donutsweeper (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
donutsweeper) wrote2007-12-30 04:03 pm
donutsweeper) wrote2007-12-30 04:03 pm
Entry tags:
The Wizard and the Alien Hunter
Title: The Wizard and the Alien Hunter
Pairing/Warning/Rating: none, rated G
Word Count: 1209
Summary: Harry's mysterious client sets up a meeting at McAnally's, and Ramirez invites himself along.
Beta:phoenix64 (Huge thanks!)
Author's Note: Crossover with Dresden Files (bookverse, set after "Dead Beat"). Written forawanderingbard
Pairing/Warning/Rating: none, rated G
Word Count: 1209
Summary: Harry's mysterious client sets up a meeting at McAnally's, and Ramirez invites himself along.
Beta:
phoenix64 (Huge thanks!)Author's Note: Crossover with Dresden Files (bookverse, set after "Dead Beat"). Written for
awanderingbardMcAnally's isn’t your typical bar. And Mac wasn’t your typical barkeep. He’d seen everything, twice, and none of it fazed him. The fact that he served the best steak sandwiches and microbrew on this side of the Mississippi was certainly a plus. And, more importantly, the pub was official neutral ground, magically speaking-wise that is, which lowered the chance of getting killed there significantly.
All sorts of people went to McAnally’s, and not all of them human. The majority of Harry Dresden’s clientele were normal, vaguely well-adjusted people who had no reason to even have heard of Mac’s, let alone voluntarily set foot in it. And while the occasional magic-friendly client would arrange for a meeting there, most were a little less mysterious about it. In general Harry was not a fan of mysteries. Too often they had a habit of ending in explosions, or slime demons, or both. But earlier today he found a note was taped to his office door that said:
There was a fifty-dollar bill attached and since rent was theoretically due yesterday having something to pay it wouldn’t be a bad thing. That was why, a little before five, Harry found himself entering the bar.
Once his eyes adjusted to the light he spotted a familiar face. “Ramirez? What are you doing in town?” Mouse left Harry’s side to amble over to the other Warden.
“Hey there, Mouse.” Ramirez gave the dog a few pats. “He’s actually gotten bigger. I didn’t think that was possible.”
“Yeah, well, this is Mouse we’re talking about. Exceeding your expectations is what he does best.” Harry nodded to Mac as he sat down next to Ramirez at the bar. “So, is something going down that I need to know about?”
“All I know is the Merlin said it was vitally important a ‘trusted Warden’ was here for your meeting today.”
“A ‘trusted Warden?’” Harry snorted. “Well, that sounds like the Merlin. And Morgan, for that matter. ‘Trusted.’ Not sure if I should be insulted by that or not. Come to think of it, I don’t know if I should feel ecstatic or annoyed I don’t fit into that category for them.” Harry looked up when Mac set down three beers. “How did he know about my meeting, anyway? I only found out about it an hour ago.”
An unfamiliar voice spoke up behind them. “I told him.”
It was almost comical how fast the Wardens spun around.
“Unggh.” Mac greeted the newcomer.
“Captain Jack Harkness,” the stranger introduced himself, offering his hand. His grip was firm and powerful. He managed to look both men in the eye without actually meeting their eyes. Which was interesting, since not too many non-magical people knew what a soulgaze was in the first place, let alone how to avoid one. “Thanks, Mac,” Harkness said, grabbing the beers and carrying them over to the back table. “Keep them coming, okay?”
Harry eyed Mac for a moment. “You know him?”
Mac shrugged, but didn’t look up. “Know a lot of people.”
“Harry?” Ramirez called, “you coming or not?”
“Don’t worry, kid.” Harkness said, his tone light. “There is no way Dresden will leave me alone with you.”
Ramirez seemed confused. “Why not?”
“Two incorrigible flirts? Left to our own devices, who knows the sort of trouble we could get into?”
“Flirts?” Ramirez looked around. There were no women in the bar. Slowly the realization of what Harkness had implied dawned on him and he started to stutter, “I . . . I . . . I . . . Well, when it comes, um, to the ladies . . . but I think . . . you’re confused . . . ”
Harry pretended not to notice the flush on Ramirez’s face as he sat down and cut off the other Warden’s ramblings. “So, Harkness. Why do you want to hire a wizard?”
“Well,” Harkness rubbed his cheek absentmindedly. “I came across something that is a little more in your range of expertise than mine.”
“My expertise?”
“Magic. Well, vampires anyway.”
