Wanderlust

[misschocolover]

WHO: misschocolover and ohgollygeewhiz
WHAT: M'gann stops to ask for directions.
WHERE: In a van down by the river.
WHEN: Monday evening, Nov 22nd.
WARNINGS: None.
SUMMARY: M'gann learns that miles are LONG.

Comments

[ohgollygeewhiz]

Tom and Bucky had very different views on how to deal with the future. Bucky dug in his heels for the most part, stubborn as hell about all the things he didn't like or understand. Tom approached it all with cautious optimism---which, honestly, was how he approached most things---and tried to take integration at his own speed. Cap said that they might be holed up here for a while, so Tom tried to make the best of it. There was a lot to deal with---from computers to google to marshmallow cereal to mutants---but he took it in the most manageable chunks possible, on his own time.

He'd never been big on novels or papers, and to be frank, computers scared him. So, he sucked up new culture in the best way he could think of---in comic books.

They certainly cost a whole lot more than ten cents now, but he'd gotten over everything being awfully expensive. The older comics in the back of the store cost less, so Tom gathered up the ones that the bushy-faced man at the store had recommended. When he'd asked about the Invaders, Kid Kommandos,

[misschocolover]

"I'm trying to fly there, it looked close on the map, but the number was really big. I don't really know how long miles are. I just sort of hoped they were small."

M'gann elaborated, stammering a little, a nervous blush crawling up her cheeks. Oh she must be sounding really stupid again...

Her voice shrivelled up into a meek little murmur, boisterousness eclipsed by a growing feeling of embarrassment. She was smart, but it took time to absorb so much information about this new world, and those moments where she was clearly out of her depth knotted up her stomach with familiar old feelings of inadequacy.

"So... this isn't Australia yet then." she said quietly. "Uhm, so where am I?"

[ohgollygeewhiz]

Well, wasn't that something? Another flier. Maybe a mutant, too! Tom's stomach did a nervous roll as he set his comic away, getting to his feet. There were so, so many more mutants here in the future than in his time, but he still wanted to try to make a good impression with all of the ones that he met. They were his 'people', after all.

The girl couldn't have been any older than he was---he wouldn't have put her over seventeen or eighteen. Tom smiled disarmingly.

"Cripes, that took me forever to get over," he said cheerfully. "Miles seem so much longer up there, don't they? You feel like you're going fast enough to get anywhere in a snap, but big distances take hours." He put his hands in his pockets. "I've been to Australia. I left from New York, and even goin' my fastest it took about two days. I dunno the globe well enough to say how far it is, but I think you've got a bit yet, doll. You're in New Mexico---Truth or Consequences."

[misschocolover]

"Oh gosh, two whole DAYS?"

M'gann sat up fully in the grass, climbing up to her own feet too, her embarrassment washed away in excitement. He could fly too! How exciting!

"I left from Seattle which is a bit like New York except more west I think. I'm not sure I have it in me to fly for a whole other day and a half right now though."

She hesitated, then carefully held out her hand the way she'd seen so many others do. At least Earth greetings were simple.

"My name is M'gann. Uh, I'm sorry if I startled you when I landed. I didn't see you under the tree."