Thursday- Somewhere Near Serenity Cove

[mother_love]

 

Anyone who might have chanced to pass near Serenity Cove that morning may have been treated to the strange site of someone laying out at the beach, arms stretched out to either side, staring up into the clear sky overhead.

Don’t worry. A dead body hadn’t washed up on shore, though it was only by some strange island intervention that hadn’t ended up being the case.

Billy lay on the beach, staring up the sky, still trying to wrap his mind around what had happened and how he had ended up where he was. As he lay there, the ocean drenched clothes he wore slowly drying, he reassured himself again that he was very much alive, though the how of that fact still escaped him.

The last thing he remembered was sailing out from Cancun in his boat after getting a few more supplies and fueling up. He had gone over his plan multiple times and knew the route. Cancun to Havana to hide out for a little while then off to the main Bahama Island. From there the plan was to just island hop for however long he needed to stay off any radars and not get noticed.  He planned to eventually settle down either on one of the islands or eventually head to the Florida Keys if he felt brave enough to set foot on American soil again.

That had been the plan, but that was not at all what had happened.  Exactly what happened Billy still didn’t quite know. The last thing eh remembered was being about half way to Havana when a freak storm came out of nowhere. There had been clear weather predicted for that first leg of the trip so Billy was caught a bit off guard by it all. He had been sure the little houseboat he was on was about to go under and then everything went black.

 

When he woke up everything was quiet. No deafening roar of wind or crashing waves. Just the gentle creaking of the boat and the cry of gulls overhead. Billy had no idea where he was or how he had survived the storm. What he did know was miraculously he was alive and his boat was not sinking and that was good enough for him at that moment.

Seeing land right in front of him, Billy realized his boat had run aground partly. After giving the absolutely trashed insides a quick check and not seeing any signs of water coming in, he made his way onto the shore and collapsed onto the sand, his mind trying and still failing to process everything that had happened. Wherever he was, it certainly wasn’t Mexico and it sure didn’t look like anyplace tropical for sure.

“You really got yourself into a mess again this time, didn’t you?” he muttered to himself as he lay there in the sand for a little longer before finally getting back to his feet. He could see a few buildings from where he was so at least he knew he hadn’t washed up on a deserted island- this time. “Where the hell am I even?” he asked as he looked around the beach.

[post is totally open for anyone who wants to welcome the newest island resident]

Comments

[notagoose]

Goose was out for his normal morning run around the island and slowed when he had spotted someone sprawled out on the beach. He started towards them but then noticed they had been able to stand so figured they couldn’t be too hurt but he thought he’d check to be on the safe side.

“You’re in Fandom,” he said helpfully, catching the last bit as he approached.

[mother_love]

Billy gave a slight jump of surprise as he turned to face who had spoken. He was taken aback for a moment just just by the fact someone had managed to sneak up on him (blame the traumatic ordeal he had just been through) but also that he was looking at someone who for once was actually taller than he was.

"And where exactly is that?" Billy asked, his hand instinctively going to the sleeve of the loose long sleeve shirt he was wearing and giving it a slight tug to make sure his tattoo was covered. "Please tell me that is some new island or something out in the Bahamas..." He wasn't going to hold his breath on that last one. His luck wasn't that good.

[notagoose]

“Sorry, It’s off the coast of Maryland,” he told Billy, he paused and added because it was Fandom, “and it’s also 2021 here,”

[mother_love]

Billy stared at him for a moment, not fully able to believe or process what he had just said. He started for a few awkward moments then chuckled and shook his head.

"Ok yeah. Sure. You are either drunk or high, because there is no way I went from being off the coast of Mexico to being in Maryland. And you are out of your mind if you think I am going to believe you that its 2021! It's 2003."

[notagoose]

“Oh,” Goose blinked and realised he’d not had to explain Fandom to someone else before.

“Right so Fandom’s like a multidimensional hub I guess is the best way to describe it,” he said, “people are from all over here, different times and galaxies,” he paused, “I’m from West Australia myself, it’s 2106 for me back home,”

[mother_love]

"Right. Sure it is..." Billy said rubbing the bridge of his nose. He wasn't buying any of it but had dealt with enough strung out weirdos while running around Cancun for the last few years to know nodding and going with it usually worked. "And you said the place is called Fandom?"



