Another Lewis Carroll moment...

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

~So where is the bottle labeled "Drink me"? he ponders silently. He remains silent to his companions. He remembers back to when he was a puny child wishing he could grow like Alice and look down on all his enemies- childish enemies like brutish class mates, overbearring fathers; certainly not demons, not then.

He's been quiet since they met and joiined up with the boy and the princess. He doesn't want to admit it, but he likes Hal. He seems locked in a simpler, more innnocent, more polite time; Wesley wonders when the poor boy died. It doesn't seem he belongs in Hell and it pains Wesley that the boy is here.

Then there's Beauty. She certainly appears to be just what she claims: she's royally dressed in medieval attire (12th century, French, maybe?) and her poise and bearing are certainly majestic. She's very young and sweet and, worse than Hal, it tears his heart to see her here, because if she can be trapped in this hideous realm than...

He has to drive the image away by thrusting his fist into one of the swamp trees, the pain momentarily splintering all thought of Fred into unrecognizable shards. But then he catches Lilah staring at him- he's been avoiding those eyes since they came to their senses, post- caveman. He knows he's hurting her, but the shock of her in this place with him overwhelmed him. He'd hoped better for her, God knows why, but she had come to him, hadn't she, when she could have run off and saved herself? He's always wanted to think there was SOMETHING worth saving in her damned soul. He snows he can't help her anymore now than he helped her then, and in his opinion, she might do better tagging along after someone else. He knows he's going to have to speak to her sooner or later...

Instead, he opts to speak to the entire group;~ Snape and I are headed to the demon city Dis. It's a goal, if nothing else. We have our reasons, and you're welcome to come with us.

~He winces, presumably at the tearing pain they're all experiencing, but in truth it's something far worse to his mind: the hollowness of returning to the living world without Fred. But he owes it to the rest of them, doesn't he? If any of the others survived...? He hardens his features and moves on.~

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[beautysleep4.livejournal.com]

*Beauty has been walking on Hal's arm singing to herself quietly in her native French. The music keeps her distracted from the frequent and very literal growing pains. She is trying hard not to focus on her ever increasing stature, it is neither feminine nor princessly.

She regards Wesley with growing curiosity quite akin to that of Alice herself, forgetting her wariness of him. Her face is a study in possibilities as she considers the reasons these two obviously distinguished men might have for wanting to go into Dis.*

Nothing good resides in Dis My Lords, *she ventures finally.* I can guide you through the maze once we are there but though I have been through it several times I have never crossed into Dis the same way twice and only found it when I was not looking for it at all.

*She pauses looking back toward Lilah as if expecting her to interrupt or correct her observations but she forges ahead anyway, she can certainly prepare them for what lies ahead whether they take her seriously or not.*

The daemons there are quite active and decidely-unpleasant. *She gives a small shiver and draws ever so slightly closer to Hal, her hand seeming to rest a bit more on his.* Whatever you seek in Dis My Lords, it will not be easily located nor yet acquired. Whatever you may expect, I fear you will be ill prepared.

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape has been quietly observing the dynamics of their new, budding group. He, like Wesley, cannot believe that Beauty deserved this punishment and, being a wizard, a magical explanation is to him the most likely, though he will not mention this, unsure of the possible repercussions of doing so. Unlike Wesley, however, he is not surprised by Hal. After all, he spent the greater part of his life to help destroy the darkness, and he found no salvation. Who knows what small and petty action may have condemned Hal to Level One?*

Princess, *Snape says with another respectful lowering of his head,* we are better prepared than many others, as we have some knowledge of certain demons we may encounter. Our studies in life were quite...unique.

[noshoesinhell8.livejournal.com]

*Lilah allows herself a derisive snort, probably not noticeable by the group. She's been lagging behind, straggling after them like the a petulant little sister. She's actually waiting to be certain where she stands with everyone, and just what Wes and the Matrix castoff think they're going to gain going into Dis.*