onerthes | Deerington Inbox

[The Doctor can be found casually nude, in the living-room. On the floor. One of the rare moments that the gem necklace is on the table. While The Doctor is performing Kegel exercises. Once, in awhile, glaring his teeth when raising his body upwards.]

[Vira-Lorr looked a little awful since waking up, but after six times going through this, she knew how to handle this flu. The added problem of being unable to smell anything but rotting meat really wasn't helping her nausea but she had perscription strength meds to help with that by now. It did mean no alcohol... but that was probably not a bad thing.

Still, she was pale, and holding her head in the crook of her arm as she walked down the stairs. It was nice not to need a staff to do this. Catching sight of him, she coughed once and smiled weakly.]

Good to see you're in acceptable spirits, Doctor. I hear I missed a storm while I was getting my head on straight...

[Someone was definitely using terrible jokes to deflect.]

[Ten stops in the middle of his aerobics. Landing on his butt. His face twists in pain for a moment. At least - not as bad as before and certainly not as bad as the synapses. Getting to his knees. Ten kneels for a moment. His first reaction is a smile on his face when hearing her voice. Where, Ten isn't grossed out by the sight of her. On the contrary, someone appears concerned and sympathetic. So, this is what a sixth death entails. Rising, slowly to his feet. Gently and carefully gives her a hug.]

Good to have you back.

[She returned the hug and went to a couch to sit down thee, where it was easy enough to rest her head in her lap, looking up at him. Disorienting, but she was starting to get used to this. She looked awful, but she did know how to handle this condition.]

It is... good to be back. It is better to be in my right mind again. I'm sorry you had to see that. Is everyone ok?

[Ten follows her with his eyes. Still kneeling on his knees, adjusts to face her as needed.]

It wasn't your fault. You and I both know this place can brainwash you.

[There's a glare of his teeth and snark in his voice with that word. Clearly not liking the concept. A pause. His voice becoming more neutral.]

The Dome imploded. [Ten remarks simply. Everyone keeps saying exploding. If the Dome exploded - the glass would have gone outwardly. Not inwardly. The Dome imploded. Ten pulls his face muscles inward, that reads; he doesn't like it.]

Wasn't a good day for my synapses.

[And of course, for anyone or anything outside.]

yes... and whatever truths of my past you saw? My behavior was definitely brainwashed. That ... maybe the worst violation of the entire experience, being made to glory in what was happening, to enjoy it.

I'm... having trouble digesting those memories. [She grunted, closing her eyes.]

I see. I doubt it was a good day for anyone's headaches. Changes in pressure for one. Explosions for another.

[She hadn't yet deciphered that the layer had been torn apart. She would soon...]

Sometimes - we do what we can with the cards we are dealt. What we were shown in the courtroom was out of context.

[A short pause.]

If you ever want to talk about it. I won't judge. Promise.

[The Doctor's face is hard. Vira should know, this is always means bad news. The tone is dry.]

The layer is gone. And we moved in space-time.

Ah, that? Decidedly. We were rebelling against a government corrupted by mindless, twisted monsters intent on destroying everything. The girl leading the forces we fought ultimately joined us.

And in the end, the war was a choice between survival of some, or survival of none. As you say. we played the hand we were dealt. I don't actually regret my part, only that it came to that in some cases. [She sighed, rubbing at the back of her... uh... DAMNIT. Phantom sensations. she reached down to scratch her head.]

Give me time. The idea of ... enjoying a guillotine's blade is not something I feel up to discussing right now. That you even saw that much isn't something I entirely like, but thank you.

So. She did it then. It seems we are moving to endgame then. Gradually, or swiftly, I know not.

[Ten's face continues to be hard as Vira talks about the subject. War is a bit of a touchy subject for The Doctor. Considering, he's been in war himself. He fought. He still hasn't come to terms with that.

Fire seems to flicker in The Doctor's eyes. For a moment. Then they grow old. Like another face is looking at Vira though Ten's eyes.]

Don't. Don't say we've lost. We got though those trials. We're still together.

[A pause] And this might provide an opportunity for us now that we're in space-time.

[Like, maybe, just maybe - his Tardis will show up. That and abilities seem to function better.]

Oh Doctor.

