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  <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy</id>
  <title>The Boiling Cauldron</title>
  <subtitle>Thoughts Stoppered, Dreams bottled, and Ambition Brewed</subtitle>
  <author>
    <name>slytherin_spy</name>
  </author>
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  <updated>2008-07-14T05:52:10Z</updated>
  <lj:journal userid="7794271" username="slytherin_spy" type="personal"/>
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  <entry>
    <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy:61365</id>
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    <title>Snape's Classroom</title>
    <published>2008-07-14T05:52:10Z</published>
    <updated>2008-07-14T05:52:10Z</updated>
    <content type="html">&lt;a name="cutid1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Available Potion Ingredients&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Abrus seed&lt;br /&gt;Acromantula venom &lt;br /&gt;Agrimony&lt;br /&gt;Alihotsy&lt;br /&gt;Allspice berries &lt;br /&gt;Althaea&lt;br /&gt;Amber, powdered, specimens containing various objects&lt;br /&gt;Anise&lt;br /&gt;Armadillo bile&lt;br /&gt;Arrow root&lt;br /&gt;Asafoetida&lt;br /&gt;Ashwinder, eggs, skin, fangs&lt;br /&gt;Astrantia &lt;br /&gt;Bezoars&lt;br /&gt;Bicorn, horn, hoof, intestine&lt;br /&gt;Billywig stings&lt;br /&gt;Beetle eyes, whole&lt;br /&gt;Boneset &lt;br /&gt;Boomslang skin, tooth, blood, bile&lt;br /&gt;Bubotuber pus&lt;br /&gt;Bundium secretion&lt;br /&gt;Cabbage (Chinese chomping)&lt;br /&gt;Catterpillars&lt;br /&gt;Calamus root&lt;br /&gt;Calendula flowers &lt;br /&gt;Carrageen &lt;br /&gt;Cinnamon &lt;br /&gt;Couchgrass&lt;br /&gt;Crocodile eyes, hearts&lt;br /&gt;Doxy eggs, venom, wings &lt;br /&gt;Dragon blood (various breeds), hide blood, heart, liver, horn, claws&lt;br /&gt;Erumpent horns, tails&lt;br /&gt;Flobberworm mucus&lt;br /&gt;Fluxweed&lt;br /&gt;Frog eye, brains, hands, feet, tongue, whole&lt;br /&gt;Galangal &lt;br /&gt;Ginger root &lt;br /&gt;Glumbumble tears&lt;br /&gt;Graphorn heart, horn&lt;br /&gt;Grains of Paradise &lt;br /&gt;Hellebore&lt;br /&gt;High John the Conqueror Root &lt;br /&gt;Horned toad&lt;br /&gt;Huckleberry Leaf &lt;br /&gt;Jequirity &lt;br /&gt;Jobberknoll&lt;br /&gt;Lacewing wings, whole&lt;br /&gt;Leeches&lt;br /&gt;Lionfish spines, skin&lt;br /&gt;Lovage&lt;br /&gt;Mandrake roots&lt;br /&gt;Masterwort &lt;br /&gt;Mimbulus Mimbletonia &lt;br /&gt;Monkshood&lt;br /&gt;Moonstone, powdered&lt;br /&gt;Nettles&lt;br /&gt;Nutmeg &lt;br /&gt;Peppermint&lt;br /&gt;Pine needles &lt;br /&gt;Pixie wings&lt;br /&gt;Pomegranite&lt;br /&gt;Porcupine quills, heart, claws&lt;br /&gt;Pufferfish&lt;br /&gt;Quartz, powdered&lt;br /&gt;Quassia &lt;br /&gt;Quicksilver&lt;br /&gt;Rat eyes, bile, tail, hair&lt;br /&gt;Re'em blood&lt;br /&gt;Rue &lt;br /&gt;Runespoor eggs, skin, skulls, tongue&lt;br /&gt;Sage &lt;br /&gt;Salamander eyes, skin, whole&lt;br /&gt;Scarab beetle &lt;br /&gt;Scurvy grass &lt;br /&gt;Shrivelfig&lt;br /&gt;Slug, horns, whole&lt;br /&gt;Snake (various) skin, tongue, eyes, fangs&lt;br /&gt;Sneezewort&lt;br /&gt;Spider (various) legs, fangs, horn, rattle&lt;br /&gt;St. Joseph Beans &lt;br /&gt;Star Anise &lt;br /&gt;Tubeworms&lt;br /&gt;Unicorn horn, hair, hoof&lt;br /&gt;Valerian &lt;br /&gt;Wolfsbane&lt;br /&gt;Wormwood&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a name="cutid2"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Available cauldrons&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Iron&lt;br /&gt;Pewter&lt;br /&gt;Silver&lt;br /&gt;Gold&lt;br /&gt;Crystal&lt;br /&gt;Shell&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a name="cutid3"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Available tools&lt;br /&gt;Ladels&lt;br /&gt;Knives (steel, silver, iron, gold, bone)&lt;br /&gt;Beakers&lt;br /&gt;Jars&lt;br /&gt;Brass scales&lt;br /&gt;Dragonhide gloves&lt;br /&gt;Aprons&lt;br /&gt;Self-lighting cauldron stands&lt;br /&gt;Measuring spoons and cups&lt;br /&gt;Mortar &amp; Pestle (wood, marble)</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy:61160</id>
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    <title>Months and Months ago</title>
    <published>2008-07-13T23:16:39Z</published>
    <updated>2008-07-13T23:16:39Z</updated>
    <category term="irc log"/>
    <content type="html">An IRC log of an event that happened quite a long time ago. Done for kicks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a name="cutid1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "By my sainted aunt, Some, you could have warned me!" Snape was in a cave. Snape was in a very deep, very dark cave in which there was no light. Which was good. Because Snape was naked.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Don't laugh, don't laugh, don't laugh.  Some lets himself down from the ceiling before his own Gruification wears off, winding briefly around Snape before giving him his distance.  "These things aren't exact, you know."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; This produces the most interesting sort of "WAUK!" from Snape, who is in no way used to being wound around, and especially not in pitch blackness. "Well they sodding well should be." He just said 'well' twice. "It is incredibly dark in here." Snape has been in some very dark places. The Dungeons of Hogwarts. The middle of the night in various forests. He's even been in caves. None of them were this dark.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Of course it's dark.  They're more than a mile down.  The air tastes of stone and water, and Some is laughing softly.  "Give me a moment.  When it wears off me, I'll find you a light.  You're in a a clear spot; there's a rock to your left if you want to sit down."  He busses against Snape's shoulder, nudging him that way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Being bussed by a thing with two mouths and more eyes than Argos is one of the strangest things Snape has ever felt, which, coupled with being in the darkest place he has ever been, is enough to send him flailing in the direction of the rock. Fortunately his hands hit it first, or he would be blind, nude and bruised, and when you're an Englishman that means you have to kill yourself. "How will you find me a light?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Because we're ba-"  The transformation back to his own half-status catches him mid-sentence, his voice cracking quite spectacularly as he goes from two throats to one.  "... back in the old City."  There, now they're both nude in the perfect dark.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "The abandoned city of a race of beings who are so allergic to sunlight that an LED does lethal damage. I fail somehow to find comfort in this news."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "A city where I happen to bring friends on field trips."  Some's hand brushes across his shoulders as he crosses the cavern, finding something to rummage in.  "After the time with the centipedes, I brought down... ahah."  And with a click, there's light.  It's dim, a warm golden glow from a hemisphere in Some's hands, but in darkness like this, that's more than enough.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some keeps on touching him out of nowhere. Snape supposes it's meant to be a comforting sort of 'here I am' tactic. Snape supposes that it is somewhat effective. And then there is light, but not very much. "Just enough light so that everyone can see you in the nuddie. I'm beginning to have grave concerns about your lesson plans." His tone lacks vitriol, however. Snape leans forward with his elbows on his knees.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some laughs, and comes back over to sit beside him on the rock, offering Snape the handlamp and mirroring his pose.  Having been himself, even for a few hours, is good for him, his face calm in the gilding light.  "I wouldn't turn my students into Grues.  Stones, that'd be a nightmare."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Some of them aren't far off already, if their eyes didn't glow." Snape takes the lamp and looks at it, and then mentally kicks himself for ruining his night vision. "Giant centipedes, you say?" Night vision might be important.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some grins at the compliment to Kurt.  "They've got more eyes than I do, they'll stay miles away from this.  And you'd hear them coming."  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Well that's something, then." There is an unplaceable tightness to Snape's voice. "I don't suppose you've hidden any spare clothes down here as well?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "...No, I'm afraid not.  Are you cold?"  Some's not.  The Grue is practically radiating heat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Bollocks. I do not seem to be able to summon my wand." Which is to say, yes he is cold, but that is at the bottom of his list of current priorities, if it is even on the list at all. "Thought we'd be back in time. It's rather a titchy spell to begin with, even when you're in the same room with the thing." He is naked, in he dark, holding the world's weakest torch, and there might be giant centipedes. Also, he's babbling. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; There are no giant centipedes.  That's what the torch is /for/.  "M'sorry about that, it's a big city.  We're actually on the college campus now..."  His tone's fond, as he looks up at the cavern around them.  "I spent years here."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Look, Snape has seen a lot of crazy monsters in his day and he is pretty darned sure that if a giant centipede really wants to come over here, a glo-stick in a globe isn't going to stop it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Interesting. You went to school for...accountancy, I recall."