I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

[touchofcashmere]

Who: Stede Bonnet and you!
What: New Shipmate Shenaniganry
When: End of April, beginning of May
Where: Everywhere
Warnings: None yet



I. Welcome to the World of Tomorrow
There is very little about this new world that Stede understands. It's all baffling to him, some of it downright incomprehensible. So if you see a flickering of lights coming from a nearby room, you might find the gentleman pirate turning the lightswitch on and off again.

"Would you look at that? Amazing! And so bright! You could read all night with something like that. But how does the fire extinguish and go back on so easily? Or burn without heat?" He glances at whomever found him. "Listen... you don't think we're dead, do you?"

II. Sign-ups Here
Stede is a professional at these things by now. He feels disjointed in this strange world and the best thing to do when you're disjointed is to seek the familiar. So he has a deckchair and a little table-managed to procure a pen and paper from somewhere and accosts anyone who passes by.

"Hello! Would you like to sign up to be a pirate? No pay just yet but adventure and glory and a cut of any treasure we come across. You wouldn't say no to some nice booty, would you?"


III. Room-Mate [locked to Gogol]

Somehow or another Stede has found his room, but when he pushes open the door his expectant face falls.

"Please tell me this is a closet."

Then he notices the room is occupied.

"Oh, sorry, is this yours? It's a very nice closet. You could do a lot with it."



IV. Hit him up with anything. He is down for adventure.

Comments

[lightconductor]

He's not sure whether he ought to be offended or amused at the question of whether he can read. "Amused" is winning out, though. "I think both have their place, surely? I have done my share of both. I can enjoy the latest scientific treatise or medical monograph -- I am a doctor, you see -- and the latest of gripping adventure novels, surely. I don't see why I should have to choose."

Watson is grinning, despite himself. "We should be properly introduced, sir. My name is Dr. John Watson. I've never had the opportunity to go into piracy, but, well, we're on a ship, after all."

[touchofcashmere]

"You like adventure novels? Me too! Gosh, I've read so many. All of them I can find! Robinson Crusoe, The Three Musketeers, Treasure Island-- I've even tried to bully through The Hunchback of Notre Dame which is, between you and me, a bit of a slog. Man loved his architecture. But still! Forbidden romance! Lust! Vengeance! Tragedy! It's all there."

Pirates are all but forgotten as he's on his feet, beaming, offering a hand of welcome and shaking it in polite welcome. Though he's so overcome that he might rest his other atop the man's for a moment.

"Doctor Watson. Stede Bonnet. Pleasure to meet you. I've got to hear about everything you've read. Surely we have something in common."

[lightconductor]

Watson, half laughing, takes Stede's hand before he's really registered everything. "You should see the library here. All sorts of books I've never heard of, but there's some good ones, regardless. A pleasure, Mr. Bonnet, a pleasure."

And then his brain catches up with him, because "Stede" is just a particularly peculiar name in any century, and that rings a bell, and fortunately they've already been talking pirates so that particular connection isn't far off. "I'm sorry, did you say Stede Bonnet?" Watson clears his throat. "As in... the Gentleman Pirate, sailed with Blackbeard, that Stede Bonnet?"

[touchofcashmere]

"There's a library?" Give him a moment. It's more good news than he knows how to take- he gets it so sparingly. Even if it's small, a whole new library with books waiting to be read! Even if he's read them all before they'll be there to read again like old friends.

And then... well he's a bit stunned really, like a donkey clouted between the eyes. He's never heard of Dr. Watson before in his life but...

"You've...heard of me?" Has his notoriety really spread so far? And so fast! Well sailing with Ed was always going to be big news but--

give him another moment he...

he has to sit down....

He's so out of sorts he hasn't quite let go of Watson's hand and is in fact still shaking it faintly. "That's...incredible. I've barely been at this."

