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

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[quiet for a moment, thinking] Is that a bad thing?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

Don't you mind, when they leave?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[sad smile] Saying goodbye is never easy, is it?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

No, not quite. But it is honest.

That's worth something. A lot of somethings, I'd think.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[smiles] A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only one. Julios Caesar.

A bit appropriate, I think, though the situation at hand is not quite as morbid.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

Emperor at sixteen, though. And his mother didn't seem terribly content to let him be.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

Do you know who started the fire, or whether it was done on purpose at all?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

...Doctor, what happened?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Arthur just...stares for a moment, not sure what he's supposed to say now. He doesn't even look angry, just confused]

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

Do you...start fires often?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

Oh, of course.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He's somewhat flustered over this.] You don't believe me, do you?

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

No no, it's not that. Accidents happen.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[Tilts his head.] What is it, then?

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

Just...Great Fire of Rome. Because you lit his plans on fire.