RP for Catherine, alt!Ten and ainley!Master

[darkdoctor]

The Doctor leaned slightly against his TARDIS, observing the other ships, the widely varied people milling about. He'd taken to doing so, simply watching this new environment, so the behaviour was hardly conspicuous

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[decadentmind]

Catherine made her way out of the house and across the garden, headed for his TARDIS. She spied him standing outside, leaning on one of its corners, and she hurried her pace, smiling politely as she approached.

"Hello, Doctor."

Her eyes were a bit bright and her face flushed from the brisk walk. Her smile widened slightly, got just a touch warmer, and she said, "It's good to see you."

[darkdoctor]

The Doctor straightened, stepping forward to meet her with a smile of his own, faint but friendly.

"And you, Catherine. How are you?"

[decadentmind]

"Good. I'm good."

She studied his face, her conversation with Melissa still very much at the forefront of her mind. "I'm... well, I'm very ready to take care of the Master. Your other self should hopefully be meeting us here soon, with that circuit board."

[darkdoctor]

He noticed the scrutiny, wondered at its motive, but didn't comment, simply nodding. After, of course, a careless glance to assure no one was within hearing distance.

"Who did he choose to assist him?" He kept his voice light, casual; if no one could make out the words, they might well think he was discussing who to invite for tea and crumpets.

[decadentmind]

"Oh, well, he, erm..."

Catherine realised that the Doctor being human now that he'd used the chameleon arch could potentially prove to be a sticking point in this alliance.

Not only that... she realised it could be seen as a vulnerability for others to exploit. Not that she had any misgivings about this Doctor; she trusted him.

But a vow is a vow, and she had vowed to protect the Tenth Doctor. To keep him safe. She chose to take the broader interpretation of that vow.

"...Reinette. Formidable woman, that. I'm sure she did it without even batting an eye," she said, looking up and meeting his gaze squarely.

[darkdoctor]

Stuttering. Hesitance. It wasn't what he'd come to expect of her and his eyebrows lifted slightly. Did she just not want to give the woman's name? Why wouldn't she?

He gazed at her silently for a moment, speculative.

"I see. I do hope she's managed safely."

[decadentmind]

"...I'm sure she did," Catherine reassured him, perhaps just a touch too quickly. "If anyone could pull it off without difficulty, it's Reinette. Like I said. Formidable."

She cast another glance over their surroundings. Where was he? Where was the other Doctor?

"I have the poison ready," she said, hoping to soothe her nerves and perhaps distract them both from the fact that they were waiting. She reached inside her jacket and pulled out a small glass flask. "There's more than enough for our purposes."

[darkdoctor]

A nod at the assurance, just a hint of doubt in his eyes, and perhaps it was simply uncertainty.

It faded as he examined the little flask, taking a step closer as he turned slightly. It looked more like an intimate conversation than a shielding gesture.

"I never doubted." Grim admiration in a faint smile as he looked up at her.

[decadentmind]

Catherine's cheeks coloured at the praise, and she returned the smile, though hers was bigger and brighter. "Thank you. It's..."

She shifted her weight to her other foot a bit uncomfortably, her eyes scanning the crowd again.

"...it's nice not to be doubted."

[darkdoctor]

His own widened, and he inclined his head slightly.

"I can't see why you would be."

[decadentmind]

Catherine shook her head slightly, as if annoyed. "It's... nothing. Old business with your other self. He seemed to doubt my ability to look after myself without his constant presence."

She sighed. "Sorry. That's not what we're here for. Hopefully the Doctor will be here soon with that circuit board."

[darkdoctor]

His eyes widened with surprised disdain; it was clear he thought it a rather ludicrous idea.

"Yes, and I daresay you'll do a brilliant job of proving him wrong."

[decadentmind]

Catherine blinked, then her own eyes widened, and she broke into a touched smile, the flush staining her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink. "I... thank you," she replied, earnestly. "Thank you."

One side of her mouth curled up slightly, as if in private amusement.

"It's good to know one of you has got some sense..."

[darkdoctor]

"Not at all," he said quietly. His own lips curved in amused gratitude at the odd compliment.

"Perhaps I should meet him properly, I may be good influence..."

[decadentmind]

Catherine laughed softly at that, clearly amused now.

"I'm all for the idea. But I daresay he'd never go for it. He doesn't seem to trust you very much at all."

[darkdoctor]

His brow furrowed slightly at that, though his smile didn't fade entirely.

"Have you any idea why? I didn't think our conversation went so very badly..."