❧ Off-Season 1

[luministimods]

[Nathan paces in front of the many screens in Caligin's office, waiting for the remaining inhabitants to report to him. they'll note that none of the picture frames remain in the office. at all. once they all arrive, he immediately launches into his spiel. he doesn't seem to have the same vigor as he did when he first turned up to send the

Comments

[irreversibly]

[Finally... This is it. She gets to travel with the Doctor. She gets to see other planets, new worlds, without the Organization looming over her head. No "do this or you'll be destroyed." She still has a mission, and it's still an important one, but she feels so incredibly free that she's not quite sure what to do with herself. This is something she chose to do. She wasn't forced to face facts with her back in the corner. This... This is...]

Beaches?! That world has a beach? Can we go to that one?

[bonnypiperlad]

[Finally, they get to travel again. And it's about time, too. Frankly, Jamie's been getting a bit bored with the waiting around and not doing anything, and while he knows that there's a chance he'll wind up being bored in the TARDIS as well, at least they'll be going somewhere.]

Aye, well, I don't know. Seems to me if you're going to go and hide somewhere, a planet full of cities would be the best place to do that. Should we not try this Hyne-Savage place first?

[irreversibly]

[Immediately, Xion almost wilts. She feels so foolish now. Of course, of course, she should be thinking "where would he be hiding," not letting herself get carried away.]

Oh -- ah -- Y-Yes... I suppose you're right...

[bonnypiperlad]

[He's about to say something, but the lad seems so disappointed by the idea that all Jamie manages to do is open his mouth and close it again. He rubs at the back of his neck for a moment.]

Er, well, then again, maybe he thinks that hiding in the midst of people having a vacation might not be such a bad plan either. And it's not as though we don't have the TARDIS to try both.

[muttered] Assuming the Doctor can get us there in the first place.

[bit_impossible]

[he has been reading the information and sort of half-listening to his friends chat about where they want to go, but of course, he tunes right back in at the worst moment] Oi! I can get us there easily! Well, the TARDIS can, to be more precise. And while I don't think we'll be needing this--[holds up the data chip]--the old girl should get us where we want to go.

[claps them both on their shoulders, slinging his arms around them as he continues to speak] I think it's a brilliant idea starting with the resort planet. [grins at both of them, then steps past them, heading for the door] Would have thought of it myself, but it's been ages since you've been in the TARDIS, Jamie, and Xion's never been at all, so...passenger choice! Fremercury it is!

1/2

[irreversibly]

[Xion flushes as she follows the Doctor at a light jog.] B-But -- He's right, though! It's easier to hide in a place where there are so many people! [No, no, this isn't a vacation, she still has a job to do! >///<]

2/2

[irreversibly]

[There's a pause.] ... though... I didn't hide where there were a lot of people...

[She stops, now, and she frowns, thinking.] I hid where there were no people. No one who could say, "oh, yes, I've seen a mysterious person around"... But would he think like me?

[bonnypiperlad]

Look, I'll have ye know it's only been a few months since I was in the TARDIS, thank ye very much... [He starts to take off after the Doctor, but stops when he notices Xion's stopped as well.]

Hey? Do ye think he might have gone to somewhere deserted then, like that Survivor place?

[irreversibly]

Maybe. But that place sounds too dangerous, even if it is empty. It's empty for a reason. But that vacation world -- There's forests, right? Where it's easy to get lost.

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, ye might be right, at that. And those resort places...well, there'd be people there, would there not? So if he wanted to hide in plain sight he could do that too.

[irreversibly]

Yeah, and everyone'd be too busy enjoying themselves to pay much attention to him. Plus, he'd be able to have a good time while he's hiding... There's not a whole lot to do when you're in hiding.

[bonnypiperlad]

Other than wait around and hope you've not been discovered. [He might be a little familiar with that, too.]

Well, if we don't catch up with the Doctor neither one of us'll get to go much of anywhere. Come on, Xion.

[irreversibly]

[At that, Xion smiles and laughs a little.] Yeah, you're right. Let's go!

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye. [Jamie takes off at a jog in order to catch up with the Doctor, figuring Xion will be right behind him. It occurs to him, though, he's not exactly sure where they've gone and put the TARDIS now that it's back together.]

Hey, is the TARDIS much further, Doctor?

[bit_impossible]

[he only half-registers the contents of their discussion, his long strides taking him farther away from them in his eagerness. well, and his own meandering thoughts about the different planets and how the local names for them amuse him immensely]

Hmm? Oh! Well, not much longer actually. I spotted the old girl outside Lab #4 and if you look round this corner here... [he leans past said corner, poking his head out into vast observation deck. an excited smile is starting to grow on his face again as he spots his dear ship]

[irreversibly]

[That smile... Once Xion sees the look on the Doctor's face, her own lights up. (The reasoning is probably very noticeable and obvious.) That spark of excitement returns, and she can hardly contain her energy again.]

I can't wait to meet her.