Butterflies and Revolutions - for alainn_aislinn

[thecricketer]

The Doctor was, very carefully, setting coordinates.

It wouldn't be so very difficult to travel to Arcateen 5 - the TARDIS had been there, and unless she inexplicably decided to go somewhere else, that would be the easy part. No, he was trying not to land them in the middle of opression or tyranny or war.

Arcateen 5 had remarkable changeover in regard to government. It remained, always, an advanced world, a beautiful one on the surface, but that simply made it more dangerous when corrupted by greed or bloodlust or fanaticism - more depressing, he knew from experience.

He wanted Aislinn to experience the planet at its best. He didn't even want to think about endangering her.

So he took his Time, as he waited for her, and tried his best to, for once, avoid conflict.

Comments

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

Aislinn had been far too excited about this trip for as long as she could remember. Or, well, at least from the moment that the Doctor had told her about it. She bounced a little when she slipped out of one TARDIS and darted down to where she'd promised the Doctor she'd meet him.

Trying to stop fiddling around too much with her hair--she'd wanted to make a good impression on both him and the butterfly people--she paused outside the door. Bearing her Doctor's comments in mind, she'd kept the glamours dropped, just ducking her head as she scampered, so no one would note things different, but she thought, perhaps, if her Doctor liked her looking like herself, instead of purely human, this one might, too.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked a little on the door, not wanting to just go bursting in.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

A grin lit his features at the sound, nervous and delighted. He straightened, tapping the console affectionately, hopefully before he turned and strode to the door.

His smile never faded as he pulled it open, pleasant shock widening his eyes when he saw her.

It took several seconds to realise he was staring, far longer than usual, and he flushed, just a bit.

"You look...that is...hello."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

Ducking her head for a moment, Aislinn smiled up at him. "Thank you...I thought...." She shrugged, blushed a bit. "I thought maybe for the trip, since they're so different anyway, I could just be...me."

She hoped she hadn't overstepped. Hoped he didn't mind at all. Hoped a lot of things as she fiddled with the skirt of her dress a bit.

ooc: Home finally. Showering from gym then should be on. *eyes your net hopefully*

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His own smile softened, then, with deep, easy fondness and something like gratitude.

"I'm glad," he said quietly, and for a moment he simply held her gaze. Then he stepped aside, gesturing inside.

"You...you don't need to knock, really..."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

She stepped inside, looking around again, always amazed at the differences and the similarities. With a gentle smile, she said hello to the TARDIS with a brush of empathic touch, even if this one didn't know her as well.

"Are you sure?" she asked, looking back over at him. "I didn't want to intrude....."

clings?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He could feel the response of the TARDIS - a gentle greeting, affectionate familiarity - and it lent more certainty to his words.

"I am, yes."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

Her smile was warm and bright, and she reached up to kiss his cheek.

"Then I won't, again..."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His cheeks matched soon enough, and he dipped his head with a soft smile before turning towards the console.

"The coordinates are set, just a matter of starting her up..." When he looked towards her again his smile was wider, younger.

"Ready?"

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

"I've been ready for ages," she said with a softer smile in return, getting a grasp on the console, in case it was a bumpy ride.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He raised his eyebrows at the gesture in mock offense; the expression faded when they got off to a rather rocky start, faint laughter falling from his lips.

"I think she's feeling rather neglected..."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

"Then you shouldn't neglect her," she said, holding on tighter. "Even if I would miss you terribly if our paths took longer to cross."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His smile was slow and soft, growing as the TARDIS calmed.

"And I you."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

Aislinn shifted closer to him on instinct, touching the console lightly as she smiled back.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps..." He was traversing the Time Vortex like it was a bus terminal, but he fumbled over simple words.

"If we took more trips like this, it wouldn't be an issue." Something on the console suddenly seemed to catch his interest; of grave importance, no doubt.

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

"We?" She asked, suddenly very invested in her fingers in her skirt. "Like...me and you?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"If you'd want to." His words were rather hurried, and he said them to his hands.

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

It felt almost dangerous, but she smiled, reaching out to touch his hand.

"I'd want to."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His eyes widened, but the surprise was rather pleasant, and when he looked at her he was smiling as well. It was a faint, tentative smile, but no less sincere for that.

"I suppose it's settled, then." The TARDIS landed as he spoke; his words resonated with the sound of breaching the Vortex rather than being obscured by it.

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

She smiled her assent, kissing his cheek, before turning her head eagerly toward the door, nearly dancing in place in her glee at their arrival.

"We're here?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He wasn't quite used to that, not yet, but he decided he wouldn't mind becoming so.

Her excitement made him grin, and he nodded. He offered his hand as he spoke, voice soft.

"Arcateen 5, during Earth's 21st century - the star poets flourish once more, and freedom reigns."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

She bounced a bit impatiently on her toes and took his hand, winding her fingers through his.

"It sounds perfect, then. We should go."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He couldn't help but chuckle, but his eyes were wide and bright with the same sort of eagerness, and his smile never faded.

"Yes we should." And he led her to the doors, his step light, and pulled them open.

