it is a mind. A Mind of Evil.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor has had One of Those Days. You know the type - the sort when your best enemy has you running around fighting mind parasites and preventing peace conferences from being targeted by missiles and so on. But then, on the other hand, she did prevent disasters and retrieve her dematerialization circuit from the Master even if she was beaten at checkers by all three of her companions in a row.

Still, being reminded of some of her less... pleasant... memories and portions of her psyche calls for a little time out, away from her companions (as justified their worry may be, she'd rather start them off with a smile and a destination to be off to, not a few hours waiting around for her to pull her mind together again). So she finds a cup of tea; and, it's true, she perhaps lingers a moment too long near the bar - but to go in would be lending credence to certain accusations, not to mention a betrayal of a promise she made to herself.

Instead, she finds a comfortable sofa somewhere relatively reclusive to settle down with her tea and sort her thoughts out. Given that her intent is to be somewhat alone, interrupting her would likely be in accordance with some rule or another, not to mention considerably better for her than letting her sit around and mope on her own.]

Comments

[collector]

[Rather by coincidence, because obviously he has no idea that the Doctor is stressed, and of course he wouldn't be offering any sort of comfort in a time of need, Braxiatel sits down at the sofa with his own cup of tea. It is a delicious cup of tea. Accordingly, he drinks from it without speaking.]

[As checkers is a topic of the day, let this be Brax's way of saying 'your move']

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[Her move, it appears, is mostly to throw him a somewhat inscrutable glance and draw up her legs to allow him room. Of course, the very nature of the Doctor being inscrutable generally means something's up, which sort of ruins the point.

Her move is also, however, to extend the silence. Perhaps she's tired of checkers.]

[collector]

[Just because she keeps losing... Braxiatel will take another sip of his tea, then, either because he's at ease or because he's testing the silence. Possibly a third option, or even a fourth one.]

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[Perhaps he just very much enjoys his tea?

And perhaps the Doctor does, too, though for a moment she draws in a breath with apparent intent to speak. In the silence following you can perhaps hear her rearranging her thoughts. Maybe (possibly, probably) she even wants to say something, but for once isn't certain how to start, and could use a little help.]

[collector]

[There is a ninety percent probability that he just really likes his tea.]

[So he will break the silence, having picked up on that cue.]

I wish I had crumpets to go with this.

[With stirring intellectual discussing, obviously.]

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie is making his way towards the kitchens when he spots a familiar looking form on the sofa. He doesn't approach immediately - instead, he finishes his trip and is out of sight for a short bit, coming back with a sandwich and a small dish of ice-cream balanced on a slightly larger-than-normal plate.]

He settles down next to her on the sofa, offering the plate over so she can take whatever she wants off it first. If she wants anything, that is.]

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[- Awwww, Jamie. She musters up a smile for him, but doesn't take anything. She's not particularly hungry. Plus! She has tea. Mmmmmm tea. Tea > sandwiches though maybe not ice cream

Settling in all right?

*kicks the errant bracket*

[bonnypiperlad]

[He'll start on the sandwich, if she doesn't mind, then, setting the plate and ice-cream down. If it melts, it melts. Ice-cream soup is good, too. After a few minutes of quiet chewing, he swallows and offers a distraction from her thoughts.]

Do ye not like ice-cream now?

[And yes, he is.]

....*likewise kicks the lack of /strike tag asjkdfh* We are so very abused by HTML tonight.

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[He is so cute sweet, though! She appreciates it.]

Oh, no, I'm very fond of it.

[Mmmmm ice cream. She's just a little distracted, though.]

Here's hoping that HTML is behaving now that it's past midnight. XD

[bonnypiperlad]

Oh, aye? Well, that's all right, then.

[He's quiet again, because, well, he's trying to figure out a good way to ask what's bothering Three. And perhaps a little bit due to the sandwich.]

So...how are...things?

[knowswheregodis.livejournal.com]

[Chris is here with food because apparently Chris and food never wish to be apart. He is also busy neglecting to think about things - hurray dead bodies! - so he's got a nice big newspaper wrap of chips and hey there's a bird here, so why not talk to her.]

Looking pretty down there, luv.

[gotitwrong]

[And because Chris without Ray is just a half person, here's Ray too. He has to keep Chris from ever experiencing the wonder that is heterosexuality!

