[015].

[bonnypiperlad]

[Today, Jamie has a box of decorations in his hands, a slightly bemused expression on his face...and is half-muttering to himself.]

Now, I've seen some strange things in my day, but I'll not say as I've ever seen anything like those wee beasties before. Especially not ones that want that much coffee.

Aye, well. Maybe I'd better set up what I wanted to here. I'd not want to think what'll happen if they turn up again and Victoria sees them.

[Possibly lots of screaming, or indignation, or both. But here he may not have to worry about it, and he can focus on trying to do what he'd planned on before he was interrupted by rude, coffee-drinking aliens. The forest seems like the best place to put things together, and there so happens to be a little clearing that he can use. He sets the box down and reaches into it to try and extract a single string of lights from it to start with, but whoever put it away last time didn't do a very good job. So he winds up with a giant tangled mess in his hands, and his mouth pulls off to one side.]

Och.

Comments

[oliverplus]

[Oliver smiles back, also glad to see his friend. he takes the bundle without complaint, sitting down so he can more easily poke at it, and laughs] Hah, I think you're right! [he digs for an end] What's this all for, anyway?

[bonnypiperlad]

[He's still searching through the box - which might actually be deliberate, on his part, at the moment.]

Er, well. It's for Victoria, ye see. Thought she could do with something nice after the latest thing the Plane decided to drop on us.

[And maybe for some other reasons too, but he's not saying yet.]

I was going to do it at this place we are now, but these wee aliens I'd never seen before showed up out of nowhere. Not even the Doctor knows what they are.

[oliverplus]

Ohh. [he grins because he's Oliver, and what did you expect? he abandons the lights for a moment and looks up at Jamie with interest] What's your plan?

[that's a confusing comment, though--at least for someone who's used to the strangeness of travelling with the Doctor] Why are tiny aliens stopping you from throwing a party? Is there something wrong with their world?

[bonnypiperlad]

Plan? [What plan?]

I was just going to make it pretty for her, that was all. Well, maybe we could have something to eat, come to think about it.

[For a moment it seems as though he's going to get distracted thinking about the possibilities of food, but the comment about the tiny aliens brings him back.]

No, not that I know of. I don't even know where they're from. They showed up out of nowhere asking for coffee, and then they decided they wanted to ask lots of questions about what I was doing. Which was fine, but when I mentioned Victoria, they...

[His mouth twitches.] Look, let me put it this way. They seem to be a wee bit too interested in certain things we could do together. And not afraid to say so. How do ye think Victoria would take something like that?

[oliverplus]

That plan! [he nods approvingly] You should definitely get some food, too. Oh, does she like to hear your pipes? You could make it like a concert! [Oliver is getting excited, but Jamie should probably stop him before he tries to make it a full-fledged date. just a thought]

[Oliver snorts--and tries to turn it into a cough] Oh. Uh. So--no, wait. You're making it sound like they were in the TARDIS. Aren't they from the planet you're on?

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, well, I don't know about the pipes... [He's not entirely sure how well playing those would go over, and he'd have to go fetch them besides. Which would mean dealing with those wee aliens again.]

They're not in the TARDIS, though. I was outside at the time. But you're right, they're not from the planet we're on, at least according to the Doctor. Remember, I said he'd not known what they were at all? He always seems to know all the other aliens we've run across. Why wouldn't he know what these ones were too?

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is slightly abashed] Why not?

Well, not always... [clearly Jamie should meet Four; sometimes Oliver isn't sure if he knows which way is up. then again, half the time he's probably putting that on anyway] So they travelled to that planet somehow, too? [it's been known to happen from time-to-time, after all]

[bonnypiperlad]

I don't see how they could have done. There's some sort of a blockade that's been set up to prevent ships from landing on the planet. Nobody's realized we came in on the TARDIS, so it's not been a problem for us, but those wee beasties would've had to have something similar to have shown up like they did.

And I've the feeling if I go back to get the pipes something's going to wind up happening.

