realityshifted | (no subject)

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[the Doctor doesn't look much affected by the Plane; at most he looks annoyed, which could very well be explained by the outfit he's in - intricate black robes tied with a wide emerald sash, an ebony helmet with an emerald plume shooting regally and ridiculously from the top, heavy gloves holding a primitive energy weapon at the ready as he strides through the shadows]

Does the Machine enjoy interrupting under cover operations? Is that it? It's getting to be quite a nuisance, I must -

[the corpse leaps at him with a ragged shriek; instantly, almost casually, the Doctor lifts the gun and fires; over and over, blasting the tortured, shambling thing to pieces

all of his emotions are closer to the surface, less divorced from his rational mind, and he's using all of his mental resources to keep the anxiety and paranoia at bay; there's no hiding the callous satisfaction]

- say.

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[Damon watches the whole thing in horror. He hasn't seen this particular Doctor since their match -- since his death -- but he has missed him. This wasn't how he imagined meeting him again, though] Doctor?! What was that...thing? Are you alright? [a pause] And what are you wearing? [it reminds him a bit too much of Maxil, for some reason. I can't imagine why.]

[he turns slowly, gradually schooling his expression into one of gentle reassurance] Perfectly all right, some manner of reanimated corpse, and someone's highly unfortunate idea of martial wear. It's protective enough, though.

[slides the gun back into its holster before approaching Damon] And what about you? [it's a loaded question, of course, and he gives it the appropriate weight and concern]

[he's not alright at all, but he doesn't want to worry the Doctor] I...we need to figure out what's happening, Doctor, and how to stop it. These creatures...someone could get hurt. Is there anything I can do?

You can do answer my question, Damon. [his voice isn't stern, isn't demanding, isn't much of anything, really; when he speaks next, he forces it to be gentle] The first task one must do in war is assess their soldiers.

[despite the fact that the Doctor's voice isn't demanding, Damon feels compelled to answer anyway, thanks to his consequence, which makes him rather annoyed.] Things have gone wrong at home, and the Plane makes me uneasy, Doctor. I have a very bad feeling about all this. Oliver sees my face as a shifting clock, and I seem to be compelled to tell people the truth, and I don't understand why. I'm not a dishonest person, am I? [the question is quiet, and uncertain]

[the Doctor smiles, then, slipping off a smoky glove before resting a light hand on Damon's shoulder] You're perhaps the most candid Time Lord I've ever met.

[his smile fades, then] I think the Plane is making everyone uneasy, Damon, and that includes me. [a rare sort of admission, but it serves his purpose] Oliver's sight might well be connected to your compulsion. And...[the smile returns, then, slight but warm] Why don't we find some shelter, and you can tell me about Gallifrey?

[Damon ducks his head at the touch, highly embarrassed] Thank you, Doctor, but I think you're giving me too much credit.

[frowns, disturbed to hear that even the Doctor feels uneasy] He thought it might be connected to a choice he made. But I don't remember making a choice. ...We could go to the library for shelter?

[Leela hasn't encountered this version of the Doctor yet and, consequently, didn't recognise him. But the monster that had attacked him was worth examining and her new eyes focused on it immediately.]

What was that creature?

[the Doctor is kneeling down amidst the rancid smoke and organic debris, examining the torn remains] Humanoid, I think, once upon a time. [then he raises his head, smiling faintly] Hello, Leela.

How do you ..? Doctor?

[slight nod] Next one after yours - assuming yours had wild curls and big teeth? Ridiculously long scarf, perhaps?

That was a long time ago.

You're on Gallifrey, then?

Yes. I am Romana's bodyguard. [And she still sounds proud when she says that.]

[slow grin] She couldn't wish for a better one, I'm sure.

I don't know how to protect her from what we'll face here.

Not yet, but you've both faced unknown danger - overwhelming danger - and triumphed.

Thank you, Doctor.

[soft smile] I'm only being honest.

I'm sure Brax will be a help, as well. ...And Narvin, I suppose.

Narvin will help, but he will pretend that he isn't.