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Nope, cooking.  Accounting was just the job."  He lets his legs swing, bare feet scuffing.  "Cooking's sort of a starving artist job down here."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "How fortunate it is that we are naked, or one of us might produce a very small set of drums and play a rimshot, at which point I would shove a very small drumstick down your throat."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Snape thinks he's funny.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; So does Some.  Chuckleworthy, at least.  "I mean it.  Expensive ingredients, a lot of precise work, and a product that won't last more than a few hours."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "A product that every individual has a daily need for," Snape says flatly. "Although there is some sort of satisfying irony in the thought that such an excessively specific pallett would lead to a complete lack of culinary appreciation." &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some gives him a sideways look.  "Sir, down here, no one needs prepared food."  Common consensus, after all, prefers the hunt and live capture version of their two squares a day.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Precisely. It's an interesting new twist to my study of your people. So much of human history is shaped by food. Entire empires have been built on spice alone. Arguably, the need for stable food sources is the entire reason we evolved civilized society to begin with, and here you lot are, down in the dark, where only one thing matters."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Snape is also something of a gigantic nerd. He will talk endlessly if allowed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; On spice?  Really?  "Might be why we've never had empires."  He leans back, bracing himself on his elbows on the rock.  "I bet that you're the first human to ever study us."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Well I have been given to understand that 'study' is not what most humans do in close proximity to Grues." Some, you are naked. Stop lounging decoratively when an academic discussion is occurring.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some's good at decorative, and he's forgotten he's nude.  "Which is understandable, but it's still...  I'm grateful for it."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; British people should not be allowed into the wider world, for it soon becomes clear to them that either other people are insane, or they are. The second is clearly impossible and the first is impossibly depressing. "You don't have to be. It's a tribute to your race that in all these years not one of your prey species put two and two together enough to even beging making inquiries. You're a marvel of evolution."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; And living proof that the nexus is not a nice place, but that's beside the point.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "I don't mean I'm grateful on behalf of the Grues...  /I'm/ grateful."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "I should bloody well hope not. They'd kill the both of us if they found out, and then half of themselves for letting it happen." No, Snape doesn't have many friends, why do you ask? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "No, because I'm already dead, and you're-" Actually, that's very unflattering, and Some stops himself right there.  "The laws aren't /that/ bad, just strict."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; raises an eyebrow. He wants to know what he is now. "For a man who bases his magic off of words, I'd expect you to be more familiar with hyperbole. I'm what?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Chattle."  Better than 'livestock?'  Either way, Some pronounces the word with distaste, either way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "I should very much like to meet the Grue who makes the mistake of thinking that. Even should he come across me sitting naked in the pitch dark. I will burn him alive from the inside out if necessary." And out of pure spite, as well!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some laughs, the sound echoing.  "I know."  When he sits up again, his shoulder brushes Snape's.  "If there was a list, of humans who should not, at any cost, be underestimated, you'd be very near the top."  And this from a boy who's spent his whole adult life in the Nexus.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; does not move away. "/Very near/? I will remind you that Eiko can probably not make things explode through force of will alone."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; He grins at him, teeth flashing.  "Top three?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Just how smart /is/ teasing a naked wizard?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; glowers. One of them is Osborn he just knows it, but even saying the name would spoil his mood and likely change the tone of this...friendly conversation. Friendly naked conversation. What the hell. "So are A Most Inunderestimable Human and a Half Grue of Questionable Profession going to sit around without a thread between them all night or shall we be off?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some has the grace to look sheepish.  "Tried, before I got the lamp.  It'll come back."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "...Or we could walk, which I understand is good enough for most people." This is the bemused voice. Practically fond, if that was a word one could ascribe to Snape.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Blink.  "... Or we could walk."  Some pushes himself up, dusting himself off.  "My cave's a lot closer than the surface, and there's a PIN in there.  And clothes."  He offers Snape a hand.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; allows the hand. "That I will not have to walk in glory through the Sanctuary is the best news of all." And off they go!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;hats&gt; Off indeed.  Off into the twisty broken dark of the abandoned and decaying city.  "Would I do that to you?"&lt;br /&gt;* Hats is now known as Some&lt;br /&gt;&lt;snapple&gt; "If you thought for one second that you could get away with it, I have no doubt." &lt;br /&gt;* Snapple is now known as Snape&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; is positively offended, Snape. Don't step there, it's a pit. "Just because I have no regard for my own dignity..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Nyaugh. "You recognize that you have any? My word. Also, there are pits."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Yes, people lived here."  He slows down, looking back at Snape.  "I have some.  I try not to embarrass myself for nothing."  He pauses a moment, watching the other man.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Snape has one hand over his own dignity, the other out for balance, and has slowed considerably due to tapping the ground in front of him with a foot before taking every step. In the dark, he shows up as two sets of extremely skinny limbs, a fisbelly-pale, concave old-man torso, all topped by a nose the size of a sail. Dignity indeed. "Get back here with that light, then."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Sure-footed, Some comes back to him, keeping the light outside his own line of vision.  "There's a smoother tunnel, this way.  We're almost there."  His hand hovers by Snape's arm, but he refrains from taking it.  "This used to be a suburb.  These were homes."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; appreciates his restraint. "Vertical homes, yes. You must teach me to read your knot-books. I have a few theories to test against historical documents." This is possibly the strangest thing Snape has ever done while naked. Granted, it's a short list, but walking through what is effectively a ghost-town in a huge cave a mile below the surface with a man-eating monster, discussing the rise and fall of its society is going to be hard to top.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Don't forget the threat of giant centipedes.  "I'd love to.  I should find you some of the Epics.  They're works of art, really.  They'd look amazing in your library."  He steals a glance at Snape, but it's not his body he's looking at, it's his hands.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Oh he hasn't forgotten. Talk of libraries is nice, though, and gets the ghost of a smile. "I shall have to consider proper display and storage options. There are enough fools in the world who don't know what they're looking at when books are book-shaped as it is."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; 's hands are the only part of his body that he actually likes. Long-fingered and fine-boned, his skin there is the color of parchment (where it's not stained with whatever he's been getting up to lately) and textured with bone and vein and knuckle. They imply delicacy and strength, and if he is conceited about one physical thing, it's how good they look framed by his elaborate cuffs and buttons.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; He does not, however, think they look good without said cuffs, because then they're tainted with how ridiculous and repulsive the rest of him is.