50th spoilers GALORE be warned

[badwolf]

Stop calling it a proximity hairspike, it isn't funny. Not really funny. I  dunno how much I like the whole ... retcon, either. Of just about everything. It was fun, it was entertaining, it was ... almost heartfelt. Give it some time, maybe go back again in a bit. Give your head a breather; you look like you need it.

Seriously though, could do without the 50 plot holes.

And besides, doesn't that ... just mean he's got 400 years of suffering? How's that okay at all? And my Doctor- his ninth one. He was born in battle, born in pain and death, and I wish he wasn't, gods I wish he wasn't. But doesn't this ... change that? 'Cause I pretty sure that was a smile on his face when he did regenerate.

Comments

[fezandbowtie]

(Actually does find that quite funny, starts laughing in a corner.)

[gallifreyfalls]

And who exactly says it's a retcon to begin with? Perhaps you can assume this was what happened all along.

[badwolf]

Well I've got to, just like the lot of them. Not remembering... It just seems wrong. Like all that pain he suffered- all that loss. It wasn't real.

[gallifreyfalls]

I cannot speak from too much experience, but I believe a lot of their decisions, the ones I will make in time, are based around that fact. And as much as they regret something that may have not happened, it most likely spurs them on to do right in the Universe.

[badwolf]

[ She knows he's right, in a sense. It's painful, and maybe it cheapens how things were when she was around, but he does have a point. If they didn't remember- if they only remembered the heartache and horrible, awful things that happened... ]

You always do what's right.

[gallifreyfalls]

[Knows that his future selves would be more heroic this way. That they would want to help people more to avoid the same sort of "tragedy". It's not the nicest thing, but in a way it's best for the Universe.]

In the end. Though I have no doubt there were many "shenanigans" for lack of better word. Especially for the one with the chin.

[badwolf]

[ The chin get's a bit of a smile. But it flees almost as soon as it's come. ]

But ... The Time Lords. I don't understand- I thought they were .. Corrupt. Power hungry, like they were in The End. Rassilon was back, and he-- I know it was a horrible thing, using the Moment. But ... The Time Lords were planning to end time and creation as well. They were dangerous.

[gallifreyfalls]

[Really now? That gets an eyebrow raise. Of course the Time Lords were a bit twisted towards the end, war can do that to some people, but Rassilon back? Always bad news. Seriously Rassilon, why can't you stay in the Divergent Universe?]

Rassilon has the potential to be a problem, with or without Gallifrey. Besides, not all Gallifreyans are Time Lords. Whatever the circumstances were then are not necessarily the circumstances now. Otherwise there would have been a problem sooner.

[badwolf]

I s'pose so. He was sort of .. the one behind it all, from what I've heard. If he's out of the picture-- Gods, it's just hard wrapping my mind around you lot. Your timelines are mental.

[gallifreyfalls]

With the kind of Time Lord he was, I would never expect him to be wholly "out of the picture".

It would be too easy if our timelines were simple. At least now I can see where it comes from.

[badwolf]

... It?

Unless you mean- you're blaming in them. 'Cause I'm fairly sure you've gotten about in your younger years, too.

[gallifreyfalls]

Yes. It.

I will neither confirm nor deny that. Those two are quite the rowdy pair.

[badwolf]

You're telling me. [ Something she clearly seems amused over. ] You should see three of them like that together.

Oh, and. I'm ... not like that. The interface. Not really, anyway. much less serious. Or not serious.

[fantastix]

...surely they're joking.

I saw it, but I don't believe it. All of that never happened? And it's just an unfortunate twist of time that I've been led to believe it did?

[badwolf]

[ Excuse her a moment while her insides twist in more emotion than she can put a name to. Over him. But just a moment. ]

I don't ... really know. You lost your memories of it- what with the timelines being so distorted. And then ... I suppose in a way, Gallifrey was lost. Lost somewhere though, rather than just ... gone.

[fantastix]

Still. Gallifrey stands.

[He stuffs his hands in his pockets. His words sound hollow with disbelief. ]

I didn't kill the Time Lords.

[badwolf]

[ And she brings her own hand up to brace against his arm; his hand is hidden, after all. ]

You saved them.

