on picking her up at all.

[tildeathdouspart]

I'm really not sure this is a good idea.

No, there are so many other people in this, this headspace already, I shouldn't...

Comments

[ofdrumsthesound]

But then I wouldn't get to see you again, now would I?

Just try not to die, dear. You're not much of a meal.

[tildeathdouspart]

[Ohgodwhyareyoustillalive-

Is that a collar? Despite her vulnerable look, her voice goes cold. She isn't exactly happy to see him, after everything.]

... I'm not planning to.

Keywords :D

[ofdrumsthesound]

Good girl. *He sighs and looks away for a moment.* I did love you, you know. I'm just horrible at showing it, as I'm sure the Doctor could've told you.

/o\

[tildeathdouspart]

Oh don't even start...

I meant it when I shot you.

He loved them too, I think

[ofdrumsthesound]

I know. Just like you meant it when you tried to stop me from coming back--or has that not happened for you yet?

But in any case . . . well, the Doctor is my best friend. That should tell you all you need to know about my relationships. *He laughs bitterly.* In other words, I'm horrible with them.

I'd like to have your love again. I know that it's unlikely, but I can't help it. Destroying people and then crying for them is my nature, Lucy. I am what madness has made me, that's all.

You think so? I always assumed he hated them.

[tildeathdouspart]

It did. I died that day, so he will not be telling me anything unless it is in this place.

[It doesn't look like she believes him. Or if it matters if she believe what he's saying, because she really can not stand him anymore.]

Yana was a part of him. If he didn't care for them he wouldn't have used a plan based on a paradox

[ofdrumsthesound]

Ah. *He winces.* I probably ate what was left of you, then. A sky-high metabolism is one of the side effects of your little mess.

Sorry about that. Would it help if I promised not to hurt you while we're here?

well, if you say so.

[tildeathdouspart]

[A raised eyebrow. Does he really think there's something left to mend here?]

I don't think there was anything left of any human in that building.

It makes sense to me

[ofdrumsthesound]

*Well, he is crazy . . .* Oh, there were some scraps. Small, burnt scraps, true, but scraps. I do hope none of them were from you.

[10th_doctor]

[His voice is more gentle than he's feeling.]

Lucy? There aren't enough of you around, you know...

[It's not that he blames her, it just hurts still. A bit.]

[tildeathdouspart]

I'd rather stay out of this.

...but we don't get a say, do we? [Sounding just a little bitter there, because that feeling is very, very uncomfortably familiar.]

[10th_doctor]

[He scratches the back of his head. And sighs his first word.]

No... We don't. [He pauses.] Still. We've been through worse, haven't we?

[tildeathdouspart]

[A short, quiet, completely humorless laugh. She looks away for a moment.]

Yes, I suppose so. [A pause, a frown.] I am very sorry. For... everything.

[10th_doctor]

[He swallows thickly. His voice momentarily too high.]

Yeah. [He clears his throat.] You were just as much a prisoner as we were.

[tildeathdouspart]

Still, I- [She trails off.] ...No, who am I kidding. I couldn't have done anything back then.

[10th_doctor]

[He slides his hands in his pockets. It's partly to stop him from hugging her, because he doesn't know how welcome it would be.]

You took action when you had the chance...

[Even if he doesn't approve of the action, he understands it.]

[tildeathdouspart]

[She looks at him for a moment, just watching. It was strange to see, back then, after all was said and done, how close the Doctor and the Master had clearly been, once upon a time. Closer than she could have ever been, even when she'd wanted to. It's hard to imagine what it's like, losing the only other one of your kind. As sorry as she is for his loss, Lucy knows she'd do the same thing again.]

And I paid for it.

[No regrets.]

I'm just glad it ended.

[syncopath]

But then, if we always did what we should, life would be so boring.

[tildeathdouspart]

[Lucy may have just taken half a step back. Well, she recovers.]

I suppose that's true.

[syncopath]

[He notices that flinching away, of course, and it only makes him smile more broadly.]

You suppose? You certainly didn't argue when we were married.

[tildeathdouspart]

Precisely. Were. [Oh, she's not even bothering to hope that he didn't see her tremble. It's hard to say whether from anger or from fear, at this point.]

[syncopath]

Is that what this is about? Silly little Lucy, thinking she can wipe the slate clean?

You've got just as much blood on your hands as I ever did. Not to mention mine.

[tildeathdouspart]

I don't think there'll be any clean slates. I was content being your widow.

[syncopath]

And you couldn't even do that right.

[tildeathdouspart]

[She flinches, again. It's barely noticable, but she knows he'll know. He's always known.]

Do you want me to try again?