[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noticing, the ground has changed under his feet from damp concrete to carpet, and the pay phone he's been clutching has been replaced by the Wonderland standard-issue communicator unit.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

[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.

[manhunthotline]

Oh…Sof'.

[He stops in his tracks--not startled, but as if he simply forgot to take another step.]

[carbon_knight]

I should have told you that first. Perhaps.

[manhunthotline]

Barely a year alive. Poor Sof'.

[carbon_knight]

Longer than some others.

[manhunthotline]

I don't know--what to do.

[carbon_knight]

[He steps forward and actually takes Ben's arm, ushering him across the hall.]

Come see your pet. I'll help you move her, when you're ready.

[manhunthotline]

Okay. [He follows, even more pliant than usual.]

[carbon_knight]

[Mark has cleaned the drying laundry up, but the room still might be messier than Ben remembers it. The snake's vivarium covers most of the desk, and her supplies fill the footwell behind it. The little homemade puzzle Mark had been building is spread across an endtable, with his desk chair drawn up close. The radio console might have even collected some dust.]

Here she is.

[manhunthotline]

She--she's grown. [He bends at the waist so he can examine her.] She's beautiful, Mark.

[carbon_knight]

[He can't prevent a smile at that.]

I can take her out for you. I've had practice.

[manhunthotline]

She doesn't bite you?

[carbon_knight]

She does, sometimes.

I've had practice with that too.

[manhunthotline]

I'd like to hold her.

[carbon_knight]

[So he reaches carefully into the tank and draws the snake out without incident.]

She had fresh food just yesterday

[For the first time in quite a while. But this he'll keep to himself.]

Probably still feeling lazy.

[manhunthotline]

Good girl.

[He holds his hands out for her.]

[carbon_knight]

[He moves closer and angles her towards Ben's hands, coaxing. As noted, she's a bit lethargic, but Ben represents a warmer perch than Mark, and she changes hands willingly enough, slowly wrapping her lower half around his forearm.]

See? Missed you.

[manhunthotline]

I don't think snakes miss people, Mark. [He's watching her with a little half-smile on his face anyway.] Pretty girl...

[carbon_knight]

I don't see you complaining.

[manhunthotline]

Did she shed recently? She's very shiny.

[carbon_knight]

[He nods.]

Can you reach the desk drawer, there?

[manhunthotline]

Yes.

[he lays two fingers on the handle and looks at Mark inquiringly.]

[carbon_knight]

Some of her shed skin's in there. The bigger pieces.

...Some of your things, too, I think.