Lessons In Self Defense and Mining

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

~Crawling, then toddling, and finally walking upright through the tunnels of Four was a bit like learning to walk through a minefield of body parts and sharp toothed rocks... well, actually, it was exactly like that. Wesley was imminently relieved not only to be in complete control of himself once more, but also to be over the embarrassing impediment of the self-inflicted concussion. He hopes he didn't say anything too incriminating to Snape.

Once he's feeling clear headed, he does halt their progress in a nicely open grotto in the tunnels and introduces Snape to some rudimentaries of self defence. He finds Snape an apt pupil, and if he doesn't exactly have time to develop much in the way of form, he is a quick study and easily grasps the basics. At least he'll know how to protect himself from most physical attacks, even if he can't yet fend them off. Wesley can't help but slide into Watcher mode as he instructs, and Snape can see familiar instructional qualilties in Wesley's teaching style. Wesley's a strict perfectionist and is quick to admonish if Snape doesn't achieve a pose or posture just so in a "suitable" time. It is during one such correction, Wesley bent over Snape adjusting the wizard's defensive crouch to best deflect an opponent's aerial assault, when shades of various stages of morbid come pouring into the grotto, pickaxes over their shoulders and lunchpails in their hands. Their mining helmets' light momentarily blinds Snape and Wesley, but Wesley doesn't need to see to know they are accompanied by their supervisor, a demon Wesley can easily identify by it's distinctive odor. He knows they're in trouble.

It isn't long before the demon has both of them in a chain gang, picking away at the bleeding walls of the tunnel. The demon's corrosive mucous membrane still strings their skin where he touched them, but Wesley tells Snape that they won't be there long.~

I have a plan.

Comments

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*the creature gains on them faster then anticipated and Barty abandons all pretence of sneakiness, forcing Regulus into the crevice as feelers graze his back, he curses in a long, loud and mostly incoherent string of nonsense words, scrambling after Reg hurriedly*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*there is no light in here, but both their eyes have grown accustomed to the dim tunnels and even darker crevices after wandering the mines for a while, Regulus crawls forward as quickly as he can to give Barty space to escape after him, the uneven stones further bruising his knees and palms*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*the limited light manages to catch some of the ice on Barty's skin and the yellowness of his hair but that's the only indication Reg receives that Barty's made it, because soon the Thing envelops the crevice entrance, unable to fit but very keen on suctioning off all light and escape, its grasping appendages reaching into the depths of their tunnel - the tunnel which unknown to them ends abruptly a few metres down*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

Keep up!

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

WHY CAN'T YOU JUST RUN WHEN I TELL YOU?!

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

Because sometimes you say run when we really shouldn't do that - *unexpectedly, his forehead hits rock*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*in an act that would have been comical were it not pitch black and the situation exceptionally dire - Barty in turn scrambles into Regulus*

Such falsehoods! My advice is constantly flawle - owwhat - HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KEEP UP IF YOU DON'T UP? This is a two-way street here.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*Regulus takes a moment to answer, pressing a hand to his forehead until the initial shock of unexpected pain passes*

I didn't stop on purpose...

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape and Wesley have made it into the relative safety of another tunnel by the time they hear the echoing words "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST RUN WHEN I TELL YOU?!" Snape cringes; he recognizes that voice without a doubt. Then he sighs, knowing that Wesley is bound to return to help Barty Crouch, Jr., and whoever is with him.*

We need a plan, *he says before Wesley can go charging off.* Preferably one that can survive a tempermental, rash, often impatient idiot.

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

Why would you-? Wait, do you know that shade?!

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape's mouth twists into a derisive sneer.*

His name is Barty Crouch, Jr. And believe me, I wouldn't bother suggesting rescue normally, but he's obviously traveling with someone else. I don't like the thought of leaving someone at the mercy of both the demon _and_ Crouch.

*Snape pauses, now looking very torn.*

Then again, I suppose it depends on who _is_ with him. Crouch's associates were more unsavory than not, as a rule. Still, who knows who he's met here?

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*back down the tunnel, the thing's tentacle-like arms pursue it's captives, Regulus scrunches up at the back of the crevice holding his forehead* I don't think it goes any further back!

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT DOESN'T GO FURTHER BACK?! THIS IS NOT HOW IT SHOULD WORK. *scrambles beside Regulus, running into the same barrier and desperately grasping at the wall of jagged stones for any secret, smaller tunnel or hidden crevice*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

I told you we shouldn't run, you always want to run!

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

Oh so now it's MY fault there's a wall? What did you want to do? Go BACKWARDS? Back to the sad swamp for more brilliant adventures with Cthulhu's woodchipper and mudholes?

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

At least there are places to hide that don't entomb us in stone.

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

We're not entombed. The exit is just currently blocked by fleshy appendages.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

That's entombed. And - stop squirming, Barty, I can't move any further back, that's all the space there is.

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

Well flatten yourself more! - How far can this thing REACH? - I can feel it moving air!

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*flattened to the best of his ability - which is a fair amount, he doesn't take up much space - Regulus tries to press himself further into the jagged stone behind his back, the sound of a rock scraping across the tunnel floor echos around them as the thing's tentacles strain to reach them*

I wasn't looking at it's arms.

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

*Wesley nods, and noting the demon's hot pursuit of the shades in question, tells Snape in an urgent tone,* Give me your pickaxe. I'm going to attack it. Once I've got its attention, go in there and get those poor souls out. Get them clear of here; I don't want you involved in the combat, do you understand? I've barely shown you how to defend yourself. The important thing is to get yourself and the shades it's after clear of here. I'll catch up as soon as I can.

*A pause* Don't worry. I've spent the last two years taking on things I had no business fighting. It can't be any worse down here than it was up there. *Honestly, he'd like to think there's some way to die a little more permanently down here. Taking on one of Hell's employees seems like a good approach.*

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape wordlessly hands Wesley his pickaxe and follows him back to the beginning of the tunnel, preparing to sprint to where Barty and the other shade are trapped. He hopes this is all worth it, but the trapped shades are no doubt running out of time. He looks down at his hands, healing from the caustic slime that this demon has. Is it caustic enough to dissolve rock? he wonders. If so, Barty and his companion are definitely running out of time.*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

Do you hear...dripping?

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

It's a cave, Barty.

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*shoots Reg a bug-eyed look in the dark and tries to find his mouth to shush him, he ends up pressing a finger to a cheek instead but the intent is clear* Listen.