[A tinny man's voice gives what is clearly a default answer machine message. Vira-Lorr is still figuring the phone out it seems.] "Hello, we are not available now. Please leave your name and phone number after the beep. We will return your call." *Beep*
"Alright. Let's get you somewhere to rest. I'm not going to dress you big guy, but I will see to it you at least have a bathrobe for the moment," she said, picking him up and bringing him over to the couch. A blanket was draped over him once she was sure that he was physically alright, and she settled at the kitchen counter, in clear view, sipping on tea and reading a book.
Ten begins to near consciousness; his eyebrows are twitching and is having flashes of various and seemly random memories from during and after The War.
No more. No more. No more.
No more
Once again; it is the smell of the tea that speeds up his revival - and pops up - gasping for breath. And is sweaty, very, very sweaty. Someone cooked very fast but very hot and for a moment - this feels very familiar and expecting Rose to be there - expect - that's right. Not in his universe. Rose isn't here anymore.
And he, well, hasn't very good the past few months has now? With being The Doctor? No, he hasn't and very much owes Gwen an apology and it's frustrating really; between being broken-hearted as he is - and in general helping out here isn't the easiest. Least not to his expectations of saving entire planets
A blink; and another blink, he's - still seeing in shades of grey. Why? At the very least the purple gem is still hanging around his neck on the crafted metal chain he forged.
Ah, he was awake. She smiled over at him and motioned towards the chair opposite her, taking the water off of the heat where it had been kept close to simmering and pouring so that his tea would be ready soon.
"Good evening, Doctor. Why don't you come have some tea when you're ready," she said as smoothly as possible. "It's good to have you back, by the way, though Theta is adorable in an endearing sort of way." Somehow, referring to his childhood self in the present tense felt... appropriate.
There is also that nagging and lingering feeling of that The Doctor doesn't belong here. Not here in Deerington - not really anywhere in the multiverse.
"Hi."Is the loud harsh whisper, "Suppose that's just what I needed - tea." However, this time around he's not so cheeky about that. Then rubbing his hands down his cheeks, "Yes, that sounds brilliant. Is it my photosensors or has the world become various shades of grey?"
She leaned over the counter and nodded, letting the tea seep while she waited for him, putting the water back on the heat to keep it warm. This was definitely a two or three cup situation. Meanwhile, Susan leaped onto the table in front of him and squawked. Brilliant green, that one...
"It's not your eyes. Colors have been wrong for about a week now, maybe more. I've been putting up with it." She sighed, taking a sip of her own. "I won't be calling you Theta, by the way, Doctor. I just didn't want to alarm you then... your awareness was hit and miss."
"To be clearer... you were aware that something might have been going on. It seems natural to your existence regardless of age to think of time differently than most people, and to perceive it in a less... linear way." She shrugged and closed her eyes. "But I'm not entirely sure how well you would have coped with the implications at the time of the reality. You didn't speak in terms of regenerating."
"Oh, well. That's how my people were." Why yes, that is past tense, "They were always able to perceive time in such a way..."
A pause; "Remember back in that other dimension about how I was asked to kill the Daleks? I was asked that because that was a possible future outcome of the universe.
Time is a big ball of timey wimey stuff. Humans and most species believe time to be a strict cause to effect but that's because they can't see everything; that can has, will and could be."
That all said, there's something of a hard look because he's been time sight blind for quite awhile and then a big smile; "But you're clever and thank you for making the right call."
The smile fades and angles away; "Shouldn't be possible for me to reverse like that either."
Yes. He is present. They were past. She frowned, tapping at her lips. "I do remember, yes. And the basic problem is exactly what you said, that we cannot see time. Even my visions were glimpses along a branching path forward, not of the wholeness of time and space. Your people's perception is beyond mine." A shae of her head. "And good. I don't like deceiving you or holding back, but ... I knew it would only be temporary and didn't want you uncomfortable."
She snorted, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you used to the impossible being possible here, Doctor?"
If Vira manages to catch his eyes; she'll see the pain, the lonely, the regret of something big, that he hasn't told her yet and sadness that he hasn't seen with his time sight at all; outside of seeing in The Void - there is nothing and gives her a sympathetic look and reaches a hand out to her.
Then a pause; "It's not impossible to create a self-contained pocket universe that pulls stuff in from beyond it. It's not impossible to fool the senses. It's not impossible for the Great Sleep to be a place to store all of our memories." After, all The Time Lords have the Matrix. A deep inhale, "But it is beyond impossible," and a bit scary because that was sort of like what The Time Lords did to The Doctor on Gallifrey in the Death Zone sepereting his lives to be pitted against each other;
"That my clock could be turned back like that... It would be like humans being turned back into apes."