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; is imagining the way they'd look, tangled into the threads and beads of one of those epics, and he has quite suddenly and thoroughly distracted himself, enough that he has to catch himself quite suddenly to keep from falling over an edge he should have seen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; He is caught high on the arm and yanked back against Snape. "Merlin's balls! What -are- you on about?" From that angry hiss, you'd never know they were having a perfectly civil conversation not three seconds ago.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "What?"  Some stumbles back against him, and blushes furiously as he rights himself, turning his face away from the light.  To see better.  Yes.  "... Stones, that was close."  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Snape's skin is noticeably cool to the touch. "Watch your bloody step, you clumsy little toad. If I have to climb down one of these termite holes after you, you had better hope to whatever gods please you that you're dead by the time I get down there." Snape shoves him not entirely ungently ahead.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some's is warm, still.  Naked in a drafty cave, the Grue is warm.  "Since when am I a toad?"  But he does take more care, watching his feet more, &lt;s&gt;Snape's hands less&lt;/s&gt;, and picking their winding way towards a substantial rise in the cavern floor. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Yes, and Snape is now all the more cold for it. Was he just born that way or has he trained his body through years of wearing multiple layers of wool clothing? And there's Some, warm and fit, leading the way like a Greek tutor's dream. Must -everyone- in existence be better formed than Snape? Apparently, and it leaves him wallowing in sullen silence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; The body Some lives in was crafted by a Greek god, if it helps?  "... Careful, here.  We need to get into the tunnel over here, but the entry's half-caved in."  He holds the light high so Snape can see the ragged opening in the cave wall.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; It does NOT help, thank you. The god who crafted Snape must have thought that it was funny. "Hnn." This is a 'hnn' of 'let's get this overwith and we'll see how banged-up my feet and legs are by the end of it and if you've hidden a bottle of whiskey on the other end I shall give you a raise.'&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some does, in fact, keep very good spirits in his own cave, but they'll have to get there.  He hands the light to Snape before examining the gap carefully, and climbs the rubble carefully.  The gap at the top's more than big enough for a skinny man, but the rocks are a bit jagged, so he's going to be careful negotiating his way through.  "... I miss fur."  Ow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "All the limbs in Gruedom for a wand," comes the answering grumble. The light starts bobbing as Snape begins his climb.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Once he's through, Some moves to the edge of the opening, out of Snape's way but close enough to put his hand out to help him through.  "Keep your back low.  That rock above you has a nasty edge.  Next time, we'll figure out a good way to bring that with you."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Snape does not say 'next time?', but only because he is very busy very pointedly not saying anything, because he's sliced a gash in the back of his right shin and it hurts like anything but there's nothing for it but to keep going so let's go already.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Next time, because Some figures that if Snape's serious about being interested in the Grues, a little misadventure like this is nothing.  Well, maybe not nothing.  He shuts his eyes for a moment when the smell of blood hits the air, controlling his expression before he opens them again.  "It'll be easier going now.  We just need to follow this uphill."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Oh well that would be a comfort. As it is, Snape is NOT limping and NOT shivering, but he certainly IS glaring. Uphill it is.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Uphill!  Some stays at his side, but he's smart enough not to be solicitious.  This tunnel's old, better built than the suburb they came through, the floor worn smooth by who knows how many clawed feet and tread-footed machines.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; drops the light.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; scrambles to catch it, startled, and looks back at him.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; very pointedly does not look back. He also does not look so good. "How much further?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some gestures with the light, moving closer to Snape in case he has to catch him, next.  He didn't think the cut was that bad.  "Not too much.  Listen for water." They should be hearing it soon.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Neither did Snape, honestly, but he didn't actually look at it. "Quickly, then."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some does take hold of his arm, finally.  Snape is leaivng a blood trail.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; does not acknowledge this for a few moments beyond the fact that he is in fact leaning on Some. "I seem to have a shard of rock making its way through my foot."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; looks around for a moment, and guides Snape towards the wall. "Sit down. Let me look."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; There is an argument to be made about the dangers of not being able to get up again, but as Snape has tacitly given all control over this endeavour to Some already, he sits. There is indeed a rather large gash to the outside of the sole of his right foot which extends to the instep, as if someone had tried to slice his foot in half from below with a knife but not put a lot of effort into it. The blood is oozing rather than spurting,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; which is some comfort at least.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; presses gingerly, carefully, just to one side of the wound, to see if anything's still in there. "... I'm sorry for getting you down here, Sir."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; sucks in a breath, but makes no other complaint, and he responds with a determinedly calm voice. "Next time I'm bringing the wand."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; It's hard to tell, with all the blood, if the wound is clean.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; very carefully cleans it of what sand and gravelly bits he can see, long fingers gentle and precise, but he has no water, and nothing to wrap it with. "We're almost there, and when we get to my cave, I've got a kit."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; again makes no complaint, keeping his breathing as even as possible, though his leg jerks involuntarily as Some's fingers prope the wound. "Quickly, then." The worst part is that he has no doubt that it will be worse to walk on now. It always hurts worse once you acknowledge how bad it is.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; bites his lip as he stands up again, unconsciously licking his fingertips as he looks up the sloping tunnel. "Or I could go, get the kit and the PIN, and come back."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "It is never the mark of a good plan to bleed alone in a cave." Using his arms and his good leg, Snape pushes himself upright.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; steps close with a nod, not so much offering his shoulder as putting it under Snape's, arm around his waist. "Very true." Centipedes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; This is more physical contact than Snape allows 99% of the world even when he has got his thousand layers of clothing between him and them, but Snape is downright clammy now and his foot is doing its part in fulfilling his little prophecy by starting to throb even before he puts weight on it. Bugger this. Snape puts his arm on Some's shoulder and sets off at an ungainly hobble.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; sets a good pace, but it's not a punishing one, and he's strong enough to keep a good share of Snape's weight off the injured foot. "Shoes should have been a good clue that humans are cleverer than we let on."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Step-hop. Step-hop. Step-hop. "How the incandescent hell we survived thousands of years of evolution and ended up such awkward, delicate useless things I will never know." &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Streamlined.  Only two knees to scuff, only ten toes to stub.  Once you get used to the shape, it's a lot of fun."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Blind, clumsy, naked." Yeah, 'fun' is probably not a word Snape has ever so much as considered applying to his form. On the plus side, getting angry seems to be an excellent tactic in keeping him moving and motivated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "As a rule, I would -not- consider you clumsy."  Some is being very careful about the path he's choosing, mindful of Snape's feet.  And his own, now that he's weighed down.  They can begin to hear running water.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "There is an entire world of people who would disagree with you on the strongest terms, and with good reason. Please tell me that we are almost there." It's more a command than a request.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Pff.  Who would trust a clutz with potions' materials.  I've seen some of the stuff you do...  Yes, that's my river.  Just up around one more bend."