Dr. Epoch drags everyone down into the sewers to help carry things. With comments of considerable length concerning how nice it is to be back and how everything has gone to shit in his absence, Epoch gathers up the following equipment: (1) Inter-Dimensional Glamometer (specially modified for the Chimerical Dimension frequencies previously observed.) Capable of locating areas of increased or decreased levels of Glamourous activity, including the so-called 'stable' Silver Path, should such means be necessary. (1) Prototype-Model Morphon-Isolation Chamber with Easy-Grip (tm) Handle (about the size of a picnic basket, and remarkably similar in design. Contains no food) For storage and isolation of retrieved Glamour. Dr. Epoch also takes a large plastic toolkit full of wires, machineries, miniature electron microscopes, and a little black steel reinforced box that is marked 'Top Secret' upon which he does not (unusually) comment. Dr. Epoch does not bring his cat, under protest. Carter magnanimously convinces the cat that she is desperately needed to remain behind - without her presence here, the whole enterprise is lost. He mostly does this with long soulful looks. Dr. Epoch gives Stephanos the Morphon-Isolation Chamber. "And -don't- drop it," he mutters. Carter makes no comment about the stuff but carries it dutifully and expertly, like he's used to carrying around Epoch's equipment, which he is. Dr. Epoch stuffs a few more contraptions into his various pockets 'just in case.' "Alright," he mutters, "that should be everything.." Stephanos nods at Epoch as he carries the device. "Wasn't planning on it." Dr. Epoch fails to find a good program on the radio. What a surprise. Dr. Epoch mutters, "whatever happened to the 80s? Now -that- was music.." Dr. Epoch humms the melody to 'Blinded by Science.' Stephanos grins at Epoch briefly. "That's a good song." Dr. Epoch nods seriously and taps his fingers and waits for Carter to get whatever it is he's getting that's taking so damn long and why are we double-parked anyway the last thing we need is a ticket... Dr. Epoch seems rather impatient. Carter manages, with a single twist of the dial, to find, on the 'classic rock' station, the song "Cool, Cool Water". He taps the steering wheel and sings along robustly as the Rabbit careens through New York traffic like he was a native. His apartment is no less cluttered than usual. He packs a copy of Mark Twain's 'Roughing It', a battered and ancient-looking canteen which is barely staying together ("be very careful with that." he says, "that's for the off-chance that Epoch's containment device doesn't work."), a sealed box of cigars, a Vietnam-era duffel with what appear to be the contents of the bargain bin of a thrift store and camping supply shop, a photograph of an abstract Western landscape painting (the original is mounted above the fireplace), and four -really- heavy small oblong cardboard boxes. "Just throw those in the back." he says, carrying one himself. Dr. Epoch looks at his box carefully as he maneuvers down the stairs to the street. "And what exactly are these?" Stephanos grunts out, "Feels like concrete in a box." You say "They're our ticket across the veil. You can't just go across for free...not in New York, anyway. I'll explain when we get to the pub...Stephanos, you're next..." Stephanos nods, placing the box in the car. Carter checks around his apartment one last time. He blows a kiss to the painting, and disappears. Dr. Epoch hauls his box into the back of the car and dumps it carefully, perhaps afraid it might fall through the thin german floor. Stephanos climbs into the car, box still in hand. It's small, and he's cramped. Noble life is fun. You say "Do you need us to pick up anything at your place?" Stephanos shakes his head, patting the backpack he has with him. "Nope." Carter dials his cell phone. "Sean? It's Carter. Yes, we're on our way. Thanks. Right, upstairs first, then to the back room. That would be perfect. See you when we get back. Thanks, I will. Goodbye." He punches the off button and says "Sean's going to distract Lia while we go upstairs to her room for Epoch to take his readings." he explains. "Then when we go down to her back room to start the trip across the veil. No need to rush, but don't dawdle either. Epoch, once we get you in, we're going to go down and unpack everything we need, so you can just come down and meet us in the back room. Sound good?" Stephanos nods once. "Sounds good." Dr. Epoch nods and pulls a regular-issue glamometer out of one pocket as if to test it for defects. "Of course. It shouldn't take long." Carter knows Lia's security codes and has a key to her apartment, so Epoch can get in pretty easily. "The mirror." he says, perhaps unnecessarily. When Epoch begins, he and Stephanos leave and begin to bring things into the back room through a side door Sean has left slightly propped open. Dr. Epoch pulls out a notebook and a pencil and studies the mirror with his Glamometer, carefully studying the LED display for consistent readings. Stephanos says to Carter in the midst of unpacking, "I saw her there... in the mirror." Dr. Epoch takes extensive notes. Carter nods. "The mirror was her