![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Fic: Knowing Me, Knowing You...
Still feeling v. bunged up, but hot chocolate and toasted muffins help a lot. :) So, you get fic. It's very silly, but I've been wondering how to tie up certain loose ends for quite a while. This was the result. Enjoy! :)
Summary: Doctor + River + Jack = ?
Rating: PG
Characters: Eleven, River, Jack. (+ cameos by Amy and Rory.)
Genre: Fluff & FitB.
Spoilers: S5.
Setting: Post-The Big Bang sometime.
Word count: 2500 words approx.
Feedback: Pretty please?
Knowing Me, Knowing You...
It wasn't that the Doctor didn't enjoy excitement and difficult situations - he did, a lot. But days like today he dearly wished he could press 'pause' and come back another time.
Currently he was carefully making his way through an ancient temple on Ethrathorita II, and its labyrinthine layout, endless dead ends and numerous sudden traps were beginning to wear him down somewhat. Especially considering Amy and Rory's hostage-status, and the fact that the reason for the hostage-taking and subsequent temple-exploring was a highly sensitive bomb in the middle of the maze (unhelpfully placed there by the local residents’ arch enemies) that was slowly counting down to a quite significant explosion that he would really rather not be near.
Checking his watch again, he realised that they only had ten minutes left.
Yes, 'they'. He had - with some rather persuasive word-mastery - managed to extract River as a helpmate from their unwelcoming hosts, but had for quite some time regretted this, wistfully contemplating Amy's energy and Rory's steadfastness.
Of course River’s archaeological training was - as he’d foreseen - incredibly useful considering the nature of their enterprise, but overall it was beginning to prove more of a hindrance than a help, since she was constantly side-tracked by inscriptions, statues, murals, carvings and the ingenious way the traps had been constructed. He kept having to pull her along, as she excitedly took pictures and scribbled down notes.
"Ten minutes!"
"Of course, Sweetie," she answered absentmindedly. "Now would you look at this? I believe it’s another reference to the principal deity, who is not, in my professional opinion, a permutation of the old god like people think, but is, as a matter of fact, the very same character who keeps popping up all over this galaxy. I’ve been thinking about writing a paper-”
"Come on!" he said, taking her hand and dragging her behind him, before almost falling off the edge of a very abrupt too-wide-to-jump gap that seemed to go down to the very bowels of the planet.
She held out her wrist, pulling back her sleeve, and they teleported to the other side. If only there had been some kind of reliable map they could have used the vortex manipulator and gone straight to the centre, but of course it wasn't that easy. The planters of the bomb had been very thorough in their efforts to make any rescue mission as impossible as possible.
River, not fazed in the slightest, continued talking, not taking any notice of his frown.
"Oh but you see, the interesting thing is that it's not you. I know most of your legends by now, if not all of them, and this other figure is, despite many similarities, quite distinctly different. I saw a mural down one of the passages..."
Her voice trailed off as he held up a hand.
"Sh!"
Something was wrong. Somewhere deep inside his senses were beginning to shout very very loudly to just turn around and run away. Having a sudden and unwelcome idea of what might be the cause of this feeling, he stalked forwards, senses wide and alert.
Dodging a falling rock and catching a few poison darts - it was all very Indiana Jones, something he’d pointed out to River earlier on, which had led to an unexpected discussion of whips that he’d rather not have had - he stepped through an optical illusion and finally found himself by the door to the innermost chamber.
And found that the door was ajar, light peeping through around the frame and casting bright ribbons of gold onto the floor.
With a sinking feeling, as if his hearts had relocated to his boots, he pushed the door open.
In the middle of the heavily decorated room there was a large stone altar, upon which stood a rather unpleasantly substantial bomb, emitting a low, but very insistent and unnerving vibrating noise. And behind the altar stood a tall, handsome man, in a WW2 great coat, carefully picking apart the inside of the explosive device, a golden glow globe hovering in the air above him.
The man looked up as the door scraped along the floor, frowned, and the next moment the Doctor found a large gun aimed at his chest. A second later River's gun rested on his shoulder, pointing straight at the other gun, as she purred:
"Drop it, big boy."
The Doctor sighed deeply.
"River, put the gun away. You too, Jack. You know how I feel about weapons."
There was a pause, as Jack's eyes widened.
"Doctor?"
"The one and only."
The Doctor spread his arms, and Jack's face split in a wide grin.
"Oooh, love the new face! Should have known it was you - somewhere this Indiana Jones-y was bound to attract you!"
He tilted his head. "Although I guess the bow tie would make you Indy's dad. If he was twelve..."
The Doctor was about to say something about 'Not you too!' when Jack turned back to the bomb.
"Actually since you're here, would you mind giving me a hand? I'm almost done, but that sonic screwdriver of yours would make life a lot simpler!"
"Of course," he said, stepping forwards and in a split-second taking in the situation and what needed doing. Pulling out the screwdriver he aimed it carefully.
"Good to see you're finally appreciating it."
Jack looked like he was about to say something, as he looked up from the wires he was about to cut, but then raised an eyebrow.
"New screwdriver too? And this one's bigger than the old one..."
"Enough of that!" the Doctor reproached, and Jack, to his immense relief, lowered his head and busied himself with the wires again - a quiet smile on his face, but no more innuendoes forthcoming. After a moment there was a lovely 'plip' sound and the bomb went silent.
Jack grinned.
"Thank you very much, Doctor. Your timing is impeccable. Now - are you going to introduce me to your lovely companion?"
River - who had been on the comm. unit, informing Amy and Rory's captors of the success of their mission and imminent return - smiled widely in return, and the Doctor, giving in to the inevitable, waved his hands between the two of them.
“Jack – Doctor River Song. River – Captain Jack Harkness.”
River smiled deeply, eyes twinkling as she took Jack's hand.
“Oh we’ve met.”
She looked Jack over from head to toe, not bothering to hide her admiration.
