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[desertdaggers]

[Unsurprising, being whisked off somewhere new is somewhat disconcerting. Hawk ventures a couple of steps further onto the Plane, looking around, before offering any opinion on it.] So… a travelling shop, and this is… what, the destination? The point of origin? [the shop continues to not show up when he scans the area again, though, and he sucks his lip in, hands going to his sash.] It seems very eager to have taken off again. So… maybe not. Maybe it’s a common area, a stepping stage, that could make sense. But for what purpose?

…well, at least the floor stays where it ought. [He taps it with one foot a few times, and straightens up.] And it’s rather more spacious than where I was, that’s a point for it. [He relaxes, shoulders going down, elbows loose, lips quirking up.] May as well stretch my legs while I’m here. I’m not exactly in a hurry.

Comments

[desertdaggers]

What? [He stops, holding the sandwich halfway between his mouth and the plate.] Parts of the world changed? …what happened that time?

[bonnypiperlad]

[He looks ever so slightly sheepish at that.] Er, well, someone I'd traveled with before wound up appearing out of nowhere and falling into my lap. Which wouldn't have been a surprise if we were on the Plane, but I was in the TARDIS at the time, and she was back on Earth.

Like I said, though, usually it's not that much of a change.

[desertdaggers]

She did? [He looks surprised for a moment, then grins.] Was it a pleasant surprise? Ah… the TARDIS?

Mm. [he nods, mood turning thoughtful] Do people- people who don't come to the Plane- do they notice the changes?

[bonnypiperlad]

Ah, the TARDIS is what we call our ship, that's all. Anyway, I was there, and she was where she'd stayed behind, with the Harrises. And then, all of a sudden, poof, there she was.

[And judging by the smile that's appeared on his face he didn't mind it one bit.]

I've had much worse surprises. Victoria...aye, well, she's very beautiful. Having her there wasn't a bad thing at all, mind ye, even if she was a wee bit upset once she'd found out what happened.

[His mood turns a little thoughtful as well.] Ye know, they didn't used to notice. But the Doctor started to. Now, I'll not say as I'm all that surprised by that, but I'm not sure if that's the case for everyone or not.

[desertdaggers]

Ahh, I see. It's quite distinctive!

Just like that! [That gets Hawk grinning as well, hands on his sash.] Ah, that's not so bad, then! Are the two of you…?

Huh. Is he the kind of person who notices a lot of things? Maybe we could ask around.

[bonnypiperlad]

Ah...technically she's my wife now. Er, ceremonially, ye might say. We wound up accidentally getting married not too long ago.

[And for some strange reason he doesn't seem at all put out about that. Go figure.]

But aye, the Doctor notices quite a lot of things. I've never really wondered about it too much. Most of the mergers I've had seem to show up in the TARDIS itself, so there's not too much for the people outside the TARDIS to notice. A few things, maybe.

[So far they've been benign enough that it hasn't been a problem, at least not as far as he's concerned.]

I suppose ye could ask around if ye like, though.

[desertdaggers]

Really? [raising his eyebrows] I suppose that must have been at one of the places you've travelled to- somewhere quite distant?

[ohhh. so it's like that, then.]

[He nods.] Mm, I'll do that. Thanks.

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye. [Not that that particular observation couldn't be applied to most of the other places he'd been, but it was still true enough.]

The planet we were on at the time apparently had this custom where if ye say this blessing while sharing a plate of food ye wind up married. Only no-one'd bothered to tell either of us, so ye can imagine what happened.

[desertdaggers]

I can indeed! You'd think it wouldn't be a particularly common blessing, or rather more people would end up with it happening.

So you travel between planets in your ship?

[bonnypiperlad]

Och, no, it's not. There's a whole ceremonial day for it, with a great big party and a priestess who tells ye what the blessing is you're supposed to say. We'd not known when we got there what exactly was going on, though.

[They never really do, at that, and he nods.] But aye, we do. The TARDIS is a sort of spaceship, ye see. Like I said before, though, the Doctor's not half as good at steering it sometimes as he likes to think he is, so ye never know where you'll wind up or what'll happen half the time.

[desertdaggers]

Ahh. And if they all thought you belonged…

Wow. It does sound as though it'd be a little trickier to steer than an ordinary ship. But I suppose that also means there's something new on the horizon each time!

