The basement door rattles under frantic knocks. Mickey freezes by the counter, the folded note still near his hand. Joey and Mickey have barely a second before the lock jolts again.
Toni bursts in, hair messy, hoodie half-zipped, eyes wide with fear. She takes one look at the room, then straight at Mickey and Joey, breathing hard.
Antonia "Toni" Capozzi
Why is Vicky saying I stole the distribution hub keys?
Mickey glances at Joey, his shoulders tight, his usual ease gone. The counter holds the dead phone, nudged aside, and the handwritten note sits in plain view.
Joseph "Joey" Capozzi
Toni looks scared, not staged.
Toni swallows, then steps farther into the basement, trying to read both brothers at once. Mickey keeps silent, waiting on Joey to steer this before the lie falls apart.
+ New Item Acquired
dead phone
+ New Item Acquired
handwritten note
{"action":"We think Vicky was given fskse information. After us and Nikki, her onky other logical target was you. In a few days she'll realize what happened and apologize, untol then just hide out here and let you you big brother
Joey
and your little brother
Mikey
keep you safe.","outcome":"failure","trait":"Willpower","traitLevel":"Legendary","roll":-3,"register":"social","commitment":"committed","committedIntent":"convince Toni that Vicky was misled and that she should hide with them for safety","shade":"no","sceneTitle":"Toni Refuses to Hide","location":"Mickey's basement apartment"}
Joseph "Joey" Capozzi
We think Vicky got bad information. After us and Nikki, you were her only other likely target.
Joseph "Joey" Capozzi
In a few days, she will realize it and back off. Until then, stay here and let me and Mickey keep you safe.
Antonia "Toni" Capozzi
Safe? Joey, she came in swinging because she thinks I did this. Why should I hide when I did nothing?
Michael "Mickey" Capozzi
Mickey shifts his weight beside the counter, eyes flicking from Toni to the note, looking like he wants Joey to answer for both of them.
Toni’s face tightens at the word hide. She does not move deeper into the room, and the space between the three of them turns sharp and small.
Antonia "Toni" Capozzi
If you know something, Joey, say it straight. Otherwise, I am not locking myself in a basement on faith.
✓ Quest Accepted
Keep Toni from storming out
“I dont know anything! Just like you guys im usually not involved in the family business. If you want answers your best bet is to wait for Vicky to calm down and explain it.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +0)
Joseph "Joey" Capozzi
I do not know anything, Toni. Same as you, I am usually out of the family business.
Joey keeps his voice even and his hands still, letting the lie land softly instead of like another shove. The note stays in plain sight on the counter, but he does not point at it.
Antonia "Toni" Capozzi
...Then why am I the one getting dragged into it?
Mickey’s shoulders ease a little at Joey’s cover, though his eyes stay fixed on Toni, asking her without words to hear him out.
Joseph "Joey" Capozzi
Because Vicky is angry, not careful. If you bolt now, you only make her sure.
Antonia "Toni" Capozzi
Tch. I hate this.
Toni exhales through her nose, anger thinning into reluctant patience. She stays in the doorway, not gone, not advancing, waiting for the next thing to be said.
Quest Complete
Keep Toni from storming out