Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Infernal Utopia. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 3
Hospital Wing
Topic Started: Feb 23 2009, 09:28 PM (1,290 Views)
Mercury Banks
Member Avatar
Jack of Hearts

Things started to calm down after everyone spoke their opinion. The majority said to tell the truth which was a great relief to Mercury. At least after three years of hard fighting they hadn't forgotten who they were or what the Order stood for. Mercury could understand the urge to continue the old mistakes of the past. He knew he was a bit dense when it came to the political realm, but even he knew that telling the truth was probably the most unpredictable, scariest thing any politician or government official could do. He personally didn't know how the world was going to react, but he had faith that in the end things will work out. And even if it didn't at least they would be able to look themselves in the mirror. That was the most important part; that had always been the most important thing despite what some people like Xavier or George may have said. thier number one goal had always been to save the world, but to save a world that was worth living in. He didn't expect the new kid to understand that. He hadn't been with the group long enough, besides even Caedmon agreed with the kid initially. Then again that may have simply been his analytic mind talking. But Caedmon had also been an Obscurati once. Mercury didn't mean it as a bad thing. It just meant that Caedmon was used to seeing things from a slightly different perspective than the Order.

"Xavier's right. The people are going to need people like us. They're going to look to us for help and guidance. They're going to look at Cael there, even though he no longer works for the Ministry, and they're going to seek guidance from him. They're going to want answers from Banks here, who's been with the Ministry forever...Though, I think it might be a good idea to keep Xavier from the picture for the time being. He's not exactly a newborn cute puppy but someone with a past that people might object to. No offense, by the way. But then again, it might work out if the people did know. If they knew that you and Cael have put aside your differences to work together for a better world?"

Mercury looked up surprised when Ralem said people would be wanting answers from him. Somehow he highly doubted that that would be the case. He didn't come off as the man who knew all, now did he? Besides even if some poor person came up to him for answers they'd probably only get more confused and hopeless....or scared that the ministry actually hired people like Mercury. He wasn't sure about revealing Xavier too soon. The public was going to have a lot to deal with it as it was. Did they really want to overload everyone?
"We should probably wait until people get over the shock of Scrimgeour's death before we reveal Xavier. We don't want people to completely freak out."

Then it came down to who would spill the beans about Scrimgeour's death and thank God it wasn't going to be him. It may have been a selfish thought but God he did not want to be the one who broke the news...not that anyone would believe him anyway. Unfortunately his reputation as a goodball proceeded him. Not that he was complaining. If it got him out of nasty jobs like this than he was happy. He watched as Jenkins and Ralem had a brief argument over who would tell the horrible news. Ah, poor Ralem. She got all the good jobs didn't she? But Jenkins was right. Ralem had been the best Head of Aurors and a great leader of the Order. Mercury was a hundred percent sure without Cael's and Ralem's leadership they would have lost this war a long time ago. Still he wondered briefly if Ralem wished she had been more of a goofyball in her youth. Many people didn't believe him, but being an idiot was actually more benefitual than being good at things. It got you out of sticky situations like this and you could make a complete fool of yourself and not worry about the consequences. He didn't know why more people didn't try it.

"So now what?"

Hm...good question. What did they do now? It seemed so strange to think about it. Without some crisis or new magical artifact that they had to find before Voldemort/Varius/Mircea did, they were now at a lost at what to do. It was funny when one thought about it. Especially since he was sure that they all had, at least once, imagined what their life would be like when the war was over. Well one thing was for sure they never imagined it would be like this. But that didn't answer the what now question. Personally the first thing Mercury wanted to do was order a nice strong drink. After that he was going to take a nice long shower and then he'd collapse on the couch and probably sleep until next week. Too bad he had a job and stuff. He wondered how his employees would react if simply didn't show up at work for a week. Would they even notice? Maybe...would they be happy or sad? Would they even care? Probably not. He probably hurt work productivity more than he helped. Well it wasn't his fault he was entertaining.

"So... Like I said, does this mean that we shouldn't be worried about getting dragged to Azkaban once we're asleep? Are we going to be pardonned or will the Ministry make some kind of deal?"

"My opinion on that matter is that you and your friends will never step foot inside Azkaban. You've done way too much to help us so it would be rather heartless of us to throw you away to rot in prison. It might raise a few eyebrows at the two sides joining forces but that's something I'm willing to weather through. Like Xavier said, we do have morals to uphold."

"I agree with Katia. If it wasn't for Xavier sharing the information about the Infernal Sword and everything else and helping us out at the fortress, we might never have succeeded in defeating Voldemort. He nearly died back there and I owe my life to him too. We can't just have the Ministry put him and the others in Azkaban now. No matter your reasons, you've helped us out a lot and took enormous risks. I'm not sure how willing the Ministry would be to make a deal with you, but I'm not going to stand around as they put you in a cell."


