A private man in a public circumstance

[likes_pears]

John Smith dodn't want to die. He has the feeling no sane person does... if he can, in fact, be counted as a person. He's run out of options, though. A life where he lets others die for him (and they will, across the stars, they'll all die) isn't a life worth having... Even a life with the woman he's grown to love more than he ever thought possible

Comments

[nothingsodivine]

Des isn't typically the sort of person who sleeps until one in the afternoon even though he looks like the sort of person who would, but considering the Doctor had him up at two this morning (well, it wasn't intentional, but try telling him that), he feels entirely justified

[likes_pears]

"I'm not... I'm not him!" John snaps, still searching the floor. Apparently, knowing that the watch didn't come with him is no excuse to stop looking. He could be wrong...

"I had the watch and now I don't, and... Where am I, anyway, and who are you?"

He's not usually this slow on the uptake, but he's just a bit stressed right now.

[nothingsodivine]

Des lowers his coffee. Oh it is way too early for this. Except for the part where it's not, but apparently it's way too early for him and that's all that matters.

There's an eerie sort of calm about him when he lays the coffee down on a nearby table and then, in a manner that suggests that this is about as calm as his violence gets, wrenches John up off the floor by his jacket.

We apologize in advance for any discomfort this may cause, John, and we're especially sorry for what may or may not come next.

"Okay, you know what? Let's forget the watch for a second and talk about how you look like the Doctor and know who he is, but are clearly not him, because, really? I'm very eager to know."

There are so many ways this could be bad. So many ways, and Des is really not all that eager to learn them if he can help it, so explanations would be nice.

...Of course, it's not like John, himself, doesn't need an explanation for why the crazy man is looking at him like he's contemplating murder, but he'll get to that momentarily.

[likes_pears]

And if it hadn't already been established that this wasn't the Doctor, the frightened squeak he lets out would make it quite obvious.

"I'm not... You're... What?"

The American madman that has him by his jacket isn't going to be impressed by him stammering like an idiot, however. Drawing from a reserve of courage he didn't know he had, he gathers up a complete sentence and all but flings it at Des.

"He became human." A bit higher and shriller than he'd have liked, but still, a sentence. Progress should always be celebrated. "He was in hiding. I don't know all the details, but he sealed himself away and made his body human and he put..." Why, why does he have to explain this? "He put me in his place. He created a false identity, with false memories, and let it loose in the world until they were thrown off the scent. But now," he adds, and his voice is getting stronger, angrier, as he goes on, "they've found us. And people are going to die unless I can get him back. So unless there's something particularly helpful that will come out

Meanwhile, In the Conrad. . . .

[clockwork_doc]

Doc, in a sudden fit of nervousness, has wandered down to the Rift Room briefly to make sure the Rift Detection Device is still working. There's been a lot of nasty activity in the Rift Room lately, and Doc's worried that something might have happened to it. That might not have been a problem in the old days, when you could be assured that some nosy nelly could pick up any newcomers (such as himself and Farley), but now -- well, he thinks it would be a good idea if the Wanderers got word of anybody new coming through quickly, rather than leaving them to Romana and crew's tender mercies. Have to ask Aubrey if xe's gotten any alerts lately.

The ceiling-mounted device appears to be in good condition. Doc concentrates for a moment and gives it a quick "Blessing of Perfection," just in case. He's just about to escape back up top -- when he notices something lying near the Rift. A silver pocketwatch. Puzzled, Doc goes over and picks it up. It seems perfectly ordinary, with a complicated design of circles and other curvy shapes on top. Huh

Re: Meanwhile, In the Conrad. . . .

[likes_pears]

::?:: The watch sends out a little mental inquiry, weak enough to be unnoticeable to non-sensitives.

The majority of the Doctor, locked safely in the watch, is still dormant. Enough consciousness remains, however, to recognize that he's been picked up by someone he doesn't know.

The Family aren't close, though... He'd know. And this one isn't dangerous. Human, but... different. Not a threat.

But things have changed, and the Doctor should be reunited with his body. For now, though, the watch just listens patiently for someone who can hear it, and reunite the necessary pieces.

Re: Meanwhile, In the Conrad. . . .

[clockwork_doc]

As Doc enters the elevator, he thinks he feels -- something. Just a faint -- touch, at the back of his brain. He pauses and looks around. Doc's not actually actively psychic -- can't read minds or anything like that -- but his brain's fairly suspectible to psychic intrusion. Blame it on Andrew's tender minstrations and his run through the Hedge that ripped his mind apart. Not seeing anyone nearby, he quickly gets inside the elevator and presses up. No use attracting attention.

He pulls out the watch again as he rides up and examines it. It's quite pretty, all things considered. He dangles it from its chain a moment, watching it turn, then holds it in his hand. "I wonder if it's still running," he mutters, and flicks it open.

Re: Meanwhile, In the Conrad. . . .

[likes_pears]

The moment the watch opens, Doc is bathed in golden light, and the little psychic flares that went up before are to this one like birthday candles are to a forest fire. ::Time Lord,:: the watch explains, pushing memories onto him, particularly the escape from the Family, showing him what can't be explained. ::Where am I?::

[alt_tardis]

The TARDIS has been uneasily teleporting from place to place within the Conrad for some time, now, ever since the Doctor left. On the one hand,it didn't seem as though he was coming back. On the other... it was the Doctor. He always came back. Surely this time was no different.

She's nearby - near enough - to hear the Time Lord consciousness broadcast, too weakly to determine its location. So she triangulates as best she can, scanning and making tentative hops in that direction.

:: identify(object.SELF) => 'TARDIS' ::, she transmits on a narrow band. :: requext{identify(object.SELF.'YOU')} ?? ::

[likes_pears]

::Time Lord. Doctor.:: It's a very weak response, but still present. A flash of the Chameleon Arch, and a clear image of the watch. ::Limited.::

And, once the information filters through completely, ::TARDIS?!::

The Doctor may be largely dormant, but this level of sophistication doesn't match what he knows of his TARDIS, and therefore something Very Strange is happening.

[alt_tardis]

:: !! !! :: The TARDIS makes a few more hops, narrowing in on the signal. :: is.in-instance{'here'}{'already'} instance{'Doctor'}.quantity{3} ::, she says. :: !{any} == 'mine' :C ::

Still, it's nice to have them there. Any Doctors in a storm, or something.

She scans again, taking in the watch and the Chameleon Arch.

:: request(define(location{'you'}{'default'}{'physical'})) ?? :: Even if the consciousness is, in her mind, the better half. She's no stranger to unbound consciousnesses. It's how her species originated.

[likes_pears]

::Unknown,:: is the response, and before there's a chance for further elaboration, the faint psychic signal increases a hundredfold, an unmistakable flare of presence.

Things will be getting very interesting very soon.