“Much younger, and with a different name mind you, but oh yeah, I remember.”
The Doctor tried not to roll his eyes and was about to say something about possible Spoilers, but then realised that Jack looked worried rather than flirtatious, studying River with a frown.
“When was this? I know I’m getting on, but I think I’d recall...”
River chuckled. “No you wouldn’t. Which reminds me…”
Opening her handbag she pulled out a pen and pad.
“I need you to go find past-me and give me this message. Hang on...”
Resting the pad on the alter she carefully drew a circle, and then started adding smaller circles and lines. As the Doctor began to get the gist, he shook his head (of course it had been her), but Jack was still completely out of the loop and clearly getting a bit unsettled – not an uncommon reaction to River, the Doctor had to admit, and he began to worry less about what Jack might say regarding their own last encounter, and more about all the ways in which River was problematic.
“Hang on – is that Gallifreyan?” Jack asked, and the Doctor snorted.
“Well if you discount the atrocious grammar…”
“Shut up Sweetie. I’m not going to conjugate in seven different tenses for the sake of a note only I am going to read.”
“OK, time out! Is anyone going to explain what’s going on?”
Jack had obviously had enough, but River only smiled in her own smug River way and held out the note.
“I’ll explain later. When you come back, to be precise. Oh, and you’re going to 5-8-diamond-alpha-3-slash-triangle.”
Jack stared at her, incredulous.
“And how exactly am I supposed to get to the other side of this galaxy, a thousand years ago?”
A frown formed on her face.
“But you were a Time Agent...”
Jack crossed his arms.
“Emphasis on the past tense! I’ve been hitch hiking recently, since I’m too honest to steal ships these days.”
“Ah. In that case, I suppose you better take this.”
River pulled back her sleeve and took off the vortex manipulator, and Jack stared at it, slowly turning it over in his hands when she gave it to him.
“This is mine!”
“I don’t think so,” River replied coolly, but with what might be a small hint of tension. The Doctor looked from one to the other, curious, but refrained from saying anything as Jack’s face clouded over.
“Oh yes. Look – the leather is new, custom made in 21st Century Cardiff. How the hell did you get it?”
“I bought it,” she answered defensively. “And it wasn’t cheap. Fresh off the wrist off a handsome Time Agent, so they told me…” she tilted her head. “Well, not actually off the wrist… And from what I can tell you've still got both your hands.”
"It grew back," Jack said, tight-lipped, and River's face lit up.
"Really? You know, I was just thinking-"
“River?” the Doctor cut in, deeply disturbed at this turn of events. "You never said that you acquired your vortex manipulator in such an alarming manner... Quite frankly I'm appalled. Listen-"
“Darling,” she said, smiling in a way clearly meant to mollify as she patted his arm soothingly, “it was the end of the universe, remember? TARDIS go boom? I needed time travel as quickly as possible - and a one handed man is a small price for saving the world, don’t you think?”
“Stop... sounding so reasonable!” he complained. “You shouldn’t-“
“And yet I do,” she interrupted, then turned to Jack.
“Now, run off and give past-me the note. You'll find me in the bar - I’m not easy to miss.”
Jack turned from her, conflicted, and looked at the Doctor, who resignedly nodded.
“Wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey. I suppose you better do as she says, or your personal time line probably goes belly-up - and quite frankly I don’t know what would happen if a fixed point in time was at the heart of a paradox.”
He frowned, trying to contemplate the space-time repercussions, the result of which made him want to go have a nice quiet cup of tea and a jammie dodger.
Jack studied them both, then shook his head and fastened the wrist strap.
“You know, I could just leave and not come back.”
River raised an eloquent eyebrow, and Jack swore silently, before disappearing.
“River,” the Doctor said slowly, “What exactly…”
“You don’t want to know.”
They were facing each other, and he could feel his temper flare up at her blank refusal to explain.
‘One day I’m going to be someone you trust completely,’ he could hear her future-self say in the dark recesses of his memory - but today wasn’t that day. He glowered.
“I think that is up to me to decide.”
“I do what I have to. Like Jack, I suppose. And stop being patronising, it doesn’t suit you.”
He studied her, wondering how on earth this impossible woman managed to get to him so thoroughly, but then Jack reappeared (couldn’t he have given them five minutes? It wouldn’t have made any difference from his perspective) looking from one to the other.
“Answers. Now.”
There was a pause, then the Doctor tiredly dragged a hand through his hair.
“The note told River’s past self to wipe two years off your memory.”
Jack’s head snapped round.
“What? No. That was the Time Agency. How-”
River tilted her head, positively radiating smugness.
“I made it look like it was the Time Agency.”
“But why…”
She smiled, a little sadly.
“Because you’d spent two years studying an elusive figure called ‘the Doctor’, trying to work out a way to ensnare him and steal his TARDIS.”
Jack’s mouth nearly fell open.
“You’re kidding.”
“Not at all. The Agency was rather taken with the idea of broadening their reach and power, or so you told me. You want your memories back by the way? Some of them have me in. The best ones, I’d wager.”
The look on her face left no one in any doubt as to what she meant, and the Doctor sighed again. He had a feeling he'd be doing that a lot.
“River…”
“Oh darling, don’t be such a fusspot. Time Agents do have… quite a reputation. Didn’t want to miss an opportunity to see if it was exaggerated.”
Jack suddenly seemed to have revived, charm and curiosity snapping back to life as if never gone.
“And?”
“Not in the least.”
Smile met smile, as eyes met eyes, and the Doctor grumpily picked up the dead bomb.
“You’re both impossible,” he complained, and River laughed.
“That’s why you love us.” She turned to Jack.
"Now, just give me back my wrist strap and we can be out of here."
Jack slowly shook his head.
"Let's take the scenic route, shall we?"
He held out his arm, indicating the door, and the Doctor shook his head.
