Exploring

[im_the_doctor]

Who: The Doctor (5) and The Doctor (10)
What: Exploring the Lewis and Clark crashed ship
When: After the Gentleman Plot
Where: Not far from the crashed ship
Rating: PG to start…

'It really was rather scenic', Ten thought as he patiently waited for his younger self to join him outside, hands in his pockets and absently kicking the odd stone. Not where he'd choose to spend however long he was stuck here but he supposed it could be worse as far as scenery went.

There was a hidden evil here though that could be felt more than seen. Perhaps it was the castle or perhaps it was all the horrible things that happened here. He'd only been here a short time but he'd still heard some of the tales.

His younger self had filled him in on some, other stories he'd heard from – well others. There had been the mention of a downed space vessel though and his curiosity had been peaked. It had only taken a bit of excited bouncing for his younger to agree to join him for a look-see.

The Doctor nonchalantly looked over his shoulder, then to the left and then to the right. Where was his younger self anyway?!

Comments

[toobravehearted]

Legs. He had two, again. Always fascinating how bipeds learn to throw themselves off balance and propel themselves forward without falling over. If they get really good at it they can even do other things at the same time, like read a journal as the Doctor makes his way outside to meet himself.

While the weather was clement, it felt like a grim sort of morning really. After all, he's heard and read the news. He has to wonder if his elder self was so excited to get out as a distraction for them both.

Drawing up alongside himself, out comes his hat and he places it on his head.

"I can still taste earthenware, you know."

[im_the_doctor]

A grin curls the lips of the Doctor as he tries to remain straight faced and he shrugs. He'd removed the bust from the mantel when he'd found it mostly for safe keeping at the time. There had been some concern to his well-being but then he'd heard about and read up on what was happening and realized it was only a matter of time until the younger version returned to his normal self. Once the evil threat had passed he'd replaced the bust where he'd found it. After all, it would have been rather awkward for the transformation to have happened in his pocket.

"Well, if you had rather, I could have left you on that mantel for someone else to scoop you up or worse."

The Doctor tilts his head and looks his younger self up and down, evaluating. "Looks like you are all back to yourself again now anyway. Is everything in working as it should?"

[toobravehearted]

No, for the loss to wear off in Ten's pocket would have been disastrous. All right, hilarious for one of them perhaps, but disastrous as well.

"You might have put me lower down." Wait, hang on there... "You've been moving me?!" Rolling his eyes at himself and sighing. "All well, thank you. A bit low in potassium though I think..." Said as he stretches out his legs. "Better than the last time the castle saw fit to hit with one of its tricks. You might want to watch out for that."

[im_the_doctor]

The Doctor grins and there is an extra bounce in his step. "Well, seeing as I couldn't leave you unattended and staying in your room to bust-sit you wasn't really in my agenda... I do understand why you had the weed-wacker though now. Multi-coloured grass? Really, couldn't you have wished for more appropriate room decorating?"

"Oh?" The Doctor asks with curiosity. "The Castle has made you a bust before then? It might be trying to send you a message."

[toobravehearted]

His elder self really is enjoying this, isn't he? Of course he would; he enjoys every opportunity to rib the younger incarnations of himself too. Hands behind his back and taking a breath, "Of course, you've been reading the journal. I like the grass actually and just for you, I think I'll keep it. No previous outing as fired clay, no, sorry to disappoint."

His tone turns serious next. "Given what happened, the castle's timing really was too impeccable though, don't you think?"

[im_the_doctor]

Yes, the older Doctor is quite enjoying himself. It's not often he can make fun at his own expense while it not really being his expense at all. Besides, it's all in good fun and when push comes to shove he really had been concerned for the younger version when he found him in that state. It had been quite the relief when he'd transformed back.

"Oh, no need to keep it on my account. Unless of course you're going to put in some nice shrubbery and maybe a bird bath or two. If you're going to do it, you really should go all the way."

As the subject matter turns serious, the Doctor becomes quiet, almost withdrawn. "Yes. It was one thing to read about past events, quite another to bare witness and not be able to do anything to stop it."

[toobravehearted]

A testament that he can't take himself too seriously, all of the time. Really, walking into a future or past version of himself and making fun them is the perfect way to temper his ego, but while there is the ribbing, there is also the sense of respect and surety.

