Icarus

Baldric wouldn’t forgive him.

Derek and Nancy, they wouldn’t either. But Bentley had something in his head and he wasn’t willing to give it up now that he’d settled on it. It had taken Kip and Audriana to convince him that it couldn’t be too very bad if he met his father. In order to do so, however, Ben had to work his way into the Death Eater ranks. Until recently, he had secretly funded their experiments and their endeavors. It had originally been a ploy to keep off of their list of people to go after, but now it was looking rather convenient.

At least he had a foot in the door, and it was a bit of a start if nothing else. The only problem would be convincing them to accept him enough to make it onto his father’s radar. The only thing he could come up with was to talk to someone who could work him into the group. It was fairly presumptuous of him to assume anything about the owner of the apothecary, but Bentley had heard from Audriana, who was an extremely reliable source when it came to Death Eaters and their workings. Clearly, considering she had been the one to find out about Clarence.

So Bentley braced himself before pushing the door open and looking around for the owner in question, Lorcan. Deciding it was wiser to go later in the day, he had shown up just before the store was set to close. Who else would be so bothersome as to be around during that time, when the workers would just want to go home?

“Excuse me,” he called out, ambling into the main part of the store and glancing around in hopes that he would have caught the owner while he was in.

Lorcan was generally at his best at night. It was that whole half vampire thing. It was just the way his physique worked. He often preferred to work late into the night at the shop making potions. He was preparing to make what felt like a one millionth batch of wolfsbane. He'd put the cauldron on with water and put it over the hearth to boil when he heard someone come in at about one minute before Lorcan had intended to lock the door. He heard the shop bell and frowned. It wasn't typical to find someone coming here at this time of night except, first, if there were some medical emergency. Or, second, if the dealings were darker. And it was generally the latter, not the former. The darker dealings were usually more interesting to Lorcan.

He got up and brushed off some stray bits of dried herbs off his clothes and took a sip of the 'energy drink' that he used from time to time. It was merely a vial of blood concealed in a dark dry red wine. He wasn't "allergic" to sunlight or most of the vampiric rules, but he did find that he got fatigued if he didn't at least supplement himself with blood periodically.

He also found that he didn't need much sleep, and preferred being up at night when possible. Keeping a shop and having a new baby meant that he got precious little sleep at all right now. And--there was a bonus to being here at this hour. His infant son was teething early, and it amused Lorcan to leave Zada to have to deal with it while he was out at the shops. He thought of her, got an amused smirk across his face for a fraction of a moment, let it pass, and then, composed again, walked out of the back of the shop.

He saw the young man in the shop. "Good evening. Can I help you?" Lorcan asked.

Turning at the greeting, Ben offered a 'hello' in return. Really, he should have planned out his explanation before walking into the store. In truth, he had a bit of it in mind, but now that he stood before the very man who could get him in touch with his father, Bentley knew he had every chance to mess it up and be turned away.

Pushing his shoulders back and raising his chin, Bentley took on his typical office stature, in which he was fully in command of every situation and was rarely questioned. It was a comfort, to some extent, he admitted to himself silently. If he believed he were confident, everyone else likely would, too.

"I believe you know my father, Clarence Montgomery. I have never met him, but I fully intend to. You see, my name is Bentley Pierson, and I've been funding... your faction's endeavors for quite some time. Upon receiving news of my father, I've decided to forgo formality and accept where my family's loyalties lie."

Although he was fairly unsure about his own mind and which side he wished to be part of, he was completely sure about his desperation to understand his father. Every word he spoke was true, even if it was a bit convoluted and explained in a round-about way. He couldn't help but think that it came off formal and serious, and hoped that it would be enough to convince the man standing before him. This was his singular shot.

Lorcan appreciated a young man who knew how to conduct himself appropriately. He was well dressed, his timing had actually been good for Lorcan, and he'd gotten straight to the point. Good.

"Correct me, but I'm hearing a two part request, yes? You want to stop being just one of our funders and you want to become more active. That's the first request. As to the second--your father--Clarence," Lorcan nodded thoughtfully. "I do know him. Its been awhile since I've seen him, but yes, I know him. So, you're looking to find him and to met him, huh? That might take some doing to find him, but I doubt its impossible. I might be able to help, though. Perhaps.

"Mr. Pierson, as a fellow funder, then you are in a good place in your life now. That brings me to a couple of questions. What's behind you wanting to be more active in the actual workings of our organization? And do you have any expectations of how you think you might want to fit in?"

Lorcan actually also wanted to know what Pierson's skills were besides donating, and to know whether he had any idea what he might actually be in for if he got into the actual movements of the organization. He needed members who were alive and functioning. He didn't want anyone to be tossed headlong into something he might not be prepared for.

"As for Clarence, I do understand the need to meet one's father, but I am curious. Why now? It took a bit of courage to come here to me. What's driving you now?"

Inhaling through his nose, Ben clasped his hands behind his back. He had expected a need to explain himself, but actually doing so took his diplomacy and leadership skills. Wording things carefully was something he had learned through work, his new family, and even Baldric and Rose. It was just lucky that he wasn't coming into their conversation without any experience with tough situations.

"I have never been part of anything except my business, which I am heir of through the CEO legally adopting me. To answer a few questions at once, my adoptive parents have reminded me recently of my past. I grew up alone and without purpose, and I never want to feel that way. I can devote myself to a cause and hopefully prove my father wrong."

It wasn't just wishing to know the man. It was that Ben was sure Clarence had chosen wrong. Half-blood or not, he was successful and not one willing to be tossed aside. He wasn't a Slytherin just for his ambition, no matter what Bentley claimed. He was stronger than most had given him credit for and he had no problem proving it.

"If this is what my father takes pride in, I am more than willing to invest myself in it until he takes notice. I have acquaintances - I cannot say I call them all friends - in high places as well as in organizations that even your group may not have heard of yet. If we need them to do something, I daresay I can convince them. Similarly, many people know of my father, if not of me, and I have no qualms using it to get what I need.

"My past has taught me to be resourceful. I admit I may be more on the... Well, infiltration and information side of things, but that's not to say I won't take up arms if need be. After consideration, I did not expect, myself, to be so determined. But I suppose hindsight is always twenty-twenty."