Mission improbable PV Aida Complete

When Alexander noticed her approach Aida waved, grinning from ear to ear. Subconsciously she had been afraid he wouldn’t return after the winter break, echoing his disappearance at the end of last spring. Yet, he had come back. She didn’t have to cook up some kind of rescue mission without a clue as to what had happened to him. With a playful smirk, Aida threw a bag at Alexander.

“I’ve been meaning to give this to you.” Aida rolled down onto the curtain alongside the Slytherin and realized it had been taken from one of the classrooms. She laughed a little. Seemed he was no different: Aida was infamous for borrowing drapery, cords, and other odds and ends from the Ravenclaw common room, as anyone who had received a birthday present from her wrapped in “borrowed” cloth could attest to. If Alexander were to open the leather satchel he would find…

“How are things with your family? Anything interesting happen lately?" asked the white witch, slightly inspecting Alexander to make sure he looked like his family had been feeding him and otherwise taking care of him. “Actually, I feel like we haven't had a chance to catch up for a long time... In fact, I still don't know very much about your family. Are you still keeping a journal?" Aida continued to inspect, seeing if Alexander's parents had made him cut his hair, change his clothing, or anything else that might indicate what had been going on back home. The girl bit her lip to try to not barrage the boy with the torrent of questions that constantly verged on spilling out. She decided to get further clues to her mundane questions from pure observation instead while listening to whatever Alexander most wanted to talk about.

Then, when Alexander was done responding Aida peeked over at the notebook, hoping to spy some starting place for the heist planning. Scrunching up her face, she saw the whole of the planning was still before them. That they had some physical elevation, visibility, and distance from other people was substantially reassuring; this was probably the most private way to hatch a scheme.

“So!… We have an excellent tactical position now, but how do we maintain our advantage… we have the invisibility cloak. What else could we need?”

@Alexander Varellion

Interacts with: @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood Mentions: @Victor Moore , @Vladimir Athanatos , @Marion Davenport

Alexander's hands slowly went forward, ever so slowly and very tenderly took the cloak Aida had made. Feeling the coloured fur, the texture, the warmth. His eyes went all over it, the embroidery and the nice green colour, taking it all in whilst his hand slid over it, almost as if petting a horse. Looking at the embroidery and the pattern that it had, and to think it was all made of rabbit fur. Even if she hadn't collected, prepared and coloured all the fur, hours must have gone into this project. Especially to create one of this size.

"Aida I..... I don't know how to thank you enough for this gift. It looks amazing, thank you." He then reached out and gave Aida a big and intimate hug, even as he felt a slight wetness in his eyes. Thus after a big hug of several seconds he brushed away some of the wetness in his eyes with the back of his eyes. An earnest and truly happy smile on his face.

Then Aida talked about his parents and some of the smile slid away, as he got an almost sad look. "Things.... are not well. As I told you earlier, though in a more panicked state, they to a degree still think I am dead. ANd to a degree, they fear me due to some actions I might have done during the period of time that I lost my memories."

Deep intake of breath.
"So they are... processing it. But to a degree we avoid the issue, which does at times create a very tense and akward atmosphere. It isn't a pleasant thing, but it is a relationship at least. And when, or if, I solve all the issues that have happened; then the issue will be fixed. When I can truly tell my parents what happened, what caused me to behave so weirdly. "

Calm breathing in, and breathing out. Alexander then took the oppertunity of the journal, preferring any diversion from this extremely uncofortable topic. Even the existential dread of memory loss was better than the strained relationship with his parents. One in which his parents believed he had been dead.


"Yeah I still have a journal. Update it on almost every occasion and then copy it over into a big edition. Just a sum up of the actions I have done, who I interacted with and the emotions I felt. I suppose it is almost like a diary." Alexander got an almost sarcastic smile and shook his head almost wistfully, "At least that way I know who I was or did in case of..... you know." He give a nod at that, he was not entirely comfortable talking about that topic, but he had learned to accept it to a degree. That his memories might be lost at any moment. And to a degree, he had learned to cope with that.

He then heard Aida's response and gained an almost eager expression. He folded his hands together and stretched them forwards. Eliciting a slight crack from them. "Before we focus on the specifics, we have to look at the big picture. Know what future operations we have, what to prioritize. That and to make sure that we know if something is a clue. Like realizing if a loose shoe might be a clue to part x of the big plan." Alex then pulled out some ink and a quil and began writing on the piece of paper. Creating a large web of connections. After a few minutes of work a relatively comprehensive picture was made.



