[1] Arrival | OPEN

[thisisgood]

Who: Leela & [Open]
What: Arrival
When: Now
Warnings: Fire and a stabby warrior 




For Leela, waking up somewhere with a hazy memory in a location completely wrong is less uncommon than it once was. She sits there for a very long time in this strange bed with its fancy interior, her legs crossed as she turns the key over, touching its ridges, glowering at the necklace, at the phone, at the directions. She does not have Red's arm thrown across her hip where it had once been but the place where he had been against her - his scent lingered and the knife he had given her was in her hand. Her fingers curl around it until her knuckles turn white.

This is the way it happens, now, and it angers her. It is a formless, irrational anger because she knows better. Escape is not something that is possible. Like the New York, like the Hudson with its stupid water, this place had taken her. Leela's lip curled and her skin grew hot as she rose, her bare feet against this cave's ground.

Why?

Ugly jewellery. Ost-- Ostenta-- Ugly. She put it around her neck as instructed and set the star necklace that she never took off, the one from Red, atop it with great care. Leela had fallen asleep at some point with one of his sweaters on and she curled her fingers around a cuff with hard, bright eyes before powering up the phone.

"I am Leela of Gallifrey, warrior of the Sevateem," she says into the device. "You who know me will find me."

That message sent out, she curled her fingers around the device and followed the directions, heedless of the weather or terrain. None of it truly mattered, not yet. Her body was hot with anger, power glowing under her skin but none of it scorched anything but her path.

Comments

[video]

[spacepeterpan]

[The Doctor answers right off, beginning with a cheery, openly fascinated smile. Glowy ladies, that's new.

...it takes him a second to get past the glowiness, but he begins peering into the screen even before she says her name, then points into the camera, then leans in closer for another look.]

You- whot? Leela? If you're Leela, then what're you doing that for?

[Okay new glowy ladies would be one thing, but Leela isn't supposed to glow.]

[video]

[thisisgood]

I fell into the Hudson River in another universe. [She says this matter-of-factly, frowning for a long moment.] I am displeased. If I become more so, there will be fire.

[Really, she's more irritated than truly angry. Her lips thin as she rubs gently at the centre of her chest. It healed still but it was not a terrible pain.]

Come walk with me, Doctor. I have a need for pockets and company.

[video]

[spacepeterpan]

[...okay that throws him off a bit. He wouldn't have said Leela was dumb or anything, but it seemed a little too sharp for her to just ID him right off like that, didn't it?

Even so, he can't quite resist smiling, even if he's a bit perplexed at the same time.]

...sorry, whot? I mean, yeah, ought to stay out of it, but what's in it to make you glow--and how d'you know this face, fairly sure I'd remember if I'd run into a glowing Leela recently.

[He's wasting no time, of course, turning his screwdriver on his phone to set up a resonance with hers and get an orientation.]

...give us a mo, and I'll be right there.

[video]

[thisisgood]

There are things in the water. Little things that change one's insides. It is a power. All the people who have been into the water have such things. Many things, different things. Mine is mostly an angry thing.

[She shrugs as if she cannot change it and refuses to worry. Leela draws a breath - slow in, slow out - working to control herself as Red has taught her. It is not as easy as it was with him but she does it.]

Your face was where I was before in the New York City. [She waves her knife idly.] But I would know you anywhere, it does not matter how many faces you wear.

[video]

[spacepeterpan]

Really...

[It's hard to say what's more interesting, that she saw him before in another pocket dimension where he hasn't been (well, yet), or that she got some sort of (maybe symbioting?) infection that makes her glow from jumping in a river on Earth.

He's a bit touched at the thought of her recognizing him so readily... although he deadpans just a little at her waving a knife like that. The way the background moves behind him, thought, he's on his way to meet her, regardless.]

......well, the angry part makes sense, doesn't it. Some kind of symbiotic bacteria, I s'pose, coupling to your telepathic field, maybe, you all right? No other side effects, I hope?

[Video]

[youfool]

[Gee, she sounded upset. Probably not in a conversational mood.

Oh well!]

Good afternoon, Leela. Welcome to the world! How are you taking it thus far?

And what's the Sevateem?

[Video]

[thisisgood]

[He just gets a look for the question.]

The Sevateem, they are my tribe.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[He gets a lot of looks. He'll never know why.]

I see. How did you get along with your neighbor tribes: the Sixteem and the Eighteem?

[Video]

[thisisgood]

Do not mock the people of my tribe.

[Text and sorta Action]

[nevercruel]

[Oh. Oh. Oh this was both wonderful and mildly terrifying! And confusing, was she glowing? Anyone who was around the TARDIS when the message went out would see the Doctor scrambling to rush out the doors, muttering to herself in a slightly panicked-sounding voice.]

