[016].

[bonnypiperlad]

[There have been many times in Jamie's life where he's not understood what's going on, usually when there's a name or a word or an idea that's far past his time. Usually he figures out some way to get through, either by questions or by pretending he has a clue. It's worked well enough for him before.

Today, however, it's more difficult to do that, thanks to the very large blank in his memory. It would possibly be frustrating if he wasn't still somewhat disorientated by what had happened, but mostly right now he feels strange, in a bit of a daze that makes thinking difficult. In an effort to try and clear the fog around his head, he starts to wander the Plane with no clear destination in mind. Eventually, he finds himself over by the forest, with a strong urge to sit which he doesn't bother to try and fight, instead settling under a large tree and unwrapping a bundle that he's been carrying with him. In the bundle is a broken hunting knife, which he stares down at like he's expecting it to give him some answers. It doesn't really seem to be cooperating, though, and after a moment he sighs, shaking his head even as he continues to look at the object in his hand.]

Och, I wish I knew what was going on.

(OOC: Another post-death Whodunnit post for anyone interested in trying to figure out clues!)

Comments

[dododo]

[ And, of course, the Doctor notices something is off. He knows Jamie so very well it would be practically impossible for him to not notice if something was wrong.

But he doesn't outright ask; just frowns, studies Jamie for a moment and goes for a less direct approach. ]

Where did you find it?

[bonnypiperlad]

[It takes Jamie longer than normal to respond, his eyes still locked on that knife. He knows where he found it, of course, and there's something about that that's starting to stir something in the back of his mind - an uncomfortable sort of something, but the thought's not there yet, leaving him to just...stare at the broken thing for a moment. Eventually, though, he does glance back up again, but he has to moisten his lips slightly before he's able to actually say anything.]

Next to me on the table where I'd woken up.

[dododo]

You... woke up? And what were you doing before that?

[ Did Jamie go and decide to nap on that table? Because those things do happen, so he won't dismiss that idea completely. But Jamie isn't acting himself, that's the clincher. ]

[bonnypiperlad]

Well, I'd left to come to the Plane for a bit, and then I...

[He breaks off, his brow knitting as a frown appears on his face. It's replaced by a somewhat more anxious expression as he looks back up at the Doctor.]

I-I don't remember, Doctor.

[dododo]

Oh dear. Oh my word... All right. It's all right, Jamie, we'll find out.

[ Then, clearly, it's time to do a bit of an... examination. The Doctor leans in close, checks Jamie's temperature and pupils. Doesn't have to be anything physical, of course. Could be mental... ]

How are you feeling otherwise?

[bonnypiperlad]

Maybe a wee bit groggy, but...hey!

[That particular 'hey' stems from what - to him - is a rather sudden bit of poking and prodding on the Doctor's end. He should've expected that, honestly, but it's still sudden enough that he's making a face over it and half lifting a hand as if to try and bat the hand that's taking his temperature away. Unfortunately, it's close enough the the broken knife that his thumb catches the edge of it, causing him to draw in his breath sharply as it nicks the skin.]

Och, great.

[That's just what he needs. Grimacing faintly, he goes to try and rub the sting away, causing a small bit of blood to well up from the tiny cut. However, instead of the normal crimson color that it should be, the blood is nearly black, with shimmers of gold running through it like stardust. Jamie's eyes widen, and he stares at the drop of blood with a look of slowly growing horror - and comprehension, as a few things start to make themselves quite clear.]

D-doctor...

[dododo]

Oh, be careful, Jamie, you're supposed to be able to handle knives!

[ He doesn't notice the strange colour until Jamie says his name, more caught up in overall fussing. But when he does, he freezes for a moment, and stares too. What?

He takes Jamie's hand in his, lifting it up to see it better. ]

[bonnypiperlad]

[The fact that Jamie doesn't even protest that he can so handle knives is fairly telling,as is the fact that he passively lets the Doctor lift up his hand to look at the strange blood. If the Doctor presses on the small wound, more of it will bead up. Not a lot, because it's not a large cut, but it makes it clear it's not just some sort of odd stain or something of the sort.

For his part, Jamie has gone slightly pale, staring at his hand almost as if he's seeing his own ghost - and his voice, when he finally manages to speak, sounds a little small to his own ears.]

N-no...I can't have. Not without knowing. Unless...

[He trails off, biting his lip, then looks up at the Doctor unhappily.]

I think I've figured out part of what happened to me, Doctor.

