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Layover in Shreveport, Tenth Doctor/Rose, PG
“Rose,” the Doctor began, the light and carefree tone back in his voice, “have I ever told you that shortly after your time, vampires show up on Earth? Well, they've always been of course, but eventually they come out to live in the open, with humans...they even have their own nightclubs, isn't that brilliant?”
Word count 1,960
Crossover with True Blood, contains spoilers for S2 finale of True Blood, set after Fear Her in Doctor Who
“So, near future again?” Rose asked as they approached a darkened nightclub practically vibrating with the thumping industrial music being played within. She caught a glimpse of some patrons leaving the club, and their extreme attire made her feel spectacularly underdressed in her simple little black cocktail dress and red heels. Going to have to have a word with the TARDIS about that, she noted silently. On the back of her realisation that she did not feel nearly glammed up enough to enter this establishment was another, that this club had a decidedly goth thing going on. “Wouldn't have thought this was your scene, Doctor,” she remarked.
He'd been quiet since the Olympics, obviously distressed by his dire prediction about a 'storm', and when she'd suggested that they take some time off and go out for a night on the town he'd perked up considerably. He'd even dug out a nice, black suit and what she thought of as his black 'dress trainers'. Still, she was surprised he'd brought them to this type of place, and what was more, they definitely weren't in London either, judging from the oppressive humidity in the air.
“Every scene is my scene!” he answered with a broad grin. “And that includes...” He whisked his glasses out from his front pocket and put them on to study the neon pink sign above them. “Fangtasia?” he finished, turning the word into a question.
“Some sort of goth club, looks like,” Rose explained. “Wish you would have told me so I could've used a bit of eyeliner at least.”
“What about me?” he protested.
“I meant on you,” she joked, nudging him with her shoulder and trying not to imagine how sexy the Doctor would have looked with his eyes smudged in black kohl.
They had joined a short queue in front of a tall, bored-looking but beautiful woman who looked them slowly up and down as they approached. “Are you two on your way to the prom or something?” she asked finally, with just a trace of an accent Rose couldn't place, and enough sarcasm that she registered the woman was making fun of them.
“Just got out, actually,” the Doctor replied cheerfully, taking Rose's arm. “Tradition dictates that I get my companion here intoxicated on the way home before making a completely inappropriate pass at her and then vomiting on my own shoes. You wouldn't want to stand in the way of tradition, would you, Miss...?” He trailed off, waiting for her to supply her name. They stared at each other for several long, intense seconds.
“I don't get it,” the woman said, finally. “What are you?”
“I'm the Doctor,” he answered. “And this is Rose.” The woman turned to Rose and smiled seductively.
“Human?” she drawled. Rose was startled: the Doctor had said this was near her own time, yet this woman seemed to be insinuating that there were non-humans integrated with the rest of the population.
“Yeah,” she answered, lifting her chin a little in defiance. “That a problem?” The other woman looked surprised for a brief moment before she answered.
“Not at all,” she breathed. Rose found herself unable to look away from the woman's eyes, felt like she was falling into them. She was overcome with the pleasant sensation that everything was okay, that she wanted to be here, that she could trust this woman and would tell her whatever she wanted to know.
The Doctor stepped between them and raised his sonic screwdriver level with the other woman's face. “Stop it,” he hissed, all his good humour gone. Rose's vision suddenly cleared and she blinked, fighting to remember what she'd just been talking about. “I'm being very calm,” he went on, “because I'm still getting my bearings in the timeline. But if you attempt to glamour her again, I will stop you. This is your one warning.”
The woman in front of them rolled her eyes and stepped aside to let them enter. “Whatever.”
“What was that all about?” Rose asked as they stepped through the door.
“Rose,” the Doctor began, the light and carefree tone back in his voice, “have I ever told you that shortly after your time, vampires show up on Earth? Well, they've always been of course, but eventually they come out to live in the open, with humans...they even have their own nightclubs, isn't that brilliant?”