“As opposed to . . . ” Harry made a ‘go on’ motion with his good hand.
“Aliens.”
“Aliens.” Harry and Ramirez said in unison.
“Yeah, aliens. That’s what I do. I track down aliens and their technology.” Mouse wandered over and lay down at Harkness’s feet.
Harry took a long sip of his ale while staring across the table. They sat in silence for a moment before Ramirez spoke up. “You hunt aliens?”
Harkness shrugged. “You hunt demons.”
Harry jumped in before Ramirez could speak again. “Maybe you should explain why you want to hire me and why you told the White Council about our meeting.”
“I know about the Seven Laws. I assumed you wizards would want to know if someone was planning on breaking one of them.” Harkness smiled slightly at the looks the Wardens gave each other.
“Which law?” Harry asked.
“And who?” Ramirez chimed in.
“The Sixth Law. The one against time travel. Although, if I remember correctly you folks are a bit more flowery about . . . ”
“Thou shalt not swim against the Currents of Time.” Ramirez interrupted.
“Yeah, that’s it. Anyway, I thought the White Council should be aware the Jade Court was in negotiations to buy a vortex manipulator.” Seeing the confusion on their faces he explained, “it’s a simplistic version of a time machine.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Aliens exist.” Harry looked at Harkness for confirmation, who just nodded. “And time machines.” Harkness nodded again. “And the Jade Court tried to get their hands on one.” This time a smile accompanied the nod. “Did they?”
“No. My people managed to get there first. We confiscated the manipulator and arrested the, umm, miscreant, trying to make the sale.”
“Miscreant?” Harry couldn’t help but laugh.
Harkness laughed as well, “it’s as good a description as any. Now, I doubt any of the other Courts will be stupid enough to try anything similar, but I need to be kept in the loop if they do. And, no offense Ramirez, I don’t trust the White Council to do that.” He downed the rest of his beer before placing an envelope on the table and pushing it at Harry. “You on the other hand . . . My card and a couple of day’s pay for you. From what I’ve been told about you I can trust you to keep your ear to the ground and to actually keep me apprised of anything you find out, right?” Standing up he offered his hand to Harry again. “Glad to have finally met you Dresden, you live up to your reputation.” Then, he took Ramirez’s hand and brought it up to his mouth for a light kiss, “youngest warden to be made regional commander. I can see why. Call me sometime.” A quick ruffle of Mouse’s ears and he walked to the door, waving to Mac on his way.
“Hngh.” Mac nodded in farewell.
In the doorway Jack turned. “Oh,” he called out to Harry, “and tell Bob that he still owes me one!” And with a burst of sunshine, he was gone.
Harry looked over at Ramirez. “You okay? You’re not blinking.”
“It’s a lot to take in.”
“Sure, time travel, aliens and being hit on by a handsome man. I can see how that would overwhelm a young thing like you . . . ”
All sorts of people went to McAnally’s, and not all of them human. The majority of Harry Dresden’s clientele were normal, vaguely well-adjusted people who had no reason to even have heard of Mac’s, let alone voluntarily set foot in it. And while the occasional magic-friendly client would arrange for a meeting there, most were a little less mysterious about it. In general Harry was not a fan of mysteries. Too often they had a habit of ending in explosions, or slime demons, or both. But earlier today he found a note was taped to his office door that said:
McAnally’s five o’clock
I’ll buy the beer
I’ll buy the beer
There was a fifty-dollar bill attached and since rent was theoretically due yesterday having something to pay it wouldn’t be a bad thing. That was why, a little before five, Harry found himself entering the bar.
Once his eyes adjusted to the light he spotted a familiar face. “Ramirez? What are you doing in town?” Mouse left Harry’s side to amble over to the other Warden.
“Hey there, Mouse.” Ramirez gave the dog a few pats. “He’s actually gotten bigger. I didn’t think that was possible.”
“Yeah, well, this is Mouse we’re talking about. Exceeding your expectations is what he does best.” Harry nodded to Mac as he sat down next to Ramirez at the bar. “So, is something going down that I need to know about?”
“All I know is the Merlin said it was vitally important a ‘trusted Warden’ was here for your meeting today.”
“A ‘trusted Warden?’” Harry snorted. “Well, that sounds like the Merlin. And Morgan, for that matter. ‘Trusted.’ Not sure if I should be insulted by that or not. Come to think of it, I don’t know if I should feel ecstatic or annoyed I don’t fit into that category for them.” Harry looked up when Mac set down three beers. “How did he know about my meeting, anyway? I only found out about it an hour ago.”
