they all knew it by heart. Mattie giggled and he turned to flash her a grin; ended up nearly killing himself slipping on a puddle. He caught it before it ended him and went on trudging.

[Brennan Malone]

"Longer, if you keep gripin'," answered Brennan, a sickly sound surrounding them as he lifted his foot out of a mud puddle. Naturally, the path came to him like his own heartbeat. Right, left, left, kept to the left, bear right, keep going, there. Door. It was hard to see without some sort of lighting mechanism--which was better for them when they were hiding in case someone came in who wasn't s'posed to (like the dicks), but kind of a struggle when they needed to get to the joint. Like, soon.

The clicks of the bottles in the sacks reassured him. He didn't know why. Something about the knowledge of successful rebellion was gratifying.

Holding a lantern above his head to light their way, he wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead. "Everything's Jack with you, Mattie-Jane?" he made sure, tossing her a grin, though his face was only half-shone in the dim light of the lantern. "Keep hold of that bag nice n'tight, y'got that? Don't wanna lose anything."

His palate longed for the taste of something bittersweet. Something that burned when it hit his stomach. Something that was likely to get him stinking drunk in half hour flat.

[Jesse Jakeman]

Live Wire

It wasn't uncommon for mud to be in the tunnels. Thankfully, Jess already knew this, so he was always sure not to wear his best shoes, always kept a pair in the joint. His hands screamed to let go of the trunk they were carrying, but he resisted, and lifted it a bit higher.

"Cripes, Brenn, how much further?"

Jess gave his brother a smirk, shaking his head as he tried to steer around the large puddle they were heading for. But to no avail, his foot sunk deep into the murkey muddy water. A loud smack echoed through the place as he pulled it back out with a grunt.

"Longer, if you keep gripin'. Everything's Jack with you, Mattie-Jane?"

Jesse's eyes turned, looking down at the girl between them with a smile. "You okay carryin' that sweets?" He asked gently, slightly losing grip of the trunk. "Futz." He mumbled, regaining his grip before continuing on.

His head lifted as they reached the door, and he silently thanked jesus as they walked inside. He groaned slightly as Benji and him bent over, placing the trunk of the wooden floor. "I don'know bout you two. But I'm bout ready to go on a toot."

[Benji Jakeman]

"Longer, if you keep gripin',"

Benji let out a short laugh at that, shaking his head. Uh-huh, sure. He shifted a little, edging the weight over his hip to help himself out some. Trudging on. Had to get the goods to the joint or else they'd all be out of some serious kale and some serious hooch. And that wouldn't be good at all.

"Everything's Jack with you, Mattie-Jane? Keep hold of that bag nice n'tight, y'got that? Don't wanna lose anything."
"You okay carryin' that sweets?"

Benji looked back at his daughter at the other mens' questions. She was smiling, easily holding the package of cigarettes. "You know it," she replied to both of them. "Ain't much of nothing." She heaved the load a little higher as if prove that she could handle it easily.

Then they were (finally!) at the speakeasy. Benji settled his stuff on a table next to his brother and took Mattie's sack from her as well. He ruffled her hair a little, grinning as she stretched to fix it but ended up yawning wide and long.

"I don'know bout you two. But I'm bout ready to go on a toot."

"Hell yes," Benji agreed with a chuckled. "Think M&M might be ready for a nap instead though." The little girl made to protest but only ended up yawning again, leaning against her uncle Jesse's legs. Her eyes and face showed her determination toward defiance though.

[Brennan Malone]

He didn't much pay attention to what the other two were exchanging, focused on yanking the door open. It was sort of embedded into the wall, mostly to keep unwanted visitors out. Most would try once and give up. Pulling a little harder, he thrust it open and it swung, handle hitting the mud of the wall.

"Come on, then," he summoned them, picking up the lantern and entering the joint, already lit. Nobody was going to be coming for a long time, but they needed to collect what they'd left outside and bring it in before anyone saw.

"Hurry up. The dicks'll be on our asses if they find what we couldn't carry." Frowning, he waited inside for them before rushing back out to lead the way back through the tunnels in the inverse. They'd left the rest in the tall grass beside the grave leading into the tunnels, but who knew how long that would stay hidden? The fuzz were everywhere, always on their tail. Who's to say they weren't be followed?

"Come on! Bennie, f'you wanna stay back with the little Jane so we don't burn time?" Just a suggestion. He knew Benji didn't like to be out of the loop.

[Jesse Jakeman]

"You know it," she replied to both of them. "Ain't much of nothing."

