This is just a stop onto the way to where I'm going

[paige_husk]

Paige Guthrie was going to be late for the train if she didn't hurry. She'd said her farewells to the rest of the student body before being dropped off at the local train station by Angelo and Jubilee. One more round of goodbyes and promises to stay in contact and then she was off running towards the platform. Her bags would have already arrived at

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[nothingsodivine]

Des happened to be walking in the park at just the right time. This hadn't happened to him in awhile- 'the whole running into wanderer newbies as soon as they arrive' thing. He veered off the path he was walking and waved at her.

"Hi. Hell of a trip, huh? Welcome to Chicago," he said, holding out a hand. "I'm Desmond Descant, and I'll be your welcoming committee this fine evenin'."

[paige_husk]

Paige wasn't certain he was speaking to her at first. She glanced around the path in an attempt to see who else might be present but there wasn't anyone. That meant he must be referring to her but what in the world did he mean by 'hell of a trip'.

"Chicago?" she asked, quickly mentally running through what she knew of the city.

She vaguely remembered reading about Grant Park in Chicago. Everett had talked about going there with his family when he was younger but that didn't make any sense. Chicago wasn't anywhere near Massachusetts. Not to mention there was snow on the ground and a definite chill to the air. It had been nearing summer just a few minutes ago.

"Welcomin' committee?" Paige stared at the hand, her expression clearly bewildered. "Whadaya mean I'm in Chicago?"

If this was Ms. Frost's idea of a joke there would be hell to pay.

[nothingsodivine]

Des ran a hand through his hair and grimaced. He hadn't done this in awhile, so maybe he's a bit out of practice. "Right. Okay. You're not in your universe anymore. This is an alternate universe- probably very similar to yours. You, um... Fell through a Rift."

He spread his hands wide. "I've never really been good with the sales pitch."

[paige_husk]

The saddest part was that the explanation wasn't that improbable. Which was probably why the color nearly drained out of Paige's face. She'd read about the X-Men going to various dimensions. She'd gone to one or two with her team but she'd always been with one someone else. She'd never had to experience this initial realization that she was elsewhere alone.

Paige glanced around the immediate surroundings, trying to find this so-called Rift. "What exactly is a Rift an' how do I get back outta here?"

[touchme_n_die]

Rogue is sitting on one of the benches, for a change. The tree branches are already heavy with snow and ice, and the bench simply seems to be a more reasonable place to 'park it' for a while.

Despite the cold, and despite the fact that she's shivering a bit, Rogue remains outside. She doesn't like being cooped up, and it feels like she's been cooped up inside the Conrad for ages!

...It's been, maybe, a couple of hours. That's really not important, however.

From the bench, Rogue sees a girl appear. She hears her surprise and she can't help but sigh. 'Of all the luck, kiddo,' she thinks.

The stupid rift couldn't drop folks off in a lovely, badness-free zone in Hawaii. Oh, no-

Rogue cuts off the quickly building rant in her brain, and gets up. Walking slowly over to Paige, she tilts her head a bit. "Hey there."

[paige_husk]

Paige is trying to figure out why it's suddenly freezing and where the hell the train has gone. She's pretty sure those usually don't simply disappear with crowds of people. Then again, that wouldn't be the strangest thing she's ever encountered. Except not only did the train and people disappear but now it's cold and there is snow and Grant Park is definitely not located in the state she used to be in.

She hears a voice and turns towards it, frowning at the older woman walking her way. She tightens her grip on her purse and runs a hand through her hair.

"This is gonna sound weird but could ya tell me where I am?"

Hopefully she doesn't seem as crazy as that sounds.

[touchme_n_die]

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound crazy at all.

Rogue takes a deep breath before answering, and her expression is kind. "This is Chicago, darlin', but...it's a different kinda Chicago."

She has never been on this side of the explanations, and she finds herself feeling a very deep surge of gratitude towards those who were straightforward and honest with her...and nice.

"I don't know what you know about...other universes, that kinda thing. But, you came through a rift." Nervous about how this poor girl will react, Rogue twists her hands together, causing her gloves to bunch uncomfortably around her wrists and fingers. "There's no way back home. I'm sorry."

[paige_husk]

Paige knows all about alternate dimensions and universes. She's been to one or two with her old team before they broke up. She's read about them in the files on the X-Men. Not to mention there was that one time she followed her older brother into one in order to save him and the rest of his team's lives. The difference with all those experiences was that you eventually were able to get back to where you came from.

There is little doubt in her mind that this woman is telling her the truth. Paige also senses something vaguely familiar about her but she can't quite place it. Her mind is going a mile a minute worrying about everything else to make any connections.

"What exactly is a rift?" She glances around as she tries to figure that out for herself. "And whaddaya mean there ain't a way back home?"

If there was a will then there should be a way. That's what her mother always taught her.