Mercury looked at Xavier slightly surprised. One he totally forgot that the rest of the world didn't know about Xavier switching sides and two...well he would never in a million years expected Xavier to ask. He wasn't sure why...it just didn't seem like a very Xavierish...ish thing to do. He listened to Caedmon and Katia and couldn't help but agree. He hated the bastard, but Mercury couldn't deny that Xavier had been of great help, besides he was a semi-Order member...thing and they always looked out for their own. They would also need his help nabbing the rest of the Death Eater bastards. Mercury was sure Xavier either knew where most of them hid or how to draw them out of their holes. He wondered if Xavier knew...nah. Probably not. Mercury would just have to try and find Eric the good old fashion way. Sigh.
"I agree with Katia and Caedmon. You're a fuck, Xavier, but you helped us out a lot...actually I think you're the only person who we've made a deal with who fulfilled their part of the bargain. Kind of sad if you think about it. But, yeah, we wouldn't let you or your...friend? over there get dragged into Azkaban. Although it may be hard to get a pardon when there's no minister."
Damn they really needed a minister didn't they? Who knew that that they were so important? He just thought they walked around and pretended to do stuff.
Posted Image

Thanks Martha for the awesome sig
So come fill up your glasses with brandy and wine
Whatever it costs I will pay
So be easy and free when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet every day
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Manfred Boelcke
Member Avatar
Self-Appointed Martyr

Manfred noticed that Caedmon gave him a brief glance so he gave him a faint grin. It was all right. He wouldn't stand in the way if that was what the Professor was worried about. He would do his best to ensure that their decision to tell the truth didn't backfire on them and if it did he would not gloat. This decision was bigger than all of them and Manfred was mature enough to realize that. Would he worry? Of course. It was in his nature to worry, especially when he foresaw disaster. But he would keep his fears to himself. Everyone knew where he stood and there would be no point in reminding them. He just hoped the other Order members hadn't lost faith in him. But he would deal with that later. He was sure he would win their faith and confidence-eventually.

A lot of this was about faith. He realized that now. The only thing that must have kept this group fighting through its darkest hours must have been their faith that they could win. Manfred understood that kind of faith. He had it himself. But he didn't have faith in people. He could have faith in individuals or even a minority of people, but when they placed their future and wellbeings in the hand of the majority? That was when he barked because majorities were so stupid sometimes. Yes, he would fight for them, yes he would defend them, yes he would ensure that they were happy and free, but he didn't have faith in them. He knew it was probably a strange view to take but how could he have faith when all they did was sit back and let their world nearly get destroyed? Why should he have faith when the majority was content to turn a blind eye to the world and wallow in pleasure while noble few risked their lives for them? How can he have faith in people who were more than content to give their freedom away as long as it brought security or if it was easier than fighting? Bah, faith. Faith in individuals was understandable and usually paid off, but faith in the majority? That only brought pain. But if that was what the Order wanted, fine. That was what the Order would get.

Manfred watched as Ralem and Jenkin had a brief argument over who would tell the world about Scrimgeour's death. In some ways he was glad he wasn't Ralem. That was a nasty job with no rewards, especially if people freaked out like Manfred predicted. But that was a mess they would have to deal with when it happened. it was the price they were willing to pay to uphold their reputation and morals. Manfred understood the need for morals. He himself was a very moral man, but there were also varying levels of morality and he had adapted to the times. He wondered if that was a bad thing but figured that if it got the job done it wasn't that bad. He had grown more cynical during the last year though, but then againa fter spending a year navigating the trick waters of politics within his own family and Germany, he doubted anyone wouldn't come out a bit cynical. Only the hard and cynical changed the world, the soft and friendly carried it into the new age. But maybe they had passed the stage for the hard and cynical. Maybe the new age had already been created and now they needed someone pure to carry it forward. Maybe...but he doubted it. They still had a long way to go before this new ages of theirs was ready to be carried forward.

"So now what?"

Samantha had a point. What now? Well Ralem would have to hold a press conference and soon, Xavier and his Wraiths should find some place to hide until they could figure out what to do with them, everyone else should probably be ready to calm the population down and do whatever they could to make Ralem's job easier. Manfred briefly wondered how the rest of the world would react. Thankfully (well not for England anyway) most of the fighting had taken place in England, but the rest of the world had been watching-particularly those with a heavy dark arts population such as Bulgaria, Germany, and Finland. He supposed it would be helpful if he made sure they didn't react too harshly to the news that the man they had been working with was actually a servant of Voldemort. Oh, rebuilding a worldwide image was going to be a bitch. God damn you, Scrimgeour! Still the ministry had a good international department. He was sure they would be able to work things out-eventually.

"So... Like I said, does this mean that we shouldn't be worried about getting dragged to Azkaban once we're asleep? Are we going to be pardonned or will the Ministry make some kind of deal?"

"My opinion on that matter is that you and your friends will never step foot inside Azkaban. You've done way too much to help us so it would be rather heartless of us to throw you away to rot in prison. It might raise a few eyebrows at the two sides joining forces but that's something I'm willing to weather through. Like Xavier said, we do have morals to uphold."

