for justprompts: Stranger In A Strange Land
Dear Jackie -
Hope everyone is well. You and Pete and Tony and Rose and anyone else that might need to be doing well. Me, I’m doing brilliantly. Fantastically. Wonderfully.
Or maybe not at all, I don’t know.
I’m pretty hopeless I think sometimes. All these things everyone else seems to know how to do or how to say or how to work I just don’t can’t figure out. It’s strange. I think I should have asked you or someone to show me a thing or two before I went out into the world.
I thought it would be easy.
But things aren’t all doom and gloom. I’m seeing the world. I went to Barcelona. The city, not the planet. Did you know there’s a planet Barcelona? The dogs there, no noses. The joke never gets old. Well, it does, but then you go away and forget it and come back and it’s funny all over again. Did you know I’ve never even been to Barcelona before? The city, not the planet. The planet I’ve been to lots. Well, He was there. But that still counts, doesn’t it? But the city. I’ve never been here. He’s never been there. Isn’t that strange? The entire universe, and some city on Earth is something completely new.
The food is gorgeous. And the accents. I love the accents. I think I should have a Spanish accent. Change my name. I’ll be Ferdinand or José. I’ll be a matador. Except without the nasty bull fighting.
I met someone and they took me to the bullfights. It was awful. I don’t know what is wrong with you people sometimes. How you can enjoy something like that? It nearly ruined the entire country for me.
Oh, and I met someone named Alonzo. I’ve always wanted to meet an Alonzo. Do you remember that, you were there. Just so I could say a-lonsy Alonzo. Remember? I met an Alonzo already, but meeting another one, too, that’s just as good as the first one. It never gets old. A-lonsy Alonzo. Say it out loud. Never gets old, right? I said it to this Spanish bloke. And he stared at me like I was a lunatic. And walked away. I felt like an idiot.
I still like saying it.
I hope you like the gift I sent. I found this bracelet at a local market. It’s flashy and ostentatious and so I thought you’d like it. I hope it gets to you without getting scratched up or broken.
Hasta Luego!
Fernando
Bonjour Jackie -
If you haven’t guessed, I’m in France now. Paris to be exact. It’s brilliant. I love France. Always have. It’s the one place in the universe a person can go to and relax. It’s beautiful this time of year. Have you ever been to France?
Rose hasn’t been, as far as I know. Well, she was the once. But that didn’t count much, I don’t think. She never went outside. Never walked the streets of Paris at night. Never lounged on the beaches of Nice. Has she done that since she’s been here and I just don’t know it? I hope she has, I think she’d like it. I think you should all take a holiday here one day. You and Pete and Tony and Rose. And anyone else that would want to tag along. The more the merrier.
I saw the fireworks. I come to Paris and somehow manage to be here for Bastille Day, and I didn’t even know. Go figure.
I know last time I said the food and the accents in Spain were gorgeous. But France. France is another planet all together. The people are lovely. I know they have a bit of a reputation, but I love it here.
I think when I leave here I’ll be about 30 stone. The food and the wine are brilliant. I don’t know if I’ll be able to leave. Of course I will. I’m not going to become some expatriate living in France. Even I’m not that pretentious. Although, I’m not sure I am pretentious. Do you think I’m pretentious? I don’t.
I went to Versailles. I was there before, when it was still thriving. In our world it‘s still in use. Dignitaries and the Sénat and the Assemblée nationale all meet and gather in the Palace. Here, it’s just a museum. Halls and rooms and corridors roped off. It doesn‘t feel right. Ropes like that shouldn‘t be there. Places like Versailles aren’t meant to be museums.
I got kicked out. I went around the ropes, and I went to all the other rooms. And someone there found me and told me I couldn’t be there. I tried to talk my way out of it, and I couldn’t, and they escorted me out. I just wanted to visit the Hall of Mirrors. For some reason it wasn’t on the tour. How stupid is that? Everything happened there and they don’t even include it on the tour. They said it was undergoing restorations. It looked dead. Dark and shadowy and empty. You should have seen it before. There was so much life there.
I hope everyone’s well. Everyone’s in one piece. Healthy, happy, and other good things.
I bought you a book about French fashion. You probably won’t use it. That might be best. You look very you, and I wouldn’t know what to think if you didn’t.
à Tout à L'heure!
Francoise
Jackie -
Went to Italy. Didn’t go very well. I don’t think I’m going to hold it against the entire country. I just didn’t have a good trip. It’s bound to happen.
There’s a villa in Florence. It’s beautiful. I think you and the family would like it. You should rent it out. You can afford it with Pete‘s Vitex money.
But all that Torchwood business. The Tylers need to get away for a few days. Take a break from danger. I’m sure you want that, too.
I really didn’t have much time or money to send anything decent. It’s a scarf, a woman at a market sold me. I think it’s rather pretty, I’m not sure if that means anything. If you don’t like it, maybe Rose would.
