Signs of Civilization

[reclusivecaster]

Characters: Tara Maclay, Methos
Rating: PG
Time Period: Modern
Location: About two miles away from the castle, initially.
Relative Date: Most recent day in the modern setting, afternoon-ish.
Status: Complete

Comments

[oldmanmethos]

Methos had found a place to sleep the night before, away from the castle, and left his duffel there when he'd headed out to explore some more this morning. He'd seen the messages on the cell phone he'd picked up in the helicopter, but he'd avoided answering them, not recognizing any of the names or voices. It appeared that Amanda wasn't here, despite the claim of the note that had brought him here.

He heard the helicopter, but didn't see it, and grimaced as he headed for where it sounded like it had landed. Not that he had plans to try to leave, not without at least some of the items in his duffel, but there was probably yet another person here, and he wanted to see who.

"Hello," he called softly when he saw the young woman walking towards the castle.

[reclusivecaster]

Tara whirled around and saw a dark-haired man with what struck her as a strange and ancient aura. Her first reaction was to grab her cross, but the fact that he was standing outside in broad daylight told her that he was no vampire. Nonetheless, the blonde stood warily and did not approach.

"H-h-hello?" she answered, silently cursing her stutter and hoping she didn't sound as frightened as she thought she did.

[oldmanmethos]

Methos gave her a friendly smile, keeping his distance for now, noticing the automatic snatch for something around her neck, he thought he'd seen a cross before her hand closed around it, as well as the wary expression. "Sorry to startle you. I'm Adam Pierson, and you are?"

[reclusivecaster]

Tara tilted her head curiously at the man that introduced himself as Adam. She still couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't quite what he seemed, but he seemed friendly enough, and she returned his smile with a cautious one of her own. Surely having someone with her in this strange and silent place was better than being alone.

"T-Tara," she said by way of introduction. "Tara Rayne."

"Do you... h-have any idea where we are?" she asked, shifting from one foot to another, self-conscious the fact that she probably looked completely lost and helpless in front of a stranger.

[oldmanmethos]

"Other than in the middle of nowhere, somewhere near a castle that appears rather bereft of staff, not the slightest idea." Methos shrugged, his smile sliding into an apologetic grimace as he ducked his head slightly, as if embarrassed by his lack of knowledge, before looking back up again, and meeting her gaze.

"It's certainly not like any castle in the historical record, not that I've read about, and you'd expect one in as good a condition as this one to be at least a little famous." Not like any castle he knew of, past or present, and that bothered him more than he allowed to show through his scholar's facade. "Though it'll be nice to be the first historian to get a look at this place. Might have a chance to show up some of my colleagues at Oxford."

[reclusivecaster]

Tara let out a small laugh in spite of herself. Mysterious aura or not, she appreciated someone who could be funny in situations like these. The blonde witch guessed that he was someone who prided himself on his knowledge. In a way, he was strangely familiar.

"Well, someone had to h-have known about the castle if it's there," Tara contributed, "my p-pilot wasn't very keen on talking though..." she trailed off and looked down at the toes of her boots, feeling a bit stupid at stating the obvious.

"Y-you're a historian?" she asked, genuinely interested. It didn't seem as if he was the one who sent her the ticket, but he had to have been here for a reason. Did he also get here on that helicopter? Was he in search of the same person as she was? Tara thought fleetingly that perhaps it would be wise for them to head to the castle together. She'd seen enough in just the few months that she remembered to be extremely wary of unfamiliar surroundings.

[oldmanmethos]

"Historian and linguist, actually. Half my sources aren't written in English." Methos gave her another cheerful smile. "I'll allow that my area of expertise is earlier than when castles like this were being built, so if it's an obscure place, I'll not have noticed it. It's a pity, though. It really is in excellent condition, what I've seen of the castle so far."

[reclusivecaster]

He had definitely piqued Tara's curiosity. "You've been inside the castle?" she asked, taking a couple of steps toward him. "I w-was just headed there myself, f-for lack of anywhere better to be." She smiled self-consciously. The blonde witch gave Adam a hesitant look, wondering how much he knew, and how much it was wise for her to ask.

