delcattys | open post.

( she raises her eyebrows in surprise. always? )

Well, if that's the case, I'll just take you to my new friends' for tea, shall I?

( she's kidding. they're brilliant, but even they're not quite ready for this. )

Maybe I'll just aim for somewhere we're not likely to be maimed or eaten.

I thought that was part of the charm.

( she's kidding. though river does enjoy danger, how could she not when she runs to it so often, she does appreciate a lack of maiming or being eaten in her days )

Though I would like to meet your new friends at some point.

Oh, River. So far they've dealt with a bloke called Tim with teeth in his face, sniperbots, sentient, murderous fabric and a racist from the future.

( she takes one of river's hand between both of hers. )

I think meeting my wife might be the strangest thing for them yet.

( feeling perhaps a tiny bit bolder than she has so far, she lifts river's hand to press her lips against the back of it to take any sting out of her words. )

Of course you'll meet them. As soon as I'm prepared for any "punching above my weight" comments.

( ryan. she's thinking of ryan. )

( she's torn between rolling her eyes and being sympathetic at that, though considering changing bodies was natural for them whereas beauty was considerable for humans it was harder to explain )

Well, I think I could sort them out on that.

( river shocking them by flirting or telling them wild and ridiculous tales wouldn't help )

I didn't always look like this.

( still beautiful all the same )

Maybe not. But, as it happens, you have quite a lovely face.

( a lovely everything. she can already hear it, the incredulous that is your wife? and the thing is, she couldn't even blame them. )

You'd certainly make an impression.

That's usually my point.

( her personality makes that obvious if her appearance has managed to miss the mark.

this time perhaps she'll go easy. she'll lrt the doctor decide when it's time for that )

Tell me about them.

They were the first people I met after I regenerated. I kind of - ( her expression grows sheepish. ) - fell out of the TARDIS and into their train.

( and it says a lot about them, she thinks, that they didn't just leave there and then. decide it was too insane. )

Yaz, Ryan and Graham. They're... brilliant, really. They lost someone. Grace.

( she lets herself think about grace, sometimes. even though it fills her with guilt. the woman who had barely known her for five minutes but showed more concern for her than what was going on around them. )

She was Ryan's nan, Graham's wife. But they haven't let it stop them. It's like they need to help people.

( she manages to keep her expression pretty neutral during the story -- she expects her now to do ridiculous things and considering how often river likes to jump off buildings she really shouldn't comment.

it's the second part of the story that earns a squeeze of her hands, river leaning closer. she didn't need to ask to know what she was thinking underneath. the doctor's hearts were so big, so caring that someone that had helped her even if she didn't know them was someone she'd care for. and be hurt by. river didn't understand it, never felt quite that intensely or quickly, but she'd learned -- learned what it meant, what it did )

I'm sorry. They sound like wonderful friends.

( though they had to be to keep up with her wife )

I'm glad you found them.

Me too.

( she shakes herself out of her brief slump, sits up a little straighter. )

They didn't even let me wallow when I thought I'd lost the TARDIS, so they can definitely stick around.

Wait, you lost her?

( oh, how was that even possible. yes, she'd fallen out of the tardis and landed on a train but losing the tardis? )

At least you found her again.

It wasn't my fault! She got stuck on another planet, phasing in and out.

( it's probably best that she doesn't mention the part where she got herself and her friends briefly stuck floating in space. )

She couldn't have been too upset. Did herself up for me, after all.

And she did so beautifully.

( it was a wonderful design, though river wondered how many biscuit messes they would end up with. she leans herself back against the couch, keeping the doctor's hand in hers, resting their hands between them )

What made you decide to travel with her all those years ago? Why did you decide to do all of this?

( she may be thinking of what to do next with her new life. river isn't considering a career change but just wondering where to start, what to do. does she go back to luna or try something new? )

You really do ask the difficult questions.

( the doctor releases a puff of air, dislodging a strand of hair that had fallen in her face, and thinks.

thinks of gallifrey, its people, its laws. thinks of boredom, of exploration, of doing something, anything. )

I was bored. Or a criminal. Or the TARDIS was sick of gathering dust. Or I've just never been able to stay out of trouble.

( she copies river, leaning back. )

Maybe it was all of the above.

It's no wonder I was a lost cause.

( lost cause is the wrong phrase but considering how many of the doctor's habits she'd picked up (or just shared--). she had no chance at doing anything different.

there's a brief pause to the conversation, not quite a hesitation but river taking a few moments to think, thumb brushing over her knuckles )

Eventually I'll need to think of what to do next.

( eventually. when they're done with their dates )

Well, you can stay with me. Y'know. For however long it takes you to figure it out.

( for completely selfless reasons, of course. )

If you want to.

For now.

( it wasn't quite the same one psychopath per tardis answer that river had given before but a similar thing. she loved their time together, their adventures and mad life but she didn't know how to do anything for a longer period of time. darillium had been something else -- twenty-four years that they'd spent together and, as wonderful as it had been (some of her best years), it had been a learning curve, to begin with )

I can't have you getting bored.

( whether that was bored of her or just bored. they'd figure it out -- her, a new routine. their new life. and it would be brilliant )

I'm not sure anyone could get bored of you.

( she leaves it, though. they have a lot to figure out. but for now, she's brand new and, sort of, so is river. it's more than they should have. )

However long you want.

( river nods, a small smile on her lips. she was feeling a lot better too -- warmer again, brain a little knitted back together )

What do you say to another walk? I could do with stretching my legs.

( in a way she'd been sat around in the library for a long time -- no adventures to be had there. even though river wasn't yet looking for an adventure a walk was still sounding good )

( the doctor is almost positive that one of her legs is starting to go to sleep, so she nods. taking a moment to disentangle her legs, she pushes herself up off of the couch and stretches, before offering river a hand. )

Let's go see what else we can find, then.

( river uses the hand to pull herself up, almost tempted to take the blanket with them, though they could always run back here or to the tardis if things got that dire.

she keeps the doctor's hand in hers as the walk, keeping close by her to keep as much heat between them as they could in the cold. after warming up a little the chill now felt even more shocking. maybe if they didn't see anything else she'd take her up on the offer to go somewhere warmer, possibly a beach )

There's one restaurant I always meant to go to before-- I think tonight that's where we should go.

Ooh, a date date.

( she smiles, because that's something she can get behind. and it's a chance to find out what this body actually likes. )

Where is it?

Oh, you'll have to wait for that.

( it would be nice to actually get to surprise her -- a nice surprise. that's how river had started this day so why not continue )

I might have to find something for you to wear though. If you trust me.

( oh, she pouts at that. good at pouting, is this face. looks faintly like a kicked puppy. )

What's wrong with what I'm wearing?

( actually. don't answer that. )

Nothing with frills.

For a walk in the snow, there is nothing wrong. But the restaurant is a little... fancier.

( oh, sorry sweetie, did you not want an answer? she takes into account the request though and honestly, river agrees. she'll even let her decide whether she wants a dress or pants )

But that's later. For now... ( river gives a tug on her hand, stepping quicker. she wants to explore before the cold starts hitting again )

I can do fancy.

( she thinks, anyway. hasn't really tried with this body. fanciest she got was her last self's waistcoat, and that was a bit... tattered. okay, maybe river has a point.

jerking as river tugs on her hand, she speeds up her pace to keep up. )

Fine. Maybe I'll let you play dress up.

(no subject)

retrorsum - 2018-10-26 22:08 (UTC) - Expand