nowhere (Logan)

[Lacey Moore]

Nowhere else to go, I think as if rehearsing as I walk up the porch steps to what I think is Arden's front door. If she asks, that's what I'll say - I had nowhere else to go.

In the past, having nowhere else to go has always taken me to Fitzy's. When that was no longer an option it was a homeless shelter instead, but I don't think they can help me this time around. I thought that Fitzy would; hell, I thought that he'd be thrilled. I thought I could just take our daughter and go and we'd hopefully never have to see each other again... unless we wanted to.

But all such stupid, childish thoughts have disappeared now, crushed by the news - the stunning, unexpected news - that for god knows what reason Fitzy won't give back my daughter. He wants, I guess, to keep her... which makes no sense at all. He isn't the Fitzy I knew.

And Shelby won't be a bloody help; she's probably the reason he's changed. So there's only one person I can think of to go to, who might understand what's going on and be able to talk sense into her brother - Arden.

Arden always fascinated me when we were kids. The way that he described her, I assumed we were alike - a vicious little bitch who'd do anything to get her own way. Jake insisted she was actually funny and sweet, but that was Jake so I ignored him, assuming that Fitzy was right. Then I found out she was a Hufflepuff, of all things, and made it my business to meet her. Turned out, for once, Jake was correct, and she was more like him than me. I can't even imagine how someone could mistake Jake for being like me, though, so she fascinated me still. I wondered how a person could drive Fitzy so insane while Jake just thought she was a cute little girl.

And then, life went on, and I didn't meet her again until she didn't remember me, and I was just a heroin addict in the middle of withdrawal lying on the floor in her brother's room when she came by to visit. We've spoken maybe a handful of times over the years, and that's it. I don't have any reason to think that she'll help me, except that she clearly sees her brother as kind of an idiot. And that's probably not enough reason for her to take my side against him in the upcoming custody battle for the child that neither of us wanted a year ago.

But, sadly, I have nowhere else to go.
I knock three times, rapidly, on the door, praying that she'll hear me out.

((Ah, hell. I forgot he isn't s'posed to open the door. It made sense at the time.))

[Logan Andrews]

For fucks sake.
It's honestly the first thing shoots into my head when there's a knock at the door. I wish this would stop happening on the days when I'm the only one here.
I'm sure it'd be bad enough if Arden was here as well, because I'd probably have to keep out of sight and I hate that, because it feels too much like hiding and I've grown to despise hiding lately.

First time I got the door it was Riley, who I've not seen since I had to talk to him in Diagon Alley. Which I'm fairly glad about, to be honest. I wish I could remember his surname though, because it feels too familiar to have to think of him as Riley like that.
Second time, I didn't even get the door but Fitzy came in here anyway and that was just really irritating...because Fitzy is just really irritating.
And I don't know who it is now, but I wouldn't think it would be anyone apart from them, unless Arden has a huge crowd of friends who are suddenly really enthusiastic about coming round to visit.
But both of them already know I'm here, so I doubt they're going to be calling round either.

So basically, all I've worked out is that I really have no idea who it is or whether I should bother or just ignore it.
I'm a little annoyed about it I suppose, I'm busy moping again. I've already been out today, but not for very long and I didn't go very far before I got bored and came back, and then decided to go for a change of scenery and stand around in the kitchen rather than sit around in the living room.
It's really not made that much difference...as wherever I am, I'm still really quite bored and I'm still just hanging around and thinking about things that don't make much sense and just go round in huge, bleak circles.

Which I think is reason enough to just go and get the door.
On a basis of anything to break up the monotony, so I don't have to stand here and think for a moment longer. I don't even care if it's an auror or something anymore, we'll just see what happens if it is.
But it's not an auror, I decide after a brief fumble with the uncooperative lock so that I'm relatively annoyed by the time I've actually got the door open. Instead it's some girl I've never seen before...so I suppose she could be an auror, but I highly doubt it just from looking at her.
"What?" I mutter by way of greeting.

(meh...nevermind. lol.)

[Lacey Moore]

I take a step back when some guy I've never seen before but who looks kind of unpleasant answers the door, and I look up at the house number to se if I've come to the place I meant to. Yes.

"... You're not Arden," I say unnecessarily. "And probably not Travis, because I think I heard he was dead. Do I have the wrong house or what?"

I'm kind of hoping not, but at the same time it's really annoying to have someone unexpected open the door twice in a row.

[Logan Andrews]

"Clearly," I agree slowly, because a remark like that is probably deserving of a condescending response.
"She's at work," I shrug a moment later.
I don't know if she has the wrong house or not, but I guess it stands to reason that if she's looking for Arden then she does have the right house...just unfortunate timing.

[Lacey Moore]

"Oh... dammit," I mutter, eyes flashing briefly at nothing in particular. So was Fitzy.
"And I don't suppose you're her... 'um, doesn't matter,' are you?" I ask, tilting my head at him despite the fact this likely won't make sense to him.

[Logan Andrews]

I glance at her oddly for a few seconds, then shrug vaguely because I don't know what she's talking about.
"What'd you say your name was again?"
She didn't say what her name was obviously...but it's marginally more polite than just asking 'who the hell are you?' and I'm still figuring out whether I'm supposed to be being polite or not.

