Don't stand so close to me...

[full_metal_ox]

One of dochermes's anonymice helpfully supplies context for a lurid old paperback cover:

"Now Ms. Brown, you know a professor and a student in this position is highly improper. And do not think this will cause me to not fail you

Comments

[elenbarathi]

Aliens shouldn't come here; this is an extremely dangerous planet, and not just because of all the dihydrogen monoxide.

I always figured it was the Ruby Slippers that actually caused the Wicked Witch to melt. Otherwise, how could she eat or drink or breathe? There's dihydrogen monoxide in everything.

[dornbeast]

Consuming broken souls and shattered dreams?

[elenbarathi]

Possibly, but that's an even better argument for the magic item rather than the physical agent being what caused her the harm. It's like when Merry stabbed the Lord of the Nazgul in the back of the knee: "No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will."

Even if one doesn't eat, drink or breathe, the air is full of dihydrogen monoxide vapor. Maybe that's what caused the Wicked Witch's unfortunate complexion. On the other hand, she may just have been through some botched beauty-procedure in the Emerald City.

[dornbeast]

Was it just water in that bucket, or was it soap and water? It's been a long time since I read the book.

[elenbarathi]

Hmm, I don't remember either.

[pukku]

I'm pretty sure it had to be soapy water. If for no other reason than that Patricia Wrede makes fun of it in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.