"I agree with Katia. If it wasn't for Xavier sharing the information about the Infernal Sword and everything else and helping us out at the fortress, we might never have succeeded in defeating Voldemort. He nearly died back there and I owe my life to him too. We can't just have the Ministry put him and the others in Azkaban now. No matter your reasons, you've helped us out a lot and took enormous risks. I'm not sure how willing the Ministry would be to make a deal with you, but I'm not going to stand around as they put you in a cell."

"I agree with Katia and Caedmon. You're a fuck, Xavier, but you helped us out a lot...actually I think you're the only person who we've made a deal with who fulfilled their part of the bargain. Kind of sad if you think about it. But, yeah, we wouldn't let you or your...friend? over there get dragged into Azkaban. Although it may be hard to get a pardon when there's no minister."


Then Xavier asked a very interesting question. What were they going to do with them. He listened as the others promised to make sure he wasn't dragged into Azkaban and that was great, except how in hell did they plan to fulfill that promise? Argh did these people love committing political suicide? This time, however, Manfred agreed with them. Xavier had been of great help and it didn't look good betraying one of your own.
"I agree as well. But he should probably go into hiding for a little bit until we can agree some kind of pardon or deal for him and his fellow Wraiths. It might take a while considering that we have no minister and our government is going to have to deal with the aftershocks of Scrimgeour's betrayal."
Posted Image

Can you tell me how it feels
I feel nothing at all
Can we pretend this is real
I feel nothing at all
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ralem Tarendeau
Member Avatar
Minister of Magic

"I should probably alert the rest of the staff about the news. At least they can finally rest, knowing that You-Know-Who - I mean Voldemort - won't be attacking the castle any time soon. You should all rest soon aswell, for that matter. I'll speak to you later..."

"So now what?"

Lem watched silently as Flitwick left the room to notify the rest of the professors. That meant she’d need to release the news publicly soon. There was only so much time before the news got out to the real world. Sighing, Lem sat down slowly on a nearby bed and stared at the floor. How was she going to pull this one off? ‘Hi everyone, Voldy’s dead?’. Probably not a good idea. She’d need to prepare a speech. She’d need to talk in front of a bunch of reporters. Great. Just…perfect. Lem looked up and her eyes lingered on Sam for a moment. Now what? That was quite a good question. She glanced at Jenkins. Right, Jenkins first.

“Jenkins. You go to the ministry. Get the reporters. The ministry people. Get everyone rounded up. I’ll be there in a little bit.” Jenkins nodded his head and swiftly left the room after giving everyone a reassuring smile. Lem looked back at Sam. “Now? Now we wrap everything up.”

"While I don't like the idea of being in the public eye too much... if you want me to do it, I will. Of course, I'm assuming that would also mean I'm not going to be put in Azkaban,"

"So... Like I said, does this mean that we, shouldn't be worried about getting dragged to Azkaban once we're asleep? Are we going to be pardonned or will the Ministry make some kind of deal?"

That was a good point. What were they going to do with Xavier? It wasn’t like he could honestly step out into the world. He couldn’t be normal yet. It would take a while. Did he realize that? It would take time for England to get accustomed to Xavier. And it would take time for Xavier to be safe from harm. Not that anyone could really arrest Xavier. Not without casualties.

Katia interrupted her thoughts. Lem had always wondered if Katia had had something going with Xavier. Sometimes it felt like it, or looked like it. And then at other times, it seemed so far-fetched and unbelievable. Maybe Lem was trying to read into it too much. And why would Lem care anyway? She didn’t. She didn’t need to care or worry.

"My opinion on that matter is that you and your friends will never step foot inside Azkaban. You've done way too much to help us so it would be rather heartless of us to throw you away to rot in prison. It might raise a few eyebrows at the two sides joining forces but that's something I'm willing to weather through. Like Xavier said, we do have morals to uphold."

"I agree with Katia. If it wasn't for Xavier sharing the information about the Infernal Sword and everything else and helping us out at the fortress, we might never have succeeded in defeating Voldemort. He nearly died back there and I owe my life to him too. We can't just have the Ministry put him and the others in Azkaban now.

No matter your reasons, you've helped us out a lot and took enormous risks. I'm not sure how willing the Ministry would be to make a deal with you, but I'm not going to stand around as they put you in a cell."


"We should probably wait until people get over the shock of Scrimgeour's death before we reveal Xavier. We don't want people to completely freak out."

"I agree with Katia and Caedmon. You're a fuck, Xavier, but you helped us out a lot...actually I think you're the only person who we've made a deal with who fulfilled their part of the bargain. Kind of sad if you think about it. But, yeah, we wouldn't let you or your...friend? over there get dragged into Azkaban. Although it may be hard to get a pardon when there's no minister."

"I agree as well. But he should probably go into hiding for a little bit until we can agree some kind of pardon or deal for him and his fellow Wraiths. It might take a while considering that we have no minister and our government is going to have to deal with the aftershocks of Scrimgeour's betrayal."

