Set Your Sails...to Neverland || Peter Pan, OUAT

Chapter 14 - One Step Closer

~ Davina

I wake up disorientated again, momentarily forgetting where I am. Although, it's one of the best rests I've ever had. I sit up, stretch and look to the window. The winter sun is peering through the curtains, highlighting the dust floating in the air. I look down to see a pale flowery cover on an overly large bed for one person. I wear a soft, comforting combination – it's patterned with light blue stripes and covers my arms and legs, I think Regina said they're called 'pyjamas'. I throw the cover back and jump off of the bed, going over to the wardrobe and opening the doors, expecting it to be empty. Instead, I'm pleasantly surprised by a few tops and trousers hanging up, with the same coat I wore yesterday. There are three pairs of shoes along the bottom, and when I look up, I see a large white box. I stretch up onto my tiptoes and pull it down, placing it on the floor; I remove the lid and see my cloak folded neatly inside. I smile as tears brim my eyes. I still have something from my past, which warms my heart. I hold it to my chest, only to hear a crumpling sound. I frown and reach inside to find the map. My eyebrows raise in surprise that Regina didn't take it back into her possession, but she must not know that I have it. I keep the map inside the cloak and return it to its original spot.

I decide on a thick red jumper, black 'jeans', and a pair of black boots which I place by the bed. There's another door, which leads to I-don't-know-where, but I open it to find what must be the bathroom. On the wall directly opposite the door, there's a piece of paper with my name written on the top – it's a note from Regina, explaining what I need to do to operate the 'shower', which isn't as complicated as I thought it would be. While the water 'heats up', I take off my sleepwear and look in the mirror in the bathroom, which only shows my head and shoulders. I still have my singular plait in, decorated with little gold hoops. I have to take it out if I'm going to wash it. I sigh at the thought of the tedious act, removing the tie and pulling the weaved hair apart until I get to the part where the hoops are. By the time I've removed all of them, my arms ache and the room is steamy. I wash, dry, and dress, and follow the instructions on how to use a 'hairdryer'. I haven't had my hair loose for a while, and it's strange but nice. I look different with my hair down, my face is softer, and my cheekbones slightly less prominent. I place the tiny gold hoops which once decorated my hair into the box that contains my cloak; I hang the coat, with the gloves in the pocket, over my arm and make my way downstairs into the diner, which is filled with people. As I walk through, I attract the attention of everyone sitting at their tables. I ignore them and head straight to a barstool.

"Mornin' Davina, how'd my facilities treat you?" Granny asks as she pours a customer a cup of black liquid.

"Good Morning. Fantastic, thank you. The bed is incredible," I reply, remembering how awful beds on ships were.

"Glad to hear it. Do you want something to eat?" Granny offers.

"Oh, I would but I um...don't have any money, so I can't..." I stutter.

"Don't worry about that! Madam Mayor already paid in advance for your food for a few days. Here, have some pancakes," she says, placing a plate stacked with several cakey circles, "I don't want to hear no more about it, sit and eat."

I close my mouth instead of speaking my protest; I lay my coat on a stool next to me, and sit straighter as I examine the breakfast in front of me, the scent of sugar and butter filling engulfing me. Granny places several bottles in front of me and a knife and fork. I read through each bottle, but there's too much choice so I decide to have a little bit of all of them. The chocolate, in particular, is heavenly. Granny laughs at my expression as I indulge in this sweet delight. She pours me a cup of the black liquid – which is coffee, I find out – and I enjoy it just as much, it's bitter, but I like it. It (almost) beats drinking rum all of the time.