"So to begin with, there are three threads to follow up on. The first and most obvious one, is the house elves. They at least know something, even if they don't know why or how I began to behave erratically. At the very least they know how I acted, or what I said before they started drugging me. Which could prove a further clue in the entire chain of events. That is the one we will mainly focus on today. "

He then put his hands behind his head leaned a little backwards. "Next, I had a conversation with Erin Ryan when the whole of the house was kept in the dorm. You know, after some of the werewolf students didn't do their normal routine and something was wrong. I was resting a bit and talking with Ileen, when she confronted me with apparantly a long absence of which I recently returned. And it turns out, I was not the only one who dissapeared."

Alexander then pointed at the trio of names on the paper. "I remember Ailea Frost as a former friend, whilst the other two I recognize as being in my year. So let's say that it was a friend group of sorts. The last time Erin saw us was before spring break and beyond me, none returned. So those three others, is something we should look into when we get a good lead"

A slight puff of exertion then came out, as the mental gear wheels were certainly rolling. "Then there is a more tacit connection, during fight club Victor implied I had lost my memory. Indicating he knew something to a degree....... but that is not a lead we can follow up directly due to obvious reasons." There was a solemn silence for a few seconds.

"Anyways, even if it is not directly related to this (though it probaply is) the thing Victor was engaging with had at least something to do with what happened. With a great importance being in the group of Victor, Vlad and Marion." Pointing at the right end of the picture.

"And Marion there seems to be the odd one out. She does not engage in weird magics, does not seem to have some direct part in what happened. Seems the most clueless of all of them, almost as if she is only tacitly related. Which is why she is probably anything but that, she does not seem to have obvious ambitions, and does not seem to be lying often. Which implies that she probably has both, things she lies about and certain ambitions. "

Alex rubbed his chin a little, which had a little hair on it. "That on top of the image she has of being a little vain, miss popular girl. Which might just be a façade, an image she uses to not attract attention to her. And yet, to a degree I have the idea that she wishes to gain affection and positive attention. At least that is the implication I got in the dorm room, a lonely girl who wants someone to talk to."

Alex seemed to become a bit more tense.
"It is of great importance to gain information on her. To achieve that goal, I have some up with two possible approaches."

One finger went up. "First and easiest plan, we confront Marion somewhere and ask her what is going on. Talk to her directly and be honest. " Hands got folded together and put in front of Alex's mouth. "The issue is that this might cause her to shut up, to see us as an enemy and not share any information."

Alex's cheeks then reddened for some reason, perhaps it was the cold ? "The second option is the most radical, but has the highest payoff. Though also the biggest risk, even if it is just in a social sense." Alexander, then let in a big gulp before speaking again.

"The second plan is to-" Alexander got a nervous cough, and seemed to grow even more red. "The second plan is to seduce her for information"

Ah, so that is why Alex was so flustered.

"The second plan is to-" coughed Alexander, blushing red. "The second plan is to seduce her for information."

Aida’s breath stopped. It seemed like time had frozen from a breakdown of reality. Yet, time had not stopped for Aida, regardless of how fearfully she rejected going into the next moment. Her body, for one, had other plans than just stopping where it was. With a choking cough Aida breathed in, air cavorting into even wilder coughing spasms. She willed her coughing to warp into a chain of laughter, but this came across as particularly awkward since Aida had no natural instinct for deception. She didn’t even have a good reason to try to cover up the coughing, or did she? She didn’t understand why she tried to conceal it. In the end she knew she just seemed weirder than ever while her pale face blazed ferociously red.

Aida felt this to be a fork in the path of their lives, and felt this more palpably than the stolen curtain she was unwittingly clutching. Aida stared at the grass before her so forcefully that it seemed her gaze could set it aflame. A small hysterical smile crept up one half of her face.

“Yes, the choice of tw-” cough "two plans.” Aida giggled slightly, trying to do something, anything, to regain control. “I...” stammered Aida, blinking rapidly. If Alexander was saying there were different choices, saying this to her, it probably meant he cared for her opinion. She could have some say in this. Realizing she was squeezing a lump of the curtain, Aida relaxed her hand and sat up. They were still in this together, right? That’s what asking for her opinion must have meant. Pulling a strand of hair in each hand, Aida’s mind flashed back to the silhouette of the White General.

