realityshifted | (no subject)

[is obviously uncomfortable with this] You are familiar with the Doctor, yes? His Tenth, I mean. Enough that you might be able to tell me what he'd like as a gift?

I think so, maybe. Are you looking for something for him?

A Christmas gift. He is getting me one, so I thought I would return the sentiment.

Oh! I actually have to get someone a Christmas gift too. I'd forgotten. Hm... [scratches the back of his head] He seems like the sort of bloke who's happy with anything, because it means you were thinking about him.

Do you? Then my timing in asking you seems impeccable. [tilts her head] I have spoken with Rose Tyler about it and I believe I will be getting him a snow globe of Gallifrey. But I would like to get him something else. I am simply too unfamiliar with this regeneration to be completely confident with my choice. Have you any suggestions?

Hair gel? Uhm... he seems to really like food. [muttered] A "How To Deal With Your Evil Boyfriend" guide might be dead useful, too. [tilts head] And apparently, he really likes musicals.

[blinks at the hair gel and food comments, then narrows her eyes at the mutter] I beg your pardon? [tilts her head] Does he? That is something new, though his Eighth is quite the avid reader and lover of theatre, so I suppose it makes sense... What sort of Christmas gift are you looking to get, Sam Tyler? If I might ask.

Nothing. Just... he's got a tough time with him, doesn't he?

Yeah, he listed off, uhm... Wicked, Sweeney Todd, Spamalot... oh, what was - right, Spring Awakening, I think he mentioned. And the musical episode of Buffy.

I'm looking for something for this woman, Diva. It's Christmas where she is. Clothing or jewellery, or i don't know, something blue, I guess. She likes blue. I'm just not entirely sure...

Only because he insists on being near him. I've told him repeatedly how he can solve that little dilemma of his.

[rolls her eyes good-naturedly] I should have known a few of those would make the list. I shall consider them.

[tilts her head] I see. Do you love her, then?

You can't just walk away from someone you care about that much. Not that I approve of it. I'd rather see the Master put away for life. But if you feel that way about someone, you can't walk away.

Happy to've helped.

--What?? No! I like her, I really do, but I - but I barely - well, actually, I know her fairly well. Probably know more about her than I know about Annie. You don't have to love someone to get them a Christmas gift. You have to care about them. Or it's a Secret Santa or a work thing.

He shouldn't care about him in the first place, not after what the Master has done to him all these centuries. The foolish, pig-headed idiot.

I thank you.

[tilts her head] Is that so? The I apologise. I thought it was a custom between those who love one another as I love the Doctor. What is a Secret Santa, though? I am unfamiliar with the term.

Maybe it's Stockholm. But you don't decide who to care about. It just... happens.

A Secret Santa is when everyone gets randomly assigned someone to get a present for. And no one knows who's getting them which present.

I believe it's more that he cannot let go of the memory of his friend and sees the Master through eyes blinded by nostalgia. Though ... I suppose I can understand, to an extent. About not choosing who you love.

What a queer little custom. Doesn't that take the meaning out of the whole concept of gift giving?

Dunno, what I saw of it wasn't that blinded. But no, you don't. It just... happens.

I guess, but if it's amongst a group of friends, maybe not. It can be fun, actually.

[frowns] How much do you know of their relationship, Sam Tyler? How much has the Doctor told you of their past? [looks down] So it would seem. One moment he's just an endearing child, the next he is the only thing that matters in all the universe.

And can it? How so?

We spoke about it a bit... What I said about his tainted vision, or lack-there-of, comes from poking about in his head a bit. When he was looking through my mind, I couldn't help but look around a bit myself. [looks at her carefully] Happens just like that, yeah.

Oh, trying to figure out the best gift for someone, guessing at who got you your gift... good for morale, maybe.

[ooc; 'the only thing that matters in all the universe' HI MASTER HOW ARE YOU TODAY? *had to rub that in*]

[blinks at him] He had Contact? With you? Whatever for? What did you see? [fidgets a little uncomfortably] Yes, well. What would you know of it?

[tilts her head] You can tell who got you a gift by what they give?

[ooc: the TARDIS would like to ask you to refrain from calling her the Master, thank you very much. she's making a rather dour face in your general direction. she'd also like to note that, even if they share that similarity, she's far cuter about it]

He's trying to teach me to fight off hypnosis. And I think he's been trying to help me with, uh, some trauma that happened, but that wasn't part of the plan. [again considering her] I love people too, you know.

Not always, but sometimes. Trying to see if you can is part of the fun.

[ooc; blowing up planets and concocting elaborate plans isn't cute?]

Hypnosis? I take it you've had a run-in with the Master, then? Is he the cause of this trauma, or is it something else? [watches him consider her, uncertain] Might I ask who?

Perhaps we should all have a ... Secret Santa? party, then.

[ooc: well! I think it's cute, but she rather vehemently says no, no it's not]

Yea, yeah it is. [looks down, and doesn't look up for the next question] Lots of people. Past girlfriends, good friends. [smiles slightly] Sometimes it just hits you like a two-by-four. A very loud, obnoxious, bigoted two-by-four. Other times it sneaks up on you with a smile and a hand to hold.

...Don't know if that's a good idea. What if you got stuck having to get a present for the Master?

What did he do to you? [watches him, this time, considering] How can you love more than one person so strongly? I don't understand. It is enough loving only one. Even as children, I always favoured the Doctor over the Master and his other friends.

[oh, she grins at that] Quite the contrary, Sam Tyler. Should I be forced to get a gift for the Master, I'd know exactly what to get him.

I don't want to talk about it. [twirls his pen] Love isn't cheapened by having it for more than one person. It's not like.... it's not as if you've only got a certain amount of love in you, and at some point you run out. It's time and energy that are the limiting factors, not love.

[raises an eyebrow]

It can't be any worse than what he has done or will do to me. And if the Doctor is assisting you, perhaps I can help, as well. [keeps watching him] I do not understand how to love others, Sam Tyler. I was fond of certain companions, but ... it was not the same. Is your love the same for all those you care for?

[shrugs, giving him a mischievous look] I see no reason to tell you if you won't tell me what he has done to you.

I'm not playing that game. I just... don't feel like talking about it, all right? [turns the pen over again, then taps the desk with his fingers] No, the love isn't the same for everyone. But it's still love. Just... different love. Every love is different.

Do I have much of a choice? [reaches out and touches his hand, halting the pen tapping] How do you know if it's love, then, and not simply acceptance, or fondness?