[lightconductor]

Watson pats Stede's hand reassuringly, because he's not quite sure what else to do. "I rather ought to confess, I suppose, that I live in London, it's the year 1892, and yes, your name does come up in the history books if you happen to be reading about pirates. Which I have done, as noted." He laughs, just a little, not unkindly. "Good heavens. Take it easy, Bonnet, just take a deep breath. I rather think we're both a bit thrown by this discovery."

This is absolutely not how he would have imagined the Gentleman Pirate but he's not mad about it.

[touchofcashmere]

Right. Right he has to rein it in a little or he'll definitely bust this blossoming friendship before it's even got going. Though even catching his breath is difficult when the next words are uttered. He's made the history books...

It seems absurd, like a very elaborate prank- but well, the future is all around him and why would Dr. Watson lie about that? He wants to ask a thousand questions, of what it says and what he does and how far he rose. But he also knows history books are full of terrible things too and those he doesn't want to know.

Either way, it's a bit overwhelming and he almost wants to have a lie down to absorb it all. That, however, will have to wait. To that end he tries to channel Ed a little so as to just not stare into space. The most he manages is to let the man's hand go so doesn't come off as quite such an enthusiastic fan-- then swallows hard and says:

"Gosh. Imagine that. Written down and everything." How long, he wants to know, does he travel with Ed?

But then-- he doesn't really want that answer at all.

[lightconductor]

"Perhaps that wasn't the way to break the news to you," Watson muses. "I am sorry. This place is deucedly strange." He tilts his head, looking at Stede worriedly. "Are you quite all right?"

The last thing he wants to do is send the poor man into a fit from shock. There was quite enough for him to take in and adjust to, never mind for someone from so much earlier.

[touchofcashmere]

"I...I think so. I mean... you don't make history every day. It's a lot to ...think about. Do hope it ends well." He smiles wanly and then is not able to meet the man's eyes as he doesn't want to see his expression.

"Anyway. Piracy. Yes? Or you could take a paper and think about it? Bring it back after you've decided? I would have made a pamphlet but I honestly didn't expect anyone to be that literate."

[lightconductor]

Watson laughs, delighted.

"Perhaps I had best only think about it, for now. It's a rather academic question so long as you don't actually have a ship, but if you do obtain a ship, I might very well be interested." Can he bring a friend or two, perhaps? And perhaps he's more interested in the romantic adventure of being a pirate than in the actual piracy, but he can't say no, can he? Somewhere deep inside Watson is a small boy who played pirates who would be extremely disappointed in his adult self.

And, uh, yes, most historical pirates do end up being hanged, so maybe best not to bring that up.

[touchofcashmere]

His heart does a little pitter-pat, all of it's own accord. The man has a very charming laugh after all, and Stede feels as if he's just been offered a cup of water on a very hot day.

Forgive him a little flustered and funny how hot the sun is on his face.

"Right. Yes. Excellent. Let me just get things in order. I'll give you a little sheet to look at and my room number in case you want me. To chat." He scribbles it hastily down and folds up the paper before handing it out.

"Please feel free to see me at any time..."

[lightconductor]

Oh no, Stede, what are you doing.

Watson takes the paper and tucks it into his waistcoat pocket, next to his watch. "Thank you. I am in room 102, if you have any need of me, professionally or socially." That is a genuine invitation. Besides the fact that he feels that generally people ought to be able to find him, since he remains the only doctor, he'd also genuinely like to chat with Stede at some point.

[touchofcashmere]

Making friends?

He is pleased at how well this is going and how easily. There isn't a trace of mockery or derision in his face and the best part is that Stede hasn't had to pretend to be anyone else.

"Right. I'll keep that in mind." And he'll hold off for a while before doing so. Trotting right over would come across as too eager. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Doctor and I hope we have many a stimulating discussion."

[lightconductor]

"I hope so, as well." Watson bows his head politely. "Do let me know if you find anything interesting in the library, Mr. Bonnet. I'll take the piracy under serious consideration."

He smiles warmly, oddly delighted by his new acquaintance, and then turns to go.

[touchofcashmere]

He watches Watson go, his chin resting on his hands.

Well, what do you know. A friend.

Maybe this won't be so bad after all.