"When the castle wants its pound of flesh, it will have it. Not being able to stop it in time is a feeling I know too well. This," he nods towards the ship in the grounds, not so much indicating that but the events themselves, "was by far the worst I have witnessed - or recall witnessing - from this place. The repercussions are still far reaching."

He steps forward, beginning to make a walk around the ship. "Shall we?"

[im_the_doctor]

The Doctor stops short and looks at his younger self with concern. "'Recall witnessing'? Has something happened to make you forget events having taken place?"

Looking at the ship he can feel the negative energy around it. Not strong, certainly not enough to stop him from entering but enough that he can sense that a horror had taken place.

"We shall," he says with a nod and falls a step behind his junior allowing the other man to take the lead. "How long have you been here?"

[toobravehearted]

Picking his way around rubble and pieces of metal in the grass and soil, he looks back at his elder self and sees that look of concern. "Ah, yes. About that." His hands come together and he twists them for a moment. "I was here in this incarnation before. So were you in yours."

He feels it too. But he has the perception of having been on board the ship and seeing what happened first hand. Looking up at it and remembering, his voice is distant for a moment. "I returned six months ago and I don't recall any such time of being here prior to that."

Hands going into his pockets and turning to face the elder Doctor, "Thank you. For checking up on me while I was absent."

[im_the_doctor]

The Doctor looks around, trying to remember... anything. Nothing however seems familiar. "Really?! Nothing even twinges."

Hands in his pockets, the Doctor turns to give his younger self his full attention. "Nothing, nothing at all? Could it have been after this visit... Well no, I suppose." Looking down he kicks at the grass. "I don't recall anything at all. You being here or myself. Interesting. Interesting that this place, this Castle, can take such specific memories."

His voice is becoming tight as he tries to suppress the anger he can feel starting to bubble the surface. There is little more infuriating than someone or something manipulating and controlling another in his books. The Castle is quickly beyond redemption in his mind. Although he's still holding on to hope that if he could only talk to or reason with who or what ever was in control he could get it to see reason and change it's ways.

At the change of subject there's an instant change in him. A smile brightens his face and he shrugs. "Couldn't have you getting into trouble without me now could I?!"

[toobravehearted]

"Isn't it just. I had the same thought, that I was taken from a point further in the timestream, last time. There's been more of us than just you and I here, and I don't recall anymore than you will. Sometimes of course it is par for the-- par for the course." Time travel, it's a funny old game.

He can hear that tone in his voice and Five's next probably isn't going to make it better. "You recall I said there are exceptions. Some people do come back with memories of Paradisa intact. Or with another set of memories altogether."

His smile back is quick. "Couldn't have said it better myself. Wait. I did. Come on." And he's walking again, picking his way to the fore of the ship.

[im_the_doctor]

"Hmm, yes, I suppose," he says as he mulls it all over. "I don't like being meddled with just the same."

The Doctor stops and looks at his younger self quizzically. "Don't much like the sound of that. Any one figured out why exactly that is?"

As his younger self turns and walks away, the Doctor smiles fondly at the other man's back. It really is quite surreal being with himself again. Of course this isn't the first time this has happened but it is the first, well technically the second, time it has with this incarnation and he's quite enjoying the experience. He's forgotten how different they actually are and yet also so much the same.

Following, he's mulling over the little bit he does know. Looking at the ship he asks, "So how often does stuff like this happen here?"

[toobravehearted]

As much as he can argue and disagree with himself, there certainly is something to be said for the thrill of working with one's self. He does tend to get on better with certain incarnations though, and he would very much recognise what his later self is feeling. Nostalgia. He knows it fondly too when thinking of his first self.

"No. Neither do I. It is taken as read by many that when one leaves here they return home - and many do seem to. But some have been removed by the castle to another place, their minds altered to think they were always there. As for this." He points up at the ship. "At least once a quarter year, as big as this. But for happenings that keep the residents on their toes, barely a month goes by before something crops up."

Coming to a stop at an opening in the hull and looking up at the ship, this wouldn't be the Doctor putting off going inside. Not at all. Still, there could be a lot learned from the ship. It's only a moment before he begins to climb up.