Into the 51st Century, for the_corsair

[thecricketer]

The Doctor was nervous.

It wasn't a sort of anxiety he was used to - it didn't concern mortal peril, or faulty circuits, or Gallifreyan politics.

No, those all made sense.

He was simply taking Byron on a trip, one he'd suggested a long time ago. Their first trip in his TARDIS, yes, but that was hardly cause for fidgeting so much.

Really, it made him feel so very young and it was both irritating and exhilarating.

He took a breath before striding out of the TARDIS to wait outside the door. He was still, finally, silently hoping that nothing would go wrong.

Comments

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He did manage to look affronted, though the expression faded as Byron spoke; instead he looked rather sheepish.

The Doctor swallowed, and his flush deepened.

"This...well, this doesn't seem to be the inner city..."

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

"No," Byron said, striving to contain his amusement. He raised a hand and gently stroked his fingers through the Doctor's hair.

"I daresay it's far more interesting..."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

If anything he tensed more; his nod was tight.

"That, ah, that is a word for it..."

They were receiving many curious glances; finally, someone approached - a male human, lithe and fit, with a sprinkling of sand in his dark, tousled hair. His stride was relaxed, posture casual, but there was an air of easy authority about him.

"Can I help you?"

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron smiled very brightly at the man, and did not ogle but met his eyes.

"We took a bit of a wrong turn, it seems, and were merely surprised to find ourselves here...."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The man returned the smile, eyes twinkling with veiled amusement. He didn't seem overly perturbed by the fact that they'd appeared from thin air in a big blue box, but he did glance at it with a slightly raised brow.

"You're welcome to stay if you'd like. We welcome everyone here." He eyed the Doctor as he spoke, who'd affected a perfectly casual mask that looked ready to shatter at any moment.

For once he would let someone else do the talking, though his eyes, as he glanced Byron's way, sent a very clear, rather frantic message.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron squeezed the Doctor's hand and didn't explain the box at all. It wasn't his to tell, anyway, and really, in the 51st century, shouldn't they have some idea of all of this? He'd have to ask.

"Thank you. We may do so, or we may head back to our original destination, but either way the hospitality is appreciated." He almost flirted, but managed not to, but was still very charming.

"We'll discuss it."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Brilliant idea," the Doctor said brightly. He might have clapped his hands together but, well, he was still holding Byron's and didn't particularly want to let go of it.

"Back in a moment," and he edged back into the TARDIS, tugging Byron inside with him. Soft, friendly laughter met his ears as the man shook his head, and a weak, sheepish smile curved his lips as he shut the doors.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron did not giggle, because that would be undignified for an Immortal rock-star poet, but he did grin a lot.

"They all seem to be enjoying their...freedom," he said with a wicked grin.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Ah, yes, clearly..." The Doctor cleared his throat before he faced Byron, frowning.

"You're enjoying this," he accused.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron looked at him, amused. "Well, of course I am. I am who I am, and there is an entire beach full of nude, and often nubile, flesh right outside those doors. I can't be blamed for enjoying it a little."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Well, yes. I meant..." He gestured vaguely at himself; his faint blushed deepened again, as if to support his point.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron shifted just a touch closer, brushing his fingers lightly down the Doctor's cheek. "I don't want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, though the idea of being able to look as much as I like is certainly appealing."

ooc: *POUNCES*

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor blinked, and swallowed, and pursed his lips, and seemed to consider.

"I...well, I am over eight centuries old, it's not as though..." He glanced at the doors, growing silent for a moment.

"It's certainly a virtue of this time," he said softly. "Freedom, acceptance..."

A faint, rather nervous smile curved his lips as he met Byron's eyes again.

"And I did promise to show you those."

((*SQUEEKS* *and snuggles you* *a lot*))

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron smiled back, though there was a touch of worry in his eyes, for both of them. Nudity, with his leg...it was hard to think of in front of strangers, whatever he had done with his schoolfellows when they went swimming.

But swimming...now that was something he loved more than anything else. The freedom of the water, the one place his handicap didn't matter in the slightest.

"It's up to you..."

((*CLINGS* *hates on your 'net*))

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His brow furrowed slightly at the hint of anxiety, but he didn't speak, not for several moments.

"I...suppose there's no harm in trying, really..."

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron smiled. "It's settled then," he said softly.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Yes." He nodded, and returned the smile before turning towards the doors.

"Let's not keep that gentleman waiting any longer, hmm?"

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron glanced down at them both and then smirked slightly. "We're still overdressed."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He froze, and turned back slowly.

"Ah. Yes. Right. We are at that." He sternly reminded himself that he had, in fact, agreed to this, and began to shrug off his coat.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron watched for a long moment, then smiled and shrugged out of his as well, before moving to brush his fingers down the Doctor's shirt.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His own smile was nervous, but warm, and it lit his eyes when Byron approached. He raised his hands, pressing them lightly against his chest; a welcome, not a rebuke.

"How many layers do you have on?" His eyes sparkled with amusement, easing the tension in his muscles.

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron glanced down, as if assessing. "Three or four, at least..."

He looked back up with a rueful smile, then started on the Doctor's buttons.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He chuckled, and his fingers slid down to tug playfully at his shirt. If he focused on the moment his nerves could subside a little. He hoped.

"You seem to have me beaten..." Particularly since he had, in fact, gone without the jumper. Personally, he thought the question mark suspenders were rather stylish.

((*HUGS you* I'm so sorry I didn't respond last night, I must have fallen asleep without signing out.))

[the-corsair.livejournal.com]

Byron smirked a little bit. "Well, I didn't know we'd be landing on a beach, and layers seemed a wise choice....."

He couldn't help leaning in and brushing his lips over the Doctor's neck as he undid the rest of his buttons, fingers hooking in the quite adorable suspenders.

((*HUGS* no worries. I figured that or the puppies, and was crashing anyway. Tried tonight, but didn't see you on...ping me if you get on and if I'm still up I'll sign back in. lol))

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Isn't it summer?" he replied with an amused smile; moments later his lips parted, and his head tilted back, just slightly. It was becoming... instinctive.

Strange. New. Nice.

After a moments hesitation his hands drew back, and tugged the shirt off, letting it fall.

((*snugs* I'm on, if you're awake. ;))