Everyone voiced their opinions. They felt Xavier should go free. But would it be that easy? Would it be simple for Lem to tell England, “Hey, he’s a good guy now?” Especially while he runs his criminal group? It was going to be far from easy. But Lem realized that she owed it to Xavier to try. She thought back to that day in Xavier’s office. If she could get that man to show his face to the world. If she could make him the man England wasn’t scared of…

They all looked at her. Like she had the answers to everything. She probably should have. But sometimes it just wasn’t that easy. Right now, she’d have to offer a delicately planned speech. She’d have to make sure that England didn’t go absolutely crazy. And she needed to get Xavier into the loop so that no one would hate the entire Order for trusting Xavier. Oh Merlin, this was going to be harder than she had ever expected. Here she thought that all she had to do w as kill Riddle and everything would be better.

She dropped her head into her hands and sighed rather loudly. What the hell was she going to do? How was she going to pull this off? She felt like she needed sleep. Rest. She needed some time to think. Did anyone get that? The answers weren’t all there. The answers were deep in her mind. The mind that didn’t want to cooperate at the moment.

“It’s not that simple Xavier,” she said while still looking down, “I can’t just rewind the past and make everyone appreciate your presence.” She took a deep breath and straightened up, looking at Xavier now. “I promise, I’ll do everything I can. But first, and foremost, the Wizarding world is at the utmost importance. It’s going to take time for the ministry to make everything…quiet. I’ll try, but for now you and your people need to lay low for a while. I know that’s not something you want to hear, but it’s going to take some significant amount of pulling strings and favors and more or less, persuading the public that you’re not a threat.”

Lem stood up slowly and looked Xavier square in the eye. “But I can’t afford to try something like that for you, and then have you go and screw it all up again. If you’re going to keep running your organization, then I truthfully can say there’s no point in trying to attempt a normal life. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it goes. Our world is going to be very fragile for quite some time before we can put the pieces back together.”

Lem looked around at the other Order members. “Now, any other questions? Or is it time for you all to get some rest?”
Posted Image
Even angels have their wicked schemes and you take death to new extremes
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Samantha Moody
Member Avatar
Auror in training

"So... Like I said, does this mean that we shouldn't be worried about getting dragged to Azkaban once we're asleep? Are we going to be pardonned or will the Ministry make some kind of deal?"

It seemed the next topic of discussion was Xavier. Still sitting on the bed, Sam looked over at the Wraith and his buddies with mixed feelings. She got that same feeling she'd had at the Shrieking Shack, when Xavier first showed up with his idea of joining forces. Letting him go seemed stupid in the extreme from a practical stand-point: they had the Wraiths and their leader (who also happened to be in charge of the Syndicate) right where they wanted him. Hell, Xavier didn't even have a wand at the moment. It would still be hard to subdue them, but if they could pull it off... But Sam's conscience spoke against it. Like withholding the truth from the public about Scrimgeour, it seemed incredibly wrong to back-stab Xavier now. Not just to him, but the Wraiths aswell, who'd had no idea what was going on when Xavier turned on Riddle and took a leap of faith when deciding to help. Honestly, Sam still kind of wanted him behind bars. It was the safest course of action... Even if Xavier had changed, there was no telling what kind of scheme he'd come up with next...

Samantha remained silent as the others spoke. It didn't surprise her too much that Katia was firmly against putting him in Azkaban; whether she and the Wraith had a thing or something, Sam didn't know, but Katia was often the 'spokeswoman' for Xavier in the Order. Caedmon agreed with her. Mercury and Manfred sort of surprised Samantha, but she knew Mercury was an honorable guy and wouldn't let his dislike for Xavier interfere with his judgment in cases like this. Sam glanced at her father before finally speaking up aswell. "My Dad would want Xavier to be offered a second chance... And I don't think it's right for us to just hand him over to the Ministry either," she ultimately said.

However, the look she shared with Xavier said something entirely different. Sam would never forget that he and the Wraiths had killed her grandfather, her uncle, Gloriana and countless other innocent people, some on Voldemort's orders but some not... She was not just going to let that slide, nor should anyone.

At last, Ralem gave her 'verdict' on the matter. She was probably the only one who knew enough about the Ministry to know whether they would be prepared to make a deal with Xavier or not. She had a good point. Helping Xavier would serve no purpose if he continued to run the Syndicate. It looked like he was going to have to choose: a normal life as a normal citizen or forsaking this chance of redemption to continue his quest for power in the underworld. Samantha was quite sceptical. He wasn't going to take that deal... He'd never give up the power he had now. That was what everyone with power had in common: they wanted more and couldn't afford to lose it.

“Now, any other questions? Or is it time for you all to get some rest?”

"Rest is good," Samantha said with a small smile and lay down on the bed. Though she probably didn't need to stay at the Hospital Wing, she felt like she could fall asleep right now. With a battle like this (and the war) finally over, she could probably sleep for a week.
Posted Image
Graduated; Auror-in-Training
Member of the Boredom Club With A Boring Name Because We Couldn't Think Of Anything Because We Were So Bored
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Xavier Moody
Member Avatar
Wraith

Xavier listened as all the Order-members voiced their opinions. He was quite pleased and it showed on his face. It didn't surprise him that Katia was on his side, but he still appreciated it. Without her constant trust in him, he probably would have never been able to join forces with the Order and they might have never defeated Voldemort. Next up was Darke and finally, Banks, the new kid and Sammie.