It didn't look so very different. They were on the edge of a sprawling metropolis that looked as though it was made of crystal, sprung almost naturally from the ground. The light of the sun shone through, and the city sparkled with soft colours.

Within the Butterfly People walked, and spoke, and went on with their lives.

Yet the atmosphere seemed tense, and his eyes narrowed just slightly, though he kept the smile.

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

Aislinn noticed the tenseness, given the nature of what she was, but she didn't know if it was normal or not, though he...seemed to indicate not. But the beauty and the colors and the Butterfly People distracted her enough to push it aside and gasp, staring at it all.

She took an impetuous step outside, tugging him as she looked around with wide eyes.

"It's beautiful...."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His expression softened as she spoke, and when he gazed at her his smile was no longer strained. If there was indeed a problem - and it may not be as severe as all that - they would encounter it when they did. Until then...they could enjoy this world, and the company.

"Isn't it?" he said softly. "This city changes very little, over the centuries." He stepped forward as he spoke, leading her slowly towards the shimmering gates, allowing them both to take in the fields of pale, lush grass and brilliant flowers and trees that twisted beyond the clouds that surrounded them.

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

Her fingers clung to his hand as she gazed around with delight. "I can't...all the wondrous places I've seen, I never thought I'd see one that could really compare to Faerie in sheer...magic. But this..."

She reached down to touch the grass, to stroke the petal of a flower, looking again through the walls to the people.

"I think this is what the Martyr's Heaven must look like."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He gazed down at her with warmth in his smile and delight in his eyes, thrilled to share in her wonder. No matter the strife, the unrest, the injustice, this world was always uniquely beautiful.

The people of Arcateen 5 always had something to be proud of, something to inspire them, that he knew would last as long as they lived.

"Do you think so?" he said softly.

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

"Well, I haven't given it a great deal of thought, to be fair," she conceded. "But from the little bits I've heard when Byron made me go to Easter services, I think it must be."

It didn't diminish the wonder, at all. She tucked her hair back with her free hand, then smiled back up at him with equal delight.

"Thank you for bringing me here."

ooc: I have wireless. Sort of. For like the next 2 hours. It sucks, but it is wireless.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps we should bring him, if we visit again." His smile widened, then.

"It's my pleasure." Perhaps it was a tired phrase, but from him it was sincere, turned from something trite to something genuine.

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

She kissed his cheek again, then tugged him back toward the city impatiently. "He might like it, yes, but I like it being just ours, too."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He acquiesced immediately, smile widening as they grew closer to the intricate, powerful gates.

"Whatever you'd like."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

She wanted to touch everything, feel it all pulsing under her fingers. Find the power of the place and pull it in to herself with a sigh until she knew it, understood it.

But she kept hold of his hand instead, just looking.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He paused in front of the gates, tilting his head slightly as he regarded them. There was no one standing by to accept or deny entrance; no lock binding the gates; no way, he knew, to simply push them open.

"When I was last here," he began, "the gates responded to touch. I was told they allowed those with good intent inside, and stood against any others." He glanced at her.

"I told you the Butterfly People were psychic; all of their architecture is connected to them. Their cities are navigated through thought and intention."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

Aislinn's eyes lit up and she smiled up at him brightly, wonder in her gaze. "Truly? We have some sort of similar things with wards, but not our whole city..."

Tentatively she reached out a hand and brushed it over the gates.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor imitated her, more confidently, because though he hadn't done this often the memories remained clear.

His other hand squeezed hers as something brushed over their minds, gently probing; this was not a search for specific thoughts, only their purpose, their will, good or bad.

After several long moments, the gates began to part, and move back to allow them passage. It was a smooth, sleek movement, and when he saw it he realised he'd opened his eyes again.

No, he still wasn't quite used to it.

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

Aislinn had, of course, tried to follow the gentle probe back to its source, curious and light, but there were so very many different energies in the place that it made her dizzy for a moment, followed by a pout that was there and gone very quickly.

As the gates opened, she moved for eagerly, looking around in breathless anticipation, slipping through as soon as they were open enough.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He was smiling again, easily allowing himself to be led as he, too, took in the sights around them.

There was no street, as such, simply a blank trail between two sides of houses and shops and offices, all made of that same alien crystal. The design varied, just as the people did.

He noticed the anxious looks shot at them, the wary glances, some outright glares, but ignored them for now, and his only response to the unnatural hush in the city was to lower his voice slightly.

"If you want to try some of the shops I managed to scavenge some relevant currency. They've things here no outsider could dream of." His smile bloomed again.

"Feats of genius are just trinkets."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

Aislinn had never really been much of a shopper, but her eyes brightened again at that idea, shopping on a new world for things she had never seen.

"I can dream quite a bit," she said with a teasing smile, then tilted her head. "Genius?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Oh, yes." He gestured grandly with one hand; in the corner of his vision, people tensed.

"Objects that breathe, plants that never die, jewels the defy physics..."

[alainn-aislinn.livejournal.com]

The people's tension was working on her nerves a bit, and she shot a few glances around. How could they be tense when they lived in such a place? Were the two of them truly that odd?

She glanced up at him, but her worries eased as she latched on to one phrase, "Plants that never die? Truly?" Even in Faerie they died and were reborn.