Then again, she didn't exactly have many options, and the confusion she's felt ever since she got here had been eating away at her usual reservations.

"Um, so, what are you doing here if you didn't already know about the castle?" Tara blushed slightly. "If you don't m-mind me asking of course."

[oldmanmethos]

"A friend of mine said she had found something interesting." Methos gave her a wry smile, but didn't move, letting her come closer when she was comfortable. "I've yet to see her, though, and I'm beginning to suspect she's not actually here. Not that I'm complaining about being here, it's certainly the distraction the note promised."

"What drew you here, Ms. Rayne?" he asked after a momentary silence, keeping his tone light but curious. A scholar trying to be polite, but forever trying to learn more - a familiar and useful mask over the centuries.

[reclusivecaster]

Tara thought about what Adam had just told her, and noticed a similarity between their stories. Both of them had received notes promising some sort of knowledge, and both note-writers seemed to be making themselves conspicuously scarce. Tara thought that perhaps his friend had also given her her ticket, but it seemed unlikely that a scholar's associate would choose the back of a sex shop as a meeting place.

Then again, stranger things have happened.

The blonde witch fidgeted when she realized she was being asked a question. She wasn't entirely sure that she wanted to entrust Adam with that kind of information. "I got a note too," she answered vaguely, "there was something important someone w-wanted me to know, but I haven't s-seen them yet either. Is there anyone else around that you've seen? M-maybe someone who lives in that castle?"

[oldmanmethos]

"I've met a couple of people, seen others, but no one who appears to live here." Methos shrugged, unconcerned at his lack of actually meeting people. "None of them seem to have met up with whoever asked them to come here, at least, those that I've talked to. I didn't really have a chance to talk much to anyone yet." More, he hadn't made the chance to talk to others yet, not much.

[reclusivecaster]

Tara's feeling of unease grew as she looked briefly at the castle.

"Maybe the s-same person invited all of us for some reason th-they're not telling us," she said honestly, "I'm not sure I like that."

Still, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't interested in what all this was about. The blonde gestured with her head toward the castle. "I think I'm going to go take a look inside. D-do you want to walk?"

[oldmanmethos]

"That someone's gathering all sorts under false pretenses is actually rather disturbing." Methos frowned a moment, before giving Tara a bit of a smile when she asked if wanted to walk. "I would be delighted to walk with you, Ms. Rayne. It's always more enjoyable, and safer, to explore with company."

[reclusivecaster]

Tara gave Adam a small, lopsided smile as they headed toward the castle.

"Do you do a lot of e-exploring then?" she asked, hoping to find out more about him, "S-since you're a historian and a linguist, you've probably seen some i-interesting places?" The blonde witch liked hearing stories about other people's lives. In a way, it made her feel less like she had no memories of her own, but it also made her wonder what she'd remember if she did. She kept this thought to herself though, and looked at Adam with an expression of friendly interest.

[oldmanmethos]

"I've traveled quite a bit, yes. All over the world, really." Methos smiled wistfully for a brief moment. "Sometimes it's not the places you see, but the people you see them with, that really make them memorable. Watching the sun come up, lighting up the Acropolis or the pyramids at Giza..." He shook his head, taking a deep breath as he gave her a broad, brief grin.

"But I'm sure that sounds like a cliche to you, I'm sorry. Interesting really does depend on the person, though." And interesting wasn't always a good thing, but he wasn't going to share those interesting stories with Tara. Or, in all likelihood, anyone else here

[reclusivecaster]

Tara couldn't help but smile at Adam's comment, even though she couldn't exactly relate to the experience. For some reason, she was surprised that he was a romantic, and idly wondered if there had ever been anyone she wanted to see the sunrise with. She had a feeling there was, and it bothered her that she didn't remember.

The blonde witch listened raptly as he told her of his travels in Egypt. She had only heard of one of the many sources he mentioned in a documentary on Egypt she'd watched a couple weeks ago. For his age, the scholar seemed to be extremely knowledgeable and well traveled - then again, Tara had known her father too well to assume anything.

"That's... amazing," she said, appreciatively. "You're actually m-making me want to go there."