realityshifted

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doctor who (d1) patricia menzies

[018]

[Menzies can be found in the library today, which, while not unusual by itself, is certainly accompanied by a few unusual things about her. for one, she is sitting in a chair rather than at a table, her legs crossed and looking quite relaxed. there's a small table next to her with a cup of tea and a half-eaten bar of chocolate with hazelnuts on it. next to that is an open chair]

[instead of being accompanied by her customary paperwork, she is reading a book--a textbook, in fact, on Supersymmetry. her clothing is also quite different. her hair, now back to its usual shorter length, is tied back with a red plaid ribbon. she is wearing a white blouse graced with light blue polka dots under a navy blue blazer, a yellow skirt with vertical black stripes, and kneesocks decorated in horizontal rainbow stripes. this is all finished off with a pair of white trainers. all in all, the different clothing pieces make for a very striking ensemble. not that she's particularly concerned about this at the moment, as she is completely engrossed in her book]

Well, it's not bad for a theory, but humans 'ave a lot to learn...

[she's muttering to herself, and while her accent hasn't changed, her tone is surprisingly condescending. and yes, she did just speak about humans as if she's not one. perhaps someone should approach her and find out what's going on]

[ooc: Experiment time for Menzies! The Plane is making fun of a canon event, and the joke's on her~]

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That doesn't matter right now. [he waves that off, hoping she'll be distracted enough to forget that.]

I know how far-fetched it sounds, but you've got to believe me, Doctor. You've been given enough bits and pieces to formulate who you are, but the memories in there... [There's one in particular that his mind keeps going to but he can't allow himself to dwell on it right now.] That's exactly what they are. Bits and pieces. You're filling in the blanks as you go. The mind is wonderfully resilient like that. How do you think humans forget about seeing a giant spaceship in the sky on Christmas day? Blame it on the nog!

[thankfully, she has enough else to think about that she lets it go. in fact, she's too busy gaping at him, still at a complete loss as to what to make of this conversation]

Damnit, Norm, then why? How? [she eyes him] And how do you know about it when I don't?

[because even if his "memory-reading" abilities are real, if this is all true, he knew something was wrong before he ever tried it]

[not that she's admitting something is actually wrong, of course]

It must be something from the Plane! You remember experiments, right? This place can literally take away memories of yourself and make you think nothing is the matter! Think back to the number of times we've turned up here and never were allowed to leave until the Plane decided it was done with us. That's the "how", most likely...

The "why", on the other hand... [He sighs and leans forward on his elbows on his knees.] Now that I haven't got any idea. Boredom, maybe. It's usually temporary, though. Once this is over, you'll be back to your old self.

[her expression darkens] Yeah, 'course I do. I've been through enough. [which, she'd like you to know, she does remember--but the fact that he thinks she might not is telling. it's starting to sink in that he really believes what he's saying, even if she's still not quite sure that she does]

And that's the part I still don't understand. [she crosses her arms over her chest again] Okay, I'm missing memories. Fine--maybe I can believe that. But that's a cause, Norm. What are the symptoms? [insistently, she asks:] How did you know?

[but then she frowns, thinking back to when he first arrived] Wait. You called me something else. [and her eyes widen as it finally begins to sink in] Ohhh, you were expecting someone else. Actually someone else entirely! Is that it? [she eyes him intently] But if that's what's happening, who did you think I was?

[He doesn't answer straight away, torn about what he's going to do. The fiction the Plane has created for her is so, so strong, but so is Detective Inspector Patricia Menzies. It's no wonder this personality is still so very stubborn. Stubborn or no, none of this is fair to her, this fictional version and real person. But he lets her continue talking, letting her piece everything together. Normally, he loves this part; loves seeing people put together the puzzle he solved in a minute.]

Yes. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but you are a friend named Patricia Menzies. She's a DI from Manchester. That's who you really are, not some version of the Doctor.

[For now, he'll keep playing the part of "Norm". It'll be easier for her in the long run if he doesn't break that illusion.]

[for a moment she gapes at him, at a loss for words. and then she chokes out:] A human DI? From Earth!? [then she pauses, letting that sink in. her mind is screaming that he's making it up, but his expression says otherwise. and she trusts Norm. he wouldn't tell her this if it weren't true--would he?]

But...I've travelled in space and time. I could tell you about species all over the universe! Are you seriously telling me all of that is faked memories? [and, eyeing him, she adds sharply:] Why the hell didn't you say this sooner!?

[another thought occurring to her, she adds:] And where is the Doctor in all this? You do travel with m--with her, don't you? [her expression is almost desperate. everything in her mind can't just be a story from the Plane--can it?]

