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

[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!

[waterfell]

[Does he. Because she'd meant it.

But as so often when she's misunderstood, she brushes it off and lets them think the worst. She smiles brightly.]

How clever! It's a good picture, after all.

[thatoldthatkind]

[ Oh, he knows that she'd keep it somehow. ]

No it isn't! It's rubbish. I'm not very photogenic. Must be the chin.

[waterfell]

[Well. She will now.]

Nonsense. I still look great this way!

[thatoldthatkind]

[ Staaaare. ]

I meant me! You've got no funny chin!

[waterfell]

[But she has the best fashion sense and taste in hair right now!

Actually, she's wondering what gave him the impression that bow ties are cool.]

I don't want a funny chin!

[thatoldthatkind]

It's a good thing that you don't have one!

[waterfell]

Maybe you should try it. The teletia-S. [She's now imagining him in a dress. Excuse her.]

[thatoldthatkind]

Teletia-S. What sort of name is that?

[waterfell]

The name of the device that gave me this appearance. [La la la, flippant as always.]

[thatoldthatkind]

...Oh. Well. It's nice. Sort of.

[waterfell]

[Oh, it's very handy.]

It's better than nice! 'Sort of' nice. [But she's enjoying herself too much to do more than tease. She's grinning.]

When I took your shape, I also became able to pilot this TARDIS for the time being. I understand how it's done.

[It's a pity that when the disguise wears off, so will that knowledge.]

[thatoldthatkind]

It's an odd name. Strange. That makes it 'sort of' nice. [ He reaches over and pokes her in the nose. ]

Except I doubt that. Nothing can replicate the telepathic bond between a TARDIS and her Time Lord.

[waterfell]

[Stop poking her!

Except not. She's gotten used to it. Maybe she even sees it as a friendly gesture. Maybe she wants that.

He's right, of course, which makes her petulant behind the good mood. She can know what to do when, the right dials and knobs and sequences, but it lacks that bond.]

Is that really so important to it?