A/N: Well, I'm back after…well, a long time (for those of you who had previously read my stories!). Anyway, I appreciated all of those who took the time to write new reviews for my old fanfics. I hope this story will be funnier than anything I've written yet. Even though my earlier stuff had taken place on earth, this one takes place on Montressor. If you don't like my humor or writing style, please don't be nasty with reviews. That having been said, read on!

Disclaimer: Nope, I do not own Treasure Planet or any of the characters.

Jim Hawkins slouched against an overstuffed sofa in the Doppler's living room. A fire was crackling merrily in the fireplace while sleet outside hissed against the windows. I'm glad I beat the storm the teen thought. His walk from the Benbow Inn to the Doppler mansion usually took about twenty minutes. It was a good thing for him that the hailstorm began right when he reached the doctor's front door.

The teen began to tap the polished wooden floor with his scuffed boots. Time was ticking, and he had to find someone willing to let him do chores in order to fulfill his school's service hour requirement. Delbert had been enthusiastic about taking up Jim's offer, but he had insisted that Amelia agree as well.

"You know how I would love to have you frolicking about our humble abode. However, we must have my wife sign your servitude hour slip," Delbert had said in response to the teen. The doctor had made that statement before mysteriously dashing upstairs.

A creaking noise made the teen look up; the doctor was coming back down. The astrophysicist was armed with a large box.

"What the---" Jim started to say.

Delbert beamed. "My boy, let's play Charades. Amelia seems to be delayed, so I thought we could pass the time---"

"By dressing as ladies? I don't think so," Jim interrupted. He was eyeing a frilly hat that was threatening to fall out of the bulging box.

The doctor set his treasure down on the wooden floor. "This will be fun, Jim! And, I guarantee that there are plenty of…ahem…straight costumes in here."

"Fine," Jim muttered.

Delbert placed an affectionate hand on the teenager's shoulder. "That's the spirit!"

The astrophysicist got up and picked up a bowl that was sitting on top of a bulging bookcase. The container was filled with slips of paper.

"Amelia and I play this game every now and then," Delbert confided in his guest. He placed the bowl on a coffee table.

Jim grinned. "The Captain plays this game? No way!"

"Well…she played it once…"

Jim raised an eyebrow.

Delbert melted. "Um, I believe she was turned off after picking a piece of paper that read 'a stripper.' I certainly never put such a thing in the bowl…it was certainly very odd."

Jim snorted, trying to smother a grin. A few weeks ago, he had added a few slips of his own during a dinner invitation.

"Well, let's get started! You first, Jim…I'll close my eyes while you pick a scandalous—I mean---a suitable costume," Delbert announced.

Sighing, the teen fished around the bowl and withdrew a piece of paper that read, 'Sherlock Holmes.' Delbert was very enthused about old earth novels and characters.

Getting up, Jim approached the box and sorted through the clothes. He chose a deerstalker hat, a magnifying glass, and a tan trench coat.

"Okay, ready," Jim said. He tried to assume a dramatic pose worthy of the dignified detective.

Delbert adjusted his glasses. "Aha! Sherlock Holmes!"

Jim grinned. Closing his eyes, he waited for Delbert. He heard a sigh then the rustling sound of clothes.

"Alright, Jim…"

The teen saw the doctor dressed in a tight-fitting, plum purple dress. The astrophysicist swayed on three inch stilettos.

Jim grimaced. "Doc, I haven't a clue."

Delbert looked indignant. "I don't believe you cannot identify Miss Marple!"

The teenager shrugged. He should have guessed.

Just then, the front door slammed shut. Jim and the doctor froze, eyeing each other in horror.

"Good gracious!" murmured Delbert. The feather on top of his lilac-colored hat quivered. Both of them could hear Captain Amelia's characteristically swift strides coming closer and closer.

The tall officer reached the living room. The sleet and ice had completely coated her uniform. Tiny icicles dangled from her tri-corner hat. Her emerald eyes narrowed upon registering Delbert and Jim, who were cowering next to the bookcase in a failed attempt to hide from her field of vision.

"Nice to see you're home!" called the doctor.

Jim forced himself to grin. "Yeah."

The captain swiped off her hat, which, because it was frozen, made a thunderous noise as it landed on top of the coffee table.

"Delbert. Please explain why you and…Hawkins…are posing like perverted statues." The astrophysicist, who had pressed himself against the side of the bookcase, attempted to clarify the situation.

"Well…Jim needed you…and we decided to spend the time disrobing---ah---displaying creativity while playing Charades."

Amelia rolled her eyes. "That activity of yours is utterly gruesome."

Jim choked out a laugh, imaging what the captain's face must have looked like when she read the slip of paper that he had added to the bowl.

"James, your explosion of merriment is disturbing; state what is on your mind."

Delbert hastily spoke up before the teen could reply. "Actually, Amelia, he would like to ask your permission regarding some…scholarly activity."

The young captain raised an eyebrow at Jim, but started to walk towards the staircase.

"Very well. I will discuss this with you after I get out of this sodden uniform," she stated, marching up the stairs.

Jim heaved a sigh as soon as Amelia was out of earshot. "Jeez, Doc, is she always this way?"

Delbert readjusted his glasses. "Always what way?"

"Never mind. Let's clean up this stuff up so I can quickly get her to sign my paper. I'm late enough as it is."

The two of them tore off their costumes, jammed them into the large box, and ascended the wide staircase.

"If that game ruins my chance of doing service hours at your house, you owe me," the teen hissed.

Delbert looked mildly insulted. "My boy, there is nothing wrong with having a little amusement."

Jim rolled his eyes. "Remember to write that on my tombstone."

They approached the top of the staircase. Delbert immediately ran into the master bedroom. The teenager could hear the doctor uttering faint, soothing explanations to his wife about charades…at least, that's what it sounded like through the wall. Jim snickered. He wondered if the Dopplers ever had a normal day.

The wooden door flew open and Amelia strode out wearing dark pants and an off-duty pea coat. Delbert, cowering in the bedroom, peevishly gestured at Jim to follow the captain down the hallway.

Amelia entered her office and sat down behind a massive desk. Jim felt that he had been summoned to see the principal.

"Uh…" he began.

The captain languidly waved a hand at the teen. "Hand me your paper so we can get this over with as soon as possible."

This is going great Jim thought. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, he fished around in his pockets and retrieved his permission slip, which, by this time, was heavily wrinkled.

Amelia, with a faint look of disgust, took the paper from Jim and smoothed it out on her desk. She grabbed a fountain pen and aggressively scribbled her signature into the document.

"Very well. Should I expect to see you tomorrow?"

Jim took the paper. "Yeah…I mean, yes ma'am."

Amelia raised a cunning eyebrow. "Excellent."

Author's note: I know it's short, but I will make the forthcoming chapters longer…this one here is a bit of an introduction. I hope you enjoyed it!