realityshifted

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doctor who (d1) patricia menzies

[022]

[in the library, Menzies is sitting in a chair with a book in her lap, but that is everything about her appearance today that could be considered somewhat normal. at the moment, she isn't reading the book. in fact, what she is doing right now is staring at the floor as though she expects something on it to be staring back at her. she's even pulled her legs up to curl them underneath her in the chair, like she's in the middle of one of those jokes about the floor being lava]

[anyone who takes a closer look at her will notice a number of other strange factors in her normally-neat appearance, too. she's dressed casually in jeans and a blouse, her hair pulled back, but it's partially falling out of the hair tie, her clothing is rumpled, and her expression is one of weariness mixed with frustration. there are dark circles under her eyes, too. she obviously hasn't been sleeping well, and she looks suspiciously like she might have been napping in those clothes recently]

Damnit, what is that? What the hell are you!?

[also, she is shouting at the floor. because she is quite possibly at her wit's end at this point and has apparently ceased to care whether someone might overhear. either that or she's just assuming no one is around--incorrectly, as it turns out. still, from the state of her, wise characters might not approach her today...but then again, is wisdom really a strong suit for most residents of the Plane?]

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[she pauses, considering that offer, and then shakes her head] Nah, not like time is passing anywhere for me. We'll see what 'appens. [her tone is casual, but her expression has darkened. unless by some miracle being in his reality frees her from the nightmare, she knows she won't be sleeping for that long anyway; she's tried. an alarm just seems superfluous]

[but she keeps those thoughts to herself and gets into his bed. with what she hopes is a reassuring smile, she says:] Go ahead and get started. [and she reaches to pull the covers up over her, turning away from him as a sign that he doesn't need to worry about her further]

[and it doesn't take her long to fall asleep. that part isn't the problem--she's badly overtired, and her body is craving rest. so rest she does--for a while at least. but then the new problem the Plane has arranged sets in, and the same nightmare starts once again. outwardly, she begins to toss in her sleep, making faint noises of discomfort. inwardly, a horror story is beginning to play out. she sees a man bending over an autopsy table, his hair long and dark] Who...

[she tosses in her sleep as he turns toward her--and smiles. and she gives a gasp that happens both in the nightmare and outside. because his mouth is full of teeth that are long and needle-like, and his eyes glow a golden yellow. and then she feels herself pitch backward, and suddenly her airway seems to close up] No...!

[that word of desperation is the last she murmurs aloud. she feels like she's drowning now--but there's no water. it's like being plunged back to that day in the library when she had no memories and the air just kept...disappearing. and while her real self is still breathing, that breathing does become shallower and more panicked, her heart rate jumping. in the nightmare, as she struggles for air that isn't there, she can see tattered white wings all around her, their feathers falling. and occasionally the wings allow her to see between them, where there's a layer of surrounding mirrors, and she catches glimpses of a face. tonight, it's York's face. no helmet--his actual face]

[and then the nightmare is over and she wakes, sitting bolt upright in alarm, gasping for the air she couldn't get in the dream]

[He just shakes his head and tucks her in, using that as an excuse to plant a kiss on her head.] Good night, Trisha.

[And then it's to work for him. He keeps his music low despite wearing the headphones, occasionally switching between that and different snippets of audio lectures while he whittles the work away. (Honestly, it's the survey that'll take him the longest of anything he has to do.) But admittedly, he's having a difficult time concentrating. He's trying to listen to Patricia as she sleeps and not exactly accomplishing as much as he usually would. Every part of him sincerely hopes he doesn't hear a thing from her for hours. She looked so worn out--a worn out that he's never seen from her before, even with some of her worst assignments and everything else the Plane has thrown her way. That is, with the exception of the coup that almost killed her, anyway. She needs her rest. He's seen what happens to those who get too little sleep for a long period of time... Though he doubts she'll get any quality sleep, not with the way she's tossing in her sleep. He frowns; it reminds him of their last night together. She did the same thing then, but he didn't think too much of it at the time.

Theta, meanwhile, is concentrating on something that he wants to show North, but North can't look yet. It's a surprise, and he wants to show it to both him and Patricia once she's awake. For the little AI, however, the passing of time seems to go so much slower than for his Freelancer. Working on the surprise is just another way to keep himself occupied while he monitors Patricia and North's statuses, as well as the vibrations outside his room (and thousands of other sub-routines). It'd be bad for all of them if they get caught with a stowaway onboard.

