“—-I am if I know who I’m avoidin’, mate.” John, giving the man nothing more than a brief sideways glance, tends to the cigarette awaiting a light, taking in a pull. He’d rather smell the Silk Cuts than the sulfur, though the attempt to smother the smell is always in vain. “Trust it’ll be harder next time.” Then, he turns, looking none enthused when he faces him. 

“On the contrary, everyone with enough common sense are usually the ones avoidin’ me, so whenever I’m sought out, it means the seeker is bloody desperate. Name yourself; what do ye want from me?”

_{“Yes, well, we’re all desperate these days, aren’t we?” Truly naming himself wasn’t going to happen and stating the usual ‘friend’ line wouldn’t really serve him this time around. So, he knew the best option was to simply admit a partial truth. “The world is changing and that usually means one way or another…you have to take a step forward into it.” He could have elaborated a bit more on  the situation, but truthfully? It wasn’t needed.}

_{“I need your help.” Or rather, he was taking a massive risk into asking such a thing, but he knew it would be worth it. If – and only if – things went according to plan.}