locked in tight, i'm out of range [ open ]

[polarisation]

WHO polarisation and OPEN
WHAT A week in the life of a caged-up runaway.
WHERE The Animal Shelter.
WHEN Starting on the night of Sunday, the 11th (the full moon) and going through to Sunday, the 18th. Please specify the day. (Yes, it intentionally goes through the end of the bodyswap; placeholder tags for that are more than welcome.)
NOTES This is open to

Comments

[rpondicus]

"Mister Blackthorn said someone would have to let us in."

Rory stood on the front steps, looking up at the wall. That was one heck of a fortification for an animal shelter. What was it supposed to be keeping in? Dinosaurs?

[fallsoutofbox]

"Expect he did." But if he had the choice not to come face-to-face with Lance - or Cho - so much the better. The sonic spun end-over-end once in the air as the Doctor stepped up to the door and caught it again, aiming it at the door.

[rpondicus]

"... There's a doorbell." Have a Look, Doctor. Such a look. Rory reached past him, blocking the sonic, and pushed the button. "Do you go anywhere without breaking in?" he had to ask, as they were let in a moment later.

[fallsoutofbox]

The Doctor was just about done pouting when the door opened. Such a spoilsport, Rory.

"Nowhere there's a lock," he said, brandishing the sonic as they stepped inside.

Despite his reservations, though, their walk toward the yard was uninterrupted. The Doctor stepped out, glancing around. "Lowell? Still here?"

[polarisation]

Sefton, as it turned out, was out by the spring. Bouncing on his knee was a leather ball, which he then kicked out toward the hydra lounging in the water. Two of the heads snapped forward to try and claim the ball, only to accidentally knock it back toward the boy. He was obviously expecting by now, as he jumped up to catch it against his chest and let it drop at his feet.

Just as he was about to send it back to the hydra, he heard the Doctor and turned toward both of them with some surprise. The Doctor, he was somewhat expecting, but Rory? He wasn't expecting the hostel nurse, the one that may or may not have had some strange reaction to his power. "Yeah," he answered after the question sunk in. "Hey."

[rpondicus]

Rory stopped short at the entrance to the yard, unable to resist staring.

"Ah... What is that?" he blurted out, staring at the hydra.

[fallsoutofbox]

"A dragon," the Doctor said, strolling toward Lowell and the dragon, completely not bothered. "Specifically a hydra - although don't ask me whether the whole cutting-off-the-head thing is true. Not interested in testing it."

[polarisation]

"Doubt it," Sefton said with a small shrug. "'Least for this one."

He gently rolled the ball under his foot while the Doctor approached, watching warily but not about to jump back or anything like that. Just... being careful. "What's up?" It couldn't have been a social call, right? These two wouldn't have a reason to check up on Sefton - not with Flemming taking care of the hostel in his absence.

Kelp, upon seeing that Sefton seemed to be playing keep-away, laid herself down and pretended to be uninterested. (It would have worked a lot better were it not for one of the heads remaining upright and watching the toy with a very interested glimmer in her eye.)

[rpondicus]

"... Right." When would he stop letting this city surprise him? Rory scrambled to catch up to the Doctor, waving to the teen, though not without keeping a wary eye on that head.

"It's my day off. I thought I'd come by and visit."

[fallsoutofbox]

The Doctor stopped a comfortable distance from Lowell, planting himself casually. "And I thought I'd tag along. I like to do that. Tag along. Don't get the opportunity all that often. How've you been?"

[polarisation]

The hydra hadn't gone unwatched by Sefton either, but his attention seemed to gradually split to his new visitors instead. He nodded in response to Rory's wave, although he still seemed... confused. Why would they visit him of all people?

"'ve been... fine," he answered, unable to hide some of the lack of understanding in his tone. "Fine's I can be." Turning to Rory, he added, "Why?"

[rpondicus]

He shrugged, smiling. "Why not? Haven't seen you in a month, and it's been kind of a crazy month at that... Did you get got in the switching thing?"

[fallsoutofbox]

'Fine as he could be' wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement of his situation. Not that Lowell had ever seemed all that enthusiastic about anything, but still. His being confined to the shelter grounds didn't seem to be sitting well with him, and it still wasn't with the Doctor. He was starting to wonder if he didn't want to have a word with Lance after all.

"I paid a visit earlier this week," he directed at Rory. "He was himself then."

[polarisation]

There was a nod to the Doctor in confirmation of what he said. "Didn't get in on it this time," he said, inclining his head just slightly as he realized how this time might sound. It felt right to say (he had been switched around once before, with Lance), yet maybe Rory would just interpret it as him referring to the city's usual craziness. The Doctor already knew about that fiasco.

Feeling a bit awkward with two people standing around and nothing for him to really shrink up against, Sefton hooked his foot up under the ball and began to bounce it on his knee. Occasionally, he switched between them, though he was skilled enough not to drop it.

[rpondicus]

Sorry, he's a little more perceptive than that. "This time? What, is this a regular thing?" He looked between them both. "Am I going to have to plan around turning into an amnesiac angel every few weeks?"

[fallsoutofbox]

"Oh, no." The Doctor shook his head. "No, no, no. Separate events. Last time it was only Lowell and Lance, and it was a magic book." The over-pronunciation of those last two words showed just what he thought of being forced to say the words 'magic book.' "Not like the brainwave thing."