He rolls his eyes at Chris' attempt at flirting. But let us presume he has snuck up on Chris, and steps up behind him with sneaky Ray powers.]

Friend of yours, Chris? Care to introduce us?

[Ray grins. Victory for Raymond Carling!]

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[Before Ray sneaks up she does manage a rather puzzled "Thank you?" because Three... is not exactly used to being flirted with. Or even flirted at. It's one of those things she just never got the hang of.

And hello, person with a... slightly ill-advised moustache!]

Not really. I believe you just did, though. [And Three knows... one-half of the Chris-Ray monster's names now. Score one for her!]

[knowswheregodis.livejournal.com]

[Damn you, Ray. Now Chris is a bit embarrassed and holds out his chips as an offering of peace to the nice lady.]

Uhm, yeah. I'm Chris and this is me friend, Ray. Were just thinking you looked not so good there like something were bothering you.

[gotitwrong]

[Haha, I totally read it wrong if that was what Chris originally meant, but it could easily be taken as a horrible attempt at flirting from Chris, so you can understand my poor, poor confusion.

Either way, Ray wins. Chris is defeated. Always. And his response is about the same as mind, which is a casual glance of 'nice attempt' or 'good save'.]

Ah, well. Chris has a habit of tryin' to make friends with all the birds on the plane. Figured you mighta been one of 'em.

[Ray is the greatest friend in the universe.]

[oliverplus]

[is surprised to find the Doctor lounging on a sofa with a cup of tea. then again, this is the Doctor, and it probably shouldn't be a surprise to find her anywhere in particular--especially not with a cup of tea, considering how fond of tea he knows the Doctor to be. but he still doesn't like the look of her. approaches her cautiously, concerned]

Hey, Doctor! You all right?

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor spares a somewhat less-than-convincing smile for Oliver. Genuine because she likes Oliver, just not very strongly genuine because of circumstances. ...Yes.]

Of course.

[She's always all right. And that sentence will not get more true as she gets older.]

And yourself?

[oliverplus]

[oh, he can see right through that. he's an expert on fake smiles himself]

I'm fine.

[awkwardly, but he really does want to know what's wrong] So uh...what've you been up to?

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[And Three is a master mistress of distraction! Or being distracted. The latter may be more true than the former.]

Oh, I've been with UNIT for a bit. Have I ever mentioned them to you?

[oliverplus]

[shakes his head] What's that?

[horriblyevil.livejournal.com]

[Billy discovers 'Jo' during one of his many escapes to the Plane. More and more he's been finding it a great, quiet place to gather his thoughts and think about his next move in the Battleship game he calls L.A. Luckily, he's coming up from behind the couch, and he doesn't think she's noticed him yet.

So in a split second random decision, he de-planes for a moment.

About a minute later, he reappears with a whole tray of pastries. Where did he get them? Billy certainly wouldn't claim to having any talent in baking, himself. Ah well.

Time to make his approach.]

--You wouldn't happen to like... [He pauses to take a good look at the tray of pastries he stole found] some danishes to go with that tea, would you?

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

[This is somewhat surprising, given that she hasn't seen Billy around much since her tour of the GLaDOS's laboratory, and also he may possibly be a bit evil, but he's being rather thoughtful.

So he gets a fairly friendly smile, even if she's not terribly up to playing the part of Jo right now. But still... danishes.]

- I wouldn't mind them, I suppose.

[horriblyevil.livejournal.com]

[Come to think of it, Billy hasn't seen GLaDOS around much, either. But he's been keepting to himself and lying low for the past few weeks, so it isn't very surprising that he hasn't seen many people.]

Nice coincidence that I just happened to be in the neighborhood with these, huh?

[Billy sidles up to the sofa and offers the tray to Jo, waiting for her to take her pick of the litter.]

[not-theman-iwas.livejournal.com]

Yes. [She peers at her choices for a moment and settles on a maple and pecan danish. She would perhaps not be terribly worried to find out that she's eating illegally-gotten pastries, given that she's, er, a little vague about money.]

I suppose it is. How have you been?

[horriblyevil.livejournal.com]

[He selects a blackberry danish for himself, sets the tray aside and takes a seat on the far armrest.]

Okay, I guess. [His smile fades to a thoughtful, distracted expression.] I've been busy.

What about you? You look like you're feeling... Well, I mean, are you all right? I hope the tour around the labs didn't scare you away.