My theories appall you, my heresies outrage you, etc.
(Note: This was supposed to x-poast from DWidth ages ago but it didn't, so sorry if it comes through again laters.)
Despite the icon I am... meh about Eleven/Romana? But I have thoughts as to why! Two theories, which are not mutually incompatible!
1. (As I have said before some places) Eleventy doesn't seem to need her as desperately as Ten did, being quite content (seemingly, at least) with his womens and happier with his place in the universe. Though we haven't yet seen him with another Time Lord, so I could change my mind on this one if he goes all Ten about them at some point in the future.
2. We haven't seen Romana post-War, so the first port of call for in-character recognisible Romana is her as we last saw her, when she was not fucked in the head. There is a surprising amount of fic where she doesn't seem at all fussed about the whole "o hai, I asploded our planet" thing. I mean apart from crackfic where that is fine because it's crack and whatnot. Personally I am not sure how she'd be affected and it is tricky in my head to get any of it to work.
I have to admit that this is brought to you by reading some Doctor/Romana that wasn't very... good. (Oh my life, it is so hard.) Like she was in-character for her years on the series, but when put in the same place as postWar!Doctor she seemed kind of heart(s)less and petty and smug. I mean it's like this
Doctor: "Oh, Romana! Our world is gone, we are the Last Of Our KindTM, I have spent years crying myself to sleep in the belief that you were dead like everyone else!"
Romana: "Gosh, Doctor, you are a very silly man, aren't you?"
I think it bothered me less with Ten (though...) because we all wanted to puncture his ego so I liked it and if I like something that means it must be objectively good. With Eleven it seems a bit harsh?
I am wondering if the way to go is to write her a bit River-like? Make her sort of hardened but with a vulnerable side, and loving the Doctor without needing him to survive. If River is indeed The Modern Romana and therefore a sort of girl!Doctor for Nu Who. (She's not Jack. I think it is cruel to call her girl!Jack.)
Despite the icon I am... meh about Eleven/Romana? But I have thoughts as to why! Two theories, which are not mutually incompatible!
1. (As I have said before some places) Eleventy doesn't seem to need her as desperately as Ten did, being quite content (seemingly, at least) with his womens and happier with his place in the universe. Though we haven't yet seen him with another Time Lord, so I could change my mind on this one if he goes all Ten about them at some point in the future.
2. We haven't seen Romana post-War, so the first port of call for in-character recognisible Romana is her as we last saw her, when she was not fucked in the head. There is a surprising amount of fic where she doesn't seem at all fussed about the whole "o hai, I asploded our planet" thing. I mean apart from crackfic where that is fine because it's crack and whatnot. Personally I am not sure how she'd be affected and it is tricky in my head to get any of it to work.
I have to admit that this is brought to you by reading some Doctor/Romana that wasn't very... good. (Oh my life, it is so hard.) Like she was in-character for her years on the series, but when put in the same place as postWar!Doctor she seemed kind of heart(s)less and petty and smug. I mean it's like this
Doctor: "Oh, Romana! Our world is gone, we are the Last Of Our KindTM, I have spent years crying myself to sleep in the belief that you were dead like everyone else!"
Romana: "Gosh, Doctor, you are a very silly man, aren't you?"
I think it bothered me less with Ten (though...) because we all wanted to puncture his ego so I liked it and if I like something that means it must be objectively good. With Eleven it seems a bit harsh?
I am wondering if the way to go is to write her a bit River-like? Make her sort of hardened but with a vulnerable side, and loving the Doctor without needing him to survive. If River is indeed The Modern Romana and therefore a sort of girl!Doctor for Nu Who. (She's not Jack. I think it is cruel to call her girl!Jack.)