She gaped at him. “Doctor, did you say...” She stopped as she looked around them and took in their surroundings: the beautiful men and women with long, bared fangs, and the half-naked dancers moving supernaturally fast.
“I should have realised immediately,” he continued. “I mean, I know the American South is hardly comprised of the bumbling country bumpkins the telly would have you believe, but I did think it was a bit off when she started speaking Swedish. Of course, not as strange as it must have been for her when you spoke it back. I just love the TARDIS' translation circuits, don't you? It's just so much fun to mess with people sometimes...”
“Doctor,” she interrupted. “Vampires?” Nervously, she moved closer to him, gripping his arm even tighter. “Are we safe?”
“Of course!” He shook his head pityingly. “They only want equal rights, Rose,” he admonished.
“Well that and blood, which we both happen to be full of in case you hadn't noticed,” she snapped. This made her wonder, and she followed it with: “Would they even want your blood, d'you think?”
“I think,” he answered, “that we're being summoned. C'mon.” He indicated an area across the room: Rose recognized the woman from out front, who she hadn't even seen move past them, standing next to a seated, equally bored-looking man with short blonde hair. The man waved them over again, his demeanor suggesting that it was never a possibility that they wouldn't obey. They walked over, sitting across from him, and the Doctor immediately grabbed his hand and pumped it enthusiastically.
“You must be the landlord, oh it's a pleasure to meet you. Such a great place, really! So colourful!” He kept grinning as he spoke. “I'm the Doctor, by the way.”
The other man extracted his hand. “I am Eric, and you assume correctly.” He eyed the Doctor carefully. “Pam tells me you are not human. I'd like to know what you are.”
“Oh, I'm...a visitor. But what's really interesting,” the Doctor babbled, “is where you're from. Or when, even. I'm guessing ninth or tenth century Sweden, am I right? Blimey, the things you've probably seen and done, eh? All that...pillaging.”
Eric almost smiled. “You're evasive,” he said. “That's intriguing. But you don't have to say anything.” He signalled across the room again, and moments later another blonde appeared: a young woman in a short dress, slim but curvy, and pretty enough that Rose found herself feeling territorial. She scooted a bit closer to the Doctor.
“Hi,” the blonde said, her voice friendly and thick with a Southern accent. “I'm Sookie Stackhouse, it's nice to meet you.” She extended her hand, which the Doctor took, and Rose watched the intense way the other woman stared at him for several seconds. Finally, Sookie sighed and turned to Eric. “I can't hear anything. It's muffled...like trying to listen through a door.”
“Yeah,” the Doctor said, sounding proud and a little embarrassed. “I'm good at that.” Sookie smiled shyly at Rose.
“I read minds,” she explained.
“Try the woman,” Pam said from several feet away. The Doctor darkened instantly.
“Leave her alone.”
Eric appeared interested. “Is she yours?” Rose glanced over quickly to see how the Doctor would react to that question.
His mouth opened, then closed again, and he looked at her. “Yes.”
“That's sweet,” Sookie said, addressing Rose. “I know what it's like, being the human in the relationship. My boyfriend Bill is a vampire.” Rose wanted to retort that she personally didn't see any similarities between herself and this woman until she noticed Sookie's fallen expression when she mentioned her boyfriend.
“What is it?” she asked. Sookie sighed, her bottom lip trembling.
“Bill's missing. He disappeared right after he asked me to...” Rose saw tears welling in the young woman's eyes.
Rose reached over and squeezed the girl's hand reassuringly. “It'll be okay, yeah?” She gave the Doctor a meaningful elbow in the ribs. “We didn't really have anything planned for tonight, and we're good at finding people. Vampires too, probably.”
The Doctor beamed approvingly at her. “Absolutely!”
Sookie's eyes held Rose's for a moment, then she smiled. “Thank you,” she said earnestly, and Rose had the feeling she was being thanked for more than just her offer of help. “You're very kind.” The girl removed her hand from Rose's and lightly touched the Doctor's shoulder. “She loves you very much.”
Rose felt her face flush with embarrassment.