doorway - but it's sealed now. I'm hoping we'll be able to use it to get back, so that we only have to go one way." Stephanos says "That'd explain it... I spoke to her briefly. I think she heard me, wherever she is." Carter nods. "Asleep. Dreaming, maybe. We can hope." He opens one of the boxes. Punch cards. The box is completely full of punch cards with the 'State of New York, County of New York Public Works' seal on them. He lays the boxes side by side at the back table. Stephanos arches a brow. "What do you need me to do?" Carter opens the box of cigars and passes one across to Stephanos. "Smoke." he says. "We all need to smoke. I'll explain when Epoch gets down here." He himself lights up and sits at the head of the back table, the boxes at his side, relaxing slightly in the chair. Stephanos arches a brow, and shrugs, actually smiling a bit. "Been a long time since I had one..." Dr. Epoch comes down into the room eventually, slipping his notepad into some inner pocket. The Glamometer is already packed away as well. He looks at the cigars, then at the boxes of ballots, then at Carter expectantly. He seems skeptical, but not critical. Carter nods. "I quit in my undergraduate days. For a woman." he drawls, puffing gently. "Although I never liked cigars." Carter hands Epoch a cigar. "Lock the door and have a seat." he says. "There's something about this place you ought to know." Stephanos lights up his own cigar, leaning against the wall. "I actually quit smoking cigarettes a while back. I've only had a couple of these.." Dr. Epoch looks at the cigar and raises an eyebrow, but goes and locks the door. Dr. Epoch looks a lot cleaner than he has in a long time, for those paying attention. His hair has returned to it's nearly-manageable state and he no longer smells like he's been in prison for three weeks without a bath. Carter puts his feet up on the table like he owns the place. "This place used to be one of the centers of power of the city. And when I say the city, I don't just mean a part of it. Politics or money or business or crime. I mean everything. This place, this very room...was where the lines intersected. Where what was and what could be came together. This room was a seat of power, more maybe than any throne room ever was, because New York was more of a city than any other city ever had been. It was bigger, sure, but that doesn't mean much in the big picture. It had more money and more influence. But we three know that's not what gives a city life. What New York was...what it still is...is a place where anything could be done. Where anything could happen." The cigar smoke starts to hang a little lower in the air - not much in the way of ventilation back here. Dr. Epoch narrows his eyes, mostly in response to the smoke. He hesitantly lights his own cigar, purely in imitation, and clenches it between his teeth, supressing the desire to cough while Carter talks. Stephanos sits quietly, and smokes. He takes to blowing small rings in the air. Silence is his response, though his eyes fall upon Carter as he listens. Carter's Southern drawl envelops the room. "This was the place where it got done. Because this was one of the wardrooms of the Society of Saint Tammany...Tammany Hall." He pauses. "And nobody but Tammany could really help us - because our quest is shot through with the things Tammany surrounded itself with." He grasps the cigar between his long lanky fingers and counts off on them. "The name Tammany...a chief of the Delaware Indians - and the Native Americans figure highly in the dreams of the West that are our destination. Tammany Hall was the first to reach out to the disenfranchised immigrants, after bitter infighting...the judges would naturalize them at Ellis Island...Lia's other stronghold, also now sealed...and then register them Democratic. Lia's own Irish forbears were among those who Tammany courted. And Tammany could do -anything-. It's power was -absolute-. If -anyone- could get us to the dream of New York, directly, -now-." his voice rings out sharply. "The Society could." The noise of the pub rises outside slightly. The smoke descends a little heavier on the room. Dr. Epoch looks up, like naturally something was supposed to descend besides the smoke. He squints and coughs cigar smoke and looks back towards Carter. You say "So we're back here smoking these cigars...because that's how Tammany operated. We have to cut a deal. And there's only one thing that Tammany really wanted." Stephanos puffs again, hazarding, "What's that?" The noise outside rises to a crescendo - it sounds like a fight, almost. Carter lowers his hand to the boxes. "Votes." You say "Which we have deliv..." Carter is interrupted by the door flying open (what happened to the lock?) A boy of no more than 16 stands there, trembling with excitement, dressed in ragged finery, like an unemployed usher. "Come on, gents!" he shouts. "Tommy Emmett and the micks is tearing up the Long Room!" Then he disappears from the door. There's no pub outside - its a stairway down. Stephanos arches a brow, and clamps the cigar between his teeth, grabbing one of the pieces of equipment. Carter leaves the boxes and hoists his duffel up on his