The Wraith felt kind of awkward as he stood there, basically at their mercy. Or was he? Technically speaking, he had the advantage: he might be without his wand, but he was still armed with his katana and the Wraiths were the least injured. The Order, on the other hand, were wounded, tired and trusting, perfect for catching them off-guard... And with Flitwick and Jenkins leaving so conveniently, Xavier supposed it might not be too difficult to escape if he tried now.

But he resisted those instincts. Things had changed. Slightly. Xavier felt Samantha's gaze on him and knew that she, at least, wasn't fooled. She was not as trusting as her father... Xavier honestly wasn't sure what was going to happen and what course he and his 'colleagues' were going to take, but he did know that he wouldn't have trusted himself if he was in the Order's position. There were still plenty of ways to take advantage of the situation...

However, the one whose opinion really mattered was Lem's. Xavier placed his hands in the pockets of his robes and payed close attention to her. She would undoubtedly go back to the Ministry and her influence would only grow greater than it already had been as Head of Aurors, so a lot would depend on her judgment for this matter.

“It’s not that simple Xavier. I can’t just rewind the past and make everyone appreciate your presence. I promise, I’ll do everything I can. But first, and foremost, the Wizarding world is at the utmost importance. It’s going to take time for the ministry to make everything…quiet. I’ll try, but for now you and your people need to lay low for a while. I know that’s not something you want to hear, but it’s going to take some significant amount of pulling strings and favors and more or less, persuading the public that you’re not a threat.”

Xavier's face was impassive as he listened, but he nodded. That was understandable. He honestly didn't care all that much about lying low for a bit longer. How long had he done that? Pretty much ever since he left Hogwarts. First, he'd travelled the world, meeting and training under some of the most powerful Dark wizards... Then he'd joined the Syndicate and finally Lord Voldemort. Things hadn't changed much since. Honestly, going back to being a normal citizen would mean a lifestyle he hadn't experienced since he'd been 17 or so. Perhaps it was best if he had some time to get used to the idea. It was the same for the other Wraiths.

“But I can’t afford to try something like that for you, and then have you go and screw it all up again. If you’re going to keep running your organization, then I truthfully can say there’s no point in trying to attempt a normal life. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it goes. Our world is going to be very fragile for quite some time before we can put the pieces back together.”

When Ralem stood and faced Xavier, he met her gaze directly. Unlike that brief moment when they'd shared thoughts back at the fortress, Xavier was incredibly difficult to read. There seemed to be no emotion in his dark brown eyes as they Lem's cold blue ones. It almost felt like an insult to tell him to quit running the Syndicate - how much effort had Xavier gone through to have his revenge on Leontius and become it's leader? But it was unavoidable... Lem was right in saying that it was pointless to help him if he was just going to screw this up again.

But the question was: was Xavier even willing to give up the life he had lived for so long? It had been great, compared to all the other pointless, boring schmucks in the world. He'd been wild and unbound by normal society; a ravenous beast that took whatever he wanted and killed whoever he wanted. Was he even capable of giving up the power he had over his criminal group? And even if he was, was he prepared to do that, knowing that Dio and Livia were preparing for a war in the underworld? If Dio overthrew the Syndicate and took control, he could eventually gain mastery of the entire wizarding underworld... That was something no one could afford to let happen.

He looked at Ralem for what seemed like a long time. A part of Xavier really wanted to forgo the whole thing and let things stay as they were... But another part wouldn't mind giving a normal life a try. Or was it something different? A brief thought flashed through his head... Did he want to do this because he thought that Lem would prefer it if he did? Did that fleeting, impossible desire for the woman before him actually make him want to give up his ways?

"I'll think about it..." was all that Xavier said before he nodded at the Wraiths and moved towards the door.
Posted Image

"You won't see me coming... Until I strike."

Xavier Moody | Wraith | Ex-Death Eater | Leader of the Syndicate | Redeemed..?


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Katia Grinkova
Member Avatar
Head Vampire Hunter

The first to speak after Katia voiced her opinion on what to do about Xavier and the other Wraiths was Caedmon. She wasnt surprised to see that he agreed with her. He seemed to always be the voice of reason within the group. Mercury surprised her by agreeing though. She knew he was one of many who didnt like Xavier and for good reason. The Wraith didnt exactly pave his way into the Order nicely. Mercury brought up a good point too. Xavier did seem to be only one who didnt hedge on his part of the deal he made with the Order. Katia would not have thought that was possible but here was proof. Nobody seemed willing to put him and his fellow Wraiths in Azkaban.

