#sleightlyoffhand

[dodomedic]

The Spy, remembering Dodo's interest in arachnids, was nice enough to drop a scorpion onto his shoulder. Sure, it was on the battlefield and the man had been cloaked, but what good was a gift if it wasn't a surprise?

Dodo didn't even notice till one of the scouts he'd been healing had a conniption over the friend on his shoulder. "Ah! how'd you get here?!"

He carefully plucked it off his labcoat and placed it on the ground close to a nice rock to hide under. its was one of the little browns, they did have a potent sting but thankfully rubber was near impenetrable form the little bug.

[elisethetraveller]

Continued from; sleightlyoffhand

It was obvious he hadn’t taken the candy, given his dejected expression and droopy ears. “I really was looking forward to some sweets.” The man looked close to tears for several seconds before perking up. “Luckily, I have cake!” Raising his hat, he revealed a large slice of red velvet cake on a small plate. With a look of pure bliss, he lowered his mask and began to eat.

Sighing the mage couldn’t help feel a little sorry for Hare. It looked like he had really been looking forward to the candy. However, his sadness didn’t last long and Elise could only stare in wide eyed surprise as he pulled a slice of cake from under his hat. How on earth had he been running around with that up there?

“Well, I still owe you some candy... Tell you what. If you bring me some baking soda I can make you some honeycomb caramel?”

( @sleightlyoffhand )

[norman891]

...

@sleightlyoffhand

“Grow crops on board this ship?” Hook asked incredulously. “And where would you propose to grow these small crops? On the main deck?” Hook snorted.  “And what happens to them when Pan goes on one of his jaunts to the other world, leaving us in yet another ice age? They’ll freeze to death from exposure is what.”

“A small plot of land, maybe?” Haigh suggested. “Or one of the smaller islands not frequented by Pan?”

“Ah,” Hook said, sounding more interested. “Now that’s a more likely scenario. Do you have any place in mind?”

“Oui, mon capitaine,” Haigh replied.  “I can show you sometime when you…”

“Yes, yes,” Hook interrupted. “That’s an idea to be explored later. Now, which direction did Pan come from, and which way did he leave? Was he flying or walking? I’m interested in how much he’s recovered since Edward peppered his backside.”

Haigh shook his head. “I do not know, sir. I only caught a glimpse of him, and he was on foot at the time.”

Hook sighed, annoyed. “Very well. That will do, Mr. Haigh. I will be sending you on another mission in a few days. You’ll get the details when I’ve worked them out. Good work. Dismissed.” Hook waved his hand, almost shooing Haigh from the room.

He sat in the stillness of his stateroom, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. With the natives’ numbers reduced by so much and more possibly dying from some sort of fever, that would make searching for Pan much easier. All he would have to be on the lookout for was the croc and traps set by those little monsters. He was sure the imp’s hideout was not too near the Indian encampment, so it must be closer too or even in the jungle.

Hook was sure Pan had bewitched the ship, or him, as every time he’d tried to up anchor and leave, no matter which direction he sailed, Neverland always appeared on the horizon. So long as Peter lived, Hook knew he was trapped here as Pan’s plaything. Someone to provide him with adventures and acts of bravery. Hook snorted derisively. Bravery indeed, he thought. It was very easy to act brave when you could fly out of reach of your opponent or any other dangers. The only escape open to him was to kill Peter and break the curse. He was positive of that.

Several days passed, and Edward found himself doing prep work for Victor and stirring whatever was in the stock pot when Victor needed to do something Edward could not because of his bandaged hands. He was still strictly forbidden to wash dishes or do anything requiring him to get his hands wet by Doctor Evans. Edward was extremely amused at being scolded by Evans; he found the man’s Welsh accent positively entertaining as well challenging. He smiled. He was sure Doctor Evans found his Scottish accent to be equally challenging.

Once the crew’s meal was prepared and the men served, Edward took his plate and joined Hook in his cabin. Hook had told him of Joe Haigh’s idea of growing crops on a suitable smaller island and Edward approved.  The idea of having a constant source of wheat and corn sounded wise indeed. He had been drafting plans for a better way to grind grains. It was based on something Edward had seen at a neighboring estate when he was much younger.

