realityshifted | (no subject)

(no subject)

[the Doctor appears in mid-air, turned on his side as he aims a sonic blaster

when his shoulder slams into the stars, he looks more surprised than pained; slowly, cautiously, he sits up, examining the sudden change in scenery]

Well, I certainly wasn't expecting this.

[he keeps a firm grip on his weapon as he stands, but it stays at his side; his clothes are simple and elegant, save for the ragged tears and stains of blood

his body language is carefully casual; his expression is, at most, curiously bemused]

I will say it's a nice break from all the chaos and clamour.

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[His expression darkens a bit.]

Depends on the situation, of course.

[Sometimes he can't leave - sometimes he's the one who causes the blood to be spilt. He shudders to clear his mind of Gallifrey burning.]

And what situations deserve our presence?

"Deserve"? I don't know that any deserve it...

[Not anymore. He's done enough - saved the Whole of Creation and now he's done.]

[the Doctor frowns, affecting a concerned expression] Come now, you can't think like that. How many lives have we saved, how many worlds have we changed? And they still need us.

And how many more lives have been destroyed? How many worlds are lost, in the end?

[He huffs, getting far more worked up about this than he intended. A flicker of the Oncoming Storm appears.]

They're better off without!

[the Doctor is cool and calm in the face of his anger, voice smooth and stern] We can't save everyone, Doctor. We never could. That hardly means it's not worth trying. If anything...we ought to ensure their sacrifice is not in vain.

[The Doctor rolls his eyes at that.]

You wouldn't say that if you knew what I know....

[...If he had done what he had done.]

[quietly, but with stark resolve] I can think of nothing that would deter me from changing the universe for the better.

[He chuckles, but it's not a pleasant sound.]

Oh, so young and naive. Wish I could go back to those days.

[He pauses and his expression turns rather dark.]

Changin' it for the better is fine. Living with the changes is another thing entirely.

[the Doctor has been called many things by those who truly know him, but that - well, that's a first, and his laugh is almost genuine]

I do nothing else, Doctor.

[the laughter fades from his features, leaving something grim and weary; another pretence, in its way, but there's sincerity to it, and the weight in his words]

Tell me - do you know what it's like to send children to die? To command good people to commit atrocities in the name of a better world? To comfort those left behind?

[And that presses a button and being the competitive guy he is, he replies.]

Do you know what it is to be the sole survivor of the Last Great Time War?

[There's a long look. He knows he was smart even back then and he's depending on his younger self to work it out.]

[his eyes widen at that; there are very few races that can wage wars of time, and even if his own wasn't involved, they were known to intervene

it's not difficult, then, to realise what he's not saying

his voice is soft, almost stunned, as he says]

Gallifrey is gone.

[Nine doesn't realize the tear that slips down his cheek at Five's soft tone.]

By my hand... [Then he realizes the tears and swipes angrily at them and pulls himself together.] ...To spare the Whole of Creation. Any other questions?

[Nine has done far worse than anything Five can dream of in the name of "Saving others."]

[his voice is gentle as he steps forward] No. Merely a statement.

You did what needed to be done, Doctor. It doesn't make you a monster. The best of them...would have understood.

[the best of them; there's a sudden, aching emptiness in his chest, and he loathes the vulnerability of it, even as he allows it to bleed into his words]

You - know for certain you're the only survivor?

[He taps the side of his head.] Silence.

[He pauses and offers the only bit of hope he clings to.]

And... the Daleks... finally.

[he closes his eyes, for a moment, more to hide the flickers of true emotion there than anything else - to think, he thought he'd got his fill of sorrow and loss

then they fly open again as he scowls]

The Daleks? Those vile things are like roaches. Koschei should have wiped them from the timestream when he had the chance.

[and because he didn't - no, he's already decided he won't let it happen]

We should have prevented their creation to begin with...

[He had the chance after all. But he was so very young. He didn't understand... hadn't realized where it would lead.]

Have you heard plans about a weapon called The Moment.

[It's possible during his time as President, he might have. Depends on how different their timelines are.]

[the Doctor shakes his head, frowning] I haven't. I assume it's Time-based?

[He looks thoughtful before he replies.]

Doesn't matter. I just couldn't remember when I first heard of it. You know too much already.... even if we don't take the same path, something tells me that it will always end with Gallifrey being destroyed in any universe.

[a slight, grim nod] It's possible.

It may yet be possible to mitigate the damage, however, and I intend to try.

[He looks the other up and down.]

Sure... if you're strong enough.

[That's experience talking now.]

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