Ralem's words didnt exactly shock Katia either. She was always the hesitant one with big decisions. Well, maybe hesitant was the wrong word. Careful. By the book. Breaking the rules did not seem to come easily for Ralem and Katia guessed she could understand that. The other woman was in a powerful position right now and letting Xavier run free would not be in her favor. People may not look too kindly on her if she became the next Minister and allowed former criminals to run free on the streets.

However, from the way Xavier and Ralem were facing off at the moment, it didnt seem likely to Katia that the other woman saw Xavier as a criminal. In fact, Katia felt a little uncomfortable with their exchange. She motioned for the closest nurse to come over. Whispering, she handed the woman her now empty cup. "I need more blood. This time with a little meade mixed into it." The nurse looked at her like she'd lost her mind but Katia returned a look of her own that said she was far from kidding. The nurse looked a little scared as she walked away but Katia couldnt let that bother her right now.

So, it seemed that what she'd witnessed earlier at the Court hadnt been a hallucination. Great. This would be fun to watch. Katia rolled her eyes in time to see the nurse holding out the refilled cup to her. Giving her a sweet smile, Katia gulped it down in one big swallow and crushed the cup in her hand. The nurse jumped back and raced to the other side of the room. Ignoring the burn in her throat, she laid back onto the bed. Ralem suggested they needed rest after the long night they've all had. Riight. Rest wasnt coming to Katia anytime soon.

She put everything out of her mind except for one thing. They defeated Riddle tonight. That was the important thing to remember here. Katia tried everything within her to hold onto that instead of the burning images that were rolling into her mind. Instantly she felt sorry for Caedmon. What was the man going to think when he found out that his lady love was secretly pining away for a criminal? Katia didnt have to rely on her ability as a legillimens to figure this out. It didnt matter that she couldnt read Xavier's mind. He never kept eye contact with anyone for that long. In fact, he never gave anyone the time of day unless they were truly important to him.

Jumping from the bed, Katia waved everyone else good night and hoped that she wouldnt miss anything important because she was leaving a bit prematurely. She got the gist of everything they've talked about tonight. Ralem would tell the wizarding world that Riddle was dead. Xavier and his little followers would lay low for a while until the time was right for him to reveal his "good guy status". Katia resisted the urge to laugh at the thought. No matter what happened tonight Xavier was never going to be one of the good guys. Rubbing her aching chest, Katia brushed past one of the Wraiths at the door and exited the hospital wing.
Posted Image

Can't ever keep from falling apart at the seams
Cannot believe you're taking my heart to pieces

Who do you need?
Who do you love?
When you come undone
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Caedmon Darke
Member Avatar
Deputy Headmaster

Caedmon was relieved that Mercury, Manfred and Samantha agreed with him and Katia about Xavier. A little surprised, too. Mercury and Samantha had not exactly been the most favourable to the Wraiths. It was understandable. After being captured and tortured by the Obscurati (in which Xavier had played a part) and nearly losing her father (which was entirely Xavier's fault), Sam would never forgive him easily. Judging by the look on her face, Caedmon was certain that the first steps had been made towards a more trusting relationship between the two, but it was going to take time. Mercury, of course, disliked Xavier purely on principle; in that way, he was both a simple and honorable man. The Wraith had done too much harm for Mercury to brush everything aside, but he acknowledged his help. Finally, Manfred probably felt grateful and saw the opportunity to keep Xavier on their side.

At least, that's how Caedmon thought about the matter. Sometimes, it was handy to keep someone from the other side in your own ranks. Caed had been the living proof: he'd been an Obscurati (Varius's favourite Paladin, even) and an expert on the Dark Arts and the Ancient's Tomb; without him, the Order would have never known about the Eternal Sword. But Caedmon would never boast. The way he saw it, it was the Order of the Phoenix that deserved most of the credit. Caedmon had merely guided their courage - they had been the ones who continuously made the choice to stand up to Varius and Voldemort, no matter how bad the situation.

Finally, Ralem spoke and Caed kept his attention on the present again. She was also of the opinion that Xavier should go free, but seemed worried about whether she could make it work or not. That was obviously going to be a problem... Caedmon knew his face had been on wanted-posters since the Second War; what would the people think if Lem announced that it had been largely thanks to Xavier that Voldemort had even been defeated? Especially in the wake of Scrimgeour's death and betrayal... It was too much. Caedmon agreed that Xavier needed to stay out of sight for now. They could tell the public about him once the time was right.

However, Caedmon didn't catch the look shared between the Wraith and Ralem. He started to feel kind of tired himself and sat down on an empty bed. Xavier seemed to leave quite suddenly, along with the other Wraiths, and Katia followed soon after. It seemed like they were done. He knew he had promised to tell the full story about his return to the fortress and his 'death' and what not, but that might have to wait. Perhaps they could hold another Order-meeting later... Caedmon smiled over at Lem.

Why not? They had all the time in the world... He was alive. Voldemort was dead. The Death Eaters had been dealt a terrible blow and the Third War was over. Dawn was really coming now. He thought back to Varius... There had been times when Caedmon had wondered whether it had all been worth fighting for and standing up to his friend... It had only seemed to bring further catastrophe. But now, as Caedmon looked at Ralem, he knew that it had definitely been worth it.

