The Light at the End of the Tunnel

[bilbo-baggins.livejournal.com]

*spots something after an hour or so of uneventful flying*

There! Is that it? Way in the distance - that little bump on the horizon? Is that Mount Axis?

Oh, but where is Sherlock going?

Comments

[smauglock.livejournal.com]

*doesn't see the little bump on the horizon*

*but does see a big shimmery thing way off to the right*

*which widens and coalesces into a huge gateway-looking peephole sort of thing...which further glimmers and coalesces into...221B Baker Street???*

*JAWN WE MADE IT OMG JAWN THE FLAT*

*veers off wildly to the right and flies full-tilt towards the shimmery vision of home*

[bilbo-baggins.livejournal.com]

Wait! Sherlock, wait! Why is he going - *squints at the shimmery thing* - why is he going - *squints harder* - to the Shire??

Look, Mister Temeraire, look! It's the Shire! It's my home! But how on earth did it get all the way out here? Perhaps it followed me like a lost pup. Ha!

Quick, Mister Temeraire, follow Sherlock! We have to catch it before it disappears again!

[sybil-t-psychic.livejournal.com]

Don't be daft, man! I think you've been out in the sun too long. Any fool can see that it's Hogwarts!

Quickly, Temeraire, before it's too late! We simply must reach the castle!

[just-vanessa.livejournal.com]

I'm as eager to get home as the next man, woman, or sapient creature, but if we're each seeing our own home that's either a very cleverly-made portal or a sinister trap.

And based on past experience I'm inclined to opt for "sinister trap".

[i-k-blue.livejournal.com]

This shape speaks true! It is an Optical Illusion!

[i-k-blue.livejournal.com]

*tugs urgently on your neck*

[bilbo-baggins.livejournal.com]

What? Yes? Yes, I see it, it's where I live! Oh, it looks just as I remember it...

*finally tears longing gaze away from the shimmery thing at your repeated tugging*

Yes, yes, what is it?

[i-k-blue.livejournal.com]

It is indeed a Sinister Trap!

[bilbo-baggins.livejournal.com]

*crestfallen* But it's right there! It's so real, so... wait. Hang on a moment. Pardon me for the liberty, but...

*holds up one end of cravat and looks through it*

*through fuzzy field of vision, filtered by the bright International Klein Blue threads, the shimmery thing's glamour cannot penetrate, and it appears as it truly is: a weblike matrix of fibreoptic-cable looking strands*

...Oh! Oh, heavens!

*tucks cravat back in, sighing*

I should have known it was too good to be true. Oh, but how do we stop Sherlock? We don't have a big blue cloth large enough to cover his eyes - how can we make him see the trap for what it is, or at least prevent him flying right into it??

[just-vanessa.livejournal.com]

He's not likely to listen to reason in that frame of mind. It might be better to skip the direct approach and appeal to his passengers.

...or would it? A trickster god and a demon might be expected to recognise an illusion, but would they agree that keeping Sherlock out of it is a desirable result? You've known at least one of them longer than I have.

[i-k-blue.livejournal.com]

Do you mean they might want us to be Trapped? Sinisterly? :(

[just-vanessa.livejournal.com]

Well, trapping mortals is the kind of thing demons traditionally devote a lot of time to. And what we have here is a web-like trap and a spider-like demon, which might suggest a commonality of purpose. As for tricksters...

Ah, it looks like they're doing something (http://small-things.livejournal.com/14369.html?thread=570913#t570913).

[i-k-blue.livejournal.com]

Are we safe now, then? Allow me to introduce myself. I am the colour International Klein Blue. Call me Hugh.

[just-vanessa.livejournal.com]

A pleasure to make your acquaintance... Hugh. I am the human Vanessa. Call me Vanessa.

*has to ask*

Are there many colours called Hugh?

[i-k-blue.livejournal.com]

Why, no - I have sisters named Amber, Rose, and Violet, for example. What is a human? Are there many humans named Vanessa?

