[01: audio] white knuckles

[manhunthotline]

[With oddly apropos timing, given the recent appearance of the traveler, detective Benny Stango has arrived in the middle of a conversation with Mark Meltzer's answering machine--his last conversation with either it or the man himself, in fact. Without his noticing, the ground has changed under his feet from damp concrete to carpet, and the pay phone he's been clutching has been replaced by the Wonderland standard-issue communicator unit.

So the network gets treated to a low voice, sharp with panic and thickly-accented (the Bronx, if anyone was wondering). And he's shouting. Despite years of smoking, the man has a set of lungs on him.]

--Jesus, Meltzer, what is that thing?! I took a shot at it, it didn't even flinch! I ran the whole way back to the squad car--yeah, I gotta remember to clean the seat--jesus, Meltzer, I never believed you were right, I'm sorry! Just gimme a c--

[The voice stops, almost cut off. Stango's looked up, finally noticed the change.]

What the hell...?

[At least he's still blissfully ignorant of the whole hellhound issue.]

Comments

[carbon_knight]

Almost exactly.

[It had been summer then, too. Just after chess, just after a week spent on the real side. Coincidences he can't help but think of.]

[manhunthotline]

My god.

[He shakes his head, blinks hard.]

Doesn't feel like that long. But I guess I don't remember.

[carbon_knight]

Nothing at all?

[manhunthotline]

Just the end.

[That's all he says; he shudders.]

[carbon_knight]

[Oh. That's...quite a thing to remember. He's wanted to know what unmaking is like since Ben and Sofia's departure, but he finds suddenly that the need is no longer so urgent.

He sits, uninvited, on the other end of the bed.]

...Do you have everything else? How did we meet?

[manhunthotline]

It was when the Jabberwock came. I don't remember it exactly.

[carbon_knight]

Okay. That's fine.

[He folds one arm loosely over the other, clasping his own wrist.]

So you're here. You look kind of rough.

[manhunthotline]

[He licks his lips, swallows hard.]

I feel kind of rough. I'm not sure why.

[carbon_knight]

Nothing broken though, right?

[What hurts, is what he wants to know, and how can he help.]

[manhunthotline]

No, just--just shook up, I guess.

[carbon_knight]

Ah.

[So, nothing, then? Right.]

I kept a few of your things. Not much, but if you'd like to have them back...

[manhunthotline]

I don't guess it matters much. What things?

[carbon_knight]

Little things--what was left in my room, mostly.

And your snake.

[Just incidentally. You know.]

[manhunthotline]

[Finally a spark of life; Ben half-stands, reaching toward Mark.]

She's alive? You kept her? For two years?

[carbon_knight]

[Nod.]

She was waiting in your room. Live things must last a little longer.

[manhunthotline]

[He swallows hard.]

Thank you.

[carbon_knight]

[He nods acknowledgement, pleased but unwilling to fuss about something that was never in question.]

Come see her.

[manhunthotline]

Okay. [A soft, self-deprecating laugh.] I doubt she'll remember me.

[carbon_knight]

Why wouldn't she? Come.

[manhunthotline]

She's only a snake. They don't think about people much.

[carbon_knight]

Only a snake, only a mirror.

[He says it as he's crossing to the door, addressing no one in particular.]

Do you want to see her or not?

[manhunthotline]

I'm coming. [Moving slowly, as if he's not sure where he is, but coming all the same.]

[carbon_knight]

Just across the hall. Like always.

[manhunthotline]

Nothing's changed, huh?

[carbon_knight]

That hasn't, at least.

[He stops just short of his own door, turns to face Ben.]

Sofia's gone. I'm not sure exactly when it happened--she was always hard to keep track of--but it wasn't long after you.