I've been told change comes to the ones who need it most...

[shotofdumbidea]

It takes Georgia all of two seconds after stepping out of the trailer to realize something's wrong. Not that it takes a great deal of observational skills or situational awareness to pick up on that pretty quickly - early evening on a street in Chicago in September isn't a thing like Sacramento in July, in the middle of a heavily guarded convoy. It

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[pwnspatrickjane]

Georgia, you don't just have a dress, heels and a gun. You also have a man in a wiener mobile.

September in Chicago is a little chilly, in accordance with Shawn's Santa Barbara standards, but he doesn't mind too much. Fall is a necessary part of living in a northern city, and he's already lived through one Chicago winter -- he can make it through another one. For once though, he's not sitting in the back, in Grant Park, waiting for his friends to wander by. This time he's actually driving, wandering through the streets of Chicago, looking for ... something.

He isn't entirely sure what it is, but as everything that comes with his Rift power seems to work, he never is really sure what he's looking for. Things just are.

He slows to a stop though when he sees Georgia getting frustrated with her phone. His head tips, watching her for a moment, as she clearly isn't dressed for the weather, before speaking up.

"Having service problems?"

[shotofdumbidea]

Georgia can't help but return to her utterly baffled staring as the man drives up. After the Rising, people could get pretty creative with their vehicles in the name of security, so seeing somewhat odd-looking cars on the road - usually along the lines of tanks - is fairly normal to her. This... is not that.

"Yes..." she answers slowly, an edge of irritation to the answer, though it's mostly drowned out by bemusement. Finally, she has to ask, "What are you driving?"

[pwnspatrickjane]

"This?" Shawn flashes her a grin as he looks it over before turning back to face her. "This is a wiener mobile. I got it for Christmas."

It's hard to tell if she's actually a Wanderer or not. He doesn't have the spider sense that the locals do. But she could be. Maybe.

[shotofdumbidea]

Georgia's expression doesn't change. "Okay, let me rephrase. Why?"

Georgia Mason judges your weiner mobile, Shawn. She is A) not impressed, and B) thinks you may actually be insane.

[pwnspatrickjane]

Shawn being insane? A high possibility. She's not the first one to think it. And his answer is probably not going to help change her mind that fact.

"I think the better question is, why not? It's awesome, and I never have to stop for lunch."

[shotofdumbidea]

"And maybe someday you'll get to be lunch!" she says, her voice sardonic and false-bright.

This is going nowhere. Georgia sighs and decides that while she's got someone's attention - even if he is possibly insane - she might as well ask, "Look, can you just tell me where I am?"

[pwnspatrickjane]

"Hey, no need to be negative," Shawn says, giving her a bit of a look. "Chicago's got enough of that as it is."

See? Answers her question without even phrasing it as such. He is good like that. "I'm guessing that Chicago isn't where you're supposed to be?"

[shotofdumbidea]

Georgia's too startled by the mention of Chicago, of all places, that she doesn't even get around to worrying about what a weird response that is to pointing out that zombies will probably eat him.

"...no." A pause, as she glances up and down the street. Back at Shawn. Okay, to be fair, the general architecture - and the temperature of the place - does seem to suggest Chicago more than... anywhere in California. That... isn't helping this whole situation make any more sense. "Are you sure?"

The guy's driving a weinermobile, and might be crazy. Forgive her if she's having trouble immediately believing he knows where he is in the world.

[pwnspatrickjane]

"I've been living here for over a year now," he says, his face getting a bit more serious as he realizes that yes, he is dealing with a Wanderer. He knows this kind of transition can be a lot to take, so he'll dial it back a little. "I'm pretty sure."

He pauses for a moment, before extending a hand to her. "I'm Shawn. Let me get you a hot dog, and I'll explain, okay?"

[shotofdumbidea]

Georgia eyes his outstretched hand with a certain amount of suspicion for several long moments. A hint of a smile touches her face as he introduces himself - possibly insane guys named Shawn (or Shaun) are at least normal for her. Of all the things to find comforting...

She steps forward to take his hand. "Georgia Mason. I'll pass on the hot dog, but if you have an explanation, I'd love to hear it."

[pwnspatrickjane]

"Fair enough. Hot dogs aren't for everybody." Especially after you've just come through the Rift. Shawn then takes a breath and starts the explanation portion of the conversation.

"You've fallen through a Rift in time and space. You're in Chicago, and it's September 28, 2011."

[shotofdumbidea]

Georgia blinks at him for a moment or two, about as disbelieving as she was when he told her she was in Chicago. A Rift in time and space. Yeah. That sounds incredibly likely.

...not that she's coming up with any better explanations.

"Okay, now tell me something that will make that sound like it's not a complete fiction." She realizes there's not much that could do that, short of some seriously complex physics she probably couldn't understand anyway, but...

[pwnspatrickjane]

Shawn pauses as he considers that for a moment, before responding with the first utter lie he can come up with. "I once met a man from the Planet Snarlax. He had a very strangely shaped head, but rather tiny feet. I never was quite sure how he managed to balance."

He ... hopes that that suffices. If not he may have to go with plan B.

[shotofdumbidea]

That earns him another stare, and then a short, dry, almost startled laugh. Considering actual explanations are probably not forthcoming... she'll take bullshit that at least makes reality sound less ridiculous by comparison.

"Okay, fine. How do you know that? About the... Rift? You can't tell me this happens all the time."

[pwnspatrickjane]

"Actually, it kinda does. Picks people up, takes them away, steals your shoes, drops off monsters -- " Shawn takes a breath. "You name it, the Rift's probably done it. I fell through the Rift myself. I'm originally from Santa Barbara."

[shotofdumbidea]

Georgia purses her lips, considering that. The look of disbelief is fading, replaced by one of calculation. Arguing with this isn't helping anything, and maybe he's crazy, but if he's not... she wants to know everything he does and more. With enough information, maybe she can find a way to sort this out.

"You seem to have settled in pretty well. How long have you been here?"