three: cause & effect

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor on the plane tonight doesn't look entirely well. She hasn't yet managed to check up on Jamie and Zoe in person since talking to Brax, but at least she managed a phone call. There was altogether too much dancing about, trying to sort out the who's and whyfor's, and she promised her two erstwhile companions that she'd come pick them up soon enough. But not right now, because all that fuss has given her a headache (given her a headache, of course, because it's not as if the Doctor has had a headache pretty constantly for a day or so).

And being in the TARDIS but not going anywhere for the moment made her a bit restless (clearly, that's it), so she made herself a lovely cup of peppermint tea (because it's lovely, not to soothe a stomach that isn't the slightest bit nauseated) and wandered planewards.

So now, she's settled onto a nice armchair with a cuppa, absently stroking her temples to soothe the headache that isn't there. Perhaps she'll go to Egypt next. Legend says there's a very interesting river there.]

Comments

[collector]

Oh, you know how it is. So much of my work is paper. Well, not literally paper. I wish it were. At least then there'd be some amount of pleasure in the method, if not the madness. But I know how you can put things off. Though I am curious about what would happen if I sent something to someone without a mailbox.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

You could always try.

[FFFF SHE NEEDS NO POST BOX. Obviously.]

[collector]

Then I will. Perhaps more of this drink, if you like it?

[and perhaps some drugs slipped into them to counter the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal...]

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

I prefer tea, if you don't mind.

[See? She has peppermint tea. Which is getting sadly cold, Brax. Do you see it? Looking all woeful as it edges towards room temperature? Don't you feel bad for taking her away from her tea?

...Yes, we thought not.]

[collector]

I can send you a variety from my collection. But I wouldn't want to risk them getting lost in the mail.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

No, of course not.

[Does she look particularly dehydrated, Brax. :|

...

No, don't answer that.]

[collector]

So perhaps a setting up a post box would be a good idea.

[somehow, he isn't making a suggestion]

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

Mm.

[Somehow, this is apparently bringing out the contrary brat in the Doctor.]

[collector]

[Brax starting to (apparently) nest would bring bring out contrariness in the best of people]

Because, thank history, I'm not CIA, but I am perfectly willing to stage an intervention. [considers] I can never tell if I like puns or detest them. It must be both. 'Sentries for the centuries.' I do like that one.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[This is true.

Cue the perfectly, utterly innocent tone.] An intervention about the sad state of post boxes?

[collector]

[apparently ignoring her] Have I ever mentioned that Bernice is an alcoholic? I think she single-handedly balances the books of most of the bars on the Collection.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

I believe it did come up, yes. Is your hearing defective?

[..Oh, Three. Her head hurts and she's a little irritable and she just doesn't want to sit here while he backdoors his way through this conversation.]

[collector]

[sweetly]

I'm afraid not, but I can say with certainty that you have a headache. And I don't look forward to 'the trembling madness.'

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[On second thought, talking directly isn't much better.]

I'll be fine.

[collector]

[gently, because he has been learning something of social cues from all those years with humans]

Thete. It's pointless letting yourself suffer over it. There are far grander things you can do with your life than allow something like this to affect who you are.

[mild, now, and demure] And, as I know that irritability is among the symptoms, you'll have a hard time shaking me off with brusqueness. But don't let that stop you trying.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[There is - let's be honest - a moment or several during which she considers just dropping off the Plane. Because the Doctor is very good at running, and not as good at facing things, necessarily.

But this is Brax, and she would hear about it until her dying day. All of them.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[More or less. But, you know.]

[collector]

[Damn right she would] Wonderful. [Somehow, Brax manages to sound incredibly pleased about this, as if the Doctor has just signed over her thirteen lives to him and in doing so has given Braxiatel the power to snatch outworks out of time on a whim]

You've been travelling, I assume?

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[And that's a frightening thought.]

Mm.

[collector]

That's neither confirmation nor denial, you realize.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

I had, yes.

[collector]

Well, it's something.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[Aaaand switching his drink for her tea. It was getting cold. ._.]

[collector]

[perching delicately on the edge of the armchair]

Let's see... we've tried subtlety, asking nicely, and coercion. Shall we go for bribery next? I'm sure I've some texts you want to borrow. I could also give you a lecture. It will only add to your headache, I know, but it's been so long since I've given a proper lecture. Perhaps I should open the Collection up to students. It's been a few years since Dellah; Bernice will be happy to take up teaching again. [he considers for a moment] Or perhaps she'll be quite angry about it, but she'll come around. We've already a few professors living on the Collection anyway, so why not make it a university? It would complete the triumvirate of knowledge - to preserve, perpetuate, and, now, pass on information.

[he smiles winningly at the Doctor] Thank you for talking it over with me. I'll have to come up with some traditions for them to rebel against. Some students find that the only enjoyable part of their education.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[Wince.]

You already know my feeling on institutionalized education. What were you lecturing on, again?

[...She lost track.]

[collector]

[apparently not noticing] For one thing, I won't have a ridiculous uniform. I'll keep all of the ridiculous things to the traditions. Isn't there a certain set of creatures that everyone finds inexplicably comical? Ducks, and penguins, and perhaps monkeys. I wonder what sort of regeneration would come out of Death By Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Not very glamorous, and it hardly matches up to some of your other causes of deaths. I'll send you anything you need to get through it. Perhaps walking a duck around the Grand Trianon every, oh, decade or so? That will be awkward if we get any students from Quenina, though. Damn.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[Sharply:] That's enough.

[She is not going to die of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, alright? Ill-defined relatives are such a pain. :|]

[collector]

[He's undisturbed, though his gaze sharpens on her in reply. He doesn't raise his voice.] Enough what? Enough mindless chatter that avoids the point or enough of being direct about it?

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

Both, honestly.

[collector]

Of course. [he glances briefly at the teacup, measuring its make] Then I'll leave you to your drinking, then, shall I? [standing back up and straightening his clothes so he looks immaculate when he goes home]

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[...Sigh.

Apparently she is not quite irritable enough that she can't slip in a very quiet 'thank you'.]

[collector]

[Braxiatel's expression transforms into a rather smug smile] I wouldn't, just yet. I'll still be sending you vitamin drinks through the post.


[Before the Doctor can protest, Braxiatel returns to his study at home]