izzyalienqueen | New York City Road Trip, Day Three

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New York City Road Trip, Day Three

So far the trip had been great.

But there was still plenty of things to see before the roadtrippers returned to Fandom tonight.

[NFB due to distance]

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It's all about the new experiences for Karal and Gavin.

Dawn had never been on the subway before either, so she was checking the map pretty frequently. "Okay, I've smelled demons that smelled better than this," she muttered.

Karal was hanging on very tightly to a pole, and trying not to look out the windows. "I can not credit that people gave up horses in favour of this," he said.

"It wasn't a direct trade," Dawn explained. "It kinda went from horses to cars to buses to traffic and smog to subways."

Karal nodded. That made it slightly more understandable. "I guess if people gradually became used to it, it would be easier. And no one else seems bothered." He gestured at their fellow passengers. "I am quite glad we do not have one of these in Fandom."

"Me too," she confided, feeling a little intimidated herself.

"I am also glad I am not facing it alone," he said, smiling at Dawn and maybe shifting a little closer as the train rattled around them.

"That's one of the nice things about the people in Fandom. You don't have to face much alone if you don't want to," Dawn smiled back, falling forward slightly and grabbing onto the upright pole as the train jerked beneath them.

He wrapped his hands tighter around the pole and glanced out the window, hurriedly looking away because the walls seemed far too close to the train. "I am quickly learning that. How long have you been there, if you don't mind me asking?"

"It's been a little more than a year now. I was just supposed to be there for the summer, but..." she shrugged.

"But you stayed," he said. "I have no idea how long I am supposed to remain, but I am starting to hope it is longer than just the summer."

Biting her bottom lip slightly, she asked, "Any particular reason?"

"Because," he looked away, feeling almost guilty at his admission, "because there are duties waiting for me I am not sure I can meet, because my world is in the middle of something it might not survive, because here I can simply be Karal of Karse, and no one cares about the rest of it." He shook his head at himself, smiling ruefully. "But time here is different than there, so it will be waiting whenever I return."

"Fandom can help. I don't know how to explain it, but the stuff we go through here--even the stupid stuff--helps you to expect the unexpected and learn how to deal with things you should never have to deal with."

"And that is why I was sent. To gain experience. I am not sure that those who sent me were aware of the odd things, and I am quite sure that they never expected books who think they are chickens," he laughed. "But yes, I hope I can stay."

Dawn giggled, "There were book chickens?"

"There were! I woke up and my books were clucking. One of them tried to build a nest out of my pillow!"

"Did it succeed?" Dawn asked, still giggling.

"I have to say it did. I am not sure how," he added, still very puzzled by that. "Seeing as it was a book. I ended up carrying it outside, pillow nest and all so I could keep an eye on it."

"Were there wee little booklets in the nest? Or a novella?"

"See, that I could almost have understood, but no." He shook his head. "The next day? They had eggs."

"...really?"

"Really," he nodded vigorously. "I wouldn't lie, I promise. Wee little eggs, though they were gone the following day, and the books returned to being books."