"I think we had quite enough of deadly traps coming in..."
Jack chuckled.
"Ah, but I know all the shortcuts."
River's eyes narrowed.
"And why might that be?"
"It's my temple!" he answered, teeth bright in the dimly lit chamber, and River's face broke out into an answering grin.
"You know, that's exactly what I suspected. The inscriptions indicated an immortal deity - but one with an unchanging face... I’ve been thinking about writing a paper, actually. Did I mention that I'm an archaeologist by the way? If you would come with me, there's a beautiful mural down one of the corridors that I would love to measure you against... It’s nude, but you won’t mind, will you?"
Taking Jack’s arm she steered him out of the door, and the Doctor looked at the bomb in his arms.
“Birds of a feather. Whatever did I do to deserve two of them?”
***
Sometime later, in the TARDIS.
The Doctor pressed buttons and flicked switches with intense concentration, before decisively turning the great handle that took them into the vortex, and then finally allowed himself to relax.
“You were saying, Rory?”
“Um... you do know that you left River and that Jack-bloke behind...”
The Doctor didn’t answer, and Amy folded her arms, eyes narrowing.
“You’re running away again, aren’t you?”
He looked at his lovely young companions - sweet and innocent and delightful - and nodded decisively.
“Yes. Yes I am. Now - who would like to go to Barcelona? The planet, mind you, not the city? Fantastic place, trust me!”
Without waiting for a response he started keying in the co-ordinates, determined not to worry about all the trouble River and Jack would undoubtedly get themselves into, knowing them...
End
Summary: Doctor + River + Jack = ?
Rating: PG
Characters: Eleven, River, Jack. (+ cameos by Amy and Rory.)
Genre: Fluff & FitB.
Spoilers: S5.
Setting: Post-The Big Bang sometime.
Word count: 2500 words approx.
Feedback: Pretty please?
It wasn't that the Doctor didn't enjoy excitement and difficult situations - he did, a lot. But days like today he dearly wished he could press 'pause' and come back another time.
Currently he was carefully making his way through an ancient temple on Ethrathorita II, and its labyrinthine layout, endless dead ends and numerous sudden traps were beginning to wear him down somewhat. Especially considering Amy and Rory's hostage-status, and the fact that the reason for the hostage-taking and subsequent temple-exploring was a highly sensitive bomb in the middle of the maze (unhelpfully placed there by the local residents’ arch enemies) that was slowly counting down to a quite significant explosion that he would really rather not be near.
Checking his watch again, he realised that they only had ten minutes left.
Yes, 'they'. He had - with some rather persuasive word-mastery - managed to extract River as a helpmate from their unwelcoming hosts, but had for quite some time regretted this, wistfully contemplating Amy's energy and Rory's steadfastness.
Of course River’s archaeological training was - as he’d foreseen - incredibly useful considering the nature of their enterprise, but overall it was beginning to prove more of a hindrance than a help, since she was constantly side-tracked by inscriptions, statues, murals, carvings and the ingenious way the traps had been constructed. He kept having to pull her along, as she excitedly took pictures and scribbled down notes.
"Ten minutes!"
"Of course, Sweetie," she answered absentmindedly. "Now would you look at this? I believe it’s another reference to the principal deity, who is not, in my professional opinion, a permutation of the old god like people think, but is, as a matter of fact, the very same character who keeps popping up all over this galaxy. I’ve been thinking about writing a paper-”
"Come on!" he said, taking her hand and dragging her behind him, before almost falling off the edge of a very abrupt too-wide-to-jump gap that seemed to go down to the very bowels of the planet.
She held out her wrist, pulling back her sleeve, and they teleported to the other side. If only there had been some kind of reliable map they could have used the vortex manipulator and gone straight to the centre, but of course it wasn't that easy. The planters of the bomb had been very thorough in their efforts to make any rescue mission as impossible as possible.
River, not fazed in the slightest, continued talking, not taking any notice of his frown.
"Oh but you see, the interesting thing is that it's not you. I know most of your legends by now, if not all of them, and this other figure is, despite many similarities, quite distinctly different. I saw a mural down one of the passages..."
Her voice trailed off as he held up a hand.
"Sh!"
Something was wrong. Somewhere deep inside his senses were beginning to shout very very loudly to just turn around and run away. Having a sudden and unwelcome idea of what might be the cause of this feeling, he stalked forwards, senses wide and alert.
Dodging a falling rock and catching a few poison darts - it was all very Indiana Jones, something he’d pointed out to River earlier on, which had led to an unexpected discussion of whips that he’d rather not have had - he stepped through an optical illusion and finally found himself by the door to the innermost chamber.
And found that the door was ajar, light peeping through around the frame and casting bright ribbons of gold onto the floor.
With a sinking feeling, as if his hearts had relocated to his boots, he pushed the door open.
In the middle of the heavily decorated room there was a large stone altar, upon which stood a rather unpleasantly substantial bomb, emitting a low, but very insistent and unnerving vibrating noise. And behind the altar stood a tall, handsome man, in a WW2 great coat, carefully picking apart the inside of the explosive device, a golden glow globe hovering in the air above him.
The man looked up as the door scraped along the floor, frowned, and the next moment the Doctor found a large gun aimed at his chest. A second later River's gun rested on his shoulder, pointing straight at the other gun, as she purred:
"Drop it, big boy."
The Doctor sighed deeply.
"River, put the gun away. You too, Jack. You know how I feel about weapons."
There was a pause, as Jack's eyes widened.
"Doctor?"
"The one and only."
The Doctor spread his arms, and Jack's face split in a wide grin.
"Oooh, love the new face! Should have known it was you - somewhere this Indiana Jones-y was bound to attract you!"
He tilted his head. "Although I guess the bow tie would make you Indy's dad. If he was twelve..."
The Doctor was about to say something about 'Not you too!' when Jack turned back to the bomb.
