Umbridge High School Building, Saturday Evening

[nomutineer.livejournal.com]

There were some clouds hanging around the spires of Umbridge High School, but not enough; there was an overlaying sense that there shouldn't be as much sunlight shining down on it as there was.

It was quiet. Kind of. There was tension in the air, a wound-up strung-up thing that ensnared the school. Somehow it seemed as if even the birds didn't want to touch down on the building itself, and the gates seemed to fold into themselves, even if they weren't quite shut.

And all that on a weekend, too.

[[ wait for the ocd up! ]]

Comments

The Library - Aftermath

[nomutineer.livejournal.com]

After the library is secured.

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[auroryaustralis.livejournal.com]

Rory had set up a little mini-camp behind the circulation desk. She'd emptied her backpack of their supplies, laying out the food and water rations she'd brought, and had immediately set to seeing what resources she had available to her.

There were the books, of course. She didn't know exactly what to look for, but it wasn't going to hurt. And as she headed back from the stacks and set her books back down, she pulled her phone from her pocket, seeking out Kitty's number.

We're in.

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[willbevengeance.livejournal.com]

Once everything was settled with the entrance and defenders, Bruce started barking orders. "We need to start moving these tables to block the door! See if there's anything we can do to secure the other windows! I want to limit all entrance to the library to the window we came in through. We can control the flow of people through that."

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[auroryaustralis.livejournal.com]

"I've got duct tape!" Rory called out, brandishing several rolls from her backpack. "For...sealing the windows, I guess? We can break stuff and tape it over?"

The important thing was that she'd brought it, right?

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[willbevengeance.livejournal.com]

"Give me a couple of those," Bruce said. Not to be pushy or anything.

"Good planning. This place will be locked up tight."

Because if you ever wanted to secure something, just give Bruce Wayne some duct tape and be amazed.

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[auroryaustralis.livejournal.com]

She would forgive a lapse in manners, considering the circumstances. Rory tossed over a couple rolls of the tape. "I had a hunch," she said dryly.

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[whatafuture.livejournal.com]

Well, there were more than a few broken bookshelves. With a nod in Bruce's direction, William grabbed some of Rory's duct tape and got to work using the shelves to seal off the windows.

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[world-enchanted.livejournal.com]

A few hours later, Tara made her way to the library. She tried not to look at any signs of bloodshed as she fumbled to the front desk.

"Has anyone gone into S-special collections yet?" she asked. "If Umbridge left ... anything, it should be there."

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[doesntbetray.livejournal.com]

"Or even if not, there might at least be insight on her power source," Alec supplied from where he'd been examining his Sensor not far from her. "Which will eventually become an issue."

You know. Eventually.

"Do you know how to get in?"

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[world-enchanted.livejournal.com]

Tara shook her head. "I've never been, but ... I figured maybe the people who were already here would know?"

Hopefully?

"All I know is, people say it's where everything with real power gets locked up."

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[doesntbetray.livejournal.com]

"And 'real power' is one thing our headmistress can't pass up," Alec finished. "If she's protecting a power source, chances are it's in there."

...Hey, he tried.

"Well, I've got nowhere else to be right now..."

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[willbevengeance.livejournal.com]

"Not yet," Bruce answered, making his way over after putting the finishing touches on his duct tape security. "We needed to finish up securing the place and hopefully get some backup before going in there. The former's done. Are you the backup?"

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[world-enchanted.livejournal.com]

"We're" -- Tara glanced to Alec for support. "We both use magic?" she tried. "So, um ... I guess that makes us the back-up."

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[willbevengeance.livejournal.com]

"Good enough for me," Bruce said. "In that case, we should be ready to do whatever needs to be done. You mentioned Special Collections?"

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[doesntbetray.livejournal.com]

"If there's intel to be found on Umbridge, it'll probably be there," Alec interjected. "Or if she's protecting something. It's worth a look?"

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[willbevengeance.livejournal.com]

"We have a former library aide who's been in there a number of times in the past," Bruce said. "Do you have any specific ideas what you'd be looking for, or just seeing if anything sticks out at you?"

He didn't have an issue with either method. He was just trying to judge likely success.

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[world-enchanted.livejournal.com]

"Anything that mentions her would be first," Tara nodded. "Then ... is there a 'defeat a crazy powerful witch' section back in there?"

She glanced to Rory as she spoke, doubting the answer would be yes but hoping it would anyhow.

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[auroryaustralis.livejournal.com]

"Not that I know of, but weirder things have happened in there," Rory offered with a small smile. "We can duck in and out pretty quick - I have a good idea of where she'd have gone, too."

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[doesntbetray.livejournal.com]

Alec nodded and stood up, pocketing his Sensor. "Then let's go," he said decisively. Then paused. "Is this the kind of place that we should warn people we're going into, just in case?"

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[willbevengeance.livejournal.com]

Bruce turned to the rest of the group. "We're going into Special Collections. Ender's in charge! I expect this place to still be ours when I get back."

Turning back to Alec and Tara, he said, "They've been warned. Let's go."

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[world-enchanted.livejournal.com]

"What are you going to do if something bad happens?" Tara wondered softly, though she was already heading toward the doors marked Special Collections.

She supposed she should have been nervous, but three years under Umbridge had left her with very little fear about anything that might make thinsg change.

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[auroryaustralis.livejournal.com]

Rory, who had quietly grabbed her gun, shrugged as she led the way. "Let's try not to think about that," she suggested. "Everyone stay on your toes. We might not run into anything, but we shouldn't be caught unawares."

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[gameinprogress.livejournal.com]

Well. That had been...

Ender didn't really have the time to think about it, he realized. He took his shaking nerves and coated them with as much iron as he could, then started shoving heavy objects around. A bookcase here, a desk there...

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[willbevengeance.livejournal.com]

"When you're done with that, grab some duct tape and lock down any air vents you see. I don't want anyone trying anything too clever to get in here," Bruce said.

While Ender was the one directly affected, Bruce wasn't happy. That kind of thing wasn't supposed to happen on a mission he was leading. If Ender was busy, that gave Bruce more time to cool off and not have an outburst.

Re: The Library - Aftermath

[gameinprogress.livejournal.com]

"I've already got it covered," Ender said, "Don't worry about it."

He didn't see any reason to undercut or disobey Bruce's orders when they were perfectly sensible - and when taking orders helped him keep his mind focused on things that weren't the litany of justamurdererjustamurdererjustamurderer in his head.