After a few hours have passed, and most of the work has been done (barring bits of time when he's stopped working to check up on her), that's when he hears something. Quietly, he removes his headphones, resting them on the desk, and turns in his seat to listen again. Then he hears it: "No..." and he tenses, a pit growing in his stomach at the same time.]

North, she's--

I know... She was afraid of it happening. [His voice is soft. He doesn't actually need to say it out loud, but he does anyway.] I hoped--[But that's when she sits up gasping, making him both of them jump. A split-second later, North is at her side, his hands on her arms.] It's me, Patricia, it's okay. You're safe!

[Focusing on her helps to stem the growing fear he feels that this has followed her here--and even worse, that he can't do a damn thing about it.]

[it takes her a second to come back from that blind fear and start to realise where she is, and he grabs her before she's fully back with him. and so, her immediate reaction is to tense in terror, pulling back from him, but then she realises who it is and relaxes--though she's still shaking faintly, breathing hard] North... [she closes her eyes, forcing herself to take deep breaths for a moment before she even tries to say anything else]

[once her breathing is a bit more normal, though, she says firmly:] I know. I'm all right. Done this enough times... [and she opens her eyes to look at him again then, trying to school her expression to be composed, but her eyes are still wild from fear] Sorry about that. Y-you should probably get back to work.

[despite her determined attempt to be calm, she can't keep a slight tremor out of her voice. as much as she's trying to hide it, the fear she felt in the nightmare is still very present with her]

[North holds on when she tries to pull away, expecting her to try to break away initially as she does. Once she relaxed, he switches position to sit beside her and hold her.]

Don't worry about me. Not after that. [He gives her a squeeze, his hand gently rubbing her arm to hopefully help calm her down.] I kinda doubt you're all right, especially if that's what you've been going through for the past few days.

[she's tense in his arms, afraid to relax, as if that might cause the wall she's trying to hold between herself and the horrors that are tormenting her to slip and shatter. at his words, she shakes her head, jaw set] It's a nightmare. I can 'andle it. I just...'aven't gotten much sleep lately.

[but the words aren't as strong as she wants them to be. in truth, she's still trying to force the images from her mind's eye, her hands balled into fists against the bed. she pauses, on the one hand wanting to allow herself to give into his comfort, but on the other, even more afraid of what it would mean to acknowledge that she really is not okay]

[in fact, she's so afraid of North and his concern, so overwhelmed by the experience, and so out of her mind with sleep-deprivation that she says, quickly and suddenly:] I shouldn't 'ave come 'ere. Look--it was a good theory. But I should get back to the Plane.

[and she pulls away from him, slipping out of the bed and standing to get dressed]

Edited 2014-10-18 00:51 (UTC)

[North frowns, growing more concerned the more she tries to brush it all off. He can understand her wanting to move away from him--sometimes, she's not the best with physical affection, especially when she's upset. But when she tries to move out of bed, he reaches for her hand.] Wait, Trisha. I know you're upset, but you don't have to run. Just...stay and talk to me. Please.

[Theta looks on, unsure of what to do or say. He wants to help both of them...]

[she stops when he grabs her hand, turning back to him with an expression of shock and desperation] I'm not running!

[the words are sharp--though that's because deep down she knows that's exactly what she's doing. she pauses, struggling with what to say] I just-- [she cuts herself off, trying one more time for normality] I can't stay 'ere, distracting you. I mean, time's still running. And I just need a minute, okay? The end's just... [she pauses again, swallowing hard as she debates whether to tell him. but from the expression on his face, she knows she's trapped exactly where she was afraid of. he isn't going to let her go without explaining] I can't breathe in the end. Okay? [quickly, she adds:] But it's not real. I know that.

[His stomach drops.] It's...not the first time, then. [He continues to hold her hand, but that's it. He's not going to try anything else.]

Trisha, you're not bothering me here. I'm not due anywhere for a few more hours. Theta'd tell me if I needed to go, and I don't. So don't think you're distracting me. [He's always thinking about her anyway in some capacity.] Something like this... [His head shakes from side to side as he lets it drop to his chest.] Something from the Plane is hard to ignore. And you don't need to be alone with it, and you don't have to be okay with it either.

[He pauses, his voice even softer.] I've never seen you this upset before. Real or not, this is hurting you. You were gasping, Trisha.