[oliverplus]

So where'd they--oh. [Oliver stops as one other possibility occurs to him] You don't think they're from here, do you? [now he can understand why Jamie's worried]

[bonnypiperlad]

Some sort of merger, maybe? Aye, the thought'd crossed my mind. But I don't know who it'd be with. Or if there's anything else I'd need to worry about.

[He looks around, his lips pressing together.] Mind ye, I don't know if the Plane's going to pull something here again, either. But here at least I can try and make this place nice for Victoria.

[Pulling out a small bird - realistic enough in shape, but sparkly and with a clip attached to its 'feet', he reaches up and holds it in front of a branch thoughtfully.]

I think she'll like this one. What do ye think?

[oliverplus]

Ohhh! [he was wondering if the Plane was pulling some sort of trick, so a merger is actually a bit of a relief] Could be. But I don't know... Who else has got aliens? [him, obviously. he pauses thoughtfully] You said they were obsessed with coffee? I think I'd remember it if I'd met any like that.

Yeah! That's, uh...pretty. Oh! [remembering the lights, he quickly goes back to untangling them] What else have you got to decorate with, anyway? [he leans forward a bit, trying to peer into the box as best he can]

[bonnypiperlad]

Besides you and the Doctor? Well, Victoria, but since we're traveling together again I'd not say that counts.

[Besides, considering the way she wound up back in the TARDIS he's got an idea that merger already happened.]

I'm not so sure who else would. I'll have to try and find out, I suppose.

[And with that, he tips the box towards Oliver so he can get a better idea.]

There's some flowers. Not as nice as the ones that are here, but they might work somewhere. And some other wee things but I'm not so sure where to start with those.

[oliverplus]

No, not if you're going to the same places. [he frowns thoughtfully] I guess...there's Rory and the Doctor on the Plane. It could be one of them. But with all the different worlds, we should probably just ask around...

Oh, yeah! Uh...maybe we could hang that sort of ornament one from a low branch? It's got a hook. [he gestures]

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, maybe so. But I've only met Rory...twice, I think. I'd not say it'd be him. [He's not aware of the fact that it's possible to actually have mergers with people he's only met a handful of times just yet.] Although ye don't have to ask around, ye know. Not unless ye want to.

[Which he really doesn't have to...but he has a sneaking suspicion that Oliver may want to help anyway, given that 'we'. But the thought goes to the back of his mind as Oliver gestures, and he brightens.]

Hey, yes! That'll work. There's some other ones in the box that have hooks like that as well.

[And they should work just fine, too. He sets about getting various ornament-like objects from the box and starts to hang them on all the low branches he can reach. After a short time doing this, he glances over his shoulder at his friend, a little thoughtfully.]

Look, there's something I've been meaning to ask ye that's got nothing to do with the aliens, though. It's...erm, a wee bit personal. Do ye mind if I do?

[oliverplus]

[of course Oliver wants to help, Jamie! did you forget who you're talking to? not to mention he's the man intently attempting to untangle a string of lights for you]

Well, why not? I mean, everybody around here is used to being asked about stuff like that anyway.

[he sets in on the lights while Jamie decorates. in fact, he's just unlooping the last tangle when Jamie asks his question. he stops, looking up at him curiously--and a bit nervously. he has a guess what Jamie might be asking about]

Yeah, of course. What is it?

[bonnypiperlad]

[That's a good point, and he nods. He'll talk to a few people and see what he can finds out about the wee aliens. For his other question, though, he really can't ask anyone else. Picking out another ornament - this one's a butterfly - he lets it dangle from his hand as he glances back over at Oliver.]

When we were in the batting cage, ye were trying to protect someone, but I couldn't see her. It was Chloe, wasn't it?

[oliverplus]

Oh. [he looks suddenly uncomfortable. he's been trying his best to forget that ever happened] Ah...yeah. It was. [he glances at Jamie uncertainly, not quite sure if he should ask his question in return] For you...it was Victoria?

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye.

[It's said fairly quietly, his eyes drifting down to look at the ornament as he speaks. And it stays there when he continues.]

Shortly before she left, the first time, she'd gone missing. When I found her, it was one some stairs in the place we were. She wasn't moving, and I thought...well, I thought she was dead.

