Water, Water, Everywhere, and...What's That Thing on the Back of Your Neck?!

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

~Snape is actually rather relieved to find that this new round of torment seems to be of the physical variety. He handles physical pain better than the emotional, even if it is still unpleasant. Sometimes, he rather suspects that he could have ended up in any number of Hell's levels--probably could have been Regulus' next-door neighbor here in 5--but that some twist of fate knew what his absolute worst punishment would be and put him on 1. He knows that's not the way it works, and there are times when he takes solace in knowing that he did _something_ right, like dying trying to protect Lily's son, for instance. But then there are the times like now when he thinks that Hell knows their weaknesses and preys upon them. Is this rotation brought about through the fears and neuroses of the shades that reside here, expanded to engulf them all? Did they all suffer, simultaneously, the darkest issues of their peers? Was he the reason why everyone suffered the loss of control of their limbs, because he has control issues he hasn't quite yet come to terms with?

Or perhaps, he thinks with a sigh, is he internalizing this far too much?

He pauses long enough to twist his back in an effort to ease the strain. He has decided that, while these aches may be caused by the effort of slogging through miles of mud and water, he truly doubts it. The caveman thing is past, and he knows that there is little relief between Hell's torments. When one ends, another begins.

However, his more immediate concern is the large leech that has been feeding on the back of his right leg for some time. The leeches here grow about as fast, it seems, as the bamboo had, and it's really beginning to interfere with his walking. At first, he and Wesley, and presumably the woman, had been removing them when they first found them attached. But the little buggers were far too numerous, and now they only pulled them off here and there. This one was now too large and inconvenient to ignore.~

I need to stop over there, ~he says, pointing to a rare rise of land that offers a bit of firmer footing.~ I need to get rid of a parasite or two.

Comments

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

That's precisely what I've been thinking for some time now, *Wes informs Snape, and turns with a cold gaze to Lilah.*

What is it you want, Lilah? Waiting around for another fun filled torment to bring us together? I've regained my faculties, and I want you gone.

[noshoesinhell8.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's rich, Conan the Highly Sexed Barbarian. You think I want your company? Look around- there's precious few of us free of our personal entanglements, and following you beats being alone. Besides, you're overlooking your buddy there, or doesn't he get voting rights?

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape is really, _really_ wishing she hadn't dragged him into it.*

I'm afraid I don't know you well enough to have an opinion of you. He may be quite justified, for all I know.

*He pauses and takes a deep breath, glancing at Wesley.*

However, she has a point, too. It's not every day we have the opportunity to add another to our group, and the last candidates turned out to be...disappointingly predictable.

*A part of him still wishes that Black and Crouch would have been able to put aside the past and join them; there is some truth to safety in numbers. Of course, the chances that Crouch would have brought half the demons in Hell down on them as he ranted about the injustices and whined about God-knew-what was pretty high, so perhaps things worked out in the end after all. At least this woman wasn't screaming threats at him and trying to hurl boulders at his back--always a plus.*

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

Why do you think we need to enlarge our group? What skills are we lacking? We could interview her, I suppose, to see if she can bring something valuable to our efforts. Can you, Lilah? Can you prove you're useful one more time?

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*They've reached the tussock and Snape sits gratefully on the damp moss and grass to rip the little bloodsucking bastard off the back of his leg. Once he's got the thing in hand, he lobs it as far into the water as he can, careful to throw it the way they came rather than put it back into their potential path.*

Can she remove the thing attached to the back of your neck?

*But instead of waiting for her reply, and knowing that Wesley in his current mood probably wouldn't let her touch him, he moves to take care of the offending thing himself.*

Here, let me.

*He tries to be quick as he tears off the sucker-mouthed creature and tosses it after its cousin. Then he turns to Lilah. He knows he always has one possible skill in mind for her, but he's pretty sure she'll be offended if he mentions bait. Instead, he decides to chance a less offensive and possibly more practical tact.*


Can you tell us _anything_ about level 6?

[noshoesinhell8.livejournal.com]

*Lilah's frantically attempting her own pest removal, but she's just too squeamish to get the really big suckers. Snape can see it's not that she's spoiled; she just doesn't seem to know what to do. She doesn't look up but answers the question directly, tugging uselessly on a nasty human-faced leech that's worked its way into her boot.*

Sure. It's fucked. It's a maze to get in, there are demons EVERYWHERE, and it's nearly impossible to find your way once you make it in to the city. There aren't any directories,* she adds flatly. She's once again gazing at Wesley, obviously trying to understand his behaviour.* What do you want with Six?

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

We're looking for something.

*He watches her attempting to remove the thing and takes pity on her.*

Allow me.

*He grasps the thing firmly as close to the head as he can and gives a twist as he rips it quickly from her.*

Sorry.

[noshoesinhell8.livejournal.com]

thank you.

What are you looking for in Six? Weenie roast?

*It's pretty obvious her attempt at humour is a defense mechanism.*

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

We're traveling to Dis. That's all you need to know.

*Wes seems very tense, uncomfortable. Snape might assume it's the result of this newest Hell-supplied discomfort, but Wesley almost seems ready to snap.*

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*He offers Lilah a shrug; it's clear he's not going to add anything further and risk upsetting Wesley to the breaking point. He removes another leech from himself and, as he starts to throw the thing away, catches a bit of movement off to their right. He pauses, trying to peer through the trees and tall marsh grass.*

I think I saw something move, *he says, gesturing with the leech in the general direction.*

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

Yes, I saw it too. It was too large to be these frog-like creatures. Other shades, I suppose. Or bipedal demons...

[noshoesinhell8.livejournal.com]

So... what do you want from Dis? There's not much there worth rooting around for. Lots of demons looking to throw you back where you came from.

*pause*

Where DID you come from, anyway? You're all... misty or something. Both of you.

*pause*

What are you looking at? *in consternation, because they're not paying attention to her.*

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

Either way, there's only two reasons I can think of why they'd try to conceal themselves from us--they're either hiding from us, or waiting to try to ambush us.

*He looks around at the swampland, where most of the creatures seem to have legs numbering greater than or less than two.*

If they're bipedal demons, they seem to be a little out of place.

[noshoesinhell8.livejournal.com]

They're not "bipedal demons." I'm no "expert" like _he_ is *casting a seething glance at Wes* but it's pretty obvious to me that- wait; I know that shriek...

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

*Wesley suddenly takes off in the direction of the two beings they've been observing without another word to either of his companions.*

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape looks at Lilah, sees her expression, and does the only thing he feels he can do--he shrugs. Then he turns and follows Wesley as quickly as he can through the sludge and water.*