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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[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?”