[It was with hesitation that Oscar opened up the video feed, tired and worn with heavy circles under his eyes and fading bruises on his face. He didn't want to burst The Doctor's bright bubble, but he also knew that the man was likely both worried by his absence on Christmas and his following silence.
Each breath was like a knife. Breathing wasn't supposed to hurt...
But he tried to summon a smile regardless. It was good to see the man happy.]
Really?
[He asked in a voice that lacked his usual energy, but still was interested.]
I didn't know that. You just seemed like you're the type to get cold in the winter.
[He wasn't sure if he was ready for too many people. The party at his house and then the party Oz had found himself at not long after they both woke up from their journey literally into the whale's belly had not helped matters in the least. Oscar just wanted to sleep-- and he wasn't sure there was enough hours in the day for him to get enough.]
Yeah, I still have your gift. It's cute. The tea smells great and I'm gonna see if Ruby and Varian want to mod the robot into a little guard for the chickens. The girls need protecting, you know?
[Not the girls who were actually human, but hens were a different story.]
I-- thank you for all the gifts. And sorry I didn't make it to your party. Uh... I went back home for a few days. It's... kind of amazing how bad everything got so quickly.
[Oh, dear. The look in your eyes Oscar. The Doctor feels like he's looking into a mirror on his bad days. An understanding head nod with the girls needing protection. Then a casual tone]
Oi! This one!
[The Doctor holds up a wrapped package.]
That other one was from Santa. Everyone got one.
Oh, it's alright.
[Then a sincere]
Just glad you're back.
[With a soft smile]
Better than some silly old scarf.
[The Doctor feels his cheek with palm. Then his hair. A loud whisper.]
I was such a different man then.
[In the case of context, knows that former face. Wouldn't have cared about that look on Oscar. He probably also wouldn't understand those eyes either.]
I was so young then.
[Ten continues to thumb at the scarf around his neck. The Doctor's eyes seem to dart for a moment in thought. Then his voice at the normal tone.]
I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry.
[Then a soft and ressuring]
But it will be okay. I promise.
[A short pause and then a tongue click]
I'll be over. And then we can chat, alright? Alright.
That's right. It was so easy to forget the pleasant frivolities that Planet Dirt had to offer when he still found himself watching doorways and unconsciously flinching whenever anyone drew too close too quickly.
But... it was okay.
Santa didn't seem the sort to actually hurt people.]
Santa, then.
[He amended quietly.]
I... know it'll be all right. It's just hard to remember when you finally meet the ex-wife and she's worse than you realized.
[Nothing could surpass the excruciating pain he felt at her hands.]
[The Doctor comes over with some pink and blue salts. Along, with a wrapped present. Some self-assembly item, inside. Meanwhile, The Doctor is concerned on his way there. There's a knock at the door.]
[He was alone in the house for the moment-- the immensity of the quiet that permeated the walls of the ordinarily lively house was as much of a comfort as it was unsettling. While Oscar was free to be himself, with his aches and his bruises, each sound had his heart leaping from his chest and creating a tight lump in his throat.
The Doctor's arrival was expected, at least. And slowly, Oscar cracked the door to peer through. Even barely visible, the dark and angry bruises on his face were self evident.
Oscar sighed, exhausted.]
Hey, Doctor. I... I don't have a kettle going. Um...
[He took a halting step aside and opened the door in full.]
[Ten's hearts ache seeing Oscar appear like that. The Doctor steps in. He is wearing that scarf Oscar sent him. Ten sets down the items and embraces Oscar in a hearts-filled. Carefully. It's okay. Whatever it is. Everything will be okay.]
Don't worry about it. I'll take care of the kettle.
[The tender, gentle hug was far more than Oscar knew how to take in that moment. Although enough time had passed that he knew he was safe and that everything would be okay, every breath he drew still brought a knife of pain and his dreams were still haunted by her.]
Doctor? You're... sure?
[Entertaining was too hard, but he still clung to the farmboy politeness of not just letting a guest do all the work. It didn't sit right-- he needed to do something, even if his person rebelled.]
[Sitting back, he gingerly held onto the parcels he had been given and followed the Doctor's passage with his gaze. Remembering the recent holiday, he chimed in:]
[Oscar asked, watching him like an alert little owl from the sofa. Even with the bruises on his face, evidence of sprains, broken ribs, and a healing concussion, his affect seemed bright enough given the circumstances.]
...That's gotta be a lot for your friends to keep up with, [he added, mulling over the commentary about faces.] I don't wanna think about how that'll be yet.