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Potions is entirely different. They do not pass out awards for physical perfection in potions. They do not invite crowds and compose orchestras to potions." The river would be quite good just about now, Snape thinks, because then he could put his foot in it and it would stop hurting. ...Goodness, he's gone lightheaded. "I seem to be lightheaded."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Around the curve, one wall of the tunnel is caved in.  The river's there, a steady flow around the feet of huge boulders, fallen slabs of stone the size of tombstones.  "Here, sit down...  I think it's beautiful."  Says the chef.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "It's a nice cave indeed," comes the automated response. "Should I or should I not put my foot in the water?" &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "My cave's on the other side of the cave in."  He settles Snape on one of the bigger slabs.  "Go ahead.  Nothing lives in it this close to the source.  I don't even get fish."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Then it is certainly far nicer than this cavern. Which it would be impossible for it to be otherwise because honestly this cavern is an utter wreck. Explain your last sentence but one please." Jesus Christ and all the sainted aunts, Snape, could you BE more British?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Time to climb rocks.  You don't have to do this part, Snape, and be glad.  "My river's source is only about fifty yards upstream of my cave.  It's a portal to a dead world, near as I can tell.  Nothing alive has ever come through it, the water's really warm, and their sun never, ever sets."  Even here, the water's on the warm side of tepid, a comfortable temperature if they were going swimming.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Oh well that's positively swell, then. Lifeless river flowing from a dead and nightless planet, you say? I think I might have even have a wade-in."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; just said 'swell.' Please hurry.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; laughs, the sound echoing in the larger cave on the other side. Some rocks shift as he climbs down that side, and then a large one at water level grates loudly, and swings slowly against the slow current.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; clings to whatever it is he has been left clinging too, and tries not to let this sight make him dizzy. He does not want to throw up, you see. He also does not want to fall down. He -especially- does not want to throw up and then fall down, as he cannot at the present moment trust his aim on either count.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; slips out through the gap the boulder has newly left behind, and comes to prop Snape up again. "Just a short wade. There'll be light and it's warm and you're going to be all right." And stop BLEEDING man, you smell like food.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "...There is no way to your...residence that doesn't involve going throught that," he points at the river, "or over that," he points at the cave-in, "is there." Again, it's not really a question. Haze or not, a man likes to have his facts straight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; smiles sheepishly. "Why would a teleporter make an easy way in?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "I suppose one can only ask /so/ nicely." And with that cryptic remark, Snape steels himself and takes what would in other circumstances be not a small hop but a very brave step indeed into the river of death.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Enough with the death.  It's warm, and between the boulders, the bottom is sandstone with a shallow slope and etched ripples, easy footing.  And as soon as they're back through the boulder-door, Some looks up into the dark, and lights come up, a pale, pure white light emanating from crevices in the crenellated walls, and from points in the river itself.  Some's cavern home.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Let's be honest, Snape had been rather hoping for numbingly-cold water, as unreasonable as that would be considering Some's aversions. The sandstone isn't so bad, though, and he manages an honest step or two. However, the light will distract him enough to make him look up, at which point he will naturally trip.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some's already there, both arms going around his waist to keep him from falling.  "Almost..."  Up the black sand bank, and they're there.  Snape can sit while Some scrambles for supplies.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Some may find himself scrambling a bit faster than he'd expected to, as Snape's flailing, splashing body seems to suddenly repel Some like a magnet. Heedless of the pain in his foot, Snape practically runs out of the water and onto dry sand.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; A bit taken aback by that, Some lingers a moment to make sure that nothing new is wrong before he darts to the upstream end of the cave, where his camp-home is set up.  He's back quickly, draping a blanket around Snape's shoulders.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; takes the blanket and scrubs his hair and arms furiously. And no, he is not going to look at you, and no he is not going to explain what that little incident was about. He can, however, just about manage a "Thank you."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; brought the first aid kit too, and he sits down by Snape's feet to get a better look at the cut.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; sighs and seems to collapse and become some sort of strange creature that is 90% blanket, 5% nose and 5% spindly legs. The foot thing is allowed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; is careful, cleaning his wounds, still not having bothered with clothing himself. "Does anything else hurt?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "No," comes a murmur, and gradually the blanket becomes Snape again. "Save for my dignity, but eventually I will have tea." &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "I promised you whiskey," he reminds him, wrapping the foot with a bandage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Then my dignity is truly dead and should by all means be mourned properly."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Can whiskey be had with tea?  Have your dignity and drink it too?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "A capitol idea. I've been trying to bring Boat around to that sort of thinking for years. Ironic, a man named Boat being so wet." This is all delivered in a sort of monotone, mind, as Snape has closed his eyes and otherwise seems to be asleep.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; sits back on his heels in the sand for a moment, watching the other man.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Damn. Patience. A Snape's greatest weakness. Fine. But he doesn't have to open his eyes. "...This will likely come as a great shock, considering various aspects of my appearance which it has been the pleasure of so many to point out these many years, but I really rather dislike water."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Ah..."  A soft sound, more acknowledgement than anything else.  "I was worried it was me."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; This actually gets the eyes to open! Goodness. "Well it wasn't until you started talking nonsense."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; is now known as Snapplzzz&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; His expression is self-mocking layered over rueful, eyes narrowed to bare slits in the light.  "If you don't like water, why do you have a moat?"  Subtle avoidance of new topic, hooray!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Because there are few better ways to keep certain kinds of things in and out of a place where than a squid bigger than thought.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Except there are living trees in your world.  All the advantages of a squid, on dry land?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "There is an appreciable difference in the brainpower of a squid and that of a tree, Some."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "I don't know... No, wait, Pants is an octopus, not a squid."  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Really, if you are going to upbraid me for acting against my nature, you could bring up the sentient galleon. Merlin I was drugged to the gills for weeks, that flood. I gave Davey Jones's boat the power of speech, of all the utterly tit-headed things to do. These are not the acts of a sane man."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "I really try not to remember that flood.  I was undead for the duration, and hungry, so sane...  Not one to speak, really."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; attacked Eiko and Isis during that, and got flung through a wall.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "I don't know anyone who can say they had an honestly enjoyable experience with it."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; settles more comfortably in the sand. "The Nexus used to be more fun, I think. Or I'm getting old."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Or you are actually -paying attention-. Perhaps one day the rest of the mad nudists will follow suit." So to speak.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; looks down at himself. "I should get you back to your robes."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Thank you."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; pushes himself to his feet, and pads back across the sand to rummage in his things, stepping into a pair of soft black pants before pulling the PIN out of their pocket, and returning to offer Snape his arm again. "I am sorry about today. This isn't how I wanted it to go."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; holds the blanket securely around himself and accepts the help. "Nor I, but when I consider -where- we just were, a cut foot is getting off lightly."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name__some_thing' lj:user='_some_thing' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_some_thing'&gt;&lt;b&gt;_some_thing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; puts the coordinates in one-handed, his other arm around Snape again. "Next time, you bring your wand, and I'll bring my PIN..." He's a bit dejected. "I'd hoped we'd get as far as the University."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_slytherin_spy' lj:user='slytherin_spy' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;slytherin_spy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; "Next time, then..." And then they're away.</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy:60756</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/60756.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=60756"/>
