I've got a theory

[kindkit]

I've been thinking about Time Lord sexuality. As you do.

I am forced to admit, reluctantly, that the Doctor seems rather sexually indifferent. Even in the ostensibly sexed-up new series, the only person he clearly has some kind of erotic/romantic interest in is Reinette. And before the new series, my understanding of telly-canon is that he's

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[kindkit]

Eccleston and Tennant are practically oozing warm fuzzies compared to, say, Tom Baker.

*nods* The Doctors I've seen/read--Two, Eight, Nine, and Ten--are apparently the warmest ones, emotionally. So I've probably got a rather skewed sense of what the Doctor is like. Of course, it's difficult to talk about "the Doctor" in general because his self is so inconsistent--each new incarnation has a distinct personality.

I think the Doctor sees most humans (Reinette being an exception to the rule) as kittens

*nods* I often think of the Doctor as being like a person who really, really loves dogs. He thinks they're smart and wonderful as a species, and he adores his own dogs like crazy. But they're still dogs, and you don't fall in love with a dog. On the other hand, in some ways the metaphor isn't apt, because human beings, while not as smart as Time Lords, are sentient creatures, and of course Time Lords and humans are much more physically alike than humans and dogs/kittens. So I don't think the sense of taboo and ickiness is necessarily comparable.

But, yeah, most of the companions are fluffy kitties, or big annoying-yet-beloved hounds. Only a few seem to get a real emotional response from the Doctor, at least judging by what I've seen.

So while you can write hot sex with the Doctor, I wouldn't expect it to be functional.

I suppose it depends upon what one means by "functional." I certainly wouldn't expect it to be like an ordinary human relationship. I don't think it would necessarily be grim/bleak/exploitive either, but it would be weird.

I have nothing against dysfunctional smut. Especially if it's Doctor / Master.

Ah, yes. And there is a sad lack of good, hot, dysfunctional Doctor/Master smut.

[van]

But, yeah, most of the companions are fluffy kitties, or big annoying-yet-beloved hounds. Only a few seem to get a real emotional response from the Doctor, at least judging by what I've seen.

Yes, this is definitely true. And, there are some companions who, while they might rise about the "Fluffy kitten" stage, for him to treat them like that would be dangerous for THEM. For instance, I would say that Sarah Jane probably was more special to him, especially early one, than say, Dodo. She's one of the companions I could see the Doctor being fond of in a sexual way.

But Sarah Jane (like Rose), wouldn't have had a healthy relationship with the Doctor. She would have wanted more than just sex. I think she would have wanted to settle down and focus on her career (this is Sarah Jane we're talking about), and would want it to be a "forever" thing and that was something the Doctor couldn't give her. He doesn't want to watch the people he cares about grow old and die he already did that with Jamie, he can't settle down in one place, etc. But he also knows it isn't fair for Sarah Jane to not report or do what she loves, so the easiest thing for him to do is to dump her.

There are other companions I think he could have a relationship without worrying about "strings attached." I see Peri like that.. I can see Six and Peri as very sexual and sexually compatable. They'd have sex because it was fun and available and why not? But I also don't think they were IN LOVE. In that, eventually Peri knew she'd leave and Six wasn't going to be heart broken when she did. And if Peri fell in love with some guy on their travels, Six wouldn't be offended or insulted or mad or whatever. Which isn't to say he didn't LOVE her, it just wasn't the human "house and morgage" that someone like Sarah Jane, Tegan or Rose would have wanted.

But it does still leave you with the feeling that the Doctor could be taking advantage of his companions, and I think that's something he worries about a lot more, especially as he gets older. "If I express sexual interest in So-And-So, will she feel compelled to give it up to me because she's afraid I'll dump her ass otherwise?" Same sort of military reasoning that officers don't get with lower-ranking officers, or students with teachers, etc.

[kindkit]

Hmmm. I see what you're saying, but I think there's a lot of wiggle room between "no strings attached sex" and "house and morgage." Personally, I'm more interested in writing about emotional relationships--happy or not, long-term or not--than about sex per se. And my sense of the Doctor--at least, the versions I know reasonably well--is that he does form emotional attachments at the same time that he keeps his distance.

*shrugs* YMMV.