Fifteen minutes later, back on the TARDIS with Sookie and Pam (sent along to make sure they didn't abduct Fangtasia's resident mind reader), the Doctor set about programming traces of Bill's biosignature into the console from the ring he'd given Sookie shortly before disappearing. The girl fumbled in her purse for a mobile phone. “I should call Jason, let him know I'll be a bit late. He does still tend to worry when I'm out with vampires, I think it's fallout from that Fellowship of the Sun place.”
“No need!” The Doctor said, flying around the center column flipping levers and tweaking dials. “Did you miss the 'Time' part of 'Time And Relative Dimension In Space'?” He stopped and faced Sookie, a confused expression on his face. “Ooh, sorry. Was that rude? Anyway, Sookie Stackhouse...great alliterative name, by the way...welcome to my time machine!”
“But she's tasted Bill's blood,” Pam said as she watched the Doctor insert the engagement ring into a small set of clamps. “Why not just take a sample and track him that way? I could help,” she added, smiling hugely as her fangs snapped out.
“That won't be necessary,” the Doctor said, not even looking up. “You vampires, it's all blood blood blood, all the time! Got a scratch? Have some blood! Feeling down in the dumps? Blood's the answer! Need to spice up your love life?” He stopped babbling, aware of the death glare the imposing woman was giving him. “Yes, well. Anyway, the ring has a strong emotional connection as well, which will help the TARDIS pinpoint his location.” He glanced up at Rose, holding her gaze. “Emotional connections are stronger than any other bond, and transcend time and space. Even species.” The corner of his lip twitched into a half-grin.
“That's beautiful,” Sookie said, cocking her head to the side dreamily. Rose felt a slow smile spread over her face at the Doctor's words, the memory of how he had claimed her as 'his' back at the bar, and how the empath standing next to her had casually announced Rose's intense feelings for him. She was starting to think that she could see herself being very grateful for having run into this lot, vampires and all, when Pam spoke.
“You're all nauseating,” she said dully. “This trip is going to suck.”
Rose winced at her unfortunate choice of words as the TARDIS groaned around them and began its dematerialisation sequence.
“Rose,” the Doctor began, the light and carefree tone back in his voice, “have I ever told you that shortly after your time, vampires show up on Earth? Well, they've always been of course, but eventually they come out to live in the open, with humans...they even have their own nightclubs, isn't that brilliant?”
Word count 1,960
Crossover with True Blood, contains spoilers for S2 finale of True Blood, set after Fear Her in Doctor Who
“So, near future again?” Rose asked as they approached a darkened nightclub practically vibrating with the thumping industrial music being played within. She caught a glimpse of some patrons leaving the club, and their extreme attire made her feel spectacularly underdressed in her simple little black cocktail dress and red heels. Going to have to have a word with the TARDIS about that, she noted silently. On the back of her realisation that she did not feel nearly glammed up enough to enter this establishment was another, that this club had a decidedly goth thing going on. “Wouldn't have thought this was your scene, Doctor,” she remarked.
He'd been quiet since the Olympics, obviously distressed by his dire prediction about a 'storm', and when she'd suggested that they take some time off and go out for a night on the town he'd perked up considerably. He'd even dug out a nice, black suit and what she thought of as his black 'dress trainers'. Still, she was surprised he'd brought them to this type of place, and what was more, they definitely weren't in London either, judging from the oppressive humidity in the air.
“Every scene is my scene!” he answered with a broad grin. “And that includes...” He whisked his glasses out from his front pocket and put them on to study the neon pink sign above them. “Fangtasia?” he finished, turning the word into a question.
“Some sort of goth club, looks like,” Rose explained. “Wish you would have told me so I could've used a bit of eyeliner at least.”
“What about me?” he protested.
“I meant on you,” she joked, nudging him with her shoulder and trying not to imagine how sexy the Doctor would have looked with his eyes smudged in black kohl.
They had joined a short queue in front of a tall, bored-looking but beautiful woman who looked them slowly up and down as they approached. “Are you two on your way to the prom or something?” she asked finally, with just a trace of an accent Rose couldn't place, and enough sarcasm that she registered the woman was making fun of them.
