video ][ desert city

[plaide]

I haven't had attendance matter this much in quite awhile. Perhaps those of you familiar with me might do some checking in?

And any of you that have attended class and might be able to copy some runes, I wouldn't mind your assistance. This safe wall looks ominously un-so. I think a little fortification is necessary.

Comments

[charring]

I'm here.

[plaide]

A comforting thought, Charlie. How are you faring?

[charring]

I've been better. Made it to the safe zone with a few friends but I might have to go back out again, soon. And it sort of sucks because past my pyrokinesis, I'm unarmed.

[plaide]

Tell me: how hot does your fire get?

[charring]

Outside of the City? Twenty thousand degrees. Inside, it's halved. But still pretty hot.

[plaide]

If you would meet me outside the barrier a moment? It won't take very long.

[action:]

[charring]

Be there in a few.

[She's there a few minutes later. Sunburnt but otherwise alright. And she has water bottles, holding one out to McGonagall in case she wants it.] Hello, professor.

[action:]

[plaide]

[ Minerva takes the bottle gratefully, and it disappears to tuck away somewhere inside her robes -- which are rather dirtier than she's used to. ]

Charlie, do you know how glass is made?

[ Okay, she can't exactly hide her smirk at this point. Dealing with sand in all its small particles is difficult, though not impossible. A few flicks of her wand, and a mass of it forms before them, swirling and waiting to be made anew. ]

[action:]

[charring]

With the proper application of heat to sand, to put it as simply as possible. And it's funny you should mention it. A friend of mine and I were going to see what we could do with the sand with lightning and fire. [That smirk has her attention and she has one of her own. She's not entirely certain what McGonagall is planning but Charlie is very interested, especially when the sand starts swirling nearby.]

Should I? [She tilts her head towards the mini sandstorm, one eyebrow raising slightly. While she normally doesn't want to do this sort of thing without some form of a controlled environment, Charlie trusts Minerva completely.] This might be an odd request but do you think while I heat that up you can shape it into a sword or something? It'd be useful.

[action:]

[plaide]

[ Without another word, the sand becomes dense and begins to mold into the shape of a 't' a safer distance away from the two of them. ]

We're well enough away from anyone to cause harm. I'm very interested to see if this works, you know. Managing so many smaller pieces is a challenge for me in some ways -- a little teamwork couldn't hurt.

Re: [action:]

[charring]

[Charlie nods once, agreeing. Teamwork is most certainly idea in this situation. She turns her attention to the 't' floating nearby, focusing her pyrokinesis. Her skin glows slightly as she concentrates, heating the sand formation gradually until she finds a point where the sand starts to melt and fuse and change and she can control it. This was new territory for her; She didn't want to overdo it and cause a problem for anyone or even create any flaws in the sword.

After a short while, there's just a few more pushes of her ability and as far as she can tell, it's finished.]

Cool.

[action:]

[plaide]

[ This is the once instance Minerva will not question that exclamation, and simply silently agree. She sustains it in mid-air for a few minutes longer, before its red glow seems to grow just a bit brighter before rapidly disappearing. ]

You can take it, now. I've put a few hexes on it for you. It will respond to your fire signature alone, and heat without open flame at your command. Warn others from touching it, it will burn them.

[ She can't help but look a little self-satisfied, here. ]

Might I suggest finding a handsome scabbard for it?

Re: [action:]

[charring]

Absolutely. Definitely. No clue where to get one but it will happen. And thank you.

[Charlie reaches for the sword. Her sword. Wow. What a thought. Once in hand, she gives it a few practice swings, grinning from ear to ear.] This is definitely going to be useful in many situations. And again, thanks. If there's anything I can do for you, ever. Let me know.

[dudeimbatman]

What sort of fortification we talking?

[plaide]

Runes. Perhaps a few sand soldiers of our own, as guards.

[dudeimbatman]

Sand Soliders? You can do that? You're not going to like kill chickens for their still beating hearts or anything, right?

[plaide]

Excuse me?

[dudeimbatman]

You know. Witch shit. Chicken hearts and burning sage.

[He is NOT going say witches are whores to McGonagall but he'll kind of go with it.]

[plaide]

Are you attempting to make it difficult for me to want to help you on purpose, Mr. Winchester?

[dudeimbatman]

Huh? [Yes that look on his face is pure surprise. He has no idea.]

[plaide]

Precisely. Unless you have any other offensive remarks to make to me, I would like to get back to doing legitimate work, thank you.

