(no subject)

[borntolove]

Who 10th Doctor; Grave Robber; Open
Where Fortuna Palace
When April 18th

Martha was gone. Or rather had been randomly selected to return back; just as they'll randomly be selected to be here but why was she summoned here to just - go - back.

He needs to brood. Which roughly translate to get a drink since going forward is impossible here. He doesn't care that his tolerance for drinking is basically - nonexistent because that was something given up to have The Tardis.

He's got loads of money - since rent and eating aren't something that someone needs to pay daily.

Be his best. He promised Rose that he'd be his best. He doesn't know what to think of this prison anymore. This multiverse prison. Even Hell was better than this.

Martha didn't give something for something but Ten did - did she go back because she wasn't going to give any her abilities/memories/items up?

Martha could show up again - but would she remember here? When would Martha be from?

His mind falls on Jack and Rose; the multiverse is a cruel mistress and takes a shot in one swallow.

Comments

[quick_clean_pure]

Graverobber's on shift that night, mixing up drinks and keeping the customers happy. So far, it isn't a crazy night -- there's people in the casino, sure, but nothing too crowded. Which is kind of nice, being able to work steadily without panicking.

He did notice the one guy who rolled in and seems a little bit down in the dumps. Looking at him, Graverobber's pretty sure they haven't talked before, but when he starts taking shots alone, he decides it can't hurt to strike up a conversation.

"Hey there," he says with a friendly, easy smile. "How's it going? You want another?"

[borntolove]

Ten slowly looks over at the bartender; and simply remarks, "Yes."

That's what has bothered Ten since being here. How does one arrive and leave?

The only thing Ten hasn't tried is digging underground but for the life of him can't figure out where the transport beams are or what is powering it or who's behind this. Outside of some team of scientists that according to crystal recordings seem to want to build 'the perfect' being.

And outside the barriers according to David Haller - the outside is not adaptable. Even if Ten is rather sure that with the rest of his abilities still intact could manage the inadaptable surface for about 15 minutes.

The Doctor pops his mouth; what happened? A Frankstien - so to speak. Expect Frankstien imploded everything or did the research on how things were kept stable; cause the outcome?

Or - was this something along the lines of the Skaro war; and the two species of Kaled fighting with each other and Davros playing God with his one species by mutating them and sealing them in metal - aka Davros turning his own people into Daleks to destroy the other 'subspecies' was that happened here?

[quick_clean_pure]

Graverobber can just sort of sense that something is...up. He can't pinpoint what, exactly. But there's people who drink shots alone out of fun, or addiction, or out of pleasure, but this guy ain't that. Clearly something's going on.

He doesn't know what, so he just sort idly wipes down the counter near Ten (that's how bartenders do this sort of thing on TV, right?) and says, "Anything on your mind, there, bud?"

[borntolove]

Regardless; A Time Lord heart, which belongs to River and Ten's tolerance for drinking and not needing sleep is being stored somewhere. Not that Ten could blame River completely, hard to not want your Tardis.

Of course, the countless other abilities that are also already taken as well. Whatever those are.

Ten drinks down the second shot in a single gulp. That is before looking over at the bartender and when their eyes meet, the bartender can easily tell besides pain - those eyes are old, despite the young face.

"My-", and stops. He's not sure what to call Martha. Friend? Companion? Lover?

"companion... Returned home."

She's safe, that's what matters - right?

[quick_clean_pure]

"Ah. That'll do it," he says with a sympathetic look. He hasn't been here that long but he knows enough to figure that that has to be complicated. Yes, that person is going back to their home, to where they belong, but they're leaving behind real people who can't reach them anymore, without a chance to say goodbye.

And then there's the problem of 'home' not always being the best place to return to.

"Their world, or home -- is it safe? A nice place to go back to, at least?" he asks, wiping down Ten's shot glass as he asks.

[borntolove]

"Yeah." Ten whispers, and takes another shot and his speech begins to sound slurry, "Course it is. She's with me. But - I don't know if I'll ever tell her how I feel. How I actually feel.... Rose was right. I was still too hung up on her and not looking at who I had with me now. Then. Will have."

Another pause; "Took being human to realize it... And she probably won't ever know when I get back... I can save the universe but don't have balls to tell someone how you feel. Good one, Doctor."

And there are the silent tears.