[fantastix]

And I'm not supposed to know about it.

[He shuffles closer, tentatively reaching for her hand.]

I've thought through what happened so many times, wondering if there was another way I'd missed. I had to wait all those years to find it.

[badwolf]

You just needed a bit of help to figure it out. [ She will gladly take that hand. ]

Mind you, that could inflate your ego to the size of Mars if we're not careful.

[fantastix]

I don't know, we could try shooting for Jupiter.

[He squeezes her hand...but then there's always a layer to consider.]

Bit hard to feel accomplished over something I don't remember at all. Those thoughts are still there. But...I'm relieved.

[riverborntorun]

I think you're right about the smile, but that might've been because he still had the memory of what they achieved - "For this moment, I am the Doctor" - but I think once the regeneration happened...well, I imagine there'd be some tremendous guilt involved, thinking you'd slaughtered your own race.

My mun and I agree, it could use a bit of touching up.

[doctorprettyboy]

Oi. There is nothing wrong with my hair.

We had hoped to see the real you again.

[badwolf]

It was completely limp! [ As in clearly there was something wrong with it. ]

And ... I dunno. Makes me sound a bit egotistical, but. Would you've paid as much attention to everything if I'd really been around? Not to say I'd try and distract you, but. This was after I'd left- for good. I'm kind of glad you didn't have to go through that again.

[doctorprettyboy]

It was not. Better than floppy's hair, anyway.

[Sigh.] I suppose not. Still, it would have made for an even better reward, getting to see you like this again, before going off to regenerate into him.

I wouldn't worry about those pesky plot holes. Timey wimey and all that.

[badwolf]

Oh shut up, you never like your other selves. [ But she reaches up to fluff his hair, anyway. ]

But it wasn't that time yet, was it? I wouldn't want to hurt you like that. Seeing me-- especially when it wasn't really me. That just seems cruel.

And those plot holes, you know. They're supposedly going to get a bit more filling in the Christmas Special. Then again... This special was so happy- my writer's a bit worried how painful the holiday episode's going to be because of it.

[galaxial]

Oh, she'll huff and she'll puff, won't she?

ilu, I thought I was the only one with an interface muse

[badwolf]

She never really stops.

I couldn't resist; she was bonkers!

[galaxial]

And they never, ever do. Yours and mine and theirs — it never ends. [ She mutters from out the corner of her mouth. ] The Oncoming Whinge.

preciously bonkers

[badwolf]

[ Oh she hears that. Hears it and bursts out a laugh; how wonderfully accurate. ]

Don't let them hear you say that. Then they'll never shut up.

too cute, it was not allowed.

[galaxial]

[ She does her best, our Interface. The most powerful weapon in all the Universe does, of course, know what it is she's speaking of. She would be useless otherwise. A cruel, pointless little word.

Her grin spreads. ]

Shall I let you in on a little secret? Just us girls? [ Wolves, more like.

She leans in, cupping the side of her mouth like they're children exchanging whispers. ] They don't.

[badwolf]

[ Though it's inherently weird seeing her mirror's image talking and making jokes like this, leaning in all conspiratorially, it isn't hard to tell just how much this interface isn't herself. The appearance is right, but the person is all wrong. Or mostly wrong.

Still, she plays along, leaning in just a bit to receive the token secret. And promptly feels another laugh bubbling out her throat. No. Of course they didn't. ]

I think I'd be sad if they did, really. Then you know something's wrong. Walking contradiction, that one.

[galaxial]

[ Now, now, Rose Tyler, we mustn't judge too harshly. After all, she chose this form for a purpose. The hair helps, of course. The way it bounces, it's ever so good.

She leans back now, legs hooked at the ankles. Her fingers tap idly onto the underside of the seat — a familiar beat that isn't meant for this companion. One, two, three, four. A smile. ]

Oh, I dunno — they're all soft and squishy bits in the middle, aren't they?

[badwolf]

Yeah...

[ There's a moment in her eyes there, not like her Moment, where she's lost to her mind. Soft and squishy in the middle. ... Yes, she was quite aware of what they were.

