RP for renegadeinexile

[thecricketer]

The Doctor waited outside his TARDIS, leaning nonchalantly against the door and turning his hat in his hands. Only in them was his anxious excitement evident.

It had been good seeing Ushas after so long. He'd almost felt young again, talking with her. Remembering that there were times on Gallifrey that he could still remember fondly.

He knew this might not have been the best of ideas. He couldn't simply disregard his future incarnation's suspicion, his enmity, even if he didn't understand it – couldn't understand it, if they were to preserve his future.

He couldn't, however, turn his back on someone who had been his friend for what she might have done. Perhaps she came from both their futures – perhaps things had changed.

Even if he was wrong, he decided it was worth it. They could enjoy their stolen time, for as long as it lasted.

Comments

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"Ahh, Drax. I remember him."

There was a few more moments' silence, perhaps not quite as companionable as before, and then the Rani spoke again. "I haven't seen anyone recently either. Last I had any contact with any of our old friends was with Koschei. The Master. But that was... oh, two incarnations ago, now."

She sighed. "I can't say I've missed him."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His look was quick, sharp, and then he was staring rather determinedly at the ground.

"You didn't get on?" His voice was conversational, still, but firmly distant, and he still wasn't looking at her.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"No," she replied firmly. "His... goals were not the same as mine. I found I couldn't agree with them. I further found them pointless, the things he did."

She glanced over at him, and noted the distance, noted she no longer had his attention. She stopped walking, causing him to come to a halt as well since she still had her arm linked through his. "I've said something wrong, clearly," she observed. "I'm sorry. I meant no offence. Shall we change the subject? We were... getting on rather well, I thought, I hate to cause you any discomfort."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

Echoes of a raw voice drag him into the past, to a place he never wants to visit.

Doctor, help me! I'll give you anything in creation! Would you show no mercy...

The sudden stop pierced his thoughts, and her words caused him to swiftly meet her eyes again. His own are wide, reassurance thin over remorse.

"No! We were, it...it isn't your fault. Just...just memories." Did she know? Could she know what he'd done?

"Yes, that...might be a good idea."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

Her dark blue eyes met his lighter ones. Neither of them could truly know how alike those two sets of eyes were--a thin veneer of gentility and conjured calm hiding things that were much darker and deeper.

"I'm sorry," she repeated, frowning at the Doctor. "For whatever it is you're remembering that's distressed you so."

And then, as agreed, she changed the subject. "Your TARDIS... those old Type 40s were very nearly obsolete when you fled in it. How have you managed to keep it going all this time? Spare parts must be difficult to come by."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," he said softly, and offered a faint smile.

"She's very determined, my TARDIS. I'm often doing repairs, making replacements when I can, but she can and has work on the bare minimum." There was a proud gleam in his eyes, a light in the dark.

"She doesn't always take me to where I want to go, but always, it seems, where I am needed. Travel can be rough at times but we manage. There are
some, ah, reclusive shops that deal in TARDIS parts, and I've managed to make certain newer systems more or less compatible."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani smirked. "Clearly you were paying attention in some of our courses after all. I'm suitably impressed. I've had to struggle a bit here and there just to keep my Type 80 together. It's been difficult to--"

keep powered up since the Eye of Harmony was destroyed.

The Rani caught herself before speaking the words aloud. She gazed at the Doctor, studying his youthful face, the light in his eyes. Somehow, though she'd never really been one for regarding rules, especially Time Lord rules, she was glad to be doing so now.

She had the feeling even she couldn't bear telling this one of him what his future held.

"It's been a challenge," she finished. "I applaud your efforts."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His eyes narrowed slightly - once again, she held something back. He knew why, of couse, so he didn't press.

That wasn't to say he didn't wonder, regard her curiously as she gazed at him.

"Thank you. I did pay attention to the important things, on occasion."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani saw the Doctor's eyes narrow, and she misread the reason why. She thought she'd offended him greatly, and considering he was her only ally at the moment--honestly, the only person she'd even actually spoken to at length--she felt that perhaps that was a grievous error.

She frowned apologetically, and put her hand briefly on his forearm. "See. There I go again, causing offence. I'm sorry. You were rather brilliant back at the Academy, even if I'd never have said so."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His eyes widened slightly and he shook his head, his hand covering hers before he realised, and then fell back to his side.

"Thank you," he said softly, and realised it meant to him more than he might have thought.

"I'm...simply frustrated. There are things you can't tell me, and of course it's not your fault, but I'm dreadfully curious by nature." He offered a bright smile, despite the distant dread gnawing at him; he had a feeling it was something he'd regret knowing.