All the way.
Posted Image

Deputy Headmaster; Head of Slytherin; D.A.D.A. Teacher; Order-member; Expert on the Dark Arts
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mercury Banks
Member Avatar
Jack of Hearts

Mercury listened as everyone gave their opinion on Xavier. Of course everyone agreed to keep him around. It was the just and fair thing to do. Even Mercury recognized that and he hated the fucker. It knew it was slightly surprising considering his personal views on the Wraith, but he was mature enough to put those views to the side-for now anyway. He was never going to like or even trust Xavier, but he knew they owed the Wraith and did they really want to start this new world of theirs backstabbing the one who helped them defeat the Dark Lord? He didn't think so, especially since if they did that would make them the same as the assholes they had spent so long fighting. They weren't a bunch of filthy backstabbers. They were good, trustworthy, Order members and, even though that did leave them open to abuse, it was what mark them as different from everyone else. Besides he wasn't really in the mood to sit here and argue with everyone. That would be a useless and pointless battle and would only prevent people from some desperately needed sleep.

He listened to Ralem. It seemed she was a little worried about swinging some kind of deal for Xavier which was understandable. People were not going to be as forgiving or trusting as the Order and it really was too soon. God everyone had so much to digest...he was surprised they had been able to roll with everything. Mercury just hoped Xavier was willing to be a good little boy and lay low for a while. Mercury doubted it, but he remained quiet. They would deal with that later when Xavier made that fatal mistake. For now he just hoped Xavier agreed to the terms and disappeared into whatever hole he came from.

Mercury agreed with Ralem though. If Xavier was simply going to use this pardon to run his organization legally then there was no deal. This pardon was to give Xavier to a chance to stop being such a dick and to adapt to this new world of theirs without the chaos they had experienced in the past. They didn't need the Wraith running around fucking that up because he couldn't stand having a normal life. But again all that stuff could be saved for later. They weren't even ready to make any kind of agreement with the Wraith. Hell they had to simply make sure the world didn't tear itself apart from the news of Scrimgeour's death.

“Now, any other questions? Or is it time for you all to get some rest?”

Personally Mercury wanted some rest. Anything else they needed to discuss could wait. Voldemort was dead, they didn't have pressing news anymore. The Wraiths and Xavier seemed to agree with that assessment because they simply got up and left. All right then that definitely ended this meeting. He supposed that meant they rest of them could go too. But where would he go? The first place that popped into his head was a pub. He definitely needed a nice strong drink after this adventure...make that a couple of strong drinks. He should probably try and find something refreshing for Pepper as well. She deserved it. He looked down and smiled once he realized that she had fallen asleep in his arms. Aw, poor thing must have been really wiped out. He would feel so bad waking her but how else was he supposed to get out of her? Even if he traveled the old fashion way he'd still needed to find a fireplace or something and he was sure that kind of movement would disturb her sleep.

But now that he thought about it maybe he should just go home. He was sure Pepper wouldn't want to deal with the drunken idiots at a pub if she was really tired and he was feeling a bit worn out himself. It sucked being old. He got worn out easily and he had a shitload of responsibilities. speaking of responsibilities, he wondered if his department would be all right without him for a day. He didn't see why they wouldn't but then it hit him. Ralem was going to announce Scrimgeour's death and betrayal today. She was going to need all the help she could get in calming everyone down. Great. So much for a drink/sleep. He gave Pepper a gently nudge and watched as she slowly opened one eye.
"Sorry, girl," he told her gently, "but it's time to get up now."
She yawned before slowly raising her head. She hopped out of his arms, hovered in the air as she gave a little stretch, and landed on his shoulder. She gave him a little look as if she was asking where they were going now.
"To the ministry," he said giving her a gentle stroke on the neck.
She gave him a disappointed glare and he gave her an apologectic smile.
"Ralem's going to need all the help she can get."
Pepper just gave a little sigh and rolled her eyes. Couldn't these people do anything by themselves? He rose from his chair.
"Well if that's it," he told everyone, "I'll probably get going as well. You guys try and get some sleep all right? Ralem, I'm guessing I'll see you at the ministry?"
He was about to walked towards the door when Pepper gave him an annoyed squeak. Obviously she was annoyed that he thought she didn't have the stamina to travel. He just gave her an exasperated look but knew there was no point in arguing with her. Stupid stubborn thing that she was. With a burst of flames she and Mercury were gone.
Posted Image

Thanks Martha for the awesome sig
So come fill up your glasses with brandy and wine
Whatever it costs I will pay
So be easy and free when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet every day
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Manfred Boelcke
Member Avatar
Self-Appointed Martyr

Manfred was relieved that the Xavier issue had not caused another argument. He had been 95% sure it would, especially when he remembered how his first meeting went. That had been the meeting where Xavier revealed that he wanted to join their side and defeat Voldemort. He remembered that Samantha and Banks (he believed that was his name anyway) had expressed their disapproval more forcefully. Manfred could understand why they had barked but he also understood that it would have been foolish to turn Xavier away simply because he had had a dark past. Just like now it would be foolish to withhold from Xavier what they owed him. Like it or not Xavier had been of great help in the last battle, they probably would have never been able to do it without him, and the least they could do was to make sure Xavier and his Wraith didn't end in a prison cell in Azkaban. But there was more behind Manfred's decision than that. It was strategically wise to Xavier on their side. He had a lot of knowledge on how his fellow Death Eaters worked and he would be one less dark wizard they would have to worry about. Sure it would be a little tricky politically but in the end the gains more than made up for the amount of pain they were going to feel. He just hoped everyone else saw it that way.

