Voice Testing for Romana II, fresh from the Gallifrey Audios

[liberal_gallifreyan]

[Her chin is in her hands and she's got the look of 'I'm going to have to put up with this, aren't I?'. Her tone bears this out.] Do you really have time for this, Lady Mundane? I ask, because I'm certain I don't and I'm the one you've placed in this... timeless community.

I can't leave. I have entire new slave class to restore to freedom and proper rights. As someone who's experience of this sort of work, I can tell you, it takes time, effort and not a small part of your soul to get a society stabilised after a slave revolt.

I'm not the Doctor. [There's no judgement, just an awareness of how the Doctor operates.] And these people, while not of my universe, are still Gallifreyans and I have a responsibility to help them while I can.

[She's deeply sad a moment.] This is not a means for me to martyr myself, I... assure you. After so much destruction, at my hands, I just want to build something.

Besides, what do you think would happen if I left Narvin to his own devices? [He'll get blown up, obviously.]

Comments

[ofdrumsthesound]

There are worse people than Narv.

Not much worse, but worse.

[liberal_gallifreyan]

Yes, of course. [She likes him much better than she likes you, in fairness. Although 'Narv'? She supposes it's conceivable that Narvin was sent after him once or twice in his field agent days.]

[ofdrumsthesound]

Rassilon, for example.

[liberal_gallifreyan]

[Romana doesn't snort, that would be unlady-like. This is a very lady-like huff.] Well, if you're going to go to extremes, Master. [Let's just say she and he didn't get along with Anti-Time gets involved.] Though that has been a tendency of yours, so I shouldn't be surprised.

[ofdrumsthesound]

Another thing you can thank our wonderful founder for, as it turns out.

[liberal_gallifreyan]

Oh. I am sorry. [Of course, she largely knows him by reputation, so it's a bit of a sorry that comes from a stranger, not insincere but not especially heartfelt. Also, madness runs in Time Lords, having had a bit of brush with it herself. Not to mention the culture of 'yeah, that happens, but let's just not talk about it and maybe it'll go away' that exists on Gallifrey. So it's not the best sorry in the cosmos.]

[ofdrumsthesound]

. . . well, at least you're polite. Some people aren't even that.

Have a Doctor fresh from ending the Time War and... Shocked!

[ninth_doctor]

Romana....

[He clears his throat.]

No, you're not the Doctor.

[liberal_gallifreyan]

But you are. [She smiles.] I'm not a ghost, I assure you, Doctor.

[ninth_doctor]

[He plasters on a smile that everything's fine.]

Ghost? Why would you be a ghost?

[He's from her future after all, can't give away too much.]

[liberal_gallifreyan]

[Unfortunately, Braxiatel isn't so concerned. Mysterious, but not concerned. He called it 'darkness' and unavoidable and fatal for Gallifrey to boot. Of course, that's why he whisked her, Leela, K9 and even Narvin away to different universes. She got stuck on the last one.] From your expression, I imagined my disappearance was explained by my demise. The High Council does have a flair for the dramatic, much to my dismay.

I know the Gallifrey Serials, if it helps XD

[ninth_doctor]

Forgive me, Madame President. But I am well aware you survive that little... experience.

[Change of subject.]

How is Narvin?

Good!

[liberal_gallifreyan]

Ah, unfortunately, I'm less certain Gallifrey does, at least, in time for… whatever is to come. [Blah, stupid Free Time.]

[Probably a good one.] I made him Chancellor, he's so grateful! [Look, she gets her thrills where she can, ok?]

[ninth_doctor]

He won't be grateful until he's President himself...

[That might have sounded just the least bit bitter. He turns slightly. Looking at Romana... knowing what he did... what she asked him to do. It hurts.]

[liberal_gallifreyan]

[That makes her laugh. The sour face on Narvin's face should he wind up President is just too hilarious for words.] Oh! I'm sorry! But that's really not my Narvin. You didn't see his reaction when I did make him Chancellor, Doctor, he was not best pleased. No, actually, he was furious with me. I quite enjoyed it, in fact.

He's a CIA Coordinator in his hearts of hearts, Doctor, truly wouldn't be happy anywhere else. He only agreed because it was the proper Gallifreyan thing to do.

[ninth_doctor]

[War is hell... people change. Perhaps more importantly, people's opinions of people change. He looks thoughtful.]

Only because he thinks he has more power that way...

[liberal_gallifreyan]

[Narvin's already changed due to war, she's seen it. She's serious now.] No. I know Narvin. And I know what he looks like when he's power hungry. [Thank you Original!Chancellor Narvin.] Narvin's sole purpose is the protection of Gallifrey. He's a complete loyalist, that's how he's dangerous, he'll destroy anything that'll threaten it. He is perfectly happy doing that in the CIA. He's by no means a saint, but he is not a megalomaniac.

Really, Doctor, how do you know him?

[ninth_doctor]

Y'know I can't answer that....

