ROTM 'verse, RP for decadentmind

[rude_not_ginger]

Well, that was bracing, at the very least. Quick stop off to Ireland in the 13th century to sightsee, and the first thing the Doctor did was walk right into a pack of bandits. They'd kidnapped a local woman and were holding her ransom. And, because the Doctor had seen them, he got held for ransom, too. The sonic screwdriver wasn't very handy,

Comments

[decadentmind]

Arcateen 5 had been an adventure and a half. So much so that she'd needed a day or two to rest afterwards.

Time to rest meant time to think. And it wasn't that Catherine hadn't thought about him at all--she had. He was nearly constantly at the edge of her consciousness. But quiet time, time to really think was also time to reflect. And remember. And wonder.

And miss him.

Out of respect, Catherine let this Doctor know she'd be calling that one. And that it would soon be time for her to leave for a bit, and see him again.

He'd understood, and withdrawn, to give her space and privacy. It couldn't have been easy, this first time, and she was grateful for the grace and understanding with which he handled it.

Catherine was in the greenhouse room, perched on the edge of a marble planter, fishnet-clad legs dangling lazily as she took her mobile out of her jacket pocket and dialed the other TARDIS.

[decadentmind]

Catherine beamed up at him. "You're very well-prepared. I approve."

She glanced down at the table. "...are we not staying, then?"

[rude_not_ginger]

He looked around the cafe with a shrug, "It's a nice place, but, really, it's the outside of the city you'll want to see here. There's an amazing place not half a mile walk from here. Far better than any table."

He glanced down at her shoes. Appropriate for walking, excellent. And the jacket...He touched the lapel on the jacket and smiled. He'd given that to her, and she did look amazing in it, as he'd expected she would.

[decadentmind]

Catherine's smile grew wider. "In that case, I shall rely on you to be my guide. Shall we?"

She slipped her hand in his, and led him away from the table and out into the square. She paused, and looked up at him, flashing him another grin. "Which way?"

She put her hand in her jacket pocket, drawing his in with it as they were clasped together. It was as if she meant to keep it safe.

[rude_not_ginger]

The Doctor felt rather young again, and found himself all but bouncing on his toes as they headed down the street, towards the edge of the small, sleepy town. The town, entirely erected in stone, with strange, almost mystical-looking symbols on each stone, was so complicated in its intricate need for details, yet so calm. The Doctor had fancied getting a summer home in the town, but the rent was far too high for his taste.

"Out of the square, up that ridge there," he said, "Then it's a bit of a hike through a forest, but there's a path."

Her hand in his felt wonderful, and he was protected from the breeze by her coat. So simple, but it felt intimate and he loved that. How little things could mean so much.

[decadentmind]

"I could do with a lovely walk," Catherine replied, smiling and giving his hand a squeeze in her pocket.

She let him lead her out of the town, up the ridge and onto the path. Even with the physical exertion, she felt calmer already. She wasn't sure if it was the effects of the area, or being at the Doctor's side.

[rude_not_ginger]

"First time I came here was by accident," the Doctor said to her as they walked, "Was trying to land on...where was I going? Andromeda, I think. Sixteen galaxies away. Stepped out, saw the view from this cliffside we're headed to, and couldn't imagine going anywhere else for a holiday. S'breathtaking, you'll love it."

They neared the forest, and the tiny hollow leaves that covered every tree whistled in the breeze. It was tuneless and beautiful. And he was walking with Catherine, and there was a good cup of tea waiting for him when they got to their spot...well, happy was a pretty good label to put on him at that moment.

[decadentmind]

"So it was a happy accident," Catherine observed. "I like that."

They were walking side by side through some of the most beautiful countryside Catherine had ever seen, their fingers laced together in the pocket of the coat he'd given her. The very air around them was alive with sound and movement. They were at peace, and content.

Catherine sighed happily. "...sometimes you find the most amazing things when you aren't even intending to."

[rude_not_ginger]

"Serendipity," the Doctor agreed as they moved into a clearing near the cliffside. The two moons sat just at the horizon of a long, streaming lake. The two suns, white and hot but far enough away to give just the right amount of light and warmth, were a little past noon (well, what noon substituted for in a planet with only 9-hour-days). If the Doctor had his way, they would stay for at least the suns set.

He took in a breath, letting the ions in the air give him the calming euphoria.

"Ruins of an old church up here," he said, motioning to their left as they continued, "Makes for excellent seating."

[decadentmind]

Catherine had paused on the path to look down at the lake, but when the Doctor mentioned the church she started moving again, quickly falling back into step beside him.

She took a deep breath in, feeling any sort of unrest sort of drain out of her with her exhalation. "This is lovely," she murmured. "Doctor? What causes the high concentration of ions in the air here? Is it a geographical or meteorological phenomenon?"

[rude_not_ginger]

"The locals here say it's magic," the Doctor said, his voice very serious. After a moment, his lips twitched into a smirk, "Probably meterological, the cores of the planet get very heavy rainstorms and hurricanes, but the rest of the planet stays like this. Little cooler in the one-sun time, little warmer in the three-sun time, but always beautiful."

As they reached the spot he desired, he grinned, "Here we go. Knew I remembered how to get here." Not that he was worried he'd forgotten. Or...anything.

[decadentmind]

Catherine flashed him a grin before gently disengaging her hand from his inside her pocket. She gingerly picked her way over to the edge of the cliff, and peered down

[rude_not_ginger]

He would never admit it, but simply hearing that she loved it thrilled him to no end. He suspected, of course, what with the awe on her face, the interest. But hearing it cleared up that little insecurity that tapped on the side of his mind.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, held her close as she kissed him. He could taste her grin, and he loved it. Loved...all of this. The place, well, he loved that, but he'd been there many, many times before. It was different with company. Different with her.

There he was, getting attached again. Falling quickly, hard, and stupidly.

He lifted her off of the wall, depositing her down on the ground. He chuckled. "You're rather short in this incarnation, aren't you?" he teased. Shorter than he remembered, but, then again, he was taller in this incarnation, too.

[decadentmind]

Catherine glanced up at him and sighed, shrugging. "Yes. Tiny and ginger. Hardly seems fair as regenerations go. I was tall last time. I loved that. We never do get what we want, do we?"

She smiled, and slid her hand back into his, lacing their fingers together. "So where's a good spot to sit and see everything?"

[rude_not_ginger]

"Ginger." No, he wasn't still jealous. Well, not much. Well, only a little bit. Not a lot, at least.

He glanced around, finally motioning to a patch of grass not far from them, a bit closer to the cliffside, where the trees bent in but didn't block the view. He walked with her, only breaking their hand holding long enough to pull off his jacket and lay it on the ground for them to sit on.

"You know," he said, "The people in town seem happy enough, and they've just got this. Of course, it is this, and not Earth, but still. I always wondered if the Eye of Orion put some sort of hold on you after a while. Made you not want to leave."

[decadentmind]

Catherine lowered herself to the ground beside him, frowning, deep in thought. "I've no idea, really," she replied, stretching her legs out, leaning back a bit, and resting her head against his shoulder. "I suppose it could... even if it isn't deliberately manipulating you into wanting to stay, I guess one could become addicted to the feeling of calm, yes? And it is rather natural to want to stick with something once you realise how much you like it, how good for you it is."

Rather like this, she mused as she curled into his side, closing her eyes.