“Do not disappoint me,” it said.

Letting go of her hair, Aida took a deep breath. It felt like a memory, not a hallucination, right? A memory… Memory… Looking over at Alexander, Aida remembered the great pain he bore from the theft of his memory. With a wave of resolve, Aida recalled what she wanted. That was what this was all about, wasn’t it? Getting back Alexander’s memories. Keeping her promise. Helping him be whole again. Aida looked into Alexander’s green eyes, and finally a genuine gentle smile began to sink back into her features.

“We have to choose the plan that is most likely to work.” The hard edge in Aida’s gaze grew sharper. So Alexander had fallen this far, she realized. Throughout the summer and into the fall, it seemed he was becoming more and more comfortable with deception. Every fake smile, every overly cheerful word, Aida knew. Alexander was turning. Yet, though it felt like death she felt some acceptance of this in the name of accomplishing their objective. After all, had Pericles not lied to the acromantula, he might now be missing his head. Aida herself had failed to save Pericles, and she too would probably have died if she had been left alone with her honest struggle. Her pacifist attempts to reason with the spider had failed, but Alexander’s beautiful violence had actually saved her. Though Alexander had mentioned something about Professor Equinox before, on the way to the cave, Aida had seen Alexander repeatedly hold back that mountainous flaming acromantula his way. The way of not saving everyone. The way of choosing whom to sacrifice, and for hurting others to be okay. Perhaps even… enjoyable, in that victory. In that feeling of protecting what you want. Aida admired that power in Alexander. Aida wanted the power to protect him, too.

Aida was a natural strategist, but she couldn't get words to come out about which plan seemed more plausible. Like an iron fist closing off her voice, she knew that if she spoke now that she would be biasing the decision. She needed Alexander to say something. Anything. Something had to explain how Plan 2 was even being considered.

“Whatever we need to do in order for the plan to work,” repeated Aida, eyes locked with Alexander’s. If Alexander had to turn in order to become whole again, Aida would not let him go alone. She had to make sure Alexander did not further lose himself in the attempt to take back his lost piece. At least, if he did then she would make sure he knew what he was doing and somehow, through her power and force of will, make everything turn out alright anyway. Somehow, in the end, she would ensure that success... even if Alexander had to become lost on the way to finding himself whole again.

@Alexander Varellion

Interacts with: @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood Mentions: @Marion Davenport

From embarrassment, to as rigid and tense as a stick. Panic coursed through Alex's body as he saw the immediate aftermath of his words. At the expression on Aida's face. That look of a lack of control and almost complete devastation. As if a large part of her reality had just bee upended, or at least changed. Perhaps her beliefs truly had been upset, that he was willing to even conceive of this plan. Not even mentioning the possibility of actually going through with the plan. Admittedly he had been very conflicted about this plan as well, because it was almost purely evil. The idea of exploiting a person's emotions and vulnerabilities in order to gain information. But truly, it was the plan that had the biggest potential payoff.

But now the focus was on Aida, on how she was coping with all this. With the.... option that had just been laid before her. It was clear that she was very conflicted about it, still trying to fully grasp the plan which he had just proposed. This impression was certainly not helped by Aida choking up. Though it did not seem to be lethal or harmful, mostly her coping with the shock.

Though that didn't stop a rush of concern flooding through his system. Which was subsequently replaced by worry, a small difference maybe, but a notable one. One which was caused by Aida's shift from coughing to a hysterical laugh. One which was disturbingly unstable and caused the hairs along his arms to rise up. An effect further amplified by the small hysterical smile on Aida's face. One that, combined with her withering gaze at the curtain, was quite chilling indeed. One which made him instinctively look backwards for a method of escape. Even though rationally he knew the chance was close to nil as this was a friend, but just the vibe that his best friend gave off. It was.... disturbing. Especially since she was normally so kind and cheerful, excluding some sudden shifts in moods. Though generally, they were not this.... unstable.

