As In Life, So In Hell

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

~The mucus secreting monster is wholly dedicated to its pursuit of the unfortunate shades in the narrow tunnel. Snape says he knows one of them, a Mr. Barty Crouch Jr., whom he claims to be not worth liberating. But it's clear this Crouch has a companion, and there's no telling what sort of person he or she might be. Wesley and Snape can't hear the other shade, they just assume Barty's not just talking to himself.

At any rate, judging by Snape's assessment of Barty's character, Wesley can't be certain that Snape's not the slightest bit prejudiced regarding this man. Was he a student of Snape's? What sort of relationship did they have? It's possible that Barty might indeed be deserving of some punishment, but does he deserve what he's receiving in Hell? And Wesley can't stomach the idea of abandoning the other shade about whom they know nothing. He or she could be anyone...

Wesley takes Snape's pickaxe firmly in his left hand, his own in his right, and gives Snape a determined nod. When he was alive, Wesley had slain a demon of this species, but only with Angel's and Gunn's assistance. He didn't really need to slay it here, simply distract it long enough to enable Snape to remove the others to relative safety. He draws in a long, slow, calming breath, shuts his eyes, and focuses his energies. He'd give anything for a high powered cross bow instead of two rusty pickaxes. Actually, he'd really love a high powered rifle. But this is Hell, and one must always be able to work with what's at hand. He checks Snape's position and exhales, slowly, releasing all tension, fear, and self preservation. Here goes, he thinks, and with all his might, he hurls himself at the rear of the putrid demon, sinking both picks deep into its rubbery, viscous hide, and is slightly disgusted by the squelch as he attempts to draw them back out, before his hands are claimed by the beast's body. The corrosive ooze sizzles his flesh and he curses, screaming a challenge to the beast.~ Don't be such a coward! Come out and defend yourself, or I'll open you up to the worms!

Comments

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape takes a deep breath as the demon begins to focus on Wesley rather than the two it has cornered, and carefully but quickly makes his way to the mouth of Barty's tunnel. He does not want the demon to see him and think that he's the one responsible for whatever pain the pickaxe has given it.*

Barty! *Snape hisses as loudly down the tunnel as he dares.* Get you and your friend out here, quick, while we have it distracted!

*He backs away from the tunnel again, to give them plenty of room in case their cramped quarters forces them to have to back out. Also, to give him a head start should the demon notice them.*

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

*Wesley continues to throw idle challenges out to the demon. Noting that the demon is not exactly charging him lightning fast, he sets down the freed pick and latches both hands firmly about the remaining embedded pickaxe, wrenching with all his might to twist the thing visciously within the beast, then hauling back to try ripping it free of the creature's tough, corrosive hide. He hazards a glance at Snape and peers past him, trying to discern the figures still trapped in the tunnel.*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*at Snape's call Barty's face goes through a dozen expressions in the span of several moments - starting with confusion and playing something of an emotional roulette from there, finally settling on a rather ominous snarl and urgenteyes fixed on Reg - as though his companion should intrinsically Know the significance of the voice and all the trespasses that occurred only long after Regulus met his demise, it hardly helps matters that the only account Reg ever received of the war was through Barty's half-incoherent babble, often punctuated with assertions of Glory and Triumph, rendering Barty's present rage a total mystery to anyone but himself*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

Did you hear that? Your name-

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*Barty gets into a frustrated scramble with his miner-wear, pickaxeless, the best he has in way of threatening weaponry is a broken torch, which he draws and wields as menacingly as possible as he turns heel and makes to crawl out of the crevice, perfectly prepared to see just how far the butt of a gutted flashlight and unadulterated anger can take him*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

What are you - where are you going, you can't go out there! *when Barty doesn't seem to be listening at all, Regulus grabs the back of his shirt* That thing is out there.

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

And so is - THAT - he could have easily - he betrayed us all! No. I will slice him. I SWEAR. I WILL SLICE HIM INTO SMALL, MANAGEABLE PIECES, REGINA.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

With a torch? Who on earth are you talking about?

