Post by Admin on Aug 15, 2020 0:30:59 GMT
Reflecting On What Might Be
(OOC: combined threads from the previous site)
Daniel Marsden
“Very impressive,” said the old man. “You just might be who we were looking for.” In a dark cave sat two rocking chairs, both occupied by people and both facing each other. In the chair further down, Daniel could make out an older wizard with a beard. The man looked somewhat familiar as he talked to the person sitting opposite him, a witch who had her back to Daniel. Both she and the old man had been talking for awhile. Daniel hadn’t been able to make out everything they were saying, but there was a sense of foreboding that came with every word the man spoke. Fed up with waiting, Daniel decided to see who this witch was, so without any hesitation he approached her and swung her chair around to face him. As soon as he did, he found the old man’s face mere inches away from his own. “So long, Daniel!” said the man sinisterly.
Daniel Marsden woke with a start. His bedroom was dark, and he began to feel his bed with his hands to make sure he was home. His breathing was heavy; he was covered with sweat and his heart was pounding as he felt his chest. He grabbed his wand nervously from his bedside table. “Lumos,” he said. His wand lit and he began to look around the room for any signs of intruders. Yet there was none, as he saw from inspecting every angle. He shined his wand on the chest of drawers directly in front of his bed. His bust of Rowena Ravenclaw was still there next to two photographs. Both of the photos smiled back at him; the one on the left featured a smiling Daniel and Gretchen from their fifth-year, and the one on the right showed a young woman who greatly resembled Gretchen, also wearing Ravenclaw robes. “Nox,” muttered Daniel before he exhaled a deep breath. It had all been a dream, but a very unsettling dream. Even though he knew there was no immediate threat, Daniel still felt nervous, having been shaken to the core.
“Bloody dream,” muttered Daniel as he got out of bed. It was still quite dark out; the only light coming from the window was from the moon and stars, and the thick island jungle outside his mansion looked somewhat ominous. But he knew he wasn’t going to be able to get back to sleep that evening, so that’s why he put on his traveling cloak and pocketed his wand before heading for his study.
The next moment, Daniel was opening a wardrobe and shifting around the rubbish inside of it. After a few moments he found what he was looking for: a safe that was buried under stacks of old parchment. He opened it without hesitation and retrieved its contents, which consisted of a single, very old parchment scroll. Daniel unrolled it and smoothed it out on the top of his desk. Used to, he wouldn’t need this map of the Goblin, but it had been years since he had traveled to where he was about go. And after a little searching, he found his destination; an ink dot a little ways north of the dot that represented his mansion. It was in a part of the island his people referred to as the forbidden territory. Daniel frowned as he looked at it, being reminded for the first time in years that its location was about 29 clicks north of his mansion. It was a long walk, but the journey was part of the experience. Sighing once more, he put everything back in its place and walked out his front door without the slightest bit of hesitation. He waved his wand behind him and heard the usual sound of all sorts of locks click.
“Lumos,” he muttered again as he reached the jungle. There was one more person he needed for the journey, but he knew he would find him soon enough. Dozens of guards surrounded the outer rim of his mansion every night. This particular guard, one of his six, always had the habit of finding “target practice” before anyone else. And sure enough, he showed up. Within five minutes of making his way through the jungle, Daniel began to get the feeling that he was being watched. It was not too long before he stopped and raised his arms in the air after hearing the distinct sound of a gun clicking behind him. “I was wondering when I’d find you,” said Daniel calmly. “What did the Key say to the other six islands?”
Dominique Roberts
Dominique was on guard duty tonight. He hated having to stay up all night and walk around the fricking mansion. An initiate should be doing something like this, not me... he thought. But it said something about the trust Daniel had in him that he was chosen to guard his living space, and that was what kept Dominique from saying anything about. He circled the far end of the large house once more before making his way to the front.
He walked past a few more guards, some who he didn't even know or remember. But they all knew him, and stood at attention when he passed by, a guilty pleasure he enjoyed. Every time he passed someone, they would recite the Seven oath or merely stand as still as a statue.... all except one. He passed by one member who seemed to be getting a few extra hours of sleep while on the job. This is going to be fun... Dominique thought while he crouched down to where the sleeping guard had sat down to rest. He waved his hand in front of the tired man a few times to make sure he was asleep before standing up. He reached into his coat and removed one of his favorite toys from it's snug holster under his arm. He placed it only a few inches away from the guards ear pointed towards the sky and pulled the trigger.