[she frowns, confused by that question. she doesn't understand that he didn't realise she was having the same nightmare] I told you, it's every time I try to sleep.

[as he calmly invalidates her excuses, she glowers down at the bed, not meeting his gaze. and then she scoffs] Tch. I'm not okay with any of that place's damn tricks. [she looks back up at him now, scowling] But it is not going to win with ridiculous nightmares and eerie noises. [insistent, she repeats:] I can 'andle this.

[but then she sees his face and hears a tone that carries far more meaning than even the words themselves, and her expression softens] North... [she squeezes his hand, her desire to reassure him cutting past her own fear now] It's not... [but she pauses, struggling for words again] It's a reflex. I don't remember the nightmare while I'm 'aving it, so it's like new every time. I can't breathe in the nightmare, so I wake up...like that. But it passes--I'm breathing fine. See?

I'm not okay with it playing tricks on you any more than you are. But you don't have to face this alone, you know. [He covers her hand with his other one.] I can't beat your nightmares back or stop you from choking in the nightmare. The only thing I can do is be here for you when you wake. To chase those images away with a few words. Or even a little music if you want to hear what I'm listening to.

But you shouldn't go back to the Plane. Not yet. You're not panicking about the noises under the floors here. At least that's one less thing.

[she lets him take her hand, her expression growing a little wry] I don't think you could 'ave made that any more obvious. But look, North, there's nothing you've got to do 'ere. I mean, you were already 'ere when I woke up. You did that part. [she eyes him, hoping she can get him to accept her words for once. after all, she doesn't see any point in sitting here watching him worry about something he can't change] All right?

I'm not-- [but she cuts herself off, reducing her reaction to a glare. she knows she was in fact panicking, but she still doesn't like being called out on it. instead of a protest, though, she says sharply:] There aren't noises under the floor here. [but realising what he must mean, her eyes widen] Wait. You want me to stay 'ere even when you go back to work, don't you?

I know, but that doesn't mean I have to stop trying. If anything happened to you, I don't know what I'd... [He stops that train of thought. He doesn't want to think about it for a number of reasons, especially not when this place brings people back from the dead.] We don't know why this started, or how or when it'll end.

[He knows that's partially the exhaustion at play with her sharp response, and her wounded pride doing the glaring. He doesn't return the look.] Exactly, there aren't, so they won't disturb you here if you try to get a few more hours of sleep. I'd like for you to stay, yes. I only have a couple training sessions and a class with Theta, then I can come back. I'd bring us some lovely mess hall food, but we can go back and have a nice meal together. My treat. [He tries to put on a smile, but knowing this is only going to continue... Smiling is the hardest thing he can do right now.]

[she gapes at him at that] North, it's nightmares. Nothing is gonna 'appen to me. [frowning, this time she moves to lean against him, squeezing his hands again. before, she fled his touch because she was afraid of his attempts to comfort her, but now that she's the one trying to comfort him, her actions are completely different] Stop worrying, will you? [she frowns, eyeing his face--and then sighs, resigned] All right. Look, if I've gotta stay 'ere for a couple hours for you to do that? Then I will do.

But I don't fancy my chances of getting back to sleep. [though, despite her words, she pauses to stifle a yawn. still, after that round of the nightmare, the last thing she feels like doing at the moment is trying to sleep again. not to mention she knows that, awake, she could go to the Plane quickly if she heard someone near his room, but asleep she wouldn't be able to. with both of those things in mind, her next course of action is obvious] Got anything to read?

Not here, but elsewhere... [He squeezes her hands back, leaning back against her, and nods. He's no going to think about what could happen in other places. At least here, he can trust she'll be safe from the weirder things in both their lives. (Not that aliens aren't weird...)] Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks, Trisha.

Everything's on my datapad. I'm done with it for now if you really want to read up on UNSC news or the latest Grifball scores. [Really, he'd rather just show her match.] But I think you're better off getting more sleep. We have some sleep aids that help. Some of the soldiers around here get some nasty nightmares--[though probably not on the same scale as hers, but he keeps that to himself]--so it tries to keep the brain quiet and push back when the REM cycle hits. I can get some for you, if you want.

[insistently, she says:] North, don't. We've got no evidence anything's gonna 'appen, okay? Unless you think something's really gonna come out of the floor after me. [there's sarcasm in her tone, a sign that she considers that notion ridiculous--though that's less because it's out of the realm of possibility and more because she assumes the noises only she can hear must be hallucinations] But...that's decided, then.