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*as Barty, Reg's hand on his shirt hardly an obstacle, approaches the mouth of the tunnel, it isn't clear if he's simply answering Reg's inquiry or greeting the man on the other end with a hiss*

Snape.

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape, as he feared, realizes that Barty isn't going to be appreciative of his efforts to actually save him; he's heard the part about slicing him into small, manageable pieces and weighs his options, choosing for the moment to at least back up still more. Now that he's closer, he recognizes Regulus Black's voice. He has nothing against Regulus--if it had been Sirius, things might have been different. But then, Sirius wouldn't be traveling with Crouch. It's Regulus' safety that he's actually weighing against his own, now.*

Crouch, will you calm down and just come out? We are trying to save you, but if you're not going to be civil, we'll just leave you to deal with this thing on your own. Sorry, Black, but I'd rather not be killed _again_.

*To Wesley, he calls,* You may want to get ready to retreat! Crouch is feeling a bit unfriendly towards us today!

*He's hoping Crouch will realize that Snape didn't _have_ to help them and could have left them to be devoured.*

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

BUSY! *is all that's heard from Wes. He's up to his armpits in demon.*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*the threat of retreat completely fails to register with Barty, it makes no sense now in the contest of his reality - Hell itself may as well cease to exist for all he cares and with it the threat of the beast has dissolved from his mind entirely - all that's left is a burning, raging desire to see Snape's oversized nose meet the other end of his skull, as he wriggles out the rest of the way, finally exiting the tunnel and standing to his full height, he points a skeletal, frost-eaten finger at Snape, completely unaware of the irony of his words considering his own level*

YOU TRAITOR.

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape decides it's not politic to bring up the irony of Barty's words. Instead, he gives himself a little more room to maneuver and actually edges towards the demon warily; he fancies his chances with it may be better than with Barty, and if worse came to worse, he could put the demon between Barty and himself. Barty's little fit of rage might even distract the demon from Wesley and allow both of them to escape. He'd even let Black tag along if he wanted--provided he's more civil than his companion. As he edges over, he talks calmly and rationally, without much confidence that it will do any good. He watches Barty carefully, however, as well as the demon; Wesley has trained him well.*

Crouch, I don't want to hurt you. I'm not here to fight you. See big, green, and slobbery over here? Just a few minutes ago, it was trying to pull you from that crevasse like a bird pulls a worm from the ground. With pretty much the same intent, I imagine.

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*Barty's wide eyes don't even flicker towards the beast*

Hurt me? HURT ME? *he bursts into a rather frightening peal of laughter* What would ever give me THAT IMPRESSION? I mean, it's not as though YOU FORCED A BOTTLE OF VERITASERUM DOWN MY THROAT AND LEFT ME TO THE DEMENTORS. Oh no, not you.

Please tell me He hurt you. Please tell me He painted a masterpiece on the wall with your innards.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*Regulus scrabbles out of the crevice behind Barty, it's not a very dignified move but experience has taught him that when Barty starts up in those tones dignity must be pushed aside for a little while*

Barty now really isn't the time for accusations, we-

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*Barty's glare turns to Regulus*

Accusations? I AM WELL BEYOND ACCUSATIONS. He's the reason I'm here. ...Well, one of the reasons I'm here. BUT A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR NONETHELESS.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*he tries to put a hand on Barty's wrist so he'll stop clenching his fists - this man is not the Snape Regulus knew, though he hasn't gotten significantly taller or altered his appearance terribly from when the time Regulus knew him, he is very clearly much much older than the boy Sirius' age he remembers, and though he never particularly adored him then he doesn't want Barty attacking anyone, not without much careful consideration at the very least*

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape isn't entirely shocked that Barty interpreted his death in that way, however wrong it may have been.*

I cannot deny that I did give you Veritaserum, but neither Dumbledore, McGonagall, nor myself called the dementors. We did not wish that to happen. None of us, particularly Dumbledore, wanted the dementors around. Cornelius Fudge is responsible for that, and we were all furious that he did so. And the dementor didn't even pause; I wouldn't doubt that Fudge prearranged with it to kill you instantly. But _I_ did not tell it to kill you.