Instead of the flat quern stone, this used two half-round stones: one solid with a metal post almost in the center and one with a  fair-sized hole in the center through which wheat or grain could be fed into the apparatus. The stones were separated by leather washers placed over the metal post, varying in number based on how fine a grind one wanted. The top stone also had a hole drilled in it so a handle could be attached, which made turning the top stone much easier. The stones were then set into a box with a small chute on one side through which the processed grain exited into a barrel or sack. Finding the proper size and variety of stone would be the only difficult task.

“How are the hands feeling today?” Hook asked, pausing to take a sip of wine with his dinner.

“Much better,” Edward answered. “Whatever Doc hae been putting on my hands seems tae be doing a fine job of healing them.”

“Excellent news,” Hook remarked. “However, mind his instructions and don’t overwork them.”

“Aye, that I will, sir,” Edward nodded. “I want them well as much as anyone.”

Smee knocked at the cabin door presently to take both sets of dinnerware back to the galley. As he was leaving, Doctor Evans arrived for the daily bandage change and redressing. Thankfully, Evans was as careful removing old bandages as he was wrapping Edward’s hands in new ones. There were no snatching bandages loose as had happened on the Flora.

“Well then,” Evans said, quite pleased. “Those knuckles are healing up nicely, thanks to your minding my orders and the fact that you’re a strong young man.” He once more applied his salve and carefully redressed both of Edward’s hands. “I’d say we can dispense with the bandages in a few more days if you keep making this progress.”

“That would suit me just fine,” Edward said. “Thanks Doc.”

“Yes,” Hook joined in. “Thank you for your excellent care. I shall see that you are rewarded for your efforts.”

“Just doing my job, Captain.” Evans answered. “If more of the men came to me as soon as they injured themselves, they would spare themselves much grief. I must say, I am happy with Mr. Butcher’s progress.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Hook said graciously.

“See you again tomorrow, young man,” Evans said, heading for the door.  “And keep those hands dry.”

“Aye sir,” Edward replied. Not that he minded washing dishes but didn’t mind not having to do them too much either. He did miss being able to make biscuits for the crew and other breads and pastries, however.

Hook examined Edward’s drawings. “This is quite an ingenious little device,” he remarked.

“I saw one like it when my Da had tae make a delivery tae the Farqueson estate. They had several in a barn and I remember being fascinated at watching the men feed wheat in through the hole while flour came out through the chute. It’d be a lot quicker and easier for us to use something like that, and more productive as well.”

“Aye, that it would,” Hook mused thoughtfully. “You are blessed with and excellent memory, Edward.”

“Thank you, sir,” Edward felt himself blush a little at the compliment. “I’ve been blessed in other ways too.”

“That you have.” Hook smirked, letting his gaze drop to Edward’s nether regions.

Edward laughed. “I was nae talking about that but thank you again. I was meaning I was blessed that it was you who rescued me from the Flora instead of some other pirate, or worse, that I was still on board that cursed ship.”

“It is I who was blessed the day we took you into our crew,” Hook said sincerely. “You’re a fine addition to the crew, a damned good cook, and my wonderful Edward who soothes my body and my heart.” He smiled and caressed Edward’s cheek with the back of his fingers. What would have been the beginning of the night’s intimacy was interrupted by yet another knock on his cabin door.

“Who…” Edward began, mildy annoyed.

“Mr. Haigh,” Hook answered. “I did ask him to come by this evening to discuss his newest mission.”

“Shall I wait outside then?”

“No need,” Hook motioned towards the door, “though if you would let him in please…”

Edward opened the door for Haigh and then seated himself on the chaise, reading a book on Geology.

“Please sit,” Hook said, not that it was as much of an invitation as an order to Haigh. He took his place behind the desk, rolling up Edward’s drawings. “I hope you are ready for another excursion to the island, Mr. Haigh.”

“Oui, mon capitaine,” Joe answered enthusiastically.