“Just got out, actually,” the Doctor replied cheerfully, taking Rose's arm. “Tradition dictates that I get my companion here intoxicated on the way home before making a completely inappropriate pass at her and then vomiting on my own shoes. You wouldn't want to stand in the way of tradition, would you, Miss...?” He trailed off, waiting for her to supply her name. They stared at each other for several long, intense seconds.
“I don't get it,” the woman said, finally. “What are you?”
“I'm the Doctor,” he answered. “And this is Rose.” The woman turned to Rose and smiled seductively.
“Human?” she drawled. Rose was startled: the Doctor had said this was near her own time, yet this woman seemed to be insinuating that there were non-humans integrated with the rest of the population.
“Yeah,” she answered, lifting her chin a little in defiance. “That a problem?” The other woman looked surprised for a brief moment before she answered.
“Not at all,” she breathed. Rose found herself unable to look away from the woman's eyes, felt like she was falling into them. She was overcome with the pleasant sensation that everything was okay, that she wanted to be here, that she could trust this woman and would tell her whatever she wanted to know.
The Doctor stepped between them and raised his sonic screwdriver level with the other woman's face. “Stop it,” he hissed, all his good humour gone. Rose's vision suddenly cleared and she blinked, fighting to remember what she'd just been talking about. “I'm being very calm,” he went on, “because I'm still getting my bearings in the timeline. But if you attempt to glamour her again, I will stop you. This is your one warning.”
The woman in front of them rolled her eyes and stepped aside to let them enter. “Whatever.”
“What was that all about?” Rose asked as they stepped through the door.
“Rose,” the Doctor began, the light and carefree tone back in his voice, “have I ever told you that shortly after your time, vampires show up on Earth? Well, they've always been of course, but eventually they come out to live in the open, with humans...they even have their own nightclubs, isn't that brilliant?”
She gaped at him. “Doctor, did you say...” She stopped as she looked around them and took in their surroundings: the beautiful men and women with long, bared fangs, and the half-naked dancers moving supernaturally fast.
“I should have realised immediately,” he continued. “I mean, I know the American South is hardly comprised of the bumbling country bumpkins the telly would have you believe, but I did think it was a bit off when she started speaking Swedish. Of course, not as strange as it must have been for her when you spoke it back. I just love the TARDIS' translation circuits, don't you? It's just so much fun to mess with people sometimes...”
“Doctor,” she interrupted. “Vampires?” Nervously, she moved closer to him, gripping his arm even tighter. “Are we safe?”
“Of course!” He shook his head pityingly. “They only want equal rights, Rose,” he admonished.
“Well that and blood, which we both happen to be full of in case you hadn't noticed,” she snapped. This made her wonder, and she followed it with: “Would they even want your blood, d'you think?”
“I think,” he answered, “that we're being summoned. C'mon.” He indicated an area across the room: Rose recognized the woman from out front, who she hadn't even seen move past them, standing next to a seated, equally bored-looking man with short blonde hair. The man waved them over again, his demeanor suggesting that it was never a possibility that they wouldn't obey. They walked over, sitting across from him, and the Doctor immediately grabbed his hand and pumped it enthusiastically.
“You must be the landlord, oh it's a pleasure to meet you. Such a great place, really! So colourful!” He kept grinning as he spoke. “I'm the Doctor, by the way.”
The other man extracted his hand. “I am Eric, and you assume correctly.” He eyed the Doctor carefully. “Pam tells me you are not human. I'd like to know what you are.”
“Oh, I'm...a visitor. But what's really interesting,” the Doctor babbled, “is where you're from. Or when, even. I'm guessing ninth or tenth century Sweden, am I right? Blimey, the things you've probably seen and done, eh? All that...pillaging.”
Eric almost smiled. “You're evasive,” he said. “That's intriguing. But you don't have to say anything.” He signalled across the room again, and moments later another blonde appeared: a young woman in a short dress, slim but curvy, and pretty enough that Rose found herself feeling territorial. She scooted a bit closer to the Doctor.