[bonnypiperlad]

[There were certain other factors that worked into it, like Victoria getting jealous and attracting the attention of a 'helpful' native, but Jamie nods instead. It was more or less what happened anyway.]

Aye. And since we've not been able to get back there to take care of getting that fixed, we're still married. I'll not say as I mind it so much, even if she's not as fond of going to new places as I am.

[Not knowing where you're going is half the fun, after all.]

What about ye, though? Do ye travel a lot where ye come from?

[desertdaggers]

It has to be there? [He's maybe a little surprised that they seem to want to, but it's not as though it's any of his business what they do about it.] Mm, it's not to everyone's tastes. But she still travels, doesn't she?

Ah… a little! Not half as far as you, though, I've only really travelled in Navarre. [He smiles, masking his feelings about not being anywhere near as free as he used to be.]

[bonnypiperlad]

Well, aye, but only because we've not managed to get her back to the Harrises yet.

[He doesn't really want to think what might happen if they do get her back there, though, and he gets up to start poking through the cupboards, ostensibly in search of something to eat.]

That doesn't sound like any place I've ever been. What's it like, then?

[desertdaggers]

Are they the people she's normally staying with? Will they notice that she's been gone?

[He'll start in on his sandwich, then.]

I suppose there must be a fair few planets out there. Navarre's mostly desert- there's a few oases, not not too many, and there's the Valley of Flames in the south. It tends to be rock where it's not sand, but we manage. [they have so far, at least.]

[bonnypiperlad]

That depends on if we're able to get her back at the same time we'd left her.

[Which he knows is possible, thanks to the time he'd said goodbye to Ben and Polly - but it's also rather unlikely. The thought of it is set aside, however, as an unfamiliar word catches his attention.]

Oases? What are those?

[desertdaggers]

Ah, yeah. You did say the Doctor's driving was a little… off.

[…well, he can't really do anything to help.]

[He blinks, mouth opening slightly and staring at Jamie.]

You don't know? …well, depending on what it's like where you're from, I suppose it's possible. Essentially, they're an area in the desert where there's enough water to sustain life in the area.

[bonnypiperlad]

Oh! Aye, I think I've seen that once, on the TARDIS scanner. [He just didn't realize what they were called, that's all.]

Er, not where I'm from, though. There's no desert in Scotland. It's hills - moors, really, and mountains. And lochs, too. Those are lakes. So there's water, just not all that sand around it. I've been plenty of places where it's just rocks, though. Does it make it hard to manage with so little water?

[desertdaggers]

And that's where you're from? [a little wistfully] It sounds nice.

It has been rather tricky sometimes, but for the most part we've managed. [His eyes flick down for a moment and his fingers curl slightly. They've managed before, they could have found a way to manage again, whatever else happened. With an effort, he focuses again.] What about Scotland? What was life there like?

[bonnypiperlad]

Well, not nearly as exciting as it is with the Doctor, that's for sure.

[Granted, there were some parts that were at least somewhat dangerous, especially just before he left, and Jamie amends his statement.]

Although it did have it's moments. When I was growing up, though, it was quiet. We farmed, mostly. My father was a piper, though, and he taught me how to play when I was a wee lad.

[desertdaggers]

It sounds pleasant.

Really? What kind of pipes? Could I trouble you to let me listen to you play?

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, it was.

[And admittedly, he misses that - it'll always be home to him, and he's more than fond of Scotland. But he quashes the faint feeling of longing at the questions.]

Ah, well, I can play a few different types, but the ones I mean are called bagpipes. I suppose I could fetch them from the TARDIS, but...have ye actually heard them before?

[desertdaggers]

[He looks thoughtful, and shakes his head.] I don't think I have, no.

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie hadn't thought so, but best to check anyway.]

Look, I'll pop back and get them, but it'd be better if we go outside for this. They're...ah, a wee bit loud if you're not used to them. I'll be right back, though.

[And he drops from the Plane, only to return not too long after with a case tucked under his arm.]

Right. Shall we go, then?

[desertdaggers]

[Just enough time to finish off the sandwich, then. Hawk nods, wiping his mouth and picking up the plate to take to the sink.]

Lead the way!