[captainspain]

Jack doesn't go hunt his lover down until after his work shift. He's been brooding too and he knows the Doctor needs his space. He strolls into the bar hands jammed into his coat pockets. He orders a Scotch and sits beside the Time Lord just sipping and waiting.

[borntolove]

Ten senses Jack in the space and leans against Jack - sideways and physically is sending Jack comforting vibes and physically {How are you holding up?}

[captainspain]

Jack takes quiet comfort in the Doctor's weight. He isn't doing well at all. Martha was one of the few people Jack could count on one hand that knew him, deeply truly knew him. He misses that understanding. I've been better, his mental voice admits.

[borntolove]

Ten gently caress his cheek against Jack's cheek; {I'm not going anywhere}. Then turns his head for a moment to look at Jack.

[captainspain]

Jack looks at Ten sadly. His eyes look old and weary, he'd suffered so much before coming here and now all those hurts are coming up again. He isn't sure what to say to this. He has so many issues with people leaving him and with people being lost because of him. He is trying not to blame himself for Martha being gone, but old habits die hard. She understood, he finally says.

[spacepeterpan]

It's a while into that evening when the Doctor pokes his head in, following a nagging feeling. They're telepathic, after all, Time Lords, and while they usually keep themselves to themselves, there's a certain degree of angst and psychic turmoil that's hard to restrain or completely overlook. Especially when it comes from a mind that's so close to one's own as... ...well, one's own. He has a feeling that's who it has to be, and it's just a matter of taking stock of the room and pinpointing the source.

"...bad day?"

He smiles wryly as he approaches, hands in his pockets. The question itself is pretty much rhetorical, given how obvious the answer is, but it's meant to provide an opening--and invitation to his younger self to get some of it off his chest.

[borntolove]

"Martha's safe... That's what matters right?" A pause and Ten eyes dart a bit; "At least - I believe she's safe. Don't know for sure considering we're on Malcassairo at the moment and The Tardis just got stolen..." Because you know - what The Master did to Chang Lee. "I really, really am unfair to Martha... I do hope that she can remember any of this place. She had such an absolutely brilliant time here with me. You know -", swallows hard, "I paid attention to her. Though, it helped to hear from Rose that Rose was alright with that."

[spacepeterpan]

The Doctor raises his eyebrows at his younger self's uneasy mannerisms... and sighs a bit exasperatedly at that description (albeit rather vague) of what had been going on between the two of them. He had a bit of a different take on it, himself, but--well, privacy of one's own regeneration, and all.

Even so, he can't help making a bit of a face. As much as she might enjoy it, he wasn't sure paying that kind of attention to her was really in her best interests, altogether. He shakes his head as he hops onto a barstool, spinning around a couple times before leaning back against the countertop. Besides being worried over his prior self's choices, he's also pensive about a choice he's in the middle of making, himself.

"...she's fine."

He flashes a faint smile over at his younger self--just for a moment, before glancing off.

"...well, mostly fine, will be fine, spoilers, I know, but you and I, we do our fair share of worrying when we've got to."

[borntolove]

Ten eyes his older self; wanting to believe himself but also knows himself would lie to himself to make things better.

There's only an exasperated sigh. Spoilers. Yeah. That thing.

He could go back - and see for himself. That is a choice.

But - he's also scared. Even if Martha is probably to take care of herself; this is The Master after all. And Martha and Jack will both be pawns because of The Doctor.

Which - outside of outliving others is another reason to not get close but they had such fun at the Valentine's Day Fair. The Swans. Fireworks. Games.

[spacepeterpan]

The Doctor offers an apologetically wry smile; his younger self knows full well he doesn't really want to have all the details, even if it's damned frustrating to be left in the dark, especially about someone he cares for.

"Last time I saw her, she was working with Micky. Stopped off to help them out, they were doing fine, well, looked like they were, didn't really have a chance to stop and chat, you know how it is."

He doesn't actually know exactly how it is, of course, but that hopefully he'd accept it as part of the busy life of a renegade Time Lord.

LOOK HERE YOU DEPRESSED LITTLE SHIT

[oi_earthgirl]

"How many of those have you had, spaceman?" A familiar voice from behind and right, before the redhead slides on the nearby barstool. She knew he wasn't human and had a different metabolism, but she didn't trust him when he got into one of his moods.