What followed, caused a shiver to go down his spine. Aida had grown more stable and determined, but the look she gave him was cold. Cold and calculating. As if she was assessing the risks, benefits and implications of a situation. Something which he himself did at times, but did not like to do often. It was almost reminiscent of the look of a commander. Like a military commander assessing what the risks and rewards were. What or who they would sacrifice in order to achieve their goal. It was not a look that he had seen before, and it was worrying. Then she came to a decision.
"Whatever we need to do in order for the plan to work"

He let out a sigh of combined relief and stress. Relief in that she did neither condemn nor deny the.... option that he had given. But stress in how she was able to come to a decision, and that to a degree, she was still judging him. Alexander put his hands behind his back, only to fiddle with his thumb in order to relieve his stress to a degree. A small tick, just something to relieve the tension. He calmly breathed in and out a couple of times. Making use of the time to think about what would truly be the best option, from a truly pragmatic perspective. And in that, the choice was clear. Though it felt almost, wrong. Simply evil on a moral scale.

"It has to be option 2. The simple fact is, we have no leverage on her. Nothing to make her truly make her consider whether to give information to her. At best we can try and intimidate Marion to our best capability, but she might just shut off and walk away. She has no reason not to do that, there is nothing we can do to physically harm her. Which limits our options."

Deep breath in, deep breath out.
"And through 'kindness' more information can be gained through intimidation or just straight up conversation. That, and there is the fact that emotions like love and lust can be easily manipulated. Especially when one is at a low point, like having lost a friend." Alexander closed his eyes in despair, only to open them with a more steely and determined look.

"We cannot afford to stumble around like little children in the dark. " There was almost a snap of anger in that sentence. Though it seemed to mostly be focused on himself. "I did that once and now I can't remember any of it. It made me lose a part of myself. And if we do not know what games there goes on behind the scenes, this could become the fate of many others." Alex's eyes locked with Aida.

"The Hogwarts Staff is compromised, they have not noticed anything happen for years. They are either in on the conspiracy or affected by the memory wipes like everyone else. Our younger classmates are maybe less likely to be involved, but that does not negate the possibility they might be behind this" His arms pointed at Hogwarts.

"I know that there is beauty to be found in magic and Hogwarts. But first, we have to find the rot in the core. And remove it. With violence and through immoral means if we must. Only then can we be sure in our own safety. When all threats have been identified and dealt with."

A cold chill entered Alex's voice. One which made even himself shiver, but one he did not, could not shy away from.
"Only then can it end"

Alexander’s voice grew darker, culminating in unsettling, icy words reminiscent of the White General’s. Right on cue, Aida could hear those words reverberating through time:

“Do not disappoint me,” it said.

It was harder now to know the words as a memory, rather than as a voice echoing in the cave of Aida’s skull. Times like these, when the voice rang out the most clearly, Aida felt a dark color swirling inside her. As if Alexander’s tone were not enough to send shivers down her spine Aida could feel the will of the general welling up inside her. It was a powerful feeling, and so not entirely unwelcome. Yet, Aida was not alone with the White General in her head… was she?

“The day will come when you must choose whom to kill… Think well on this, for when the moment comes there will be no more time for thought.” The words were permanently burned into Aida’s heart. Yet, Aida did not want to have to make that choice. She wanted for everyone to be happy.

“I must be useful…” said Aida, not realizing she was speaking aloud. It was only one in ten thousand times she had told herself this. However much she hated Sean, even to this day, Aida still retained his imperative: if he was going to deal with her she would have to be useful. It hadn’t mattered to him that she was a child, and Sean’s logic would permeate Aida’s psychology from the day of her adoption on. Thereafter Aida believed she had to earn her right to live, so stepping away from the banquet-laden Great Hall to fend for herself came naturally. It wasn’t so unlike life on the ranch, though it was more lonesome without the animals to keep her company. This upbringing had made Aida’s work ethic solid– the only question was what she should fight for, if not everyone.

“I have to do something to help…” crooned Aida, abject terror clotting up her heart. It came down to this. If Aida was not useful enough, she would lose Alexander to this other girl. Yet, she wanted everyone to be happy. Somehow I have to choose wisely enough that everyone can be happy…

Aida’s head began to swim as if drugged while on a carousel. She could almost see the shining lights, colors, and mirrors spinning around her as her emotions rode up and down a mechanical horse that could only go forever in a circle. She wished Manticore weren’t dead. She wished she hadn’t killed him. A bout of dizziness struck Aida, her head light as her heart sank heavy enough to fall through the Earth.

“I have to help…” whispered Aida, falling back onto the curtain as her eyes stared far off into the sky, as if doing so she could see past the blue sky deep into space. The memories gushed through her unbidden like a torrential flood falling from the atmosphere. During the Blossom Ball Aida had tried to focus on saving just one mosp, rather than let them all die from trying to do too much with the greed of wanting to save them all. Yet, even that mosp had died. Aida hadn’t done enough, hadn’t given enough in advance. Her failure to be useful was the same as death. She hadn’t given enough. This time she would give enough. Nothing else could be allowed to matter. She just wished someone else would choose whom to fight for. If only the White General or the Undead King would sort it out by themselves, she thought. The choice was just too hard.

“I… will… I…” said Aida, a single tear rolling down her face as she curled onto her side. If only I could see the sutures of the future laid bare, I would know what to do to make it all work. Alexander was doing his part to help, even if it meant falling so far. Aida didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want Alexander’s influence to make her deceitful too when Aida felt it was her job to ground Alexander to the truth and himself. Yet, Aida had to give enough. In the past Aida had never given enough, which is why she had killed so many. What did she have to give that would make it so Alexander could be whole again?

In her mind’s eye, Aida returned to the depths of the Forbidden Forest where she had met the White General. Around her the trees rumbled, breaking apart under the flames. She looked around and saw dolls littering the ground, each with their own face. Replacements. Replacements for her. She was being replaced.

“Do not disappoint me,” came the White General’s voice from behind. Turning quickly, Aida’s hair flew back in a white curtain and her eyes swelled large. Before her stood not the general mage but one Vladimir Athanatos. It was him that they had followed into the Forbidden Forest, after all: he knew something. He could be the key Aida was looking for. Aida couldn’t feel the ground beneath her feet, and everything was spinning… but from any angle Vladimir seemed to be at the center of it. At the center, maybe Aida could see clearly again, could stop spinning around so fast…

As her vision of the Forbidden Forest melted away, Aida sat up and looked at Alexander without a word. She felt drugged, but it wasn’t the same as in the kitchens. She sensed she was being pulled about like a puppet of forces greater than herself: a toy being torn apart by two children fighting over it. Splintering between the grips of the White General and the Undead King, where was Aida’s own will? The white witch decided she would find the decision at the center, and she would ask the only person she thought could help get her there: Vladimir.

Mentioning: @Vladimir Athanatos
Interacting: @Alexander Varellion

Interacting with: @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood

Alexander gave a look of concern directed at Aida. Her mumbling and frantic state pulled him out of his own pit of thought and made him look at his friend. His friend who seemed to be struggling with his comments and perhaps felt conflict about his state of mind. He could hear her muttering but it was hard to make out any words. He thought he could hear something about 'being' useful. But it was not clear. What was clear however, was that he needed to do something. He couldn't just let his friend remain like this.

Thus he slowly walked up to her, being sure to make no sudden moves or make Aida flinch. Had to make sure that she became calmer. Rushing too fast would only make her flinch and make her more uncertain. Thus he had to remain calm, composed and certain. Even if he himself was none of these things. He was seriously conflict about this course of action as well, but he did not see many options. To find out the secret, that which should remain in the dark, often took a great cost from a person. One's pride, morality, or in his own case, his very memories.

Getting into sight Alexander extended his two hands and then softly wrapped them around one of Aida's own. Whilst looking her in his eyes, even though his own were slightly moist. He could be good at manipulation and concealing his emotions, but never with his friend. As such Aida would see her own uncertainty reflected in the eyes of Alexander.

Alexander licked his dry lips, then after a slight intake of breath spoke. Trying to go for a calming voice, though he was not sure if he actually succeeded in making it sound calm. "It's alright Aida, it is alright. Just breathe in........ and breathe out...... breathe in........ breathe out." Which Alexander softly repeated. If Aida calmed down Alexander would give a soft, sad smile before saying. "Alright, this is better now is it not ?" He then gave her a short pause before speaking again.

"Aida, you don't have to worry. I know it is a lot, it will always be a lot, but we have time to process it one step at a time. For now, you just have to remain calm. It is probably better to make a decision after we have both calmed down. "

Alexander then took in some more breath and got slightly bigger smile. "Now to very obviously divert to another topic, we have to look at how we are going to deal with the house elves when the time comes."

Alexander now slowly pulled his hands away from Aida's and folded them behind his back. Whilst his face was marred by a frown as he seemed to be deep in thought. Alex then spoke once more, though it was more of a mutter than a clearly articulated sentence. "The elves know something. Even if it is not directly about who is behind everything, they know something about what happened before they wiped our memories. Something about why we 'voluntarily' chose to have our own memories removed. Though I doubt it was completely voluntary."

