Methos chuckled, "I've got a limited number of tricks, not getting sick, healing very quickly, and not staying dead. Gimme a sec."
He leaned back, reaching into his hut for the stone knife he'd kept for himself. Once Methos had it he sat up again, holding knife and free hand where Jack could see them clearly. Methos cut his palm, hoping the other man would appreciate the show better than Christine Salzer had. The blood welled the same, and he wiped it away as quickly, "That's the easiest thing to show you. The rest is either more subtle or more painful to give a demonstration of."
He considered the question of how many Endless Ones he knew existed, "I know there are more than I've ever met. For a while Adam Pierson was part of a secret mortal organization that's been doing its best to keep track of our numbers for millennia. Someone who realized Gilgamesh was an Endless One started it. I didn't see all of their files so I don't know how many they've tracked. They found out I was an Endless in their midst and tossed me out."
Methos laughed at Jack's asking how he hadn't known he was human, "I thought we might be something like 'fully formed from the sand.' Every Endless I've ever met was raised as a foundling with no memory of their real parents. I thought we might be something like golems, more magical constructs than people. Learning we're born to human parents answers one question, but raises others. What happens to our families? Why are we alone so young?"
He smiled broadly as it occurred to the other man how many years of sex it all was, "I've mentioned Endless don't get sick, so far as I know we're sterile too. Perfect partners for anyone who happens to be looking for safe sex with no chance of a child. I've tried a lot of things at least once. Course that's just here on Earth. I haven't been an intergalactic traveler like some people have. I can do Yoda. Will you forgive me if I hope you'll look just as good at nine hundred?"
Some of Methos good humor evaporated with Jack's asking about if there were geriatric immortals, "I've never met someone who died of old age. I've seen people who died too young, but not too old. There's some speculation that if we get to a certain age without having already been killed we become suicidal. Most of my life though it hasn't require that much effort to be dead before you were geriatric. I certainly didn't die of old age. Natural disaster victim me."
Jack just sat there, listening to it all, until Adam was finished explaining what he could. It was a lot to process. He did pick up the comment about removing head from shoulders. Now that would be a real shame. They were a gorgeous set, that head and those shoulders.
Huh... that was one form of suicide Jack hadn't tried. His luck it wouldn't kill him. He'd just end up a disembodied head. A disembodied head able to just look and not touch. He shivered. Nope, NOT something to even contemplate. He'd likely just snap back. Like he did when he lost any other limb during or prior to death.
Jack did chuckle at the mention of looking as good at nine hundred years. But he didn't interrupt.
"How do you know how you died the first time? You said it was a blur, or was that just traumatic enough to stick with you no matter what?"
The mention of immortals who died too young made him think of a novel he once read by Anne Rice. It was a long, long time ago, it was interesting and sexy... but there was this kid, a little girl, stuck forever as a child. It had chilled him, and stuck with him. The thought of that sort of thing being real...
"Sterile as far as you know." Jack smirked. He'd heard that line before. He'd used it, as he'd had the standard infertility shots for all Time-Agents. Then again, half Earth's population could be related to you by some dozen kids throughout time. Hey, the Doc thought he was sterile and look at his little surprise."
Jack was used to teasing about such things. He'd done so with his buddies when he was still young and naive.
"Not that I care. I am never getting pregnant again. So You're older that the Doctor. Wonder how he feels not being the superior ancient one. Does he know you're older, or just that you're immortal... or Endless? I kinda like that term."
Methos was pleased with how Jack seemed to listen to everything, taking it in without asking fresh questions until he had answers to the questions he'd already asked. When Methos mentioned how it would be fatal if he lost his head something passed through the other man's eyes, but Methos wasn't quite sure what it was. Concern at the thought of him losing his head? Some thought about what had happened, or might happen if Jack lost his head? Methos wasn't about to offer to help the other man see what happened if he lost his head. Most likely it would be safe, but it was safer not trying it at all.
He was pleased he'd either remembered Yoda's line about his age, or misremembered it, closely enough to amuse Jack. Methos made a face at the first question the other man asked when he'd finished, leaning back to put his knife away before giving Jack an answer. Once he sat back up, and returned a hand to one of the other man's legs he admitted, "Just traumatic enough to stick. Imagine drowning, being buried alive, and getting flayed with a cat-o-nine by someone who knows what they're doing, roll it all into one, then replace the water, earth, and whip with sand. It took a while to recover from."
Methos saw something chill Jack. He wasn't sure what thought was making the other man cold until he chose a topic. Once Jack brought up the idea of Methos' having children he could guess what had been bothering him. Methos spoke to that first, "I've known a few Endless stuck as children. It's hard to survive that way. The magic that makes us immortal is released when we're killed, and if we're killed by another Endless it passes to them. Some of us kill for that power. I don't carry a sword out of nostalgia. It's mostly for protection, but there are times when I have to be more... proactive."
