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

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

That's ... [She's at a loss for words. And part of her is almost jealous of this new human Doctor. All the memories of a Time Lord and the lifespan of a human..?]

Yes? I suppose it's been a while since you've seen them?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't notice any jealousy on her part, he just nods in the affirmative to her question.]

Oh, yes, a good while for Zoe. A bit less so for Jamie. I technically saw him back in my sixth. There was a mix-up of sorts and I ran into him. [a pause; he should tell her which he is, actually.] I'm the tenth, by the way.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[Her face falls a little at that. She knows that Zoe is human, she understands that she won't be on the TARDIS forever. That doesn't mean she has to like it.]

Tenth. I hope you're being careful? You don't have that many regenerations!

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He pouts just slightly.]

I've been trying to! Believe me, I'm hoping to keep this regeneration for a good number of years before my eleventh comes along.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

That's why you need me to look after you. [She's smiling a little at the pout, even if she isn't sure she'll ever be able to look after him - any of him! - well enough to prevent regeneration. She didn't manage it before.] Do all Time Lords get younger as they get older?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He actually laughs at that.] I hope not. Imagine the last one. I rather like this one, though. Best one yet. [It's not like he doesn't always think that.] Are you enjoying it, by the way? Being with my second and Zoe and Jamie.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

Yes, very much. It was a bit lonely after Barbara and Ian left, but I like Zoe a lot. And you seem to like having Jamie on the TARDIS...

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[That fond 'Oh Jamie' smile.] I did, yes. I'm glad you're happy, at least. It went a bit differently in my universe. [Curious.] Was there anyone before them? Vicki or Dodo or anyone?

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[Susan is clearly not impressed by that smile. Then the Doctor goes and mentions the only companion she dislikes more than she dislikes Jamie.]

Vicki and Dodo, yes. And Steven. And poor Katarina. And Ben and Polly. Victoria left just before we met Zoe.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He nods.]

Oh, well, that's unchanged. Just curious, was all. And you haven't seen the Time Lords?

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

No! No, we're very careful about staying away from Gallifrey. I'm not sure what they'd do to us. Maybe we'll be able to go back one day, but...

[She shrugs a little.]

We've met UNIT, though. Cybermen in London!

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[His voice turns softer.] Just try to stay as far away from them as you can.

[But that makes him brighten up.] Oh! I know where you're at! The Brigadier! He's a brigadier now. Well, he has been for me, just now for you.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[She nods. She isn't particularly worried about herself, but she wants to protect her grandfather from whatever happens in all those other universes.]

Yes! He was only a Colonel when we first met. It was rather strange to see him again. That sort of thing doesn't usually happen.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[He grins, a knowing grin.]

It really doesn't. He's a bit of an anomaly, our Brigadier.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[She returns the grin despite herself.]

You're not supposed to approve of anomalies, grandfather. Although you must get used to them in a place like this. We're all anomalies, aren't we? Meeting people we shouldn't, and crossing time lines?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[Cheerfully.]

Well! Nothing has imploded yet and it's been quite a while since I've arrived here, so everything should be all right. Anomalies are interesting, though! I might be a bit more interested in them now than I was before.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

That's good. I suppose it gets easier over the centuries? You can forget more and more of what you learned at the Academy, and remember the things you've learned traveling instead.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. It's much easier now. Mostly, at least. Not everything is useless or pompous nonsense. But I suppose that's something you learn along the way, too.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

I think it's something you would have learned even if you'd stayed on Gallifrey.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

Ah, well, hard to judge. I suppose we'll never know. [He pauses and considers who he is talking to and where he is.] On second thought, we may yet find out.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

There are so many possibilities. Technically, there could be infinite numbers of any individual, couldn't there?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[Amused as he considers that.] I think so. All of my past selves I've met took different paths than I did. I don't think I can imagine all the possibilities. It's finite, I'm sure, but so large a number that it doesn't really matter.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

Do you think it covers small decisions, like what clothes you put on in the morning, or only very large ones? The large ones are the only ones which are noticeable, but the others may have smaller significance.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

Hm, it does make you wonder. Maybe it depends. For example, if I'd worn my blue suit and someone stopped me on the street to ask me about it. I might have missed a key event that I would have been in time for had I worn this suit and been ignored.

[unearthlysusan.livejournal.com]

[This is such a strange conversation to be having, but Susan is rather enjoying it. She likes learning new things, and trying to puzzle things out.]

Do people often stop you to ask about your clothes? I like the suit you're wearing.