RP for ambitious-woman The Man at the Fireplace

[handysparehand]

[ooc:  This verse takes place about 8 years into his future.  He has met the AU version of Jack and stolen his vortex manipulator]

He landed with a thud near the window, shaking his head as he adjusted to the rough landing from the vortex manipulator.  He grabbed onto the window ledge to pull himself back up to his feet.

Once standing he peeled open

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[ambitious_woman]

She was dreaming.

She did so almost every night now. Thick, hazy, incense filled moments that all whispered the words of Madame Lebon. She was meant for a King, Maman said. She would have a great future. She was the princess of her own fairly tale, and with a newly acquired title too. No longer Jeanne, she was Reinette. The Little Queen.

She liked the way the word tasted when she said it. It sounded important. It made her feel important. In her dreams she was important. No one that a father could ever leave.

A loud noise echoed through her room, and even dreaming Reinette knew the sound did not belong there. She was all but instantly awake, sitting up and sheets sliding off her shoulders.

A man stood there, and she stared at him wide-eyed.

"Why are you here," she demanded. "What do you want?"

[handysparehand]

He looked towards the bed. He opened his mouth for an instant, trying to find the words. Trying to find a way to stand up straight again.

He took one last look at the clock before straightening back up. Becoming the Doctor again. Remembering how easy it was last time he was here. Hoping if he pretended hard enough he could recreate it all over again.

"Fireplace inspection. I'm the fireplace man."

He tried to smile. That smile he used to have. Except it felt foreign, as if he was trying too hard. This smile belonged to someone much younger and fresher than he was. But he used it anyway.

[ambitious_woman]

She assessed him easily, taking in his odd clothing. The hard angles and planes of his face. He was a stranger, of that Reinette was sure. But more than that he was strange.

Her back straightened even more, perfect posture one of her first lessons from the nuns. No, Reinette was not dreaming, she was sure of it.

Her gaze held no small amount of skepticism.

"If you are inspecting my fireplace, why were you looking at the clock?"

[handysparehand]

He could feel himself shutting down a bit, watching the way she was staring at him. She had never looked at him that way before.

"Well, got to check the time before I inspect," he said, shrugging.

Pretending.

He could be that man again. Then maybe she wouldn't stare at him the way she is right now. Maybe she would look at him the way he remembered.