    <title>Chatlog: Here we go again...</title>
    <published>2008-04-18T02:19:22Z</published>
    <updated>2008-04-18T02:19:22Z</updated>
    <content type="html">&lt;a name="cutid1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Njoki: [And so, Snape will get a short message:  Harkness missing.  Suspect Crane.  Have a plan, but could use help tracking.]&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: [An owl finds its way to wherever you guys are. Madness. 'Open the door to the roof.']&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki , in Cardiff, will be up on the roof with Ianto.  She's got a bowl filled with water, and a straight pin, some oil, a bit of hair, etc. in the bottom.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones stands alongside Njoki, trying not to look as restless as he obviously is, gloved hands shoved in the pockets of his overcoat.  It's cold, all right?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape arrives, on Murgatroyd. Thestral is helo. He goes off to find Myfanwy. Tremble, Cardiff. "Good evening. What is the situation?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Njoki: "The short version:  Crane said he was looking for Jack, Jack has gone off the map, and...okay, it's pretty nebulous at the moment, but he's not anywhere he ought to be."  Yes, yes, Harkness is a flake but not to this extent.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Harkness: (Myfanwy is still nesting in the roof of a church somewhere in Cardiff. Improbable baby get!?)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jones: "He's not answering his mobile," Ianto breaks in, "and that's not like him."  He's obviously jumping to the more concerned side of things here.  But given the past history of things that have happened to Jack, he's probably justified in it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: ((Holy shit. Yes.))&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Why in Merlin's name would Crane be looking for Harkness?" He has the jar here, however. Hair and even a small blood sample.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki is thankful for the blood.  That'll work so much better.  "Because Jack slept with Some?"  Who knows?  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif PINpoints in. "Someone call for the Shaft theme?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: There is a particular expression that mention of Jack's sex life produces in Snape. It is the most annoyed sort of resigned possible. "...Well that would certainly do it, yes."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jones: "It was a mistake," Ianto says, a little sharply, breath clouding the cold air.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Njoki: "Hey Grif, and yeah, the back-up'd be good."  Njoki sets the bowl down and puts her PINpoint on 'scan' -- you know, like a car radio.  "So, if I could have the supplies, this oughta work."&lt;br /&gt;Snape: Here here, take it. "What steps have you taken against fear gas?" &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones raises an eyebrow.  "No one said anything about fear gas."  He, obviously, just isn't familiar enough with denizens of the Nexus.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Grif: "You obviously haven't read the memos on Crane, then." Grif's got his happy fun filtered/sealed-environment armor.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "We are discussing Jonathan Crane, more famously known as the supervillain the Scarecrow, yes?" Snape gives Ianto a 'tsk' sort of look.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki will get to work.  Doot, doot, blood magic.  Jack's blood goes in the bowl and adds to the layers -- water, oil, Jack's blood, (ow), hers, and a needle on top.  It's going to start to slowly spin and help her pick out a PIN frequency.  "Yes, and that's why I called Grif."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jones: "I'm afraid I'm at a loss," Ianto admits, but obviously 'Ki has accounted for this!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Or, it could be why you called me. He provided Eiko, some time ago, with antidotes, back when a certain Mr. Plaine was at large. They are, I am assured, broadly effective."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Grif: "I've also got a stash of gas masks, somewhere in the base..." He doesn't seem to be in the process of leaving, so much as trying to remember something. "Okay, yeah, there they are. How many we gonna need?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "No reason not to be thorough. I suggest one for each of us."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki isn't paying attention to the gents.  She's busy sorting out where they're going to go -- thank goodness it's so easy to latch on to a universal constant.  ((In other words, whenever you're ready to PIN over to the library, they're good to go. ))&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Grif: "True." A green portal opens up, and he reaches into it to pull out a small case for each of the people present other than himself. Inside each case is what may seem like a gas mask, if given hundreds of years of development into being more compactly efficient and comfortable.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape also produces from his robes some...very advanced air injection capsules, actually, which he hands around. It takes him a moment of careful consideration before he figures out how to use his own.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones is part of the whole fear gas prevention club.  And mostly just impatient to be on with it.  "May we, then?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan 's brought Jack to an abandoned building somewhere in the middle of nowhere, in a room where the doors are all sealed shut, with a large one-sided window along one wall.  This is also where he brought Soze.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki is a little spacey when she talks, but she'll take the capsule and mask.  "This way.  Yeah.  I....he's at these numbers."  Off they go?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif lets people sort out their air plans, and meanwhile draws his pistols, making sure one's loaded with live rounds, the other with tranqs, and that he's clear on which one's which. "Ready."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Ready, if Mr. Jones will assent to include me in his jaunt." Snape and technology don't mix terribly well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones gives Snape a polite nod and offers his arm.  What?  He's a gentleman!  And so they can PINpoint out to the coordinates specified.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape cocks his eyebrow and gently grasps his upper arm.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Harkness: (( Horatio: ... that's my job, Mr. Jones. B| ))&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jones: (( Ianto:  Relax and go polish his cauldron or something.  :P ))&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Njoki: [And off they go!  With a *poit!* and a *narf!* our intrepid band of adventures is whisked away to a lovely abandoned building in the middle of nowhere.]&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones is hardly nauseated by the PINpoint this time, too much else to concern himself with.  The building doesn't look like anywhere Jack would be lurking about voluntarily.  Ianto checks his pockets for the stun gun's location, then draws his proper pistol.  Never hurts to be prepared.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape has his wand in his hand. He holds up his hand, signaling quiet, wanting to listen for a moment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif is pretty used to the teleport by now. He's got his pistols out, and one eye on the motion tracker in his helmet's display.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan 's little abandoned building is hidden, but not especially large.  The intruders might be able to hear him speaking, nearby.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki smoothly shifts into a shape that's considerably less human -- large, dark eyes and very bright teeth.  She can -smell- that Crane has been here.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif points. "I'm picking up motion and sound, in that direction."