Flashfic: Disillusion [Six and Peri]
Title: Disillusion
Author: kseda
Rating: G
Characters: the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown
Summary: Lastly, and also a lesson she should have picked up on already, was that one should never take the Doctor's word at face value.
Notes: Written in one shot for tardis_quickie, no beta. I realized halfway through that I've not seen Six and Peri in over a decade and likely have them ALL WRONG. *facepalm* Points for effort?
The moment the Doctor promised her a swank party at the home of a Florida business magnate, then told her to pick out something from the 1920s section of the TARDIS wardrobe, Peri should have known it was too good to be true.
The dress she had picked out was a sleeveless black and green beaded affair that hit at the knee. As usual the TARDIS also supplied matching shoes (strappy high heels) and managed a pillbox hat accented with the top of a peacock feather.
"Ta-da!" Peri announced as she presented herself in the console room. Her face fell and she dropped the lengthy string of pearls she'd been swinging. "That's what you're wearing?"
The Doctor gave her a look of consternation and tweaked the cat pin on his lapel so it was straight. "Of course!" he replied. "Is it a prerequisite that we have this debate prior to going anywhere?"
Peri regarded the patchwork outfit and shook her head. While she had apparently grown accustomed to it (fond of it perhaps?), she doubted the rest of the universe would ever be as forgiving. "Not every time," she allowed. "Just, you know, high class party, business people, the roaring twenties..." she trailed off with a wave of her hand. "Do you think this once you could go with something a bit more reserved?"
"Trust me, Peri," he said and pulled the door lever. "I'm certain our hosts will appreciate it."
~*~
Peri learned several things that day. One, which should have been learned some time ago, was that one should never leave the TARDIS without a coat. Secondly, Florida's Gulf coast could be damn cold on a February afternoon. Lastly, and also a lesson she should have picked up on already, was that one should never take the Doctor's word at face value.
The party was, indeed, at the home of a Florida businessman. "At," not "in" since the mansion was closed for renovations. The house had once belonged to John Ringling, of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus fame. The exterior was gorgeous, done up in the style of a Venetian palazzo with a bell tower and marble waterfront veranda. The Doctor had gone on about architectural details while Peri nodded vigorously and shivered in the wind coming off Sarasota Bay. A yacht with an orchestra on it was moored at the dock.
It was 1997, and the party was a charity fete to raise money to complete the restoration work on the house.
"There is a medieval fair on the grounds in the spring," the Doctor had said. At which point he was pulled away by another curious group complimenting his daring and yet perfectly themed attire.
Peri thought of being swathed in a velvet medieval gown and decided more bourbon was in order. Glass in hand she thought to make the most of it and approached the yacht to make a request. A few minutes later she rejoined the Doctor with a scowl.
"The bandleader said he's 'never heard of' the Glen Miller Orchestra," she muttered. "I asked for 'In The Mood' and he said they couldn't play it."
The Doctor shrugged. "Well, they can't. This party is supposed to be in 1929, Peri, 'In The Mood' wasn't performed until 1939. It would have ruined the authenticity."
"Is that so," Peri deadpanned and glanced at the helicopter thundering overhead, then at the polo-shirt wearing museum employee she'd spoken with earlier. "Why didn't we just go to 1929 and attend a real Ringling party? Then at least we could go inside where it's warm."
"Well, you could always borrow-"
"No! No, thank you."
"Hmph. But since you asked I've only just been to the twenties, this soiree has a completely different feel," the Doctor said with authority. "That, and, well." He glanced at his shoes and coughed. "The Ringlings are unlikely to be very welcoming of me."
She rolled her eyes. "All right, what did you do this time?"
He grimaced. "I merely borrowed one of the circus' camels for a day or two." Peri blinked. "It was certainly justified! I presented her as an ambassador to a Minniti raiding force. They decided Earth had diplomatic immunity and ventured elsewhere." She blinked at him again. "They were going to vaporize Kalamazoo!"
"And what's wrong with that?" Peri muttered. "All right. But after this you'd better take me to Disney World. I haven't been there since I was ten." She narrowed her eyes. "Unless you did something to tick Mickey off and we can't go there either."
"No, not Mickey. But if we encounter Donald there may be an issue."
"Doctor!"
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Additional notes: I have clearly been to the Ringling Museum and the Ringling mansion too many times.