“Hi,” the blonde said, her voice friendly and thick with a Southern accent. “I'm Sookie Stackhouse, it's nice to meet you.” She extended her hand, which the Doctor took, and Rose watched the intense way the other woman stared at him for several seconds. Finally, Sookie sighed and turned to Eric. “I can't hear anything. It's muffled...like trying to listen through a door.”
“Yeah,” the Doctor said, sounding proud and a little embarrassed. “I'm good at that.” Sookie smiled shyly at Rose.
“I read minds,” she explained.
“Try the woman,” Pam said from several feet away. The Doctor darkened instantly.
“Leave her alone.”
Eric appeared interested. “Is she yours?” Rose glanced over quickly to see how the Doctor would react to that question.
His mouth opened, then closed again, and he looked at her. “Yes.”
“That's sweet,” Sookie said, addressing Rose. “I know what it's like, being the human in the relationship. My boyfriend Bill is a vampire.” Rose wanted to retort that she personally didn't see any similarities between herself and this woman until she noticed Sookie's fallen expression when she mentioned her boyfriend.
“What is it?” she asked. Sookie sighed, her bottom lip trembling.
“Bill's missing. He disappeared right after he asked me to...” Rose saw tears welling in the young woman's eyes.
Rose reached over and squeezed the girl's hand reassuringly. “It'll be okay, yeah?” She gave the Doctor a meaningful elbow in the ribs. “We didn't really have anything planned for tonight, and we're good at finding people. Vampires too, probably.”
The Doctor beamed approvingly at her. “Absolutely!”
Sookie's eyes held Rose's for a moment, then she smiled. “Thank you,” she said earnestly, and Rose had the feeling she was being thanked for more than just her offer of help. “You're very kind.” The girl removed her hand from Rose's and lightly touched the Doctor's shoulder. “She loves you very much.”
Rose felt her face flush with embarrassment.
Fifteen minutes later, back on the TARDIS with Sookie and Pam (sent along to make sure they didn't abduct Fangtasia's resident mind reader), the Doctor set about programming traces of Bill's biosignature into the console from the ring he'd given Sookie shortly before disappearing. The girl fumbled in her purse for a mobile phone. “I should call Jason, let him know I'll be a bit late. He does still tend to worry when I'm out with vampires, I think it's fallout from that Fellowship of the Sun place.”
“No need!” The Doctor said, flying around the center column flipping levers and tweaking dials. “Did you miss the 'Time' part of 'Time And Relative Dimension In Space'?” He stopped and faced Sookie, a confused expression on his face. “Ooh, sorry. Was that rude? Anyway, Sookie Stackhouse...great alliterative name, by the way...welcome to my time machine!”
“But she's tasted Bill's blood,” Pam said as she watched the Doctor insert the engagement ring into a small set of clamps. “Why not just take a sample and track him that way? I could help,” she added, smiling hugely as her fangs snapped out.
“That won't be necessary,” the Doctor said, not even looking up. “You vampires, it's all blood blood blood, all the time! Got a scratch? Have some blood! Feeling down in the dumps? Blood's the answer! Need to spice up your love life?” He stopped babbling, aware of the death glare the imposing woman was giving him. “Yes, well. Anyway, the ring has a strong emotional connection as well, which will help the TARDIS pinpoint his location.” He glanced up at Rose, holding her gaze. “Emotional connections are stronger than any other bond, and transcend time and space. Even species.” The corner of his lip twitched into a half-grin.
“That's beautiful,” Sookie said, cocking her head to the side dreamily. Rose felt a slow smile spread over her face at the Doctor's words, the memory of how he had claimed her as 'his' back at the bar, and how the empath standing next to her had casually announced Rose's intense feelings for him. She was starting to think that she could see herself being very grateful for having run into this lot, vampires and all, when Pam spoke.
“You're all nauseating,” she said dully. “This trip is going to suck.”
Rose winced at her unfortunate choice of words as the TARDIS groaned around them and began its dematerialisation sequence.