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

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Eventually." His eyes glinted with old humour.

"I'm sure we can manage it." Then his eyebrows rose.

"You don't seem the type for a randomiser."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

One corner of the Rani's mouth quirked up in a sly smirk. "Well... I suppose I'll take my chances."

Then her face fell a bit as she tried to work out how exactly to explain the randomiser. She couldn't very well tell him the truth, not only because she couldn't discuss his future with him, but also because the fear that drove her to install the randomiser was so... irrational.

She feared the Daleks might come seek her out and finish the job they had started that night on Gallifrey. Exterminating the last of the Time Lords.

Eventually she said, in a quiet voice, "It was a safety precaution. It has become necessary, at least for the time being, that my travels are unpredictable."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He nodded, slowly, and found himself taking a step closer. Curiosity, dimmed with concern, was clear in his eyes.

"I've had to resort to that before myself." He paused, fingers drummingly lightly against his coat.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Perhaps he shouldn't ask for details, but he could still offer aid.

Well. Perhaps he shouldn't do that either, but that wasn't going to stop him.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"I... don't know," she admitted. Rather than being alarmed that he'd taken a step closer, she found it comforting, and she also took a step closer to him. "But thank you for the offer."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He was relieved at the reaction, and rather touched.

"If there's ever anything, tell me," he said quietly, before turning to look down the slope.

"We'll have to be careful, going down."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

The Rani's expression softened at once. "I... will. Thank you."

She turned, her gaze following his. "We will, yes. I suppose we should hold on to one another again? ...for support, of course."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he said quietly, smiling down at the grass. His hand tightened in hers as he led her downward, slowly and steadily; the other skimmed the hill beside him.

"I should climb more often. It certainly gets the hearts going."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"And here I was hoping it was me that was doing that," she murmured, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Though it must be a welcome change for someone like me to get your hearts going through physical activity and not through being a dire threat to your life or something."

She stayed close as he led her down, clutching his hand for support.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He glanced at her with widened eyes, flushing slightly and suddenly becoming acutely aware of their proximity.

"...I suppose I did rather ask for that," he said, carefully lowering his foot.

"Honestly, I think I'm more accustomed to dire threats..."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She blinked at him a few times, confused.

Then it occured to her what she'd said, and how it could have been taken...

"Erm. I meant, you know, making you walk through the countryside. Not, like... I mean... you know..."

She gave up for a few moments, flustered, before adding, in rather an unconvincing manner, "I wasn't making a pass at you or anything like that..."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

A soft, embarassed chuckle as he shook his head.

"I'm glad to hear it. I...didn't mean to..." He sighed, and concentrated on climbing. Much simpler, climbing.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She misunderstood the reason for his sigh, and started stammering again. "Not that I don't think you worthy of it. I mean. I just..."

She groaned softly and squeezed his hand. "I'll shut up now. Let's just walk down the hill, and I won't say another word."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He looked up, eyes widening again.

"I didn't...I know, I was only...ah, lamenting my unwavering ability to say the wrong thing." His smile was wry.

"It seems I'm setting a record."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"It seems we're racing again," the Rani replied, dryly. "Didn't we agree not to do that? Perhaps I should have been more specific. Not just climbing, but in seeing how many times we can say the wrong things."

She glanced down. "Nearly to the bottom," she observed gratefully. "Then back to your TARDIS, yes?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He chuckled again, the sound lighter this time. "Sounds quite sensible to me, we'll have to abide by it from now on."

He nodded, beginning to move again.

"Yes. I don't believe we've travelled very far from her."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She nodded, following him down to the bottom. "It's interesting to me," she noted, "that though my TARDIS was on a randomiser, and yours was not, both wound up here. If something did in fact bring us here, it must be rather powerful, to divert a TARDIS... even one travelling at random."

She frowned a bit, looking at him as they reached level ground again. "That worries me. Also, the sun is setting, which further worries me. We should hurry back."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"It might not be a controlled force," he replied thoughtfully. He realised that there was no need to hold on together now, really, and decided she could the one to end it, if she wanted.

"There are some areas, some worlds like magnets, simply by their nature. Of course, we can't simple assume that there's nothing amiss." He paused then, raising his eyebrows.

"Afraid of the dark, Ushas?" The teasing lilt in his voice reminded him of a boy long gone, and a simpler time. He welcomed it.

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

"Afraid of what might live in the dark, or hunt in the dark, on a new planet I'm not familiar with," she shot back immediately, though there was a lot less bite to her voice than there could have been.

She either hadn't noticed there was no longer a need to clutch his hand, or she didn't care. She held fast to it, nodding as they started walking back across the field they way they'd come. "You're right, of course. Controlled or not, however, I'd still like to know how. And why."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"In my experience daylight tends to be just as dangerous," the Doctor replied lightly.

"Of course. I couldn't possibly leave without finding out what's going on here."

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She nodded briskly. "My curiosity's been engaged now. I couldn't leave this alone if I tried."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He chuckled, beaming at her. "My, you almost sound like me."

((:) Sounds good to me.))

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

She grinned at that. "Then it's a good thing we're travelling together."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

"Rassilon help the universe," he replied, eyes glinting.

((Brilliant. *grin* *sighs* And they're still cute.))

[thisway-comes.livejournal.com]

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

((They would be stubborn.

Thank you! Hopefully my connection will hold out this time.))