I. First Canto | Auditory

[eats_the_rude]

[A soft, dull whisper directed itself into the receiver with a metallic tinge, scratchy as though tired and overused.]

Mason, we do enjoy our little games, don't we? I must say this particular tactic of yours does not quite speak with the same chicanery as our usual correspondence. Your people have shown a surprising amount of courtesy, though why

Comments

[wasthenightmare]

That might be a little above our average paygrade. Unless you've got a "transdimensional" [God, you can practically hear the scare quotes] bank account. I'd hate for you to end up washing dishes. [His tone... Suggests he cares not either way, but that's Methos for you, casual to a fault.]

[eats_the_rude]

[How curious. He hadn't expected there to be...interception. Of course, let's pretend nothing's amiss. Wouldn't want to be conspicuous, would we?]

Pray, whatever do you mean?

I assure you, my good fellow, I've simply an interest in fine dining, though you'll pardon me, I'm sure, when I tell you I'm nothing but a simple tourist.

[wasthenightmare]

I mean that unless this "Mason" is involved with anything involved with the Core, you're not where you're supposed to be. So all preferences aside, it's not really a question of where as much as it is a question of... Do they accept the "I left my wallet in the other dimension" excuse?

[eats_the_rude]

[Pause. Let him mull that over. That's the sound of warm coppery brass turning in his head like the wheels of a well-oiled clock.]

..Core? Is this an organization selling immigration papers? If so, I'm not interested.

I'm afraid I have no idea what you're chit-chattering about. Wrong number.

[wasthenightmare]

I suppose there's no sense beating around the bush. You're in an alternate dimension. And I'm one of a lot of wrong numbers you're going to be getting.

[eats_the_rude]

Oh? Is that so?

[You can't blame a man for being sensible, can you? On the off-chance that he's being played Lecter was inclined to maintain a degree of reasonable doubt.

He couldn't help but be reminded of A Brief History of Time. The film was a rather good one, one of his favorites, about the possibilities of such things.]

Interesting. And what might this 'alternate dimension' be called?

[wasthenightmare]

[Methos is about as sure about it as he was of Zoroastrian demons about five minutes before he showed up here. It's not out of the realm of possibility, but irritating as hell.

And there's some glimmer of amusement in his voice.]

Siren's Port, Canada.

[eats_the_rude]

[Hardly imaginative for an 'alternate dimension', but perhaps...Perhaps there was an off chance that Stephen Hawking had been right after all.]

Perhaps you would be so kind as to approximate Siren's Port's location in relation to the mainland. I'm afraid I'm not familiar.

[wasthenightmare]

Approximately... impossible to get to. You can't leave.

[eats_the_rude]

Why not?

[wasthenightmare]

Do you want the scientific explanation or the bullshit one?

[eats_the_rude]

The former shall suffice, if you please.

[wasthenightmare]

The aforementioned Core creates some sort of pull- anyone attempting to leave either suffers slowly and dies before they get very far or just end up turning back.

As it turns out, that also doubles as the bullshit explanation.

[eats_the_rude]

"Pull", yes....[How convenient.] I presume this has been tested then?

[A soft smile, even if it can't be seen. Yes, he rather figured that.]

[wasthenightmare]

I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't tried it myself.

[And when an Immortal feels the burn from that kind of thing... You run really far and really fast from it.]