Gentle Treading

(can I place this thread after he takes leadership?)

She let her follow him, at his side, but her feet matched his in stride and direction, doing what she could to keep up with him, to stay on the same track. Sofie was not one to allow herself to pull others behind. She was not ready to lead- perhaps when all was said and done here, she could return home and redefine what it meant to be a Russian Death Eater by leading them. But until then, she was more than willing to seek a good leader to follow. She had found one.

He explained away his inquiries and told her to have restraint if need be. She shook her head. "There is a time and place for secrets and it is not with one's lord. I have no plans for betrayal, my lord. I do not possess any knives that you might later find in your back. I have no need, no intention, for trickery. I have my own agenda, as we all do, but one that surely aligns with your own. I have learned to hate the Ministry here through my mother's resentment, and my father's murder. It's downfall is all I seek on my own. Beyond that, I wish to be led, and led well. There is a time I may take my father's place, but I know myself incapable of success as a leader until I have proved myself worthy of a follower. I have no boundaries, and I will not lie. I can assure you of these."

( That is fine by me

He smirked as she went into her little rant about loyalties and how she did not have her own agenda. It was funny, before he had become the Dark Lord of the Death Eaters, no one had given him this much attention. Now, all of the sudden, everyone wanted to prove their loyalty to him and express how they would never, in a million years, betray him ever. While Aaron did believe that Sofie was being honest with herself, he did not believe it would stay that way forever.

"Well I certainly appreciate your loyalty," He said quietly. He made sure to keep an eye out for anyone while they were talking. It seemed like the Ministry and the Order had ears all over the place and he had to make sure his name did not get out there, not yet. "You have proven yourself as a leader already. You stood boldly in the meeting, you accepted my mission without questioning, and you brought back yourself and Alder unharmed after a run in with the Head of Law Enforcement. Give yourself some credit, no one else will."

Sofie listened with patience and acceptance but she smiled up at Aaron as he finished. "Ah, but to grow one must never be satisfied with their own results. Even if I understand my inability to fight off the surprise Aurors, and I can accept the outcome, I would have been more satisfied had I conquered them. Pardon if I presume too much, but you do not seem a man to be easily satisfied." She smiled politely.

She looked forward, taking in the view. Boris plodded along serenely, panting as he stared at Eeylop's, desperately wishing to investigate the birds but unwilling to part with his master.

What she was saying was true, Aaron was never satisfied, but what he considered satisfied was much different than what most people did. Aaron was confident in most everything he did, which would lead people to believe that he was satisfied with the way his life was going, but he was always reaching for the next ledge.

"Confidence and satisfaction differ greatly. Never be satisfied with where you are, but always be proud of what you have done. Those aurors would have been more satisfied if they had caught you, but they did not, instead they have to report back and explain why they could not capture two lowly death eaters. Be confident that you escaped, completed your mission, and pissed off the Ministry." \

He noticed that more and more wizards were starting to avoid him. Try as he might to hide the fact that he was the new Dark Lord, everyone seemed to know, and he hated that fact. Pretty soon he was going to have to be open about it, but then going anywhere was going to be a pain in the ass. He could go invisible, but that was a pain.

"As for me, no, I am never satisfied. But I never play the what if game. Everything I have or have not accomplished lead me to here where I am and the only thing that I can focus on is the future. It is a waste of time to live in the past." He continued walking, realizing he still did not know where he was going to take her. He figured if they just continued walking, he would stumble upon somewhere he enjoyed.

He spoke of the differing natures of confidence and satisfaction and she smiled, tipping her head. "Naturally." She listened, appreciating his honesty and wisdom, her features showing the peace that she enjoyed in walking alongside her lord in so casual and gentle a manner. To so gently tread meant her happiness.

He spoke and she nodded. "To say I have no life in the past would be a lie," she conceded. "I am currently fuelled by a need to avenge my father. From there, the only influence my past holds on me is the natural influence of my upbringing. I do not allow myself to be a fool to my own psychology."

Aaron strode quietly for a few moments and looked around Diagon. He had a flash back to when he was only a boy and he came to this place for the first time. There was no containing his excitement, he was finally getting to go to Hogwarts, the most mysterious and mystical place to an elven year old. Things were different now, he walked the streets like they were his, and it had lost all of its flair.

He spotted a place he had passed many times, but had never actually been into. It was called Eli's and it was a place to eat and drink. Aaron was more interested in seeing if the owner, Elijah, was there. He had only heard rumors of him, but he was a known Order member. He loved being too close to someone who would have wanted him dead if he knew who he was.

"How about something to eat?" He said pointing at Eli's. "My treat, and you can tell me what happened to your father."

( Just make the next post in Eli's? )

The pair of Death Eaters lapsed into silence but, as a quiet and rather reserved girl, this was of little, if no, concern to Sofie. The follower was unpreterbed as her leader seemed at ease. Sofie was not mindless, but she understood her place and was eager to fulfill her role wherever that may be, bottom feeder or not. Sofie survived so she could be able to achieve what she planned to.

He pointed out a booming nightclub and offered to buy her a meal. Information in exchange for a meal and a chance to earn his trust. Perhaps not his trust, but at least his favor. She thought it was a bargain and smiled politely. "Sounds wonderful." She led Boris to the side of the building. "Sidet. Myesto." He sat and Sofie scratched his ears and followed Aaron inside.