[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.
[Oscar tried to focus on his breathing while he wrestled with the tough subject, uncertain of what all he could safely disclose without making matters difficult for anyone else from Remnant.]
....What you'd probably say is that another Face was in love with her. A long time ago, before the people on my world became what they are, things were different. She was a woman imprisoned against her will, and that face was the one who rescued her.
They travelled together, fought enemies together, and fell in love. But, that Face died of illness, and she couldn't take the grief.
[The Doctor is quiet and emotionally distant. Still a sympathetic look in those brown eyes. Only the ticking of the hand clock or drinking of a faucet will be heard. Clearly, though- Ten doesn't have to say anything to say that he understands that pain. His own companions, that have seen The Doctor change. Haven't always reacted well. They didn't believe that was The Doctor, sometimes. Sometimes that's why they wanted to go home. They didn't want to be with the new face. Ten recalls, how in his Fourth life, Gallifrey called for The Doctor. The Doctor believed in his duty to his people then and went. But that face was angry for having to leave Sarah behind. Ten didn't want to say good-bye when he met Sarah in this face. She made him.
Rose, Rose rejected this face of him. And wanted to go home and leave. Ten did manage to win Rose over. Some of his companions accept any of his faces. Like Sarah, Rose, Jack, Brigadier, Clara, and River. Others; vary. Because The Doctor is never exactly the same person personality-wise.
[Oscar sighed, recalling that fateful day in the snow when a certain Jinn all but made time stand still. It was in those mountains, in the midst of desperation, that he managed to wrench this secret from the Wizard's hands thanks to Ruby and Jinn-- but that didn't make matters any easier. Qrow's blistering outrage was unforgettable. Even Jaune, a person who had become almost like an older brother to him, had felt betrayed.
Understandably. The story had a tragic ending.]
She went to the brother gods of light and darkness to petition for her lover's life. The God of Light denied her offering and told her to go on her way, so she tricked the God of Darkness into getting what she wanted.
She didn't win.
And the Gods... made her immortal, as a lesson to teach her the importance of life's fragility. It... didn't work.
She gathered power and influence, and destroyed that society. The Brothers, ready to clean their hands of their mistake, summoned the woman's lover back from Death... and tasked him with stopping her.
So long as she lives, he will reincarnate. The cycle will never end...
And, at this point, I'm sure that Witch just longs for the Release she can't have.
[The Doctor's face continues to be firm. He listens until Oscar is done speaking. He's not surprised that the God of Light didn't grant the request. You can't change certain things. Ten can't help but facepalm when she goes to the God of Darkness. He gets - why. She's hurt and wants her lover.]
I'm not surprised that didn't work. It's very human to strive for immortality. And if they manage to attain that - [as The Cyberman are immortal humans in a sense]
They don't let go. Even if they shouldn't have that.
[Oscar can see in The Doctor's eyes; that on some level. He's tired too. He's tired of changing his face that's for sure. And he's sorry for Oscar being wrapped up in all of this. A soft remark.]
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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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A tyrant.
[Something in those old eyes of his. Ten clearly has run into quite a few of those at some point or another.]
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[Oscar twiddled his fingers together as he spoke, a veritable kid in that moment.]
Some people call her a witch. Personally... she's a woman with bad coping skills who gained too much power.
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[The Doctor remarks simply. Then sips on his tea.]
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[Sighing, Oscar stared forlornly at his cocoa.]
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....What you'd probably say is that another Face was in love with her. A long time ago, before the people on my world became what they are, things were different. She was a woman imprisoned against her will, and that face was the one who rescued her.
They travelled together, fought enemies together, and fell in love. But, that Face died of illness, and she couldn't take the grief.
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Rose, Rose rejected this face of him. And wanted to go home and leave. Ten did manage to win Rose over. Some of his companions accept any of his faces. Like Sarah, Rose, Jack, Brigadier, Clara, and River. Others; vary. Because The Doctor is never exactly the same person personality-wise.
Ten gives Oscar's hands a slight squeeze.]
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Understandably. The story had a tragic ending.]
She went to the brother gods of light and darkness to petition for her lover's life. The God of Light denied her offering and told her to go on her way, so she tricked the God of Darkness into getting what she wanted.
She didn't win.
And the Gods... made her immortal, as a lesson to teach her the importance of life's fragility. It... didn't work.
She gathered power and influence, and destroyed that society. The Brothers, ready to clean their hands of their mistake, summoned the woman's lover back from Death... and tasked him with stopping her.
So long as she lives, he will reincarnate. The cycle will never end...
And, at this point, I'm sure that Witch just longs for the Release she can't have.
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I'm not surprised that didn't work. It's very human to strive for immortality. And if they manage to attain that - [as The Cyberman are immortal humans in a sense]
They don't let go. Even if they shouldn't have that.
[Oscar can see in The Doctor's eyes; that on some level. He's tired too. He's tired of changing his face that's for sure. And he's sorry for Oscar being wrapped up in all of this. A soft remark.]
How do you feel being involved?
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[Oscar said quietly, the truth of his words evident in the way his body language seemed weighed down from carrying too great of a burden.]
It's not like any of us who came after had a choice. I...
I'm gonna find a way to end this. The both of them deserve to rest after so long, no matter what's happened since then.
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Good. Good for you.
[Ten then begins to sing a gallifreyan lulla bible. In other words, some strange language that sounds comforting and reassuring.]