"I... don't believe that it actually happened, not physically. I'm growing comfortable thinking of this as a lucid dream. In a dream, the impossible is made possible because it is not truly real. We are affected because we are too deep in the dream, but you were not truly regressed." A shake of her head. "You dreamed of being regressed or she dreamed of you in a regressed state and you saw that dream, experienced it. But the fundamental laws of what is, and is not? They were not transgressed."
The Doctor is waggling his tongue suggestively as Vira talks but he's thinking, "Yes, it does but in the letter Ramona said the layers are growing thinner. And in space-time thar's a veil, The Void of nothingness between the universe's in the multiverse - my people The Time Lords - use to watch those walls -," Ten pauses for a moment, "We're in trouble if we start getting too many cracks in there."
"We are, yes. But we'll have to save that discussion for a moment down the road, I think. It isn't something that we're going to solve with you like this. You need to rest a little and have that oh so rejuvinating tea." A shake of her head. "Let us hope the impossible does not become reality too much in the coming months."
She raised an eyebrow. "I believe you just went through every one of your regenerations a second time in a matter of minutes. I doubt you'll be one hundred percent today. Is there anything I can do to help the discomfort?" she offered, not getting up quite yet. She needed a bit more direction than that first.
"Listen, for the time being, I would prefer it if you were staying somewhere safe, Doctor. You're welcome to remain here. I've got space for you and the shark... though I think we might want to recommend your old place for the Thestrals. It is, after all, only a townhouse. We can worry about that tomorrow, though, when you're feeling a little better, yes?" It seemed the wisest thing to do. For being as all powerful as he was, there were times when it felt like he had trouble tying his shoelaces. Those had gotten worse since Rose disappeared...
She checked in on him from time to time, to make sure his breathing and pulse were stable... or stable-ish anyway. Occasionally, she'd leave a cold compress on his forehead to ease any feverish symptoms, but she didn't intervene further.
Eventually, she'd sleep, but she was up pretty early in the morning, and by the time he would awake, there was he smell of eggs and bacon cooking and a pungeant coffee odor. If he looked, the bottle of Irish Cream was out and ready to be added. She'd given up on trying to play at being the peak of sobriety. She was an alcoholic and this town wouldn't let it be easy to be otherwise.
The Doctor had been cooking with his cells all night and the cool cloth on the forehead helps. Though-out the night, his mind is also meshing around and sorting through all of his lives.
Finally, wakes up mid-morning; he does smell the breakfast but he's all sweaty; and goes to the shower first and comes out casually nude; as his grow up clothes are back over in the apartment and the bathrobe is all sweaty.
However, he's overall rather quiet; "Hi."
Noting the Irish Cream but doesn't say anything about; goodness knows he's had his moments and right might be. The Doctor goes over and makes the kettle before sitting down across from Vira.
Hey, the irish was for him too if he wanted it. She poured coffee for them both and set a plate of something, double portions in front of him and one in front of her before she irished her coffee and set the cream out if he wanted it. A quick stir and she settled down into her chair, absolutely unconcerned about the nudity and at the same time making no note of it, other than.
Sip. "Morning, Doctor." Sip. "You realize that if I have to dress you in drag, you're not leaving my house naked to get the rest of your clothes, don't you?"
Ten proceeds to start eating the eggs, and once swallowed pauses to stare at Vira for a moment. A good long moment, directly in the eyes and confusing remarks, as a hand of his ruffles the back of his hair a bit,
"Why?"
No, really. He may know science and math beyond that of Earth. However, human social norms or norms of any species that isn't his own - does not do.
She chuckled. "One. People will talk, but that's the least important," she said over a bit of bacon and a bite of english muffin. It was pretty clear that amused her more. "Two, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. Something about public decency. If the cats get involved, I'd prefer not to get wailed on by them too for something quite that silly. Three, Doctor, dear, you're a bit of a mess. You don't need that much sun right now, and I'm fresh out of suntan lotion. Which reminds me to pick some up next week."
This was an entirely normal conversation that normal people could have.
"Oh, people will assume I'm sleeping with you, silly little Galifreyan. And I wouldn't want that." Mind you, she didn't feel like bringing up the Rose colored Elephant in the room that was why. That would have been cruel. But it was definitely there in her mind.
"Hah. Perhaps, but humans have always been a bit hypocritical at times. It is the way of their laws, and the cats will enforce it." She winked. "One, two... you can still get a burn you know."
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She could wait. He'd be back soon enough.
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No more. No more. No more.
No more
Once again; it is the smell of the tea that speeds up his revival - and pops up - gasping for breath. And is sweaty, very, very sweaty. Someone cooked very fast but very hot and for a moment - this feels very familiar and expecting Rose to be there - expect - that's right. Not in his universe. Rose isn't here anymore.