The loud bang of a bullet exiting the chamber painfully awoke the guard. As the man tried to get up, the pain from his eardrum was so intense that he appeared as if he was about to fall over. Dominique quickly holstered his weapon, grabbed the man by his collar and shoved him forcedly against the mansion's wall. "Fall asleep guarding Lord Marsden's chambers one more time... and a loud noise will be the least of your problems, understand?" Dominique yelled as he banged the man against the wall. The guard merely nodded, his face a mix of fear and pain as Dominique let go of him and leaned into the man's good ear. "You might want to get that thing checked out..." he said with a sly grin before walking off. He saw a light in the distance that seemed to be coming from someone's wand. He walked towards it, keeping his distance, remembering that no guard that he knew of was posted in the jungle.
As he approached, he removed both of his toys from their holsters and snuck right behind the stranger. He clicked the back the hammers on the weapons as he pointed them at the back of the man's head.
It was not too long before he stopped and raised his arms in the air after hearing the distinct sound of a gun clicking behind him. “I was wondering when I’d find you,” said Daniel calmly. “What did the Key say to the other six islands?”
Dominique recognized the voice of his old friend and recalled the answer to the question. "Our ashes are scattered." Dominique replied, holstering his weapons. "It seems your losing your touch, Danny. I could've blown your brains out."
Daniel Marsden
"Forgive me, Dominique, but that would have been the end of your life," said Daniel in a slightly bored voice. "Had I not managed a shield charm, which would be a big if, you would have had to deal with Marcus and the rest of our society. You especially should know how quickly they would put two and two together when they discovered that a Muggle bullet caused my untimely death."
He turned around as he lowered his wand, smiling at his old friend and enforcer. "I distinctly heard a gunshot not 10 minutes ago. By all means, let's try to salvage the man if we can; you can never have too many soldiers. If, however, he does die, then I would like his body to be stuffed in the visitor entrance at the Ministry of Magic. A nice panic for the Ministry as well as the Muggle law enforcement would be a laugh."
Daniel swallowed. He was speaking to Dominique as he usually did; as a friend and as an employer. But his patience was waning; he couldn't keep his brave face on much longer. Therefore he dropped his casual voice a little and spoke again to Dominique, this time in a low and more serious voice. "Wand out, Dominique," he said. "We've got a bit of walk ahead of us. You know where."
Dominique Roberts
"If I really felt like it, I doubt most people on these islands could stop me from escaping... " Dominique replied with a touch of boasting in his voice. But just a touch, since he believed most of that statement to be the truth.
"I wish you would have told me that sooner... I would have killed him instead of just shooting at his ear. Frankly the man deserves it, sleeping on the watch.... Of course if no one stops the bleeding we can leave him for the Ministry, I'll even put a bow on him." Dominique said while he smiled widely at his old friend.
Dominique grabbed his wand and quickly cast the light charm before he took a quick look around at the surrounding area. " You mean the cabin? At this time of night? Is everything alright, Danny?" he asked concerned, but nevertheless he began walking in the direction of the cabin.
Daniel Marsden
Daniel was hesitant to tell Dominique of what had happened. He was hesitant to tell anyone; he wasn't exactly the type of man who expressed his inner concerns or fears. But this dream... it was something that deeply troubled him. He hadn't felt these emotions for a long time. Not since Gretchen had died and Jessica had been sent to live with Muggles.
"It was a dream," he admitted as they walked. Gretchen was gone, and Jessica wasn't even aware of their relation. The only people he could turn to now was his Six, and he had to learn to accept that. "I saw two people. One of them was some old codger. I didn't recognize him. He was talking to a witch. I never saw her face." His voice sounded different. There wasn't an err of confidence or a commanding tone. It was vacillating and concerned.
Dominique Roberts
Dominique walked on through the jungle terrain that plagued the area. He wasn't fond of trees, although they did give him a sort of comfort knowing that not many could see them through the brush. He listened to Daniel's words and reflected on them for a moment. It wasn't so much what his old friend had said, but how he said it. Daniel always had a thing for fortune tellers and dreams... All troll bollocks Dominique had once thought, but he had been proven wrong many times about such things... he had also learned to never underestimate Daniel, and if the man was concerned about something like this, there was a very good reason.
"Was it what they were saying that's got you all in a twist?" Dominique asked with the same concerned tone as before, perhaps even more now after Daniel's relevation.