[dudeimbatman]

[Dean still isn't sure what he said. For a second he thinks maybe he actually said 'witches are whores' out loud. He rolls his eyes up a bit while he reviews the words he did actually say. Nope. Those were inside thoughts. Huh.]

Uh...Yes ma'am.

[intheblanks]

Can you defend against more than sand creatures, Professor?

[plaide]

I suppose I'd need more information on what I may be defending against, doctor.

[intheblanks]

Sand. I need a clean working space.

[plaide]

Ah. I'm sure I can manage some way to help. Where might you be located?

[intheblanks]

We've taken the ground floor of the central building.

video → action

[plaide]

I will arrive shortly.

action;
[ It's with a small pop that Minerva arrives near to the building -- she takes a moment to survey it before heading inside. The robes Minerva sports are lightened at the bottoms with sand and wear and tear that she hasn't spared a moment to fix and as they sweep with her motions, sand scatters here and there. ]

It's good to see you in person, Doctor Chase.

→ action

[intheblanks]

[The robes look perhaps less odd in these surroundings than they would have in the city. How Bedoin, Professor, and better suited to the desert than the wrecked button down shirt Chase is still wearing. Surely first impressions can be put aside for now.

He looks tired - exhausted - but pleased to see her.]

Sorry to take you away from your runes, Professor. Have you tracked down all your absentees?

→ action

[plaide]

That's quite all right, I've recruited a few displaced residents to aid in their drawing.

[ Asking after her people makes Minerva's expression fall just enough for her to catch and put on her best line face. ]

A student has replied. The rest are rather industrious, however. I worry more for the creatures roaming about out there. But that's enough for what we cannot control, why don't we see about tidying things up here?

[ She wastes no time; Minerva's wand comes up to chest level, and with a few flicks, the sand on the ground begins to move together in rivers that wind around the makeshift beds, equipment tables and the people milling about. Another, more elegant wave, and it begins to pour out of the nooks and crannies up toward what ceiling may be left. Impossible streams of sand line the floor, the walls and the ceiling in a rush to find its escape through any open window, door; it even rides out through unused and dry pipes. ]

[whattingawhat]

Not a rune sort of girl but definitely pro rune and fortification-y.

[plaide]

I simply need a few people to help draw them; I can fortify all at once, and speed the process.

[whattingawhat]

If you've got pictures, I can trace.

[plaide]

Oh, I'm sure we might manage something.

[ Before them, Minerva produces a thin piece of parchment, and with her wand, creates a few different runes on it; large enough and simple enough that Buffy should be able to work with them. ]

Here you are, Miss Summers.

[whattingawhat]

[Buffy gawps a little. Sure she's seen magic but this is a different sort of magic. In any case, she takes the parchment, looks it over and nods.]

I'll go over there and...just draw them in the sand? Or have you got a sharpie I should use?

[plaide]

[ Oh, Muggles. She's found them rather endearing of late, those that weren't completely irritating. Buffy seems open-minded and eager to help, however, and so Minerva can hardly hold back her smile. ]

Right in the sand should do. They must only last long enough for me to bring them to life, and then their protection will last so long as we are here.

[whattingawhat]

[Buffy is fond of saying that if she were any more open minded, her brain would fall out. She nods in response to Minerva's instructions.]

Okay, I can do that then. [She starts over toward the wall where Minerva wants to runes drawn.] They'll let us pass, right? Once they're activated.

[aperfectthird]

I'm here, Professor, and I'm willing to help however I can.

[plaide]

Another comfort, Mr. Weasley. Would you be so kind as to assist me in activating a few protection symbols once they've been drawn?

[aperfectthird]

Gladly. I don't know what's in store for us, but I highly doubt it's anything pleasant.

[plaide]

No, I can't imagine any sort of favor being shone upon us. Fortunately, we are experienced at survival during difficult times.

[aperfectthird]

Thank Merlin.

Where are you, Professor?

[boutant]

If you're volunteering to do some fortifications, I can get you a list of everything that needs it.

[ The list is more or less "everything", but she can go into detail. ]

[plaide]

That might be rather useful. What would you suggest we start with?

[boutant]

The ground, first of all. Everything needs a good foundation, and I'm not convinced sandworms aren't going to try and burrow in, which I don't think anyone wants.

[signatures]

Fortification in what manner?

[plaide]

I hardly suppose we could stop sand from entering, but a bit of protection from the hungry creatures out there can't hurt.

[signatures]

Sharp sticks? A moat?

I'm a fan of mine fields, personally.