[She hadn't been, but the image had stayed with him, somewhere in the back of his mind, set aside until the Plane had brought it out again.]

It was like that in the cages, too. Only I couldn't remember who she was.

[oliverplus]

[Oliver nods, and his voice is quiet, too] No...I didn't remember either. Not anything. I-- [his voice catches, and he looks back down at the lights, idly finishing his work untangling them in order to distract himself from what he's saying] I've never thought...anything like that. I've never seen her hurt like that. But when it happened... [he pauses again, struggling for the words to describe the experience] It was like...it was real.

Here. [he abruptly stands, holding a segment of lights to show Jamie that it's now free] What do you think? Want to start looping it around trees? [he gives his friend a hopeful look]

[bonnypiperlad]

[Well, if that's not a clear sign that Oliver doesn't want to talk about what happened in the batting cages, Jamie doesn't know what is. And to be honest, maybe it's better not to. He nods.]

Aye. Why don't we start with this one over here, then?

[He picks up a second strand that's been worked free and moves to do just that, throwing one end over a branch so he can start wrapping the lights around it. But after a few minutes, he glances over at Oliver again.]

Look, we don't have to talk about that if you don't want to. But...could I ask ye something else to do with Chloe?

[oliverplus]

Sure! [he joins Jamie, content to focus on the decorating for now. but when Jamie speaks again, he glances over at him, too]

Ah... Sorry. [he can't help looking uncomfortable. he hadn't meant to shut Jamie out with his previous behaviour--not consciously, anyway. defense mechanisms can be like that. but he still isn't keen on talking about it, either--though he makes another attempt] We can talk about it, if you want. [he pauses, adding quietly:] I mean...maybe we should. [because that's what you're supposed to do about experiences like that, right? that's what he's telling himself, anyway. and he wants to help Jamie if he can, though he's still having trouble even thinking about it himself. he licks dry lips but nods at Jamie's other question]

Sure. Anything! I mean, almost anything. [he tries for a cheeky tone and a lighthearted smile, but it falls a bit flat]

[bonnypiperlad]

[Honestly, he's not at all sure he wants to talk about it either, and he winds up pulling on his lower lip with his teeth a little uncertainly.]

Well...maybe we should, but it can wait.

[Besides, he has the other question he wants to ask, and it somewhat ties in with the whole situation with what the Plane did - in that it made him start to think about this in the first place.]

About Chloe, though...when ye first, ah, decided ye liked her, how did ye go about letting her know?

[oliverplus]

[he can't hide the relief in his expression] Yeah...you're right.

[that question is a surprise, and he turns to Jamie curiously, unable to help a grin] That's all you want to know? Well, I, uh. Wouldn't recommend following my example. [he looks a little sheepish but also happy] I met her at Glastonbury, right? Oh, that's like a...music festival. Anyway, we met, we clicked. And then we had our first kiss there. So uh...that sort of said it for me. [he smiles fondly]

But... [he pauses, thinking for a moment. he's not used to giving this sort of advice, but he definitely wants to help Jamie and Victoria if he can. after all, he still feels at least partially responsible for their argument] Probably the best thing is just to be honest? And... [he glances at the decorations they have set up; they don't look half-bad so far] I think it helps to show her when you tell her, too. [he grins and gives the strand of lights another loop around the tree]

[bonnypiperlad]

[He pauses in his stringing while Oliver explains how they met - and he can't help but grin a bit at the mention of the kiss saying it for him. Apparently that clicking Oliver's talking about meant they got along quite well indeed.

When Oliver momentarily stops to think, he remembers he's still got the strand of lights in his hand, and tosses it over a branch, ducking underneath to retrieve the other end.]

Show her? So, like this, ye mean?

[He's about to start another loop himself when it occurs to him Oliver could have meant something else by what he'd said, and he turns to look at his grinning friend.]

Or are ye suggesting I kiss her like ye did Chloe?

[oliverplus]

Yeah, ex--what? [he laughs at Jamie's suggestion] I meant like this! But, you know, if you think you'd rather do that... [he's grinning even more widely now]