delcattys | open post.

( the doctor almost jumps when river's hand touches hers. she still almost expected to feel nothing, for this to be some kind of cruel trick. but river is wonderfully, wonderfully solid and the doctor squeezes her hand that little bit tighter. )

I wish I could say it was me, that I'd found a way. The TARDIS brought me here.

( she breathes out a laugh. )

Thought she'd gotten something wrong, or she had the hump with me. Then there you were.

( ah. as much as river had hoped it was the doctor that had rescued her from the library the hesitation had made her uncertain. she seemed surprised to see her which seemed to be more than just from not knowing if it would work.

the contact makes her smile, glad to actually feel her touch, and for something so... real. really real )

Well, I hope you're not going to make me find my own way out now.

( she'll have to thank the tardis later, her own version of love. that old girl always had her covered )

What kind of husband would I be if I did?

( ... no. that's not right. )

Wife? Whatever. Doesn't matter.

( she moves her hand slightly, laces their fingers together. watches her hands as she does it before looking back up to meet river's eyes with a smile. )

Although, the old girl wouldn't budge. Even locked me out when I walked outside. I'm guessing she didn't want me leaving before I got you.

( her smile widens a little, running her thumb over the doctor's hand. wife, that was going to be one to get used to )

I'm going to need a moment with her later.

( she'd already planned to find her for making sure the doctor found her but for refusing to leave until the doctor had, for not wanting to leave her behind-- she loved that old girl )

Take me home.

( to the tardis. river didn't really have a home, not a single place considering how much she travelled, how much she'd never settled or the time she'd spent in prison. the tardis was the one place that had always felt like home )

( the doctor laughs and rolls her eyes. )

Yeah, well. Have a word with her about this, will you? I could've done with some warning.

( she tugs on river's hand and leads her back to the tardis. they pass several people still lurking, still watching them, but she ignores them, concentrating on reaching their destination.

when they reach the tardis she places a hand on one of the doors, glancing back at river as she speaks. )

Happy now? Brought back your favourite.

( there's a hum from inside, then the click of the door opening. she gestures for river to go first, an excited glint in her eyes. )

After you. She's a bit different from last time, I think.

( river dips her head down, letting the doctor's hold on her hand guide her way. she gives a light chuckle at the comment, though it would have been nice if all of them had had some warning )

She changes every time you do.

( a reflection on the doctor, a change after centuries of looking one way. the tardis had as much personality as they did.

river lets her hand slip from her wife's, running a hand down the door affectionately before stepping in. it had been-- she wasn't certain how long it had been since she'd last stepped inside, though river had seen many variations of this console room. each was special, though she can't help but have a soft spot for the first that she'd seen -- bowtie's.

she steps slowly around, almost circling the central console. river gives a gentle hum, resting her hand over the console, a momentary thanks. but it was only brief, a crunching under her foot disturbing it )

Doctor?

( why was the floor littered with biscuits? )

( ah. right. those. she'd forgotten about that little incident. )

Sorry. She decided I needed a biscuit dispenser this time around.

( sheepishly, the doctor rushes over and tries to sweep some of the mess away with her foot. when it doesn't really make much difference, she frowns and nods towards the foot pedal. )

I may have gotten a little overenthusiastic when I was trying to get her to listen to me earlier.

And you hoped biscuits would solve it?

( her tone should say that river doesn't really think that, guessing instead that the doctor was more panicked about being back at the library that she'd just hit any button in hopes of getting her to leave )

Though she won't thank you for making more mess.

( and the doctor would just have to clean it up anyway. she's stepping aside from the biscuits to not contribute further, hand reaching out again to rest on the doctor's )

I never thanked you. For coming.

You'd be surprised what biscuits can solve. Once stopped a war with a packet of party rings.

( it's hard to tell if she's joking or not, any hint of a smile gone at the contact. )

I wish I could say it was planned. Wish I could take the credit for getting you out, wish I even knew how you got out.

( she forces herself to look up, to meet river's gaze. her own hand comes up, fingers loosely wrapping around river's wrist. )

I can't, I don't. But when I saw you, there's no way was I leaving you behind.

( the again goes unsaid, but it's there. )

Sweetie.

( the word is quieted, expression a little sad just for those few seconds. it wasn't about getting her out even knowing what had happened, especially while river didn't know if she should know something. she was just relieved to be out, to be alive. and glad that the doctor had been there to pick her up )

We'll figure it out. ( more likely it would be one of those questions burning in the back of their minds, river probably gallivanting around again trying not to think about it. who wanted to think about the fact that they'd been dead? ) Just-- I'm glad it was you.

( that she'd been the one to find her, to pick her up. she'd have wanted no one else there )

Good job it was.

( she lets herself actually breathe then, easing the tension from her shoulders. she grins at her wife. her gloriously alive wife, and throws her arms around her shoulders. )

Anyone else would've heard your tone of voice and done a runner.

Oh, I wish that some of them had.