"That trait has remained constant, I'm afraid."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani nearly jumped at the touch of his hand on hers. The brief contact only served to remind her of how completely alone she'd been. She'd seen their world destroyed, and been convinced she was the last of their people. And now, here he was, living and breathing before her, touching her hand.

The Rani faltered, a bit lost for a moment, before pulling herself together. She managed to muster what she hoped was a wry smile. "I suppose that's good, you keeping that trait. It's not a bad one, in the long run."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"It gets me into trouble sometimes," he admitted, tilting his head slightly and regarding her with a different, gentler sort of curiosity.

Again, he didn't press.

"What about you? What have you kept through your lives, through the centuries?"

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"Determination," she answered at once. "Strength. Ambition. Intelligence. And my independence. I've never needed anyone in order to do anything."

She frowned slightly, and in an unguarded moment, added, "Though that last one seems less and less appealing the older I get."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"All admirable." His voice softened, then.

"There's no shame in wanting companionship." Yet there was conflict in his eyes, and for once he didn't bother hiding it.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani's eyes rose at that, meeting his gaze squarely. She saw the conflict there, and her frown deepened sympathetically. "It must be... rather a lonely sort of life you lead at times, yes? I know you've picked up human and other companions along the way... but being apart from the rest of your people..."

Her voice trailed off. She shrugged a bit, and her gaze fell. "Well. Even I have had times where I haven't been entirely fond of that."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"I don't tend to get on with the rest of my people," the Doctor pointed out, voice dry and light, and shrugged.

"It's enough. My friends are...well, I could scarcely imagine travelling without any." He was, though, wasn't he? Just for a while, to get his head sorted out.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"Neither did I," The Rani shot back, smirking. "But..."

But now, where I come from, they're all gone. I never thought I'd see the day when that came to pass, that the Time Lords were no more.

Was that what made her accept him reaching out to her in the first place? Was that what kept her here?

It had to be, she told herself as she linked her arm back through his. "That's good, then. That you have your friends. That you aren't alone."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He smiled at her then, faintly, a warm, relieved gleam in his eyes as he resumed their leisurely pace to somewhere new.

"You should too, you know - have friends. I'm sure you can find at least one person in the universe you can get on with." The glint was teasing, now, and he flashed her an innocent grin.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"Yes, well." The Rani stole a sidelong glance at the Doctor, caught the light in his eyes, and his smile. She smirked in return. "We seem to be doing all right at the moment, yes? Getting on."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"We do," he said earnestly. "I'm glad of it." He hadn't realised how much, until that moment. It was nice not to be enemies with an old friend, as so often seemed to be the case.

He was, quite frankly, tired of it.

"Perhaps we could - well, we both have our own TARDISes of course but we could... Well. You could practice on me, see what it's like to have a companion for a bit." Oh, my, but that was lovely grass.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"Practice... on you...?"

The Rani arched an eyebrow, and turned, openly examining him this time. She decided, based on the intensity with which he appeared to be examining the ground, that his suggestion was not at all meant to be dirty or inappropriate.

"Right. I see... So... you're proposing we travel together for a time? Do I understand you correctly?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He flushed slightly when he realised the possible connotations of what he'd just said, hand drifted behind his back to clasp with the other.

Finding it unavailable, it slipped determinedly into his pocket.

"If...if you would wish to. Or you could forget I said anything, if you like."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani weighed the offer seriously. This man was her mortal enemy, once... or, he would be. This Doctor hadn't become those Doctors yet.

This Doctor was about the only ally she had here, in this strange place she'd found herself brought to without explanation or reason. He'd been honest when he informed her he had no idea why they were there or what this could mean.

And this Doctor was kind to and accepting of her, though she'd given him no reason to be apart from once having been his friend.

"Nono, I'm not offended, look, I..."

She stopped walking, stopping them both, and turned to face him, inclining her head just a bit to one side. "It's... it's all right," she said softly. "I think... I'd like that. Yes."

Her hand travelled down his arm, clasping his wrist gently. "If you're sure, that is. I don't want to impose."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He looked up, slowly, eyes lingering on her hand before meeting her gaze. A soft smile turned his lips, lending his eyes a warmer light of relief, and excitement.

"You would, truly? I...I would as well. If I'm not imposing." And his smile tilts into a gentle smirk. Neither of them were very good at this at all, and it amused him, rather than worried him.

He had a feeling they should give it a go anyway.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"It's not an imposition, Doctor."

One corner of the Rani's mouth curled, mirroring his smirk. "Trust me. I wouldn't put up with it for a moment if it were."

And then just for a moment, a warm, genuine smile, looking rather much like it didn't get used very often, flitted across her mouth.

"It will be... nice. Not to be figuring things out here alone."