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[ornithologist]

Mark the floor as you leave down the path, and then mark it again as you exit to the next junction.

[ Technically he'd just said this, but Harold is going to be extremely specific. ]

[cactusy]

Done.

[ornithologist]

Keep going, marking entrances and exits, and let me know when you come back to a path you've marked before.

[cactusy]

Roger.

This is gonna take forever.

[ornithologist]

I didn't say it would be fast. But it is mathematically guaranteed to work in finding an exit.

[cactusy]

Okay - I'll let you know when we cross over our own path. If you don't hear from me in three days, assume I starved to death.

[ornithologist]

[ With a tone of mild offense, ] I certainly wouldn't wait three days to send in backup, Ms. Shaw.

[ They haven't worked together long by his reckoning, but Harold takes her entirely seriously as someone in his employ, even beyond his usual care for peoples' lives. If he needs to, he's prepared to ask Castiel for assistance. It seems like the kind of thing an angel should be able to handle if he's out there reading minds. ]

[cactusy]

It's a joke, Finch; those existed in 2013, right?

[ornithologist]

I decline to believe I've become callous enough in the next two years to joke about starving to death in underground catacombs.

[cactusy]

Nope, that's still all me.

[ornithologist]

Of course, [ he sighs. ]

Please check in at least hourly or I will start asking contacts for assistance.

[cactusy]

[Luckily, it doesn't take quite that long, though it's enough walking that Shaw is glad she's not in heels!]

Okay, Finch. What's next?

[ornithologist]

[ That it doesn't take her that long to follow up is a good sign for the length of the catacombs. Harold, of course, answers promptly. ]

Make a second mark where you just came out of -- traditionally an X -- and double back. The X means you won't turn down this route again.

When you return to the last intersection, pick an unmarked route if possible, and one with a single mark if not.

[ Yes, this could take a long time. But it is foolproof. ]

[cactusy]

How the hell does this place not have a real map.

[grumble grumble grumble GRUMBLE]

By the way, I'm bringing a friend home from school.

[ornithologist]

[ He assumes she isn't looking for a real answer to the grumbling, which means he instead says blandly, ]

Doesn't that imply you've made a friend in the first place?

[cactusy]

Okay, fine; I'm bringing a guy I just met back to the library from the catacombs.

[If you really want the ACTUAL WORDS instead of the punchy euphemisms.]

[ornithologist]

[ A pause. Oh, she's really serious. ]

Who would that be?

[ In the deeply regrettable absence of his usual information-gathering methods, he's been trying to familiarize himself with everyone here on at least a basic level, so Harold might know them already. ]

[cactusy]

A guy named Carver. He's looking for something to do.

[ornithologist]

Ah. Mr. Carver.

[ Another pause. ]

I'm willing to speak with him. He's agreed not to commit violence in the library.

[cactusy]

That's generous; even I've never committed to that promise.

[ornithologist]

[ With maximum dryness: ]

I should say, he's agreed not to commit violence in the library against me.

[ Not a promise he ever felt he needed to get from Shaw. ]

[cactusy]

Guess that's why he still has all his limbs.

[ornithologist]

Oh, please, [ he grumbles. He would hardly want John to take off anyone's limbs for him.

But he recognizes when someone is teasing him and says crisply, ] Let me know if you require further assistance, Ms. Shaw.

[cactusy]

Copy that.