“Excellent,’ Hook replied, pausing to light his cigars. After a few puffs, he continued. “As the natives are so reduced in number and ill as well, I want you to focus more on finding Pan’s hideout. It’s my opinion you’ll have better luck in this area,” Hook pointed to one of Haigh’s maps, indicating the jungle region. “I don’t believe his hideout is very near the Indian encampment and as there are no suitable hiding places in the open lands, the jungle is the next region that would provide the necessary cover required for his hideout. What say you?”

Haigh studied his own map and shrugged.

“Also, I want you back aboard before we go on our next hunting expedition.” Hook said firmly. “Edward, how many days….”

“If I’ve calculated the moonrise correctly sir, about nine days,” Edward answered, glancing up from the book.

“The I want you back aboard ship within five days of setting out, as you’ll be joining us on this hunt. Understood? When can you leave?”

@sleightlyoffhand

[brokentoys]

@sleightlyoffhand​ SENT :

Josiah was casually wearing one of Eddie’s suits and trying on his nicest bowler. The question of how he got in would immediately be answered by the massive hole in the floor and the slithy toves still excavating it. “Maybe I should have picked green for my wardrobe. I do look dashing in it.”

“ Green is a rather flattering color, isn’t it ? I think it could make anyone look ‘ dashing ’ . So, yes, I am in full agreement. It should be included in your wardrobe... ”

“ EXCEPT WHEN IT’S MY CLOTHES. GET YOUR OWN, FREELOADER ! ”

[itisweselton]

The March Hare returned, this time with lemonade for the tea hater. "...I wonder if a sourpuss like you drinks lemonade?" he asked, hopping onto the Duke's desk and pouring him a glass.

Lord help him, the March Hare had returned. Though thankfully the lemonade presented to him did not come from an item of clothing, Edgar had to decline nonetheless. “As generous as your offer may be, I cannot accept it. I don’t like sweets,” he stated bluntly.

[cetacian]

An email arrived for Orca. It was overformatted and full of tea cups and biscuits. It was an invitation. The address was an abandoned subway station near the park. Hopefully she could find it, because the awful map he drew would be no help at all.

Orca checked her emails, as per usual, only to find a slightly gaudy invitation among them. She knew immediately who it was from looking at the choice of images. She smiled at the thoughtfulness as she read over the directions. They were difficult to read, but she believed that she knew the area well enough to find the location nonetheless. She sent a reply stating that she would be there, hoping it got through. The wifi in her lab could be spotty at times, the downside of having it located in a hidden cavern within easy reach of the harbor.

[jcinthedance]

@sleightlyoffhand​​♟||  ❝ "A chirping toaster ran into the Hatter's hideout, climbing the tablecloth and scurrying across the tea table, with Hare in pursuit. "Toasty, get back here! You need your repairs done!" ❞

       Curiouser and curiouser!  But what else was new from Josiah? It appeared to be a robotic... toaster. One more human-like than any of the other altered appliances in the care of Mr.Hare. They were stopped by his sudden face appearing in their path, the grinning features of the Mad Hatter, bent to their eye level and making some sort of amused cooing he couldn’t contain.  “ Why, hello there, little friend..! Aren’t you just the most fascinating creation... ” He supposed, if flowers could have faces and talk and all that-- why not toasters. Who else was to make the butter-and-toast flies? The hatted man reaches out with his silk gloves to take them up to his lap as he sits up.   “ Has Hare been hiding you from me..? ”  He glances up to the bunny and back to the toaster he was very keen to speak to.   “ I won’t tell him if you say so~ ”

[archived-brokentoys]

@sleightlyoffhand​  :  /  /  *  POCOYO  FAN  !

“Well, I have tons of cartoon stations. You’ll have to join me more often.” He began to flop around on his air mattress, all sugared up on tea and cereal. “I love Pocoyo.” Turning the television on, he laid on his back and watched it upside down. “Pato is absolute petty perfection.”

Edward sat on the mattress, but like the other, he could not sit still, his behind was already bouncing up & down, his foot tapping eagerly. Edward had such difficulties remaining still. But his eyes did manage to remain fixed on the glowing television screen.

“ Petty perfection ? ” He asked, his head tilting, “ is he still a likable character ? ” Questioned as if Edward, himself wasn’t a petty person. Then again, Edward was often deemed unlikable by many. But Edward lacked an abundance of self-awareness.