*He is still keeping an eye on all his surroundings, as Wesley has taught him. He doesn't want to be caught off-guard by the demon any more than by Barty.*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

Oh! Oh OF COURSE! Did you hear that, Regina? He didn't tell it to Kiss me! Well now I just feel silly - don't you feel silly? I feel silly. CLEARLY THIS ABSOLVES HIM OF ALL GUILT.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*taken aback by the story the is unraveling, Regulus feels the intense unease - beyond his usual awkwardness - that manifests when serious issues he feels he has no power to change are brought up, Barty so rarely accurately illuminates the important and painful parts of his life and though he wants to have a black and white answer to help, important things so rarely have one so he bites his lip and tries to decide what to say to calm him down*

Barty-

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*Barty's manner gets quieter, more focused and uncharacteristically serious*

It's irrelevant what you did or didn't tell a Dementor - that's like throwing me into a volcano and saying "Well I didn't TELL the magma to burn you to a crisp." It's irrelevant what Fudge did. It's all irrelevant. It's irrelevant because what this allllll boils down to the fact you were there - the Dark Lord called you and you failed to answer and then stood idly by while you COULD have been redeeming yourself with some fake potion and seeing to my escape.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

There isn't anything to be done about it now, Barty...

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape's expression changes to reflect some inner pain.*

Do you think I _wanted_ you to die? I hadn't killed unless I had to for years. _I_ didn't want your blood on my hands any more than anyone else's. I didn't say I was blameless. But as soon as the Dark Lord broke his trust with me, long before your death, I stopped following blindly. How many people that you cared for did he kill? What about Regulus there--everyone said the Dark Lord killed _him_. And he did not mourn your loss, either; others took your place. You, like all his followers, meant nothing to him.

*Snape pauses to take a breath, giving Barty one more look of sadness.*

My friend and I could have walked away and left you two here to be killed by this thing, but it was _I_ who told him we should try rescuing you. _I'm_ the one who told him we should give you a chance. I didn't save you then, but I have the chance to now. Let us help you.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*Regulus Black isn't exactly the best person to stop a fight, of any kind, but surely Snape doesn't have any idea how the simple suggestion that the Dark Lord hadn't cared what happened to Barty would be more than enough to push Barty over the edge - and quite frankly, regardless of who is right about any of this, Regulus too would like to avoid speaking of it forever and just wants to get out of Four intact so before Barty can do anything drastic Regulus finds himself holding him back*

We need to get out of here before more of those things come!

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*it's extremely fortunate Barty isn't nearly as strong as he thinks he is, yet, even though he's almost as slight as Regulus, the sheer viciousness of his struggling makes it difficult to keep him subdued - any visage of focus is gone from his eyes and its clear that Snape, with his suggestions of Reg's traitorism and Voldemort's apathy, has completely pushed Barty past the realms of coherent argument*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*pinning Barty's arms to his sides as best he can, Regulus leans backward to try and tug Barty down the tunnel away from Wesley and the demon, it's a valiant effort at the very least*

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape resigns himself that there will be no reconciliation; still, he doesn't want to get into a fight. Instead, he edges sideways and further away from Barty and Reg so that Reg can hopefully guide Barty into the safety of the tunnel with more ease. He is careful to keep watch of the whereabouts of everyone, including the demon, as he does so. He sees no point in continuing any conversation.*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

RELEASE ME! I MUST IMPART TORCH-ASSISTED VENGEANCE! *there's an ominous tumult from further up the tunnel, Barty's yelling clearly having reached the ears of more then just former wizards, yet still he doesn't seem to grasp the brevity of the situation, as he so rarely does*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

Will you please follow me just this once?