[[nothing personal Goose... you just got a very shell-shocked jaded Billy sitting on the beach right now. XD]]

[notagoose]

He nodded, “The towns based around the school, I teach engineering up there,” he explained, “I’m Shane Gooseman,” he offered, “most people call me Goose,”

(it’s all good. He completely understands :))

[mother_love]

"Billy" he said simply holding a hand out. Best to at least play nice with the locals until he could find a way to get back on track.

[notagoose]

Goose shook the offered hand, “it’s a lot to take in at first,” he said, “I’d say you get used to it but I was a student here as well before, I graduated last year in 2014 but seven years passed in the year I was gone,” that was not helping Goose.

[mother_love]

"Riiiight.... At least it's not affecting aging when pulling people back and forth."

Billy stopped for a moment as his mind finally caught up to the calculations of what that would have meant for him in his time.

"Wait... I'm not old an grey am I?" he asked, realizing that a nearly 18 year time jump would have made him about 50 years old.

[notagoose]

"No, you're not old and grey," Goose assured him, at least assuming he wasn't old because Goose wasn't the best judge of people's ages since he had stopped growing at 13, "as far as I'm aware people stay the same age they were when they leave their own time to come to Fandom,"

[mother_love]

"Well that's good" Billy said, partly because he wasn't in any hurry to see what being 50 was like. But also because if he was supposed to be 50 at this point and still looked like he was in in 30's would make staying off the radar even easier.

"So, other than odd (obviously) what's the island like?" There was a big difference between someplace like Cancun and a small island in the middle of no where. And Billy wanted to be at least somewhat prepared in case he ended up being here for a while still.

[notagoose]

“It’s actually not that bad when you get used to it, it's pretty quiet most of the time,” Goose admitted, “most people here are friendly and understanding, I suppose it helps being a small town,”

[mother_love]

"Good to know" Billy said with a nod. "Not sure how long I will be staying around, but maybe I will see you in town."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel was headed for the mainland when he spotted someone unfamiliar and a half-beached boat.

"Pretty sure those are supposed to go in the water," he said with a wave at the boat.

[mother_love]

"No, really? Guess I have been doing it wrong these past five years then," Billy said with a dry sarcastic tone. He stopped his inspection of the boat to see how stuck it really was and glanced at the man standing in front of him for a moment. "Want to be useful and tell a guy where he's ended up getting beached?"

[what_the_shock]

"Fandom island," Miguel said. "Where are you coming from?"

[mother_love]

"Cancun" Billy said simply. "And Fandom is nowhere near where I was trying to get to... definitely not tropical enough."

[what_the_shock]

"Yeah, no. You're a couple thousand miles off course for that; we're just off Baltimore. But hey, a lot fewer mosquitos and you didn't even have to go through customs."

[mother_love]

"Right..." Billy said, starting to roll his eyes, then he looked at Miguel. "Wait. You're serious? Baltimore, Maryland? How the hell did that happen? Last I remember was being about 100 miles off the coast of Mexico."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel shrugged. "Go through any portals on your way? The island likes to steal people."

[mother_love]

"None that I know of.... Last I remember was hitting a freak storm. Pretty sure I was starting to sink at that point. Next thing I know, I'm waking up here on this beach."

Billy was silent a minute, his brains till trying to process everything. I mean, he had seen monsters and creatures and things he had never thought possible. So strange things could happen...but this was a bit much right? He sighed and he turned his attention away from his boat for a moment.

"So...would this people-stealing island also be able to mess with time at all?" Billy you were being crazy paranoid now. "I mean, it's still 2003 right?"

[what_the_shock]

"2021," Miguel answered. "Don't worry about it; it was 2099 when I left home. Oh, and it's October, if that makes a difference; you'll probably want cold-weather clothes before long."

[mother_love]

Well, at least some version of the world survives to 2099 Billy thought to himself. That was something to be glad for at least.

"Ah, thanks. I'm assuming the island has the basics and all?"

[what_the_shock]

"T&C," Miguel pointed in its direction, "has just about everything. There's also a clothing store," pointing toward it, "if you need more selection. And there's a causeway to Baltimore if your boat doesn't work. Need help with that?"

[mother_love]

Billy nodded, and glanced over at the small houseboat.