"Actually since you're here, would you mind giving me a hand? I'm almost done, but that sonic screwdriver of yours would make life a lot simpler!"
"Of course," he said, stepping forwards and in a split-second taking in the situation and what needed doing. Pulling out the screwdriver he aimed it carefully.
"Good to see you're finally appreciating it."
Jack looked like he was about to say something, as he looked up from the wires he was about to cut, but then raised an eyebrow.
"New screwdriver too? And this one's bigger than the old one..."
"Enough of that!" the Doctor reproached, and Jack, to his immense relief, lowered his head and busied himself with the wires again - a quiet smile on his face, but no more innuendoes forthcoming. After a moment there was a lovely 'plip' sound and the bomb went silent.
Jack grinned.
"Thank you very much, Doctor. Your timing is impeccable. Now - are you going to introduce me to your lovely companion?"
River - who had been on the comm. unit, informing Amy and Rory's captors of the success of their mission and imminent return - smiled widely in return, and the Doctor, giving in to the inevitable, waved his hands between the two of them.
“Jack – Doctor River Song. River – Captain Jack Harkness.”
River smiled deeply, eyes twinkling as she took Jack's hand.
“Oh we’ve met.”
She looked Jack over from head to toe, not bothering to hide her admiration.
“Much younger, and with a different name mind you, but oh yeah, I remember.”
The Doctor tried not to roll his eyes and was about to say something about possible Spoilers, but then realised that Jack looked worried rather than flirtatious, studying River with a frown.
“When was this? I know I’m getting on, but I think I’d recall...”
River chuckled. “No you wouldn’t. Which reminds me…”
Opening her handbag she pulled out a pen and pad.
“I need you to go find past-me and give me this message. Hang on...”
Resting the pad on the alter she carefully drew a circle, and then started adding smaller circles and lines. As the Doctor began to get the gist, he shook his head (of course it had been her), but Jack was still completely out of the loop and clearly getting a bit unsettled – not an uncommon reaction to River, the Doctor had to admit, and he began to worry less about what Jack might say regarding their own last encounter, and more about all the ways in which River was problematic.
“Hang on – is that Gallifreyan?” Jack asked, and the Doctor snorted.
“Well if you discount the atrocious grammar…”
“Shut up Sweetie. I’m not going to conjugate in seven different tenses for the sake of a note only I am going to read.”
“OK, time out! Is anyone going to explain what’s going on?”
Jack had obviously had enough, but River only smiled in her own smug River way and held out the note.
“I’ll explain later. When you come back, to be precise. Oh, and you’re going to 5-8-diamond-alpha-3-slash-triangle.”
Jack stared at her, incredulous.
“And how exactly am I supposed to get to the other side of this galaxy, a thousand years ago?”
A frown formed on her face.
“But you were a Time Agent...”
Jack crossed his arms.
“Emphasis on the past tense! I’ve been hitch hiking recently, since I’m too honest to steal ships these days.”
“Ah. In that case, I suppose you better take this.”
River pulled back her sleeve and took off the vortex manipulator, and Jack stared at it, slowly turning it over in his hands when she gave it to him.
“This is mine!”
“I don’t think so,” River replied coolly, but with what might be a small hint of tension. The Doctor looked from one to the other, curious, but refrained from saying anything as Jack’s face clouded over.
“Oh yes. Look – the leather is new, custom made in 21st Century Cardiff. How the hell did you get it?”
“I bought it,” she answered defensively. “And it wasn’t cheap. Fresh off the wrist off a handsome Time Agent, so they told me…” she tilted her head. “Well, not actually off the wrist… And from what I can tell you've still got both your hands.”
"It grew back," Jack said, tight-lipped, and River's face lit up.
"Really? You know, I was just thinking-"
“River?” the Doctor cut in, deeply disturbed at this turn of events. "You never said that you acquired your vortex manipulator in such an alarming manner... Quite frankly I'm appalled. Listen-"
“Darling,” she said, smiling in a way clearly meant to mollify as she patted his arm soothingly, “it was the end of the universe, remember? TARDIS go boom? I needed time travel as quickly as possible - and a one handed man is a small price for saving the world, don’t you think?”
“Stop... sounding so reasonable!” he complained. “You shouldn’t-“
“And yet I do,” she interrupted, then turned to Jack.
“Now, run off and give past-me the note. You'll find me in the bar - I’m not easy to miss.”
Jack turned from her, conflicted, and looked at the Doctor, who resignedly nodded.
“Wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey. I suppose you better do as she says, or your personal time line probably goes belly-up - and quite frankly I don’t know what would happen if a fixed point in time was at the heart of a paradox.”
He frowned, trying to contemplate the space-time repercussions, the result of which made him want to go have a nice quiet cup of tea and a jammie dodger.
Jack studied them both, then shook his head and fastened the wrist strap.
“You know, I could just leave and not come back.”
River raised an eloquent eyebrow, and Jack swore silently, before disappearing.
“River,” the Doctor said slowly, “What exactly…”
“You don’t want to know.”
They were facing each other, and he could feel his temper flare up at her blank refusal to explain.
‘One day I’m going to be someone you trust completely,’ he could hear her future-self say in the dark recesses of his memory - but today wasn’t that day. He glowered.
“I think that is up to me to decide.”
“I do what I have to. Like Jack, I suppose. And stop being patronising, it doesn’t suit you.”
He studied her, wondering how on earth this impossible woman managed to get to him so thoroughly, but then Jack reappeared (couldn’t he have given them five minutes? It wouldn’t have made any difference from his perspective) looking from one to the other.
“Answers. Now.”
There was a pause, then the Doctor tiredly dragged a hand through his hair.
“The note told River’s past self to wipe two years off your memory.”
Jack’s head snapped round.
“What? No. That was the Time Agency. How-”
River tilted her head, positively radiating smugness.
“I made it look like it was the Time Agency.”
“But why…”
She smiled, a little sadly.
