[060]

[oliverplus]

[is that who you think it is broadcasting over the sphere? yes. yes, it definitely is. seven-year-old Oliver is sitting on the floor in the middle of the Doctor's kitchen, practically swimming in one of his older counterpart's sweatshirts. he's in the process of working the trousers off his legs, mostly without the use of his hands as they're

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[he finally storms in to his suite after his little tirade, and stops short hearing that "Uncle Doctor" thing. at least the carols have stopped, but he quickly feels his anger dwindle when he sees his young companion.] Ollie? What--no, it's this damn ship again. [quietly] And you remembered Lara...

[bit_impossible]

[oh dear lord, this is why he can't handle kids...] She didn't say good-bye to anyone, Ollie. She was taken away and not given a chance to say a single word.

[oliverplus]

What? But...but why would her mum and dad do that!?

[bit_impossible]

I wish I knew, Ollie. But she's home. Aren't you glad she's home?

[oliverplus]

But that means she's not on holiday anymore!

[blinks, a thought occurring to him] It's 'cause of the people you couldn't save, isn't it? Like when my friend Annie's daddy died. Her mum came, and they took her right out of class. But Lara's okay, Uncle Doctor? Are her mum and dad okay, too?

[bit_impossible]

[he knows the real answer, but for little Lara, that tragedy wouldn't happen yet.] ...I've never met them, Ollie, so I can't say. But they had to be the ones to fetch her, yeah?

[oliverplus]

Yeah, I guess so.

[worried] Are my mum and dad coming, too?

[bit_impossible]

No, you're my responsibility and I'll be the one to get you home.

[oliverplus]

[nods] That's okay, then.

Are there other mums and dads here, Uncle Doctor? Maybe I can help them feel better.

[bit_impossible]

[well, he can think of one, but he's rather angry with her at the moment, so] No, you're staying right here. [he fetches a towel from one of the drawers and starts mopping up the mess, collecting the bits of broken teacup in it as well.]

[oliverplus]

But what if more of my friends go home while I'm just waiting?

It'll be easy, Uncle Doctor! Mums like hugs, so we just hug the mums, and then they feel better and they won't end the holiday! And dads...what do dads like? Oh, fishing! But how could we go fishing on a ship?

[bit_impossible]

Ollie, I said no. There's no one like that on-board like that. [besides, he doubts Ryuuko is the hugging type, whereas Isshin is, but the fact that the man has children still baffles him. and he himself is the only other parent type on the ship--not that little Oliver knows--but still.]

Who are your other friends?

[oliverplus]

Well, like Ammy, and that funny little girl that said lots of big words, and a little boy who said he didn't have a mummy and daddy, and Lara. And you and Riku, but you're big enough to be daddies, so that's kinda different.

[bit_impossible]

[...oh the vagueness, it hurts.] Ah, I see.

...You think Riku's--? Well, technically he is, being a male of his age. [somehow, he doesn't see Riku being a father for a very long time.]

[oliverplus]

[speaks with the air of something that should clearly be obvious] He's not a dad, but he's an adult, so he could be a dad.

[frowns with concern] Uncle Doctor, I know you don't want me to go find the other mums and dads because Riku said there are bad things outside again--like the animals. But why is the door open? Is it because you're going out to help again? Are you gonna use your light saber?

[bit_impossible]

Right--and there could be any number of worse things out there. Ah, the door is open because it was being stubborn and locking us in. [sighs wearily] I do need to go out and help again. [but he can't quite admit that he has no idea where to start.]

...My lightsabre?