|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 1:49:24 GMT -5
"The Fidelus charm... it could work, I suppose. But for how long? My entire family would become prisoners, punished for my mistake. Who knows how long it will take to get these guys?"
He got up and went back into the kitchen for a refill of his firewhiskey. When he returned, he walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Riley, I know it's asking a lot of you. And I wouldn't do it if I thought I had another choice. I'm telling you... capturing these guys won't work. We have to end this."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 1:56:00 GMT -5
When Roland came back, Riley took the glass from his hands and had a sip before handing it back. She winced a little, not used to the burn of the liquid. She wasn't a heavy drinker, but Roland might turn her into one.
"You were right, by the way. I hate this idea." But she wasn't coming up with anything better. In fact, she had absolutely nothing. She had protective custody and the Fidelus charm and everything else out of the book, but he turned each of those down. She was certain they would work, but no, he had to argue.
"I can't do it, Roland. There are too many things that could go wrong."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 2:20:25 GMT -5
"I don't think I could trust anyone else to do this but you," Roland said desperately. "Please, Riley... help me."
He sighed and took another sip from his drink. Even though her logic was starting to annoy him, he was also secretly glad for it. He knew she would fight him on this, and that was what he needed.
"I can send an owl to my uncle. I don't know where he's hiding now, but the owl will find him. I'll tell him that I want to finish this, and meet with all three of them. I don't want to drag this out anymore, and I don't want my family to have to pay for my mistake by being stuck in protective custody."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 2:28:30 GMT -5
Riley was quiet for a moment, just watching him and regarding him. She hated that his logic was starting to make sense to her. He had thought this all through, and that was the part that killed her. He had an answer for every arguement she could come up with. That didn't make it a good idea, though.
But Merlin, when he asked her to help him... she gave him a look that said she clearly hated the fact that he was wearing her down. "Tell me again why we can't put your family into protective custody?" She asked.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 2:31:15 GMT -5
He sighed softly. His eyes had taken on a desperate, pleading look. He needed to convince her, but she was making it so difficult. But then, that's what he expected from her. It was the reason she was the only one he could go to for this.
"That's what my uncle will expect. He will know we're on to him, that we're out to find him and he and his friends will go down so deep into hiding, we might never find them. My family could be stuck in protective custody for... years."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 2:38:12 GMT -5
"Your uncle showed up to Christmas dinner, Roland. I think he already knows we're on to him." The tone of Riley's voice was almost angry, but it was really just frustration. Why couldn't Roland just talk to Angelique one more time?
Because everyone was in danger these days, and could they really count on her to put Roland's family at the top of the list?
"You know, it's weird, isn't it?" Riley asked, "I mean, he warned you in time to save Lina. Maybe he doesn't want to hurt anyone in your family. Why would he warn you?"
She didn't know what else to say, and hoped that he'd back down. She was running out of reasons to.
"And you've thought of every other possible way to do this?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 2:45:14 GMT -5
"He's playing a game with me," Roland said. "He'll probably escalate things if I keep playing along. But I think that this is ultimately what he wants. He wants me to confront him. He wants to kill me. With me out of the way, there'll be no one who can testify against him. He's trying to scare me into doing something desperate... and I may as well give him exactly what he wants. It's the only way to keep him from escalating things."
He looked up at her, now determined that this was the right thing to do. He hated it, but it was the best way to control the situation.
"I don't blame you for fighting me on this. I was hoping you would, actually. I wanted to you talk me out of it, but the more we talk about it, the more convinced I am that this would be the best way. If we hide my whole family it could be years. Please, Riley... tell me you'll help me."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 2:49:45 GMT -5
Riley shook her head. "No. I won't." She hated the way he asked and the way she already knew she would help him. It wasn't... fair.
"Why am I so bad at talking you out of this?" She asked. She understood not wanting to keep his family in protective custody for so long, but if it kept them safe, why not? Because they might never find all three of the Death Eaters. It was taking them this long to find Katie's killer, after all, and they weren't openly making threats.
His logic was starting to make even more sense to her, and she couldn't have that. "What happens if he gets away? Who will he add to his list of targets? Me? I really think this is just putting more people in danger."
She moved back to the couch, sitting down. She was biting the inside of her lip again, her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. Her fingers were tangled in her hair as she stared at the floor, trying to find any logic against all of this. She already used all of the good points, though, and she sighed deeply for the millionth time. It wouldn't be so bad if they were taking in backup, more people, or at least letting someone know what they were doing. Who would know if anything happened?
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 10:42:43 GMT -5
This last part was something he hadn't considered, and he was quiet for a moment. Having tracked this group for months, Roland knew that they had a tendency to skip out when the fight got heavy, and there was every chance that Blake would do the same. And if he did, he would likely step up his game by coming after his family and friends. Riley, in particular, would be very much at risk. And he couldn't have her getting hurt, especially not when she was going out of her way to help him.
"Well... we'll just have to keep him from getting away. And if he does, we do it your way, OK? But I really think the best thing to do is to get this over with before he decides to actually hurt someone."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 10:53:32 GMT -5
She reached for his hand, trying to make sure that his attention was soley on her. "Tell your family, and I'll help you. You have so many Aurors in your family... they can help, or at least be aware of what you're doing."
