and in a burst of light that blinded every angel-

[knowmycall]

In spite of all his faith in the strange and fantastic, Fletcher Hadley never thought that wishing he could be somewhere else would actually work.

Not twenty seconds ago, he was charging into a mess of bodies-most alive, some already dead; most demon, some human-Claymore raised high above his head, ready to to swing and spill blood in the name of

Comments

[pwnspatrickjane]

So there is this explosion.

Thankfully for his wiener mobile, Shawn isn't anywhere near this particular explosion, but here's the thing. When explosions happen in Chicago, you don't drive away -- you drive towards. You never know what kind of interesting things could be happening.

Exciting things are happening. Shawn clearly needs to be there.

By the time he gets to the scene of the explosion, the smoke has cleared, and there's a very confused man standing in the middle of it. Shawn's intuition -- which really isn't intuition and just Shawn making assumptions -- draws the conclusion that this man must be a new Wanderer and therefore has earned one of Shawn's excellent free hot dogs. He'll fix him one, wander his way over, and say with a smile.

"You're in Chicago. Hot dog?"

... The narration apologizes infinitely, Fletcher. Infinitely.

[pwnspatrickjane]

Shawn totally does handshakes. It's normally a fistbump, but he has a feeling that Fletcher isn't really the fistbump kinda guy.

"Shawn. Nice to meet you."

...I just realized this already happened. KJHDFJHS MY BRAAAAAIN. SORRY.

[knowmycall]

Only with his sister, Shawn.

"So."

Chicago. Hot dog trucks. Psychic detectives...

"You from 'round here, then?"

LMAO IT'S OKAY. ... I didn't catch it either.

[pwnspatrickjane]

"Nope," Shawn shakes his head as they make their way over to the car. "I'm a Wanderer, like you. One day, I was in Santa Barbara, and the next thing I know, I'm in California."

GO TEAM.

[knowmycall]

"Funny how that works," Fletch mumbles, in a way that suggests it's not actually funny at all.

Once they're at the vehicle, he unbuckles the scabbard from around his chest. He's not going to fit anywhere with that sword hanging off of his back, so he'll just hold it in his lap. And hope it doesn't start glowing again.

"Have you always been a... what'd you say? Psychic?"

[pwnspatrickjane]

Shawn considers that for all of a second. "Yes. It was how I made my living back home. The rift has just seemed to have amplified it here."

That is a lie, but Shawn is in the lying business. Even if sometimes he actually likes to believe it.

[knowmycall]

This earns him a skeptical squint.

"So you're a real psychic."

Not a question, but a statement full of doubt. Really, Fletch isn't one to judge-Hannah's into all that crap-but he can't help it.

He also can't help the frown that crosses his features at the sudden thought of his sister.

[pwnspatrickjane]

"Yup," he says with a nods as he starts to drive. "Honest to goodness. Crappy nightmares and all."

[knowmycall]

"I thought those were mediums," he says, peering out the window and watching the passing landscape.

Cityscape.

Whichever.

"Although, if y'wanted to have a shitty nightmare contest, betcha I'd win by far. I've had night terrors since I was a kid. D'you know how old I am now? 237 years old. I don't have 'em so often anymore, but that's still a damn long time."

...

"But I digress. My dreams aren't prophetic."

[pwnspatrickjane]

Shawn glances over at him as they drive, studying him for a moment, before shrugging. "You look good for 237." And that is true. He wouldn't have thought the man to be that old.

[knowmycall]

"I've had some work done."

No, he's not saying that with a straight face.

"We angels don't really age that quickly. My mum's nearly-" Pause. "Well, she'd kill me if I told you. Aye, even with the whole... universe-thing separating us. She'd find a way. Anyway, she looks fantastic for her age. Younger than I do, actually. But," he adds, shrugging, "That's what happens when your parents have jobs way less stressful than your own."

He may be talking too much.

[pwnspatrickjane]

"For me that's the other way around. My dad has a way more stressful job. He was a cop for a long time."

[knowmycall]

"Ah, there's a noble profession."

Pause.

"Not that your profession is any less noble."

[pwnspatrickjane]

He smirks. "No, I know -- psychic detective doesn't always go over well with your girlfriend's parents, but I like it. It's ... fulfilling."

[knowmycall]

"Well, then, there ya go."

That's really all anyone can ask for, Fletch thinks.

[pwnspatrickjane]

He nods and eventually the wiener mobile pulls off to the side of the road in front of the Kashtta. "This is it. Home sweet home."