"Martha's departure hit you hard, dinnit?" She said, looking at him, as if she could see the stormcloud brewing over his head. After spending enough time with him, she could read him like a foreign book. She got the gist, but maybe not the nuances. "How about you talk about it instead of drowning yourself."

DIES LAUGHING

[borntolove]

Oh, Donna. Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna - Donna. If only you knew what someone gave up to have the Tardis here.

If Donna catches sight of his eyes - she may be able to guess he's already wasted. How many has he had? He's lost count. He was talking and drinking - what was he talking about?

"Why can't I do both?" Someone sounds slurry and is for sure drunk at this point.

"I don't know what to talk about. Just missing her. Just concerned about how she's doing when she is with me. Not here thar. Thinking of much of an idiot I've been with her thar... But less of one here at least with her."

Drinks the rest of his shot and swallows hard, "Shame I couldn't shag with her more often but you know how you humans are with your need to reproduce."

The same went for Jack and Rose. Martha, Jack and Rose being able to get in the mood much easier - and usually Ten wasn't trying but Ten being in the mood at the same time was usually harder.

[oi_earthgirl]

"Because I don't understand drunk Martian." She tries to grab the shot before he drinks it, but fails. "And before you start, I know you're not from Mars, you told me." She listened as he talked, only making a small face when he was talking about his sex life. Look, she was like his sister. This wasn't shit she needed to hear.

"Us humans and our need. Oi. You've had too much. You wouldn't be telling me all this otherwise." Alien weirdo.

[borntolove]

Ten is really, really quiet for a moment as he looks at Donna -, "Not humans and your need. It's me and my needs. The lot of you don't me. You're all perfectly brilliant on your own... It's like you told me. Find someone. Well, thar isn't anyone to find that will spend eternity traveling with me anymore."

And there's the sad puppy eyes complete with the tears going down his cheeks; "'xcept Jack. But he's difficult on a normal bases with being the impossible thing he is. Yes, I know, Doctor, you're being picky. And pushing away the only other person in the universe that could spend eternity with you."

[bigbadrose]

Rose just hugs over his shoulders, leaning against him cheek to cheek. "I'm sorry." Because there was nothing more to say. But she was here. For whatever it was worth.

She showed off her guild tattoo again with a small quirk. "Scared of Mirajane's wrath?" Aka: why this bar not another.

[borntolove]

Ten lifts an arm to hold his hand over Rose's and presses his wet cheek against hers.
And with a whisper and slight temple; "Yea."

[bigbadrose]

"Awwww..." Rose tightened her hug fiercely and gently nuzzed him, rubbing her cheek to his. "Don't cry, Fluffy!" she pet the fluffy hair and kissed his cheek. "I'm here." She squeezed his hand on hers. "I'm not goin' anywhere!! Promise!" Squeeze squeeze!

And she moved to grab a seat, lest she sit in his lap and that would make things... difficult. Again. As always.

"All right, what're we havin'? Fer the record, even Mirajane wouldn't'a been unsympathetic!!" a bad wolf huff, but Rose shook her head. "But I'll stay with you 'till closin' time. And we can play games, yeah?" she gently nudged his leg with a foot, trying to coax a grin out of him, however half-hearted.

[borntolove]

Ten hugs her back and rubs his cheek against hers. And hugs her tight back when she mentions about not going anywhere.

"I don't know. I ask for the strongest stuff in the house." Then gives Rose ahead about playing games and doesn't react to the nudging his leg with her foot.

"Rose.. Please don't."

[bigbadrose]

She winces at both those things. She's never seen him like this. Even the night he counted out all the children on Gallifrey.

Was she wrong to push him towards Martha? Take the chance while he could? Rose just chews a nail in thought. She doesn't know. Doesn't know at all.

"Want me to go? Need to be alone or...?"

She felt terrible!

Usually she could at least coax a smile out of him, when she wasn't a total basketcase herself which she was for at least the first half year here. And then some. But still.

It was like when he went back to get Reinette and returned without her. Only fifty times worse.

She closed her eyes for a moment trying to collect her own feelings. Why was she surprised? He was even worse without Rose, borderline suicidal and giving up and --

The thought of that just made her want to throw her arms around him and hold onto him forever and promise not to let anything tear them apart.

Which was foolish.

She was already tearing herself apart.