Daniel Marsden
Daniel didn't reply for a few moments. The answer was yes and no. He hadn't heard the full conversation between the old man and the witch who had her back to him, so he didn't know what their plans were altogether ( or if the two of them more than something his imagination created). But there was something about the dream that had him on edge. The feeling it gave off unnerved him, and he didn't know why, but the old man in particular made him feel uneasy.
He didn't really want to express what he was thinking to Dominique. A commanding officer should be someone of intimidation and confidence, Daniel thought. How could he be those things if one of his own highest ranking officials, and possibly the toughest enforcer he had, knew that he was now afraid that he was beginning to get replaced? Did he really want to risk his reputation for something that might be nothing? But yet he couldn't get the dream off his mind. It and the unsettling feeling it gave him.
Daniel stopped in his tracks. Turning around, he pointed his wand at Dominique's face but did not jinx him. Instead, he spoke. "This never leaves the two of us, all right?" he said softly, flicking his wand at Dominique with each word. His voice was calm, but it was threatening at the same time. "Remember the owl I got from Aldo a couple of years after Jessica was born? 'Ess is dead. The Number has spoken.'?" he quoted.
Dominique Roberts
Dominique was a tad bit startled when Daniel came around with his wand. The man was obviously jumpy, and that's the last kind of emotion you want someone with a wand pointed at your face feeling. "Jeez, Danny, you know me well enough to know I don't share secrets. That's one of the reasons I've made it this far, one of the reasons why we became friends all those years ago." he said as he put a finger on Daniel's wand, and gently and slowly lowered it.
"I do recall you recieving an owl like that... I wasn't half sure what it meant, but I do remember it." Another thing Dominique was that his memory was excellent. If something happened and he saw it, you could bet he'd never forget it. Just another little something that helped him get to where he was now. Forgetfulness and a loose tongue took you no where in this business. "What about it?"
Daniel Marsden
"Well, no one deserves a death like that more than Ess did, do they? The owl came with the news, and I knew right then that things were over, the transition was complete. Ess was out, I was in. I was the new speaker." Daniel paused a moment, thinking of everything that had happened to him in the past. All the trials he had to go through and all the sacrifices he was forced to make to get to where he was. The only light in the jungle was from his and Dominique's wands, and he could feel a gentle breeze of cool, jungle air against his skin. The scenario he was in now felt somewhat like a dream. The only way he knew it wasn't was because of the chilling dream he woke up from moments ago.
Daniel stopped and turned around to face Dominique. "I knew Ess for a couple of years before he banished me from the forest. One thing I'll never forget about him was how he acted when I was around him. He didn't trust me from the moment he laid eyes on me when Aldo introduced us. He spoke to everyone on the Number's behalf for a very long time, and he had grown fond of the prestige that came with the title. When I came along, he saw me as a threat, and he did everything he could to get rid of me. He desperately held onto his position until his death. And then it was over. That was it; the Number was done with him.
"I had a dream. Maybe it's stress, maybe I just had a little too much to drink, but I think it was about my replacement. Ess had lived a long, long life when he died, and he spent most of that time serving Seven. When I got word of his death, I shrugged it off. He had grown pompous and greedy, caring more for his position and power than for the work he was meant to do. If that's where your heart lies, then naturally you will be terminated if your work is no longer your first priority. Why would It start to tell me of my successor, Dominique?" Daniel asked the question with a note of uncertainty in his voice. "I am young man. I've made a lot of progress for our world. I wouldn't be replaced if I was doing a good job. I can't help but think I've lost favor with It somehow." Even though Daniel's voice sounded timid, at the same time he was thinking about how absurd he was acting, and what Dominique must be thinking right now. It was a dream, nothing more. It didn't mean anything. He would serve the Number until the Number laid him to rest, and then he would watch with Gretchen from afar at the world he had given his life for to create. If Ess lasted as long as he did, then Daniel would surely last thousands of years more.
Dominique Roberts
"Ess was a fool, like you said he cared only for the position not for what it represented, what he could do with it...." Dominique replied as the pair walked throught the forest. He didn't have as much faith in things such as dreams foretelling future events, nor put much stock in the words of those that did.... except for Daniel, of course. He would follow Danny to the ends of the earth, even if that journey was based on a hunch made by Dommy's friend. While at Hogwarts many had said his loyalty should have placed him in Hufflepuff.... but they were dead wrong, because where the 'puffs were loyal and trusting of nearly everyone they knew, Dominique only trusted Daniel and Daniel alone.