Oh, oh, oh, oh no, oh, oh goodness me, this is brilliant and bad and oh I hope she doesn't attack anyone!

[All the while, her fingers were flying over the keys on the phone, rapidly sending out a text. Text was easier for the moment, what with the new face, and she wanted to get to the bay before the Savateem woman lost her temper after being brought here against her will.]

Leela, stay in the bay, I'll come find you!

Little warning ahead of time, I've regenerated since you last saw me. Please don't stab the blonde woman with a blue coat when you see her, I quite like living. By which I mean to say I am the blonde woman with the blue coat.

It's good to see you again! There's no danger here, promise!

[Leela was great and perfectly capable of taking care of herself and it was going to be wonderful to get to see her again, after so long. But she was so prone to biting before fully thinking, and the last time the Doctor had seen her had been...

Oh, by the stars, she hoped she was pulled from a different time then the war. Otherwise, she might be even more apt to bite.]

[Video]

[thisisgood]

It has been many years and yesterday, though, your face will be a new one for me. The cave stole me from my bed where I was most comfortable. [She does listen, mostly, even if she keeps moving restlessly forward. She does not wish to remain in a cave-thing.]

I am. Upset but I will not stab anyone.

[She paused, thinking.]

Yet.

[Text>Action]

[nevercruel]

Yeah, it's new for me, too, only had it a couple months! Unfortunately, whoever is in charge likes to take us from all over, regardless of what we want, so sorry for that. I'm still trying to figure out what it's all for.

Lots of us here, though. Friends and Doctors both, five of us. So you'll be in very safe company, I promise.

[It isn't long before she comes stomping down the sandy beach toward the bay, and the second she sees the woman in the distance, she gives a shout, waving her arm to warn her that she's approaching before she startles her greet her.]

Leela! Here I am, quick as I could! See? Blonde and a blue coat! [She's grinning brightly, happy to see her despite the circumstances and the possibility that she may be from a less then happy time, and she opens her arms wide when she gets close as if she intends to pull her in for a hug before thinking better of it. This one is prickly. Maybe not best to greet with a hug just yet, don't want to startle her. She tries to play it off as exasperatedly throwing her arms wide, though it looks a little awkward.] It's good to see you again, though I'm sorry the circumstances aren't more agreeable. You said Gallifrey. Does that mean-...

[When are you from, so she'll know better just how upset you're going to be?]

Re: [Text>Action]

[thisisgood]

As she takes in this new face, the fire and irritability vanish. Once, she would have difficulty with it, but, no longer. This is a hugging Doctor, unlike the twelfth face, he was different but the same. So is this face.

"Yes, I see you, Doctor," Leela says with a soft smile. "I could mistake you for no one else. Gallifrey is still Gallifrey." It does look awkward, the not-hug, and it makes her smile. The fire glow shifts to a softer blue with the occasional purple blend and her hair lightens and lengthens into gold until it seems to mix with the rest of the light, fading away at the ends, bleeding into the space around her.

"It is more agreeable now."

How can she be angry, now? She is once again in the company of the Doctor. There is joy in that, a great deal of it. The hug that the Doctor had started and waved wide, Leela completed.

"Romana would say hello. Braxiatel as well...and K-9."

[Action]

[borntolove]

[Anxious that Leela might harm someone and also wanting to see her; Ten materializes his Tardis near Leela's current location. After all, everyone wakes up in those caves.

Which then a lanky man with brown fluffy hair, brown eyes, blue pinstripe suit and red sandshoes steps out in shock and concern.

And eyes around for any damage]

[Action]

[thisisgood]

[It is the TARDIS that she hears with ears accustomed to the sound and it cools her temper almost immediately as she follows it to its source. There he stands with his tenth face, and she in Red's oversized sweater, her hair longer than when he'd last seen her. She had no sheath for her weapon, no pockets for these new things but it did not matter.

There is, however, a different softer glow. Softer, bluer, one shifting the fire-energy to something lighter. One that brought gold into the ends of her hair, lengthening them, lightening them until they shimmered with their own brightness.]

Doctor!

[Action]

[borntolove]

[Ten is taking a good look over here and there's something on his face - outside of the smile - that Leela may sense in those eyes it's been a long time for him.

However, he doesn't recall her having that glow to her - that blueish glow that he was about to say was maybe Bad Wolf(which is golden).]


Leela.

[Ten walks over to her and slowly takes her into a hug. She might feel that he's emotionally hurt but for that moment that doesn't matter. He is glad to see her]

[Action]

[thisisgood]

[She smiles, tucking herself against him with great care. It has been a very long time, but more so for this face. Her hair swirls with golds and reds and purples, the ends of her hair bleeding into the glow around her. It's a gentle warmth that radiates from her and her hug lingers.

