θ 3

[bit_impossible]

[currently, the Doctor is crawling on the floor in the entrance of the ballroom, occasionally stopping to look and feel under the couches for something. he doesn't show it, but he's been rather shaken up--and he certainly is not happy]

Come on out! I know you're here somewhere. You've got to be! I felt you before you--[he pauses, his hand suddenly darting under a plush chair]--did whatever you did a few moments ago.


[ooc: The Doctor had to make a choice! When you tag in, I'll leave you a little message in his reply back so you know what's up~]

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[smiles cheekily] Need a hand finding another? Or do you have the situation under hand?

[clinical]

Oh, I have a grip on things.

[bit_impossible]

[shrugs slightly] Suit yourself!

So! You must be new, or well, new-ish. What's your name?

[clinical]

Colonel Jade Curtiss, Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces.

[bit_impossible]

Bit of a mouthful, don't you think, Colonel Curtiss?

[clinical]

Not particularly, but I generally prefer to be called 'Jade.'

[bit_impossible]

Well then, I'm the--[starts to hold his hand out, buuuut puts it away because, well, of that hand]--Doctor. Nice to meet you, Jade. You know, it's not often I meet a military man who doesn't prefer to go by his rank.

[clinical]

I'd only just been fostered into the Curtiss family when I went to military school. I used to forget to respond to the name.

[a flash of annoyance crosses over Jade's face at what he just said]

[bit_impossible]

Well, that does lend oneself to a bit of detachment. [he catches that flash, but pretends to ignore it] Were they a prestigious family in the, erm, Malkuth region?

[clinical]

They were more prestigious that mine, which was necessary for what I wanted.

I'd like to request that you not ask any further questions. The truth is particularly annoying to reveal when you can't choose how much you're saying.

[bit_impossible]

[arches an eyebrow] So you would have lied to me otherwise? [smiles faintly] Sorry, that's another question. [a pause] Isn't it?

[clinical]

[Jade just smiles in reply] Lying is the most fun a scientist can have without breaking the law.

[bit_impossible]

So you're a scientist as well as a colonel! Well, that makes sense. Here I was beginning to think you were doing experiments on those hands for fun.

[clinical]

I thoroughly enjoy my work. If it isn't too much trouble, I'd be interested in knowing your name.

[bit_impossible]

[arches an eyebrow] I did tell you my name. I said I'm the Doctor.

[clinical]

As your name? What a fun sense of humour your parents had.

[bit_impossible]

My name's got nothing to do with my parents. I chose it.

[clinical]

You shouldn't be too ashamed of it. Choosing a good name can be hard work. If 'the Doctor' is the best you could come up with, then it's no real fault of your own. I imagine you didn't have much time to consider it.

[bit_impossible]

Who says I'm ashamed of it? What's wrong with that anyway? [oh yes, back to the questions. he's annoyed now...]

[clinical]

No one I know, and it's so sad to see someone ashamed of their own name. Your questions are taking on a defensive tone.

[bit_impossible]

Ohhh, where'd you get that impression? I'm proud of my name. There is no shame here.

[clinical]

None at all?

[bit_impossible]

[firmly] None. [a beat] But I wonder if you hold some shame for yours...

[clinical]

That's not a very nice thing to try. You'll find I'm not ashamed of my names, regardless of any stigma.

[bit_impossible]

[he'd argue you started it first, Jade] Oh, I'm not thinking of stigma. I'm thinking of displacement.