delcattys | open post.

( she's quick to close the door behind them, wrapping her arms around herself as she starts to adjust to the change in temperature )

I can see why no one else comes out here. No one's mad enough to walk this far for shelter.

Except us, apparently. I'm sure it wasn't this cold last time.

( or maybe she was just wearing a much larger coat? doesn't matter. too late for that now.

she gives river an apologetic smile. this honestly had seemed like a much better idea earlier. )

Remind me to take you somewhere hot next time, to make up for it.

Sweetie, it's fine.

( sure, it was cold, but river had been in worse situations than this -- some of her own expeditions had ended up far less hospitable than all of her data had given her )

Besides this was exactly what I asked for.

( and now that they're inside it isn't quite as cold. it's quiet, it's peaceful. it was perfect )

I'm with you, what more could I ask for?

( the doctor looks up from kicking snow from her boots, eyebrows raised. )

You going soft on me, River?

( it hits her then, suddenly, that this is it. this is, perhaps, the first time she's gotten to truly enjoy her time with river. she has before, of course, and often, but there was always that very visible ending waiting just around the corner, always wondering just how long they would have until river was gone for good.

now, for once, they're on relatively even ground. no secrets, no spoilers, no impending doom. no more so than usual, anyway.

she lets out a short exhale of a laugh. )

I quite like it.

Don't get used to it.

( or maybe she should. this was river when she didn't have to hide anything -- when it was just the two of them. as strange as it seemed to think that they'd never had just a quiet moment before it made sense -- why waste time doing nothing when they hadn't had that much time.

a strange concept for people with extended lives but river hadn't realised it had been true until she'd started uncovering part of her future and that had been something she couldn't put back in the bottle.

this first... hopefully it was the first of many such things -- and more. she wanted every moment, any moment she could have )

Come on, we should see if any other fools left anything in this building.

Spoil sport.

( she's just approaching a door to the next room when river's 'other' registers. )

Did you just call me a fool?

( the doctor pulls a face and opens the door. this might've been a home, she thinks. once. now it seems to just be used as some kind of shelter, remnants from past visitors littering the floor. even out here, people don't pick up their rubbish. )

We both walked out here.

( don't worry, she's also calling herself a fool. river's quick on her heels, stepping over the rubbish in hopes of something useful. it's only after looking underneath and behind pieces of furniture does she find a blanket. sadly only the one though somehow river doesn't feel like that will be a problem )

This is a start.

( meanwhile, the doctor pulls a larger seat away from the cold wall. after dusting it off she sits down, bouncing briefly. )

So is this.

( she budges up slightly and pats the empty space next to her. )

Here you go, this'll do for now.

( as river sits she spreads the blanket across both of their legs. it's a little worse for wear but it's something, helped more by the shared body heat between them. river tucks her legs underneath her, already starting to feel the difference )

Well, I'm glad someone's been out here before.

( and that they were here now )

( the doctor hums in response and hops up so that she's sitting cross-legged, setting the blanket back in place when she's done fidgeting. )

Thank you, forgetful travelers.

( she watches river for a moment before deciding to voice her earlier thoughts. )

You know, this is the first time we've ever been on an even playing field.

It is.

( she steps carefully with it because whilst her thoughts might mean something to her river doesn't want them to be misunderstood when she verbalises them )

It's a little strange but-- free?

( even though river had gotten accustomed to hiding everything it had been hard. and lonely -- knowing the people around you but they rarely ever knowing you? )

I suppose this is how most people feel.

I'm not sure I've ever really known how most people feel before.

( she thinks about how, throughout their entire relationship, she had known exactly how and when river would die. and all of the things river had known about her, too. so many secrets between them. )

That's something I could definitely get used to. If you're up for it.

You'll have to do better than that to get rid of me.

( not that river hoped she'd try to. they were married and that was a promise, and a love, that to river meant everything. every lifetime, any moment. she'd always be there )

I have a new life to figure out. You'll always be a part of it.

( the best part. maybe she was getting soft in her old age )

( you'll have to do better than that to get rid of me. oh river, as if she'd dare even try. the very thought makes her scoff. )

The last time you saw me, I didn't know who you were. The last time I saw you, for once it seemed so... final.

( she reaches out, squeezes river's hand. )

You're gonna have to put up with me for a while, I think.

( she has to agree. on darillium river, even without knowing the details, felt uncertain about what the future would hold. it didn't help that she'd found accounts that said it was the last night that they would spend together.

but now. all of space and time, river was looking forward to that. it was fresh, something new and river hoped that they had many many years together. the doctor could still regenerate but she had only this life remaining. however long she had she wanted to spend it with her )

Good.

( river runs her thumb over the doctor's knuckles, releasing a small sigh )

We still have a lot of space and time that we haven't seen.

I look forward to it. You can help me run this body through its paces, make sure it's up to scratch.

( wait. no, that... )

I will admit, that sounded different in my head.

( river just gives her a knowing look because she will do whatever you want her to with that body. there's a lot of exploration to do in every context they could come up with )

Just tell me where and when.

( she might even let her pilot a few of those times, give some mystery to that destination )

It would be nice to hear some of the places you've been to too.

( the doctor clears her throat, tries not to focus on River's look too hard because she can feel the tips of her ears growing warm. that's a new one. )

You can count on it.

( the places she'd been, though? where to even start. )

Oh, you'll like this. I was a teacher for a while.

Oh?

( she looks intrigued by this. she's certain that it has come up before, or at least had rhe possibility of it. the doctor knew so much and had done so many different things that she had so much she could teach to others -- her friends were just the start of that )

Where was it?

Earth! Bristol, specifically. Alternated between teaching science, possibly adopting a granddaughter and trying to rehabilitate my best frenemy.

( she pauses, frowning. )

Come to think of it, a lot more happened at that school than I give it credit for.

( sorry, excuse the slightly paused expression while her brain processes the fact that three entirely separate threads were thrown at her. she expects this from you, doctor, but some of those topics were slightly more concerning than the others )

The Master--?

( but, right, not the important part. maybe not. rehabilitating? that seemed like a long effort, even if river shouldn't be that judgemental given some of the things that she's done in her own past. open invitation to the harmony and redemption, for instance )

The fact that you held a job there says it wasn't all terrible. Though you held a job.

( her love staying in one place in a linear fashion. how novel )

Missy, now. Ooh. Ooh, no.

( eyes widening, the doctor looks down at herself. )

Oh, she'll never let me hear the end of it if she finds out about this. She'll think I'm copying her.

( still. that's a problem for another time. probably. )

Few decades I was there. Shockingly peaceful for most of it.

You had to get the idea from somewhere.

( is she teasing or is she serious? river did make the comment about focusing on her dress size and after enough regenerations, well-- )

Though shockingly peaceful?

( hopefully she wasn't getting bored of all the peace after a few decades of it )

I'm a little surprised.

Oi.

( the doctor nudges her with her knee. )

Well. Your friend, Nardole. He made a valiant effort to keep me in line.

( until she actually let herself grow attached to someone, anyway. )

Didn't always succeed, but that was hardly his fault.

Nardole--

( oh, her brain for how hazy it was still feeling had almost forgotten about that, about him and the task that she'd set for him )

Then you have my diary

( that probably shouldn't have been her first priority there but that was a very important book )

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