001 [A Brave New World]

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[There is never really a ‘good’ moment to arrive on the Plane for the first time, but some appearances are more inconvenient than others. The girl who has just appeared is carrying a picnic basket in one hand and a broad-brimmed sun hat – which doesn’t quite fit with the black and white stripes of the rest of her outfit – in the other. She has the air of a person who has been disturbed while packing for a holiday. She doesn’t, however, have the air of someone who is surprised by such a strange occurrence.]

Oh, I should have known that a holiday was too much to hope for!

[She looks around curiously. A little nervously too, perhaps, but at least she isn’t terrified.]

Grandfather? Grandfather, are you there?

Zoe?

[She pauses before calling out the third and final name, as if she is somewhat reluctant to use it.]

Jamie?

Hello?

Comments

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[when he opens them, his eyes are blazing with conflict and determination, and he takes another step towards her; his voice remains soft, but intent]

Susan, you must be careful. All of you. The Time Lords...

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[Susan looks a little surprised by the intensity in his gaze, but she can't be frightened of her grandfather. Even a version of her grandfather she doesn't really know.]

Oh, we don't go anywhere near the Time Lords. We can't.

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[his expression softens, because he can tell, and it's a bit wonderful, that she isn't]

They may still find you. [a moment] Susan...different realities converge, here. People from parallel universes can meet.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

We'll be careful.

Did they find you? In your universe?

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[his face closes, and his voice lowers]

Me. Zoe. Jamie.

They took them from me, wiped their memories of our time together and sent them back.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[To say Susan looks horrified by that is putting it mildly. She clasps a hand to her mouth and shakes her head.]

Oh, poor Zoe! [Poor Jamie, too. She wouldn't wish something like that on anyone, even him. And it must have hurt her grandfather so much.] I'm sorry.

[So sorry, in fact, that she doesn't even ask what happened to her.]

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[a weak, tight smile slides into place] They showed me, after, that they were all right. [for the moment] But... [again, he shakes his head]

I was forced to regenerate, and exiled to Earth. They took my knowledge of flying the TARDIS away from me. ...I got it back, eventually.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[Susan's eyes widen in horror. She can't imagine a worse punishment for her grandfather, and, although she intended to try and work out if this incarnation liked hugs before giving him one, she can't help herself.]

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[he returns the embrace immediately, though it is light; as if she might break, if he held her too tightly]

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[A hug is a hug. At least he's returning it.]

As long as you got it back eventually.

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[his voice lightens, a bit] Well, they could hardly keep it up after I saved Gallifrey for them.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

You did? [She stares at him with wide eyes.] That's wonderful!

[He was a hero. It was about time the other Time Lords realised it too.]

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[he manages a genuine smile, this time] That I did. Of course, my friends helped. And Koschei.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[She wants to point out that she would have helped too, if she'd been there, but hopefully he knows that already.] Koschei? Is he here as well?

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[and so he does; he shakes his head] No, I'm afraid not. [fond smirk] It's strange, really, he manages to invade every other aspect of my life...

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

Invade? That makes it sound as you don't want him here. [The smirk fixes that, though, so she's smiling as she speaks. She has fond memories of the Master, even if they're a bit out of date now.]

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[faint, playful pout] He's always trying to make me more responsible and cautious.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

He probably isn't very optimistic, though. [She knows the Master probably knows the Doctor better than anyone, but, since he isn't a companion and she rather likes him, Susan isn't jealous.] I'm not sure you could ever learn caution.

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[chuckles] I'm better with it than I used to be.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

Really? That will make things easier, then.

[It doesn't matter how much older he is now, or what universe he's from. He's still her grandfather, and Susan therefore considers it her duty to look after him as best she can.]