shoulder. "Emmett...one of the first Irish Tammany leaders. Let's see if we can find a back way out. C'mon, Epoch." Dr. Epoch takes the cigar firmly out of his mouth and looks at Carter, grinning. He slings the canvas sack carrying the toolbag over one shoulder. "Lead on, Carter.." he mutters. The staircase descends and winds and eventually the part comes face to face with a large oak door across which has been stencilled 'Imigration' in large black text. Beside the door, on the wall, is a glass holder containing a number of forms, clearly labelled 1 through 3, and each in triplicate. There are two m's in the 'Immigration.' Carter seems relieved that the fight noises are fading behind them. "I'd rather not get -too- involved with the fight over Aaron Burr if I can at all help it." he joshes. When he comes to the door, he takes a form and pats down his pockets for a pencil. Being a teacher, he naturally finds one. Stephanos looks puzzled at that, and follows suit with Carter, withdrawing a pen of his own. "Guess we have to fill out the forms, eh?" Dr. Epoch obviously doesn't get Carter's reference. He looks at the door, then at the forms. He reaches for the handle and tests it. "It's not locked," he mutters. He obviously isn't looking forward to filling out forms. The forms appear to be immigration forms, though the years are not consistent. Some are from 1998 while others are much simpler and much earlier, reaching as far back as the early 19th century. Stephanos says "Locked or not, it's probably better if we play it safe. Can't help Lia much if we're a paste on the floor." Dr. Epoch furrows his brow. "Fine," he mutters, and grabs some forms and a pen from an outside pocket on his jacket. Carter takes a little stack of forms for himself. "Well." he says. "That's certainly a thought." He squints at them. "'Place of Origin'. Earth, I guess. The World. Or do they mean Memphis?" Dr. Epoch fills out the easy parts first. "Do I own any cattle? Are any of my relatives landed?" He looks at Carter. Stephanos chuckles. "Who knows? Technically, our place of origin is the dreams of mortals..." You say "Um. No and no, I think." You say "I'll put Memphis." You say "Do I have any fruit to declare? Nnnnno." Dr. Epoch mutters, "but I'm already -American-.." He furrows his brow and shrugs to himself, filling out the forms as accurately as possible. He seems to have gotten a somewhat older one, and fills it out quickly. Of course he's probably used to filling out long lists of appearingly-useless information. Stephanos hehs, looking at his own form, which he fills out as best he can. A few spaces go blank, as they apparantly don't apply. Carter grins as he signs his name with a flourish. "An auspicious start? Maybe? We're at least at the right country, which we wouldn't be if we'd use d any of those -castles-." Dr. Epoch reads his form again, and checks to make sure the carbon got the rest through to the other two copies. Dr. Epoch looks around. "So.. everyone ready?" Dr. Epoch scratches at his hair absently. Carter nods. "I think so." Stephanos nods as well, lifting the equipment again, and folding a copy of his papers into his pocket. "Let's go." Carter throws the duffel over his shoulder again. Dr. Epoch checks to make sure Stephanos isn't still writing. "Right," he mutters. "Well, here goes.." He reaches forward and twists the handle, yanking the door open. He furrows his brow and looks into the entrance, muttering, "Carter.. I don't think this particular entrance has been used in awhile." The entire doorframe is completely full of papers and more papers and copies of papers and envelopes made out of paper and slips of paper and written-on paper and official documentation of paper. Epoch just stares at it as it begins to tumble down into the empty stairwell, much like paper would normally do if you opened a closet full of it. For some reason you hear the sound of the ocean. Carter blinks at it. "Well...Tammany -has- been gone for a long time. Maybe the paperwork backed up." he says somewhat at a loss. He eases a thin arm through the mass of paper very gently, trying to avoid paper cuts but trying to see what else is beyond the door. Stephanos just stares. He blinks a few times too, watching the surge of paper. "That... was... odd." Dr. Epoch barely keeps his footing as the paper piles in, though it does not get above knee height. However, looking in through the doorway only finds more papers, up and down, as if there were no floor. The majority of the papers are forms similar to those everyone has just filled out. Some are stamped 'approved', others 'denied', and there is the occasional letter of complaint or recommendation. Stephanos picks up one of the stray sheets, looking it over. "Wonder where the clerk is...." he comments absently. Through the sound of the rustling of papers, there is still the sound of water, though not running water: it is precisely the sound you might hear listening to a seashell. Dr. Epoch puts down his bag and opens it, taking out the Inter-Dimensional Glamometer and activating it. It looks almost identical to the normal one he uses. "Well," he whispers, "this is definitely part of the Chimerical Dimension.." Carter