When I'm confident, I'm hopeless - just like everybody else right before they fall apart...

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor is trying to slip into the Casa unnoticed, like nothing happened, like he didn't slip out early on Christmas morning to track down an old not-quite friend. Looking like nothing happened is a bit more difficult when he's having trouble easing the frustration from his face, the tension from his body... but maybe, if he's lucky, no one will

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[nothingsodivine]

It's dark in the Casa's living room. It's dark, because Des likes a sense of drama and possibly because he just got home himself and saw the Doctor creeping up the walk before he could officially get settled.

There was a period of time when Des might have greeted the Doctor with a hug and then put him into a wall. The time for hugging is past. The narration weeps openly.

So as soon as the Doctor steps into the living room, he is greeted by a lamp coming on, revealing Des in a chair, looking none too amused.

"Hi, Doctor."

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor flinches a little, mostly because he wasn't expecting Des to be there and who does that? Who the hell lurks in the dark just to do something like that? ...well, Desmond Descant, obviously, but besides him.

"Des! Hello! I was just..." Pause. Okay, slipping in unnoticed is not working. Obviously. PLAN B. "Happy new year?"

[nothingsodivine]

Des stares flatly. The innocent act will not work here, Doctor. As a matter of fact, these are the droids you're looking for.

He toys with the chain on the lamp, still practically glowering. "Yeah. Good to see you, Doctor. 'Cause, you know, we were kinda worried we weren't gonna see you again."

And here it goes again.

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor is going to cling to obliviousness for a little while longer. Maybe Des will get frustrated and just give up. ...as if that ever really works. But it's worth a shot.

"Really? Why's that? Well, I suppose Christmas being Christmas, it's a valid concern, but you and Martha both kept insisting it was going to be alright, so..."

So I thought I'd go out and have a chat with my worst enemy. Nothing to be concerned about, honestly! He picks up a small candle off the coffee table and rolls it between his hands, tossing it into the air and focusing on that rather than actually looking at Des. If he doesn't look at Des, he can pretend he doesn't know Des is aware of exactly where he's been.

[alt_tardis]

It's a perfectly normal day, and anyone who thinks otherwise should be questioned. The absolute normalcy of this day is only accentuated by the fact that as the Doctor approaches the house, one of the snowmen in the yard turns into an armchair and hops in the door after him.

:: is.appropriate(greeting=="Happy Holidays! :D") ?? ::, the !TARDIS transmits.

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor grins over his shoulder at her - because whatever the circumstances, there is no good reason not to grin at the TARDIS when she's being adorable. "Happy holidays to you too."

He should probably warn her about the Master. Warn her in a way that keeps her... away from him, because the last thing he needs is the Master or the Kashtta Trust getting their hands on her. He can imagine a few worse situations, but... only just.

Well, this is going to be a fun conversation.

[alt_tardis]

The TARDIS scoots around to a position near the fireplace and adjusts her simulated slipcover, populating the seat with pillows and finally recalibrating the arms in what might almost be taken to be a gesture. She wants you to sit, Doctor. Could you refuse a face like this?

:: is.difficulty{acquisition('christmas present').set{multiple}} ::, she confesses. :: set{TARDIS/'timamine'} !∩ set{provision('entities'»'capitalism theory')} :[ ::

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor flops down into her, snuggling down until he's curled into a comfortable ball, twisted sideways with his back against one of the arms. "Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm not very good with Christmas presents either."

He doesn't exactly carry money. Usually he just saves the day and calls that a good enough present. Or makes it snow... but that's not much necessary here in Chicago, when it does it plenty all on its own.

[savesomelight]

Piper is bundled in a heavy coat, a floppy hat with gloves, a scarf, and heavy mittens, giving her the impression of some sort of clothing monster. Demons do not approve of being out in the cold, but she needed to go to the library.

And now she's waddling along near Gale, casting him sidelong glances, before finally trying to mutter something at him. It's hard to distinguish from behind the scarf.

[fiaintaibhse]

Gale turns finally to look at the girl, eyebrows raised - he thinks it's a girl, anyway, though under that mass of clothes, it's hard to be certain. "Can I help you?" he asks, eyeing her with a faint, friendly smile. "I think it helps if you pull the scarf down..."

[savesomelight]

Piper lowers the scarf and blushes a bit, although given that her face is flush, it's hard to tell. "Sorry. I was asking if you were even a little bit cold."

Because the temperatures out here today are maddening. He doesn't seem dressed nearly warmly enough.

[fiaintaibhse]

"Oh." He grins a little, and shrugs. "I guess a little. Not enough to warrant that get-up," he says with a nod toward her scarf and coat and all the rest of it, "but I don't much mind the cold." It's not that he can't feel it, it's just hard to care when it doesn't affect you in any way.

[cyfor]

Cy (x4) is sleeping on the couch, until she hears the door click shut. Four kitty heads pop up, ears swiveling. The Doctor smells interesting. He's got psychic all over him.

"Mine," Cy the First says. She jumps off the couch and streams ahead of the other three fluffy gray tabbies to throw herself against the Doctor's legs. The other Cys tackle the first and all try to body-check the Doctor at once.

"Hi," they say, peering up at him. "What'd you get your fingers in, Tick-Tocktor?"

Four fluffy psychic kittens speaking in unison is kind of creepy.

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor groans a little. It's not that he doesn't want to see you, Cy...s. It's just that you sometimes have a hard time keeping things to yourself.

He crouches down to speak to her. Them. "Never mind that, when did you go and clone yourself?" Distract her and maybe she'll forget he's covered in Master.

[cyfor]

"We never," #1 says, indignant.

"He did."

"Loaded the dice and rolled twice the madness."

"He likes us."

All the Cys seem pleased by the fourth's declaration. They raise a chorus of noisy purring and attack the Doctor's legs.

[thatsortofaman]

Well, that makes him more than a little nervous. He sighs and reaches out, petting whichever cats' heads he can reach. "Who's he?"

Come on, there are four cats here. Four times the chance of coherency! ...or maybe the chances decrease with each extra cat. He's not sure how that works.

[whateverthemess]

The Doctor might find his entrance to the Casa interrupted by a glowing woman with shimmering white wings. Every once in a while, Divinely Coincidental timing lets her turn a corner just when she needs to.

The Doctor might recognize this shimmering woman.

She's furious.

"You." Dramatic point. She's not trying to be dramatic, it's just hard not to be dramatic when you're glowing. She seizes his wrist and starts to pull him away from the house. "I've been looking for you. We're finding out who did this, and we're fixing it. Now."

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor was not expecting this. The Doctor was not expecting this so much that he just has to stop and stare at her for a little while. ...and stumble backwards when she points a finger at him, but not enough that he can avoid her grabbing his wrist.

"But... I didn't... You're glowing." You know, in case she didn't notice.

[whateverthemess]

"Yes, I am," Murphy says patiently. "I also have wings, if you missed that little detail, and I can't put on any clothes without them turning into this in about ten minutes."

She grabs a fistful of her white robes. "It's a good thing I don't seem to feel the cold any more, or I would be kind of irritated at losing my coat."

Her eyebrows twitch together. "...What's wrong?"

[thatsortofaman]

"Well, yes, it's hard to miss the wings, but plenty of people around here have wings. Not that many... glow." Hmm.

And then his eyes widen, and he scoots a little further away from her. In case she tries to smack him or anything. You never know. "Why do you think I'd know? I've been... busy."