fandomhigh | Jack of All Trades, Wednesday, Per 1

The Danger Shop was set up for a movie day today, with comfy chairs and bean bags and a refreshment counter just like at the movies, only without the outrageous price-gouging. By the time the students arrived, Hardison was settled in, long legs stretched over several bean bags, eating popcorn that looked like it had been liberally dusted with the same orange cheese-flavored powder that covered Cheetos. A super-sized bag of gummy frogs and a two-liter of Orange Squeeze sat on the floor next to him.

"Hey, y'all," he said, giving them a wave. "So, I decided that y'all deserve a movie day today. Come in, get comfy, get some snacks, an' we'll watch an old classic about adventures on the high seas."

After everyone got their snacks and settled, Hardison hit a button and the movie sprang to life around them, giving them a 3D view, as if they were sitting on the stage in the middle of a play. Unfortunately, rather than starting at the beginning, it started almost a quarter of the way through, when the main characters were already on the ship and underway on the voyage to the island. "Oh, sorry 'bout that," Hardison said, and hit another button.

And suddenly their snacks and chairs were gone. Rather than being observers in the middle of the set, they were part of the movie now, onboard a pirate ship, on the open sea.

"...This was not what I had planned," Hardison muttered.

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Ada let out a startled yelp at being picked up so suddenly, but didn't actually protest. She'd been expecting a hand-up, maybe, not being carried, but, whatever, it was getting her out of the sim.

"Just dump me outside th' door," she sighed, sounding tired. "I c'n get back to the dorms once the room stops moving."

"You sure?" he asked. "I ain't mind waiting for you to feel better. TA can keep the class cool while I'm gone."

He didn't want to treat her like she was fragile, but he didn't like the idea of just leaving her alone, either.

There was nothing Ada hated more than being treated like she was fragile, either. "Cross 'm heart," she said, managing to drum up a wan smile for Mr. Hardison. "I'll be fine."

"I won't move 'til 'm good an' steady, or I'll wait for class to get out an' see if Face or someone will walk back with me."

"A'ight." Hardison said, nodding. He'd checked with her and she said she was okay; Hardison was willing to trust in that. He set her down gently outside the door and reached into his pocket for a bag of gummy worms. Real ones. "Low blood sugar," he said. "Happens to the best of us. Not that I think you need help spinnin' nothin'. But that's what the squirrels are gonna report tomorrow."

He was the announcer on Thursdays, wasn't that convenient?

Candy! There wasn't anything wobbly about how fast Ada's nimble fingers snatched up those gummy worms. Because, well, carnie.

"Ain't sure what about being motion sick needs spinning, but if you want to make me sound like less of a wimp, I ain't gonna complain,'" she decided, popping one in her mouth. "Havin' a broken brain sucks."

Because it was totally just the (admittedly severe) motion sickness that had incapacitated her in there, and not the fact that last time she went into water, she came very, very close to never resurfacing.

"Was thinkin' 'bout playin' it down some," he said, not even the tiniest bit surprised by how fast she moved. "Makes my class sound bad. Can't have that. Got a rep to maintain."

Nodding at her, he stood back up. "You get home a'ight, y'hear me? It's homework or whatever."

"I ain't doin' nothin' else today but sittin' quiet in Mr. Winchester's class," she promised, "--an' then 'm takin' some Dramamine an' sleepin' this off for the rest of the day."

Her head was pounding and the adrenaline crash was leaving her exhausted. Maybe a nap, first, in an empty classroom.

"Thanks, Mr. Hardison."

"Sounds like a plan," Hardison agreed. "You do what you gotta. I'mma head back in, make sure ain't been no burnin' or pillagin' while I been gone."

He wasn't going to ask her if she was okay again or offer more help, but he lingered another moment, just in case.

Jack of All Trades, Wednesday, Per 1

Re: On a Pirate Ship

Re: On a Pirate Ship

Re: On a Pirate Ship

Re: On a Pirate Ship

Re: On a Pirate Ship

Re: On a Pirate Ship

Re: On a Pirate Ship

Re: On a Pirate Ship