I think I need to get away from Europe for a while.
X
Howdy Jackie -
I know you can’t hear my voice, but imagine I sound like a cowboy. I’ve always wanted to be a cowboy. I bought a cowboy hat. I’m wearing it right now. I wore it in New York City and everyone looked at me and the hat like we’re thick. I like the hat though, and I still wear it and when I find my way to Texas it should work.
It’s funny though, I open my mouth and they hear the accent. The British one. All of a sudden they don’t look at me like I’m daft anymore. In this country, somehow they attach any and every British accent to intelligence and suaveness and classiness. They also think it means you’re stuffy and pompous and sometimes bumbling. I blame Hugh Grant.
Only a few of those things really fit me, I think.
I like it here. I want to go to California, too. That’s what you always hear about. California and New York and Texas. I went to Florida. Disney World. Brilliant. Another never been, can you believe that one?
I saw a brochure, they have ranches in Texas where you can work and live for free. Can you see me being a cowboy? Herding and lassoing sheep, maybe? I’d be brilliant with a lasso.
I’m excited.
I’ve made a mess of a few things since I’ve been here. I’m used to that. Nothing huge. Nothing too bad. I’m getting better I think.
I’m sending Mouse ears from Florida. I’m not sure how well they’ll fit with your hair. I‘d suggest you just shove it on and hope for the best. I sent some little Mickey Mouse ears for Tony. The kids, running around, they were wearing them. They all seemed to like them. I’ve included a few extra as well, if anyone else is interested.
See y’all later
Hank
Dear Jackie -
I don’t really have much to say. Actually I have too much I want to say. But I don’t think it’s fair to say it to you.
I’m afraid I don’t want to
Can you give the envelope inside to Rose? Make sure she gets it.
I’ve sent you a watch. I think it’s rather brilliant. I gave one just like it to someone I know.
I think I’m going to be okay, maybe. I’m not sure you even care. You’re Rose’s, and I’m not sure it’s even fair that I write to you. But you were nice to me when I came here, and you seemed to like me, I think. I didn’t know who else I could write to.
Take care,
Jaime (I’ve decided I like the sound of that one.)
Jackie -
I don’t know if Rose told you or cared or what happened. I never heard anything back.
I met a girl.
You can tell anyone who cares that she’s gone and it didn’t matter and she didn’t really
I was wrong. Again. I thought she
It didn’t work.
I’m on my way to Australia. I like Australia. It’s good to be traveling again. It’s good to be on my own. It’s the best way to be, maybe.
X
Crikey Jackie -
Australia is brilliant. I love the weather. The people, too. I’ve been here a quite a few times. I’ve always liked it here. A girl I used to know is from Australia. She wouldn‘t know me in this world. I wonder if I should look her up anyway. I probably won’t.
Someone talked me into a Walkabout. Everyone says how fantastic they're supposed to be. It just seems like a lot of walking.
Maybe not. Maybe it will live up to all the hype.
I never got to go that ranch in Texas. I was side tracked. Things.
But I found one in Australia. I was complete rubbish. Always falling and finding myself in a mess. But I loved it. The ranch handler half hated me to begin with. Probably convinced I’d force them to lose the entire place. Burn it down or let the animals run away or something along those lines. Don’t blame him for thinking that.
By the end, I wasn’t very good. But I was better. He didn’t half hate me anymore. He still was convinced I’d destroy the place. And he was still probably right to think so.
I bought you some boomerangs. I hope this letter and the boomerangs made it‘s way to you and didn‘t turn around and head back to where I am. Don’t know what you can do with them. Maybe the entire family can throw them at each other or something. I don’t know. It seemed appropriately Australian.
G’Day Mate!
Murray
Dear Jackie -
On safari. Saw an elephant. Included some photographs. That’s me and a monkey! Isn’t that brilliant?
It’s gorgeous here in Africa.
The bugs though, they’re the worst. Huge. Scary. And they bite.
It’s still worth it.
- Ian (new continent, new name, new me)
Jackie -
This might possibly be the last letter. I’m not going to be able to write like this much longer. Some things have happened. Good things, I think.
Thank you. If for nothing else, then for just being someone I could write to. Who would think of all the people in the universe
I’m not sure how that sentence should end. But I think it should still be there.
Tell Pete and Tony I hope they’re doing well. I think of all of you from time to time. I really do. You might not believe it. Well you might. Rose, I don’t think she would. But I do.
Tell Rose I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t be Him. I wish I could sometimes. But sometimes, I like being me, too. I don’t think Rose could ever like me being me. But that’s okay. I don’t blame her. I understand.
Tell her I’m sorry. Maybe we’ll meet again, when the Doctor is just someone we used to know. And that’s all.
That might be nice.
- the doctor (?)