ROTM 'verse, RP for decadentmind

[rude_not_ginger]

Well, that was bracing, at the very least. Quick stop off to Ireland in the 13th century to sightsee, and the first thing the Doctor did was walk right into a pack of bandits. They'd kidnapped a local woman and were holding her ransom. And, because the Doctor had seen them, he got held for ransom, too. The sonic screwdriver wasn't very handy,

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[decadentmind]

Arcateen 5 had been an adventure and a half. So much so that she'd needed a day or two to rest afterwards.

Time to rest meant time to think. And it wasn't that Catherine hadn't thought about him at all--she had. He was nearly constantly at the edge of her consciousness. But quiet time, time to really think was also time to reflect. And remember. And wonder.

And miss him.

Out of respect, Catherine let this Doctor know she'd be calling that one. And that it would soon be time for her to leave for a bit, and see him again.

He'd understood, and withdrawn, to give her space and privacy. It couldn't have been easy, this first time, and she was grateful for the grace and understanding with which he handled it.

Catherine was in the greenhouse room, perched on the edge of a marble planter, fishnet-clad legs dangling lazily as she took her mobile out of her jacket pocket and dialed the other TARDIS.

[rude_not_ginger]

Brrrrrring. Brrrrring.

In case someone were to ask, the Doctor would deny, with earnest, the fact that he ran at top speed down the corridor from the wardrobe room in half-done-up burgundy boots, to catch the phone in the console room.

After all, who else would be calling?

He snatched the phone off its cradle and, in his best attempt to cover up his out-of-breath, uh, ness, said, "Hello?"

It was as good a start as any.

[decadentmind]

The very wide and very delighted smile that lit up Catherine's face conveyed clearly over the phone, even though the Doctor couldn't see it. "Hello, Doctor," she said warmly, happy to hear his voice again, even just a single word.

"So, erm... I was wondering if you were free to head to the Eye of Orion any time soon...?"

[rude_not_ginger]

Any amount of unhappiness on his face melted away, and he found himself grinning like a fool.

"Well," he teased, "Let me see, I've got a few planets to save next Thursday, union meeting on Saturday...seems the only time I'm really free is right about now. How about you?"

[decadentmind]

"Mmmm," Catherine replied, in the same teasing vein. "Tomorrow I'd planned to synthesise some polymers and proteins, and the weekend's set aside to do the washing. You know how much I like doing the washing. I'd hate to be interrupted. So... I suppose it has to be now."

She slid off the planter, landing on her feet, beaming into the phone. "Do I need to bring anything?"

[rude_not_ginger]

The Doctor glanced at the time monitor, "We'll meet during the second sun season. So...light jacket? Walking shoes, definitely. I'm pretty sure I have a picnic blanket 'round here somewhere, we can make an afternoon of it, yeah?"

Oh, but that did sound domestic. And wonderful. All at the same time.

[decadentmind]

"That sounds perfect." Catherine glanced down at her dress, and decided that with the leather jacket, she'd be fine.

"You said to meet at the nearest town to the Eye, yes? Whereabouts in town shall I look for you?" she asked, her hearts already knocking about a bit faster in her chest.

[rude_not_ginger]

The Doctor gave the back of his neck a bit of a scratch, "Hmmm...well, in the style of our meetings, I think there's an eatery near the town square. Got a lamppost in front of it, I'm not quite sure why. Meet you there, I'll order us a couple of their local teas?"

He stuffed the phone under his chin and began programming the TARDIS in that direction as quickly as possible. Not that he was excited. Or, you know, anything.

[decadentmind]

At first Catherine was amused to think that he thought their meetings had a 'style,' though there had been only one so far. But then a small part of herself wondered if he were drawing on more memories than that.

"I think that sounds divine," she murmured. "I'll be there shortly."

A brief hesitation. "...I can't wait to see you."

[rude_not_ginger]

He paused in his control-flipping to take in those words. He really shouldn't have been so excited to see her, after all, he remembered being his former self, remembered quietly worrying over her while she was gone. But, some very selfish part of him was so very, very excited to see her. And he felt damn silly about it, too. After all, when she wasn't with him, she was with him, just before.

Well, at least he wasn't being silly alone. She felt the same, and that felt good.

"Won't be a few tics and I'll be there," he said, "See you then."

[decadentmind]

"See you then," Catherine repeated. She ended the call and put her phone away, then went and sought out the Doctor. This one. The one she'd be leaving behind for a bit, shortly.

She felt that perhaps, this first parting, it might be cruel to make him see her off. So she spent some time with him, curled against his side as he reclined in a chair in his library, talking to him, and then saying a heartfelt temporary goodbye. "I'll call when I'm ready," she promised.

She made her way back out to the console room and set the coordinates. In a few minutes, she was stepping out of the TARDIS, closing the doors behind herself.

She'd put down just at the edge of town. Ten minutes' walk brought her to the town square. She found the lamppost, found the establishment, and stepped inside, looking around.

[rude_not_ginger]

He arrived far too early. He bounced in front of the lamppost for a while, then went in and got a table and two teas. The tea was...greener than he remembered it, and he only indulged in a few sips before he began fidgeting nervously. Remembering what had happened before and at the same time trying to forget it.

When had she come back to the TARDIS crying because he'd stood her up? When had she called for help because they had gone off and gotten trapped? When did she come back ridiculously intoxicated? When---

Catherine. He pushed the memories back into the box in his mind and snapped the lid shut. He grinned brightly and waved her over.

"Hey," he said.

[decadentmind]

Catherine's face lit up when she saw him. She hurried over, hovering near him as he sat. "...hi."

She kept hovering, fidgeting a little bit. Then she leaned down and threw her arms around his neck, planting a kiss on the top of his head. "Hi," she repeated.

[rude_not_ginger]

The Doctor stood, deciding that they needed a proper embrace. He wrapped his arms around her, surprised at how much he'd missed this. Just...this. A hug, a hello. Stupid things. Oh, God, he'd gone soft in this regeneration.

"How've you been?" he asked. Small talk. He could do that. "Time Vortex's a bit off for us, I think. It's been...three weeks for me, seeing you last. You?"

[decadentmind]

Catherine made a happy sort of sound, sliding her arms around his middle and squeezing affectionately. "I'm not sure," she replied. She stepped back just enough to be able to look up at him, her eyes drinking in the sight of him. "I think it's barely gone two weeks. It must be off."

She started to follow that with an observation that these sorts of things didn't used to happen when Gallifrey still existed, but worried that that might be an inadvertently cruel thing to point out, so she let it drop. Instead, she leaned up and planted a kiss squarely on his mouth.

[rude_not_ginger]

Well, it was only a natural thing to kiss her back, of course. He cupped her cheek for a moment, letting the kiss linger a bit longer than it probably should have in the establishment on the sleepy little planet. Then again, he hadn't seen her in two weeks. They could...do something offensive with something else offensive.

He broke away and offered her his hand, "Tea's a bit too green here, wrong time of year for Orion tea. I've a Thermos of Earl Grey---" he held up a very small pack, "---To make it up to you when we eat?"