Nothing But Trouble

[Garth Hunt]

Garth walked back into the house as if it had only been earlier that day he'd last been here. In fact, it had been at least three years, not since his brothers departure had he felt the need to return. Now however...

He paused just a moment, standing in the dark and dingy hall of the disturbingly familiar house and letting his eyes adjust to the half light before continuing, past ragged tapestries and the old artefacts Damien had collected during his time. He knew his daughter was here, and his nephews too, although that was not why he was here. He wasn't all that sure why he was here but the allure of another person would most definitely not be a reason for him.

His eyes darted, absorbing every detail. There were footsteps in dust no one had bothered to clean. The odd sign of a scuffle, which showed his nephews had lost none of their violent tendencies, and just footsteps from walking around, and small ones too. He barely reisisted the urge to sigh in frustration. Procreating lead to nothing but trouble, after all.

This whole family lead to nothing but trouble. Especially this generation. The generation he'd slipped into the midst of quite by accident as he'd entered the house. Scott; who didn't understand subtlety, who could not keep his mouth shut, who was incompetent in every single way. Christopher; who wasn't even pure, a mistake to be inducted into the family, who'd caused nothing but misfortune. Rowan; too soft hearted and merciful by far, who brought shame to the family name with his consorting with mudbloods and blood traitors. Oh, and Drucilla. His own daughter, the most pathetic of the lot, even more introverted than he, and too insecure to accomplish anything.

He allowed himself a small sigh, before turning back around, walking back down the corridor as he'd found nothing of value or interest in her perusal. He came to an abrupt hault in the middle of the hall as he came face to face with someone who'd just clumped down the stairs and stopped dead at the sight of him.

[Ian Hunt]

I stumble to an abrupt hault on the bottom stair and stay completely frozen for a moment, laughter from my conversation with Row just now dying immediately on my lips along with my voice seemingly.
I stare at him blankly for a long moment, fighting back the urge to shudder with dozens of supressed childhood memories. I couldn't think why he'd be here or showing the slightest bit of interest in any of the people here, it wasn't like he cared at all, about anyone other than himself. Which'd mean he was here because he wanted something, or someone.
At this thought, without considering the action I take a step backwards onto the stair above. This only served to make me stand taller than him, which didn't help at all, and be slightly further back, which again didn't help at all.
"Uh..." I manage eventually, then forcing myself to incline my head slightly as a sign of limited and grudging respect, "Garth."

[Garth Hunt]

"Christopher," He replied crisply, glancing at him for a moment before his eyes skated behind him up the stairs, which were empty. His gaze returned to his nephew and this time he looked at him properly, lip curling in dislike at his mere appearance.
"You look like you belong on the streets," He remarked coldly, "You're an absolute disgrace. What would your father say?"
His eyes narrowed slightly, even more as if it had been him that had brought up Damien, and he made up his mind at that point that it was his least favourite nephew that was standing before him.

[Ian Hunt]

Nice to see you again too.
"Something demeaning and derrogatory no doubt," I reply stiffly.
I swallow, realising immediately that I should not have said that. Really should not have said that. Remembering immediately how both him and Joshua hated having their hostility returned and much preferred to not have people talk back.
But an apology would do nothing at this point, as the words were already out of my mouth. So, I just flinch slightly and turn my head very slightly away from him, trying to be as submissive as my stubborn psyche would allow.

[Garth Hunt]

His eyes snapped open fully for a moment, taking him all of five seconds to work out he'd just been spoken back to. And about his brother no less.
"I beg your pardon?" He growled, hand already in the inside pocket of his jacket and grasping his wand.
Then changing his mind as he saw the submissive gesture, eyes narrowing once more to just dark slits in his pale face, "Ah, so you've lost some of your nerve?" It was more of a statement than a question, "Fallen from grace, I see. I heard you were great, Christopher. Damien did something right, I heard. And then you turn your back, on the legacy that preceeds you."
He paused a moment, drawing his wand anyway, and almost testing it between his hands, "You were the only one that had it in you and you turned your back. For what? The first girl that came along? You disappoint me. And everyone else, I'm sure," He said slowly, half glancing up at him to see if his remarks were getting through, "I suppose what more can be expected from someone of your parentage? I warned him against taking in a mudblood. Told him it'd be the death of him."

[Ian Hunt]

I stay silent for a long time, eyes falling on his wand and grip tightening on the banister.
I'm not scared of you anymore...I'm not a child anymore...
The words form in my head, but become lost somewhere in the actual speaking process.
I start to think of something else to say, then just shake my head, realising it's futile to even bother.

