http://scienceandgod.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] scienceandgod.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] realityshifted2009-03-14 04:57 am

Constellation 07

[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]

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-20 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
Hm? Oh, no! No, it's quite all right with me. Travelling isn't the same without a friend, I think. I was just wondering how long that will be for her. They usually want to leave eventually.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-20 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
[A little softer.] Of course I do. [Then he shrugs, even if it's half-hearted.] But, well, I'm not going to force them to stay, am I? I just hate that part.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-20 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
It doesn't really get easier the more you say it. After a while, you expect it to happen, of course, but somehow you feel let down each time anyway. [He pauses, then rubs the back of his neck.] This probably isn't helping, I imagine.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-20 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
[He laughs a bit, looking down for a moment. He glances back up to speak.]

Honesty is the currency of the realm? No, it was loyalty, I believe. Either way, it's a lovely sentiment. But not especially helpful of me. I suppose what I really meant was I don't think about it, really, until it happens. If I worried about goodbyes, I wouldn't enjoy the time I get to spend with the person. That's much more important than the goodbye.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-21 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
[He laughs.] You know, he really wasn't so bad. Not as far as Roman Emperors go. Nero, now, that was the man to watch out for. Goodness.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-21 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, yes, she was a horror. Mind you, the most time I spent there was during the Great Fire of Rome. So you can imagine I didn't get the best impression of him.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-21 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
[He rubs his cheek.] I really had nothing to do with it. Well, I know some things about it, of course, having been there. But I wasn't involved. Much. I mean, not really.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-21 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
Well, it was an accident, really. I was just looking around the palace with Vicki and we found his plans for New Rome. A friend came to warn us that Nero was looking for us - not for a friendly chat, mind you - and in our rush we sort of lit the plans on fire. Apparently he drew inspiration from that. We didn't change history, at least. He was already planning to demolish the city.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-21 07:07 am (UTC)(link)
[The Doctor clears his throat, a little awkward.] Right, well, that was a very long time ago. I was still getting the hang of things. Though rulers don't seem to like me much now, either.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-21 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
I don't start fires! It was an accident. I honestly make a point of avoiding fire if I can. I'm not very fond of it.

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-21 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
[He's somewhat flustered over this.] You don't believe me, do you?

[identity profile] salvagestime.livejournal.com 2009-03-21 07:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Tilts his head.] What is it, then?