Fighting a fire with your bare hands

[lowestbough]

~ Out on the street in one of London's most grime-coated districts, no muggle is any the wiser as two figures materialise out of thin air back in an alleyway. They're small, practically children, but white lifeless masks are the only things visible in the shadows, the rest of their bodies are engulfed in black robes that move like smoke and could

Comments

[jrisamadhatter]

*Barty would crumple if it weren't for Reg's grip, he's slightly broken, a rib here a fracture there - he gulps in air almost feverishly - like a starving man would a hamburger*

[lowestbough]

*Regulus' pale eyes look out at Barty from behind his mask, not waiting for him to say anything or thinking of what to say himself, just watching*

[jrisamadhatter]

*after a moment Barty violently tears off his mask, his breathing still erratic even as the obstacle is removed, he attempts to stumble onwards, a scowl beginning to twist his features as his thoughts catch up to the events at hand*

[lowestbough]

*he steps back to let Barty pass him, watching to see if he'll fall before slowly reaching up to take off his own mask and stowing it in a pocket before heading after Barty, staying close but in no hurry to catch up*

[jrisamadhatter]

*Barty has no idea where he is, and while he has a good guess of how he came to be here, he doesn't look back to confirm it - his stride isn't so much a stride as a pained limp, though he manages to continue walking, heading no where in particular, he says nothing*

[lowestbough]

*they reach the lip of the alley together, Regulus hanging slightly behind by Barty's shoulder, he doesn't know where they are either but he follows Barty down a broken sidewalk, giving a homeless man curled up under a blanket as wide a berth as he can as he does*

[jrisamadhatter]

*Barty cradles a shattered wrist, finally beginning to wobble rather ominously, his path becoming a loopy zig-zag, a city block away a dingy hotel comes into view - it's no Hogwarts, but Barty is definitely in no fit state to return to school tonight - physically or mentally, he vaguely makes towards it*

[lowestbough]

*Regulus steps off the curb, making to cross the street, but pivots around when Barty makes no move to follow him this way*

[jrisamadhatter]

*Barty trudges onwards dismally, his expression not the least bit hospitable*

[lowestbough]

*watches over his shoulder for a few metres, making sure they're not being followed by anyone, when Barty reaches the door to the hotel Regulus looks forward again, and from his expression it doesn't look like he approves*

[jrisamadhatter]

*Barty doesn't note his disapproval, or Reg at all really, he stumbles into the main lobby, which smells strongly of fish, as the clerk at the desk looks up - completely unsurprised by their strange attire and manner - name it and he's seen far stranger*

[lowestbough]

*Barty, as usual, didn't bother closing the door behind him but Reg doesn't follow him inside, he stays half hidden in the doorway, staring at Barty's back silently telling him to come back out again*

[jrisamadhatter]

*whether Barty's using muggle or wizarding fare isn't clear from Reg's standpoint - he may as well be pushing leprechaun gold at the poor clerk, whatever he offers, however, seems to be more than sufficient and the ragged man behind the desk is all too happy to hand Barty a grungy room key*

[lowestbough]

*Regulus clears his throat from the doorway, his expression darkening into firm disapproval as the key exchanges hands*

[jrisamadhatter]

*without a word or a glance, Barty's smoke like robes disappear around the corner as he limps down a damp corridor past the reception desk and towards his room*

[lowestbough]

*stubbornly, Regulus stays where he is, watching the place Barty disappeared and where he'd better reappear - until he feels eyes on him and glances over to the man behind the counter who tells him out or in but close the door*