genessia | Our universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding/In all of the directions it can whiz

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Our universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding/In all of the directions it can whiz

Who: Albus Dumbledore & Ten
What: Ten maybe sort of kind of wants to show Dumbledore the Tardis
Where: Garden Park
When: November 20th

It hadn't been a particular good few weeks for Dumbledore. Gellert was still risking his neck, and, worse, avoiding him while he did, which was impressively bad timing considering that Li's curse was only worsening by the day. All of which felt entirely out of his hands, which was a sensation he desperately disliked but seemed helpless to do much about.

And there was an odd feeling at the back of his mind, a nagging sense that he needed to be elsewhere. Dumbledore had tried pushing it aside, knowing he was needed here, but it felt like it was growing stronger. It was like a voice, whispering in the back of his head that he would need to go to the docks, which -- well, he was hesitant to do that, for reasons both selfish and selfless.

So for the moment, he chose to clear his head in the park, walking along the paths and letting the nature around him settle him. It was enough to quiet his thoughts and let him focus on what to do next, the clockwork of his mind ticking along more regularly as he strolled.

(CW: it may get emotional/sad in here)

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He glances at it only a moment or two. Truly, even if he had never met Ten before, he'd be helpless to resist. And he was never one to refuse a learning experience.

So he steps inside easily, glancing inside with an easy curiosity, his eyes wide as they explore more and more of the space inside.

Albus will find himself on an inside that is bigger than the outside and in the consule room that has a certain alive hum to her.

Ten steps in behind Albus and closes the door and where he's not expecting the bigger on the inside reaction he is watching Albus's face.

While he admittedly doesn't give the 'bigger on the inside' line, he certainly does stare at his surroundings with a mixture of astonishment and fascination. "My, isn't this extraordinary," he murmurs, stepping inside and letting his eyes dash over all of it as he tries to take in everything he sees.

The reason Ten didn't say the 'bigger on the inside' line is because there's magic in Albus's world that can replicate that - to a finite degree, anyways.

However, it does warm his hearts (more so) about Albus still finds this extraordinary. Albus may notice the lights underneath the gates they are walking on and a staircase that doesn't lead to anywhere. There's also a random human hand in a jar in a corner.

The Doctor himself just casually walks in the console like someone casually owns this but is still welcome to visitors and his hands gently touching certain places on the rails with the upmost care. Like it's a sensitive spot.

That is before the both of them head into the continued steam punk theme of the hallway before coming upon or maybe Albus smelled the library; whatever it is that's where these two end up next in the library. There's a cloud at the top that is raining on a wooden desk that has a saucepan catching the rain.

The Harry Potter books have been hidden by the Tardis herself; but did keep the 500-year-old diary in its place; front and center. That's in a very thick brown leather with yellow tipped pages and has '500 Year Diary' on the front.

Dumbledore is truly the ideal houseguest for this sort of thing, because he really does find all of it incredibly fascinating. He looks about with a dazed sort of wonder, taking down details into his thoughts (and remaining nonplussed even as he sees things like a hand in a jar). The library in particular astounds him, and his heart delights at the idea of so many books.

"How delightful," he says, his voice almost giddy as his eyes find the 500 year-old diary. "Ah, and what is this?"

He does indulge in that look Albus is giving off.

Ten is still trailing behind (near alongside) Albus and knows exactly what being questioned; "Well - what does it say on the cover?"

"It says it is a 500 year-old diary," he answers, his tone bemused yet still wickedly curious. "May I take a look at it?"

Ten's face is unreadable for the moment; he much rather not have Albus read certain things - things someone himself rather not read either. Then slowly approaches the diary on the stand and opens the book more towards the back - which two things cause a silent tear down one cheek; how someone is running out of pages and the last entry with how he told those four good-bye.

Then flips backward, searching for something in particular back to earlier in his regeneration with this face. Which even though his own writing can tell how The Doctor has allowed himself to self-destruct at the of this regeneration and gives a hard look with flipping through before stopping on a some pages and then handing that to Albus.

The title reads; Impossible Planet with the following;

Those hieroglyphics were impossibly old. Before time - that doesn't fit into my rules; maybe that's my personal bias coming into play. Was The Beast what it claimed to be?

I am rarely so openly afraid but for a moment; I thought I lost everything there was left of Gallifrey and even more alone than before.

But Rose - she can make even that brighter. I don't think there's anything she can't make brighter. She basically confessed her love for me when she started joking about us settling in a house and that being that being the same house. She wants me to say it - she knows.

Even when I dropped into the pit where The Beast was I couldn't say those final three words of;

I love you.

Those scary powerful words.

Did I make the right choice in regenerating for her

It's great to understand these powerful emotions - but why with someone so moral?

Because there isn't anyone else. There will never be anyone else. Expect Jack.

Goodness knows when we'll meet and how he'll feel after Jack's figured out what Rose did to him on the Satellite with the Daleks.

But what Rose did was so human. So wonderfully human!

Why can't I tell her, I love her?

[There's a picture of a planet orbiting a black hole on a corner of the page and a picture of Rose's face in the entire background in a lighter ink with these words written over her.]

