second-last resort (Ian)

[Fitzy Patricks]

I've been pacing back and forth, second-guessing my decision, for what seems like half a decade before I finally act.
If this doesn't work I'm going to the Order.
And I knock loudly on the door, praying that I don't have to resort to that, and that he's here. Not that I actually expect Chris Hunt to care… if I remember correctly he and Arden kind of hated each other due to her multiple death threats to his little brother. But maybe he’ll point me in the right direction anyway.

[Ian Hunt]

I have to stop to consider whether opening the door is a good idea as I stand in the hall. It never usually turns out to be a good thing when someone knocks.
But after a moment's hesitation I come to the conclusion that I've really lost the will to care so I just open it anyway.
"Wha-?" I stop, mid-word a slight frown furrowing my brow, "Uh-huh."
I pause, as if expecting this to turn out to be my imagination, then realise it isn't because there's no feasible reason I'd imagine seeing Fitzy again...ever.
"Er...hi, Fitzy," I say eventually, not sure what exactly I was supposed to say because he didn't warrant either a warm or a cold greeting.

[Fitzy Patricks]

"Uh... hi," I say distractedly. "Chris Hunt, right?" I ask, just in case it somehow isn't.
Stupid question, doesn't look that different. And I don't wait for an answer anyway, wanting to get this over as soon as possible. "You're friends with Logan Andrews, right? Can you tell me where he is?"

[Ian Hunt]

"Yeah," I answer in response to his first question, then can't help but almost flinch with indignation at being accused of being friends with Logan, "No, not friends with the sick fuck and no idea where you can find him. Try HQ, if not, try some dark alley somewhere or maybe a motel, the forest? I don't know. Why are you looking for him?"
Then I raise an eyebrow, putting two and two together that Logan is friends with Arden and this is Arden's brother asking me where to find him, "What's he done this time?"

[Fitzy Patricks]

Fuck... knew I didn't remember all that well.
I shake my head, only half-listening to him. "Hasn't done anything yet, not that I know of," I mutter. "And I'm looking for him because... because as much as I despise and distrust him, there's a chance he actually does give a fuck about my sister. And that's a pretty short list, right? Deatheaters who give a fuck if Arden is alive? I mean so far it's got me. So... I've got to take that chance."
I nod, still distractedly, and turn to walk away, having no real idea what exactly I just said. Can't find Logan, it's the Order.... Dammit.

[Ian Hunt]

I pause on the doorstep a moment, then catch up with him, "Hey, hey, wait," I pause, not sure what I'm going to say now, or how I'm going to explain because I'm not even sure why it should matter all that much to me anyway.
"Is she...uh...in danger? I mean, do you need any help?"

[Fitzy Patricks]

I look at him in some confusion, blinking slowly. And you would care why?
Belatedly I realize that I must have just recited my interior monologue to someone that I probably can't trust, and I hasten to cover my tracks.
"Ah... some danger, yes," I say cautiously. "She brought it on herself, of course. Blood traitor. I'm supposed to make an example of her, which of course I would happily do...." I pause. But she's my sister and I don't care she's a blood traitor because, guess what, I'm not loyal to his Dark Lordness anymore?
"But... it seems to me a waste," I say quickly. "And if I can get her to see sense.... But only if she trusts me, which she doesn't, which is why I need Logan. You can't tell me where he is, so you're no help. Thank you for your time."
I wave distractedly and continue walking away, trying to figure out how to play it if I do go to the Order. Why would they help me?

[Ian Hunt]

I stay where I am for a moment, trying to think back over what he's said.
The way he paused and thought too often for him to be someone sure of what he's doing.
"Liar," I mutter under my breath, then call after him, "If she's in danger I want to help. She's a friend."

[Fitzy Patricks]

I turn around slowly, frowning at him. Can’t be.
“You can’t be,” I say, shaking my head. “She tried to kill your brother, didn’t she? You two never got along.”
Not to mention the fact I can’t trust you….
I shrug. "If you want to help recruit her, be my guest, but I don't see why she'd trust you."

[Ian Hunt]

"Yeah, before...it's...I'm-...things are different now," I say off-handedly, "Can you just tell me what's going on?"

[Fitzy Patricks]

"Exactly what I just said," I lie, shrugging. "She's a traitor, I should kill her, but it seems like quite a waste of a perfectly talented witch, but she's stubborn and I need someone she trusts to help convince her that she's been on the wrong side."

[Ian Hunt]

"Yeah, and you were lying before. Just then it was harder to tell, but before it was easier so you're still lying if you're spinning me the same shite," I shrug, "But you're not going to trust me whatever I say or do so I don't suppose it really matters anyway."

[Fitzy Patricks]

I hesitate a moment, wondering if that last bit should change at all.
And why not? You're dead anyway, aren't you? So is she. This is never going to work.
"No, I guess it doesn't matter. Not if you can't help me.” I shake my head and turn to leave again, wondering if there’s anyone else around who might know where Logan is.

[Ian Hunt]

I bite my lip for a moment, wondering if I should tell him anything at all, then sigh softly.
"You won't find him," I tell him, "Not if he doesn't want to be found."
I turn and make my way back up to the house.

[Fitzy Patricks]

Well, there goes that plan. And he's no help at all.
I hesitate, then decide, to hell with it. What more do I really have to lose?
“All right, fine," I call after him. "Might as well trust you if it might make you help. Everything I said is true except I’d really rather not see my sister stuck in the same place I am. If I have to, I will, but if not….” I shake my head, laughing slightly at my next words. "So if you really are her friend... do you know of any way that I can prove my loyalty while also being disloyal enough to disobey an order and keep her alive? 'Cause I'd really love to hear it."

[Ian Hunt]

"Besides recruiting her...?" I say, more to buy myself time to think, "You could get a third parry to warn her, get her into hiding. Not fool proof though."

[Fitzy Patricks]

"No, not really." I shake my head. Especially when she's so bloody stubborn and probably won't go in the first place no matter who asks her to. For that matter, what was I thinking, hoping she might get a Mark? And would that even work?

[Ian Hunt]

"I guess I can't help you," I shrug very slightly, "I wouldn't know how to."

[Fitzy Patricks]

“Right… this was all a waste of time then,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Don’t know why I bothered.”
So it’s definitely Logan then, even though he’s likely to kill you if you contact him directly. Or the Order, which is likely to be more waste of time than this was….

[Ian Hunt]

I roll my eyes slightly as I shut the door again with unnecessary force. I'd almost forgotten how infuriating Fitzy could be sometimes.