Thankfully they did....well maybe they didn't see thing Manfred's way but at least they were willing to give Xavier a pardon of some sorts. He was also glad that Ralem had enough wisdom to know that she couldn't grant this immediately. As much as Xavier may have hated it, he was not their number one priority. He just hoped that Wraith was willing to wait. Still if he tried anything stupid Manfred saw no problem in hunting him down. This pardon was a thank you for helping them out, but Xavier should not confuse it as a sign of trust. He had a long way to go before that happened. If wondered if the others felt the same way. Samantha probably did. He could tell by the way she was looking at Xavier. Banks probably felt the same way too judging on his previous actions. Manfred wasn't sure about Katia though. After all Xavier went to her when he wanted to contact the Order...then there was Caedmon and Ralem to consider. But it didn't matter now. They could discuss that later. He heard Ralem's warning and wondered if maybe she had gone too far. Manfred didn't think Xavier was willing to give up his lifestyle but again that could wait for another day. They had too much to handle as it was.

“Now, any other questions? Or is it time for you all to get some rest?”

Personally Manfred wanted to hear what Caedmon had to say about his return to the fortress but saw that that would have to wait for another day. Damn. Oh well. It was probably for the best. He watched as the Wraiths and Katia left and then Banks with his phoenix. Manfred was slightly surprised when she teleported him. Apparently she was made out of strong stuff than they thought. But that reminded him. He too needed to make the long journey home. Argh, why couldn't he have a phoenix? It would make traveling easier. The worst part was that he would most likely have to go down to the village again and use their fireplace since he doubted the protections on the castle had been taken off so soon. Oh the joy of being a foreigner.

He slowly rose from his corner and took a minute to stretch out his legs. Note to self never sit on a cold castle floor again. He briefly wondered if he could explore the castle but decided against it. No, that would have to wait for another time. What he needed to do now was to go home and wait for Ralem to deliver her message so he could try and make sure the people in Germany didn't freak out. Sometimes it paid to know everyone in Germany. With this kind of influence he didn't even need to be in the government to be part of the government. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing but at times like these he wasn't complaining. The only thing that sucked was that he doubted he would get any sleep any time soon. If anything he was going need an energy potion to stay awake tonight. Oh well that was the price he paid for being involved. He gave the remaining members in the room a smile grin before walking through the door.
Posted Image

Can you tell me how it feels
I feel nothing at all
Can we pretend this is real
I feel nothing at all
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ralem Tarendeau
Member Avatar
Minister of Magic

"I'll think about it..."

Lem wondered what Xavier had been thinking as he stared back at her. She wondered what thoughts were going through his head, what decisions could he possibly be trying to make? Xavier wasn't exactly the type of person to let everything go and have a go at a new life. Was he actually contemplating something? Was he contemplating the promise of a better life? Lem wanted Xavier to do it. She knew how much it would cost him, but she wanted Xavier to start off new. Live a little better. Not to wallow in his past.

On the other hand, Lem had a hard time seeing Xavier giving up his position at the Syndicate. She couldn't see him leave his life. The life he had worked so hard to create. Half of her thought that it was cruel for her to ask Xavier to do this. And yet, yet he'd said he'd think about it. That meant a lot. It also said a lot about Xavier. He wasn't all bad, was he?

Lem sighed as Xavier left the room, and so did Katia and then Manfred. Lem looked over at Mercury, who was convincing Pepper why he had to go to the ministry. Good. Banks would be there with her. How thoughtful of him. She smiled and nodded her head as he disappeared with Pepper. Lem could use Banks' help. And she needed another Order member by her side. Thank merlin for Banks. He should have just gone home. But this would help him a lot.

Lem watched Sam lay down. Lem turned to Caed and smiled back at him. She stepped toward him and put her arms around his head, pulling him into a warm hug. "Get some sleep Caed, alright? I'll be back soon," Lem bent down and planted a kiss on his forehead before planting another one on his lips. "Sleep." She smiled reassuringly and then stepped away. "Let's see what the world is going to do today." She then disappeared behind the doors to the corridors. She was off to the Ministry. Merlin help her.
Posted Image
Even angels have their wicked schemes and you take death to new extremes
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Free Forums. Reliable service with over 8 years of experience.
Learn More · Register for Free
« Previous Topic · The Castle · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 3