01 - Welcome to Alpha 9

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

[She hesitates, glancing around, immobile, taking in the details before she pulls her gun and thumbs the safety off, pointing it at the... invisible floor. Right. She checks her head for cuts, makes sure she's dressed. Not one of those dreams at least.] I must have... I fell asleep at my desk. It figures, Creegan. It figures I can't even get away from you in a dream--of course not. You could at least be naked.

[he's not looking at her, taking in the endless stars and, well, lack of floor] Ooh, sexual harassment. I'm telling on you to Hank. Don't think this is a dream. Don't think this is your dream. Might be my dream. How come you get to be the real one anyway?

[he starts wandering away] So whaddaya think? Alpha 9?

[Her shoulders sag and he throws her head back as though praying for patience from some distant power.] Oh god. Don't even--just don't. This is not reality. This is not real. Reality is you stripping in the middle of a crowded airplane while reciting William Blake. This is--I don't know what this is, but it isn't that.

[casually] Alright, well if it's not reality, what is it? You're here, I'm here. Mass hallucination? I've had hallucinations and this...this doesn't feel right. And don't you think you're focusing a bit too much on me being naked? If this is your dream Mr. Freud is probably patting himself on the back somewhere.

[Exasperation. Way to familiar and comfortable a feeling where he's concerned to be a dream.] Well when you're half-dressed or, or not every other time I see you it's sort of hard not to make it a.. a focal-- where are you going, Creegan.

[Over his shoulder,] I’m investigating! It’s what I do.

Okay. Fine. Not a hallucination--I'll take your word on that. [She rubs her face.] If this is how Cyril feels every time he wakes up... [She shakes her head and stares out at the plane. And the... 1930s theater, forest, and coliseum that fall one by one into her field of vision.] Remind me to buy him a coffee or something next time I see him.



[[MAJOR THREADHOPPING WILL HAPPEN, LOLS. Branca will be on Creegan's ass the minute they start meeting people. JUST A WARNING.]]

Comments

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

I get the feeling you do that 'fond teasing' thing.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

Could be you make it easy.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

I'll say that's a compliment.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

[Thoughtfully,] I guess... I guess it sort of was one. Huh.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

Surprised?

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

What? No! No. I wasn't. I'm not.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

Well! Then you're not surprised and I'm right. Good enough.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

Always fond of being right, aren't you.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

I'm just used to it.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

Oh, well! Excuse me.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

You're excused.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

[She starts to laugh and then bites her lip and looks away, still amused.]

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[he smiles widely, rocking back and forth]

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

So. [She still looks like she's trying not to laugh.] So, who... who're you traveling with now?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[aaand that makes him chew on his tongue a bit. But, well, if she's from his future...] Erm...the Master, actually. Long story. You might know it.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

[Raised eyebrow.] No, actually. I don't think I do.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

Well, right then. The Master tends to plot and take over places. Usually very unsuccessfully. One of his more recent attempts, however, went quite well. Very long story there, too. Actually this is very long without that bit.

Point is, when I beat him, I had to do something. I couldn't let him get away and I wasn't going to kill him. So! I took him on board. Seemed like the best idea at the time.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

[A little more seriously, because wow, that was never one of the stories.] And now? Do you... I mean, is there something else you would have done?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

Things are mostly all right now. I say 'mostly' because when I say 'all right' I mean he's not trying to break my bones all the time or killing people the second he steps out of the TARDIS. Not that he's saving kittens-- [pauses] Actually he likes cats. Sort of. But what I mean is that he's not quite as wound-up, which is good. It's slow but it's progress.

[ponders] I don't think I could have done anything else, honestly.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

[Rubs her arms.] It's... you don't get to go back. [Little smile.] Even you don't get to go back. The only thing you can do is keep going and wonder if... if something else... if you could...

[She rubs her fingers across her lips.] I'm--no, sorry, I don't know what I'm trying to say.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[gives her a curious look, then shrugs] I can't go back. But I'm all right with where I am. That's not always something I can say.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

[Little tired smile. She tells herself she's letting her guard down because none of this can possibly be real.]

No one can.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

Oh, I dunno. I've known some people who felt quite good about where they were usually.

[lockedinglass.livejournal.com]

Then maybe it's just me.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with it, exactly?