Once he'd spoken of Endless children he chuckled at Jack's pointing out there were things he didn't know, "As far as I know. I didn't know we have parents. I've been married sixty-eight times without to my knowledge ever fathering any children. Was divorced once for not providing children. She was one Hell of a woman. Had a dozen kids with her third husband. But, I've never been married to another Endless. That'd be too much of a commitment for me to make. I do know a couple of Endless who've been married over 300 years. They don't have any children. If we have a fertility rate it's low."
Methos raised his eyebrows at Jack's insistence he was never getting pregnant again, "Not sure I want to ask how there was a first time, or how it worked out. I've thought about what being a father might be like, but not a mother."
He shook his head in quick denial of the Doctor knowing who was older, but stopped as he thought about it, "I don't actually know if he knows I'm older. I haven't told the Doctor how old I am, but I don't know how much he can sense about me. The Doctor certainly knows I'm older than I look. He remembers 1816. I don't know if he thinks I'm centuries old, or knows I'm millennia. Not sure I want to tip him off to my being older if he doesn't know it. If he doesn't know it, it might be easier on both of us if it stays that way. I'm comfortable playing a mild mannered supporting role. I'm practiced at it."
Methos grinned as Jack said Endless was a term he kinda liked, "We call ourselves Immortals like some people have called themselves the People. The sidhe probably call us Endless because they call themselves Immortals. I think Endless is more poetic. You might want to talk to Molly about the sidhe. I've had some experience with them, but I can't tell you about them the way she can. Then again, given that when the sidhe go to war it tends to be with more magic than most Endless are capable of, you might want to steer clear. Of course having volunteered to fight a demon I'm not one to talk about steering clear."
"I've got a lot to thik about. But later, I think. There's something I'd like to do before heading to the TARDIS." Jack leaned in and kissed Adam, letting him know exactly what he wanted to do.
(OOC: Sorry for brevity. We're having server problems (or my brother in law is being an asshole again. Either way I had no access until around 10 pm. I don't know if I'll have access tomorrow. ::sigh::))
(OOC: It's okay. I was beginning to wonder when Jack was going to take the "Shut up and kiss me" approach to get Methos to give him time to think. Since I've told the boys I'm not writing more smut for them for a while shall I mark this complete here?)
Methos smiled ruefully at Jack's pointing out he'd given him a lot to think about, not interrupting him with an apology for having let so much come out of himself. He'd needed to share it all with someone, and it seemed like the other man would be able to get his mind around it all with time. Methos raised his eyebrows at Jack's mention of there being something he'd like to do before heading to the TARDIS. He held still as the other man leaned in. Methos returned the kiss once Jack was letting him know exactly what he wanted to do. He had to agree it seemed like a fine thing to do.
Methos chuckled, "I've got a limited number of tricks, not getting sick, healing very quickly, and not staying dead. Gimme a sec."
He leaned back, reaching into his hut for the stone knife he'd kept for himself. Once Methos had it he sat up again, holding knife and free hand where Jack could see them clearly. Methos cut his palm, hoping the other man would appreciate the show better than Christine Salzer had. The blood welled the same, and he wiped it away as quickly, "That's the easiest thing to show you. The rest is either more subtle or more painful to give a demonstration of."
He considered the question of how many Endless Ones he knew existed, "I know there are more than I've ever met. For a while Adam Pierson was part of a secret mortal organization that's been doing its best to keep track of our numbers for millennia. Someone who realized Gilgamesh was an Endless One started it. I didn't see all of their files so I don't know how many they've tracked. They found out I was an Endless in their midst and tossed me out."
Methos laughed at Jack's asking how he hadn't known he was human, "I thought we might be something like 'fully formed from the sand.' Every Endless I've ever met was raised as a foundling with no memory of their real parents. I thought we might be something like golems, more magical constructs than people. Learning we're born to human parents answers one question, but raises others. What happens to our families? Why are we alone so young?"
He smiled broadly as it occurred to the other man how many years of sex it all was, "I've mentioned Endless don't get sick, so far as I know we're sterile too. Perfect partners for anyone who happens to be looking for safe sex with no chance of a child. I've tried a lot of things at least once. Course that's just here on Earth. I haven't been an intergalactic traveler like some people have. I can do Yoda. Will you forgive me if I hope you'll look just as good at nine hundred?"
Some of Methos good humor evaporated with Jack's asking about if there were geriatric immortals, "I've never met someone who died of old age. I've seen people who died too young, but not too old. There's some speculation that if we get to a certain age without having already been killed we become suicidal. Most of my life though it hasn't require that much effort to be dead before you were geriatric. I certainly didn't die of old age. Natural disaster victim me."
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Huh... that was one form of suicide Jack hadn't tried. His luck it wouldn't kill him. He'd just end up a disembodied head. A disembodied head able to just look and not touch. He shivered. Nope, NOT something to even contemplate. He'd likely just snap back. Like he did when he lost any other limb during or prior to death.
