008 | walter reed |

[thatoldthatkind]

[ The Doctor is at the console of the TARDIS this evening, flicking lightly at one of the switches on it. His cowboy hat is firmly on his head and his eyes are on the blinking lights. He eyes the phone on the console before looking back at the lights. He always knows where to go, what to do. What left he can see in the universe before the ... well, end.

Maybe it's time he stopped running. But, he doesn't want to stop. There's so many people he has to meet and to help still. Maybe the universe would be better without the Doctor. River said that the whole of everything would turn against him if he kept carrying on like he does. Maybe it is time for him to stop.

He reaches up and tilts his cowboy hat down, unaware of his company. Maybe the dreamer is new to his dreams, or a frequent visitor. Either way? The Doctor has lost a bit of jump to his step. ]

Comments

[thatoldthatkind]

[ The Doctor raises his head and smiles at Mercury. It's a little distant at first, but he waves his hand and the mood seems gone. ]

Haven't quite decided just yet. You know how it is! So many places to go.

[waterfell]

Then I'll also come.

[As if there's no chance of argument, as if she isn't aware of his distaste for her. Perhaps she enjoys inflicting herself on him for that very reason.]

[thatoldthatkind]

Do you have anywhere in particular you'd like to go, Ami?

[waterfell]

Where you were going is fine. [Wherever that may turn out to be.]

[thatoldthatkind]

I've got no idea where that was. We're just sort of floating. Floating is nice, once in a while. Bit like a space cloud. Except we're solid and not made of poofy gaseous materials.

[waterfell]

[No. Stars are different from that, made of different substances. She isn't a poofy cloud.]

Floating through space can gather a lot of power. Did you know that?

[thatoldthatkind]

Nah, not for a TARDIS. Unless it's a rift.

[waterfell]

[She only smiles self-contentedly, a sure sign of an arrogant statement to come.]

In space, my powers become even stronger.

[thatoldthatkind]

[ Stare. ]

We'll be sure to keep the doors closed then.

[waterfell]

Oh~? Scared of what I'll do?

[Now, really, Doctor, she's perfectly harmless unless someone is in her way, or an enemy.]

[thatoldthatkind]

More like I'm afraid that space would eat you up in a vaccuum and spit you out a confetti mess of Mercury. And not the element.

[waterfell]

You're forgetting who I am again. [The chiding is light, behind that air of almost smugness. She's flown through space long before this, without any need for a ship.]

[thatoldthatkind]

Not at all. I think I remember more than you do somedays.

[waterfell]

[That, Doctor, is entirely unnecessary. Her eyes narrow slightly. Her tone cools from the relaxed pace of a moment earlier.]

And just what do you think you remember?

[thatoldthatkind]

[ He just smiles and reaches across the console, a 'dong' sounding off in the background. ]

[waterfell]

[How irritating. She tells herself it means nothing, and falls into a silence. She pays close attention to the workings of the TARDIS, and lets them occupy her mind instead.

She's almost sure he's thinking of some nonsense about the sailor senshi.]

[thatoldthatkind]

[ The Doctor spins around the console and taps her nose before going back to piloting. Oh, he knows about what she can do as the darker Mercury and all of that. He also knows her as Ami - the things she wants as her. Sometimes he wonders if she realizes how a bit contradicting the two can be. ]

[waterfell]

[She knows it. She treats them with frustration, all the desires and thoughts of the lonely girl that have no place inside the proud soldier of Mercury.

She's gotten used to the Doctor's mannerisms enough not to stiffen when he taps her nose, but she doesn't quite smile, either. She sidetracks him by being deliberately pushy.]

I still want to pilot it.

[thatoldthatkind]

Yes, well... she's delicate. And temperamental. Likes to spark a lot when you hit her.

[waterfell]

[There's a sly look that practically screams she's up to something.]

But you can do it, can't you?

[thatoldthatkind]

Yes! But, I've had years of experience!

[waterfell]

[Oh, she's not arguing that. In fact, she's not arguing at all as she pulls out a small cell phone. Within a few seconds and two flashes, the Doctor looks back at the Doctor.]

Tada! [She grins.] Don't make the mistake of thinking it's just my appearance. I can drive this.

[Whether he'll let her is still up for debate, but it's true the transformation spell letting her take his shape gives her that knowledge - until she changes back.]

[thatoldthatkind]

[ He looks up and his jaw drops. ] Did you just--did you just take a picture?! In my TARDIS? No, no, no, no. Pictures are not allowed. No Twitter, no Cheekbook--whatever it's called. No social media sharing of my TARDIS on the TARDIS.

[waterfell]

[The point hadn't been the TARDIS. It had been the Doctor. So Ami is quite agreeable; after all, she can catch him again another time.]

I'll delete it, if you want.

[thatoldthatkind]

You won't. I know you better than that, Ami!