RP for timewill_tell

[brigadiertardis]

She waited until she was certain he was asleep (and chamomile tea mixed with sleeping herbs was always a sure fire way to ensure any being, even the Doctor, slept), the TARDIS set her destination, double-checking the coordinates before making her way to the Doctor's room -- a room he very rarely used but she'd insisted this time, when he professed

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[timewill_tell]

When the Doctor did finally rouse, less than an hour later, he moved sluggishly while he continued to grow more lucid. He twisted in bed, a confused expression on his face as rose up on his elbow and glanced towards the figure at the end of his bed. It was unusual enough for him to be sleeping, in his bed no less, but for her to be watching him was quite another thing entirely.

"TARDIS?" He raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

[timewill_tell]

The Doctor had no idea how much time has passed while he'd been so intensely studying the rocks, which often happened when he was preoccupied with something that delighted his senses and intellect in new ways. When he realized he hadn't heard from his TARDIS for some time, the Doctor stood abruptly, all thought for the rocks instantly gone as he scanned the horizon for her. When he couldn't immediately find her, a ripple of dread went through him. Had his negligence allowed harm to befall her again?

Hurrying towards the direction he last remembered her heading in, the Doctor moved swiftly across the grass, calling for her.

"TARDIS! Where have you gone?"

Panicking wouldn't help the situation, but he was hard pressed to calm himself without being able to see her for himself.

[brigadiertardis]

His calls reached her where she sat among the flowers, a large pile in her lap and still more gathered beside her, but she was rather busy stringing the stems together in an elaborate crown. She had pictures and documentaries on many races who made such adornments and wanted to attempt it herself. She had all ready completed a bouquet for the Doctor; she saw no reason not to do something for herself.

Besides, she'd made no secret of her destination and she should be visible where she sat. If nothing else, the wet footprints and thin trail she'd made through the grass should give her away.

[timewill_tell]

It didn't take him long to spot her, and once he saw her, his lips pursed in faint annoyance. Really, he supposed if he were being completely logical and rational, there would have been no reason to think she could've been hurt in such a short amount of time, with seemingly nothing around to harm her. Still, such assumptions had gotten him into trouble in the past.

When he neared her, he stared down at the flowers she'd surrounded herself with, curious.

"You were certainly busy, it would seem. Though I don't particularly like it when you wander off," he spoke, though his voice was purposely as soft as he could make it, in a concerted effort to be gentle.

[brigadiertardis]

"Doctor," she said, somewhat surprised to see he'd found her so quickly. Obvious clues or no, she'd expected him to spend far more time with his rocks. She hadn't even finished her crown yet. "I did not go far. You knew I wanted to study the flora here, as well. Are they not fascinating?" She nodded toward the huge expanse of swaying plants, myriad colours blanketing the earth. "I must take some specimens back to my Gardens."

Setting her crown to the side, the TARDIS gathered up a large pile of flowers she'd arranged in a composition that complimented each colour's mathematical coding, rising elegantly to her feet to hand him the bouquet -- complete with roots. "I have also collected some for you. I have read that giving flowers is an appropriate custom for dates. I wanted to gather more, but you have arrived earlier than I anticipated and ruined the surprise." She frowned a little, pouting. "Do you like them?"

[timewill_tell]

The Doctor's head tilted minutely as he studied the bouquet. He couldn't help noting how very unconventional it was; certainly, most bouquets did not contain roots along with the flowers. Still, it was a sincere and sweet gesture, and one he couldn't help smiling at.

"Oh, they're quite lovely. And very...intact," he replied, a mixture of appreciation and amusement in his voice. "I think there's enough here, you needn't gather more for me. Have you collected a sufficient amount for your Gardens?"

[brigadiertardis]

The TARDIS studied him quietly as he took the flowers, trying to understand the meaning behind his words, why it would be so strange for the flora to be presented as it was, then decided it wasn't worth the questioning -- this time -- and folded herself back to the ground, picking up her crown and working on threading the stems together properly.