[Ten in the library near Albus is quiet and removed distantly with his emotions and watching Albus with his brown weighted eyes on Albus; well - this is a good precursor to things]

[He reads quietly, respectfully, poring over the words. Everything he's seen and heard from Ten before this all merges together into a painful, clear picture, and the tear speaks even more.

Eventually, when he finishes, he says quietly:]

It must be a lonely existence.

[The Doctor turns around and doesn't look at Albus because those words rattle into his mind from that voice and it's much harder to lie to himself with that and to Albus]

It was impossibly amazing being on a planet orbiting on the event horizon of a black hole.

Don't suppose you want to see more of the library?

[Even if The Doctor has already started off and he did it - he didn't lie but he changed the subject - sort of. He has to ask Albus he has to ask painful questions. Otherwise what is existing beyond your regeneration life if one is broken?]

[Dumbledore knows all too well the tactic of changing a subject as it grows too personal -- he uses it often. So he nods and wears a sympathetic look as he follows along, declining to pry further into what he's sure is a painful subject -- for the moment, at least.]

Of course. I'd love to see the rest of it.

[Ten continues walking as he does - Albus might begin to notice how Earth Ancient the library is becoming and by ancient; less books and more scrolls. Which even causes The Doctor to pause for a moment wondering and trying to remember what is going on. Turning to Albus gently takes the diary and flips though that]

[He hands over the diary as Ten grasps for it, letting himself be enthralled by the space around them. The shift in time periods covered as they walk is extraordinary, and his mind delights in seeing all sorts of material that would have deteriorated and decayed on Earth that still lives on.

With a slightly gleeful tone, he asks:] What subjects do these cover, on these shelves?

[If Albus looks at any of the scrolls he'll notice that some are in Egyptian hieroglyphics and Greek. The Doctor holds his diary tucked under his armpit and carefully pulls out and reads one of the scrolls]

This one is about the radius and circumference of the Earth from Alexandria.

[Dumbledore is certainly a polyglot, but even he isn't entirely familiar with the ancient languages. So seeing the long-abandoned scrawls and symbols is an entirely delightful thrill, and he's all the more pleased that the Doctor is there to explain.]

Are they from the library at Alexandria? [He will nerd out so hard if they are.]

[A simple]

Yes.

[Albus makes no sound, but internally there is a long, happy shriek.]

May I peruse some of these, then? [Which is said with the smile of a small child about to be let loose in a candy store.]

[The Doctor gives a firm head nod; and tries to crack a smile but only comes off with a wary face. It's not about Albus checking out the library it's figuring out how to bring something up]

[He tilts his head in turn at that, catching the change in expression.]

Is there something on your mind, Doctor?

[Ten is glancing among the scrolls; trying to distract himself and sort of eyes Albus at the question]

Do you believe - that an individual ever reaches a point where what they do are completely unforgivable?

[Completely hypothetical]

[Ah, and what a deep question to start with. Wearing a small, melancholy smile, he says:]

I believe that the sort of people that are truly unforgivable are also those that would never worry about seeking forgiveness to begin with.

[Albus's answer is wise and a small spark of hope]

How does one usually go about forgiving one's self? Asking for a friend.

[He wears a small, wry smile.]

When I know, I'll be sure to tell you.

The best answer I can give is to focus on actions that will make sure I do not repeat my mistakes, or any harm they caused.

[What have you done already, Albus? Ten doesn't know what shame you have - outside of having been involved with Gellert.]

Nothing gets past you does it?

[There's soft tone to that; even if someone was ratted out they were ratted out with care and a slight eye wink and gives a firm head nod and looks away.

Don't leave his friends behind.

Ten gets the picture.

That was one of the main fighting points with him and Rose for a year.

Don't push others away - because isolating himself doesn't help The Doctor. Closing up and saying he doesn't need anyone - he does - he's just trying to run away scared and hurt.

A deep inhale and Ten looks around at the Library of Alexandria]

Move on?

[He smiles softly.]

It's one of my less endearing traits.

[He's always had a talent for noticing things that want to go unnoticed. Maybe because he was so used to keeping secrets. His mother had taught him that much, from a young age and very well.

Or perhaps it was noticing someone with kindred spirit, and kindred regrets.

He nods gently at the question.]

If you like. Where next?

[A soft smile back and then a rude and not ginger look with voice]

You don't have endearing traits. No

[Nearly flirting with you, Albus, oops. Ten doesn't mind when others pick up on things that one doesn't usually - but when it comes to The Doctor's own flaws he does mind; just a bit and firm look with a firm head nod and dry remark]

Humans crave immorality or longer life and don't understand the price that comes with that.

[Tongue click]

Astronomy room?

The regular library?

[Ten is curious on why Albus didn't ask why the lost library of Alexandria is in the Tardis]

[That earns Ten a bright laugh.]

You would not be the first person to think so. Many of my students would agree with you completely.

[He may have caught that vague hint of flirting, but he doesn't press it. It's the same as the library -- he does not pressure information, when he can simply accept the unusual without nosing.]

I imagine you are right. I suppose it is a very tempting notion, and we are always very tempted by the things we cannot see the consequences of.

[He brightens again, though, at the mention of the rooms.]

Oh, an astronomy room sounds like it must be rather fascinating. [Especially since Ten has that air of the supernatural about him.]

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Our universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding/In all of the directions it can whiz

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