one ✚ arrival

[affectioning]

[ If anyone is hanging out in the square, they'll see a very confused looking teenager slowly bringing what is not his cell phone closer to his face. And if anybody is looking at the network, they see the adorable can't be mad at that face moving closer to the screen. He tilts his head, perplexed. He looks around. Nobody else looks completely confused.

But, wait. He hears other people on this thing. He squints. Could this be some kind of mass communication device? Give a gold star to Scott McCall as he looks around him and then back down. ]

Can anybody hear me? Or, see me? Anyone know how far away I am from Beacon Hills? [ Or how he even got here? ] It's in California. [ This doesn't look like California. He'd ask for help but it's not exactly something he wants to do. He can handle this. It reminds him of those times he woke up miles from home. But, that was a wolf thing. Could this be true alpha related? Is this something he has to look forward to? ] Or, if anybody near me has a cell, I need to reach some people. [ Or, at least his mother. Hi Mom. I'm all right. I just woke up in a strange place. ] Thanks.

[ But, he pauses. His nose picks something up. Yes. He distinctly smells something familiar. Or, mouth-watering. It's not clear. And that's all the network gets as he brings it back down to his side. But, the video continues as he's walking in some nondescript direction. ]

Comments

Video

[trenchknives]

Well, this definitely ain't California, sorry to say.

Video

[affectioning]

It's the City. [ Really original, descriptive name. ] My friend was already here. He found me. [ Wait. ] You've heard of California? [ That's refreshing, today. ]

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

Yeah, sure. I'm from the East Coast, but everyone's heard of California.

[A pause.]

I mean, well, except for the people who ain't from Earth. Guess we got some of those here, too.

Video

[affectioning]

It's another dimension. [ Which he's getting used to but sounds pretty okay with. Imagine what kind of life he leads. ] Where on the East Coast?

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

Yeah, it's another dimension. Kinda takes some gettin' used to.

[Although he has to admit, this guy seems to be handling it pretty well. Impressive.]

Atlantic City. Got a lotta people sayin' they don't know where that is, too, when I first showed up.

Video

[affectioning]

[ He nods. Why thank you. Scott likes to think he can be impressive some of the time. ]

It's near New Jersey, right?

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

It's in Jersey, yeah. 'bout the only worthwhile thing that's there.

Video

[affectioning]

People seem to like the Jersey Shore...

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

The shore's okay, I guess. Atlantic City's got the boardwalk, 'n all. Tourists like that.

[Yeah, he wouldn't know about any popular culture references to the Jersey Shore, sadly enough.]

Video

[affectioning]

Beacon Hills isn't a town that gets tourists. It's small. How is it living in Atlantic City? [ Should he say was it? Are they past tensing? ]

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

Yeah, can't say I ever heard of Beacon Hills. It anywhere near Los Angeles?

[A shrug.]

It's okay. Depends on what kinda stuff you like.

[affectioning]

Farther north. Near Oregon. I've never been to Los Angeles.

[ A smile. ]

Gambling?

[trenchknives]

[A laugh.]

Well, sure, but not officially, y'know? It ain't like it's technically legal, but people sure do look the other way.

[affectioning]

[ Pointedly. ]

You mean outside of casinos.

[trenchknives]

No, I, uh... I mean in general.

[Sometimes he forgets that not everyone's from the same time period as he is. This is one of those times.]

Y'know, gamblin', liquor... all of it's 'illegal.'

[affectioning]

... In Atlantic City. [ He just gives Jimmy a confused look. ] How long has it been illegal? [ Did he miss something? Wouldn't people revolt? Wouldn't tourists? ]

[trenchknives]

Not all that long. The Volstead Act came into effect in January of 1920, but we all knew it was comin' way before then. You really ain't heard of it?

[Does this kid live somewhere that Prohibition hasn't happened? Or maybe he's from the future...]

[affectioning]

Wait, 1920. [ No matter how much Scott has decided to be a better student, he'd never randomly read about The Volstead Act. But, the time period strikes him. This he can pick out. ] Prohibition? That ended. [ He can't remember when, but definitely before Scott's now. ] Wait, that means...

[trenchknives]

Yeah, became illegal on my 22nd birthday. Happy fuckin' birthday to me, right?

[He grins.]

Yeah. Sorry. Sometimes I forget, y'know, everyone ain't from the same place or same time around here. It was 1920 the last time I checked. I'm guessin' it's a lot later than that for you.

[affectioning]

[ Eyes wide. ]

Yeah. Happy birthday.

[ This guy is from the twenties. What. How. Dimension. Right. ]

2011. [ You could say it's later. ]

[trenchknives]

2011, huh? Shit, that's kinda hard to wrap your mind around, ain't it? That we could be nearly, what, a hundred years apart, 'n both be stuck here anyway?

[He's been here for awhile, but that still surprises him sometimes.]

[affectioning]

It takes getting used to. [ That's what people are telling him. ] I keep getting back around to how that's possible.

[trenchknives]

Well, shit, I ain't got any answers for that. Maybe one of the more science-y types around here does, but as far as I'm concerned, it might as well be magic.

What's your name, kid?

[affectioning]

Oh, sorry. I'm Scott. Scott McCall.

[ And he gives a smile you could never ever hate ever. ]

[trenchknives]

[That is a damn charming smile. He grins back, almost as charmingly.]

Jimmy Darmody. Nice to meet you, Scott.