[Lacey Moore]

I didn't say my name was anything, but I don't really feel like arguing so I just raise an eyebrow and then let it go.
"Lacey. Arden doesn't know me, not really, but I'm the mother of her niece. You?"

[Logan Andrews]

"Logan."
I can't think of a nice little follow up sentence though, so I'm just going to leave it at that.
"So what do you want?"
This is Melody's mother then, not that I've ever met Melody but I remember Arden saying something about her. That doesn't really explain why she's here though.

[Lacey Moore]

"As in... Andrews?" I ask, tilting my head and raising my eyebrows, a little more interested now. It's probably sad that I know and remember so much about people I've never met. But, if he is Logan Andrews, i wonder how much I should tell him. I know he's not exactly in Fitzy's good books, but then again neither was Arden and here I am looking for her help. So I eye him only a short moment before shrugging.
"I'm hoping that Arden will help me get my daughter back from Fitzy."

[Logan Andrews]

I shrug slightly, because I'm not sure whether to admit to that or not and I can't be bothered to think on it.
"And why's she going to help you...if you don't really know each other?"
I think that's a fair question, but I'm not all that interested anyway. It's still a break in the boredom at least.

[Lacey Moore]

I'm going to take that as a yes. If he wasn't, he'd correct me, so shrugging's as good as a yes. I smirk slightly. I've definitely heard a fair bit about him... but it's not that important at the moment.
"I don't know for sure," I admit, shrugging. "But I know that they don't always get along, so maybe she'll take my side."

[Logan Andrews]

"Good luck then," I say indifferently, "But like I said, she's at work."
And also I don't appreciate her smirking at me, but I'm not going to say that either.

[Lacey Moore]

True.... I glance over my shoulder at the street, knowing that I have to walk away now, and come back sometime later and hope that she's here then....
"Which is why I'll have to wait for her," I shrug, slipping past him into the house as if I belong here.

[Logan Andrews]

"Come on in then," I mutter belatedly, shutting the door behind her.
If I was that bothered I suppose I could force her to leave, but I'm not that bothered. It beats hanging around here on my own for however long.

[Lacey Moore]

"Thank you; don't mind if I do," I say, smirking faintly again. "So, you're Logan Andrews...."

[Logan Andrews]

I thought we'd already established that, so I just nod briefly looking vaguely annoyed.
There's not much of a reply to that, really, or at least a verbal one.
And I don't know who she is really, apart from obviously derranged enough to get involved with Fitzy.

[Lacey Moore]

I laugh faintly, shaking my head. At least I can amuse myself a little while I wait. After Arden, Logan was probably one of the people I heard about that I wanted to meet the most.
"I've heard a lot about you, you know. Most of it pretty unflattering."

[Logan Andrews]

"Yeah, I bet," I murmur wryly, but I can't help but be slightly amused at the same time.

[Lacey Moore]

"Right up there with... Heightington and Samuel Patricks," i continue, nodding, though I can't maintain the light, amused tone when talking about Heightington, so it comes out as more of a disgusted hiss.

[Logan Andrews]

I raise an eyebrow at that, because if she's been hearing the same sort of thing about us but she's fine with standing here and talking to me, I wonder what Heightington did to upset her.
"Impressive," I note in a tone that suggests otherwise, then smirk slightly, "What did Heightington do to you?"

[Lacey Moore]

"Nothing important," I mutter, shaking my head. I smile faintly in a way that I know is ironic but most people usually don't catch. "Just... murdered my brother. And our parents, but I wasn't so bothered over them."

[Logan Andrews]

It's probably a little odd that I find it slightly amusing how she slips in that smile there. It doesn't seem very appropriate and is actually a little bit creepy in the context.
Maybe she really is derranged then.
"Oh yes, nothing important then."

[Lacey Moore]

"Oh no, not at all," I agree, shaking my head and laughing faintly. "So how about you? Ever lose a family member?"
I don't know why that question slips out. Something to say, I suppose.

[Logan Andrews]

I raise an eyebrow, folding my arms loosely for something to do with them, "Hasn't everyone?"
I see no need to mention that I either killed or drove them all away, and of course lost my own child. No, there's no need to go into that.
And this is a very strange, very personal conversation to be having with a near enough stranger.

[Lacey Moore]

I tilt my head a moment, frowning thoughtfully before shrugging. "Well, probably most witches and wizards of our generation, at least," I agree. "You raise a good point, Mr. Andrews."

[Logan Andrews]

I nod briefly.
"What's your surname?" I ask after a moment, when it starts to bother me that she knows mine and I don't know hers.
I also want to know if I recognise it.

[Lacey Moore]

"Moore." I smile faintly again. "We're mudbloods, so I doubt you've ever heard of us."

[Logan Andrews]

"Ah, no, I haven't then," I shake my head.
I find the whole self-confessed mudblood thing sort of amusing too, but not enough to really show it.

[Lacey Moore]

"Hm...." I nod vaguely, then grin because this has always amused me. "Slytherins though."

[Logan Andrews]

I make a small disapproving noise in the back of my throat, but don't say anything.
I thought Slytherin was supposed to be prestigious with the whole not letting mudblood's in, but I'm not supposed to think like that anymore anyway. It's hard to change a lifetime's worth of opinions, just because I'm not crazy enough to take them too far anymore.