Small Things

*points blessedly re-functional wand at the lock*

Alohamora!

*squints into the darkness as the door opens*

*gradually sees a wide, cavernous room that looks like it was carved out of the rock: large piles of boulders and debris still litter its periphery*

*farther inside sits a rough table with a candle on it, and beside the table lies a ragged figure - looking rather like a barefoot, post-apocalyptic librarian - resting on a filthy gym-mat, surrounded by books and papers*

Edited Date: 2014-02-12 04:02 pm (UTC)

From:

*tenses at the sound of the door opening...but relaxes when it's only John*

*rolls over to face the wall*

Go away.

From:

jwatson71.livejournal.com

Glad to. Just as soon as we get you out.

*kneels down and has a look at some of your previous wounds, which are healing nicely, and the wear-injuries on your shackled leg*

From:

*shrugs off your hand, rather petulantly*

If you were really a good doctor you'd cut my throat. You know that's the only way I'm ever getting out of here.

*sees the others*

Who are they? You charging admission to see the freak?

From:

jwatson71.livejournal.com

*is having no patience with this attitude today...cheerfully, while examining your injuries and easily fending off your cold shoulder*

I know; I'm a right bastard. Mean old Doctor Watson; wanting all his patients to live...whatever was I thinking of?

These good people are your rescuing party. Though if you'd rather they throw you off a cliff or something I'm sure that could be arranged too.

*takes some aloe-looking plant sprigs out of pocket and bites one open, using its inner gel to treat some of your scrapes and burns*

*then adds some to own skin as an afterthought, replenishing the treatment for an already-peeling sunburn*

*tosses a sprig to Sam, who also looks a little cooked*

There you go. Put some of that on you. Takes some of the sting off.

Edited Date: 2014-02-12 04:39 pm (UTC)

From:

*looks up cautiously, examining all the newcomers*

...Where are the guards?

From:

jwatson71.livejournal.com

Wahey...no flies on you, eh? Daylight finally starting to dawn, is it?

*sass dries up abruptly at the sound of many heavy-booted feet stomping this way*

Shit! Hide! Hide! Whatever happens, do not let them see you!

*gathers up aloe sprigs as everyone scrambles to hide behind the boulders scattered throughout the room*

*stands up just as a whole troop of guards enters the chamber*

From:

artemis-noxs.livejournal.com

*strides smoothly into the room with a gang of guards who are absolutely dripping with weapons - knives; clubs; guns; cattle prods; slingshots and harsh language - and who look very eager to use them*

Johnny! Fancy meeting you here. Making an unscheduled house call, are we? Naughty, naughty.

*to a pair of guards*

Beat him up and throw him in the Tank.

*smiles at Archie as the guards grab John by the arms and drag him away...then motions to some other guards who drag two frightened, pleading, well-dressed men into the chamber*

Well then, Archie...ready to earn your keep?

From:

*backs away as far as the shackle will permit*

*watches the guards drag some previously hidden manacles out...and calmly chain themselves to the wall; each putting an iron around one of their own wrists*

*desperately*

Please...not again...I don't want to do this; please don't make me do this...

*is grabbed and held still by the shackled guards...squeezes eyes shut, trying not to hyperventilate*

Edited Date: 2014-02-12 05:14 pm (UTC)

From:

artemis-noxs.livejournal.com

*calmly chains self to the wall*

Awww, listen to him beg; inne sweet? Like it'll actually work one of these days. Well, you know what they say about the definition of insanity...me, on the other hand...well, I'm far more practical.

Take, for example, these two - *indicates well-dressed pleading men being held by the shackled guards* - I asked them for their land, and they declined. So instead of asking them again, I invited them here to reconsider.

And you...after all we've done for you; feeding you the best rations and giving you your little luxuries...books and drawings; we'd never allow the other prisoners gifts like that...I ask you nicely for one little thing; to help me maintain order in my facility, and you throw my generosity back in my face. *mock wounded look* So, all I can do is...invite you to reconsider.

*gestures to a shackled guard, who holds up a glowing fire iron*

*smiles as he lets you look at it for a few seconds, savouring your distress...then presses it against your side*

From:

*SCREAMS*

*holds out for as long as possible...but then suddenly seems to explode; body separating into a million-billion tiny little atoms, which slowly begin to swirl...and rotate...faster...and faster...*

*...and finally form a bright, spiralling vortex...exactly the same kind that brought everyone here in the first place*

*the shackled guards drag the begging prisoners forward...whatever lies on the other side isn't very clear, but it doesn't look good, judging from the noise and the lightning...and throw them inside*

*their screams briefly get louder, then slowly fade...and the vortex closes*

*the atoms gradually reconstitute back into a human form*

*lies unconscious on top of the pile of shabby clothes that fell away when the vortex opened*

From:

artemis-noxs.livejournal.com

*unchains self from the wall as the guards do the same, brushing hands together in a "tidied, done and dusted" sort of gesture*

*to Archie's unconscious form*

There now. Wasn't that easy? Sweet dreams until next time, poppet.

*exits with the guards as they lock the door behind them*

Edited Date: 2014-02-12 06:03 pm (UTC)

From:

*slowly emerges from behind a pile of rocks*

How...how utterly horrible.

*glares at the door through which Noxs and the guards went with uncharacteristic loathing*

*picks up one of the sheets of paper that now lie scattered and strewn all over the chamber...it's a drawing of a house by a lake, and is actually rather good*

*looks down at the shackle the guards re-fastened around Archie's ankle*

Alohamora.

Well...now what? Heaven knows where they took poor John. And he's the doctor; what are we supposed to do for Archie? Should we try to wake him, or...or...not?

*looks afraid to touch him*

Edited Date: 2014-02-12 06:16 pm (UTC)

From:

*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.

Edited Date: 2014-02-12 07:06 pm (UTC)

From:

*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.

From:

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*

From:

Thank you, Sybil.

*to Archie*

They can try.

From:

*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*

From:

*also looks for the glasses*

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

From:

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.

From:

*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*

From:

*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.

Edited Date: 2014-02-12 09:27 pm (UTC)

From:

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.

From:

*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*

From:

*grabs Tarrant again and moves against the wall*

Hush, now.

*pulls out the trusty flower spike*

From:

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*

From:

*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.

From:

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

Here.

From:

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

From:

*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?

From:

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

From:

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?

From:

*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.

Edited Date: 2014-02-13 02:05 am (UTC)

From:

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

From:

*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*

From:

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*

From:

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.

Edited Date: 2014-02-13 02:45 am (UTC)

From:

*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...?

From:

*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?

From:

*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.

From:

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

From:

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!

From:

Very good then.

*locks the door behind us*

Obfirma!

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

Edited Date: 2014-02-13 03:18 am (UTC)

From: