12;

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

[Oh, look who it is. Not bustling, not running around, not talking. Just quietly there.]

[He's been scarce on the Plane lately, his current situation making him anything but social. As it is, he's here now, staring at the post he has on the Plane, waiting for a promised letter. Feel free to interrupt.]

Comments

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

[reaches out to touch the side of her cheek where the bruise is]

And I thought politics on my planet were difficult.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

[This is Dorothy being shy. Remember it, because it's pretty damn rare to see. It's strange to see someone with a bruise on her cheek blushing, but there you go. Still, besides a minor wince at the pain of the bruise being touched, she doesn't pull away. Hey, he's a Doctor; he just wants a look.]

It's not so bad. Ozma's on my side; she's just mad about the party. She'll cool off eventually. 'S not like she's gonna exile me or anything.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

Exile's a terrible thing. Believe me, I should know.

[shakes his head]

I know I've got a bandage back at the TARDIS that'll clear this up. If you want it.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

Don't know what I'd do without Oz.

[...Whoa, where did that come from? That was a little personal. She clears her throat and hugs her elbows-- adopting a bit of a defensive stance]

Thank you, that's awful nice of you.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

That's what I said.

[sort of, but the Doctor vanishes from the Plane before he can divulge any more about his past. He returns with brightly colored bandages]

The colors are part of an ointment woven into the bandage. The color starts to fade as it goes into the wound or bruise. Once the bandage is white, it means the wound has healed.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

[she's not going to press him on what he was talking about, because it's probably more than he says to most people as it is, and he's clearly not in a mood today, so she won't push her luck. Instead, she peers at the bandage curiously]

That's a very clever idea. Where are they from?

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

My home world. A long time ago.

[he produces a pair of sharp scissors and cuts off a block of the bandage. He then gently puts it over the bruise on Dorothy's cheek and jaw. The color starts to fade immediately]

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

[She allows him to do his thing, staying still until the thing is affixed, after which she pokes at it curiously.]

It tingles.

[smiling at him, a little lopsided, on account of the bandage]

Guess everyone from your planet is pretty clever, huh?

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

Fairly. I'm still the cleverest.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

How do you figure?

[She's actually ASKING him to brag. She doesn't know what she's getting herself into, does she? Or maybe she's just teasing. Possibly both!]

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

[and, oddly enough, he is just not in a bragging mood. In fact, he looks back at the post and falls into a slump again]

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

[oh damn, now she's gone and hurt his feelings. :( ]

I'm sorry, I was only joking! I didn't mean it...

[And she just looks at him. Quietly:]

You're really not alright, huh.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

It's been a long day. Long week, actually. Maybe a long couple of centuries.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling.

[she glances at the post box, and quickly back at him]

Waiting for your mail?

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

A letter from an old friend, yep.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

I take it it's probably not good news.

[judging from the way he's moping around, anyway]

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

No. No, it's never good news when it's from him.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

And yet you can't wait to get it.

[She gives him a mock-concerned look]

Either you're a masochist, or something important's riding on that bad news. Still, you shouldn't have to wait alone. Mind if I wait with you?

[Or is that going to ruin your precious sulkytime.]

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

[considers her, then nods. Misery does love company, after all]

I'm not---

It's---

It's an important letter.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't 'spect you'd be waiting 'round for it, if it weren't. But why a letter? If you know it's already bad news from somebody, can't you just call 'em?

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

It doesn't work like that.

Everything is very precise with him. I usually throw a wrench in his plans, but...this time his plans are very dangerous.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

Thought you said he was a friend.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

He was.

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

[slowly nodding in comprehension]

And this letter. It's going to help you stop him from doing... whatever it is he's doing?