[low chuckle] Time Lord all over, that one. Better than many, though - good influences, I imagine.

He is lucky in his friends.

[John has his own pistol in hand, though he hasn't used it yet; it's more of a precaution than anything] That looks like it would take far too many bullets, don't you think?

Oh, certainly. I didn't want to guess the creature's vulnerabilities on the first try. [gestures at the elaborate workings of his own fire arm] Fortunately, this has quite the energy supply.

[He inspects it, curiously] Not infinite ammo, though, I'm assuming?

[turns it about, giving him a view from different angles] I'm afraid not. Perhaps with a bit of tinkering.

[He watches curiously, trying to asses the weapon] Tinkering that can be done here?

[wry smile] I won't know until I try.

It'll come in handy here. If anything, it'll let you get in a bit of target practice. [John's tone implies that, were it not for his finite number of bullets, it's what he would be doing now]

Practice does make perfect.

[faint smile] If I manage to forage parts for another, you're welcome to it.

As much as I appreciate my pistol, I wouldn't turn down the offer.

Wonderful. I'm the Doctor, by the way.

John Watson.

You're the second person I've met here who's called himself that.

Yes, there are a number of us here. I suppose I ought to be flattered.

...how many, exactly?

[The corpse is spotted first, and Jamie cries out a warning even as he draws his dirk and rushes over to help.] Look out!

[He skids to a halt, however, as the undead horror is blasted into pieces by a rather familiar looking Time Lord...who is wearing a very unfamiliar looking outfit.]

Doctor? What are ye wearing?

[he lowers the gun the moment he hears Jamie's voice, turning to offer him a weary smile] Skonnan military uniform. I was trying to blend in.

[Jamie snorts.] Aye, well, I can't say much for their dress sense.

Are ye all right, Doctor? That corpse looked like it had ye for a moment.

[wry chuckle] It's a step beyond Gallifrey, but not by much.

[rather sharp smile] Oh, not even for a moment. It did get closer than I'd have liked, though. [slight grimace] I'll need to figure out how to wash these.

[Jamie's eyeballing that plume rather skeptically.] Are ye sure about that, Doctor?

[He glances the rather gore-spattered outfit then, grimacing slightly before he nods in agreement.] There's the bath-house, but if there's more of those creatures about ye might have a hard time of it.

Edited 2010-10-07 07:37 (UTC)

[flatly] Utterly. [and with a faint smile] I'll need to show you some time.

Not a bad idea, for a start. I should be all right, I think. [frowns, though] Do you have any weapons, Jamie?

Aye. Assuming we ever get off the Plane again. [He's frowning as well.]

I've got my dirk. [Not his favorite one, as Axel still has that, but it's still a serviceable - if small - weapon.]

Oh, and I have the box-thing ye handed me just before I came here. I could maybe break off some of the levers and use the wires to attach it to something, and make a spear.

[nods] That's something, but I don't know how effective it will be against these creatures.

...Do you have that box-thing on you, by any chance?

[Jamie nods as well, then grimaces faintly.] Aye, well, if I had known I was going to get pulled here I would have grabbed a sword. Or a gun.

[Much better than a box, in his opinion. Speaking of the box, he doesn't have it on him, but he knows where it is.] I've got it at the Library. It's a wee bit too big to just carry around. Did ye want me to get it, Doctor?

[sympathetic nod] I would have nipped back at the TARDIS and changed clothes. I've been planning to replicate this [and he gestures to his own weapon], you can have one if I succeed.

And that would be lovely. [glances back at the smoking, dismembered corpse] I'll need to procure some containers, as well.

[Jamie is relieved to hear it, as he would feel much better having something other than the dirk right now...although it is a little odd that the Doctor's planning on replicating a staser.]

We should go before something else comes along, then. What containers would ye need?

Quite. [and he's off, even as he answers] Unused, for a start, though I could bleach them just in case.

[Jamie picks up his pace a little so as not to lag behind.] I don't know if they'll have those in the library. I think some people are gathering food, though. Maybe that'll work. What do ye want them for, anyway?

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