ⅉ 001 ] [ these city streets

[seriously]

One minute she'd been walking to her apartment, then next she was on a street she didn't recognize. Stopping short, she took a few steps backward, glancing up at the building and shaking her head. Definitely not her apartment.

Also, not night. This was clearly day.

She knew she'd had a drink at the art -- sorry the installation, but she hadn't

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[doctorofdeath]

There were a few good things about this place so far: Maura had made a few acquaintances, people who seemed to like her, despite the complex and quirky personality she knew herself to have; she'd been introduced to a wonderful cafe, which had made her feel a little more at home; and she'd been able to procure a job as a medical examiner, something which offered the supreme comfort to her.

But Jane wasn't here, and the more she saw the bad things about this city, the more she was concurrently glad for it, and...not so glad. Only just this morning, she'd had a run-in with someone on her way to work, a man who was clearly part of the Chicago Liberation Front she'd been warned about. He hadn't been violent, but it was an unpleasant encounter; harsh words, an angry tone, the threat of violence. It was all a stark reminder that this city had many dangerous elements, and she needed to be on her guard.

The last person she expected to see on her way to grab a sandwich was Jane.

Was it really?

"...Jane?"

[seriously]

Okay, so arresting a cop -- not the best way to make a good impression on this city, but for the most part - one mistake out of the way, Jane was just glad to know that it was Chicago and that things could be worse.

She spent most the afternoon trying to call out with her phone, but apparently the whole 'different' Chicago comment was more accurate than Jane wanted to acknowledge. Exhaling, deeply, she ran her hand through her hair as she turned around. Chicago at least was still a big city and she could orientate herself easily that way.

What she didn't expect to hear was a familiar voice, but when she heard it there was a twinge of relief that came over her.

"Maura?" She replied with the same amount of doubt in her tone, turning to glance to where the voice had come from.

[doctorofdeath]

It really, truly was Jane.

"Jane!" Maura hurried forward, wrapping her arms around Jane swiftly, and embracing her with the kind of force usually reserved for those moments after surviving something particularly harrowing. "I was worried that you were merely a hallucination created by mind to assuage the void of your absence." When she finally loosened her hold and pulled back, she still kept her hands on Jane's forearms.

"You are very much not a sensory illusion." And then she smiled. "It's good to see you."

[seriously]

The hug wasn't unexpected, but it also wasn't unappreciated. She felt like she had been taking crazy pills and now at least she wasn't quite so alone. Her arms surrounded Maura, as well, holding tight to the embrace and trying not to let it show just how concerned she was now that Maura was stuck in Chicago too.

Then the words came and she really felt like this was real.

"Yeah, I kinda got that whole worried I wasn't real part with the hug, Maura." That was said with actual, genuine effort to not sound upset with her situation, because to be honest, now she wasn't alone.

Jane smiled at her friend though, the relief easy to see on her features, "It's good to see you too. This place is insane. I tried to arrest a guy... I know - I know, not even in my jurisdiction, but he was a cop. So, I am not winning any points so far."

[doctorofdeath]

Everything about Jane felt so real that it simply had to be. It wasn't until Jane started speaking that she was completely reassured in that regard. This was her best friend, for certain. And she wouldn't have her any other way.

"Actually, many of the inhabitants are mentally unbalanced, though the city itself is not," Maura pointed out. "Who was the man you attempted to arrest?"

Maura looked around, just to be sure no one unsavory was near them. "Jane, there are rather extraordinary creatures here: angels, demons, I-I've actually spoken with an angel of Death. His name is Charlie, he's really quite interesting." She paused. "I hadn't realized how unsafe this place was, though, when I first arrived. I was instructed to carry a gun with me." Maura felt confident that she could carry one, and use it to protect herself. Which was something she apparently needed to worry about here.

[seriously]

Jane was sort of paying attention, but to be honest she wasn't sure what part of Maura's conversation was the most important part. Their friendship had made Jane a selective hearing expert and when she heard demons plus guns, her entire disposition shifted.

Her body moved in closer to her friend, words being expressed through nearly clenched teeth, "Maura! You're carrying a gun?"

[doctorofdeath]

Of course, Maura didn't see anything particularly wrong about that. Not that she liked having to carry one, but that was the reality they found themselves in, and she was prepared to take care of herself. Besides, Detective Flack had insisted, and he seemed to know what he was talking about.

