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]

"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."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor was delighted to see it, and felt rathered honoured - not that he'd say so, of course, he simple returned it. He hadn't expected to smile so for quite some time yet.

"It often is," he said softly, and chuckled.

"And I suppose you wouldn't, no. I have some memories of being almos t literally thrown from your room."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"Well..." the Rani responded dryly. "Don't come into my room to impose and we shan't have that problem again, yes?"

She was quiet for a few moments, and then she laughed softly. "I can't believe you even still remember all that."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He nodded in sombre understanding - and, moments later, grinned.

"I'm afraid you've awakened those memories again. Usually they..." His grin faded into a faint, wistful smile.

"...Sleep in my mind."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"Oh."

And though it was an entirely uncharacteristic wish on her part, the Rani gave the Doctor's arm a squeeze and said, "Perhaps, now that you and I are to travel together for a time, some of those memories might also awaken in mine."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"I hope so," he said softly. Only a glimpse of his surprised was revealed in his expression.

"I rather like them, for the most part." He had thought everything was so complicated then, but it seemed like a simpler time now.

Relatively.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"I..."

The Rani sighed. "I haven't had much reason or opportunity to revisit those memories," she admitted. "Perhaps it's about time. Once we've ascertained that this is in fact a safe place to do so. Do you know if the others have been here long?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"I didn't think to ask," the Doctor said, looking sheepish. "Quite remiss of me, really. Though no one seemed to know any details about this place. Why we're here, who's running it if anyone." He paused, brow furroing slightly.

"I know you and my future self don't...seem to get on, but did he mention anything?"

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani shook her head sadly. "He did not."

Why, oh why, did she now feel guilty that the Doctor's future self loathed her? Guilt was very unbecoming in her, not to mention, since when had she ever felt such a thing?

Trying to mask it, she gave the Doctor's arm another squeeze. "I suppose that means it's up to us to discover what this place holds, yes?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He couldn't ask, couldn't help, so he shoved it all aside in favour of a confident smile.

"I'm sure we'll have it worked out in no time at all."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani stole a glance at his face, and the confident smile heartened her. "Of course we will," she responded, as if it were the most natural thing in all the world.

"We should look for a city. So far all we've seen is countryside. Did you ever hear of an evil genius working his or her nefarious plots from a country hollow? I think not..."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

His smile widened. "Quite a good reason to do so, then, isn't it?" But he nods.

"If nothing else cities have people, and people have knowledge whether they want it or not."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"That's very true." She gave him an approving glance.

"I suppose that the best place to look for a city would be higher ground, yes? So we can see if this countryside ends."