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape moves forward quickly, motioning 'Ki and Ianto to the back. Ianto is an unkown quantity and he knows very well that shifers are sensitive. "Yes, very good. Proceed. Your goal is to get Harkness out swiftly and safely. I will stun Crane.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Harkness is, by this time, well worn with screaming, throat too rough to make much more noise beyond ragged breathing and, when the hallucinations are quite bad, a choked sob. But that /is/ noise. (Hi, guys!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones draws in a breath to steady his nerves and wordlessly falls into step behind Snape.  He must admit he's probably the most vulnerable in this situation, and he takes orders reflexively, even silent ones.  Even so, it's not easy - he's impatient, anxious.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki nods and falls in line.  As long as there's someone else to lead this, she's perfectly happy to be a good, lil' follower.  (See Ianto?  This all relates back to their earlier conversation.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif will take point, then, moving towards the building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape is perfectly happy to let Grif be point man (and distraction), trusting that his armor can take anything Crane can throw at it, which should give him the opening he needs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif does, indeed, expect this to be the plan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan has no idea what's about to happen, right now.  He is so very happy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones has an itchy trigger finger and the desire to kick in a door.  Or someone's face.  Whichever works.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Harkness is the exact opposite of so very happy! ._.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif expects that happiness will last about until the point where Grif's boot kicks the door open. He's not really been much on Batman comics, but he'd expect that a huge orange-armored person bursting through the door can be just as shocking as a man dressed like a flying rodent.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan jumps when the door bursts open, and his first reaction, armor or not, is to flood the room with the toxin. His second is to rush toward Jack, with the intent of pinpointing him out of here.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki giggle-howls while she tries to navigate past Crane and spot Jack.  It's a very good thing that someone else had planned out how to deal with the toxin, don't you think?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Harkness is just as equally started by the loud crash of the door bursting open - it's even louder, distorted by the assault on his system by the gas, when it breaks apart in his head - and the streak of bright color.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape fires off a hex at Crane and, unthinking, a wild shove of magic to knock Harkness over. ...Hopefully he's not bolted to the floor or that could hurt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Harkness has the knocked over thing covered, actually. Being curled into a fetal position in a corner /does/ have its advantages, however embarrassing it might actually be in retrospect.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones breaks off in the opposite direction that Njoki moves in, obviously thinking that taking it from both sides is a more logical option, intent now on finding Jack, gun at the ready - just in case.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif shoots to discourage Jon's attempts to reach Jack while rushing forward to physically block the path between them. Njoki and Ianto can handle actually getting Jack free.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan manages to get out of the way of the hex, shedding a copious amount of straw in the process. He doesn't get to Harkness, nor is he tied down.  "I HAVE PERMISSION," he shouts, now that he can see who it is.  He is quite indignant.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape snarls and fires another binding hex at Crane. Honestly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Harkness makes a rather undignified sound, somewhere between a whimper and sob, and curls further into himself, hands over his ears to block out all the noise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki will meet with Ianto and hopefully get one of Grif's masks on Jack and PIN him out?  She won't eat Jon's face while there's company over.  :3&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones flicks the safety back on the gun and holsters it once Jack is within sight.  Permission to do /what/? he wants to demand, but won't be distracted from the most important part of the task, which is to get Jack out.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Harkness isn't going to willingly let something looming out of the Darkness put something over his mouth and nose, now let's think about this logically. But he really isn't in any condition to actively fight, no matter what sort of frantic struggle he tries to front.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif keeps himself between Jon and Jack, and now has his guns leveled pretty solidly on Jon. He'll shoot if he has to... but will limit himself to the tranq rounds unless absolutely necessary.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan is hit by the second hex on account of trying to avoid the line of fire on those guns, and immediately freezes, unmoving, except for a few more pieces of straw, which slowly flutter to the ground. Erk.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones kneels down alongside Jack, while trying to wrap his mind around what's going on.  He doesn't know, really, but he can put the bits and pieces he's been told together.  "Jack," he murmurs, brows knitting.  Is there a point in the mask now that he's already dosed with the gas?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki crouches on all fours by Jack and Ianto.  Hey, look, the PINpoint.  Let's get him out of here as soon as we can?  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "I have him, Griff." Snape looks around the rest of the room, just in case.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Grif: "We taking him anywhere, or we just going to leave him here while we take Jack?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Harkness makes a weak attempt at shifting away from Ianto and Njoki - he doesn't, can't, recognize either of them - only to be startled by his back hitting the wall. Being trapped sends him into a blind panic.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Grif: "And should I tranq him," -- he means Jack -- "or would that be a bad idea?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape walks around to look Crane in the eye. "We have no jail we can take him to...unless we alert the authorities on this world that there is a chemical terrorist squating in a shed in a cornfield. It's a viable option. But.." He reaches a hand out and very calmly and carefully plucks some of Crane's hair, "why inconvenience the uninvolved when we can track our friend anywhere he might go? And as for Harkness..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "I would not risk him with more chemicals. Magic, until he is safe at the clinics." He looks at 'Ki. Would you like to, or should he?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jones: "Don't," Ianto interjects, supposing he's the one most apt to be making the decision.  "He has enough chemicals pumping in his bloodstream right now."  Well, Snape said it better, but even still.  He wraps a firm hand around Jack's wrist and offers the other arm to 'Ki, PINpoint in hand.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Njoki can work a decent tracking spell and a couple of wards, but that's it when it comes to non-necromantic magic.   She'll take Ianto's hand and nod.  PINtime!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape will not be knocking Harkness out the quick and dirty way then?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape tugs Crane's mask off to get the hair. Pardon the mun's shaky details.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Harkness's violent, but weak, attempt at protesting being grabbed is verily cut off by the teleport.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jones is touchy on the matter of Jack getting knocked out, apparently.  And he's also prepared for overreaction on Jack's part.  But regardless - PINpointing away is had.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape turns back to Crane. "Griff, would you mind terribly having a look around? We should make sure there are no other surprises tucked away."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan doesn't have anything else in here, but his pockets are certainly loaded with evil drugs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif would've figured they were done, but Snape wouldn't ask without a reason, so he answers, reasonably, "Sure thing." He takes a quick moment to reload, then starts making a sweep of the building and environs, sensor suite active and looking.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape steps a few paces back from Crane and, as soon as Grif is out of the room, "Now. I am going to release you, and you are going to explain yourself. If you attempt to harm me in any way I will bind you again, and it will be far less comfortable." A flick of his wand, and Crane is free.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan slumps, almost toppling, when he's freed.  