"... You on the other hand, you are a visionary Daniel, and you still have a lot of work to do. I think you're just stressed, and I can't blame you. The world is changing... and it takes a lot to stay ahead of the curve, but you've been doing it well, and your work is far from over."
Daniel Marsden
As the jungle grew thicker on their trek to the cabin and their conversation went on, Daniel couldn't help but feel somewhat better at Dominique's reassuring words. He was right, of course. Daniel had many, many more years to live and lead. His work wasn't over by a long shot. Now that he had calmed down a bit, he couldn't help but feel silly at his reaction. So silly that he actually grinned and snorted. He was feeling much better now, and very thankful for his friends.
He turned to face Dominique with a genuine smile across his face. "I really appreciate this, old friend. Forgive me for the unnecessary worry; I merely lost my head for a moment." Daniel sighed with relief and, after a moment, actually laughed.
"You know, I think I'll go to the cabin anyway. It's been ages since I've been there; it'll be good for me, you know? It'll help clear my head and get my bearings straight. That is to say, if you're not too old for a bit more walking?" he added, a mischievous smirk growing across his face.
Dominique Roberts
"That's what I'm here for Danny... Someone's got to help keep you straight when everything else around is falling apart, I'm just glad I'm here when you need me..." Dominique said. The two men had been through a lot together, and he had always been there as a counsel to Daniel, just as Daniel had always been there to look after him. Not that he needed looking after, but it was nice to know that you had at least one friend.... let alone one like Danny.
"Please, I'm older than any of those newbies you've been recruiting, and I'd bet my last galleon that I could walk twice as far as them.... Fricking wusses." he said with a grin and slight disdain. It took forever to train those people properly, and even then, it was as if the concept of self-control was unknown to them. Just because you had learned great power doesn't mean you abuse it. That's one thing that separated Dominique from the most, aside from his close relationship to Danny. He thought things out, preferred stealth and tactical approaches rather than wildly blowing things up, trying to blow stuff up.
"So, once we reach the cabin, would you like me to follow you in, or would you prefer to be alone?"
(OOC: combined threads from the previous site)
Daniel Marsden
“Very impressive,” said the old man. “You just might be who we were looking for.” In a dark cave sat two rocking chairs, both occupied by people and both facing each other. In the chair further down, Daniel could make out an older wizard with a beard. The man looked somewhat familiar as he talked to the person sitting opposite him, a witch who had her back to Daniel. Both she and the old man had been talking for awhile. Daniel hadn’t been able to make out everything they were saying, but there was a sense of foreboding that came with every word the man spoke. Fed up with waiting, Daniel decided to see who this witch was, so without any hesitation he approached her and swung her chair around to face him. As soon as he did, he found the old man’s face mere inches away from his own. “So long, Daniel!” said the man sinisterly.
Daniel Marsden woke with a start. His bedroom was dark, and he began to feel his bed with his hands to make sure he was home. His breathing was heavy; he was covered with sweat and his heart was pounding as he felt his chest. He grabbed his wand nervously from his bedside table. “Lumos,” he said. His wand lit and he began to look around the room for any signs of intruders. Yet there was none, as he saw from inspecting every angle. He shined his wand on the chest of drawers directly in front of his bed. His bust of Rowena Ravenclaw was still there next to two photographs. Both of the photos smiled back at him; the one on the left featured a smiling Daniel and Gretchen from their fifth-year, and the one on the right showed a young woman who greatly resembled Gretchen, also wearing Ravenclaw robes. “Nox,” muttered Daniel before he exhaled a deep breath. It had all been a dream, but a very unsettling dream. Even though he knew there was no immediate threat, Daniel still felt nervous, having been shaken to the core.
“Bloody dream,” muttered Daniel as he got out of bed. It was still quite dark out; the only light coming from the window was from the moon and stars, and the thick island jungle outside his mansion looked somewhat ominous. But he knew he wasn’t going to be able to get back to sleep that evening, so that’s why he put on his traveling cloak and pocketed his wand before heading for his study.