An unfamiliar voice spoke up behind them. “I told him.”
It was almost comical how fast the Wardens spun around.
“Unggh.” Mac greeted the newcomer.
“Captain Jack Harkness,” the stranger introduced himself, offering his hand. His grip was firm and powerful. He managed to look both men in the eye without actually meeting their eyes. Which was interesting, since not too many non-magical people knew what a soulgaze was in the first place, let alone how to avoid one. “Thanks, Mac,” Harkness said, grabbing the beers and carrying them over to the back table. “Keep them coming, okay?”
Harry eyed Mac for a moment. “You know him?”
Mac shrugged, but didn’t look up. “Know a lot of people.”
“Harry?” Ramirez called, “you coming or not?”
“Don’t worry, kid.” Harkness said, his tone light. “There is no way Dresden will leave me alone with you.”
Ramirez seemed confused. “Why not?”
“Two incorrigible flirts? Left to our own devices, who knows the sort of trouble we could get into?”
“Flirts?” Ramirez looked around. There were no women in the bar. Slowly the realization of what Harkness had implied dawned on him and he started to stutter, “I . . . I . . . I . . . Well, when it comes, um, to the ladies . . . but I think . . . you’re confused . . . ”
Harry pretended not to notice the flush on Ramirez’s face as he sat down and cut off the other Warden’s ramblings. “So, Harkness. Why do you want to hire a wizard?”
“Well,” Harkness rubbed his cheek absentmindedly. “I came across something that is a little more in your range of expertise than mine.”
“My expertise?”
“Magic. Well, vampires anyway.”
“As opposed to . . . ” Harry made a ‘go on’ motion with his good hand.
“Aliens.”
“Aliens.” Harry and Ramirez said in unison.
“Yeah, aliens. That’s what I do. I track down aliens and their technology.” Mouse wandered over and lay down at Harkness’s feet.
Harry took a long sip of his ale while staring across the table. They sat in silence for a moment before Ramirez spoke up. “You hunt aliens?”
Harkness shrugged. “You hunt demons.”
Harry jumped in before Ramirez could speak again. “Maybe you should explain why you want to hire me and why you told the White Council about our meeting.”
“I know about the Seven Laws. I assumed you wizards would want to know if someone was planning on breaking one of them.” Harkness smiled slightly at the looks the Wardens gave each other.
“Which law?” Harry asked.
“And who?” Ramirez chimed in.
“The Sixth Law. The one against time travel. Although, if I remember correctly you folks are a bit more flowery about . . . ”
“Thou shalt not swim against the Currents of Time.” Ramirez interrupted.
“Yeah, that’s it. Anyway, I thought the White Council should be aware the Jade Court was in negotiations to buy a vortex manipulator.” Seeing the confusion on their faces he explained, “it’s a simplistic version of a time machine.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Aliens exist.” Harry looked at Harkness for confirmation, who just nodded. “And time machines.” Harkness nodded again. “And the Jade Court tried to get their hands on one.” This time a smile accompanied the nod. “Did they?”
“No. My people managed to get there first. We confiscated the manipulator and arrested the, umm, miscreant, trying to make the sale.”
“Miscreant?” Harry couldn’t help but laugh.
Harkness laughed as well, “it’s as good a description as any. Now, I doubt any of the other Courts will be stupid enough to try anything similar, but I need to be kept in the loop if they do. And, no offense Ramirez, I don’t trust the White Council to do that.” He downed the rest of his beer before placing an envelope on the table and pushing it at Harry. “You on the other hand . . . My card and a couple of day’s pay for you. From what I’ve been told about you I can trust you to keep your ear to the ground and to actually keep me apprised of anything you find out, right?” Standing up he offered his hand to Harry again. “Glad to have finally met you Dresden, you live up to your reputation.” Then, he took Ramirez’s hand and brought it up to his mouth for a light kiss, “youngest warden to be made regional commander. I can see why. Call me sometime.” A quick ruffle of Mouse’s ears and he walked to the door, waving to Mac on his way.
“Hngh.” Mac nodded in farewell.
In the doorway Jack turned. “Oh,” he called out to Harry, “and tell Bob that he still owes me one!” And with a burst of sunshine, he was gone.
Harry looked over at Ramirez. “You okay? You’re not blinking.”
“It’s a lot to take in.”
“Sure, time travel, aliens and being hit on by a handsome man. I can see how that would overwhelm a young thing like you . . . ”