[Garth Hunt]

He watches his nephews grip tighten, the familiar expression of reluctant fear more welcome to him than the family.
"Aww..." A smirk uncurled at his lips, and his tone changed from that of a chill to something of patronising menace, "All grown up and still afraid. Honestly, that's pathetic, what are you now...?"
He glanced up at him, head tilted as he calculated, "Eighteen now, yes? Sorry I forgot to send greeting for your birthday, quite frankly I'd rather have forgotten your existance, but you know Harriet, she thought it'd be appropriate to stop by, you weren't here though. Imagine our surprise when dear old Eloise, God rest her soul, told us you'd long gone..."
He paused, smirk broadening and merely shook his head, not elaborating.

[Ian Hunt]

"Yes, eighteen," I say before I can stop myself, the old instinct to answer a question when I was asked kicking in immediately.
I frown at him slightly, not liking the smirk at all, and say before I can stop myself, "What?"
I nearly flinch at the obvious hint of anxiety in my voice.

[Garth Hunt]

His smirk broadened still more and he cocked an amused eyebrow, "Nothing..."
He stayed silent for a moment, watching his wand move between his hands, "It's just..." He stopped again, keeping quiet for a while as if gathering his thoughts although much more in a bid to irritate his second eldest nephew.
"I've heard things, Christopher," His smirk grew so much that his lip curled to reveal his teeth in what could have been a grin if it weren't so malicious, "I've heard things about what you've been up to."

[Ian Hunt]

"Oh?" I say, fist uncurling around the banister and falling to my side. I had to try hard to stop it from twitching upwards to where my wand was in my pocket.
The smile was starting to freak me out a little now, someone's voice, I wasn't quite sure who's it was but it was one I vaguely recognised, popped into my head, It's the ones that smile that you have to look out for.
"What have you heard then Garth?" I ask, knowing he wouldn't elaborate without prompting.

[Garth Hunt]

"Reaching for your wand would be a very stupid thing to do, Christopher," Garth reminded him coldly, his voice sharper and louder than the rest of the conversation had been in a bid to scare the idea out of his nephew's head.
Then his face relaxed back into the casual smirk, he was in control here and not the other way around.
"Lot's of things...you're reputation has changed dramatically. I remember when I used to hear things...good things, about how well you were doing, how accomplished you were, how I should be so proud of my nephew the next..." He grimaced ever so slightly at him to indicate the sort of thing he'd heard next.
He tilted his head to one side, then added as an after thought, "Don't worry though Christopher, I've never been proud of you so it wasn't that much of a emotional set back."

[Ian Hunt]

I jump, half raising my hands to show they were still empty, then flinching at my own stupidity.
I'm not a child...I'm not scared of you anymore...I'm not a child...I'm not scared of you anymore...
"Because I actually give a fuck what you think and all," I reply scathingly, "And I actually give a fuck about what that sort of people tell you about how I'm doing."
Watch your mouth...don't push it any further...you've already said too much...keep your mouth shut from now on...

[Garth Hunt]

Garth's eyes widened again in surprise and without conscious thought his wand was in his hand, and his forearm pressed against his nephew's throat as he slammed him hard back against the wall. He placed his wand tip at his temple, forcing his head to one side so his neck was more exposed and visible.
He'd threatened and tortured enough people to know that if the neck was exposed and on display, most people would feel more at risk, even if he had no such plans to kill them, like now.
"Foolish boy," he hissed, "Respect your betters."

[Ian Hunt]

I choke slightly, letting out a small gasp of pain as my back is slammed against the wall, then fall silent knowing now was a really good time to apologise but unable to do so.
He moved faster than I remembered, or maybe I was just slower.

[Garth Hunt]

"What do you have to say for yourself?" He snarled, lip curling in dislike as he slammed him up against the wall again, harder this time.
His wand was ideally placed to cast an extremely nasty crucio right now, and at the thought the idea seemed all the more appealing. He wasn't sure whether it would acheive anything at all, not even his own personal satisfaction.

[Ian Hunt]

I groan very softly in pain, not wanting to let on how much it hurt. I try and keep my mouth shut, knowing I really should but the question he poses is just too perfect.
"Absolutely nothing, Garth," I reply, smirking hollowly.
"You're going to get yourself killed. You need to learn to keep your mouth shut. I am not losing my brother because he keeps talking back!" I flinch slightly as Rowan's words drift back into my head.
Nice one, Ian. You've already failed him.