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

Where? I don't want to go. I'm not finished. Not nearly. Not until we have to pick fleshy mush from out between our toes.

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

Will you listen... *nods his head toward the end of the tunnel, where the noises grow louder*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*at this, Barty finally diverts his eyes from Snape*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*his grip slackens with unimpressed relief* Yes. Oh.

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

...Well, that changes things just slightly -

*from behind Wesley and the first creature rears another shape, moving a bit too fast to be the same manner of horror*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*Regulus takes a skittish jump backward but doesn't run until anyone else does*

-We should definitely go.

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape glances at the other creature arriving and sighs.*

Can we agree on a temporary truce? At least until the four of us are somewhere more stable?

Pryce?! Company!

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

I CAN'T-

*Wesley tries to disengage from his current situation, risking a glance at the new arrival to the scene. He's unfamiliar with this particular species, but he's knowledgeable enough to surmise it's more than he can handle, especially with the odd sensation in his belly. Poison, perhaps, from this brute. Whatever the case, it's clear Snape is having no luck convincing the wizard shades to join them, but they are at least freed from the menace of this beast and free to make their own escape.*

FALL BACK, SNAPE! I'LL CATCH UP TO YOU, JUST GET OUT OF HERE!

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape is less sure about his chances with the demons now, but he still knows better than to expose his back to an enemy, and Barty is certainly that. He gestures for Reg and Barty to precede him.*

After you.

*He'd much rather not leave Wesley, particularly since he doesn't exactly know how he's going to get out of this, but he's pretty sure that he can't be of help, either, and might even hinder him if Wesley worries about his safety. Perhaps he just won't follow Reg and Bart very far.*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*what begins as the brisk stride of a man who doesn't want to let in on to the fact he's suddenly rather frightened fast devolves into a clanky, encumbered run - his clever disguise, which by now is thoroughly coated in frost, suddenly becoming dangerously inconvenient*

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape waits until both Barty and Regulus have a small head start, and then he jogs down the tunnel after them, with one final backwards glance of concern for Wesley. He has decided to pace himself; Crouch will exhaust himself, particularly lugging all that weight with him, and Snape doesn't want to be too close to him when he's forced to stop.*

[wetandbothered5.livejournal.com]

*by now frostily fused to Barty's gear from holding him back, Regulus is forced to run awkwardly alongside him but it's lucky they have been in this situation enough times to become rather skilled in Hell's version of childhood three-legged races; the tunnel is long but up ahead on the right an opening to another gapes and he aims for it*

[madlymirthful9.livejournal.com]

*this new tunnel looks rather larger then Barty would like - earlier complaints about excessive crawling now long-forgotten, they barrel forward as the thing behind them lets out a now nearly-distant screech*

[deadwesley1.livejournal.com]

*Wes is ready to get out of here. He's incapacitated the first demon; he's nearly deaf from its screams of pain resulting from the nasty wounds to its sensory organs which protrude from either side of its neck, allowing it to maneuver effortlessly in the dark tunnels. Not a chance of it following them now. The other demon...

Wes doesn't have the faintest clue about it and he doesn't wait around for a lesson. Time was when he'd... oh, nevermind! He flees toward Snape's retreating form, calling ahead:*

TAKE CARE! THIS NEW BEAST MAY HAVE ALERTED OTHERS!

[severus-snape1.livejournal.com]

*Snape slows upon hearing Wesley's warning; he doesn't want to blunder into an oncoming demon, and he doesn't want to become separated from Wesley if he can help it. He's also not feeling well; now that he's no longer having to concentrate on Barty, he's aware of the pains coming from his midsection. He'd like to chalk it up to the tension of avoiding the fight with Barty, but he suspects otherwise. Instead, he pauses right at the entrance to the tunnel Barty and Reg have taken, listening intently for unusual sounds while watching Wesley catch up.*