And he, well, hasn't very good the past few months has now? With being The Doctor? No, he hasn't and very much owes Gwen an apology and it's frustrating really; between being broken-hearted as he is - and in general helping out here isn't the easiest. Least not to his expectations of saving entire planets
A blink; and another blink, he's - still seeing in shades of grey. Why? At the very least the purple gem is still hanging around his neck on the crafted metal chain he forged.
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"Good evening, Doctor. Why don't you come have some tea when you're ready," she said as smoothly as possible. "It's good to have you back, by the way, though Theta is adorable in an endearing sort of way." Somehow, referring to his childhood self in the present tense felt... appropriate.
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"Hi."Is the loud harsh whisper, "Suppose that's just what I needed - tea." However, this time around he's not so cheeky about that. Then rubbing his hands down his cheeks, "Yes, that sounds brilliant. Is it my photosensors or has the world become various shades of grey?"
A pause; "Glad you liked him. Me. Then."
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"It's not your eyes. Colors have been wrong for about a week now, maybe more. I've been putting up with it." She sighed, taking a sip of her own. "I won't be calling you Theta, by the way, Doctor. I just didn't want to alarm you then... your awareness was hit and miss."
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And even more so - wasn't his real name; just what someone was called at the Academy.
"What do you expect? Never was off of Gallifrey at that point."
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A pause; "Remember back in that other dimension about how I was asked to kill the Daleks? I was asked that because that was a possible future outcome of the universe.
Time is a big ball of timey wimey stuff. Humans and most species believe time to be a strict cause to effect but that's because they can't see everything; that can has, will and could be."
That all said, there's something of a hard look because he's been time sight blind for quite awhile and then a big smile; "But you're clever and thank you for making the right call."
The smile fades and angles away; "Shouldn't be possible for me to reverse like that either."
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She snorted, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you used to the impossible being possible here, Doctor?"
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Then a pause; "It's not impossible to create a self-contained pocket universe that pulls stuff in from beyond it. It's not impossible to fool the senses. It's not impossible for the Great Sleep to be a place to store all of our memories." After, all The Time Lords have the Matrix. A deep inhale, "But it is beyond impossible," and a bit scary because that was sort of like what The Time Lords did to The Doctor on Gallifrey in the Death Zone sepereting his lives to be pitted against each other;
"That my clock could be turned back like that... It would be like humans being turned back into apes."
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"Does... that make sense?"
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"Still cooking." Then continues to look like he's in some kind of abdominal pain
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...
Not that she was unwise enough to say that.
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The Doctor is passed out again; at various points, Vira might hear Ten saying;
Susan
Romana
Sarah
Leela
Adric
Ace
Some of these sound very long ago with his voice and all of them also non-romantic but still important to someone at some when.
Master
Jack
and of course the deepest and most painful moan;
Rose
Someone isn't just cooking as far as his body but also in his mind seems to be straightening out as well.
Fast-Forward
Eventually, she'd sleep, but she was up pretty early in the morning, and by the time he would awake, there was he smell of eggs and bacon cooking and a pungeant coffee odor. If he looked, the bottle of Irish Cream was out and ready to be added. She'd given up on trying to play at being the peak of sobriety. She was an alcoholic and this town wouldn't let it be easy to be otherwise.
Re: Fast-Forward CW implied nudity
Finally, wakes up mid-morning; he does smell the breakfast but he's all sweaty; and goes to the shower first and comes out casually nude; as his grow up clothes are back over in the apartment and the bathrobe is all sweaty.
However, he's overall rather quiet; "Hi."
Noting the Irish Cream but doesn't say anything about; goodness knows he's had his moments and right might be. The Doctor goes over and makes the kettle before sitting down across from Vira.
Re: Fast-Forward CW implied nudity
Sip. "Morning, Doctor." Sip. "You realize that if I have to dress you in drag, you're not leaving my house naked to get the rest of your clothes, don't you?"
Re: Fast-Forward CW implied nudity
"Why?"
No, really. He may know science and math beyond that of Earth. However, human social norms or norms of any species that isn't his own - does not do.
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This was an entirely normal conversation that normal people could have.
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See, this is why The Doctor says humans dance with everything in his universe; look at what all of you think about.
Ten grabs a muffin, which is when the kettle goes off and slides out of the chair to make his tea and comes back.
The Doctor remarks slowly; "Public decency. Says the species that went out among the stars and danced with everything."
Then blows a raspberry; "Gallifrey had two suns."
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"Hah. Perhaps, but humans have always been a bit hypocritical at times. It is the way of their laws, and the cats will enforce it." She winked. "One, two... you can still get a burn you know."
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