pauses. "Listen to that." he says. "I think I know where we are. I think this is Ellis Island. Do you think we can get through?" He gestures to the pool of paper. "There should be air down there...it's not that densely packed...it's just a matter of finding the shore." Dr. Epoch sticks his head through the door. "But which way is up?" Carter frowns a little at his duffel. "I hadn't anticipated swimming. This might be too heavy. Well, up is up...." Carter is not totally convinced of his own words... Dr. Epoch tests the papers with his foot. "It's pretty closely packed.. it might be more like digging. Stephanos just looks confused. "Must be. But if we're near Ellis..." he shakes his head. "Well, I guess the best way to find out would be to just push through. Unless of course you want to wait around for someone to look over our... papers." Carter says wryly, "Digging through paperwork is ninety percent of my job." He takes a small length of cord out of his backpack. "Here...loop this through your belts...I'll go first. This way even if the papers come down between us...and it looks like it will...we won't get separated." Stephanos nods, and does so, tying it rather tightly to his belt. "I'll go in last?" Dr. Epoch takes the cord and follows orders, passing the rest of the length to Stephanos. "Unfortunately compasses rarely seem to work in this dimension.." Carter nods. "That's no problem. Once we get to where there's sky, we just follow the sunset." With that, he shoves himself into the mass of paper. Dr. Epoch follows suit, canvas sack over one shoulder, eyes squinted. Stephanos picks up the cooler again, and dives in after Epoch, pushing his way through the papers. Near Dreaming -- The Isle of the Whale(#7077RCJh) The interlocking gridwork of the urban maze breaks, interrupted by a white sea of papers, and circles the Isle of the Whale like an ornate crown. The island itself is long and thin, perhaps half a mile at its widest and two miles in length. In it, embedded like a spine, sits the Belly of the Whale, an enormous, abandoned skeleton of bone in a world of steel. The giant rib-bones sharpen into the sky as they trace the length of the island, twin horns of the earth on a centipede's back. A desolate moon streaks the scene with misfortune, full but too small in a tiny corner of the sky. A wind whistles through the belly, stirring papers on the surface of the sea with a hollow, rushing sound. The air here is very cold, and smells faintly of the sea. *extensive +views* Contents: Dr. Epoch has arrived. Stephanos has arrived. Gravity asserts itself immediately once everyone is through the door, and for once Carter is wrong: down is up. However, though this might cause some troubles, eventually it is not too hard to break through to the surface. LiaOOC has arrived. Carter rolls out of the paper. "Well, that was unexpected." he says. Stephanos nods. "Quite." he straightens, and whistles lowly. "Interesting place." Dr. Epoch struggles up onto shore, shedding papers off like dust. Dr. Epoch looks at the skeleton, here on the shore of the long, bare Island. "Wow," he whispers. Carter rises and looks around, shading his eyes against (the moon?) He looks mostly at the grid of the city. "We're too late. It's night. I'm not sure which way is west..." he pauses a little. Dr. Epoch whispers, "I don't know how well that would have worked anyway, Carter.. there's another place I know where the sun is constantly setting." Carter nods slightly. Buildings Surrounding the paper ocean, enormous skeletons of buildings sprout out of the ground, looming over everything, but casting no shadows. The buildings are not fully-fleshed, but instead empty constructs of steel girders that glow and glisten silver in an invisible sunshine light. They are both monstrous and majestic, beautiful by any standard and seductive: promises of gold and jewels and power go unspoken in the invisible boardrooms. The buildings are also hideously complex, however, a trapping maze of traffic-jam dreams: each building intersects with the others, sharing floors, support beams, intertwining elevators and escalators and fire escapes, and the unwary traveller is easily lost. Carter seems to pick out a few landmarks among the buildings, though, easily getting bearings among the chaos. "What's that shack over there?" As your eyes adjust to the moonlight, a small shanty can be made out in the belly of the whale: a shack built of wood worn thin by seasalt. A light emenates from the single window and door; a small warmth in the cool night air of the ocean. Dr. Epoch looks over to where the shack rests in the belly of the skeleton (we are near the head, I suppose.) Stephanos says "Well, this has to be one of the strangest places I've seen yet..." The shack is maybe a quarter mile off, on a slight rise of ground, beside the long spine of the whale, if it was indeed a whale. Dr. Epoch scratches at his hair. "Get used to it," he mutters. The little light through the shack window flickers softly. Carter drawls, "As my English teacher used to say, you ain't seen nothin' yet." He unties the cord and collects it from the pair. "Let's go see what that light is. Maybe we can get