Pit of Slugs
 

For Kinsay and Ariana <3333
 

The Pit of Slugs was something Evan was interested in finding, even if only for the sole purpose of knowing where it was so he never found himself unsuspectingly in it. Though as he came upon it, he noticed despite the dim lighting it would be rather had to miss the staircase and the drop into the pile of green wiggling goo. Or maybe it was only hard to miss because he was actively looking for it, but either way. He found it and felt very much no longer at risk by it.

But... well then he noticed a stairwell at the end of the corridor on the other side from the slugs. He.. wasn't sure where that would take him if was able to get to, but the curiosity within the Ravenclaw certainly was urging him to try to find out. But he also didn't want to climb into the pit because frankly... slugs were weird. And gross. And he didn't very much fancy taking a bath in them.

Maybe there was a spell he could use somehow? A giant plank he could acquire to use as a way to walk across? Something on the walls? He wasn't sure how booby trapped Hogwarts might be but.. it was worth a shot to check the walls. So he did, pressing himself reaaaaaally close against one side and feeling along it for any grooves or handles or something that would be an easier way across. "Where are you?"

hi friiiend !
 

Kinsay James came prepared.

This, in context, meant that she was wearing the ultimate slug-catching outfit. A big raincoat was an absolute must, so she wore her favorite yellow one. Wellington boots were also a necessity, so she was sporting ones covered in polka dots. On her head, she wore a yellow bucket hat made of the same material as her coat. And to pull the ensemble together, she wore a huge pair of chunky goggles over her head - she'd pull them over her eyes later, of course.

Oh. And she also carried a big net. She had found one nestled in the corner of the boathouse and when she had spotted it, she knew exactly what she'd use it for. Hopefully Professor Williamson wouldn't mind because Kinsay hadn't bothered to ask. Sometimes it was best to beg for forgiveness and if she were to pull this off, then it'd be worth it. Even if she maybe got into trouble for borrowing the net. Even then.

So someone please put her on the cover of Witch Weekly Magazine because This. Was. A. Look.

Also a look? Whatever Evan was doing.

Kiz paused as she came across the scene, tilting her head to the side and watching quietly for a moment or two, just to see what he was trying to do. She didn't plan on announcing her presence just yet, but then he spoke and things got even curiouser - Kinsay couldn't help herself. "Where is who?"

Well, it seemed like it was becoming obvious at this point that there was not some type of level or handle in the wall that could be used to secretly pull and just… walk across the pit. It seemed more like he was going to have to walk through if he wanted to know about that staircase. And that idea was… entirely unappealing.

Although… he had not yet checked the opposite wall. So he decided to give that a try and was about to when he heard a voice. And nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned to see…. Uhm. Well.

Who was he looking at? He was distracted by all the yellow. Was it a Hufflepuff? Just showing a weird sense of house pride for… unknown reasons? Except as he looked closer, and even took a small shuffle step forward, he blinked noticing it was Kinsay James. But… why? “... Is it raining outside?” Nope. Still weird. She was down here in the dungeons and not outside. And even if she was coming in from outside she was a Gryffindor so uh.. Wouldn’t she be headed to the Gryffindor tower? “... Or is it raining inside somewhere?” It seemed a silly question, but he was learning with Hogwarts sometimes the silly question was not that far from the realm of possibility.

But uh, yes. She’d asked him a question. Which he had no not embarrassing answer for but given circumstances he felt fine sharing anyways. “I was hoping there was some type of secret level to be able to cross the pit. I was… askingitwhereitwas.”

Now seemed like a good time to pull her goggles over her eyes, if only so that her hat could stay in place properly. The hat wasn't all that necessary to be honest, it just helped her feel a little more put together - and with the way the weather had been the past few days, it's not like she had much of an opportunity to wear it otherwise.

Even though it was a little big on her. Even then. Kinz adjusted it so that it wasn't drooping over her face so much, before looking up at Evan in a questioning sort of way. Bushy brows furrowed together and everything. "No." Kinsay kind of wished it was raining though. It'd be proper fun to jump around in puddles after she caught some slugs; she was already dressed for the occasion and everything! "Why would it be raining inside?" Was Evan okay?

Clearly not.

"... Oh." So he was talking to himself. Did he do that a lot? "I don't think there is though, you have to cross the old fashioned way." Hence, outfit.

She looked like some kind of yellow rain monster, especially once she’d pulled the goggles down over her eyes. Why.. did she even need those? Were they prescription? Did they make prescription goggles? That seemed like a strange market. But then again, his opinion was full rain suits themselves were a strange market that apparently people did purchase from.

Example K.