( she lets her hands fall to her waist, trailing her fingers along. she's talking about the people that had first been there, those crowding and bombarding her with questions in the library. at least with the doctor they could take it slow, let her mind and memories catch up )

I suppose I should ask about this.

( she gives a light tug at the suspenders )

How many faces did-- ( did she miss, is the rest of the question that river can't quite finish )

( oh, now that's a question. )

Hang on.

( she takes a small step back and counts them off on her fingers. first met river when she still wore pinstripes, then there was everything with bow-tie, then eyebrows... oh! )

None. Can you believe that? Was still Scottish not that long ago.

None?

( she sounds surprised if a little relieved. to not have missed out on anything... well, that would be a first )

How long has this been for you? This body.

( it would, could if river pressed, tell her how long it had been for the doctor since they'd been on darillium rather than tell her how long she'd been in the library. that time period was a strange one she didn't know if she'd ever be able to figure out )

Not long at all.

( at least, she doesn't think so. a lot had happened, but not nearly enough for it to have been more than a few weeks. )

Long enough to make some new friends and go on a few trips. I'd just dropped them off home for a bit when I ended up here.

( she holds her hands out, glances down at herself. )

I'm practically brand new.

I don't think I've ever seen you so new before.

( pretty boy hadn't been, bowtie was newish but eyebrows... the longest he'd had a body that she'd known. sort of.

river takes a step back, an admiring sort of look as she looks over her )

I'll have to let you know what I think.

( it's always strange after regenerating. getting used to a new body, other people getting used to it, too. but river is the first person the doctor has come across in this body who has ever seen her look any different.

she fidgets. )

Try not to be too critical. Still getting used to all this new... stuff.

( river tips her head to the side, her tone one of mock offense )

I am very gentle.

( except they both know that, under most circumstances, that those words relating to river are absolutely crap. though when it comes to the doctor she can be incredibly tender. if she's feeling merciful )

Though maybe not yet. I'm-- ( she waves a hand, trying to find some words that might be accurate ) --does this count as a new body?

Only when you want to be. I still remember things, you know.

( the doctor smiles, looking river over. )

I suppose. Or more like... restored? Back to how you were before you - ( died. ) - left.

( her smile begins to fade a little )

That should be impossible -- more so than being-- ( pause ) --alive.

( impossible may usually be something that she excels in but she'd died and it seemed, felt like she'd been dead a long time. she wasn't certain that she wanted confirmation with what year it was.

she'd figure it out later, get medical scans, make sure everything was in the right place and working properly )

It doesnt matter.

( it did, just one of the things currently niggling at her but she didn't want to dwell. it felt like she should be celebrating )

River.

( all of it's impossible, or should be, and she's dying to know what happened, how it happened, why. because there shouldn't have been a way out of this, but river is standing in front of her, flesh and blood, and with that comes so many questions.

questions that she won't ask, not now, and instead takes river's hand again. )

We'll work this out. You and me. If you want to. ( she squeezes her hand. ) Whatever you want to do now, it's your call.

( oh, the doctor is good. she knows the right things to say to lift river's thoughts just enough, tugging that smile back )

I'd like to see somewhere. ( not expecting to have this chance again river doesn't actually know what she wants to do ) Somewhere quiet.

( she's not ready to fully throw herself into things but it would be nice to think, to see something beautiful and to spend precious moments with her wife )

( her eyes light up at that and the doctor hops over the mess on the floor to the console. )

Professor Song, how do you feel about Greek mythology?

( she flips switches, turns dials while she talks, spins the hourglass. )

Khione. Daughter of a water nymph. Same as many Greek tales, she was taken advantage of by a man and the gods punished her for it. ( a frown. ) Turned her into a cloud, of all things.

( the tardis wheezes briefly, then comes to a stop. )

So she made it snow. Right there in the desert. Not the happiest or best known tales, but she did get a small planet named after her.

( flashing river another smile, the doctor jogs over to the doors and pushes them open.

and it really is a very small planet. the only signs of life nearby are several barren trees, covered in frost. and while it isn't actually snowing - the dark sky is clear, lit up with stars - the ground is covered with white powder, untouched.

she did say quiet.)

( she doesn't get a chance to respond before the doctor jumps in with her excited spiel and river would have it no other way. she lets her talk, pilot, taking a cautionary step towards the railing just in case her piloting is anything like what she remembers--

and she smiles. this is familiar, beautifully so and listening to her, getting to see somewhere that is most certainly new... it reminds her why she loves adventures, loving that excitement and feeling it start to creep back in to her chest.

when they land river moves towards the door, taking a few steps outside and is awed )

It's beautiful.

( quiet, calm. the light shines beautifully off the frost and you can absolutely feel the peace )

Should be just ours, for now.

( she follows river outside, stops just behind her. )

People visit sometimes, just to see. But there are no resources, no reason for people to try and move in. Just the snow and the ice.

( there's a cracking sound nearby, and an icicle falls from one of the trees and lands in the snow. Then, it wriggles and burrows into the ground. )

Some of which is mildly sentient. But harmless.

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