[at his not-terribly-veiled ulterior motives, though, she rolls her eyes] Why do I get the impression you'd rather not give me a choice? I did try that back in Manchester, you know. [quickly, before he can protest, she adds:] But I know what you're gonna say--future medicine. Still, I dunno what you're expecting, but if it means that much to you... [she pauses--and then gives him a long-suffering sigh] Fine. I'll give it a go.

[she's a little hesitant to agree to that course of action, considering the sleeping pills she took back home caused her to fall asleep and experience the nightmare multiple times, which is about the last thing she wants right now. but, she reasons, at least if she's in a deep enough sleep she should stay silent through it. and between North's expression right now and that consideration for his safety, she's willing to agree to the plan]

[He decides to keep his opinions to himself where the things under the floor are concerned because yeah, they just might come out of the floor. But voicing it would give the possibility strength, so...he doesn't. He would rather it be a ridiculous idea.]

Good. [He smiles faintly and gives her his datapad, his fingers touching her hand before he pulls away.] I'll be right back. It won't take me long.

[And off he goes to borrow some from Maine. They both know what it's like to deal with AI at night. Not that north sees that as a problem; he certainly has had other sleep issues ever since he found the Plane. When he's not with Patricia, comforting Theta actually helps him sleep in the long run.]

[Soon enough, he's back with a few sleeping pills and quietly closes, then locks, the door behind him. Have I missed anything? [He's teasing. There's not much going on on the ship and she's still there.]

[she nods, accepting the datapad. and when he leaves, she does take a look at it, trying to see if she can find that information about the UNSC he mentioned or at least some sort of newsreel. she doesn't want to pass up the opportunity to learn a little more about his world, after all, even if her concentration is rather shot due to lack of sleep]

[but North isn't gone for long, and she looks up when he returns, smirking through the exhaustion written in her expression] Oh yeah, loads.

[She'll probably find a news hub of information they have access to. There's news and videos about the different goings-on about the war far off in other parts of the galaxy, war efforts being made by other colonies, and some local news on Earth. It won't be noticeable to either of them that news of the insurrectionist attacks on Earth and surrounding colonies are kept to a minimum. And, of course, there are the Grifball reports and other sports news.]

Yeah? [He hands her a couple of the sleeping pills before setting the remainder in a desk drawer and having a seat on the edge of the bed.] You'll have to tell me all about it later. Theta got word that I'm needed for a training exercise. Technically, I should be on my way there now, but they can wait a minute so I can do this. [He leans down to give her a kiss, threading a hand into her hair. He doesn't want to leave. But all too soon, he forces himself to break away.] Sleep well, gorgeous. I'll be back in couple hours.

[After planting a soft kiss on her head, he heads to the door, looks back and smiles, then locks the door as he leaves. Tex wants him and Theta for some special training. Theta's not too excited to deal with Omega again, but he's going to do his best for North. He's surprised York isn't at the training--he'd've thought Tex would like to train with all the Freelancers who've got AI, but it's just him...]

[In the end though, it's a pretty good two-hour long session. He wasn't too sure how he'd get along with her, but more and more, he's learning that she's not all that bad. Omega's another story, but Tex on her own has her head on her shoulders--and he can admire that. He also positively beaming with pride that Theta's handled things as well as he has. Definitely pushed himself, North knows, but thanks to their own extra training sessions on the Plane, Theta's gotten pretty damn awesome.]

[He comes back sweaty, already in need of another change of clothes. Tex worked him hard. Maybe he can talk Patricia into joining him for a shower if the pills aren't working for her. Knowing her, she'll probably try to stay up, sleep be damned. But...he really does hope she's out, for her sake. He can boast to her about Theta later. Quietly, he slips into his room, then turns to see if she's doing okay.]

Edited 2015-01-24 03:35 (UTC)

[she has been perusing the news hub, but now that North's here, she accepts both the sleeping pills and the kiss, one perhaps more gratefully than the other] See you then.