“Because you’d spent two years studying an elusive figure called ‘the Doctor’, trying to work out a way to ensnare him and steal his TARDIS.”
Jack’s mouth nearly fell open.
“You’re kidding.”
“Not at all. The Agency was rather taken with the idea of broadening their reach and power, or so you told me. You want your memories back by the way? Some of them have me in. The best ones, I’d wager.”
The look on her face left no one in any doubt as to what she meant, and the Doctor sighed again. He had a feeling he'd be doing that a lot.
“River…”
“Oh darling, don’t be such a fusspot. Time Agents do have… quite a reputation. Didn’t want to miss an opportunity to see if it was exaggerated.”
Jack suddenly seemed to have revived, charm and curiosity snapping back to life as if never gone.
“And?”
“Not in the least.”
Smile met smile, as eyes met eyes, and the Doctor grumpily picked up the dead bomb.
“You’re both impossible,” he complained, and River laughed.
“That’s why you love us.” She turned to Jack.
"Now, just give me back my wrist strap and we can be out of here."
Jack slowly shook his head.
"Let's take the scenic route, shall we?"
He held out his arm, indicating the door, and the Doctor shook his head.
"I think we had quite enough of deadly traps coming in..."
Jack chuckled.
"Ah, but I know all the shortcuts."
River's eyes narrowed.
"And why might that be?"
"It's my temple!" he answered, teeth bright in the dimly lit chamber, and River's face broke out into an answering grin.
"You know, that's exactly what I suspected. The inscriptions indicated an immortal deity - but one with an unchanging face... I’ve been thinking about writing a paper, actually. Did I mention that I'm an archaeologist by the way? If you would come with me, there's a beautiful mural down one of the corridors that I would love to measure you against... It’s nude, but you won’t mind, will you?"
Taking Jack’s arm she steered him out of the door, and the Doctor looked at the bomb in his arms.
“Birds of a feather. Whatever did I do to deserve two of them?”
Sometime later, in the TARDIS.
The Doctor pressed buttons and flicked switches with intense concentration, before decisively turning the great handle that took them into the vortex, and then finally allowed himself to relax.
“You were saying, Rory?”
“Um... you do know that you left River and that Jack-bloke behind...”
The Doctor didn’t answer, and Amy folded her arms, eyes narrowing.
“You’re running away again, aren’t you?”
He looked at his lovely young companions - sweet and innocent and delightful - and nodded decisively.
“Yes. Yes I am. Now - who would like to go to Barcelona? The planet, mind you, not the city? Fantastic place, trust me!”
Without waiting for a response he started keying in the co-ordinates, determined not to worry about all the trouble River and Jack would undoubtedly get themselves into, knowing them...
no subject
no subject
no subject
(Anonymous) 2010-11-24 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Also I hope you feel better soon.
no subject
And I'm feeling a bit better today. Thank you!
no subject
Whew, did I miss anything?... Well, except that now I want more *grin*
no subject
Squee! Thank you! :D
Loved River getting all distracted
I tried to hint that the place ties in with a theory that she's had for while, so she's like a kid in candy store...
River and Jack pulling guns on each other
Had to be done. *g*
Jack/Doctor banter
I had to find quite a delicate balance there, considering CoE and their last meeting, but I think it worked. Gentle teasing, but nothing more.
River/Doctor banter
Now that I could write until the cows come home!
Jack/River and the vortex manipulator (not to mention the interesting twist on Jack's missing memories)
I've been trying to work out how River could be behind the memory loss for absolute AGES, and was thrilled to bits when I came up with a neat explanation. :)
Jack being the god of the temple
Like I said - River suspected as much. And I figure lots of people probably end up worshipping Jack on account of his immortality, and being an archeologist she'd probably easily notice common features.
and oh, yeah, the Doctor running off and leaving Jack and River behind. LOL.
Too much to handle, even for him...
Whew, did I miss anything?... Well, except that now I want more *grin*
Well if you're lucky, then one day I might be inspired to write about Jack and River's adventures... For now, I'll just thank you lots for your wonderful feedback!
no subject
no subject
Also, I have to say that actually trying to work out what exactly was going on behind the scenes wasn't very easy. It took a lot of careful plotting to come up with something that actually made sense...
*squishes Spike and Angel*
no subject
no subject
(From a recent interview with RTD: 'Well, Steven [Moffat] said he'd love to see Jack in Doctor Who. So if Steven says that, Steven will make it happen, I would think. That's not inside information, but I bet one day it will happen. I'd love to see it. It would be marvelous.')
no subject
she was constantly side-tracked by inscriptions, statues, murals, carvings and the ingenious way the traps had been constructed. He kept having to pull her along, as she excitedly took pictures and scribbled down notes.
Hee. Please Santa Moff; I would like to see this. It would be hysterical.
"Oh but you see, the interesting thing is that it's not you. I know most of your legends by now, if not all of them, and this other figure is, despite many similarities. . ."
I'm ashamed to say I did not see the punchline coming. Told you I don't bother thinking ahead while I read/watch things. *doh*
He tilted his head. "Although I guess the bow tie would make you Indy's dad. If he was twelve..."
I <3 Indy's dad.
"New screwdriver too? And this one's bigger than the old one..."
That design is quite unabashedly phallic, isn't it? Thank you, Jack, for voicing what we've all been thinking.
“Shut up Sweetie. I’m not going to conjugate in seven different tenses for the sake of a note only I am going to read.”
I want them squabbling over grammar to be a 'thing':-) How many people do you think we need to get to include it in a fic before it's a 'thing'?
“Stop... sounding so reasonable!” he complained. “You shouldn’t-“ / “And yet I do,”
Legit lol. Congrats--that's a whole new lovely level of flippant.
He frowned, trying to contemplate the space-time repercussions, the result of which made him want to go have a nice quiet cup of tea and a jammie dodger.