Oh. So.. it wasn’t raining outside. And it wasn’t raining inside. Which… left more questions than it answered. “I just.. Assumed there was rain somewhere.” Pointed look at her current attire. “Besides, it’s Hogwarts, that can’t be an uncommon thing can it?” Maybe the enchanted ceiling in the great hall? Could magic glitch, similar to a video game? If it could, his first instinct would be the ceiling which would be much preferable to any of the protective charms.

He was fully aware he looked like a nutter. But sometimes genius could come from insanity, so why not lean into it. Besides, he had thought he was alone. “But… the pit looks so gross. I was hoping there was some type of easier way.” That didn’t involve getting in. “What are you doing down here?”

The goggles were to shield her eyes from the goo, obviously. She would have pointed out as much had Evan asked her about them. For the time being, however, maybe it wasn't a bad thing to be thought of as a yellow rain monster. That actually sounded kind of cool - not that Kinsay really fancied being a monster of any kind. She preferred dinosaurs.

"Oh," this was a very strange assumption, but Kinsay didn't want him to feel silly about it so she pretended it wasn't entirely unlikely. "Maybe not, but only if someone's spell goes real wonky. I don't think it'd rain inside otherwise." Unless someone was trying to pull a prank? She'd have to remember not to share that idea with any of Hogwarts' residence pranksters. Kizzy liked the rain plenty, but not when she was carrying around books and papers inside. Unexpected rain was the worst kind.

"It's not that gross! I promise." Even the pinky kind, if he wanted, though she wasn't sure that'd be necessary. As for what she was doing here? Kinsay thought it was obvious, but maybe Evan was still a little out of it. "I'm here to catch slugs." Hence the net! It was a really big net. Maybe too big a net. But. There weren't many to choose from.

"........."

Wait.

"..... Oh no." Her enthusiasm faded VERY quickly as the realization dawned upon her. "I forgot a bucket."

Realistically he had known it was a peculiar assumption to have come to but… it was the best his mind was able to come up with that would make sense. Although perhaps Kinsay just also had an odd fashion sense? If wearing what she was made her happy he should probably just be less judgy. After all, didn’t Lisa wear her pink rain gumboots EVERYWHERE? Maybe this whole ensemble was just Kinsay’s pink rainboots.

Metaphorically.

“It seems anything is possible at Hogwarts.” Anything at all. “I wonder if there is a spell to create rain… Aguamenti seems more like a water hose type of situation but like.. Actually weather spells? That would be cool.” Was there a wizarding meteorology course where they could learn how to change the weather at will? He’d sign up for that elective. But then again… maybe he wouldn’t want a course like that until university and NOT while stuck at boarding school with people who might want to use that spell for evil.

Like ruining his homework.

… He eyed her again when she mentioned it wasn’t that gross, looking at the pit again and then back to her. “... Really?” He was skeptical. Very much so. And then he was CONFUSED at her next words, and couldn’t stop the amount of BLINKING happening at her. Did she say… catch…. Slugs? “But why????” What did one do with slugs? Was she putting them in someone’s bed? Was Kinsay one of the Hogwarts pranksters???

“Couldn’t you use your hat?” They did sometimes call those bucket hats did they not?? Close enough!

Kinsay didn't have enough experience with Hogwarts to be certain that this was the case, but she nodded in agreement anyway. She had heard stories from her parents and from her gran and from Uncle Mo and Aunt Sophie and her siblings and--Okay, maybe she did know enough to be certain. "I bet there are!" A rain spell didn't seem out of the question, especially since Kinsay already knew there was a sunlight spell. "And if there isn't one yet, you could probably invent it." Evan was a Ravenclaw. They were smart! He could probably do it if he put his mind to it. Kinsay could probably do it too (maybe), but she wasn't all that interested.

So.

She was WAY more interested in the totally Not That Gross swamp, despite Evan's skepticism and confusion. "My friend Lewis lost his pet frog," she explained. "So I'm going to get him new pets!" She had thought to catch him a new frog, but they were hard to come by. Plus, slugs wouldn't be able to run away soooooooo they'd probably make a lot better pet for Lewis, who was known to lose his.

Except.

Without a bucket, it'd be really hard to catch slugs for Lewis. So when Evan suggested she used her hat, Kinsay paused thoughtfully. "Um." She didn't really fancy keeping slugs in her hat. "Well.... I guess I could..." The sacrifices she made for friendship. Honestly. With a biiiiiig sigh (for the drama), she took her hat off and carefully placed it NEXT to the slug pit... As if it wouldn't get all sluggy in a moment anyway. "Want to help me catch some?" He looked like he could use a distraction. Kizzy was good at those.