The concept of such violent groups being around them, wanting to do harm to herself and other Wanderers, was hard to completely grasp, but she didn't want to be completely helpless, or reliant upon others.

She frowned. "I was warned about a group in particular, known as the CLF. Apparently they've been known to kidnap and torture, even kill, people like us. Wanderers." She paused. "That's the term which has been ascribed to us."

[seriously]

Jane frowned, glancing to Maura as she tried to take in the situation.

"The CLF? The band that sang that Justified and Ancient song?" Her response had a great deal of skepticism in it. Of course, the main reason she even knew the song was because of Frankie tormenting Tommy with it when they were younger. You do not have a song stuck in your head for a week straight without having at least one brother to blame for it. She blamed Frankie and his incessant need to run around asking Tommy if he was bound for MuMu land.

'Great. Now it's in my head,' Jane thought to herself. Refocusing her question, she shook her head, "I don't think a trance band is going to be hunting people, Maura. Someone's probably just trying to make you worried."

[doctorofdeath]

Of course, the reference flew right over Maura's head. Her taste in music was a bit different from most people's. Well, many of her interests were different from most people's. She frowned more deeply and shook her head.

"I don't believe they sing any songs, though they could have a fight song that we're simply not aware of," she tried to reason out. "They're known as the Chicago Liberation Front. I've been warned by two different sources, I can't imagine both people would be trying to frighten me for no reason."

[seriously]

Wait. Her fingers pressed to her temple for a moment as she listened to Jane's further explanation. Okay, so not the band. In fact, now that she really thought about it she was pretty sure they were the KLF. Her head shook slightly, trying to make sure that she didn't just push off Maura's concerns so easily.

In fact, this brought in another concern, something that Jane hadn't even considered yet. If Maura had been here for some time, then why had she been with her just this evening at the art show?

"No, you're right. I'm sorry, Maura. I'll look into this CLF thing. You said you've been here for a while? If that's the case, then why was I trying to tolerate your mother's art earlier... today. Well, it was night, but I got here and it was daytime - which is still confusing."

[doctorofdeath]

"Yes, there seems to be a time paradox when someone comes through the Rift. I don't yet know all of the specifics, but it would seem that while we're here, we're still present back home, as though we had never left. It's all very strange."

She paused, aware that she might be overwhelming Jane with too much information, though not really feeling the need to stop. It had never really stopped her before.

"I've been here a few weeks now, I've been staying in that Tower," she pointed to the Kashtta, "it's not the nicest place. Rather unpleasant at times, actually. But I was fortunate enough to find a job here as the medical examiner, when Detective Flack decided to hire me."

Maura drew in a deep breath, studying her friend's face. "Jane, I was also told that when people come through the Rift, something...happens to them. Something is changed on a physiological level. I spoke with a doctor who was suddenly gifted with the ability to heal the sick and injured. I don't yet know what sort of alteration I might have undergone."

[seriously]

Jane frowned almost immediately with the slightest wince when she heard Detective Flack. Of course, she wasn't given quite enough time to react because there was more information being piled onto the previous information.

Fingertips pressed to the bridge of her nose, trying to not get a headache from it all.

"Let me get this straight, there are demons, angels, possibly worse - plus everyone changes and they're still back home -- and you're not living in a nice place." She wasn't sure which one to be more shocked at.

[doctorofdeath]

"It's certainly not preferable, though there don't seem to be many options as far as accommodations go," Maura explained. But she took in the look on her friend's face, and decided to refrain from overwhelming her with any more details. Besides, there wasn't much else to tell, at this point.

"Would you like some coffee? I know an excellent place."

[seriously]

"Yes, Maura. Coffee. Coffee and my sanity because I think I lost it earlier this afternoon."

[doctorofdeath]

"Because of this place? No, your sanity is completely intact, Jane. It may feel otherwise, but I would know if you were truly mentally unbalanced," she assured her, as though that would somehow make Jane feel better. And then she smiled, and ushered her forward. "The cafe's just up the street, I'll buy you a cup."

[seriously]

Rolling her eyes, Maura glanced to her friend. Rather than push the topic and try to explain her use of sarcasm, she just nodded and moved closer to her. It was good that she was here, it was good that Maura wasn't alone and it was good that they'd found each other.

"Good. Because I don't think my debit card is going to work here."