Relaying Difficult Messages

[notrosesshadow]

Characters: Martha Jones, Dorian Gray, Marco, Gray
Rating: PG-13
Time Period: Modern
Location: Martha's room, Loft
Relative Date: A few hours after Jack and the Doctor leave
Status: Closed

After the Doctor and Jack had left, Martha turned to her notebook. She paced a bit trying to decide the best course of action. Finally, she sighed and took out her

Comments

[dandiacaldevil]

The knock came some long moments after Dorian had hung up. He refused to leave his room without proper dressing. So here he was in a suit of muted fawn-color, with a green waistcoat and carnation and handkerchief, walking stick in hand.

He did his damnedest to compose himself on the way over. He didn't know what he'd do if Basil really was here. Surely the woman was mistaken. Basil wouldn't be here, it was impossible. He tried to think of what he would say to the painter. They'd exchanged only the bare civilities since the day after Sybil Vane died, Dorian had avoided Basil staunchly.

So he knocked, three sharp raps and then a bit later another three before he reigned in his nerves.

[notrosesshadow]

Martha was in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. Not at all appropriate by eighteenth century standards, but then she wasn't from the eighteenth century.

She rose from her chair and quietly walked over to the door. She opened it and looked at the man. He seemed... nervous...

"Dorian? I'm Martha. Why don't you come in," she said in as calm a voice as she could, though it was laced with the edge of someone keeping back a lot of emotion.

[dandiacaldevil]

He made a deliberate effort to remain calm, to bow and smile as was his custom before he stepped into the room.

"You said...Basil was here...?" He said, looking around the room, as if he expected to see the painter sitting so uncomfortably in one of the chairs, with that nervous, stupid smile on his face.

[notrosesshadow]

Martha was caught off guard by the bow. Was she supposed to do something? She bobbed her head self-conciously.

Yes... well... sort of... he was here. Why don't we sit down?" she offered gesturing to the table and chairs.

[marco_innocent]

Marco knocked on the door, a bit out of breath after having run most of the way. His legs were quivering slightly from the strain, and he made a mental note of running more as an excersise. Damn human body.

He was small, with long blonde curly hair and a young looking face, but even so, his eyes showed an age not even close to the human age he looked. "Miss Martha? It is Marco." he knocked.

[notrosesshadow]

Martha sighed and walked over to the door. Dorian had been frustrating to deal with, and she actually felt sorry for Basil that he had ever fallen in love with a man like that. She schooled her face, however, and opened the door wearing an appropriate expression of concern. "Hello Marco" she said inviting him inside and gesturing to two arm chairs. She figured they would be more comfortable than the chairs at the table. She waited for Marco to sit and ask questions before she made a move. She was sure he would have them.

[marco_innocent]

Marco smiled at the beautiful woman which opened the door. He hesitated a second, then stepped into the room, glancing a bit around the room, then moved to sit on the chair, looking expectant up at her. "You had something you wished to tell me?" he asked gently as he observed her face carefully.

[notrosesshadow]

Martha sat across from him and took a breath. "I believe you know a man named Basil." It wasn't a question so much as a statement. "He is..." her voice faltered... it always faltered... "he's dead," she responded.

[bitfracturesane]

Gray arrived, his stomach knotting and fluttering as he knocked on Martha's door though his features were schooled to a quiet calmness that he typically wore when facing people.

"Martha. It's me. Gray? You contacted me about a friend." He called softly. "May I come in?"

[notrosesshadow]

Martha was sitting down. She was tired of dealing with this, but she had one more. "The door's open" she called out as she pushed back any undesirable emotions again.

[bitfracturesane]

The man hesitated for a moment before stepping into the room. "Miss Martha?" He asked softly, coming in a bit further to the space. "...Who was it? What happened?"

[notrosesshadow]

Gray was clearly no stranger to death. She stood, wavering slightly as exhaustion washed through her, and walked over to him. "Would you rather sit down to hear the news?" she asked, not bothering to hide the exhaustion from her voice anymore. "I would prefer to sit, it's been a long and upsetting day for me."