Putting the Ass in Sass

//Hey guys, gals and intergalactic sapient beings! I’m not dead, but I just ran dry on creative energy during the school year. (But it paid off, so there is that!) But now I’m back. For all the Arghpees. I’m going to work on splitting this blog up into several smaller multi-muse blogs, organized by either fandom or likeness or whatever organization my weird brain decides.

I’m also adding some muses; Xena, and probably some other video game characters. I’m also going to migrate my Nat blog either into a multi or a secondary blog so that she’s also more readily available. These changes will be slow, but I will be up for roleplaying and threads starting now.

“I’m afraid I’m not familiar with Dr. Jones,” they said.  “Who is this friend of yours?  And what has he been telling you about me?”

“Doctor, perhaps we ought to see about getting out of here.  You may not be cold, but I’m freezing,” Charley pointed out.  She had dressed warmly enough, but prolonged exposure was rendering that more and more ineffective.  

C’rizz nodded his agreement.  Eutermesans weren’t built for cold temperatures.  “This isn’t exactly the best climate for someone of my race.”

Judging by the Doctor’s expression, they hadn’t thought of any of that.  “Ah.  Yes.  We really should see about getting you two warmed up before you catch your death out here.  You did say something about getting inside, didn’t you, err, sorry, I don’t think I caught your name.”

C’rizz, meanwhile, had spotted the large, fluffy animals watching them from the edge of the field.  They didn’t look like much, but that didn’t really mean anything in his experience.  To the man in black and white, he asked, “Will they actually eat us?  Because if so, then I don’t think we should be here.”

“His name is Jack; he was a companion of yours. Or will be.” Despite her exposure to it through Torchwood she was always wary of time travel and the associated risks. She had seen what meddling with time did, and had certainly heard enough stories to cause her to be cautious with information. That, and with what she had managed to dig up about the Doctor and Jack’s own vague stories there wasn’t enough information for her to have any sort of plan. Really, the whole lookout for the police box thing was more of a courtesy for Jack, and perhaps a way to bring him around for a visit. The man was notoriously transient since Miracle Day, and even she had to admit to herself that she missed him. “Not much; enough to know what to look for and what to expect.” She cracked a small smile at that; maybe she was telling herself that this was some sort of preemptive damage control; but in reality she was insatiably curious about this Doctor.

“The car should still be warm.” Gwen hadn’t forgotten the girl or the other fellow, even if she kept losing track of Andy.

“Andy, sir.” Ever so polite; even when he was out of his depth. “I’m not sure where we can go, but we do have a car.” Gwen was suddenly grateful that she had left Anwen’s carseat at home; there wouldn’t have been room otherwise. Even then, she was slightly concerned about how packed the small car would be. As she looked back and surveyed how they were all going to pack everyone into her car when she caught the tail end of C’rizz’s statement and Andy’s sudden laugh.

“The sheep? Not likely. They do like to nibble on your clothes, but they’re harmless. More like stupid fluffy dogs; really. It’s the cows you’ll want to watch out for; they’ll eat the coat right off your back if you stand still long enough.” For some reason that seemed the set Andy more at ease; though she wondered about his sense of humor and how literal his jokes might be taken.

C'rizz shot the Doctor a look, not liking the sound of that. “Extraterrestrial. That would be us, Doctor. Charlotte is safe, though.”

“Oh come now, C'rizz, where’s your sense of adventure?” the Doctor replied. “Besides, we’re hardly a threat. You don’t want to do something as asinine as destroy the Earth or attempt to enslave the entire human race, do you?”

C'rizz pulled a face. It had taken some getting used to the limitations of Eutermesan facial expressions, but Charley thought he looked disgusted. “I should certainly think not. You saw the fate my own people suffered. Why in the world would I want to do that to anyone else?”

“There’s your answer then,” the Doctor told him before turning a skeptical eye on Gwen. “See? Not a threat. But it did sound as though you knew me. Why is that?” A small smile crept across their face as they asked, “You’re not by any chance affiliated with UNIT, are you? Friends of the Brigadier? How is old Alistair?”