He won't look Snape in the fact, not after his mask has been taken, but he does try to grab something from his pocket. "I t-t... I told you, I h-have permission, he -let- me!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Keep your hands where I can see them, Crane," Snape says in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. "This being Harkness, I do believe you. I have full faith that, once he has calmed down, he will confirm that he came with you willingly and submitted to this willingly. However, this session is over, and I would suggest that you not pursue him again. You and I both know that issues of permission and just cause are not exactly written in stone, here."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "Let me put on my glasses," he says, and does put his hand in his pocket.  "You have no right to interfere in my business, and interrupt my work, when I have permission.  He -knows- what he did to me."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan still stutters, but anger makes his voice clearer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif continues his sweep, as he will probably continue to do until he either encounters something or he hears some noise of calling or commotion from the room where Jon and Snape are. (He's not eavesdropping, but his hearing, like most of the rest of him, is pretty heavily augmented.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Let us not discuss rights, Crane. Not where torture is involved. Not where guilty consciences and jealousy are involved. We are all walking away from this. Let us not sully ourselves."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan puts on his glasses. His hands drop to his sides. "N-no!  You most certainly can't do this to me. You can't treat me like this.  If you did this to -anyone else- in the Nexus, they'd go after you, and be justified in taking action to prevent you from interfering. This has nothing to do with you!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "I most certainly can, Crane. And perhaps they would, but I am sorry to inform you that this is not some personal vendetta or conspiracy to rob you of whatever vindication you think you will have from this. Harkness is my employee and I am under an obligation to keep him as such. In all honesty, the only reason I am here is because I do not and cannot trust you to stop short of killing him."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan clenches his fists. "He...he...no, listen. S-s-some..." Talking to Snape is -very difficult-, even in neutral circumstances. "You ruined it.  He understands!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "So it is true, then. Let me put it to you this way, Jonathan. If Some had been taken by Mr. Jones there, who is /married/ to Harkness, and tortured in some form of ritual penance, would Mr. Jones be dead by your hand at this time?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Ritual penance without your knowledge or consent, mind."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan squeezes his fists, more, nails biting into his palms. "Everything was very nearly -ruined- by him.  I can't let what happened before happen again, and he really does understand, I swear, he let me."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "And now Mr. Jones has taken him back, and that's the end of it. If you wish to argue the case to him, you may certainly do so, but his personal investment is far greater than mine, and you are more than likely to have your teeth smashed in."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan bows his head and looks at his palm to see if he cut it. "I'm to do nothing about it?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "I strongly suggest that as the wisest course. I can practically guarantee that your current protestations of permission are not going to mean much to others. He said you could, and you did. What more did you want out of this?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "I didn't break my agreement with the Nexus," he says, sullen.  "They'll say that I've broken my word.  Also, I wasn't finished, and I don't think that it was necessary to intrude and force me to stop."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "He was out of his mind with fear, Crane, what more is there? A man at that point will promise you anything you ask, but by the gods, this is the nexus. One cannot walk through the bloody place without being assaulted by some effect that changes your sex, warps your libido or makes you forget everyone you loved. What would such a promise be worth?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "He wasn't affected by anything.  Some was.  -He wasn't-.  I wanted to keep him here until I felt that everything had been evened out.  I can't fix anything.  I may as well take what I can have... evidently I'll be policed for -that-, so... nothing..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "So you have some sort of notched stick to measure when a situation is 'even'? Never mind, I do not care. Crane, you have not been -policed-. There is no such term in our lives anymore. You took someone, and you were not strong enough to keep him. If your personal belief that five more minutes with Harkness would somehow make up for the fact that your lover had sex with him, that is no one's affair but yours."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan bites his lip. "I know.  I wasn't strong enough. I try to fix things..."  He doesn't really expect Snape to understand any of this, but he also still thinks he's going to be punished, and maybe talking will prevent trouble.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "But your idea of 'fixed' only applies to -you-. Go home, Jonathan. This is over."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif hears that, and considers that as a possible prelude to departure. Just in case, though, as he heads back to the room, he activates his active camouflage, rendering him more or less invisible, and hangs back just outside the door.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "No, it doesn't just apply to me!  It doesn't matter how I'm trying to fix something!  It does not work!  There wasn't anything I could do to keep Isobel from leaving and there's nothing I can do to chage this, and it is -not- something that 'only applies to me'!  I don't even expect you to begin to understand.  -You- think I'm an idiot!  You don't even care."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape 's eyes narrow. "Well. If attacking Harkness for being around when Some got smacked with the buckle end of the nexus is the only way to -fix- this situation, then I certainly do wash my hands of the nexus as a whole."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "The only way to fix the situation is to make myself feel better about it.  Some just expects me to accept it, or -he- becomes upset.  I think I would feel better, if you hadn't stopped me."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Well. At least I haven't robbed you of a target for your ire. Crane, whatever you think would make you feel better, it would not change what happened, and it does not change the fact that it could easily happen again. Hate me for the bully I am, but don't pretend that what you were doing here was anything more than simian chest-thumping."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "Anything mor..."  He tries to look angry but mostly looks wounded.  "This is my -work-!  My -work- is not 'simian chest-thumping'!  Th-this is h-how I.. how... doesn't... matter, I know, it doesn't matter..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "How you...make yourself feel better?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "I can reach people..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape will wait for you to qualify that one, Crane. Go on.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "I can know exactly what they feel, and know that they are actually there.  That's not simian, or brutish, not any of those things..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "And what was it, that Harkness felt?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "Only the chemicals made him afraid.  He really wasn't afraid of me, and he did that for me."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "And that is not satisfaction enough?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "It -was-.  Then you and everyone else came here to stop me."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "How fleeting, satisfaction."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "N-no, I'd say it's a reasonable response to feel upset and angry at having something as significant as this interrupted."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Certainly. Especially when it proves yet again that simply because something is significant to you does not mean that other people are willing to risk their loved ones so that you can feel better about the fact that life is uncontrollable."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "I know how much of this it takes to kill a man.  I wasn't going to kill him."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Good. It makes no difference."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "Why not?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Because torture is torture, with or without the intent to kill."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "He gave me permission.  That makes the difference."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "He did not inform anyone of this, even his husband. Can you see what that implies?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "Evidently not."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snape: "Think on it, then. I will go see to Jones and Njoki, and ensure that no further action will be taken in the heat of the moment."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jonathan: "... B-but... don't..."  He sighs, and sits down next to his mask.  Fine, go, whatever.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape pauses for half a moment, then walks from the room. He looks neither left nor right once outside, but says "When you are ready, Private."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif quietly zips around a corner, shuts off the camo, and walks back normally. "All right, then."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Jonathan doesn't say anything, and fidgets with dust on the floor.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Snape does not acknowledge whether or not he noticed this, or noticed Grif listening in. Off they go?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* Grif nods, and PINs out.</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy:60604</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/60604.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=60604"/>