"Motor's dead from getting flooded. Not seeing any leaks though so that's good. Won't say no to a hand getting her off the beach though. Will figure out where to moor up later. Think between the two of us we might be able to manage it."

[what_the_shock]

"Sure. There's a small port over that way," Miguel said. "If you can't fix the motor, maybe we could get Sidon to tow you."

He cocked his head at the boat. "Is it better to lift or just push?"

[mother_love]

"Looks like it's just the nose of the boat that got beached. Should be fine to just push. If you're good to push, I'll get along side to keep it from jackknifing it if gets hung up in the sand or anything."

Billy paused for a moment before a hint of a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth and he held a hand out.

"Name's Billy, by the way."

[what_the_shock]

"Miguel." He shook Billy's hand. "Sure, I can push. Don't you need to be on it, though, so it doesn't just drift off?"

[mother_love]

"Miguel, nice to meet ya. And I got one of the tow lines secured," he said jutting a thumb towards one of the few rocky outcrops on that stretch of shore. "Should be enough for now till I can see if the engine can be fixed."

[what_the_shock]

"Great." Miguel nodded. "Let me know when you're ready, then."

[mother_love]

Billy nodded and waded into the water, double checking the rope before getting into position.

"Alright, give her a shove and see if she budges at all" Billy said.

[what_the_shock]

Miguel smirked at that, pushed gently with one hand to get a feel for how heavy the boat was, then dug his feet into the sand and pushed it off the beach with just a little effort.

[mother_love]

Billy glanced up as the boat suddenly started to move, blinking in surprise at how soon it was free and floating at the end of the tow line.

"Thanks. You must be a lot stronger than you look" Billy admitted as he made his way out of the water. "I had tried earlier and couldn't get it to budge!"

[what_the_shock]

"That's me," Miguel agreed. "You build up a lot of muscles lifting diner menus and making coffee."

[mother_love]

Billy caught a hint of sarcasm there. "Well, appreciate the help. I'm not planning on hanging around too long (famous last words there buddy) if I can get this motor fixed easily enough. But I may run into ya again before then. Will try and swing by your diner before then at least."

[what_the_shock]

"Luke's," Miguel said, hooking a thumb in its direction. "There's also the Perk for coffee, if you just need that. There's also a hotel and a couple apartment buildings if you're looking for a room or shower." Because yeah, you were here, you were probably staying.

[mother_love]

"Thanks, might be worth looking into until I get things back in working order here," he said with a nod towards the boat.

[what_the_shock]

Miguel looked at him skeptically. "You have a shower on that thing?"

[mother_love]

"It passes as a shower. When things work at least" Billy added, giving a sideways scowl towards the motor at the back of the boat. "Been living on it part time for the last few years so its manageable. Nice for the privacy and everything now and then. Though... an actual shower sounds nice, won't lie."

[what_the_shock]

"Yeah, I'm gonna fall on the side of convenient hygiene," Miguel said. "Also a bed that doesn't rock."

He'd put holes in a waterbed once. Not his finest moment.

"You have local currency?"

[mother_love]

He had a point there.... the boat had been mostly a necessity because of his situation back in Mexico. But a real bed. That was something he definitely wouldn't be upset about enjoying for a change.

"Ah well, considering I left Mexico and planned on hanging out in Cuba and then the Bahamas that would be a no. This place got a bank or will it be the mainland for that?"

[what_the_shock]

"We've got a bank," Miguel answered. "It's..." He stopped to think, then pointed. "That way. Unicorn and Loon. They'll exchange pretty much anything, and living here's cheap from what I'm told." He had no real frame of reference in this time period.

[mother_love]

Billy nodded. "Thanks. I... I appreciate the help."

It felt really odd. He hadn't talked to anyone this long, outside one of his clients, in a while. And even then, those had been strictly business. A actual semi-normal conversation, that had not happened in a while.

[what_the_shock]

"No problem," Miguel assured him. "I work the diner on Saturdays, so drop by if you need anything." He grinned. "And definitely ask around for Sidon if you need help with your boat."

[mother_love]

"Right. Sidon, will ask for him," Billy said with a nod. "And I'll be sure to stop by the diner before I head out," he said with a faint grin.

[what_the_shock]

"Sounds good." Miguel raised a hand to wave as he headed out. "Welcome to the madhouse!"