She mimics the movement then, crossing her arms instead of ankles, legs hooking over a thigh- intentionally different. ]

So why me, then? I've got some ideas, and- I dunno if I'd call you me, anyway. I might not remember it, but you seem a bit too ... feral to actually be me. Or pass for it.

[galaxial]

[ She acknowledges this differentiation with a slight tilt of her head. The Moment swings her legs gently as Rose talks, absorbing each word, aware that this has happened, will happen, could happen. Tenses are dreadful nonsense, aren't they? ]

"Why?" Such a big word and yet, — so very, very small. [ She indicates a tiny gap, between a finger and a thumb. ] Not you, silly girl. Not his.

I chose this form, because it is a [ She rounds the word about in her mouth. ] symbol. Now, lucky little you has appeared to him both before and after the Time War. I was his catalyst, you were his savior. Together, we bring him forward and keep him on his path.

I chose you, because you are important to him. [ There was no point where she had removed herself from her perch. She is simply standing before Rose now, softly rounding her like the circle she speaks of. ] They are all important to him, but you were important to him. [ She pulls at her own ears, illustrating the Ninth Regeneration. Then, her hands fall. ] Are important.

You are compassion. You taught him to be you.

[badwolf]

[ Her brows twitch into a frown; she really isn't a silly girl. But there's no point pressing the issue when this strange look-a-like box is continuing off. Not when she's making a lot of sense and no sense all at once.

It's a bit disorienting.

Before and after the Time War. Preventing it, and ending it all at once, in a sense. The last act of the Time War was life. And now, it was life in another final act, as well. Or lack of action, in one sense. Different action. ]

I like to think I taught him how to be himself again.

[ She's not really in a habit of boasting herself anymore. Not often. Though the mention of ears earns a hidden smile; her dear Doctor. ]

[galaxial]

[ She points two fingers, both indexes, in Rose's direction. Her smile grows, but her eyes narrow playfully. ] 'Atta girl.

[ They are all a part of him. They are all special. Each gives him something to behold, adds a part to him without his realizing it. She realizes it. She is, of course, dreadfully clever.

But so is Rose Tyler, whether she sees it or not. She will one day. Or has she already? ] Now you're getting it.

[continuities]

[ HIS EARS ARE BURNING. This is one very indignant, much maligned cosmic toddler Doctor, popping by for a bit of a whinge. ]

Hey!

[badwolf]

[ No. Cosmic toddler sounds exactly right, unstrike that immediately. ]

Sneezin' are we?

[galaxial]

Hey, hi, hello, bonjour—

You know, dreadful thing, pouting. Does horrors for the chin. [ She grabs her cheeks, dragging downwards with her fingers. ]

[newnew]

Oh, Rose — [ There's that tired smile of his. ] Good old Rose.

[badwolf]

[ Don't look like that, Doctor. You'll make her heart break all over again. ]

Ol' reliable, that's me.

[newnew]

So, you've seen it, then? What's been done?

[ He leans against his TARDIS console, legs folded, just as his arms do the same. An eyebrow crooks upwards as he looks at her beneath tired lids. ]

[badwolf]

Depends what you're referring to when you say it.

[ Though she's got a fairly good idea of what 'it' might be. She's seen a lot of things lately, including his troubles. Both past and present. And maybe a bit of the future, too.

So instead of pressing it, she just leans back against the console next to him, arms crossing in unintentional mimicry. Of course, the lack of space between their shoulders is definitely intentional.

[newnew]

Gallifrey.

[ One word. Just one. That's all it takes these days.

He's seen the future, he's seen his past. He rests in between. The Hero, he was called. The man who regrets. ( I'm sorry; I'm so sorry. ) But that changes nothing.

The best secret is the one you keep from yourself. First, his name — now, his planet. Hidden in time, even from his own mind. All that pain, all that suffering. And yet, it was worth it. Worth it to know that through all those hardships, all his loneliness: they survived. ]

It's back. [ His voice breaks in a soft waver. ]

[badwolf]

[ She takes a long, steadying breath as he breaches the subject.

Gallifrey. His home, his planet, his people. All of it gone, and yet not gone anymore. She doesn't answer right away, taking the time instead to reach down and over, to take his hand from where he'd folded it away, and bring it to herself. She's got an inkling he won't mind. ]

You saved it.