This face of his, this one, could always use the best of hugs. Leela does not let go but lets him decide when this hug is done.]

This moment, it is a good one.

[Her voice is soft and calm and there is no anger here just joy and a sense of peace that she would wrap around him like armour if she could. He is hurt on the inside, she senses this most acutely but says nothing. She is content to hug him for however long he needs. How distant that feels to the warrior she was still but she has grown and seen so much in these many years.

She will make use of his pockets, though, stowing her weapon carefully, the phone, the monies, the stupid instructions. These things she cares little for, though the weapon has more emotional attachment to it than everything save the sweater she wore.]

[action]

[guitar_hero]

[several hours later, Leela may hear a distant roaring noise which will soon become a quite close roaring noise and bring with it the Do-- Professor on a sleek black motorcycle that comes purring to a stop as he peers at her through sexy sonic shades]

Holla.

[what's up, fellow kid]

[action]

[thisisgood]

[It is a very, very nice motorcycle. It is also late and she has amused herself with exploring the route set out by the instructions, basically because of ...lateness. He gets a roll of her eyes. LATE.

She peers at him back for a moment, briskly walks up, puts her things in his pockets, and smiles. No. It is a definite grin, complete with a happy radiance and the lightening and lengthening of her hair, which curls in golds and reds that seem to bleed into the shimmering air.]

I would give you a hug but I will settle for trousers.

[action]

[guitar_hero]

[He grins too. It's good to see her. Though there's definitely something going on with her and he's not making much sense of the feedback the sonic shades are giving him]

...I see you got an update. I like it. [he's heard of mood ring hair. He's actually seen it in a few species. He's about to ask when--]

Right. We'll have to make a pit stop first. [he didn't forget. But in his defense, who can remember trousers?]

[action]

[thisisgood]

It is not the most terrible of powers when it is good and I am pleased. It is the opposite part that I have issues with the most.

[Yes. A pit stop.]

The jumper is long enough for this pit stop to not outrage many. [She tucks herself in neatly behind him. Leela lets the joy of this moment wash into her eyes and across her skin, knowing the energy will protect her with itself. The sweater stays on as if knit to her but yes. Trousers and shoes. They are both needed.]

Come, then, we shall go fast and race with the wind.

[Action]

[goesagainst_thegrain]

The Doctor is out for a walk because... well, why not, what else does he have to do. And if his feet happen to carry him past the Bay, that's just what happens.

A half-naked glowy woman is rather out of the ordinary, though. He actually has to stop and take that in for a moment when he first sees her striding away from the Bay, and then he hurries after her.

"Excuse me, miss! Are you new here?"

Maybe he can lend her a hand, or at least make sure she took the money she was given. It doesn't look like she has any pockets.

[Action]

[thisisgood]

"Doctor?" she turns and her eyes widen. It is him. His sixth face! Alternative universes had given her him back even if it had not truly been...right. The last time she had heard his voice, it had been when he and Braxiatel had fallen into the timestream.

She stares at him for a very long while, for she well remembers Romana's disposition after losing Brax. But, this was the Doctor. The right Doctor. Not the other one. Still, her fingers grip the knife until they creak. His other face, the Lord Burner face, he had tricked her once.

"It is Leela and yes. This place is new to me."

[Action]

[goesagainst_thegrain]

He almost stumbles when she says his name, recognizing her voice instantly. "Leela?!" It comes out an exclamation, incredulous but happy at the same time. He hasn't seen her since... well, it's been a very long time.

The Doctor slows to a walk as he approaches her, smiling down at his old companion. "My goodness, it's good to see you again. Though the glowing is new, when did you pick that up?"

Leela's fingers tightening on that knife don't go unnoticed, and he'll kind of. Approach her from the side the knife isn't, because while he wants to say hi to her, he also doesn't want to risk anything... violent happening. Or at least he'd like to give himself a chance of dodging.

"You're not the first of my friends to arrive, nor am I the first of my faces to be here. I'm sorry; I wish I could give you better news."

[Action]

[thisisgood]

"It comes from the river called Hudson. It is in a New York I have just left. I fell into it and it gave me power." Her eyes narrow a little bit. He sounds like the Doctor, he looks like him as well but she has been deceived before by this face.

He smells the same, too. Surely she would see it in his face if he were Lord Burner. She would see it because she was Leela and it had been only the once she was fooled. He would not be so stupid to try it once more, either. Her knife is still ready but her grip relaxes a little.

"I do not enjoy these alternative universes. The last time I met you there, it was not pleasant." She pauses and flips the end of the knife around to extend it to him. "You have more pockets than I and this place has given me many things."

The fire eases away but flickers a little as if it lies crackling beneath the surface. She will wait and see.