.075 [Video]

[timesbureaucrat]

[Well Dressed Filter (Arthur, Parker, Una, Brax (reluctantly), and anyone else who's got fashion sense and shows it. Except Moriarty, because they had a ridiculous fashion bitch-fest earlier. (NB: Kay probably made this filter, because Narvin probably wouldn't know good fashion if it hit him in the face. He thinks O'Brien's old coveralls are

Comments

[Private]

[most_feared]

If he tries to bring it up, I'll speak on your behalf. Because I know you took your job as a protector very seriously. Even if you got a damn weird way of going about it sometimes.

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

Thank you.

...I do have to admit I'd be angry as well if someone had armed Ardent before I got him. Or worse, the Master. I'm not going to arm her again or get her poison and I explained why. I did tell her I'd try to protect her if she were attacked...but I'd do that for anyone. Well, almost anyone. [The Leela-resemblance just makes the urge to protect a little more personal.]

[Private]

[most_feared]

Why did she want poison?

[...FUCK Now he's curious. Fuck. Don't fucking encourage him.]

Yeah, the Leela thing is what I would explain because I don't think you ever would. But it's something people understand, Narvin. They understand being scared, or being reminded of someone they care about. That's what they get.

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

For Arthas. [And that's all he needs to say to explain why he was initially receptive to the idea. Arthas leaving him damaged beyond repair in the stairwell for Kay to euthanize is still one of the worst experiences in his lives.]

Giving out that sort of personal information...it's difficult. My training and my instincts say it's dangerous. That it opens myself up to people taking advantage. That it's safer to be hated than understood. [He sighs.] I suppose I need to work on that. [He says matter-of-factly, like it's a mechanical flaw to be repaired.]

[Private]

[most_feared]

Most of the time it's none of their business. I'll give you that. And I don't really like giving out personal information either.

But when it gets in the way of your job, sometimes you have to do what you have to do. After all, that's the reason we don't give it out usually. Should be no different in giving it.

[Will Kay practices what he preaches? ...Probably not. He's been living under a filter.]

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

[He nods. Doing things because they're Good For The Job makes sense. Even if, in the short term, it feels like exposing a weakness.]

I've been thinking about what you said, that I should try to cultivate more allies among the wardens. [ie-Make friends. Not that he'd ever put it that way.] But I'm at a bit of a loss. There are certainly some whom I respect, but I'm not sure how to progress.

[Narvin fails at making friends.]

[Private] I wish I could remember words. I like those.

[most_feared]

More of them like science more than politics. A lot of them are interested in Time Travel. Some of them have unique abilities.

[A pause.]

It's alright, by the way. Wanting to take care of people. When someone I know is hurt, I still have problems going in the infirmary. Nothing against the doctors. I just don't like feeling like I should have been more responsible.

[Narvin had seen how uncomfortable he'd been while he was hurt.]

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

I'm not used to wanting to take care of individual people. Just people as a collective--the faceless mass of "the people" who must be protected, but not liked.

So this...is a fairly recent development for me. One year of caring after over a thousand years of carefully not caring.

[Private]

[most_feared]

Yeah. It's funny. You're not obligated to like 'em. They have their issues. But they still need you to be safe. Sometimes you can't manage to do it... and you wonder why it fuckin' bothers you so much.

I figure it only takes a day to figure out you care about someone. Maybe even a moment. Doesn't take much at all.

[He's sappy. Forgive him.]

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

[If they were talking in person instead of chatting over the network, Narvin would have given Kay a discreet cuddle. But instead he gets a fond smile. And then a slight flicker of eyes as he tries to figure out what to say next. Because emotions are awkward.]

I've requested help with the clothing situation. [Non sequitur is a go.]

[Private]

[most_feared]

Did you? Good!

[Because he wants to throw those bell-bottoms over the side, too. Or something. He kind of likes the marching band jacket, though.

Shush.]

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

[Narvin will help him throw the bell bottoms over the side. And the saggy jeans and the clown suit. The ballgown is very nice and might fit someone else, though, so it seems a shame to throw it over the side. But it would be unbearably awkward to advertise that he wants to give it away without the awkwardness of explaining *why* he has a ballgown. Maybe he'll just sneak it into a common room and leave it for someone to snatch up.]

With luck I'll have sensible clothes of my own soon.

[Private]

[most_feared]

One would hope.

I might get some more regular clothes for my time next port we have that I could. Honestly, even though I'd like to stay an Agent, I don't know how long I'm gonna be able to keep up with the job physically. And when I can't, I won't have much say in the matter.

[He knows. He was the one who neutralyzed Dee.]

I gotta figure out how I'm going to deal with that.

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

[Narvin frowns and sets his jaw stubbornly.]

I'm not going to let them erase all your memories.

[Private]

[most_feared]

I might be able to get away with being an ambassador after that. We'll see how it works out.

[He's actually starting to worry about this, though. He doesn't know if all this time will catch up with him somehow when he goes back.]

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

If all else fails, I could arrange to have you abducted by aliens. [That is, he will throw Kay in a TARDIS and run off with him.]