[b]Luther Cunningham & Kyle McCarthy – Rosaline Hall – Entrance Hall
3:20 PM[/b]

Immediately after the meeting, Luther reported on every scrap of information that he had regarding David Howell to Ronan. He suspected that Ronan may already have known a fair amount of it, but at least [i]some[/i] of it had to be useful. Hopefully.

Afterwards, Luther entered the entrance hall, and fought the urge to groan when he saw Kyle standing, facing the window with his arms crossed. But he had anticipated this – in fact, that was why he was here. Despite the… [i]disagreement[/i] between them, they would need to cooperate for this mission to be a success. And he was sure Kyle would have some information that might help to accomplish that.

[color=7ec0ee]“Hello, McCarthy,”[/color] Luther greeted, keeping his voice from being overly firm or cold. He approached him, standing at his side, keeping his eyes focused on the nature outside the window. Kyle gave the smallest of nods in response, his shoulders tense and the frown that Luther could now see deepening. [color=7ec0ee]“Look, I know we haven’t been, and I suppose [i]aren’t,[/i] the best of friends. So I guess we should just cut to the chase, and make this easier for us both. Your sister–oh grow up, like it or not she is your sister, get used to it–”[/color]

[color=00a651]“How much time have you actually spent around her?”[/color] Kyle interrupted, even more tense at the mention of his sister, yet his voice surprisingly calm.

[color=7ec0ee]“Not a whole lot, but that’s already more than I’d prefer; that’s something I think we can [i]both[/i] agree on, for once,”[/color] Luther responded, equally calm in spite of the interruption. Kyle nodded in agreement, which Luther took as a sign that he could continue.

[color=7ec0ee]“As I was saying, your sister is going to be hell enough to deal with long enough for you and Callaghan to find Mia and get her out. And [i]if[/i] you two fail to do so undetected – and let’s face it, I suspect this is going to wind up being more likely than not – Blake and I can’t exactly dismiss the disruption as nothing, nor can we just leave as soon as that happens. Regardless of our differences I’ll certainly use nothing more than prank hexes against you, or simply ‘miss’, and I’m sure Blake will do the same. I guess what I’m trying to say is,”[/color] Luther paused to face Kyle, [color=7ec0ee]“are you ready to face her? And is there anything that Blake and I can do that might make this easier for [i]all of us?[/i]”[/color] putting heavy emphasis on ‘all of us’ – he really meant Kyle alone, whether or not it was interpreted as such.

[color=00a651]“I appreciate that and shall return the favor.”[/color] Kyle said no more at first, and Luther suspected that he was avoiding the other half of his question completely, until he turned and continued, [color=00a651]“You know as well as almost anyone in this building how dangerous she can be. Don’t underestimate her, and if she and I end up in the same room, don’t get in the way.”[/color] Kyle’s face said it all, really; the grim determination in his eyes told far more than his words ever could. Luther nodded. [color=7ec0ee]“She’d probably tell us to do the same thing anyway. Although she’d be more than happy to fight three-on-one with just about [i]anyone[/i] else, I think it’s fair to say that an exception would–will–be made for you,”[/color] Luther replied. He didn’t know an awful lot about Maggie, in truth, but he knew enough to say this with near-certainty.

Luther was silent for a while, letting that part of the conversation fade. Eventually he looked up from the window. [color=7ec0ee]“So, there is still plenty that needs to be sorted out…”[/color]

[b]3:48 PM[/b]

Nearly a half hour later, they had finally agreed on a way to go about things that [i]might[/i] just work. Luther and Blake will come to ‘interrogate’ Mia – Luther knows French, and if Mia played her cards right then Maggie won’t know she speaks English at all. Blake is there to rough her up if she doesn’t cooperate; if Maggie is suspicious, then ‘they are there on orders from the Dark Lord.’ At this point Luther will signal that they are in by closing the shades, and Callaghan will sneak upstairs while they are all in the basement, to fulfill his job as a distraction. Blake will distract Maggie, as best she can. Hopefully Maggie will eventually leave them alone when she realizes that everything will be done in French (and Alistair will be present to ‘keep an eye on them’), but if not then Callaghan will set off the distraction, and Kyle would sneak into the basement around Maggie and anyone else going to investigate the noise. Kyle would get Mia out. If needed a mock fight would happen between him, Luther and Blake. As soon as possible, they will pretend to chase them before the delay on the Fiendfyre runes expire, destroying the manor. Kyle and co. will Apparate back to Rosaline Hall, while Luther and Blake will remain with Maggie at their own discretion; they will suggest not telling the Dark Lord of their embarrassing failure, but will go with her if she insists. They will return to Rosaline Hall as soon as they are safe to do so without suspicion, and the party as a whole will be debriefed. ...Of course, this is a fairly complicated plan with several opportunities where things could go wrong, but if everything goes [i]right[/i] then it will be a resounding success.

Pleased with what they’ve come up with, Luther leaves Kyle to his devices while they wait for the others to show up.