Haha. *hugs eleven for being adorable*
“You know, I could just leave and not come back.” / River raised an eloquent eyebrow, and Jack swore silently, before disappearing.
That is some fabulous characterization in almost no words <3
“The note told River’s past self to wipe two years off your memory.” / “Because you’d spent two years studying an elusive figure called ‘the Doctor’, trying to work out a way to ensnare him and steal his TARDIS.”
Genius. Genius. I love it. It's such a tidy explanation.
“You’re running away again, aren’t you?” / He looked at his lovely young companions - sweet and innocent and delightful - and nodded decisively. / “Yes. Yes I am."
Hee. Oh, poor Doctor. I wish I was allowed to post my fic exchange work now (they're putting them up on Dec. 10th--the wait is killing me). It would make a bizarre, dark, twisted, snarky, biting companion piece to this.
no subject
Thank you thank you! Clearly it was what my cold-addled brain could manage, but it worked out rather well. :)
Hee. Please Santa Moff; I would like to see this. It would be hysterical.
Funnily enough, the whole temple thing was the last thing I did - I had most of the three-way banter done, but needed a setting and some sort of plot. This... worked almost too well. *g*
I'm ashamed to say I did not see the punchline coming. Told you I don't bother thinking ahead while I read/watch things. *doh*
Oh I'm the same, so no worries. And I love nothing better than when I manage to surprise people.
I <3 Indy's dad.
Who doesn't?
That design is quite unabashedly phallic, isn't it? Thank you, Jack, for voicing what we've all been thinking.
I tried to write him more mature, but there was NO WAY he could let that go...
I want them squabbling over grammar to be a 'thing':-) How many people do you think we need to get to include it in a fic before it's a 'thing'?
Hmmm. I think Moffat is on our side, so I pronounce it a 'thing' already. (Oh the complete and utter joy when the Doctor discovered the home box, and resignedly said 'Hello Sweetie'.)
Legit lol. Congrats--that's a whole new lovely level of flippant.
You know, it was only after I'd finished writing that I realised that the two of them spend the whole fic arguing, pretty much. Which wasn't my intention, but considering the situation/revelations there was nothing I could do...
Haha. *hugs eleven for being adorable*
I think that new icon of yours has slipped into my subconscious. ;)
That is some fabulous characterization in almost no words <3
I believe I described the fic as 'River pwns all'? Plus, part of me wonders how River and Jack got along after being left behind, and whether he'd exchange the wrist strap for his memories, counting on stealing it back again... I fear someone more clever than I needs to write their further adventures.
Genius. Genius. I love it. It's such a tidy explanation.
You know, I have been turning over a River/Jack meeting in my head for MONTHS and MONTHS, trying to come up with a reason that River had been the one to steal his memories and I was THRILLED when I finally thought of this. Esp because it ties in so beautifully with Jack's 'You probably shouldn't trust me' in 'The Empty Child'/'The Doctor Dances'. *beams*
Hee. Oh, poor Doctor.
I know. *pets him* I adore River, but she's not a Companion, and doesn't fulfill that purpose, something the Doctor is very aware of.
I wish I was allowed to post my fic exchange work now (they're putting them up on Dec. 10th--the wait is killing me). It would make a bizarre, dark, twisted, snarky, biting companion piece to this.
Ooooh I am now looking forward to it even more! (I'm VERY curious to see how you've written the Master...)
no subject
I admire your dedication to putting the banter into some sort of context.
I tried to write him more mature, but there was NO WAY he could let that go...
I've mostly only run across Jack casually in fics, but it bugs me when his *only* motivation is sex. Come on, people, that's not a character!
Hmmm. I think Moffat is on our side, so I pronounce it a 'thing' already.
\o/ Ah, to have the writer on one's side . . . it doesn't happen enough.
You know, it was only after I'd finished writing that I realised that the two of them spend the whole fic arguing, pretty much. Which wasn't my intention, but considering the situation/revelations there was nothing I could do...
*is guilty of this* I try to stay conscious of the balance of it, to make sure someone isn't getting too much of the upper hand (usually River). It's hard, though, because it's like the characters *want* to argue, and all you can do is get out of the way.
I think that new icon of yours has slipped into my subconscious. ;)
Muah ha ha ha ha!
Plus, part of me wonders how River and Jack got along after being left behind, and whether he'd exchange the wrist strap for his memories, counting on stealing it back again... I fear someone more clever than I needs to write their further adventures.
You know? I honestly don't think it would be all that interesting, at least character-wise. Yeah, you're gonna get some good banter, and I've read a few fics I like in which they're basically commiserating, but for any extended amount of time, I don't know that there would be much to explore. I mean, I think they're more different than everybody goes on about, but they're also similar enough that I don't think you'd get much frisson. YMMV.
Esp because it ties in so beautifully with Jack's 'You probably shouldn't trust me' in 'The Empty Child'/'The Doctor Dances'. *beams*
OMG. <33333333333
Ooooh I am now looking forward to it even more! (I'm VERY curious to see how you've written the Master...)
*claps hands over mouth to keep from saying too much and jumps up and down in frustration at fic-exchange rules*
no subject
It's a thing. Plus, it gave me the whole River-distracted-by-archeology which worked a treat and added lots to proceedings! :)
I've mostly only run across Jack casually in fics, but it bugs me when his *only* motivation is sex. Come on, people, that's not a character!
It's funny, actually, but although he does flirt with everything in his way, he doesn't actually jump into bed at the drop of a hat. It's like having fics where Ten does nothing but sit around moping about Rose.
\o/ Ah, to have the writer on one's side . . . it doesn't happen enough.
It really doesn't. I think it helps that we're watching the same show as he is making. (If that makes sense.)
*is guilty of this* I try to stay conscious of the balance of it, to make sure someone isn't getting too much of the upper hand (usually River). It's hard, though, because it's like the characters *want* to argue, and all you can do is get out of the way.
