The Keye To It All
Feb. 12th, 2014 09:43 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
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~~ 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.
*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.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 03:48 pm (UTC)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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 04:14 pm (UTC)*rolls over to face the wall*
Go away.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 04:20 pm (UTC)*kneels down and has a look at some of your previous wounds, which are healing nicely, and the wear-injuries on your shackled leg*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 04:24 pm (UTC)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?
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 04:36 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 04:43 pm (UTC)...Where are the guards?
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 04:50 pm (UTC)*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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 04:57 pm (UTC)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?
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 05:09 pm (UTC)*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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 05:34 pm (UTC)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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 05:48 pm (UTC)*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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 05:57 pm (UTC)*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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 06:12 pm (UTC)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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 07:05 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 07:22 pm (UTC)*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.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 07:30 pm (UTC)*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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 07:36 pm (UTC)*to Archie*
They can try.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 07:59 pm (UTC)*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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 09:04 pm (UTC)Archie, we're getting out of here. All of us, believe it or not. Can you walk?
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 09:21 pm (UTC)*finally finds glasses...which have received a brand new crack in the most recent vortex incident*
Shit.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 09:24 pm (UTC)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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 09:27 pm (UTC)...Thanks.
*cleans mended glasses on shirt and eyes you warily*
Remind me not to get on your bad side.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 10:37 pm (UTC)*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.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 10:48 pm (UTC)Oh gracious. And here I thought avoiding Dolores Umbridge and her gang of bullies at Hogwarts was a wearying task.
*braces self for battle*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 11:04 pm (UTC)Hush, now.
*pulls out the trusty flower spike*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 12:46 am (UTC)*stomps past the door and on down the corridor*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 01:12 am (UTC)Here.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 01:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 01:43 am (UTC)*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?
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 01:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 01:53 am (UTC)*walks back over Archie*
Hello, Archie, I'm Captain Martin Crieff. Do you think you'll be able to stand?
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 02:05 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 02:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 02:32 am (UTC)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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 02:36 am (UTC)*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*
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 02:43 am (UTC)*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.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 02:47 am (UTC)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...?
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 02:54 am (UTC)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?
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 03:03 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 03:12 am (UTC)*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!
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 03:15 am (UTC)*locks the door behind us*
Obfirma!
Off we go! (http://small-things.livejournal.com/10847.html)
no subject
Date: 2014-02-13 03:16 am (UTC)Oh heavens, what on earth...??