Insanity (Or Something Like It) [OPEN]

[Alecsander]

"I will help, of course, it's just that I think you need to understand that I was seen as a liability last time. People will answer your call, but they won't mine. I'll do the legwork: I'll deliver messages, find safe houses...I'll even gather supplies. But please don't ask me to speak on your behalf, or we'll lose our legs before we even stand. The Black Watch needs a leader. And someone they can trust. [...] I pledge my life to you, Mr. Kameren. You just tell me what you need."

"I think you underestimate your own importance, Mr Lovegood, but as you wish." Alex rubbed at the space between his eyes. Gathering the Black Watch again, that was a daunting task, and one he'd hoped would never be necessary.

"We need strong hearts more than we need strong bodies. Courage and friendship will be sorely needed in the days to come." It sounded trite to him, but it was true. True friendships were the only things that could stand up to the evil he sensed coming. Dark days indeed.

Alex deliberately brought the conversation to a lighter note, leaning forward. "Can you tell me more about.. Dogwood? That's what you called it?" He brought the shields down, sighing a little. They always gave him a headache.

[Bodi Lovegood]

"I can find you strong hearts," Bodi smiled, taking in Alex's weathered appearance and wishing he could offer him more. "I have close friends to call upon. They'll reach those who we need. And a meeting place. I have my apartment at the Leaky Cauldron. It's central, but it will require some spell-work to keep it out of sight."

It was at that point that the intimate darkness surrounding the men began to lift. The air stirred a little more freely and the residual noise from the surrounding offices began to seep in. Alex inquired about Dogwood and Bodi wondered how he should answer. He only just met Alex Kameren and, he hoped, gained an ounce of trust. He wondered how he'd react to truth of his dog-like wand.

"Dogwood is my wand - literally a dogwood wand - but more importantly he's my friend. I struggled for many years to find my place among people. Sometimes I saw things, sometimes I shared those things...I was a bit scary for the cliques and for the other children who left home for school. It's something that's followed me through adulthood. To this day, actually." Bodi offered a haunted grin. "There was a time, though, when it became too much and I considered the world would be better if I wasn't in it. Only my Gran did not agree and she charmed my wand so that I'd have a companion through the dark times. Things would otherwise be very lonely. So he's...well, he's kind of like my dog. Only he's a wand. A wand-dog. It's-"

Embarrassed, Bodi began to rise from his seat, gently lifting the subdued Dogwood and placing him back in to his hood.

"I should really be taking my leave." He extended his hand to Alex, not sure it would be accepted.

"I appreciate the time and we'll, I mean, if you still want to, we'll connect. We'll make this happen."

[Alecsander]

"I can find you strong hearts," Bodi smiled, taking in Alex's weathered appearance and wishing he could offer him more. "I have close friends to call upon. They'll reach those who we need. And a meeting place. I have my apartment at the Leaky Cauldron. It's central, but it will require some spell-work to keep it out of sight."

"I trust you, Mr Lovegood. And I think you're undervaluing yourself." Alex smiled, leaning back in his chair as the air started to move more freely. Protections he'd put in place personally. There were secrets he meant to keep as hidden as possible

"Dogwood is my wand - literally a dogwood wand - but more importantly he's my friend. I struggled for many years to find my place among people. Sometimes I saw things, sometimes I shared those things...I was a bit scary for the cliques and for the other children who left home [...]
"I should really be taking my leave." He extended his hand to Alex, not sure it would be accepted.

"I appreciate the time and we'll, I mean, if you still want to, we'll connect. We'll make this happen."

The Head Auror clasped Bodi's hand warmly, but he frowned slightly as the man stood ready to go. "I'm sorry if I offended you Bodi, or asked too personal a question. The truth is I find Dogwood extremely fascinating, more so after your story. I hope that you will stay. We have much to discuss."

[Bodi Lovegood]

Bodi looked at his hand and the warm grasp that enclosed it. He wasn't sure what it was about Alex that surprised him: this was a man that Eden cared about greatly and because of that, Bodi cared about him too, even though they had not previously met. But he was expecting someone far more rigid. Someone whose experience in a dangerous and risk-prone field would heed his warning as little more than a fanciful notion. Instead, Alex had been accommodating and kind. Interested. Compassionate. Focused. The response was unexpected and therefore Bodi did not know what to do.

"You didn't offend me," he uttered quietly before sitting back down on the edge of the seat. Only then did he release Alex's hand. "I've just never been in an Auror's office before and you've been exceptionally nice and I feel terribly under-dressed. Most people stop listening to my recollections much earlier, let alone ask questions." Bodi reached into his hood and pulled out Dogwood, setting his wand-friend upon Alex's impeccably clean desk. The wand turned, groggily, to face the Auror and inched slightly closer to him.

"He doesn't bite. You're welcome to say hi." Bodi inwardly chastised himself. "Sorry, that sounded stupid."

[Alecsander]

"You didn't offend me," he uttered quietly before sitting back down on the edge of the seat. Only then did he release Alex's hand. "I've just never been in an Auror's office before and you've been exceptionally nice and I feel terribly under-dressed. Most people stop listening to my recollections much earlier, let alone ask questions."

"We're not all that impressive," Alex smiled at Bodi. Should he tell him they had a ghost who liked to pick on their resident OCD auror, and that bets were taken on when Wes Anders would show up again, raving about demons, when really he'd been on a bender and been kicked out of the pub by the bouncer? Or that Wallace had just recently hexed his fellow trainee's knees to bend backwards, and poor Daniels had waddled like that for an entire day before either thought to tell their mentors? They'd be the laughingstock of the ministry if more people knew half of what happened in these halls.

"He doesn't bite. You're welcome to say hi." Bodi inwardly chastised himself. "Sorry, that sounded stupid."

Alex held out a hand, just as he would if he were meeting a new dog. "His name is Dogwood?" He asked. "Have you ever seen someone hex someone's knees backwards?" And he proceeded to tell the story of their foolish trainees, hoping to ease some of that hero-worship.