Indeed. And in this story the arguments started out very superficial (please hurry up and stop getting distracted!) and then turned very serious (you got your vortex manipulator HOW?) so it wasn't too much of the same. (The cure is clearly to just write another fic... Did you see this post yet? *g*)
I mean, I think they're more different than everybody goes on about, but they're also similar enough that I don't think you'd get much frisson. YMMV.
*nods* I think they're best in small doses - like Itchy and Scratchy. *g* (I think they could be interesting, but they'd need something, or someone, else there to spark off.)
OMG. <33333333333
I KNOW! *beams*
*claps hands over mouth to keep from saying too much and jumps up and down in frustration at fic-exchange rules*
*is terribly impatient*
no subject
I think a big moment of insight for me into Jack's character was when I realized that he flirts in the same way River snarks--it's often reflexive and smooths the way through situations.
I think it helps that we're watching the same show as he is making. (If that makes sense.)
Yup :-) I remember your post on the subject.
(please hurry up and stop getting distracted!)
I just want to take a moment to appreciate anew the glorious irony of this situation.
(The cure is clearly to just write another fic... Did you see this post yet? *g*)
I did! Shippy overdose . . . meta . . . carefully crafted lyricism . . . nah, sorry, doesn't really sound appealing ;-) (And I'm not sure how I missed the Donna half, but it was <3 I await the rest with baited shark breath.)
(I think they could be interesting, but they'd need something, or someone, else there to spark off.)
Yes. Possibly also to step in and keep them on track. It occurred to me that they might get to butting heads and trying to one-up each other, but in a frustrating, stale-mate kind of way. Still, I might try to write it sometime--I'm gonna let them stew about in my head together and see if anything interesting comes of it.
*is terribly impatient*
It's the first fic exchange I've done, and I'm not sure if I'm gonna do one again. The thing is eating around in circles in my brain, and I keep going back and rereading and wanting to tweak things but I've got no feedback to go off of, so it's like my whole head has just become this frustrating echo chamber. I do not like working in secret and clearly am failing at it.
And I'm frankly annoying even myself with this, so I'm gonna shut up now.
no subject
Yes, that's it exactly. It's a reflex, a part of the way he behaves and he wouldn't be the same without it. (I could go on about this, but I don't have the time right now...)
I just want to take a moment to appreciate anew the glorious irony of this situation.
I was v. pleased with it, oh yes! *g*
I did! Shippy overdose . . . meta . . . carefully crafted lyricism . . . nah, sorry, doesn't really sound appealing ;-)
LOL! I am currently in the rewriting/tinkering stage and getting slightly frustrated, but hey-ho, I'm sure I'll get there in the end.
And I'm not sure how I missed the Donna half, but it was <3 I await the rest with baited shark breath.
Aw, thank you. <3 (Writing Donna & Eleven was love, although also heartbreaking.)
Yes. Possibly also to step in and keep them on track.
Hmmm. Dunno about that actually. River is very sensible, and Jack (esp now) a much more subdued and cautious person. Like I said, it'd be tricky.
It occurred to me that they might get to butting heads and trying to one-up each other, but in a frustrating, stale-mate kind of way. Still, I might try to write it sometime--I'm gonna let them stew about in my head together and see if anything interesting comes of it.
It would certainly be interesting, although you ought to watch Torchwood to get a proper handle on Jack - he's a much more nuanced character on his own show.
but I've got no feedback to go off of, so it's like my whole head has just become this frustrating echo chamber. I do not like working in secret and clearly am failing at it.
You should get a beta. Honestly, I don't know how I'd cope without mine.
no subject
*cheerleads*
It would certainly be interesting, although you ought to watch Torchwood to get a proper handle on Jack - he's a much more nuanced character on his own show.
You're certainly right about that. I have always liked Jack and assumed I would get to Torchwood at some point. Alas, I have to be careful in picking up new shows. If I like it, life will grind to a halt until I've managed to marathon every episode in existence :-\
You should get a beta. Honestly, I don't know how I'd cope without mine.
In any other situation besides a ficathon, I'd be annoyed that my fic was off getting beta'd and not being posted! I'm really just a horribly impatient person about some things. It's a fault.
no subject
I have always liked Jack and assumed I would get to Torchwood at some point. Alas, I have to be careful in picking up new shows. If I like it, life will grind to a halt until I've managed to marathon every episode in existence :-\
Oh but Torchwood is very short! Comparatively, I mean. (It's like a season and a half of Buffy...) And it so much better suited to RTD's storytelling. Plus, pretty boys kissing... And Ianto! Ianto is like Bunter, except really screwed up, and gay for Jack. And you like crack, y/y?
In any other situation besides a ficathon, I'd be annoyed that my fic was off getting beta'd and not being posted! I'm really just a horribly impatient person about some things. It's a fault.
*laughs* Oh I understand perfectly, trust me. I just rely on my beta these days, because she's awesome and brilliant and fabulous, and I can send her half-finished things and ask her opinion, and she knows all my 'verses and the odd ways my brain works. Also she makes graphics and icons, which... is impossibly helpful. (You can't have her btw. She's mine.)
Anyway, late comment is late. But better late than never, right? ;) (No need for you to reply. I just have have this thing about *always* responding, plus uneven comments on a post sends me crazy.)
no subject
*shock* NOOOOOOOOO! No, seriously, do you have any idea how many exchanges with you I have dangling right now? It's a disgraceful number. Although, given the exponential manner in which our threads tend to grow, I'll appeal to your sense of logic and remind you that someone has to cut it off at some point or the internet will be buried under the onslaught.
Oh but Torchwood is very short! Comparatively, I mean. (It's like a season and a half of Buffy...) And it so much better suited to RTD's storytelling. Plus, pretty boys kissing... And Ianto! Ianto is like Bunter, except really screwed up, and gay for Jack. And you like crack, y/y?
