The Causeway, Friday Morning

[shiroi_tiger]

Have you ever had one of those days? The sort of day where nothing quite goes right, where what you think you're doing is spring cleaning, you've got an armload of everything from old clothes to journals to a sword and you're minding your own business when suddenly you realize that the room that you were going to move your belongings to was suddenly much more open than you had expected?

And drafty?

And in the wrong corner of both time and space, while you were clad in traditional Japanese casual garb that was even considered mostly outdated in the year 1885?

Because Captain Nathan Algren was apparently having one of those days, having stepped out from the hallway into America with an armload of mementos and old laundry he had no intention of ever wearing again. And when he turned around with wide eyes to see where in the world his world had gone, all he saw was the rest of the Causeway leading to the mainland, and the last vanishing remains of what had apparently been a surprise portal.

"Fandom," he muttered, shaking his head and turning to look back toward the island again. "I had hoped you might have gotten this out of your system."

At least it was a small island. He could make his way into town, figure out which way was up, and then maybe see about arranging a way to get back home through Portalocity.

"You couldn't have at least waited until I was carrying an armload with shoes?"

All while barefoot. Wasn't it great to be back?

[OOC: HE'S BACK. I've missed him, shh don't judge me. Open post is open, but of course he's going to wind up at the picnic, too.]

Comments

[wefindintheashes]

Well, he was certainly taking this well. Goodnight, on the other hand was sort of frozen up as he looked at the island and the... shoeless fella.

Hey, if your last memory was getting shot by a gating gun and dramatically falling off a roof, you would be confused too.

Which he was. Deeply confused.

At least he had his horse with him for some reason, though.

[shiroi_tiger]

Nathan had managed all of three steps before noticing the horse. It was a horse. It was difficult to miss. Why couldn't the island have grabbed him while he was out riding his horse? At least then he'd have shoes.

It was remarkable how many of those thoughts played out on his face before he looked up to notice that the horse also came with a terribly bemused looking man who was clearly more out of his depth than Nathan was, here. Nathan was used to this nonsense, after all. Man-on-the-Horse wasn't quite so likely to be.

"You're looking a little lost," he offered. Shoelessly.

[wefindintheashes]

"I have died and gone to hell," Goody informed him with dramatic conviction.

This precious, lil swamp rat.

[shiroi_tiger]

At that, Nathan had to pause and give a look around. Bright, shining sun. Sparkling ocean stretching out to either side of them. A midwinter chill in the air.

"I can see how you might draw that conclusion," he noted, a touch dryly. "What with all of the brimstone and fire."

Nathan. Be nice. You and Goody were going to be spending a lot of time together soon.

[wefindintheashes]

Bonding over how much they hated certain commanders...

"I will pass that on to Dante the first chance I get," Goody muttered, getting down from his horse. "You'll have to excuse me, I'm having a terribly trying day."

[shiroi_tiger]

Nathan glanced down at his armload of things, and then up at the man who was standing before him. Back down. Up again.

"This place seems like a magnet for trying days." Nathan, you really had no idea. "I'm guessing ending up here wasn't part of your plan when you woke up this morning?"

[wefindintheashes]

"Not particularly," Goody replied, removing his hat. "My apologies. A bad start is no excuse for poor manners. Goodnight Robicheaux is my name. Do you need help with your... luggage?"

Yeah, that was a stretch.

[shiroi_tiger]

And once again, Nathan was looking down at his armload of assorted... stuff. He wrinkled his nose a bit and then huffed out something that vaguely resembled a laugh as he shook his head.

"Your manners are at least slightly better than mine, apparently," he offered, catching himself halfway into a polite bow before clearing his throat and straightening himself up again. "I'm Nathan Algren. And I should be able to handle my..." Sure, why not? "... luggage."

Laundry, some books, and a sword. Luggage.

"But I appreciate the offer."

[wefindintheashes]

"Your outfit is a bit... peculiar," Goody ventured. "Are you from here, Mr. Algren?"

[shiroi_tiger]

Okay, at that, Nathan had to huff out a laugh.

"I'm from plenty of places. Here. California. Dakota Territory. Kansas. The clothes are from Japan," he explained, "where I've been living for the past six years. This... this isn't Japan."

He was less enthusiastic about being here, for a start.

[wefindintheashes]

"You've been in Japan? Well I'll be damned," Goody replied. "Where is this then?"

[shiroi_tiger]

"Maryland," Nathan sighed, shaking his head. "Sort of. A little island off the coast of Maryland, more like it. The island is called Fandom, unless I'm completely off."

He looked back toward the castle.

"I really don't think I'm off."

[wefindintheashes]

Yeah, Goody followed his gaze back to the castle.

"Maryland."

Uh huh.

[shiroi_tiger]

"Would you rather it actually was Hell?"

Because Goodnight, it was probably just a matter of time before Fandom obliged.

[wefindintheashes]

"I have not yet made up my mind," Goody admitted.

[shiroi_tiger]

"... I can respect that," Nathan decided. "The last time I found myself here, I was a 'man overboard' somewhere in the middle of the Pacific. I don't pretend that this place makes any sense. It's easier that way."

[wefindintheashes]

"I was in California last I knew." Which made this an interesting trek across the country. "You wouldn't happen to have seen anyone else this way?"

Asian. Liked knives a lot. Hard to miss him.

[shiroi_tiger]

Goody, Algren had known a lot of Asian men who liked knives a lot. Did you see the sword he was carrying?

"You're the first I've seen since getting here," he replied with a shake of his head. He was almost sorry to disappoint. "All of... ten minutes ago. I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help in that regard."

[wefindintheashes]

Yeah, but were any of them dressed like a cowboy? Were they?

Goody nodded, running his fingers through his hair before replacing the hat there. "My thanks, Mr. Algren. I think I might have need of finding a livery in town."

If his horse could manage the stairs.

[shiroi_tiger]

Nathan was maybe not going to mention the stairs, just yet. Poor horse. The Cavalryman in him was wincing already.

"You're probably looking for the Gig, then," he offered, nodding in the appropriate direction. "That would be down... Galactica Drive, if I'm remembering correctly. It's been some time, and I don't know if they have room to spare. Not a bad starting point, though."

[wefindintheashes]

Goody took a breath, looking at the awful hike ahead of them.

"My thanks again," he replied. Wait until he saw all the modern insanity up there. Just you wait. "Never thought there's be a castle in Maryland."

[shiroi_tiger]

"The castle isn't even the strange part," Nathan replied, looking thoughtfully toward town.

Yeah, not a great walk for a horse or a man in sock feet with a hitch in his step. Race you there, Goody.

"I've been out of touch with Western civilization for a while. I don't suppose you'd be able to tell me what year it is?"

Nathan, you weasel.

[wefindintheashes]

Oh god, did they have different years in Asia? Why didn't Billy tell him that?!

"1879, last I checked," Goody said, giving him such a confused look.

[shiroi_tiger]

Sorry, Goody. Nathan was shrugging his shoulders almost apologetically. Almost. Because he really was a little weasel.

"I'm not that far off, then," he mused. As if that was meant to make any sort of sense. He had a good six years on Goody back home. And Fandom... he shot the other man a sideways sort of look. "You're taking Maryland in stride well enough, all things considered. I'll give you the option, if you want me to tell you something even crazier."

He'd find out eventually, but this way nobody could say Nathan didn't warn him.

[wefindintheashes]

He hadn't decided if he was dead or this was an opium induced hallucination yet, Nathan!

"Last I recall was being shot to death by the devil's watering pot," Goody replied, sounding a little put out by all this pussy-footing around. "Waking up in Maryland with a damned castle may be the least of my worries."