He grinned down at her. "Lookit you." He laughed gently, shaking his head. He leaned down slightly, wrapping an arm around her and landing a kiss to her head. She was gettin' sleepy, he knew it. Saw it in her face. But he also knew she was a bearcat. She wouldn't give up without a fight.

"Hurry up. The dicks'll be on our asses if they find what we couldn't carry."

He gave a nod, patting Mattie's shoulder gently so she knew to move. "Let's get a wiggle on then." He said, moving to walk behind Malone. Come on! Bennie, f'you wanna stay back with the little Jane so we don't burn time?"

His head turned, looking back at Benji, waiting for an answer.

[Benji Jakeman]

Mattie rested against Jesse sleepily, cuddling against him like a cat. "I'm not sleepy," she protested even as her eyes were slipping closed. She listened as Uncle Brennan called back to them and then pushed off of Uncle Jesse. He moved away and she stood on her own, moving a little toward her father.

"Come on! Bennie, f'you wanna stay back with the little Jane so we don't burn time?"

"Whatcha think, baby?" Benji asked, eyes meeting Mattie's.

"Hell no!" she retorted, hand on hip.

Benji shook his head, tapping her on the bottom shortly. "Watch that lip of yours!" he said, not able to his his grin. "Come on then, doll." He lifted her easily by her hands, swinging her around so that she was riding piggy-back. "There you go, eh?"

"We're a-coming!" he called, heading behind his brother. Mattie giggled gleefully at getting a ride and clung to her Daddy's neck.

[Brennan Malone]

"Make it quick, girlie. And maybe I'll let you hold the lantern. And no more usin' those words. Y'daddy don't like it none." Passing his companion a teasing grin--he had been the one to teach Mattie that word, but he'd tried to tell her it was a place for bad dead people--he started off back through the tunnels.

To himself he sang, as a nervous little gesture, "Futzmuhlife, futzmuhlife, fuck. If weeee don't get outa here quick I'mma kill botha you for laggin' your asses too slow." Yeah, it made no sense, but that last thing he wanted was to go out of business. Usually he wasn't so jittery about delivery day. Today was different. He was expecting a special guest. Wife of the Lieutenant.

A smirk drew over his lips as he thought of Elizabeth Buchanan. "Damn, she fine."

[Jesse Jakeman]

"Make it quick, girlie. And maybe I'll let you hold the lantern. And no more usin' those words. Y'daddy don't like it none."

Jess let a laugh out that slightly echoed through the tunnels. "Yeah, like that'll stop her." He threw back, smiling over at Mattie as she rode on her daddy's back. He followed right behind Brennan, Benji now beside him as they walked.

"Futzmuhlife, futzmuhlife, fuck. If weeee don't get outa here quick I'mma kill botha you for laggin' your asses too slow."

Jess perked a brow, a wry smile on his face. "You wouldn't bump us off. Who would bartend? And who would be your delivery boy, hmm?" He teased. "See Malone, you need us." He chuckled. "Damn, she fine." His brows furrowed as he shot Benji a look. "And who's this fine dame you're speakin' of, hm?"

[Benji Jakeman]

"And no more usin' those words. Y'daddy don't like it none."
"Yeah, like that'll stop her."

"D'you know what would help some?" Benjamin called to them. "If the likes of you two didn't go 'round teachin' her all them bad words, you know?"

Mattie giggled drowsily at that, laying her head on his shoulder and rubbing her cheek against his. Feeling the stubble there from two days without shaving, she recoiling, smiling loosely. "Scruffy Daddy," she hummed softly before letting her head drop again, eyes slipping closed. Benji smiled at that, feeling his heart swell. Christ, he loved his little girl.

He chuckled at their exchanges, silently agreeing with Jesse. Brennan wouldn't know what to do with himself without the two of them, really. And plus, he would just get bored and they were the only two around who would tolerate him long enough to entertain him.

"And who's this fine dame you're speakin' of, hm?"

Benji perked up at that. "Yeah, huh? You got another bunny lured in, Brenn?" he asked, smirking. It was probably Aud or one of the other girls from the joint.

[Brennan Malone]

"You wouldn't bump us off. Who would bartend? And who would be your delivery boy, hmm?" He teased. "See Malone, you need us."

"Wanna bet on that?" he challenged, turning his head back over his shoulder, keeping the lantern in front of him, having caught the sound of Mattie's sleepy hum. "Contrary. You brothers're nothin' but trouble." That was the problem. He couldn't split them up for his life, if the speakeasy depended on it, if his life depended on it, if one of their lives did. There were too many ties. He had to hire both of them. They were reliable workers, sure, but there were some things between them he would never understand.