[Besides since everyone is dead, it doesn't matter... or won't matter soon, depending on one's perspective.]

[liberal_gallifreyan]

Yes, actually, you can. Shall I tell you why? For one, it does not concern my personal future as I am not in your universe and have no ability to return. I not only do not have a TARDIS, but there is no Eye of Harmony, no possibility of travel at all and so I am completely trapped. Secondly, this is a zone outside of time and we forget what happens here upon our leaving.

[She breathes out, calming herself even as it expresses that he hurt her.] You're slandering a man who's saved my life on a number of occasions and who stands by me now against people who will have my blood. I will know why.

[ninth_doctor]

[And there's a flicked of the Oncoming Storm.]

Get used to disappointment, Madame President.

[He feels he taught her everything she needed to know to claim that title and this is how she thanks him?]

[liberal_gallifreyan]

[She's faced Rassilon, Zagreus, Pandora and evil versions of you, Doctor. She's survived being President when you took off at the first opportunity Think she's scared of you? That slap, not a soft one, should prove you wrong.

She didn't learn jack from you that she didn't have herself.]

[ninth_doctor]

[He nods once, curtly.]

As I said. People change. Good luck with your war, Romana; you will loose.

[They all did, him most of all.]

[liberal_gallifreyan]

You didn't say that, actually. But I see it in you. And my war is over. I lost, along with uncounted lives.

But I'm sure that pleases you. [She's cold and hurt.] Now, if you would kindly get out of my post, I do not enjoy wasting my time with people who score points in arguments using the broken bodies of the dead.

[ninth_doctor]

[His tone is quiet, hardly above a whisper.]

Your war hasn't even begun, Romana. [He pauses.] And unless you are the only Time Lord left in existence, you have no idea what "broken bodies of the dead" means.

[He watched Gallifrey burn he understand much more than she gives him credit for.]

And I didn't run... Not when you needed me most.

[But sometimes he wishes he had.]

[liberal_gallifreyan]

How little you know what I've been through, Doctor. I've destroyed Gallifrey once, did you know. Oh. I'm not talking about that little scrap between myself and Pandora and the Free Time virus. Literally pressed the button to commit genocide. And you do know how I hate the misuse of the term literally. A Gallifrey in ashes and I did it. To save that Universe. Almost did a second time, as well.

But I'll never be allowed to return home, Doctor. Perhaps your universe has a Romana, I've encountered one or two, but it won't be me.

[ninth_doctor]

[He sighs.]

Let your conscience be clear, Madame President. You didn't commit genocide. You aren't the only Time Lord in existence.

[No, that is his burden to bare.]

[liberal_gallifreyan]

Kindly leave the technicalities to the politicians, Doctor. If we can say Earth dictators committed genocide, then I most certainly qualify, even if I didn't round it off by shooting Narvin where he stood.

[ninth_doctor]

Technicalities are everything in this instance, Romana. You still have a future ahead of you.

[liberal_gallifreyan]

As do you, Doctor. Unless you're more keen on a politcal career than I've been led to believe.

[ninth_doctor]

[He smiles sadly.]

No, my dear Romana... my future is at an end.

[liberal_gallifreyan]

You're dead?

[ninth_doctor]

In a manner of speaking.... You're smart Romana, I've told you all y'need to know. Work it out.

[liberal_gallifreyan]

What you've told me suggests you're alive, even if you rather not be.

And while 'where there's life there's hope' is extraordinarily trite, there is still purpose. And you've never truly found that on Gallifrey.

[ninth_doctor]

That is where you're wrong...

[Sort of. He found that he is less without Gallifrey, not more.]

[liberal_gallifreyan]

[That she won't argue. Even though all Gallifrey has given her is strife and war, she still wishes it well. Perhaps even more that she did while she travelled with him and lived in E-Space.]

And what of Earth?

[ninth_doctor]

I... 'Aven't been there since my last Regeneration.

[He doesn't sound like he particularly cares what happens to Earth. Everything is dull without the brilliance of Gallifrey to light his way. Without the sounds of the Time Lords in his Mind to direct his path.]

[thecricketer]

I feel I ought to be offended. [The slight, rueful smile shows otherwise.]

In many of these places, we're returned to the moment of our...exit. [His tone is gentle, and respectful.] Perhaps the break would be of help.

[liberal_gallifreyan]

Merely reporting the facts as I see them, Doctor. [She smiles similarly back.]

Oh, yes, so I've been informed, but one cannot forget one's responsibilities, even if they are in stasis, of a kind.

[A sigh.] I'm not sure it would be a break, given that. And also the possibly murderous and traumatic elements of games and the like. But one expects that on a holiday. [Remember Paris?]

[thecricketer]

One can ignore quite a lot, though, with the proper distractions.

[Oh, that gets a grin.] That's what makes them exciting!

[liberal_gallifreyan]

Briefly, perhaps. [She chuckles.] Oh, quite. Shouldn't have boring holiday. Might just go mad.