[014]

[oliverplus]

[the sphere clicks on to a young boy, just starting to sit up in bed, rubbing his eyes and giving a huge yawn; he has a sweatshirt on that is about twice his size, pooling around the half of him that is visible over the bedsheets]

Mum? [blinks, looking at the room around him] Are we on holiday? [more loudly] Mum! Where’s everybody?

[starts

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[was just in oliver's bathroom changing into a spare set of clothes his friend had, seeing as the clothes he was wearing moments before were now too small and too tight, and uncomfortably so. He walks back in wearing jeans that are a little loose and a The Killers t-shirt that's definitely a size too big on him--all thanks to his lanky figure--and stops when a younger version of Oliver greets him.]

Uh, hello! [thinks about how to go about this and quickly concludes there is no pleasant way and he's not about to start lying] I'm the Doctor, Ollie. You...sort of are on a holiday, but your family's not here. They left you in my care.

[oliverplus]

Like...a special holiday just for me!? What do I get to do? Are there lots of fun games? Where are we?

And I don't know you. Why did they leave me with a doctor? I'm not sick, and Bobby's the one that faked to get out of school!

[bit_impossible]

Yep! Just for you. This is, uh, a special cruise for smart people! Your parent were very pleased with your marks this year and decided to treat you! And I just so happen to be the greatest genius on this ship. [grins proudly about that]

So you see, I'm not just any doctor. I'm the Doctor.

...Who's Bobby?

[oliverplus]

Really? I thought Dad didn't like my marks!

Doctor who? What's your name? Are you famous?

He's my big brother! But he doesn't get very good marks, so he's probably not here.

[bit_impossible]

That's why this was a surprise!

Doctor...John Smith! But just call me Doctor. Much easier that way. And well, depends on who you talk to. I'm more of a behind the scenes kind of guy.

You have a brother? [is surprised by this. oliver never mentioned having a brother--then again, all he ever talked about was chloe...]

[oliverplus]

Behind the scenes? [considers this] Like Obi Wan Kenobi? That's cool!

Yeah! Bobby. He's real good at football. He's gonna be famous!

Lara says I'm supposed to ask if you're a stranger. Are you a stranger, Doctor?

[bit_impossible]

Um, yeah, yeah, I suppose so... Don't have a light saber though.

Football player, huh? [mumbles to self] I wonder if he does become famous then...

Me? A stranger? No, no. I've known you for ages! You just...might not remember.

[oliverplus]

Do you have something else neat? We could pretend it's a light saber!

Yeah, he's always playing football. But he says I'm too little to play with him and his friends. [pouts]

Are you my uncle?

[bit_impossible]

I do, but I don't have it here. It has to be back in my suit...

Uncle?? I, uh, well, I... [decides that if he has to think about him in that way, then he'll take that name. he's been called worse] Yes. In a way. Removed a couple times, that kind of thing.

[oliverplus]

Did somebody give you funny clothes, too? Where'd all the regular clothes go?

Okay, you're not a stranger, then. Mum's always mad at me 'cause we go to family parties, and everybody talks to me, and I don't know who anybody is! But don't tell her I said that. I'm s'posed to pretend I remember you.

[bit_impossible]

Somebody did yeah, sort of. There's, uh, some child-sized clothes in the--[stops, doesn't feel comfortable giving oliver the clothes he was just wearing.]--in the stores. I can get you some, if you'd like.

[might just regret allowing this assumption, but he'd rather let him believe that than tell him he's a stranger and suffer the consequences] That's okay if you don't remember me. Happens all the time. It had been a while since I last saw you anyway.

[oliverplus]

Yeah! Lara said she was gonna find some, so we should get her some, too.

Okay, Uncle Doctor John. I know you now!

[bit_impossible]

We can do that, sure. Might have to pick up something for someone else I know too...

[isn't sure what he thinks about being called that]

[oliverplus]

Really? Why's everybody got funny clothes on? Is it a game?

What are we supposed to do on this holiday, anyway? Are we somewhere fun? Did you know Lara's been to the Artic? Isn't that cool?

[bit_impossible]

Yeah, [plays along with it] yeah, it is a bit of a game. Called Swap! Not too many rules to it. Just switch your regular clothes with oversized ones and see what happens!

We are well, going to relax with some movies and, well, anything you can think of! What would you like to do, Ollie?

Lara has, huh? Fascinating! I'll have to ask her about it later.

[oliverplus]

Oh! Isn't that kinda silly? They all fall off! And I can't see my hands. [holds up his arms, which are completely lost in the sweatshirt sleeves]

I like movies! And um...can we eat candy? And play games? Do you have games here? Where are we?

Yeah, and she saw a wolf! She's really cool--for a girl.