Jack did chuckle at the mention of looking as good at nine hundred years. But he didn't interrupt.
"How do you know how you died the first time? You said it was a blur, or was that just traumatic enough to stick with you no matter what?"
The mention of immortals who died too young made him think of a novel he once read by Anne Rice. It was a long, long time ago, it was interesting and sexy... but there was this kid, a little girl, stuck forever as a child. It had chilled him, and stuck with him. The thought of that sort of thing being real...
"Sterile as far as you know." Jack smirked. He'd heard that line before. He'd used it, as he'd had the standard infertility shots for all Time-Agents. Then again, half Earth's population could be related to you by some dozen kids throughout time. Hey, the Doc thought he was sterile and look at his little surprise."
Jack was used to teasing about such things. He'd done so with his buddies when he was still young and naive.
"Not that I care. I am never getting pregnant again. So You're older that the Doctor. Wonder how he feels not being the superior ancient one. Does he know you're older, or just that you're immortal... or Endless? I kinda like that term."
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Methos was pleased with how Jack seemed to listen to everything, taking it in without asking fresh questions until he had answers to the questions he'd already asked. When Methos mentioned how it would be fatal if he lost his head something passed through the other man's eyes, but Methos wasn't quite sure what it was. Concern at the thought of him losing his head? Some thought about what had happened, or might happen if Jack lost his head? Methos wasn't about to offer to help the other man see what happened if he lost his head. Most likely it would be safe, but it was safer not trying it at all.
He was pleased he'd either remembered Yoda's line about his age, or misremembered it, closely enough to amuse Jack. Methos made a face at the first question the other man asked when he'd finished, leaning back to put his knife away before giving Jack an answer. Once he sat back up, and returned a hand to one of the other man's legs he admitted, "Just traumatic enough to stick. Imagine drowning, being buried alive, and getting flayed with a cat-o-nine by someone who knows what they're doing, roll it all into one, then replace the water, earth, and whip with sand. It took a while to recover from."
Methos saw something chill Jack. He wasn't sure what thought was making the other man cold until he chose a topic. Once Jack brought up the idea of Methos' having children he could guess what had been bothering him. Methos spoke to that first, "I've known a few Endless stuck as children. It's hard to survive that way. The magic that makes us immortal is released when we're killed, and if we're killed by another Endless it passes to them. Some of us kill for that power. I don't carry a sword out of nostalgia. It's mostly for protection, but there are times when I have to be more... proactive."
Once he'd spoken of Endless children he chuckled at Jack's pointing out there were things he didn't know, "As far as I know. I didn't know we have parents. I've been married sixty-eight times without to my knowledge ever fathering any children. Was divorced once for not providing children. She was one Hell of a woman. Had a dozen kids with her third husband. But, I've never been married to another Endless. That'd be too much of a commitment for me to make. I do know a couple of Endless who've been married over 300 years. They don't have any children. If we have a fertility rate it's low."
Methos raised his eyebrows at Jack's insistence he was never getting pregnant again, "Not sure I want to ask how there was a first time, or how it worked out. I've thought about what being a father might be like, but not a mother."
He shook his head in quick denial of the Doctor knowing who was older, but stopped as he thought about it, "I don't actually know if he knows I'm older. I haven't told the Doctor how old I am, but I don't know how much he can sense about me. The Doctor certainly knows I'm older than I look. He remembers 1816. I don't know if he thinks I'm centuries old, or knows I'm millennia. Not sure I want to tip him off to my being older if he doesn't know it. If he doesn't know it, it might be easier on both of us if it stays that way. I'm comfortable playing a mild mannered supporting role. I'm practiced at it."
Methos grinned as Jack said Endless was a term he kinda liked, "We call ourselves Immortals like some people have called themselves the People. The sidhe probably call us Endless because they call themselves Immortals. I think Endless is more poetic. You might want to talk to Molly about the sidhe. I've had some experience with them, but I can't tell you about them the way she can. Then again, given that when the sidhe go to war it tends to be with more magic than most Endless are capable of, you might want to steer clear. Of course having volunteered to fight a demon I'm not one to talk about steering clear."
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(OOC: Sorry for brevity. We're having server problems (or my brother in law is being an asshole again. Either way I had no access until around 10 pm. I don't know if I'll have access tomorrow. ::sigh::))
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Methos smiled ruefully at Jack's pointing out he'd given him a lot to think about, not interrupting him with an apology for having let so much come out of himself. He'd needed to share it all with someone, and it seemed like the other man would be able to get his mind around it all with time. Methos raised his eyebrows at Jack's mention of there being something he'd like to do before heading to the TARDIS. He held still as the other man leaned in. Methos returned the kiss once Jack was letting him know exactly what he wanted to do. He had to agree it seemed like a fine thing to do.
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