[He knows better than to reach out for her hands or anything else. The real Patricia doesn't go in for that kind of comfort, and something tells him, neither would this version of her.] I didn't say anything before because I know you. You needed to see the evidence with your own eyes, put it all together on your own. I just needed to give you the tools.

And the Doctor...is back in our reality. Off on adventures and running so very, very much. [He doesn't say anything more than that.]

Well, in case you didn't notice, Norm, all the evidence you've given me is your word! [but after that last bit of outburst, she frowns, trying to calm down--to think this through logically]

[after a pause, she adds more thoughtfully:] Okay, if what you're saying is true, then this body is 'uman. What could we test? [a thought striking her, though, she jumps to a different idea] No, wait. Oi, Norm! [she eyes him] That memory thing of yours--was that real? And is it only one way, or can you share your memories with somebody else?

Without us? But I... [she scowls, struggling to make this make sense with the memories she has] I know 'er. Don't we at least travel with 'er? I mean... [she pauses, cringing] Norm, tell me I'm not just some 'uman cop living on Earth! [she actually looks distressed by the idea. the Doctor's wanderlust is definitely one of his traits that exist in her] How boring would that be...

[He doesn't respond to her outburst. It's true, he's been the one trying to give it to her, to let her see it with her own eyes.]

Of course that "memory thing" of mine is real! [He sounds vaguely insulted, and very glad she's pursuing it and not any other human "test", though he has got a stethoscope in his pocket...] And yes I can share with you, doesn't matter whose it is. I'll let the memories speak for me and for you. Then...you can decide where to go from there.

[He leans in close again, pressing his fingers to her temples.] Same thing as before. Relax, close your eyes. [He gives her a second, then enters her mind again, already knowing what memory to show her. She won't know that it's a past version of himself sitting in the chair opposite her, thankfully, but they're in an interrogation room in Manchester, and she's catching the man admitting he knows something more about the crime in question than she's actually said. The whole conversation plays out as he remembers it--with Mila, not Charley, being mentioned as a girl on the security tapes--until he figures the memory has come to a natural conclusion and he pulls out of her mind. And waits.]

So...there you have it.

[for a moment after the memory ends, she just sits and stares at him, beyond words. and then she takes a deep breath and says:] So that was her. [after a beat, she corrects herself] ...me. [her expression is as closed as she can manage as she holds onto calm for all she's worth--but there's anguish in her eyes. she never wants to repeat the experience of seeing herself but feeling absolutely no sense of recognition toward that person] I suppose you already know that I've got no memory of 'er whatsoever.

But... [she frowns] I do remember that event--except from the other side of the table, where that blond man was. So... [she pauses, mentally steeling herself to accept another hard pill to swallow] You know, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that's the Doctor--the real thing. [there might be a hint of bitterness in her tone]

But what does this make me, Norm? Just...some artificial construct, planted in her 'ead to blot out her own memories? Because I can believe this is an experiment, but...that still wasn't me. [knowing that he might consider that a denial of the situation, though, she adds quickly:] Not really, I mean. Think about it--I don't know her at all.

Yes, that's the genuine article. [He says it softly, absently.]

I don't know what that makes you. [He gently takes her hands in his, hoping to reassure her.] I know you dont think you're her or related to her in any way. I haven't seen this kind of experiment before. But I'll tell you one thing: I'm not going to let you go through this alone. Your Norm will always be at your side. No wandering off for me. [Beat] Except to get us some tea. Maybe some nibbles.

[she lets him take her hands, but she gives no response to the contact. she just swallows hard, her expression set now] Norm, I can 'andle this. I know this place--there might even be a way to turn it around. To...get her 'er memories back.

[admittedly, even as she says the words, she realises that she has mixed feelings about that course of action. after all, giving the detective her memories back could effectively mean erasing who she is now. it's not an idea she savours--but she can't help thinking that it would be the right thing to do]

[and despite her insistence, she also appreciates his offer. in fact, she doesn't think she'd want to be alone right now--not with the questions swirling through her head--so she suggests:] Maybe you can 'elp with that. [it seems to her like a fair enough compromise. and then, trying for a faint smile, she adds:] Not that I'd say no to a cuppa first, either.

[He knows there is a way: let the experiment run its course and Patricia will be back to normal. "The Doctor", though... He wonders if she'll remember what's gone on while she wasn't herself. It's hit or miss with this place.]

Well. I'll get us a cuppa. [He puts on a smile for her.] Back in a tic. [He starts to leave, but then stops mid-stride.] Oh, and...Doctor? I still think you're brilliant, memory issues or no. [His smile broadens, then he starts to walk away again.]

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[018]

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