Alexander then stroked the light stubble on his chin whilst thinking. "The one who knows the most is Cambrey, but he is also probaply the strongest link. The least likely to reveal any information. The best way to gain information is to talk or listen to the other, younger house elves. Who might perhaps be more uncertain."

He then began to pace a little whilst thinking. "A possible way to gain information is going to the kitchen. With either me or you under the invisibility cloak whilst the other attracts the attention of the house elves. Perhaps by questioning themselves, who know, they might even be honest." A slight roll of his eyes at the end of the sentence indicated how likely ALexander thought that was to sucseed.

"Then the person questioning the house elves can leave the kitchen. Then the house elves will either return to their duties or debate/discuss the situation amongst themselves. " Alexander then scratched his back of his head whilst continuing to think.

"So it might be best to time it during one of the vacations. Or during a slow period of time, when the house elves do not have a lot of duties. Then the likelihood of them conversing and revealing something is heightened."

Alexander's eyes then locked with AIda once more, a curious look on it. "What do you think ?"

As Alexander slowly took Aida’s hand into his, she looked into those green eyes that reflected back her own uncertainty. It felt like lightning flowed from the boy’s hands and the intensity of the moment seemed to freeze time around her, but Aida did not blush. This was serenity, pure and all-encompassing. While Alexander’s words pattered down like rain on a quiet evening Aida did everything he asked. The carousel of panic slowed to a stop and Aida disembarked.

It wasn’t wrong to be uncertain right now. It was the truth: this was a dangerous turn. Aida never wanted to hold Alexander back with cowardice or a selfish fear of losing him, but that was not the problem here. The critical point was for Alexander to not lose so much of himself as to turn victory into a sad irony. A country of ash with a population reduced to dust in the breeze is not what that country’s soldiers and generals would fight for. Aida was not just fighting for victory, but for Alexander’s inner kingdom to flourish, whole and lush with health and contentment. The memory of Alexander’s pure, unburdened laughter and smiles had become a focal point in Aida’s mind, an illuminated diamond at the heart of a tremendous dark vault. The girl was tired of memories and hallucinations, however. Alexander was still alive, and they could not trade his complete decimation to win even this important battle.

How hard it is to see when one is leading their own country down a path of self-destruction. Alexander was an intelligent boy with a keen strategic eye, but he was very much embedded in the situation. Along with him Aida was caught up in the hurricane, her power to bring perspective to the war strategy painfully limited. Still, the white witch was afraid she was not doing enough to ensure they were truly fighting for the outcome they thought they were.

"Now to very obviously divert to another topic..." continued the Slytherin boy. Aida listened closely, turning strategies and observations over in her mind as he spoke. Overall the plan seemed to be their best bet and Aida nodded intermittently, acknowledging Alexander’s points. Then at the end Alexander locked eyes with her: "What do you think ?"

Aida felt like she had become quidditch co-captain again, responsible for real impacts on people depending on the quality of her analysis and the effectiveness of her decisions. Yet, this was no game but something far more dangerous. Alexander’s life and hers, their memories and their very control over who they were– these were the stakes. This was everything to her, and it all depended on their ability to devise a quality plan.

“You’re right. Even if we could isolate Canbey he would probably just clam up. We have no leverage against any of them. They have to simply speak freely, as if we were not there. The infiltration plan is the best option. As for who will be the decoy and who will stay behind...” pondered Aida, drumming her fingers against her chin. Aida held herself responsible for ensuring an undistorted memory of Alexander’s life and self, as she had promised, and if she were apprehended she risked having her memory wiped. Yet, Aida was no coward. “One of us has to get away no matter what happens. Then someone can remember and tell the other even if the elves try to wipe out the memory of the whole conspiracy. Based on the fights I have seen you in, in duelling and elsewhere, I think you have the better evasion. If you were the decoy and somehow couldn’t escape...” trailed off Aida. She didn’t like this. If Alexander were not able to escape she didn’t know if she could have the self control to abandon him there with the plan of trying to restore his memory verbally afterwards. The risk that something worse than a memory wipe could happen to Alexander if the elves wanted to hold him there… or even kill him… that was even more terrifying than Aida’s fear of breaking her promise to remember. Abandoning Alexander like that could make retaining his memory pointless if he were to die.