[just-vanessa.livejournal.com]

A human is the main kind of intelligent being where I'm from. Most of us in this group are humans, at least broadly speaking.

I'm the only Vanessa here, but there are others back home, though it isn't as common a name as... Martin, say, or John.

[i-k-blue.livejournal.com]

This is a very strange and various collection of Shapes.

[i-k-blue.livejournal.com]

It is indeed a Sinister Trap!

[madam-zarenyia.livejournal.com]

*having a lovely little snooze on Sherlock's back, lulled to sleep by the dragon's wild lurching turbulence like a baby in the back of a car*

*senses shift in direction, and groggily rouses*

...Hello. Are we there already?

[thepunygod.livejournal.com]

No, it is a Sinister Trap. The mortals appear to see it as their individual homes.

*attempts to vanish the Trap to no avail*

Norns curse it. This is more powerful than my skill. Can you do anything, Madam?

[madam-zarenyia.livejournal.com]

*brightens*

It is a Sinister Trap! And one of her best, I'd say - beautiful workmanship! Do you know Madam Sinistra too, then? My word, it's a small Creation! I haven't seen old Sinnie-pants since she was a few millenia ahead of me at school.

*scuttles up to Sherlock's head, scritching behind his ear and whispering something that makes his eyes go a bit vague - or maybe it's just the scritchies - and he stops, hovering just shy of the entrance*

Back in a tic, poppet - wheeeeeeeee!!!

*leaps into the web, navigating it like a sure-footed (eight-legged) mountain goat - and returns a few minutes later with powdered sugar all around mouth*

Sinnie'll catch us up later - said she's got a question or two for this Oracle person herself. *sees Temeraire hovering some distance away* Oh dear, I didn't mean to keep everyone waiting.

*proffers half-eaten pastry*

...Cream bun?

[ollie-omen.livejournal.com]

*from the relative safety of Temeraire's harness*

So, hang on...you just invited another demon to Mount Axis? One we don't have a pledge of protection from?

*turns to everyone else in the harness*

And what about...*waves vaguely at Sinister Trap*...this?? Are we just gonna leave it here so it can lure god knows how many other poor sods to their doom?

[bilbo-baggins.livejournal.com]

*wearily*

Much as I hate to disagree with such a handsome fellow...I don't see what else can we do. If Mister Loki's magic isn't strong enough to bother it, then what possible damage could the rest of us hope to cause?

*sighs*

Personally, I'm sick of this whole adventure. I want to get back to my home...my real home. The Oracle is the only one who's given us all any hope of doing that. And who knows, the demon lady might not be such a bad sort...I can't help feeling that anyone who serves a decent cream bun for tea must have at least some redeeming qualities, after all.

[thepunygod.livejournal.com]

*takes the pastry*

Thank you.

*somehow manages to eat it in a suggestive manner*

You are full of surprises.

[madam-zarenyia.livejournal.com]

*watches you eating...and, given the structure of the average cream bun (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W_Fscvl8hn0/Ux9Pkhu4q4I/AAAAAAAAGjw/F-gcgmbVJr8/s1600/IMG_3387.JPG), finds your performance most delightfully, horrendously, outrageously obscene*

Oooh! Saucy boy!

*swipes some of the disappearing cream filling, and all but fellates it off own finger, grinning a - well - devilish grin at you*

When we get to that mountain, I have SO many things to show you...unless you fancy us two getting our memberships in The Dragonback Club right here?

*at Sherlock's annoyed SNORT*

...Or not. *silky purr* Frankly, darling, I'm told that sometimes, the waiting makes it even better.

[merida-dunbroch.livejournal.com]

*shouting from Temeraire's harness*

If you two are quite finished, the rest o' us would like to get a move on!

[sybil-t-psychic.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear! If this Sinister demon madam really wants to speak to the Oracle, we'd do well to get there first before she does!

[smauglock.livejournal.com]

*agrees*

*takes off for Mount Axis without waiting for permission* (http://small-things.livejournal.com/14884.html)