[The Doctor is silent for a few moments. Considering, a majority of his companions, The Doctor doesn't usually see again. They've died, or they wanted to go back home. Eventually, they all die. The Doctor goes on. If their paths should cross they will see each other. Like how this, Tenth face of The Doctor, saw a companion who traveled with his Fourth face. That said, only a handful of his companions are aware that someone is a face changer. Those have seen The Doctor regenerate. Ben, Polly, Brigadier, Sarah Jane Smith (who knows of three of The Doctor's faces. This is highly unusual) Adric, Mel, Ace, Rose and Jack.]
They certainly have thar own way of reacting to my new face.
[The Doctor comes into the room with the cocoa and tea. Both he places on the table.]
[Oscar looked up at him uncertainly, his entire person looking like a small little owl amidst the pillows that the Doctor loomed over with his height alone. He squirmed, uncertain for a moment, before quietly nodding.]
...Okay. People from Remnant are made of tougher stuff than most, so I don't think there's anything too bad.
[The Doctor gently places his hands a few centimeters above Oscar's body. Oscar will feel a slight psychic tickle but that's all.
Ten's lips press close together. Slight concussion. However, Oscar is able to hold a conversation. Few broken ribs. Nothing he can do about that but the pink salt, could. Otherwise, just some bruises. That may be painful but nothing inside is bruised.]
Nothing too bad. But rest for at least a day.
[Be thankfully your lungs weren't punctured. The Doctor hands Oscar his hot cocoa. Then goes back to get a bag of ice. Then hands that to Oscar. Taking a seat near Oscar. Ten sips on his tea. Then how a psychiatrist would ask]
[The question had Oscar shifting in his pillows like a nervous little bird, especially with the detached yet warm tone of voice after the gentle tickle of energy that he had no idea how to define. Oscar's gaze dropped into his cup as he gratefully took a sip of his cocoa, and he sat in silence for a moment before venturing a reply.]
...Okay enough. Given who I met, things could be a lot worse.
Only if you've got an idea for turning the preferred strategy of the greatest threat of my world against her.
[He was energetic enough for sass, but there was a certain hollowness to the tone-- as if he were tapping into something as dry, brittle, and ancient as a forgotten tome.]
...I've got info Salem wants, [Oscar confessed with a painful sigh.] And I know she's not going to kill me until she gets it. All I've gotta do is hold out and wait for the right opportunity. Whatever that is.
[Sass? Sass from Oscar didn't happen often. Nor does that tone. Hollow. Something ancient and tome. Given their conversation before over the network privately. The Doctor figures, whoever is taking over Oscar's soul is further along now.
Ten can't help but smirk. Given the number of times, The Doctor has been in that particular situation. Having information someone else wanted. Of course, the solution depends on what exactly one is. What sort of prison? Ten carefully asks]
[Oscar said after a moment. Indeed, the merger was further along now-- they could talk freely within their minds, and he had touched a portion of that magic on his own.
He would have died otherwise.
Oscar sipped at his cocoa, grateful for the warmth and sweetness of it.]
To make it short, she's the greatest threat in Remnant. The magic queen who controls the Grimm, who has torn societies apart in her anger.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Video -- cw: possible torture references
Each breath was like a knife. Breathing wasn't supposed to hurt...
But he tried to summon a smile regardless. It was good to see the man happy.]
Really?
[He asked in a voice that lacked his usual energy, but still was interested.]
I didn't know that. You just seemed like you're the type to get cold in the winter.
Re: Video -- cw: possible torture references
Mmmm.
Curly hair. Lots of teeth. Best nose I've had.
[The Doctor muses thinking back. Oscar might note that that maybe it's been quite some time.]
Want to come over for some tea?
Still have your Christmas present.
[On second thought. Hearing on how tired Oscar is]
Should I come over thar?
Me? Nah.
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Yeah, I still have your gift. It's cute. The tea smells great and I'm gonna see if Ruby and Varian want to mod the robot into a little guard for the chickens. The girls need protecting, you know?
[Not the girls who were actually human, but hens were a different story.]
I-- thank you for all the gifts. And sorry I didn't make it to your party. Uh... I went back home for a few days. It's... kind of amazing how bad everything got so quickly.
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Oi! This one!
[The Doctor holds up a wrapped package.]
That other one was from Santa. Everyone got one.
Oh, it's alright.
[Then a sincere]
Just glad you're back.
[With a soft smile]
Better than some silly old scarf.
[The Doctor feels his cheek with palm. Then his hair. A loud whisper.]
I was such a different man then.
[In the case of context, knows that former face. Wouldn't have cared about that look on Oscar. He probably also wouldn't understand those eyes either.]
I was so young then.
[Ten continues to thumb at the scarf around his neck. The Doctor's eyes seem to dart for a moment in thought. Then his voice at the normal tone.]
I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry.
[Then a soft and ressuring]
But it will be okay. I promise.
[A short pause and then a tongue click]
I'll be over. And then we can chat, alright? Alright.