That too, he would probably talk her out of, though she really hoped he wouldn't. Roland wanted to take care of this himself, and when he dug his heels in... She was making a mistake by agreeing to this.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 11:08:10 GMT -5
"It's too risky," he said softly. "Letting too many people in on this... it's dangerous. I'd do it myself if I thought there was a chance... But I can't do it alone."
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her with his most pitiful expression. This entire situation was tearing him apart, and he wished he'd dealt with it sooner, despite what Angelique had said. He should have listened to his instincts on this, and maybe he wouldn't be in this situation now. But there was no going back. He had to play the hand that he was dealt.
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 11:16:30 GMT -5
Her hands fisted in her lap. She knew he was right. The first rule about any secret plan was that you had to tell as few people as possible... the more people that knew were just that many more variables.
And then she realized why, she thought, he chose her. He couldn't confide in any one person in his family because they would want to tell the rest of the family. Rightly so, she thought.
Slowly, she met his eyes and shook her head, but finally sighed.
"I hate this," She told him, her voice low.
"All right," she said, rolling her eyes upwards, refusing to look at him. "Ho do you plan on getting them all together to confront them?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 11:42:18 GMT -5
Again, he had won, but he still vaguely hated himself for it. He knew she hated the plan, and he could hardly blame her for it. But she was going along with him, anyway... and he would owe her forever.
"I'll send a note to my uncle... a good homing owl should be able to find him. I'll tell him I want to finish it, and to bring his two friends. I'll tell him to meet me somewhere isolated... maybe an abandoned warehouse in London. And we'll fight. One way or another, we'll finish it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 11:50:45 GMT -5
She still didn't understand why it had to be so isolated and secretive, except for Roland's voice in her head telling her that Blake would never come out of hiding and they would never find the other two. And it made it sense, as much as she tried to reason against it.
"I could lose my job for this. Hell, I could lose my life if your uncle brings more than his two friends. Not to mention the respect of everyone that I've worked so hard just to earn. And what I hate about this... one of the many things, is that all this complaining from me... and none of it matters. It's not about me at all, and I... I can't say no to you."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 12:01:33 GMT -5
His lips quirked up on one side. She was agreeing to it, as dangerous as it was. And even though there was a little voice of warning whispering to him in the back of his head that this was a bad idea, he still felt relieved.
"Thank you, Riley. I know you hate this... and I wish I could promise you that nothing bad was going to happen. But I really think that this is the only way. We need to put an end to this. It's the only way my family's going to be safe."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 12:08:58 GMT -5
"When, Roland?" She would certainly feel better if he was talking a month out... time to plan this well, but with the attack on Lina... well, she was surprised he hadn't done it already. And thankful.
Riley shook her head. "I kind of have a motto, Roland, and it's this: It's never going to be the right time, so sometimes, you have to just do it." Actually, the sooner they did this, the better. It would give her less time to think so much about it, less time to worry and talk herself out of it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 12:17:54 GMT -5
It's never going to be the right time. Something about those words struck a chord with him, and he forgot all about the topic at hand for a moment. He kept looking for the right time to let her know how he felt about her, but maybe there never would be a "right" time. He just would have to make up his mind to do it, and let whatever happened, happen.
But one thing was certain. Now was definitely not that time. With all that she was doing for him, it seemed a little too much pressure to add in, "oh, by the way, I'm in love with you."
Merlin... had he just admitted it to himself? The realization made the hand that was holding the glass of firewhiskey shake, and he raised the glass to his lips for a drink.
"I agree," he said after a minute. "The sooner we do this, the better. I'll send him the note tomorrow, and hopefully we can do this tomorrow night. Unless you think it's too soon for you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 12:21:46 GMT -5
"No, it's not too soon. I'll be ready. And I'm still going to try to think of another way out of this by tomorrow night." She frowned and the look in her eyes softened. "I want to be honored that I'm the one you trust this with, but I just... I wish this wasn't what you needed me for. But I'm done, all right? You know what I think of this plan, so I won't say any more about it. Let's just do it." There was that motto of hers again.
"If the fight starts going any way than how we want it to go, or if it looks like they're getting the better of us, we have to bail. And we'll try again."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 27, 2009 12:32:22 GMT -5
Roland sighed. "If you can come up with a plan that would work better, I'm all ears," he said. "Otherwise, we do this. I'm not crazy about it myself, but I'll do what I have to do to make sure my family is safe. But thank you for helping."
Shifting his position so that he was sitting sideways on the couch, facing her, he studied her expression for a minute. "Wouldn't it be easier for you if I died? You wouldn't have to put up with me and my up and down moods. Or would you miss me if I died?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Mar 27, 2009 12:39:59 GMT -5
The look she gave him for that question was beyond harsh. "Don't you dare make assumptions about what would be easier for me, Roland. And don't talk like that. No one's dying except your uncle if we can manage it."
She stood up, surprisingly angry at him for his question, and took his empty glass into the kitchen. She was tempted to rinse it out and tell him to stop drinking for the night, but instead, she refilled it. She thought about it for a minute, but she refilled it, and brought it back to him. "Enjoy it."
She picked up her cloak, which lay crumpled on the sofa where she was sitting just moments ago.
|
|
