003

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[Handy arrives on the Plane in a much better state of mind than he was last time he appeared. He is a little annoyed with the Proper Doctor for inviting him to travel without first properly considering the fact that their realities are not merged. Still, he is in a fairly decent mood.

He remembers finding the Doctor on the Plane with a chair and some books and has decided to follow His example. Upon arrival, Handy is lounging on a sofa, nose buried in a book, “1812: The Catalyst to Canadian Independence.”  He may have ‘borrowed’ the sofa and some books from a bookshop for use on the Plane. Either way, he is proud of himself for managing to get it all here.

On the end of the sofa at his feet are various other books, which he promptly kicks to the floor so he can stretch out his legs. The books are mostly biographies and historical texts. He is still a bit foggy on the history of the parallel Earth he’s on now, so he’s decided to utilize the Plane and take this opportunity for some much needed reading.

Despite the fact that he has no idea how the book will end, it is still incredibly boring. He’s being stubborn and refuses to move on to another book until he finishes the one he is reading. He is fighting the urge to fall asleep. If he continues reading, it will most likely be a losing battle.]

Comments

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Why are you reading about Canada? It's the most boring country on Earth.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[looks up from the book at the Master] No it's not. [And goes back to reading]

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

That's why you look so engaged, I'm sure.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[his gaze stays on the book] I'm very engaged.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Practically wedded, in fact.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Pretty much, yes. [sighs and rests the open book on his chest, looking up at the Master] Was there something you wanted?

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

[o hai. Dorothy was skipping rope before, but look at all these BOOKS. Books are also awfully interesting, although not as interesting on how there's suddenly a sofa floating in space. It smacks of nonsense, which means it's naturally Dorothy's Business now.]

[Snatching up a book from the floor, she picks up his legs and sits on the other end of the couch, replacing them over her lap.]

Henry, I had no idea you were such a history buff, an' I'm all for expanding horizons, but don't you think you're goin' a little overboard? Even the Wogglebug couldn't read all these at once. Don't s'pose you're a speed-reader?

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[peeks his head out from behind his book, happy for the distraction]

Oh, well, I just want to make sure I have a proper selection. Never hurts to have too many books.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Oh, no complaining; you like my attention.

[rests his arm on the back of the Doctor's chair]

Why are you reading about Canada?

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

No, that's true, I'll cede that, fair and square. But all work and no play makes Henry a dull boy, y'know, and we can't have that.

[She reaches over and takes the book from his hands, scanning the title]

Besides, I don't think these are wholly accurate. Canadian Independence? Gotta be jokin'.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[sarcastically] Right. I forgot.

[his head tilts up, looking at the Master]

Brushing up on my history. It's all different there.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[grins slightly]

How so?

[itsthecoat.livejournal.com]

[Jack is not actually sure which Doctor you are, but he is drawn in by the sight of books] What else do you have? Apart from Canada.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Me, dull? Can't let that happen.

[sits up and looks at the book with her.]

Parallel Earth, different histories. America loses the War of 1812, goes back to British rule. Something happens where Canada gets the idea they want a go at independence, Britain is busy with Napoleon, and you get Canadian independence. Or something along those lines. Still fuzzy on the details.

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

Well, you look suitably entertained.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[looks up at Jack]

Not sure how useful they will be, it's different history than yours. [sits up and looks at the books scattered on the floor] What are you interested in?

[itsthecoat.livejournal.com]

Doesn't matter. I'll remember it all again soon enough.

[takes a seat besides him on the sofa, eyes scanning over the books] I don't know, actually.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

You mean that actually happened somewhere? [she peers at the book] Who'd've thunk. Canada, full of national pride, and America, cut down by British Imperialism. Enough to make a Kansas girl cry.

[tossing a look at him] Do you think that maybe, out there somewhere, there's a world for every book ever written, where what happens in the book is real? Like for Peter Pan, or Alice in Wonderland?

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[big sigh]

Well, Canada and America sort of swap places as far as world powers go. America lost the War of 1812, went back to British rule. Canadians were a big part of it, or something along those lines. After the war Canada decides they can do independence better than America, so they have their own war. Britain's too busy dealing with Napoleon, so Canada wins pretty easily.

[looks back at the book, then at the Master again] I'm still a bit fuzzy on all the details, but that's the general idea.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[looks up] Well this [gestures to book] is absolutely thrilling. [puts it aside] Exciting as it is, I could probably still be distracted.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Well, do you prefer biography, politics, historical overviews...

[itsthecoat.livejournal.com]

History.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[Oh, Dorothy. He just smiles.] It's not beyond possibility. And even if there isn't one for every book, I already know my fair share of Peter's and Alice's, storybook world or not.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

But not Canada.

[pokes around and hands Jack a book. It is titled "Death of a Monarchy: British Democracy and the Death of Victoria"]

How about that one?

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

[She flips idly through the book, scanning the pages. It's clear she's not really reading, though.]

I'd like to see those places someday. Though I don't suppose that'll ever happen. 'Course, I'm already ahead just given Oz! Most people back home've never even heard of it, so I'm lucky.

...Although come to think, everybody here seems to know all about it already. And that's strange.

[...And if SHE thinks something is STRANGE, that's saying something.]