Twenty-second evolution of sail: what boat?

[shakenandlimp]

Ahoy, there! This is Captain William Bush of his Majesty's Royal Navy-- are any absent friends hailing us tonight?

Comments

[tentacruelest]

I don't know if ye'd call us friends, Bush. But I'm here all the same.

[shakenandlimp]

Jones, you old pirate-! [Bush's face lights in a delighted grin, and he makes only the most shoddy attempt to conceal the fondness in his voice.]

[tentacruelest]

[Jones laughs deep and loud, in a far more pleasant mood than he's usually been on the Barge. His tone, too, mirrors the fondness]

That's a fair description.

[shakenandlimp]

What have you been about? Tell me all of it. You had predicted a pretty dire future for yourself, but I see you sound and whole-?

[tentacruelest]

Sound and whole, aye. I doubt you wish to hear the whole story, but suffice it to say that I am on....better terms with the pirates. Less so with the East India company. And that I was able to recover my human form.

[chaotica]

Can't speak for anyone else, but I'm most definitely more of an absent vaguely interested party.

[ He's taking notes on all of this. ]

Which Royal Navy is this? And, with such an antiquated form of address, how did you find yourself on a Barge in space?

[shakenandlimp]

His Majesty, George III of Britain. On Earth, mind you, the year 1814.

And I came here like many of us; by invitation.

[chaotica]

Fascinating.

[ The Department of Temporal Investigations might have his ass for this, but as far as he can tell, the timeline interference has taken place already. Might as well milk it. ]

Captain Bush, I'm Hugh Cambridge. Lieutenant, if that's of particular concern to you. Who exactly were you expecting to respond?

[shakenandlimp]

Near anyone, on a day like today. I have friends who have relinquished their posts here and gone home; these freaks of the network are the best chance I have to contact them.

[manshutthehellup]

Hey, a Navy man! Figured I'd eventually run into a soldier among you people. Or, close enough.

Sam Wilson, formerly of the US Air Force, Special Forces pararescue unit. I may not be an absent friend of yours, sorry, but I'm pretty much always willing to be somebody's company.

[shakenandlimp]

Pleased to meet you, Mister Wilson [even if he is American, but he seems a friendly soul, and is instantly intriguing to Bush because-]

Air Force? That means you fly one of those absurd metal winged contraptions? [He indicates the direction 'up' with his hand, waving toward a hypothetical sky.]

[manshutthehellup]

You can call me Sam, if you like. Or not, if that makes it weird somehow.

Well, yes and no. I was trained as a pilot but during most of my tour I ended up in an Exo-07 harness. [Beat, as he considers how to explain this - especially since Bush seems to be a man even further out of time than Steve.] Basically I've got my own set of metal wings strapped to me, and I can fly around on my own. Like a big bird. Codename is 'Falcon'.

[shakenandlimp]

Wings-! Wings, by Jove, that is really splendid. [Bush sighs in envy.]

You needn't worry, I am used to everyone going about by their Christian names, and if you prefer you can call me William.

But you have wings! Tell me about it-- could I see'm?

[calledmevermin]

Royal Navy? Of what planet?

[shakenandlimp]

Earth.

...how the devil are you speaking? Aren't you a cat, beg your pardon?

[calledmevermin]

Y' see, I move my mouth like so, and words come out, you flarkin' jackass! You talk shit to everybody you just met?

[shakenandlimp]

..very few folk I meet are cats.

There is a fellow a bit like a crocodile here, though not much like. Sullen lad.

[calmbefore]

[Oh, now that's a... thing. Maybe something he should have expected, given that he knows the universe is wide and vast, but it's still a surprise to find himself face to face (or as near to as can be managed) with someone who both looks and sounds like himself.]

There might be, I suppose. But I don't think I'd be one of them, in this case.

[Not unless he's forgotten, anyway.]

[shakenandlimp]

...are you the Doctor? [You're a damned sight less haggard than last time, he doesn't add, because he's absorbed at least some of the etiquette of time travel.].

[calmbefore]

That would be me, yes.

[Less haggard and also a good deal younger, although the latter doesn't much show. Not in the ways it might on someone not him, anyway. But the slight confusion lingering under his words might at least suggest at it, a little.]

[shakenandlimp]

Well, that'll please Iris. Hello, Doctor. You've happened onto our network by mistake-- it'll mend itself soon.

[selfmademen]

Jaysus, now the Navy's interrupting a good, respectable man's free time?

[Edward is a bit drunk. That would explain why he's staring at the glass in his hand and looking at the bottle in his other hand with something that probably should be disbelief. Dat magic water. Alcohol. Whatever.]

Christ.

[shakenandlimp]

It wasn't my intention, sir. I was trying to contact Davy Jones, as it happens.

[selfmademen]

[He laughs, makes a show of setting down the bottle.]

Now I know I've gone daffy. Could always have your crew throw you over the rail.

[shakenandlimp]

We aren't on the water-- and I am part of the crew. It's the Admiral who acts as commander here.