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

[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.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*purses his lips but, as always, complies and holds still, listening very intently...*





Barty. That's me. I'm the dripping.

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*a very long moment passes before being broken by a thick gelatinous plop, as if a bubble of maple syrup just burst against a jagged stone*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

...That, wasn't me.

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*there's another, goopy and treacle-like - this time perceptibly closer, whatever it originates from is creeping across the stone walls, drawing ever nearer*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*the places where he and Barty are squished together have begun to frost now that they're both holding still but Regulus keep trying not to move and just listens, the noise coming closer, almost hidden behind the sound of his swamp-water dripping off him*

That definitely is not me.

How far back are we in here?

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*Barty feels the wall behind them again, as through to make sure they're not somehow sliding closer to the beast - the wall is still there*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

How far back can that thing go...?

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*a drop of corrosive mucous lands on the tip of his shoe, and though it has yet to eat through it and burn his already blackened toes, Barty is already flailing and yelling from the obvious implication*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*Regulus' head gets banged against the rock once again, he doesn't try to raise his voice above Barty's but instead hisses at him* Shh, you'll draw it's attention to us-

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*something swiftly wraps around his ankle, frozen flesh sizzles and Barty desperately grabs onto Reg as the thing attempts to pull him back and away*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*at first Regulus doesn't know anything has actually reached them, it's first experimental tug just feeling like part of Barty's flailing, but then, as the thing gets a better grip on Barty's ankle, they're both tugged several feet down the tunnel in one swift motion*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

YOU ARE A COMPLETELY USELESS ANCHOR - WHY COULDN'T YOU BE MORBIDLY OBESE?!

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

Grab onto the walls!

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*Barty attempts this, however his arms are resolutely frozen around Reg's torso and between the pulling, the pain of his ankle dissolving and the hysterical frenzy of the situation, finding enough purchase to rip them free without sacrificing himself to the beast is impossible*