I honestly am thinking of giving Torchwood a go over the holidays. My sister is graciously letting me use her Netflix streaming account, and they have all the eps available. And, yes, I love crack <3
(You can't have her btw. She's mine.)
Lol--I swear to you, your beta is safe from me.
no subject
I dread to think... (I do love waking up and half the comments in my inbox are from you. It's like Christmas every day! *g*)
I honestly am thinking of giving Torchwood a go over the holidays. My sister is graciously letting me use her Netflix streaming account, and they have all the eps available. And, yes, I love crack <3
SQUEEEEEEEE! <3 <3 <3 Season 1 is BLEAK (and rather 'OMG! Look ~adult~ Doctor Who!! And we can have sex and violence and nasty, BLEAK stories!' Just roll with it, I swear it gets better), Season 2 is much more fun and better written, and Season 3 is of course Children of Earth and brilliant and terrible. (I remember once, back when S1 was on, saying that the problem with Torchwood was that it had so much potential - little did I know that RTD would actually go on and fulfill it. Cannibalised it the in the process, mind you, for which huge swathes of fandom have never forgiven him, but you've gotta admire his balls. Um. You know what I mean.) Also, the crack. Om nom nom crack.
ANYWAY. Let's draw a line under this conversation, shall we? If you do watch Torchwood, we can start another... *g*
no subject
I just adore the timey-whimeyness of this all. It's just... Neat!
Of course River’s archaeological training was - as he’d foreseen - incredibly useful considering the nature of their enterprise, but overall it was beginning to prove more of a hindrance than a help, since she was constantly side-tracked by inscriptions, statues, murals, carvings and the ingenious way the traps had been constructed. He kept having to pull her along, as she excitedly took pictures and scribbled down notes.
Bwaa-haa-haa! Of course it would drive the poor doctor crazy. 40 years of put-upon companions are laughing somewhere!
it was all very Indiana Jones, something he’d pointed out to River earlier on, which had led to an unexpected discussion of whips that he’d rather not have had
I can sooo see that. I just love River, and the way she totally unsettles the poor Doctor. And it's always good to watch him deal with an equal, as opposed to always being the wacky teacher.
no subject
I am beyond flattered to be compared to Gaiman! \o/
But this is the dynamic I love!
You mean them arguing all the time? ;)
I just adore the timey-whimeyness of this all. It's just... Neat!
Isn't it just? I'm terribly pleased with it!
Bwaa-haa-haa! Of course it would drive the poor doctor crazy. 40 years of put-upon companions are laughing somewhere!
But she's just discovered something that might amount final proof of a thesis - never mind the bomb! Heh.
I can sooo see that. I just love River, and the way she totally unsettles the poor Doctor. And it's always good to watch him deal with an equal, as opposed to always being the wacky teacher.
Indeed. She's not in awe of him at all, which is very important.
no subject
This...was Epicness.
Thank you!!
*SMISHES*
no subject
And don't you want to see it on screen? (Just to continue on from our other discussion elsewhere...) I had WAAAAAAAAAY too much fun with this one.
(Although now I'm reading this, which I do not have time for. I blame you!
*SQUISHES BACK*
no subject
Sorry...got lose for a moment there.
LOL!! Mmmm, love getting blamed for Awesome Things. *Purrs*
no subject
Jack was Moffat's to begin with ... SURELY he'll give us a kiss?
no subject
*CACKLES*
no subject
*happy sigh*
no subject
no subject
"Well if you're so in to snogging my other half, don't I get a kiss too?"
(Stop me, I could do this all day...)
no subject
*Grabs popcorn*
I expect an epic threesome (with suitably baffled and yet turned on Eleventy)
*Waits*
no subject
Captain Jack's Adventures In Fanfic
BEAUTIFUL. (And terrible. *g*)
no subject
*RUNS TO THE EPIC!TERRIBLE!*
no subject
no subject
He should stick to doing the fun things and leaving the writing of it to...IANTO. There we go. *Laughs again*
*HUGS*
no subject
no subject
*CLINGS*
no subject
*deep sigh*
no subject
I burst out laughing at that. I can so see this happening. I want this to happen in an episode it would be hysterical.
"which had led to an unexpected discussion of whips that he’d rather not have had"
I'm laughing my ass off here! I can just see his expression at this.
"A second later River's gun rested on his shoulder, pointing straight at the other gun, as she purred:
"Drop it, big boy."
The Doctor sighed deeply."
I can just hear that sigh. I'm getting a huge kick out of this story.
"e frowned, trying to contemplate the space-time repercussions, the result of which made him want to go have a nice quiet cup of tea and a jammie dodger."
LOL! Poor Doctor's getting on a bit, all these rambunctious kids to deal with. :D
"“Because you’d spent two years studying an elusive figure called ‘the Doctor’, trying to work out a way to ensnare him and steal his TARDIS.”"
THAT is blooming genius! That is now my headcanon
“Birds of a feather. Whatever did I do to deserve two of them?”
Poor Doctor. But he loves them.
Awesome fic. I loved it. I laughed myself silly, it felt good.
no subject
I REALLY hope it does. Have been crossing my fingers for a long time now...
I'm laughing my ass off here! I can just see his expression at this.
*grins*
I can just hear that sigh. I'm getting a huge kick out of this story.
Yay - I had ENDLESS fun writing it, so I'm thrilled to pieces that it works. (Comedy is hard, yo.)
LOL! Poor Doctor's getting on a bit, all these rambunctious kids to deal with. :D
Indeed. And TWO of them... /o\
THAT is blooming genius! That is now my headcanon
I felt SO DAMN CLEVER when I thought of it. ::preens::
Poor Doctor. But he loves them.
He does indeed. But mostly in small doses... ;)
Awesome fic. I loved it. I laughed myself silly, it felt good.
Thank you so much! Your feedback was unexpected, but fabulous! ♥