I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.

[nomanleftbehind]

He’s standing there before the ‘gate, waiting for the other shoe to drop (because you can never trust a bad guy, much less damn snake), and right on cue, the ground starts to tremble. That’s the first sign. It’s not so obvious at first, and Jack thinks he might just be imagining it, but as he turns around, dust starts falling from the ceiling and

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[nomanleftbehind]

“Yeah?” Jack says. “I call it keeping my options open.” McCoy’s right though - to a certain extent. But still, there’s a line that needs to be toed between hope and despair. Can’t hope too much because then you’re damned anyways, willing to sit there and wait for the rescue that’ll never come, but you can’t lie down and just take it like a beaten dog either. Fine line, and he’s had to walk the tightrope more than once, and what’s more - he’s good at walking it. Because the key is: no matter how utterly screwed you are and no matter how much you think someone’ll come to the rescue, you help yourself. Get yourself out there, keep your head above water, and for Christ’s sake, keep swimming for land. Don't just float there and paddle and wait for something to happen, because, in the end, miracles aren't just a matter of Providence but a combination of luck and perseverance. Jack learned this a long time ago.

And there are too many folks out there who just throw in the towel without even trying. Jack’s not going to until he gets a few punches in. “You’ve only been here a few hours. Cheer up,” Jack says. “I’ve been in worse situation before.” And he has. He blinks and for a second he’s back in Ba’al’s prison, waiting to die again.

He shakes the past out of his mind. “Look, let’s cut the crap. I’m not trying to start a fight with you here,” he says. “Just tell me everything you know about this place." I'll listen this time is left unsaid. "You said something about angels and demons earlier. What's that about?"

[allivegotleft]

McCoy learned a long time ago that if you keep hoping, you'll wind up disappointed anyway. It's how his life has always worked. And after the - complicated death of his father he decided just walking is better than leaping and crashing back down.

"I've been in worse situations before too," McCoy says with a smirk. He's not actually sure if that's true yet. This could certainly get worse.

"I've told you everything I know," McCoy says, letting his guard down a little. He loosens up and the tension drains from his voice. Mostly. "The guy who explained things to me wasn't very thorough. He said something in passing about angels and demons and supernatural humans, but nothing more. I'm actually heading over to the library to investigate this shit for myself. I have experience with plenty of other species but I've never heard of honest-to-God angels and demons before."

He shakes his head, disbelief clear on his face.

"But I should bring you to the Kashtta first. It's a place people with shit luck like us can stay for free. Supposedly it's safe. And people there could tell you more than I can."

[nomanleftbehind]

Jack snorts at McCoy’s remark but doesn’t care to elaborate or to ask for elaboration. He can tell from the set of the guy’s shoulders that some of the tension is draining out already, and that’s good; no need to alienate the guy again. There’s still a bit of guardedness in the way he’s speaking - some tightness to how he’s holding himself - but hey, what can you do? Daniel was always better at the meet-and-greet than him. Hell, Teal’c, Carter, and Jonas probably could’ve managed better, but they’re not here now, so he’ll have to deal. Whoop-de-do. At least the outright hostility is toned down now.

At the mention of the Kashtta (that's the second time McCoy's offered to bring him there, he notes), Jack nods, makes a sweeping motion with his arms, and tilts his head in an ironic half-bow. “Sure, take me to your leader,” he says. He’s smiling this time. It’s a little forced, but at least he’s making the pretense of being friendly this time around. "How far away is it?"

[allivegotleft]

McCoy would laugh at the idea of alienating him. It's been done before, and literally.

He smirks at Jack's display.

"It's not too far of a walk this way," McCoy says, pointing back the way he was walking. "And speaking of leaders, I'm not sure who's actually in charge of it. But everyone you come across is pretty helpful. Overly friendly, even." He shakes his head, as though friendly people are some kind of disgrace. "Somebody'll be able to fill you in on all the questions I can't and help you to a room."

[nomanleftbehind]

“Ah, I know exactly what you’re talking about,” Jack says with a shake of his head and a dry quirk of the lips. “Those friendly people. You just can’t trust ‘em.” He’s joking, of course. Kind of. There was that disaster with the Aschen last year (in his universe, anyways), which just goes to show that you can never be too careful with strangers. It might all just be a ruse to take over the planet.

He peers in the direction where McCoy is pointing in the hopes of maybe catching a glimpse of this tower, but of course, all he sees is a line of squeaky, shiny skyscrapers towering into the clouds, any one of which could be the place McCoy’s talking about. “I don’t suppose you can give me any more specific directions?”