“We need a better way to make sure that if somehow we both have our memories wiped, we will necessarily have a way to remind our future selves. We must set up a backup, knowing ourselves and what we will do, so that we would find out the truth again and yet not have that evidence discovered by the enemy. You have your notebook. How do you know you would be able to find that book again if you forgot everything?”

Interacts with: @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood

Alexander looked thoughtful as Aida continued to speak. She had a good point, they could confront the house elves but what assurances did they have that they would simply not poof out of there. That or simply remain silent and not say anything. Truthfully, they did not have any real leverage. Except potentially threatening to tell the teachers, which was far from a preferred option but it was certainly possible. Except for the fact that the teachers hadn't noticed themselves being fed forgetfulness potions for years either. Which meant they would either forget their confession or would be compliant with the plot and make moves against him and Aida.

So really, what did they have to ensure that things went to plan rather than becoming a grave danger for the both of them. Certainly a more than valid question and something that needed to be addressed.

His mind was thrown back to that one fateful night. When he truly regained his memories and didn't take the memory forgetfulness potion. It....... hurt. The pain from that moment still resonated through Alexander, that realization that his memories had been lost. Two years of his life lost to the void, no, worse. Two years of his life presumably filled with sin, sins he did not remember. Sins old Alexander probably did not wish to remember. An even worse fate.

Alexander tapped his fingers against his legs before responding. "It is true, we have almost no leverage. But we have some. For one thing there is the fact that older students such as Goodlow have been disappearing. Something we could imply they are responsible for and that we might tattle to the teachers. I am certainly open to at least suggesting that in keeping their silence they fail their duty." Alexander frowns.

"As for the decoy, I believe I would be the best. For one thing, beyond just our combat capabilities, I am a bit more skilled at......... social manipulation. At drawing away attention and being more liberal with the truth and what we know."

Alexander frown deepened.
"Thus it is better for me to be the decoy. As for the memory wipes...."

A moment of silence and thought.
"It seems to me that exceedingly unlikely that the House Elves will force us to drink the memory tea or actually harm us. If they wished to do so they could have easily done so last time when they outnumbered us and whilst we were confused. "

Then Alexander paced a little before turning back to Aida. "As for my journal, I have a larger version that I put inside mattress. Makes the matress a little less comfortable but since it is on the lower end it isn't too much of a burden to sleep. Though still certainly notable." Alexander frowns.

"The only worry I have is of the house elves theoretically find the journal whilst they are cleaning the bed. But they can do the same at any point in Hogwarts, and to burry it outside would damage it, be inconvenient and still be suspicious. " Alexander looked thoughtful.

"Though I could displace it at least temporary. Leave a note for myself in an obscure spot telling me to the location where the journal is buried. Perhaps at something at eye-height which only I can see. Mhm, I have to think on that but it is achievable. "

Alexander then stretched himself, before standing up straight once more. "Well, I think that we got most of the planning done. We can discuss smaller, less important details in the castle. But I am...... satisfied with the solutions we have come up with. Now time to do the Transfiguration essay, unless there is nothing else ?"

Alexander would then (if AIda doesn't say there is something left to discuss) head back to the castle. Most improbable plans now inside of his head.

Aida watched Alexander closely. From the way he had calmed her down it was clear to Aida that he had great power over her. It reminded her of the way she had tamed Manticore, that beast that had raged for so long and so brightly. Aida’s mind was lucid now like air over the lake at mid-morning. A faint smile clung to her as she talked, but it faded as she saw Alexander grow pained like he was remembering that which haunted him. It was especially moments like these she could see how much his memory loss hurt him. The pain in his eyes burned into her consciousness: this was why she was fighting.

As Alexander thoughtfully worked through Aida’s points, she silently internalized his logic. So this was how he wanted to fight. Aida nodded, knowing she would have to find enough power of her own that they could overcome anyone who tried to stop them. She didn’t have the answers for him yet, but it would be alright. Aida would summon his words again and again until she figured it out: “it will always be a lot, but we have time to process it one step at a time.” Squinting slightly, the white witch knew that the only thing she could do was everything. If everything wasn’t enough, there could be no room for regret.

Alexander turned to head back to the castle and Aida walked back with him. The mission wasn’t fully thought-out, but they had progressed. Perhaps more planning would just tie them down in moments that required spontaneity. Aida turned her head to watch Alexander's face for a moment as they walked. Inside her pockets, Aida was clenching her fists without realizing it.

Interacting: @Alexander Varellion
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