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That's right. It was so easy to forget the pleasant frivolities that Planet Dirt had to offer when he still found himself watching doorways and unconsciously flinching whenever anyone drew too close too quickly.
But... it was okay.
Santa didn't seem the sort to actually hurt people.]
Santa, then.
[He amended quietly.]
I... know it'll be all right. It's just hard to remember when you finally meet the ex-wife and she's worse than you realized.
[Nothing could surpass the excruciating pain he felt at her hands.]
...See you soon, Doctor. Uh...
It's okay now.
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The Doctor's arrival was expected, at least. And slowly, Oscar cracked the door to peer through. Even barely visible, the dark and angry bruises on his face were self evident.
Oscar sighed, exhausted.]
Hey, Doctor. I... I don't have a kettle going. Um...
[He took a halting step aside and opened the door in full.]
You should probably come in from the cold.
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Don't worry about it. I'll take care of the kettle.
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Doctor? You're... sure?
[Entertaining was too hard, but he still clung to the farmboy politeness of not just letting a guest do all the work. It didn't sit right-- he needed to do something, even if his person rebelled.]
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Find a seat.
[Ten gives Oscar a small pat on his back. Ten gestures to the table.]
Brought you some blue and pink salts. And your Christmas present.
[Then parts and heads for the kitchen to put the kettle on. He's hoping Oscar is willing to talk about what happened.]
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[Sitting back, he gingerly held onto the parcels he had been given and followed the Doctor's passage with his gaze. Remembering the recent holiday, he chimed in:]
Did you like the gift I left for you?
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I loved the gift you gave me.
[He's not just saying that.]
Use to have a scarf half-a-dozen life times ago. Came in rather handy for that face.
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I had no idea!
[But it tickled him in an odd way-- knowing that he had managed to deduce something silly about the strange man.]
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Don't go about telling others about that sort of thing.
[Ten gives Oscar a look. Along the lines of; think you can understand why. The Doctor pours the hot water into some mugs.]
That was - seven point thirteen meters from tasstle to tasstle. Very good old scarf that was, yes.
[Ten licks his teeth for a moment in thought. Then searches the cabinets for the tea.]
Used that to help climb up walls. Trip others.
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[Oscar blurted, glad for the distraction as he settled back into the sofa. Breathing hurt-- but at least the Doctor was being cheerful.]
I've never heard of a scarf that long. Someone must have had fun knitting!
[Noticing the trouble the Doctor was having, he added--]
Check the cabinet nearest the pantry. The tea and cocoa are in there.
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I was taller. Broader. Wore that scarf very well.
[Sadly, wasn't long enough to save The Doctor from his death in that face. Taking the cocoa and tea out]
Found all six corners of time and space with that face... Are you having tea or cocoa?
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[Oscar asked, watching him like an alert little owl from the sofa. Even with the bruises on his face, evidence of sprains, broken ribs, and a healing concussion, his affect seemed bright enough given the circumstances.]
...That's gotta be a lot for your friends to keep up with, [he added, mulling over the commentary about faces.] I don't wanna think about how that'll be yet.
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They certainly have thar own way of reacting to my new face.
[The Doctor comes into the room with the cocoa and tea. Both he places on the table.]
Do you mind if I check you over first?
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...Okay. People from Remnant are made of tougher stuff than most, so I don't think there's anything too bad.
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Ten's lips press close together. Slight concussion. However, Oscar is able to hold a conversation. Few broken ribs. Nothing he can do about that but the pink salt, could. Otherwise, just some bruises. That may be painful but nothing inside is bruised.]
Nothing too bad. But rest for at least a day.
[Be thankfully your lungs weren't punctured. The Doctor hands Oscar his hot cocoa. Then goes back to get a bag of ice. Then hands that to Oscar. Taking a seat near Oscar. Ten sips on his tea. Then how a psychiatrist would ask]
How are you?
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...Okay enough. Given who I met, things could be a lot worse.
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Want to talk about it?
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[He was energetic enough for sass, but there was a certain hollowness to the tone-- as if he were tapping into something as dry, brittle, and ancient as a forgotten tome.]
...I've got info Salem wants, [Oscar confessed with a painful sigh.] And I know she's not going to kill me until she gets it. All I've gotta do is hold out and wait for the right opportunity. Whatever that is.
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Ten can't help but smirk. Given the number of times, The Doctor has been in that particular situation. Having information someone else wanted. Of course, the solution depends on what exactly one is. What sort of prison? Ten carefully asks]
Who is Salem?
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[Oscar said after a moment. Indeed, the merger was further along now-- they could talk freely within their minds, and he had touched a portion of that magic on his own.
He would have died otherwise.
Oscar sipped at his cocoa, grateful for the warmth and sweetness of it.]
To make it short, she's the greatest threat in Remnant. The magic queen who controls the Grimm, who has torn societies apart in her anger.
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