[dododo]

[ That is definitely very telling, and very, very worrying. But yes, it's most definitely blood, and the Doctor's considering tasting it when Jamie speaks again.

He looks up from the hand, his eyes meeting Jamie's, and nods encouragingly, even if there's a concerned frown etched into his brow. ]

Yes?

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye. The blood. I've seen before, with Oliver.

[And he remembers the sight of it all too well - and how Oliver'd wound up with blood that particular color. But even with knowing, he's finding it very hard to say, and he opens his mouth and closes it again before giving the Doctor another unhappy look. After a moment, however, he takes a breath and manages to force the words out.]

It was like that after he'd...he'd died. It...Doctor, I think I've died too.

[dododo]

[ Wait. What.

The Doctor responds to the unhappy look with one of utter confusion. That doesn't even make sense, in any way. ]

What's that supposed to mean; you think you've died? You're right here.

[ People don't return from the dead, that's the basic idea. That's how it's always been. ]

[bonnypiperlad]

[Of course it's not going to make sense - even to Jamie, it's never made sense. Still, it's something that's happens, and he's grown to accept it.]

Aye, I know I am. I'd not be talking with ye otherwise, Doctor. But it's something to do with the Plane. People who die here don't stay dead. They get brought back, but their blood's different, like mine. And some other things change sometimes too.

[dododo]

Of all the--

[ People coming back from the dead? Of all things to mess with... ]

Like what?

[bonnypiperlad]

[There's maybe a tiny part of Jamie that's not altogether ungrateful for the coming back part, especially since it means they wouldn't be having this conversation otherwise. But he licks his lips, because he's not sure if the Doctor's even going to believe this next part.]

Well...as far as I know, ye have a chance of coming back with some sort of-of power. Like those superheros in those comic-y book things.

[dododo]

[ P a u s e. ]

Don't be ridiculous.

[bonnypiperlad]

No, it's true.

[He's quite serious about this, actually, and the look on his face reflects that.]

Oliver wound up with this sort of...empathy power. He can tell what you're feeling if he looks at you, so long as ye look back. I'd not have believed it if the Plane'd not mixed things up and I wound up with it for a wee bit.

[dododo]

[ He really doesn't make it a habit of doubting Jamie but this... is really difficult to imagine. ]

Do these abilities work outside the Plane?

[bonnypiperlad]

[Honestly, Jamie didn't believe it either, not until he'd run into a few people with powers.]

Aye, as far as I know, they do.

[Oliver's do, at any rate, and he believes the same holds true for everyone else.]

Look, I know it sounds daft, Doctor, but if I've gotten one than it's better ye know now, in case it's something I can't control.

[dododo]

[ Sigh... ]

Yes, yes... I suppose it is.

[ A pause, and he frowns. What's he doing? There are more important things to worry about here. Like who killed Jamie, for example. ]

Do you remember it, Jamie?

[bonnypiperlad]

[It seems like it's something he should remember, shouldn't it? And it's like it's almost there, the thought of it tickling at the back of his mind, like there is some sort of memory there that wants to break through. But try as he might, he can't get his brain to cooperate - at least right now. So even though he doesn't answer the Doctor right away, and the expression of on his face is that of someone trying so very hard to pull up that memory, eventually all he's able to to do is shake his head.]

I...I can't, Doctor. I should be able to, but I can't.

[dododo]

Do you want to?

[ Because he could try helping. Who knows what's been done to Jamie's mind, but it's worth a go. ]

[bonnypiperlad]

[Does he want to know, really? It's likely not going to be a good memory, because he has the feeling that however he died, it wasn't in a peaceful way. He'd want to go down fighting. But the not knowing...it's like when the Time Lords took away his memories in the first place. He was so mad when he'd realized what had happened, because he'd not had a choice. Here he has that choice - and he decides he wants to know.]

Yes. I...think I do. D-do ye think ye can help me, Doctor?

[dododo]

I think I might be able to, yes.

[ He shifts, sucks in a breath through his nose, and lifts his hands to place his fingers on Jamie's temples. ]

I'm... Well, I'm going to dig around in your mind a bit. Is that all right with you?

[bonnypiperlad]

[And he doesn't even have to think twice, simply gives a small nod. If there's anyone he'd trust enough to do this sort of thing, it's the Doctor.]

Aye, ye know it is. Is there anything I should do, though?

[dododo]

Well, you could try to help get me on the right track and not think too much about anything aside from today. Don't want me getting lost, mm?

Ready?