shatterverse | (no subject)

Current Location: NY Subway Shelter

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Stupid lack of girl scout training.

And cell phone charging. Because Jessica's phone is now a useless square of metal and plastic. Which means fire is the only means of getting light right now. Which means she needs to figure out how to MAKE one.

And rubbing two sticks together does not work the way it does on cartoons.

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"Clever," Sirius says approvingly, and points his wand at the garbage can, flicking his wrist and conjuring a good-sized ball of fire, which is soon burning merrily in the confines of the trash can.

"Evans and I were talking about figuring some sort of magical underground lighting system."

YAY FIRE YAY.

"Evans... that other girl?" Hmm... "Probably better further in, so the plants don't see it. Like, down in the tunnels. Hope the third rail's off..."

"We were thinking of a portable, handheld version. Like our wands, but stuff you lot can use."

"Like a flashlight?"

That would be good.

"Rather. Though maybe something you can use with your hands still free, if you need to. Evans said something about miner's caps?"

She nods with approbation. "Even better." Evans sounds like a person with a good head on her shoulders.

"I kind of wish I'd gotten more into science class, now... There's got to be something we could do with batteries or something. Hey, have you been in the tunnels much?"

"Not much. I'm still trying to adjust to the fact that I don't have to do my Astronomy homework anymore. Why?"

"If we're going to be stuck here, it'd be good to get an idea what they're like- what's blocked off and everything. If we have the light, it'd be safer to travel underground. Long as there aren't creepy giant scorpion things or something."

She saw Cloverfield. She knows what's up.

"Good idea," Sirius agrees. "And if there are creepy giant scorpion things, I'll protect you!"

Such a Gryffindor.

...

She manages not to laugh. It's just so action hero. But then, 1) she's definitely the one here most in need of protection, and 2) it's... nice.

"Thanks." There's not much of a smile, but there's warmth in the voice, at least.

"No problem. Magic's useful like that. And on the off chance that we run across something magic won't take down..."

And now, there is Padfoot.

Who's pretty darn huge, really.

....that is a big dog.

"gyeep."

Sirius turns back hurriedly. "It's still me, when I do that," he reassures her. "My mind and all. So you don't have to be afraid, 'cause I won't ever hurt you."

"....yeah..." OK, this is embarrassing.

"I'm all right. Kind of took me by surprise. Is all." >_>;

"I... get kind of freaked out by big animals." BECAUSE THEY WANT TO EAT YOU IN ONE GULP.

Sirius is privately classifying Jessica as a Hufflepuff. RIGHT NOW.

"I'll keep that in mind." Sirius manages not to make it sound condescending as you'd expect it to. "Lily doesn't do that, for what it's worth."

Yellow is her favorite color!

(Also she would probably end up there just on the basis of not belonging in any other house.)

"Okay. Good to know. Different class assignments, or what?"

"Uhm."

Sirius gives her a smile that's about halfway between sheepish and smug.

"More like, Lily's not the kind of person to do illegal and dangerous things."

"...turning into a big dog is illegal and dangerous?" Weird, yes, but...

"Can you get stuck or something?"

"Becoming an Animagus - meaning a wizard who can turn into an animal - isn't so much illegal as...well, it's supposed to be regulated by the government, and it's a long training process and all that rot, because yeah, you can get stuck halfway between human and animal, or trapped entirely in the animal's body....or have the animal's mind in your body....it's not cool. But, uh, I'm self-taught and the government hasn't got the least notion I've done it, so. Very illegal."

"Oh." Pff. "Hey, long as you're not, like, eating toddlers or something, right?"

Jessica has, perhaps, not as much respect for the law as she should.

"I have never even considered eating a toddler," Sirius assures her. "Also I had the most altruistic of motives. See, a mate of mine is...well, he's a werewolf. And when he's got other animals around he doesn't go crazy and hurt himself. Ergo, Animagus."

....

.....

"Either you're pulling my chain, or you guys have the most complicated lives outside of daytime TV."

"I guess we do have pretty complicated lives," Sirius agrees. "Especially what with the war and all."

He pauses, and the blood drains slowly from his face.

"...bloody Hell. They probably think we've been killed. Or worse. Bloody Hell."

D:

"....yeah."

Um.

Awkward shoulder patting.

"There's this asshole who's killing people who don't come from magical families," Sirius explains, wearily. "Like Evans. And my family...well, most of them are on the other side of things. And Merlin only knows what the people back home are thinking, now."