Neverland, She was a beautiful ship. He loved everything from her bow to her stern. His crew tended to her like she was a queen and his heart only swelled with pride whenever he had the pleasure of stepping into her deck. There was only one way for one to find themselves on board Neverland, special keys crafted in her heart by the last remaining fairy known to existence. Tinker bell was a hard worker, she cared for the small tree that made up the heart of his ship and crafted items from its cuttings that, when fused with the dust that only she could harvest from the plant, made gateways back to his ship. His own key was shaped like a row of pan flutes that always rested against his chest. Many others held trinkets that were in the shapes of small things like wooden toys or even acorns. His first mate, Tootles they called him, brandished a key that was even larger than Peter's, a wooden sword that was sharper than steel and never chipped no matter how often he used it in battle.
Yes, Neverland was a perfect ship. Peter couldn't be prouder of her. And the pan flutes that she gave him allowed him to entrance more members aboard her every year. Life was, in a sense, perfect for Peter.
And that bored him to no end.
Peter had captained Neverland for as long as he could remember, which was quite a long time indeed. Though that time did not make him old, quite the opposite in fact. Peter was quite young, and had been quite young for quite a long time. He had no need to age on board his ship because she sailed in a spot between time and space, a spot where everything was still and no one had need of aging. Of course his crew would change from time to time, it was no big surprise to see one of his boys laying still as the grave on board the ship every so often. He simply tossed them over the side when that happened and went off to find another to replace them. It was easy to replace one or two or even five when they had a spat with the pirates on board the Jolly Roger. The last time they had battled ship to ship had been quite long ago indeed, if Peter hadn't occasionally run across a crew member or two from the opposing pirates in his outings he would believe them all long gone. But he did often run across one or two and thus knew that they were still out there, waiting to take hold of his dear sweet Neverland and the precious tree that waited within it.
Peter loved to explore. He explored all sorts of things, large things such as dying planets, and small things such as a child's toy box. Exploration was fun. It helped take his mind off of things. Oftentimes he would bring back things for his boys so his crew could feel the same sense of wonder that Peter felt during his trips. The only time he allowed his crew off of Neverland was when he planned on exploring something big, something that would take him quite long to cover on his own.
Which was exactly why he was now in a race with Tootles along the London rooftops under the light of the full moon. He loved a good race, and with no one around to fight it was the perfect way to let off some steam. He rushed past a large home that was lit brightly from within, a party for the people who were aging no doubt, and felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Peter hated adults, but he would let them get by with their party because that meant that there were children out and about who would be more than happy to join his crew. A few of his own boys had fallen over after their faces sunk in far too much and he had to dispose of them just the day before. With the moon high above him and the chilly air carrying him just inches over the rooftops, he felt this was a perfect night to find a few replacements.
The pan flute bounced against his chest as he took off into the air. Tootles running quickly as he could below him so he could keep Peter in sight. Peter wasn't worried about his first mate, he could fend for himself, he was more concerned with the best position to play his flutes. It had to be somewhere that the music could reach any boy who was currently feeling lost in their own lives, somewhere that he would have a keen view of them so he could pick and choose the best matches for his ship. You see, a boy had to match the ship and not just any boy would do. Too plump or too thin and they would never make it on board Neverland.
The flute was pressed against his lower lip now, and he was blowing into it as his eyes scanned the city below him. Lights flicked on in houses and lads scurried from hiding places around the multiple alleyways around the streets. Just then something else caught his eye, a girl close to being young yet close to being quite old in Peter's eyes had stepped out onto a balcony that lined the large house the party was taking place in. She was smiling as she stared up at the stars and when his music reached her he saw her eyes flutter closed. His lips pulled up into a snarl and he began playing an entirely different tune, relishing in the way her shoulders slumped and she shivered against the wind. There was no need for girls on the Neverland, they were far too much work and far harder to replace than boys after all.
A crowd was forming below him, boys shambling along as if they were still deep in slumber, bumping into things like walls or lampposts or other boys before returning to their path that led them into a large group below the roof Peter sat upon. He looked each boy up and down, studying them for any sign that they were indeed right for his ship. He had his eye on a dark skinned young boy with a tight mane of curls adorning his head when a scream caused him to falter in his music. His attention now turned back to the balcony where that same girl was leaning over and reaching her hand out in an attempt to grab something. Without another thought he turned his eyes on the street below her where a boy who still seemed quite young to him indeed was laying in an awkward heap of limbs while a deep dark puddle grew out around him.
After taking a moment to study the pile that used to be a boy Peter let out an angry huff and let go of his flute, allowing the line of pipes to fall back against his chest as he stood.
"Captain?" Tootles, who sat below him on the roof as his key made being entranced by the music very difficult, was staring up at the angry young man above him with terror in his eyes.
"He was perfect for Neverland! Bloody parties! Bloody adults!" Peter exclaimed as he motioned to the still unmoving mass. After a moment of seething anger filled silence he pulled his deep green leather trench coat closer to himself and set his gaze on Tootles. "Back to the ship." He barked at the boy before leaping into the air and flying a quickly as he could. The cold biting into his skin as he shouted incoherently to release his burning anger.