"And who's this fine dame you're speakin' of, hm?"
"Yeah, huh? You got another bunny lured in, Brenn?"

With furrowed brows and a playfully defensive tone, he answered, "Nunya beeswax."

Damn, that Bessie Buchanan.
And Audrey, but...well, she'd never be interested in him. She was into pool and the cards and drinks. Not him.

"And for your information," he added pointedly, words aimed at Benji, "I don't lure. I throw my line out and they bite the bait. Luring would be using fake bait. I use the genuine," he flipped the lapels of his jacket, smirking to himself, "article."

[Jesse Jakeman]

"D'you know what would help some?" Benjamin called to them. "If the likes of you two didn't go 'round teachin' her all them bad words, you know?"

"Hey." He spoke up with a defensive tone. "Most of that blame goes to Brenn. Sure, sometimes things slip through my kisser, but what can you expect from a live wire like myself, eh?" He shot back, lifting a brow.

"Wanna bet on that? Contrary. You brothers're nothin' but trouble. Nunya beeswax."

Jess shook his head. "I'd much rather take that as a compliment, Malone." He smirked, sliding one hand into his tanned slacks. "Mhm.." He said with a sly grin, exchanging a look with his brother before letting a soft laugh escape him once more.

"And for your information, I don't lure. I throw my line out and they bite the bait. Luring would be using fake bait. I use the genuine," he flipped the lapels of his jacket, smirking to himself, "article."

Oh how he had tried. The more he tried, the more his cheeks puffed up and looked red. A split second later and he was bursting into laughter. "Yeah.." He laughed. "You're genuine." He snickered, shaking his head. "Genuinly a drugstore cowboy." He said, flashing a smile so Brennan knew he was simply joking.

[Benji Jakeman]

"Most of that blame goes to Brenn. Sure, sometimes things slip through my kisser, but what can you expect from a live wire like myself, eh?"

Benji rolled his eyes at that and smacked his brother swift, upside the head. "Keep y' live wire kisser 'way from my daughter is all I'm asking," he commented, smiling. Much as he loved to razz on the boys, his brother in particular, he was glad to have them. The help they gave him with Mattie whenever he needed it made him more than lucky.

"Wanna bet on that? Contrary. You brothers're nothin' but trouble. Nunya beeswax."
"Mhm.."

Benji mirrored his brother's smirk, shaking his head. Sure, none of their business. 'Cause Brennan wouldn't be bragging about it the second after making it with whatever gal he was talking about. At Brennan's self-compliments and Jesse's rebuking of those statements, Benji couldn't help but laugh. The two of them were so screwy. "Pipe down the both of you, eh? Got a sleepin' dame on my back, you know."

They finally broke onto the outside and Benji hefted Mattie a little higher onto his back to be sure she wouldn't fall. Once he had her secure, he leaned to pick up one of the last boxes. With a soft groan he straightened up, moving toward the entrance to the tunnels again. They needed to higher some brainless muscle is what they needed. Some big mooks to do all this heavy lifting for them.

[Brennan Malone]

Jesse broke into hysterical laughter and Brennan turned back to give him a light slap in the back of the head. "You're just jealous, ain't ya!" he chuckled, popping his collar again, starting off at a jog out of the tunnels. "See if you can make it out without light, fellas!" It was cruel, and they'd holler through the tunnels for him to come back unless they kept up with him.

Once they broke outside, he took in a deep breath, a brighter smile filling his face. "Grab those," he told Benji, pointing to the lighter tote. He would get the lantern in one hand and carry another bag of bottles in the other. "Y'okay with taking up the rear, Jess?" he asked, after gesturing to the final two bags.

[Jesse Jakeman]

"You're just jealous, ain't ya!"
"Keep y' live wire kisser 'way from my daughter is all I'm asking,"

He shook his head, trying to duck from both their swats, but failed miserably. "Why you two razzin' on me so much?" He said through soft laughter. "See if you can make it out without light, fellas!" He exchanged a look quickly with Benji before taking off right after him.

"Grab those," he told Benji, pointing to the lighter tote. He would get the lantern in one hand and carry another bag of bottles in the other. "Y'okay with taking up the rear, Jess?"

He shrugged. "I've carried worse." He smirked, leaning over and picking them up with a slight heave. He situated them in his arms and close to his chest, readying himself for the last journey back. "Let's get a wiggle on."