"I believe I have," she said eventually, concentrating on her efforts to finish her project. Another twist here, a knot there and ... finally. She stood, presenting the crown to him, grinning. "I have also made this. It is another custom I read about whilst perusing my databanks for information on dates and cultural use of flowers. Is it acceptable?"

[timewill_tell]

The Doctor took the crown from her as well, studying it a bit more closely. He was familiar with a vast assortment of customs from many planets, though he couldn't immediately figure out the significance of the proffered gift.

"Well, I have to say it's also quite lovely, TARDIS, though I must admit to being unfamiliar with this particular custom," the Doctor replied, placing it on his head nonetheless.

[brigadiertardis]

"It is apparently a custom popular among young females," she explained, humming quietly as she gathered the samples of flowers she intended on transplanting to her Garden. "They gather assorted flora, weave them together to form crowns, and wear them on their heads for festivals. It seemed appropriate to have something celebratory for today, do you not agree?" She smiled at him, the load of flowers in her arms about obscuring her face. "It suits you."

[timewill_tell]

The Doctor pushed the crown further down on his head to ensure it wouldn't fall off easily. He felt the fact that he was still smiling was answer enough, but added, "I do agree, though I have to inquire about your crown. Shouldn't we match?"

His eyes were bright with mirth, and he found himself liking the idea of having more surprises to anticipate; it was rare that someone else planned things and he had nothing to do but go along with them.

[brigadiertardis]

"I did not make two," she said, blinking, then crouched down and began gathering some more plants. "I will do so now so that we might be a proper pair. I had no considered that."

And with that, she sat back down on the ground, concentrating on getting herself a crown to match his.

[timewill_tell]

Rather than standing above her to observe, the Doctor set down the bouquet of flowers she'd given him and laid on the grass on his back. He was close enough to her to feel and hear her humming, to glimpse her movements out of the corner of his eye, and divided his attention on the sky above, crossing his hands behind his head.

"If we do happen upon any natives, they'll know you and I are together. Unless this custom is unfamiliar to them as well, in which case they might simply think us mad," the Doctor grinned, crossing his legs at his ankles. "Well, it is nice to link ourselves symbolically, through the use of a crown of flora at that."

[brigadiertardis]

The TARDIS gave him a cursory glance as he laid down, then went back to her work, fingers moving deftly now that she knew what she was doing from the first crown she'd made.

"I sensed lifeforms coming from the east earlier," she said conversationally as she hummed and worked, a light rumble working its way from her chest through her limbs and into the ground. "Do you suppose they will approach us? I do not want them to. I want to spend time with you." She frowned, adding some more flowers to her crown to make it dominantly blue. "Ah, do you believe so? I ... agree. I enjoy being able to display our bond."

[timewill_tell]

Nonchalantly, the Doctor replied, "Oh, I wouldn't worry much about other lifeforms, TARDIS. They might very well turn and go in an entirely different direction before they ever reach us. If you do sense them coming closer, however, we could always find another spot to occupy, so they don't interfere with our time together."

The Doctor patted his crown again, speaking teasingly, "I doubt your crown will look quite as becoming on you as mine does on me, though."

[brigadiertardis]

His words rang true and she nodded thoughtfully, adding another flower to the fold. It was about done, now, she simply had to tie off a few ends and ... there. Complete. The TARDIS smiled and placed the wreath on her head, turning to face the Doctor properly as she did so.

"Do I not look pleasing?" she asked, concerned. "Does it detract from my appearance?"

[timewill_tell]

The Doctor sat up, crossing his legs beneath him as he did so. His thumb went out to lightly brush against one of the flowers in her crown, trailing downward to brush affectionately across her brow. He gave her a warm smile before speaking.

"No, on the contrary; I would say it enhances your appearance," he assured sincerely.

Then, the Doctor began rummaging through the basket of food they'd brought along, pulling out some fruit and a container of liquid chocolate he'd felt it necessary to bring along.

"Now, shall we eat? We're going to try something different once again: dipping fruit into chocolate. Strawberries, specifically. I believe they're the fruit best paired with chocolate, though other fruit works as well, in a pinch."

He dipped a large strawberry into the chocolate and held it out for her, eagerly anticipating her reaction to the taste of it.