Constellation 07

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Arthur sits at his desk, hunched slightly forward, his head resting somewhat on his hand. He's got a history book opened up in front of him, several more stacked around him. Its opened to one of the chapters regarding World War II.

His expression is hinted with confusion, sadness, and anger. But mostly, he just looks very tired. In his left hand is the pocket watch, and h keeps flipping the face open and close, never really looking at it]

Comments

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[Gently.]

I think you should stop reading, just for a bit. That's a lot to take in all at once.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

Just a little longer won't hurt.


[quietly]I....I read about Einstein. And the Manhattan Project, and the atomic bomb, and Japan. He wa- is, he is anti-war.I don't understand.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He leans a bit heavier on the desk.]

He was. Erm, is. He...it's complicated, Arthur. Especially at the time.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

The Great War, they called it. The War to end all War. Twenty seven years later, there's sixty million dead.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

You really can't blame people for having hope that it wouldn't repeat. Most people hope every war will be the last.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

I don't- I understand why it happened, what led up to it. I don't see why it had to. 40 million civilians dead.

40 million people that had nothing to do with the fighting. Didn't get drafted or volunteered or went out to fight. They simply died in the cross fire. And the extermination camps....

[His voice is still quiet, but shaking] How is that fair, Doctor? How is that right? To think that God would allow such a thing.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

It isn't. There's nothing right or good or just about the deaths. [He puts his hand over the book, resting it on the pages.] There isn't one simple answer for 'why.' That's part of what makes it so terrible.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[He nods, bringing the watch close. Silently, almost as if the Doctor weren't there, Arthur opens it and runs his fingers over the face slowly. He's still holding it like that when he speaks]

We're very stupid, humans. For all the brilliance, we can do such stupid, stupid things for the sake of pride.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

Well, it isn't just humans. Not that you don't have your fill of it but most species fall victim to pride or arrogance or greed. It's a common flaw.

[He leans in slightly.] But it isn't all bad. You know that especially well, Arthur. For all the bad, there's so much good that is - or can be - done. There were actually a lot of positive things that came after this war. Terrible things, yes, but good, too. It isn't perfect but it isn't so simple as just the bad. You can't let yourself become completely fixated with it.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Arthur leans back in his chair, just a bit closer to the Doctor]

I know that. There's more to war than just the death. It's just hard to look past it, even now.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

I know. Believe me, I do. But you need to. The world doesn't end there.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

I'll just...take a break for now. But I want to keep reading, later.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He smiles a bit at that.] Good. Thank you.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Arthur gives him the slightest smile in return, pushing his chair back and standing. He slips the watch into his pocket, glancing at the books] I'll return them all to you in a few hours, at most.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head.] Oh, don't worry about it. I'm certainly not one to complain about returns. I've actually got more than a few libraries after me for late fees. [He pauses, tilting his head a little.] Are you going to be all right?

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[surprised] Oh, I'll be fine. Just...I'll be fine, in due time.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He nods.] I really shouldn't have given you these but considering all the facts you were getting, there didn't seem to be much of a point. I thought it might be best if I could explain it a bit.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

......you don't have to teach me about everything, Doctor. It's okay. You shouldn't bother yourself with it so much.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

I did give you the books, so it follows that I should take responsibility for that. It's not exactly a bother. Better than however you were finding out about it before.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Nods, hesitating for a moment] Would it be okay, if I hugged you? It's fine if not, I understand, but Winnie's not at home, and I can't really talk to her about this regardless, and I promise it would just be a quick thing-

[clears his throat, taking a step back] No, no, forget it. I'm sorry I asked.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor blinks, a bit taken aback. Then he reaches out, catching Arthur's arm and tugging him into a hug.]

Something like this, I assume.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Arthur freezes a moment, surprised. Slowly he relaxes, and soon enough he's hugging the Doctor back, almost clinging]...I'm sorry about this.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor just lets the hug continue.]

Oh, don't apologise for it. Really.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Arthur holds on for a moment longer, then slowly let's go of the Doctor, taking a step back again. He seems embarrassed, but not quite as down. Almost relieved, in fact]

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor smiles at him and just lets his hands slip into his pockets.]

Feel any better?