directions." Stephanos shrugs, taking a few steps in the direction of the shack. "Already am." Dr. Epoch looks at the two of you, shrugs, and follows suit. The shack is eventually reached: approaching along the spine it is obviously a very small thing, smaller than any modern house. It is made out of wood in the shanty style, like something you would find ten miles out of Mexico City. Stephanos mms quietly, his eyes ever watchful. "As Alice would say: curiouser and curiouser." Dr. Epoch continues to follow Stephanos. There is little sound that can be heard from the shack, only the rustling of the paper around the island. Stephanos shrugs at you both, and walks up to the door of the shack, and knocks upon it. Carter is apparently still trying to get his bearings. He decides on something, then returns his attention to the shack. There is the sound of shuffling movement from inside, approaching the door. After a moment, the door swings open to reveal a grizzly old man -- he is probably forty but looks much older -- with gray hair and bit of stubble. His features are eastern european, very grave, but his eyes are friendly. He laughs, gravelly, when he sees the group. "Come in, come in!" He says, almost too loudly, and his accent is slavic and thick. He motions everyone in to the hut with a sweep of his arm. Carter smiles. "Thank you, sir." He puts down the duffel just inside the door and goes in. Stephanos follows after Carter, and sets down Epoch's device near Carter's duffel. "Yep. Thanks. A bit chilly out there." Dr. Epoch also puts his stuff down. He doesn't say anything, though, just follows and looks vaguely critical of the universe. The inside of the hut is warm, if nothing else, heated by an old wood stove which seems well-stoked. Besides that there is thin-mattressed bed covered in few linens and two chairs which appear fashioned out of drift-wood. The man motions for everyone to take a seat, indicating both the bed and the chairs. "Please.. sit.. come in.." he says, his tone friendly and eager. "It is so good to have.. visitors." He speaks slowly with his heavy accent. Carter sits down. "It's good to be here. We just arrived." Stephanos takes a seat on one of the chairs, and takes a water bottle from his backpack, drinking from it. "Nice little island." he says easily. Dr. Epoch takes the bed, sitting near the foot and leaning back against the wall. Carter's charmingest smile seeps off his lips. "We're headed west." he says. "If we can find the way." The man nods in grave understanding of your situation, "it has been.. some time.. since there have been visitors." He does not yet sit down, crossing over to a small, fashioned cupboard near the stove. "Would any of you like.. something to drink?" He offers what must be a whiskey bottle of some sort around. Carter nods. "Ah, thank you. Just a nip." he says, seemingly pleased. Stephanos sets his own bottle aside - whiskey or water.. tough call when it's cold. He smiles, gesturing to Carter. "Let the old man have the first drink." he teases. Carter rolls his eyes. "Thanks. Kid." He sips the whiskey-esque liquid gently. "Here you go." He nods his appreciation to the old chimera. The man has already taken his drink, wiping the mouth of the bottle on his sleeve and handing it to Carter, then sitting heavily on the bed beside Epoch. Dr. Epoch looks sideways at the fellow then averts his eyes. Obviously he can't think of anything to say, leaving the talking to his smooth-tongued companions. Stephanos takes the bottle from Carter with a wink. He sips at it, then offers it to Epoch. "Now that's a nice feeling. Warm." he smiles again, glancing to the aged man. "Care to give us the honor of your name?" "I do not know," the man says, seeming troubled by Stephanos' question, accent a tad thicker with the whiskey, perhaps. "I think I lost it quite some time ago.. somewhere in the ocean. I have not been able to find it again.." Dr. Epoch accepts the bottle and takes a small sip, wiping the mouth off again on his coatsleeve and handing it to the man beside him. The man smiles and says, "you can call me Hank, if you like.." he says. "Hank is a very American name, don't you think?" Carter nods. "Absolutely. Like Hank Aaron." he says firmly. "I'm Carter, like the President. This is Enoch and Stephanos." he drawls politely. The man endeavors to shake everyone's hand. His own hands are large and callused, and his grip is strong like a worker's. Carter shakes the hand in a wholly ingratiating and friendly way, like meeting strangers is something he has a lot of practice at. Stephanos does the same, though his handshake is accompanied by a slight bow of the head. Dr. Epoch shakes hands like he'd rather not, but it's obviously the friendly thing to do. The man seems infinitely pleased by the hand-shaking and the introductions, his eyes very enthusiastic. He smiles, then, like he knows something none of you do, "Ah.. but I see you are already Americans.." he says, and then this seems to trouble him, "but then.. why are you here?" He looks around for an explanation. Carter smiles. "We're heading west, like I say...and we just actually arrived here. We've travelled a long way. We're following someone."