[and once he's gone, she considers the sleeping pills for a bit, wondering if she should ignore his instructions and avoid them after all. but she did agree to give them a go, and she knows that, if she doesn't, he'll just want her to try later, so after a moment she sighs and pops them in her mouth. and then she settles into the bed, reading more on the news hub while she waits for them to take effect]

[and take effect they do, which is perhaps both fortunate and not in this case because she's asleep when someone tests that lock on North's door. since York wasn't requested at the training session, he's decided to play a little prank on North. what he wasn't expecting when he snuck into his buddy's room, though, was to find a woman sleeping fitfully in his bed. York is stunned at the sight, but he also has the most amazing timing because he arrives only a minute before Menzies' nightmare hits the point that she wakes up gasping]

[to Menzies, still under the influence of the strong sleeping medication, what happens next is a blur. someone grabs her and seems to try to calm her, and when she realises who it is, the first word out of her mouth is:] Bermuda? [it's only after that, at the baffled look on the man's face, that her mind connects that she's in North's universe and this isn't the York she knows. at which point she straightens up, suddenly feeling a bit awkward about the fact that she's wearing nothing but one of North's T-shirts, and very worried about what might happen next. she does her best to be as coherent as possible when he starts asking questions, but unfortunately her mind isn't cooperating half as well as she wishes it would]

[at first, York just seems curious--delightedly so--about her. but when she refuses to tell him any more than a name, he switches tactics and starts to, very reasonably, point out security requirements. and security penalties. and when the only defense that she can think of is to say that they'll blame North, too, he just says that he could always claim he found her somewhere else. at which point she, annoyed, tells him to go ahead and offers her hands]

[in her mind, she's just thinking that she'll escape to the Plane as soon as she can get him to turn his back for a second. but to him, she's just shown that she's only worried about consequences for North, not for herself. and it's that fact that convinces York that North definitely let her in on purpose and this is probably exactly what it appears to be--that he was trying to give an ill woman a quiet place to sleep (with or without possible further implications. he's leaning toward with). so it's with a bit more taunting about how he's going to find out all about her, one way or another, that York leaves her]

[once he's gone, she's not sure whether to expect security. it doesn't seem like York means to turn her in, but she's not absolutely certain, so after that, she decides to stay awake and makes a plan for the next time she hears that door. and so a bit later, when North unlocks it and enters, not knowing that it is him, she puts her plan into action. when he turns to the bed, he'll find it empty--unmade, obviously slept in, with the datapad lying on it, but deserted. Theta's sensors, however, will know that she's actually slid off on the opposite side and is hiding on the floor, ready to drop to the Plane if it's anyone other than North who has just come in]

[It'll be interesting once North catches up with York later, that's for sure. But for now, he's unaware of what's transpired in his room. He looks around, confused, and almost wonders if she left to go to the Plane.]

[Ever helpful, Theta scans the room and senses another person in close proximity.] Ah! She's still here. Over there, on the floor.

[Granted, only he can hear his AI's voice right then, but he doesn't move forward just yet. He's just relieved she's still there.] Trisha, it's just me. This probably isn't the best place to play hide 'n' seek.

Edited 2015-02-08 02:31 (UTC)

[at the sound of his voice, she lets out an immediate sigh of relief and pulls herself to her feet against the bed] Actually, that depends on who's doing the seeking. [she's still a little groggy from the pills and therefore a bit unsteady as she moves, but her expression is completely serious when she comes over to join him] North, we might 'ave a problem. You're not the first person to come in 'ere since you left.

[He heads right over to her and holds his hand out to her to help her up and onto the bed. Her words, though, set him on alert--but he keeps that feeling out of his voice as best he can.] Who saw you? How long ago did this happen?

[she lets him help her without protest as she attempts to explain] York--your York, I mean, not... [she waves a hand. she's still a bit woozy] About an hour ago. I don't think he's gonna turn me in, but...I don't know what he is gonna do.

York? [His brow furrows.] I saw him not too long ago in the locker room, but he didn't mention anything about seeing you. [Though now that he thinks about it, York did mention having something to ask him about later but that it didn't matter right now.]

We'll be fine. It's York, after all. I'll talk to him later.

...Did he mention why he was in my room?

He didn't? [her surprise at this is obvious] What the hell...

Yeah, well, he was still quick enough to threaten to turn me in when I wouldn't tell 'im who I was. [she scowls] I gave 'im my name, but I didn't know what else he would believe. I don't exactly know a lot about 'ow this place works. [she sighs, still wishing she'd been able to come up with a story. bluffing her way out probably would have been a lot safer than just staying quiet]

[until North asks his question, she hadn't even thought about that. she frowns and shakes her head] No, I think he was a bit too busy grilling me. And if it's that easy for your co-workers to get in 'ere, North, I'd better get back to the Plane.

[022]

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