The next moment, Daniel was opening a wardrobe and shifting around the rubbish inside of it. After a few moments he found what he was looking for: a safe that was buried under stacks of old parchment. He opened it without hesitation and retrieved its contents, which consisted of a single, very old parchment scroll. Daniel unrolled it and smoothed it out on the top of his desk. Used to, he wouldn’t need this map of the Goblin, but it had been years since he had traveled to where he was about go. And after a little searching, he found his destination; an ink dot a little ways north of the dot that represented his mansion. It was in a part of the island his people referred to as the forbidden territory. Daniel frowned as he looked at it, being reminded for the first time in years that its location was about 29 clicks north of his mansion. It was a long walk, but the journey was part of the experience. Sighing once more, he put everything back in its place and walked out his front door without the slightest bit of hesitation. He waved his wand behind him and heard the usual sound of all sorts of locks click.
“Lumos,” he muttered again as he reached the jungle. There was one more person he needed for the journey, but he knew he would find him soon enough. Dozens of guards surrounded the outer rim of his mansion every night. This particular guard, one of his six, always had the habit of finding “target practice” before anyone else. And sure enough, he showed up. Within five minutes of making his way through the jungle, Daniel began to get the feeling that he was being watched. It was not too long before he stopped and raised his arms in the air after hearing the distinct sound of a gun clicking behind him. “I was wondering when I’d find you,” said Daniel calmly. “What did the Key say to the other six islands?”
Dominique Roberts
Dominique was on guard duty tonight. He hated having to stay up all night and walk around the fricking mansion. An initiate should be doing something like this, not me... he thought. But it said something about the trust Daniel had in him that he was chosen to guard his living space, and that was what kept Dominique from saying anything about. He circled the far end of the large house once more before making his way to the front.
He walked past a few more guards, some who he didn't even know or remember. But they all knew him, and stood at attention when he passed by, a guilty pleasure he enjoyed. Every time he passed someone, they would recite the Seven oath or merely stand as still as a statue.... all except one. He passed by one member who seemed to be getting a few extra hours of sleep while on the job. This is going to be fun... Dominique thought while he crouched down to where the sleeping guard had sat down to rest. He waved his hand in front of the tired man a few times to make sure he was asleep before standing up. He reached into his coat and removed one of his favorite toys from it's snug holster under his arm. He placed it only a few inches away from the guards ear pointed towards the sky and pulled the trigger.
The loud bang of a bullet exiting the chamber painfully awoke the guard. As the man tried to get up, the pain from his eardrum was so intense that he appeared as if he was about to fall over. Dominique quickly holstered his weapon, grabbed the man by his collar and shoved him forcedly against the mansion's wall. "Fall asleep guarding Lord Marsden's chambers one more time... and a loud noise will be the least of your problems, understand?" Dominique yelled as he banged the man against the wall. The guard merely nodded, his face a mix of fear and pain as Dominique let go of him and leaned into the man's good ear. "You might want to get that thing checked out..." he said with a sly grin before walking off. He saw a light in the distance that seemed to be coming from someone's wand. He walked towards it, keeping his distance, remembering that no guard that he knew of was posted in the jungle.
As he approached, he removed both of his toys from their holsters and snuck right behind the stranger. He clicked the back the hammers on the weapons as he pointed them at the back of the man's head.
It was not too long before he stopped and raised his arms in the air after hearing the distinct sound of a gun clicking behind him. “I was wondering when I’d find you,” said Daniel calmly. “What did the Key say to the other six islands?”
Dominique recognized the voice of his old friend and recalled the answer to the question. "Our ashes are scattered." Dominique replied, holstering his weapons. "It seems your losing your touch, Danny. I could've blown your brains out."
Daniel Marsden
"Forgive me, Dominique, but that would have been the end of your life," said Daniel in a slightly bored voice. "Had I not managed a shield charm, which would be a big if, you would have had to deal with Marcus and the rest of our society. You especially should know how quickly they would put two and two together when they discovered that a Muggle bullet caused my untimely death."
He turned around as he lowered his wand, smiling at his old friend and enforcer. "I distinctly heard a gunshot not 10 minutes ago. By all means, let's try to salvage the man if we can; you can never have too many soldiers. If, however, he does die, then I would like his body to be stuffed in the visitor entrance at the Ministry of Magic. A nice panic for the Ministry as well as the Muggle law enforcement would be a laugh."
Daniel swallowed. He was speaking to Dominique as he usually did; as a friend and as an employer. But his patience was waning; he couldn't keep his brave face on much longer. Therefore he dropped his casual voice a little and spoke again to Dominique, this time in a low and more serious voice. "Wand out, Dominique," he said. "We've got a bit of walk ahead of us. You know where."