    <title>May your joys be as bright as the morning...</title>
    <published>2007-08-16T14:45:13Z</published>
    <updated>2007-08-16T14:47:15Z</updated>
    <content type="html">For the first time in ages, Severus awoke slowly, late in the morning. A man naturally given to strict habits and an early riser through years of life in a school, there was a moment of disorientation as he looked up at bed curtains not his own and saw the angle of light peeking in through them. There was a time when he would have had wand out and curtains open in an instinctive jerk, but this morning something felt too utterly right for paranoia. Snape found himself calm and merely a little confused.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then something brushed against his cheek. Hair? Red hair. Red hair that curled itself around his finger and oh sweet flowers of Elysium &lt;i&gt;Nadezhda&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stretching, Snape found himself a bit sore...and &lt;i&gt;smiled&lt;/i&gt;. The little tendril around his finger led to a coiling nest in which the pale oval of his wife's face lay. It was, to him, a sight that had filled and defined him and would do so all his days.</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy:60300</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/60300.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=60300"/>
    <title>slytherin_spy @ 2007-08-04T13:46:00</title>
    <published>2007-08-04T17:54:58Z</published>
    <updated>2007-08-04T17:54:58Z</updated>
    <content type="html">((Just in case, I've backed this journal up with LJbook.))&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;center&gt; &lt;a href="http://www.ljbook.com/"&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.ljbook.com/ljbook.jpg" border="0" alt="LJBook"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Turns your journal into a PDF Book.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ljbook.com/"&gt;LJBook&lt;/a&gt; (&lt;img src="http://www.ljbook.com/community.gif" border="0" alt=""&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.livejournal.com/community/gads_ljbook"&gt;gads_ljbook&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/center&gt;</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy:60148</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/60148.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=60148"/>
    <title>slytherin_spy @ 2007-08-02T21:04:00</title>
    <published>2007-08-03T01:07:04Z</published>
    <updated>2007-08-03T01:09:04Z</updated>
    <content type="html">While taking advantage of the &lt;a href="http://community.livejournal.com/paidmembers/20403.html"&gt;3-day extension on paid accounts offer&lt;/a&gt;, a fact was brought to my attention.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;font size="5"&gt;&lt;b&gt;This journal is paid through 2009.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Merlin's tits, I love you guys.</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy:59682</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/59682.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=59682"/>
    <title>Meme</title>
    <published>2007-07-08T22:22:35Z</published>
    <updated>2007-07-08T22:25:03Z</updated>
    <category term="meme"/>
    <content type="html">What are you afraid to say, unless it's anonymous? Say it here. It could be something you're afraid to say to me, to an employer, to a friend or loved one. Perhaps it is something you're afraid to say about your world or the nexus. Perhaps it is a secret you've been keeping. Say it here.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;((IP logging and anonymous screening are off. If you are going to say something OOC anonymously, do so in brackets. Meme taken from &lt;span class='ljuser  ljuser-name_osborn_journals' lj:user='osborn_journals' style='white-space: nowrap;'&gt;&lt;a href='http://osborn-journals.livejournal.com/profile'&gt;&lt;img src='http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif' alt='[info]' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href='http://osborn-journals.livejournal.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;osborn_journals&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;))</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy:59634</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/59634.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=59634"/>
    <title>Thank you.</title>
    <published>2007-06-30T01:19:57Z</published>
    <updated>2007-06-30T01:19:57Z</updated>
    <category term="sev/dez"/>
    <content type="html">Throughout days so vexing I could walk from this house and never return, and in defiance of the endless winds of change and chaos that erode even the most basic laws of man and nature, &lt;a href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/58652033/"&gt;you are there&lt;/a&gt;, always, when I close my eyes.</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:slytherin_spy:59201</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/59201.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="http://slytherin-spy.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=59201"/>
    <title>((OOC - HA!))</title>
    <published>2007-06-07T13:19:58Z</published>
    <updated>2007-06-07T17:17:58Z</updated>
    <category term="meme"/>
    <content type="html">S. Snape,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We regret to inform you that your responses indicate you will not be suitable for Metahuman Law Enforcement.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your case has been referred to the Department of Metahuman Affairs, Corrections Division.  We recommend you hold your position within a one mile radius preceding pickup.  Federal tracers have been dispatched to your location.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We recommend you refrain from exercising any superpowers you may have developed or acquired.  Please do not attempt to depart the planet, dimension, or timeline.  Please do not  radiate outside federally designated frequences.  Be advised that juvenile offenders can be tried as adults when metahuman phenomena are involved.   Be advised that%%%^%^% SIGNAL INTERRUPTED s;dfja;sdf ATTEMPTING TRAC&amp;^&amp;^%^^%*^&amp;%&lt;br /&gt;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&lt;br /&gt;*(&amp;^%(^&amp;%(^&amp;%(&amp;*%(&amp;*%(*&amp; MALNET CARRIER ENGAGED STAND BY&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;%(^&amp;%(^&amp;%(^&amp;%(^&amp;%(T&amp;^(&amp;^%^^%*^&amp;%&lt;br /&gt;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;*&lt;br /&gt;(&amp;^%(^&amp;%(^&amp;%(&amp;*%(&amp;*%(*&amp;^%^^%*^&amp;%&lt;br /&gt;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;*&lt;br /&gt;(&amp;^%(^&amp;%(^&amp;%(&amp;*%(&amp;*%(*&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So. They didn't take you. Say bye-bye to Damsel, Corefire, and the rest of the&lt;br /&gt;Champions club.  Welcome to the rest of the world.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's okay.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can do something, can't you?  Something no one else can.  Something they don't like.  Maybe you built it in your garage. Maybe you leared it at the dojo. Maybe you just woke up on a bright summer morning with something dark inside you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We've been there.  We know about this.  You're strange.  You're a little&lt;br /&gt;crooked.  That's okay.  We like that.  There's a lot of us out here.  Welcome to the other side.  The supervillains.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And we won't tell you what to do with your superpowers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-Doctor Impossible&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a name="cutid1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div style="text-align:center; margin: 20px; width: 300px; float:left;"&gt; &lt;p style="margin:0; padding:0; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;a href="http://sooniwillbeinvincible.com/maps/activitymap.php"&gt; check the Metahuman Activity Map &lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;div style="background-image: url(http://sooniwillbeinvincible.com/SuspectCard.png); width: 300px; height: 189px;"&gt; &lt;h2 style="padding-top: 100px; color:#000066;"&gt; S. Snape &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;p style="margin:0; padding:0; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;a href="http://sooniwillbeinvincible.com/"&gt; SoonIWillBeInvincible.com &lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</content>
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