Paradisa Application
CHARACTER NAME: The Tenth Doctor
FANDOM: Doctor Who
CANON: At the end of the Library
WHAT THEY LOST: His memories of Jenny. He won’t remember having a daughter (well, not that one, anyway). Having her gave him a connection to someone else in the universe…someone else that could be considered family. Since the Master dies and he’d forget her, that’s a huge loss.
ABOUT THE CHARACTER:
The Oncoming Storm. Earth’s protector. The Doctor. He has a lot of titles and has had nearly as many faces, but through it all, very little is revealed about the man himself. His name is a carefully guarded secret… so guarded that, when Professor Song whispers it to him in The Library, he knows he has to trust her whether he likes it or not. With his tenth regeneration, especially, he masks his feelings and thoughts under a veneer of confidence that borders on (and sometimes stomps all over) arrogance. If that doesn’t work, his love of words and quick wit often send him off on tangents so complex that the question gets lost in the answer.
What is clear is that the Doctor loves humanity. Watching humans grow and change with all their potential and brilliance and ridiculousness, the Doctor has made it his mission to protect the Earth from the various threats in the universe. It’s a love based in sacrifice… He constantly puts himself in the line of danger, facing even death if it means protecting his companions or their home. With his people gone, humanity holds a special place in his heart. However, they’re not the only ones he’ll protect. Anyone in need of a home, a helping hand, or a chance at new life is worth his attention. Ten is more a fan of running than fighting, and he’d much rather talk with a potential threat than battle it. If a peaceful solution can be found, he’ll find it.
That does not mean he won’t fight, though. The Doctor may be very, very good at running…but he’s not the coward that many have accused him of being. And if pushed into battle, it very quickly becomes clear why the Dalek know him as the Oncoming Storm. Anyone deserves a chance… not many are given a second one. This Doctor is satin over steel, his charm and humor masking a steady resolve and, occasionally, icy cold determination. His temper, once sparked, can be a terrible thing. And while he usually tries his hardest to avoid direct confrontations, there have been more than a few times where -in his anger- he simply chooses not to save someone.
A lot of the decisions he makes are based on the events during his previous regenerations. As Nine, the Doctor had to carry the guilt of being the destroyer of his people. He was angry and gruff and all sharp edges. With his tenth face, the Doctor tries to move a step closer to healing, reconnecting with his companions and allowing himself to be happy, to be silly, and to love. The sadness, anger, and guilt that come from the loss of his home are still very much present, under the surface, but in this regeneration he works very hard to keep it from overwhelming him.
Because of this regeneration’s connection to humanity, his companions are key. In this regeneration, the Doctor is remarkably attached to the women who travel with him. He relies on them, admires them for their brilliance and their spirit and all the lovely sides of humanity that counter how ugly humans, as a race, can really be. Rose, his first companion since the Time War and the first to tear down the careful walls he put up after it, is especially important to him…but while his love for Martha and Donna is on a very different level, there’s no doubt that he cares very strongly for them as well.
More than anything, this regeneration is lonely. As the anger wanes, the horrible realization that he’s alone in the universe has him reaching out trying to find others he can connect with. This can be one of his companions…or it can be any person who carries that potential he’s always looking for in human kind. It allows him to pretend that he’s not alone for just a little longer.
THIRD-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE:
The twin suns shining down on Pen Haxico 2 glistened off the water and heated the air to a sultry, tropical warmth. Donna, a straw hat shading her face, leaned in the open doorway of the TARDIS with her arms crossed. She’d been there for minutes, now, finger tapping irritably against her bare arm, but the Doctor hadn’t noticed. Or perhaps he had, but had simply chosen to ignore her, eyes rolled up towards the ceiling and his legs sprawled out in front of him, the picture of boredom.
“Ahem.” Donna cleared her throat once. Then, when she got no response, she did it again. Still nothing. Rolling her own eyes, she pressed her lips together and stepped fully inside. “Oi! Spaceman. You’ve been promising me a beach for bloody ages, you have. Dragged me here and about this universe to everything but. Now that we’re here, we did not finally get a decent, lovely, quiet vacation spot to have you sitting on your skinny arse all day.”
The Doctor's eyes never strayed from the ceiling. “Did you know that nutmeg is incredibly poisonous if you inject it?" he said, his tone suggesting he wasn't really saying it out of interest, as much as for idle musing and something to do. "And, to know that, someone had to go and test it. You humans… brilliant race. Lovely race… such curiosity. But of course, that’s a bit of a dangerous track...going about and injecting random herbs. It’s no wonder you lot ended up so obsessed with things like ‘reality’ television. Half of you've gone and fried your brains experimenting with the cookery.”
“Nutmeg?” Donna glowered at him, her voice rising in pitch. “I don’t care about nutmeg!” Her foot began tapping in time with her finger, demanding attention that the Doctor pointedly chose not to give. “There’s sun." Tap. "There’s sand." Tap. "And there’s a beautiful," tap, "blue," tap, "ocean where we could be sipping fruity drinks and lounging about and you’re talking about nutmeg!" As her tone reached danger levels, she raised a hand, shaking a finger at him. "I’m warning you, you great bit outer space lunatic, I-”
A sudden explosion rocked the TARDIS, sending her stumbling forward. The Doctor, on his feet in an instant, caught her, hands resting on her arms to steady his companion…but his gaze was beyond her, out past the swinging door. “Well, well,” he muttered, a grin appearing. “What do you suppose that was?”
Donna’s eyes widened. “No.” She shook her head, staring at him incredulousl. “No, no, no! You knew this was going to happen!”
Releasing her, he strode for the door. “Come on, Donna! No time to be falling behind, now.”
“Falling behind! Oh no you don’t. You promised me beaches, Doctor. Beaches. With chairs. And NO RUNNING!”
But he was already gone, sprinting of in the direction of the explosion, leaving her no choice but to grit her teeth and, slamming the door to the TARDIS shut behind her, take off after him.
FIRST-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE:
Fascinating! Absolutely fascinating. Everything I say, you’re storing it away, just so.
Banana pudding. Crème brule. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers on the way to Proxima Centauri. Wibbly wobbly sha na na na bang bang.
[a pause. Then, all in a rush] A B C D E F G H I J K el-lo you’re good. Molto bene.
[a clap of his hands] Right then. For all of you happy listeners in this lovely castle, I’m the Doctor. I’ve apparently been here many, many times, often overlapping …which is a great trick. Really. I’m still wondering a bit about that one… and I’ve just had quite an exciting read through this amazing book. It’s better than Days of Our Lives. Great twists.
Now, I’ve made myself quite familiar with the regular questions, so we can skip that bit for now….but, I have to ask;
Four years and no one’s thought to put in a shop? For shame. I love a little shop.