[video]

[anunluckypenny]

[The network is treated to a nice shot of the snow-covered cement in the City Square and a muffled voice.]

Are you sure it’s on? I don’t see the—oh! Thank you, that makes a lot of sense, actually. You have a good day, too!

[After a momentary blackout (caused, no doubt, by a hand over the lens), a pale woman with red hair comes into view. Her sheepish smile is largely overshadowed by the considerable amount of blood on her blouse.]

Hey there. I’m Penny, I’m not exactly sure what I’m doing, and I definitely don’t know where I am—which is completely okay because I think I just died…? [she shakes her head, flustered] I know, that sounds totally insane, sorry. I promise I’m not a crazy person, just… you know, kind of confused.

[She pauses, thinking.]

Um. Does anyone know what’s going on? Or where I could get a new shirt, maybe?  This was a cute top, too...

Comments

[anunluckypenny]

Steve... it's really nice to meet you, and thanks. Don't feel like you have to hurry, though!

[punchedhitler]

[About fifteen minutes later, Steve shows up; he looks all groomed and like he just stepped out of the 40s.]

Penny?

[anunluckypenny]

[If Penny looks surprised, only half of it is because of the City. Good-looking guys--different era or not--don't usually approach her.]

Huh? Oh--Steve?

[punchedhitler]

[He smiles and offers his hand out to her]

It's nice to meet you.

[anunluckypenny]

[She shakes his hand enthusiastically.]

You too! In person, I mean, and not over the... thing. Thank you, really.

[punchedhitler]

Sure thing.

[He looks her over and pulls a handkerchief from shirt pocket and hands it to her]

[anunluckypenny]

[She takes it, but she's a little embarrassed.]

Thanks. I'm sorry for the all the--you know. The blood and everything.

[punchedhitler]

It doesn't bother me.

[He waits as she cleans up a little, not looking straight at her because he can kind of tell]

[anunluckypenny]

You're a lot tougher than me, Steve. Not big on the blood.

[So it didn't help a lot, but every little bit helps. She goes to hand the handkerchief to back and then thinks better of it.]

Do you do this a lot? Delivering hankies to damsels in distress and stuff?

[punchedhitler]

Army.

[Because that explains everything]

Wha-oh, no, no, I don't.

[anunluckypenny]

Oh! Army. That's... really patriotic of you.

[Hate the war, love the soldiers. Get arrested for protesting the war, send the soldiers cookies. This can work.]

Well, you're good at it.

[punchedhitler]

I'm just doing my duty.

[This war, Penny probably wouldn't protest.]

I'm jus-I mean-

It's just manners.

[anunluckypenny]

[She hasn't made the connection--war, forties. Give it time.]

Believe me, manners are exciting and new. I could probably run around the streets of L.A. bleeding and screaming without anyone stopping.

[punchedhitler]

No, I'm sure that's not true.

[He starts to nudge her towards the Welcome Center]

[anunluckypenny]

You're right, it's not. Total exaggeration.

[She's not hard to nudge.]

People can be pretty caught up in what they're doing sometimes, and L.A.'s not exactly known for its friendliness, but it's not all bad.

[punchedhitler]

I've never been there, to be honest, so I don't know.

[He's watching for anyone coming because he wants to protect her dignity. It's natural]

I'm from Brooklyn.

[anunluckypenny]

[That's nice of him, especially because Penny isn't paying attention to much of anything. Naturally.]

Brooklyn? Is it nice there?

[punchedhitler]

Well, it's home.

[anunluckypenny]

Sounds kind of like L.A.

So, Steve... how long've you been around here, if you don't mind me asking?

[punchedhitler]

A few months. Since August...it's January, now.

[anunluckypenny]

That seems like a long time to spend in a people-snatching City--not that it's not a nice people-snatching City! It just seems... sort of lonely? I mean, it's probably not once you start meeting people, making friends...

[punchedhitler]

My best friend is here. It's really not so terrible.

[anunluckypenny]

That's great! Then you have one of the most important parts of home here with you.

[punchedhitler]

[He smiles down at her and stops in front of the Welcome Center]

Here.

[anunluckypenny]

That's the safe place? Thanks, Steve. If I wasn't all gross I'd give you a hug.

Oh... um. I'll get your handkerchief cleaned, I promise.