Dominique Roberts
"If I really felt like it, I doubt most people on these islands could stop me from escaping... " Dominique replied with a touch of boasting in his voice. But just a touch, since he believed most of that statement to be the truth.
"...If, however, he does die, then I would like his body to be stuffed in the visitor entrance at the Ministry of Magic. A nice panic for the Ministry as well as the Muggle law enforcement would be a laugh."
"I wish you would have told me that sooner... I would have killed him instead of just shooting at his ear. Frankly the man deserves it, sleeping on the watch.... Of course if no one stops the bleeding we can leave him for the Ministry, I'll even put a bow on him." Dominique said while he smiled widely at his old friend.
"We've got a bit of walk ahead of us. You know where."
Dominique grabbed his wand and quickly cast the light charm before he took a quick look around at the surrounding area. " You mean the cabin? At this time of night? Is everything alright, Danny?" he asked concerned, but nevertheless he began walking in the direction of the cabin.
Daniel Marsden
Daniel was hesitant to tell Dominique of what had happened. He was hesitant to tell anyone; he wasn't exactly the type of man who expressed his inner concerns or fears. But this dream... it was something that deeply troubled him. He hadn't felt these emotions for a long time. Not since Gretchen had died and Jessica had been sent to live with Muggles.
"It was a dream," he admitted as they walked. Gretchen was gone, and Jessica wasn't even aware of their relation. The only people he could turn to now was his Six, and he had to learn to accept that. "I saw two people. One of them was some old codger. I didn't recognize him. He was talking to a witch. I never saw her face." His voice sounded different. There wasn't an err of confidence or a commanding tone. It was vacillating and concerned.
Dominique Roberts
Dominique walked on through the jungle terrain that plagued the area. He wasn't fond of trees, although they did give him a sort of comfort knowing that not many could see them through the brush. He listened to Daniel's words and reflected on them for a moment. It wasn't so much what his old friend had said, but how he said it. Daniel always had a thing for fortune tellers and dreams... All troll bollocks Dominique had once thought, but he had been proven wrong many times about such things... he had also learned to never underestimate Daniel, and if the man was concerned about something like this, there was a very good reason.
"Was it what they were saying that's got you all in a twist?" Dominique asked with the same concerned tone as before, perhaps even more now after Daniel's relevation.
Daniel Marsden
Daniel didn't reply for a few moments. The answer was yes and no. He hadn't heard the full conversation between the old man and the witch who had her back to him, so he didn't know what their plans were altogether ( or if the two of them more than something his imagination created). But there was something about the dream that had him on edge. The feeling it gave off unnerved him, and he didn't know why, but the old man in particular made him feel uneasy.
He didn't really want to express what he was thinking to Dominique. A commanding officer should be someone of intimidation and confidence, Daniel thought. How could he be those things if one of his own highest ranking officials, and possibly the toughest enforcer he had, knew that he was now afraid that he was beginning to get replaced? Did he really want to risk his reputation for something that might be nothing? But yet he couldn't get the dream off his mind. It and the unsettling feeling it gave him.
Daniel stopped in his tracks. Turning around, he pointed his wand at Dominique's face but did not jinx him. Instead, he spoke. "This never leaves the two of us, all right?" he said softly, flicking his wand at Dominique with each word. His voice was calm, but it was threatening at the same time. "Remember the owl I got from Aldo a couple of years after Jessica was born? 'Ess is dead. The Number has spoken.'?" he quoted.
Dominique Roberts
Dominique was a tad bit startled when Daniel came around with his wand. The man was obviously jumpy, and that's the last kind of emotion you want someone with a wand pointed at your face feeling. "Jeez, Danny, you know me well enough to know I don't share secrets. That's one of the reasons I've made it this far, one of the reasons why we became friends all those years ago." he said as he put a finger on Daniel's wand, and gently and slowly lowered it.
"I do recall you recieving an owl like that... I wasn't half sure what it meant, but I do remember it." Another thing Dominique was that his memory was excellent. If something happened and he saw it, you could bet he'd never forget it. Just another little something that helped him get to where he was now. Forgetfulness and a loose tongue took you no where in this business. "What about it?"