Author: kseda
Rating: G
Characters: the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown
Summary: Lastly, and also a lesson she should have picked up on already, was that one should never take the Doctor's word at face value.
Notes: Written in one shot for tardis_quickie, no beta. I realized halfway through that I've not seen Six and Peri in over a decade and likely have them ALL WRONG. *facepalm* Points for effort?
The moment the Doctor promised her a swank party at the home of a Florida business magnate, then told her to pick out something from the 1920s section of the TARDIS wardrobe, Peri should have known it was too good to be true.
The dress she had picked out was a sleeveless black and green beaded affair that hit at the knee. As usual the TARDIS also supplied matching shoes (strappy high heels) and managed a pillbox hat accented with the top of a peacock feather.
"Ta-da!" Peri announced as she presented herself in the console room. Her face fell and she dropped the lengthy string of pearls she'd been swinging. "That's what you're wearing?"
The Doctor gave her a look of consternation and tweaked the cat pin on his lapel so it was straight. "Of course!" he replied. "Is it a prerequisite that we have this debate prior to going anywhere?"
Peri regarded the patchwork outfit and shook her head. While she had apparently grown accustomed to it (fond of it perhaps?), she doubted the rest of the universe would ever be as forgiving. "Not every time," she allowed. "Just, you know, high class party, business people, the roaring twenties..." she trailed off with a wave of her hand. "Do you think this once you could go with something a bit more reserved?"
"Trust me, Peri," he said and pulled the door lever. "I'm certain our hosts will appreciate it."
~*~
Peri learned several things that day. One, which should have been learned some time ago, was that one should never leave the TARDIS without a coat. Secondly, Florida's Gulf coast could be damn cold on a February afternoon. Lastly, and also a lesson she should have picked up on already, was that one should never take the Doctor's word at face value.
The party was, indeed, at the home of a Florida businessman. "At," not "in" since the mansion was closed for renovations. The house had once belonged to John Ringling, of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus fame. The exterior was gorgeous, done up in the style of a Venetian palazzo with a bell tower and marble waterfront veranda. The Doctor had gone on about architectural details while Peri nodded vigorously and shivered in the wind coming off Sarasota Bay. A yacht with an orchestra on it was moored at the dock.
It was 1997, and the party was a charity fete to raise money to complete the restoration work on the house.
"There is a medieval fair on the grounds in the spring," the Doctor had said. At which point he was pulled away by another curious group complimenting his daring and yet perfectly themed attire.
Peri thought of being swathed in a velvet medieval gown and decided more bourbon was in order. Glass in hand she thought to make the most of it and approached the yacht to make a request. A few minutes later she rejoined the Doctor with a scowl.
"The bandleader said he's 'never heard of' the Glen Miller Orchestra," she muttered. "I asked for 'In The Mood' and he said they couldn't play it."
The Doctor shrugged. "Well, they can't. This party is supposed to be in 1929, Peri, 'In The Mood' wasn't performed until 1939. It would have ruined the authenticity."
"Is that so," Peri deadpanned and glanced at the helicopter thundering overhead, then at the polo-shirt wearing museum employee she'd spoken with earlier. "Why didn't we just go to 1929 and attend a real Ringling party? Then at least we could go inside where it's warm."
"Well, you could always borrow-"
"No! No, thank you."
"Hmph. But since you asked I've only just been to the twenties, this soiree has a completely different feel," the Doctor said with authority. "That, and, well." He glanced at his shoes and coughed. "The Ringlings are unlikely to be very welcoming of me."
She rolled her eyes. "All right, what did you do this time?"
He grimaced. "I merely borrowed one of the circus' camels for a day or two." Peri blinked. "It was certainly justified! I presented her as an ambassador to a Minniti raiding force. They decided Earth had diplomatic immunity and ventured elsewhere." She blinked at him again. "They were going to vaporize Kalamazoo!"
"And what's wrong with that?" Peri muttered. "All right. But after this you'd better take me to Disney World. I haven't been there since I was ten." She narrowed her eyes. "Unless you did something to tick Mickey off and we can't go there either."
"No, not Mickey. But if we encounter Donald there may be an issue."
"Doctor!"
----------------------
Additional notes: I have clearly been to the Ringling Museum and the Ringling mansion too many times.