[Despite her current ill health, she smiled at him warmly and managed a thin, dry chuckle. She saw the look in his eye, though the fullness she could only gather. That said, they were both old creatures.]

Have a little faith. I'm far from giving up the ghost. In truth, I think she has to strip away the layers. Much as I don't want her to win, she has to get closer to Sodder, because the closer she gets, the fewer places she has to hide.

And eventually, we will face each other, and she will have to answer for what she has done. Either in the hope of reasoning with her, or some other response. We will play the hand we are dealt, but I like to think I have a good poker face.

[The last look of that old face, The Doctor remarks in brittle tone.]

I've done things I'm not proud of.

[When the subject changes, his face melts into a neutral postion. There's a head nod.]

Good! Glad we're in agreement.

[The Doctor stands prompley.]

What would you like eat?

We both have, Doctor. [She offered him a smile.] But I still love you, and I'm glad you're still here.

...But since we're asking? A little soup, something mild, would be nice.

[A quick cheeky eye-wink with a smirk. He loves you too.]

Of course.

I will also promise to take better care of myself going forward. I'm probably going to be away from teh front lines for a bit.

[Right up until she found out how to get into Roderick's house. Yeah, that promise got broken, but she'd get out alive.]

[After, the water is put to boil. The Doctor returns. Then gently takes Vira's hand with his own.]

Just - don't die.

[There is that worn old alien in those eyes.]

That goes for you too, old man. [She laughed as best she could over at him.] I will be careful. I promise.

Oh, I think these old bones will be fine.

[A suggestive eye-wink. Truthfully, of course. He can't promise that he won't die. If that's the only way someone else or a group of others don't die. The Doctor is a moth to a flame. If he can give his life for others. Then he's been The Doctor. Hopefully, Vira knows this. A tongue waggle in thought. Just in case - Ten locks eyes with Vira. With a dry and serious tone.]

If that's the only way at the end of the day. I will die. Certainly won't be the last time, nor the first. I wouldn't be The Doctor, otherwise.

Edited 2020-08-23 02:31 (UTC)

There's some truth to that. I just don't want either of us to invite it. But I trust you to be careful, Doctor. You always try to be, I think.

[The Doctor continues to stare at Vira. The age in those brown eyes are showing. Because he's thinking about how his 4th face died to save the universe. How his 5th face died to save Peri. How his 9th face died to save Rose. Yeah, someone is a bit of a magnet for trouble. He's just lucky on-top of the fact. This face was lucky that when someone got their hand cut off. He could still grow a new hand. Was still in the time-frame of the regeneration cycle.

The Doctor isn't sure if Jack knows. That The Doctor would be the one who runs, back into a burning building to save everyone. Making sure everyone is out. The Doctor making it out is optional.

It is inevitable. Someone will die again here. The Doctor can't walk away; even if he will know in his hearts, that dying will hurt Jack. And his other friends.]

Not careful. Clever.

[Ten corrects Vira.]

I like to think they're the same thing. [She winked. Deep down, she knew. He was the tenth. Just because he was clever did not mean he did not dive in.]

You and I both have a very bad habit, Doctor. So... let us just make sure we are both very clever given that habit, yes? And agree to help when we cannot be so clever.

[Ten eyes that wink. Did she? Did she count his faces as someone rapidly regenerated, months ago? Someone would still like to know what made him that young. A child -once more. There's something very disturbing feeling in his old bones. That Sodder is capable of that. A head nod.]

Jack's no better.

[The Doctor teases. In his hearts, The Doctor is very proud of Jack.]

You certainly have a knack for finding indivduals.

Edited 2020-08-26 21:10 (UTC)

[She absolutely positively counted those faces and attempted to make sure they were in order. Because it had been interesting. As for what? Deerington, plain and simple, did not obey normal rules]

Of course he isn't. It's part of what you love about him, isn't it?

I'm not nearly as good as my old friend Rex. He practically drew them like moths to flame.

Part. Wouldn't say that's why I love him, completely.

Well of course. There's far more to him than just that. But it is something you love about him regardless.

[The Doctor gives a suggestive tongue waggle. With a smirk]

You don't want to know why else I love him?

[Action August 5th late morning/ early afternoon implied nudity]

(CW Also a warning for walking around with your head in your hands, literally.)

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