Daniel Marsden
"Well, no one deserves a death like that more than Ess did, do they? The owl came with the news, and I knew right then that things were over, the transition was complete. Ess was out, I was in. I was the new speaker." Daniel paused a moment, thinking of everything that had happened to him in the past. All the trials he had to go through and all the sacrifices he was forced to make to get to where he was. The only light in the jungle was from his and Dominique's wands, and he could feel a gentle breeze of cool, jungle air against his skin. The scenario he was in now felt somewhat like a dream. The only way he knew it wasn't was because of the chilling dream he woke up from moments ago.
Daniel stopped and turned around to face Dominique. "I knew Ess for a couple of years before he banished me from the forest. One thing I'll never forget about him was how he acted when I was around him. He didn't trust me from the moment he laid eyes on me when Aldo introduced us. He spoke to everyone on the Number's behalf for a very long time, and he had grown fond of the prestige that came with the title. When I came along, he saw me as a threat, and he did everything he could to get rid of me. He desperately held onto his position until his death. And then it was over. That was it; the Number was done with him.
"I had a dream. Maybe it's stress, maybe I just had a little too much to drink, but I think it was about my replacement. Ess had lived a long, long life when he died, and he spent most of that time serving Seven. When I got word of his death, I shrugged it off. He had grown pompous and greedy, caring more for his position and power than for the work he was meant to do. If that's where your heart lies, then naturally you will be terminated if your work is no longer your first priority. Why would It start to tell me of my successor, Dominique?" Daniel asked the question with a note of uncertainty in his voice. "I am young man. I've made a lot of progress for our world. I wouldn't be replaced if I was doing a good job. I can't help but think I've lost favor with It somehow." Even though Daniel's voice sounded timid, at the same time he was thinking about how absurd he was acting, and what Dominique must be thinking right now. It was a dream, nothing more. It didn't mean anything. He would serve the Number until the Number laid him to rest, and then he would watch with Gretchen from afar at the world he had given his life for to create. If Ess lasted as long as he did, then Daniel would surely last thousands of years more.
Dominique Roberts
"Ess was a fool, like you said he cared only for the position not for what it represented, what he could do with it...." Dominique replied as the pair walked throught the forest. He didn't have as much faith in things such as dreams foretelling future events, nor put much stock in the words of those that did.... except for Daniel, of course. He would follow Danny to the ends of the earth, even if that journey was based on a hunch made by Dommy's friend. While at Hogwarts many had said his loyalty should have placed him in Hufflepuff.... but they were dead wrong, because where the 'puffs were loyal and trusting of nearly everyone they knew, Dominique only trusted Daniel and Daniel alone.
"... You on the other hand, you are a visionary Daniel, and you still have a lot of work to do. I think you're just stressed, and I can't blame you. The world is changing... and it takes a lot to stay ahead of the curve, but you've been doing it well, and your work is far from over."
Daniel Marsden
As the jungle grew thicker on their trek to the cabin and their conversation went on, Daniel couldn't help but feel somewhat better at Dominique's reassuring words. He was right, of course. Daniel had many, many more years to live and lead. His work wasn't over by a long shot. Now that he had calmed down a bit, he couldn't help but feel silly at his reaction. So silly that he actually grinned and snorted. He was feeling much better now, and very thankful for his friends.
He turned to face Dominique with a genuine smile across his face. "I really appreciate this, old friend. Forgive me for the unnecessary worry; I merely lost my head for a moment." Daniel sighed with relief and, after a moment, actually laughed.
"You know, I think I'll go to the cabin anyway. It's been ages since I've been there; it'll be good for me, you know? It'll help clear my head and get my bearings straight. That is to say, if you're not too old for a bit more walking?" he added, a mischievous smirk growing across his face.
Dominique Roberts
"That's what I'm here for Danny... Someone's got to help keep you straight when everything else around is falling apart, I'm just glad I'm here when you need me..." Dominique said. The two men had been through a lot together, and he had always been there as a counsel to Daniel, just as Daniel had always been there to look after him. Not that he needed looking after, but it was nice to know that you had at least one friend.... let alone one like Danny.
"Please, I'm older than any of those newbies you've been recruiting, and I'd bet my last galleon that I could walk twice as far as them.... Fricking wusses." he said with a grin and slight disdain. It took forever to train those people properly, and even then, it was as if the concept of self-control was unknown to them. Just because you had learned great power doesn't mean you abuse it. That's one thing that separated Dominique from the most, aside from his close relationship to Danny. He thought things out, preferred stealth and tactical approaches rather than wildly blowing things up, trying to blow stuff up.
"So, once we reach the cabin, would you like me to follow you in, or would you prefer to be alone?"