A Stack of Phillies, part ii

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm is once again at the bar, still working his way through a stack--slightly larger now--of the Eyewitness Guide to Philadelphia from several different worlds. He's decided to stick with the 2000 editions, since the city would be about the same as when he left it, but there would be no danger of his running into another world's Malcolm Crowe (or at least, he hopes that's the case).

It's been surprisingly hard to settle on Philadelphia in particular, though. At first, he figured that if a world actually had an Eyewitness Guide, then it's probably not that much different from the others (unlike, say, the worlds where everything is post-apocalyptic, or dinosaurs still reign, or something else that has put a damper on the publication of travel guides).

But, of course, now that he's actually reading some of these things, the differences are proving much more interesting than he expected.... And isn't that just Milliways for you.

Comments

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack takes a seat next to him. "Hey, Malcolm. What're you looking at?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Hi, Jack," Malcolm smiles. "I figured, since I wanted to go exploring other worlds, why not get a few travel guides and see which Philadelphia looked the most interesting."

Malcolm offers Jack the one he's been reading. "Look, in this one, Philadelphia's part of New Jersey. Glad I'm not from that one."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack snorts, picking up one of the guides and leaving through it. "Well, you could go to this one on the edge of a glacier. Don't forget your parka."

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Hey, this one is has a spaceport! That could be--oh."

He reads: 'And best of all, this year's new line of travelers' neural implants aren't nearly as prone to malfunction as last year's were.'

"OK," he puts it down. "Maybe not that one."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Uh, yeah. Any alternate universe where they want to poke something in your brain is probably something to stay away from. Have you found any normal ones?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Well, uhh," Malcolm hesitates.

"Actually, your's isn't all that different from mine."


Hint, hint.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Except for the two areas in California people can't go because of the radiation," Jack says, wryly.

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Oh, good point," Malcolm replies. He eyes the 2000 on the travel guide. It's been an eventful twelve years since then in Jack's world. But still...

"Well, maybe if I stayed within L.A.'s city limits?"

Malcolm's only been there briefly for professional conferences. So at least he wouldn't have many expectations.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Well as long as you don't go to the northern part of the county and you don't go to certain areas of the Mojave Desert, it should be okay. I'd offer you a place to stay right off, but as Chris and I are staying with Michelle I'd have to check with her first. Or I could come in to open the door for you each day."

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Just opening the Door seems like it would be less of a hassle for you, if you don't mind. I should probably try this on my own anyway. If I'm going to spend time away from the bar, I'd rather jump in with both feet."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack nods. "Sure, but I'll give you my cell number, in case you need any help. Anything in particular you're looking for, outside? In any of these places?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm lets out a long breath.

"Anything that doesn't remind me of this place. After a couple of years, I just need a change. Even if it's a couple of days."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I can see why. I was stuck in here for a few months when I came in, and after a while the place was driving me nuts." Jack gives Malcolm a wry smile. "So no hanging out in bars in L.A., then?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Heh. I really don't think so."

Malcolm shakes his head. "At this point I'm wondering if it's going to feel strange just being surrounded only by humans."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Probably. Though with some of the wacky fashion trends you see in L.A., you could feel right at home."

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"There's a thought. Spend too much time here and maybe weirdness just starts to follow you, no matter where you go."

"Maybe I should go to Iowa instead."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Please, they're all strange in Iowa. You'd have to be to cope with living where it's so damn flat and you're just surrounded by corn."

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"God, no! Anything but that!"

Malcolm waits a beat and then throws up his hands. "And then there's Children of the Corn! What was I thinking?"

Malcolm has no idea whether CotC actually happened in Iowa, but it hardly matters. He's from Philadelphia--all those farm states look the same to him.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, though there's also that baseball diamond from Field of Dreams. Would that make up for it?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm ponders this.

"...No."

"Hey, I'm from Philadelphia. We never threw a World Series."


(Possibly because they've hardly ever had the chance, but, hey!, that's not the point!)

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but the Phillies got their asses handed to them by a Canadian team, in the great American game."

The mun is not grinning at the moment. Not at all. Go Blue Jays!

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Oh, you bastard," Malcolm grins. "Making me relive those dark days."

"See if I bring back you any presents."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm heartbroken. So is Philly--or my L.A.--the only place you're planning to go to so far?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I think so. I want to see how this first visit goes."

"I mean, I can't be absolutely certain I'll actually be able to get back here in one piece."


And wouldn't that be a little embarrassing.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Are you expecting any problems?" Jack asks, a little concerned.

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Not really. But my guess is there'll always be some risk involved whenever I leave the bar."

He shrugs. "Just part of being 'post-life.' But it's worth the risk. I can't just keep staying in this place. I need to get out there once in a while. Clear my head."

"And I've been asking around, making sure I know how this works. As long as I make sure to get back no later than three days after I leave, I should be fine."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack nods. "Well if I let you out into my L.A., I'll get you back in time, don't worry."

[bartletstrust.livejournal.com]

Jed isn't trying to look over Malcolm's shoulder...
mainly because it would be a waste of time. He's not that tall.

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm turns slightly and grins. "Planning a trip."

"And around here that means which world, not just which place."

[bartletstrust.livejournal.com]

"So it would," Jed realized, grinning. "Hmm. What time period are you
looking at?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Around 2000. I came here from 1999, so the place should be about the same."

"Well, except some worlds are turning out to be a lot different from others."

[bartletstrust.livejournal.com]

"Famous last words?" Jed quirks an eyebrow. "'It should be.' ...I'm fairly sure," looking at one of the guides, "that Philly on my world doesn't have bison.
Well, not usually."

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm grins. "As long as I don't get blown up or eaten as soon as I get there, I figure I'll be able to cope."