The Keye To It All

[jwatson71.livejournal.com]

~~ trigger warning - torture, coercion; slight suicidal ideation ~~

*takes point position again, leading the way down the long dark tunnel...still noticeably limping, and walking a little unsteadily now and then*

*finally comes to a heavy wooden door*

Okay. This is it. This is where they keep him.

Comments

[missmollyhooper.livejournal.com]

*slightly horrified but holding it together*

Somehow we have to find John. Whatever it takes. As for Archie, maybe I can help him.

*kneels beside Archie and reaches out to him*

This place...what else have they done to you?

Sybil. Do you know any healing spells you feel confident using? When he wakes up we need him moving. Any charms or anything?

*turns to Martin*

Keep an eye out.

[archie-keyes.livejournal.com]

*stirs at your touch*

*slowly opens eyes...stares at all of you...then rolls over and buries face in the filthy gym mat, shoulders shaking*

Go away. They'll get you too.

[sybil-t-psychic.livejournal.com]

A healing spell? Oh dear. Only...only a very general one. It won't heal him completely, just, um. Help things along a bit.

*points wand*

Medicae manus.

*watches wounds heal slightly...but still doesn't like the look of the latest burn*

*idea*

Oh! Mister...Winchester, is it? That plant sprig John gave you.

*takes it from you and bites it open, dabbing the gel on the wound*

*tears a strip off Archie's already-tattered shirt for a bandage*

[missmollyhooper.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Sybil.

*to Archie*

They can try.

[archie-keyes.livejournal.com]

*sits up and wipes eyes*

*looks at you closely*

You're kind. And you've got a nice spirit. That won't last long here.

*suddenly becomes aware of clothing situation, and modestly attempts to get dressed again*

*feels around for lost glasses*

[missmollyhooper.livejournal.com]

*also looks for the glasses*

Archie, we're getting out of here. All of us, believe it or not. Can you walk?

[archie-keyes.livejournal.com]

I should hope so, the amount of time I've spent pacing that bloody floor.

*finally finds glasses...which have received a brand new crack in the most recent vortex incident*

Shit.

[sybil-t-psychic.livejournal.com]

*points wand*

Occulus repairo!

Oh, and here. We brought along some extra desert gear. Those tunnels and the desert scrub will cut your feet to ribbons.

*hands you a pair of sandals from our provisions...and once you've put them on, alters them a bit to fit your feet*

[archie-keyes.livejournal.com]

*very startled at specs repair, and bespoke sandal-fitting*

...Thanks.

*cleans mended glasses on shirt and eyes you warily*

Remind me not to get on your bad side.

[capt-crieff.livejournal.com]

Hey! Heads up! One of them green fellas is coming this way! Might even be the same one... I can't be sure.

*beat*

I'm sorry. That sounded terribly racist.

*regains train of thought*

Quick! Everyone against the wall with the door. He's probably too stupid to look anywhere other than straight ahead.

[sybil-t-psychic.livejournal.com]

*hops to it*

Oh gracious. And here I thought avoiding Dolores Umbridge and her gang of bullies at Hogwarts was a wearying task.

*braces self for battle*

[missmollyhooper.livejournal.com]

*grabs Tarrant again and moves against the wall*

Hush, now.

*pulls out the trusty flower spike*

[vogon-cule.livejournal.com]

*is a graduate of the BBC Academy of Not Looking Anywhere Except Straight Ahead While Patrolling*
*stomps past the door and on down the corridor*

[samiwinchester.livejournal.com]

*looks at everyone a little confused how what was happening. Leans against the wall beside the door and watches the guard* This wold be a lot easier if I had a gun or any kind of weapon.

[capt-crieff.livejournal.com]

*picks up a rock off the ground and hands it to you*

Here.

[samiwinchester.livejournal.com]

*takes it and sighs* This will have to work. *comes up behind the guard and smacks him hard in the head*

[sybil-t-psychic.livejournal.com]

*watches the guard fall down unconscious, the equivalent of little tweeting Vogon birdies circling around his head*

*still terrified, but concern for a friend has brought with it a kind of frantic authority...stage whisper*

Quickly now, before another guard comes...we don't know where John is, but we do know where they've got Oliver, and what they're doing to him. Plus he seemed to know something about the layout of this place, so he might be able to tell us just what and where this "Tank" business is.

Are we agreed?

[samiwinchester.livejournal.com]

*looks over the guard before taking some of his weapons.* Yeah sounds like a plan.

[sybil-t-psychic.livejournal.com]

Very good then.

*locks the door behind us*

Obfirma!

Off we go! (http://small-things.livejournal.com/10847.html)

[capt-crieff.livejournal.com]

Are we bringing Archie along? We probably should.

*walks back over Archie*

Hello, Archie, I'm Captain Martin Crieff. Do you think you'll be able to stand?

[archie-keyes.livejournal.com]

*shakes your hand*

Archie. Archie Keyes.

*uses your hand to pull self up to standing position...is very pale, and a little unsteady, but looks willing enough to try for a journey*

*casts a wistful eye at drawings and books scattered across the floor...but then looks quickly back at you*

Okay. If they catch us at least I'll be able to say I saw more of this prison than this one stinking room.

[capt-crieff.livejournal.com]

You sure you're okay to travel? I could give you a piggy-back if you need it.

[archie-keyes.livejournal.com]

*considers*

Well. Maybe just for a bit. Usually takes a while, you know. To get your wind back. After a link.

*legs are already beginning to tremble slightly*

[capt-crieff.livejournal.com]

A link? What's that?

*crouches a little so you can climb on*

*gags*

Choking me...

*helps you adjust your hold then bounces a little to make sure you're in place*

*walks quickly to join the others, letting Sam take point and Sybil bring up the rear*

[archie-keyes.livejournal.com]

Sorry.

*adjusts hold...then, reluctantly*

Linking is...what you saw. Opening a portal. Between places.

You're a captain? You don't look the soldier type. No offence.

[capt-crieff.livejournal.com]

*senses you don't want to explain more so doesn't ask*

Ha, no I'm not a military captain. I'm an airline pilot. Sorry, do you know what an aeroplane is? Only some folks 'round here don't...?

[archie-keyes.livejournal.com]

*brightens*

Oh, yeah. I used to watch 'em when I was a kid. One year they took the whole orphanage to a fair and they had a big one there. Propeller was taller than my whole school. They took us up in pairs. Saw the whole world spread out, like a bird, or a god...best day of my life, probably.

And you fly them? No kidding?

[capt-crieff.livejournal.com]

*very happy to have someone to talk to about planes*

Yes! It's my dream job and I get to do it every day! Maybe you can come for a ride when we get out of here.

[archie-keyes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that'd be cool.

*pause...mouth twitches*

I just hope you give a smoother ride in the air than on the ground. No offence.

*suddenly frowns at something up ahead, (http://small-things.livejournal.com/10847.html) even though it looks nothing's there*

Is that...? Shit! Not now!

[samiwinchester.livejournal.com]

*walks on listening to the others behind him but paying attention to what is going on in front of him.*

[sybil-t-psychic.livejournal.com]

*senses something up ahead* (http://small-things.livejournal.com/10847.html)

Oh heavens, what on earth...??