Charley watched the other humans carefully, fancying herself more adept at reading human body langauage than her companions simply by virtue of being human herself. Gave her a bit of an advantage. The man just looked confused. Gwen had seemed to be with them right up until the Doctor mentioned Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. It seemed she knew UNIT, whatever that was, but not the Brigadier. “Doctor,” she hedged. “I don’t think they know what you’re talking about. Wrong time perhaps?”

“No, no, I’m quite certain Alistair is still kicking around,” the Doctor replied. “Made such a name for himself, too, I’d be surprised if anyone involved with UNIT didn’t know of him. He was my companion, you know. Well, he’d have said my commanding officer and Jo would have called him my supervisor, but I supposed that’s all a matter of perspective.” They looked to the other two humans for a moment before the smile fell from their face. “You really don’t know what I’m talking about, do you? Well.”

Well; no wonder Jack was so enamored with this Doctor. He talked just as much; just as fast and with about as much substance as Jack did. She managed to reign herself in and not sigh or show her frustration; she had gotten good at that through Jack. It wasn’t like she was annoyed, or really even frustrated, but for some reason she expected this Doctor to a be bit more ... well, she wasn’t sure. Though he was somewhat amusing; like a puppy on a caffeine rush. She couldn’t help but smile at that thought.

“Torchwood no longer exists; so you don’t have to worry about that. I don’t consider you a threat; a good friend of mine knows you. Or, I suppose an incarnation of you. He’s told me a great deal about you; enough to know to look for that TARDIS of yours. This is more of a welcoming committee and a rescue from the wilds of Wales.” She motioned to the barren fields and the few sheep who were eying them from afar.

As the Doctor continued speaking, she did her best to follow along. The names he mentioned meant nothing to her; except for UNIT. “I’m afraid I only know Dr. Martha Jones from UNIT. I haven’t had much contact with them otherwise.” And yet the Doctor continued on, and Gwen was suddenly grateful that keeping up with Jack had given her enough practice to follow a conversation like the current one. The mention of military did surprise her; though she played off her shock as simply a nod in an attempt to be polite. The Doctor looked less military and more like a wayward refugee of some misguided dress party.

@just-kept-running: Do it.

cheekycharlatans:

companionsintimeandspace:

“Now then, Charley, England at last!” the Doctor exclaimed.  “Not too far from your own time, I believe.  The late 1940s, if I’ve not missed my mark.”

“It will be good to be home,” Charley replied.  “C’rizz, this is your first trip to Earth, isn’t it?”

C’rizz nodded, eyeing the Doctor.  He had gone through the wardrobe at the Doctor’s insistence.  Supposedly, it would help him to be less conspicuous if he was dressed as a human.  He was a bit skeptical of that idea, but he didn’t say so.  “It is.  We’ve never quite managed to land here.  But I’ve heard stories from the both of you.”

“That’s right!” the Doctor exclaimed, whirling on C’rizz with a wide, excited smile.  “Oh, you’ll love it.  It’s one of my favorite planets.”

“Then let’s go!” Charley exclaimed.  She went to the doors and pushed them open, looking out over the field.  It was impossible to tell precisely where and when they were, but it wasn’t London or any of the surrounding area.  That was very nearly all she could tell.  C’rizz stepped out behind her, taking note of the grass and trees.  It was strange.  He had seen something similar in the divergent universe.  But there was something different, something gentler, about this setting.  From what he had heard from Charley and the Doctor, Earth had its share of dangers.  But none of them seemed to be present right now.  It was merely cold under his feet.  Charley hadn’t managed to compel him to put on shoes.

Charley was the first to spot the man and woman at the edge of the field.  That was the first sign that something was off.  “Um, Doctor,” she said.  “I could be wrong, but that doesn’t look like the 1940s.”

“Oh,” the Doctor said, staring out at the figures.  “No, Charley.  No, it doesn’t.  I think I may have been off by a decade or two.  Possibly a bit more.”

“Are they dangerous?” C’rizz asked from behind them, ever the pragmatist.

“Only one way to find out,” the Doctor replied.  And then he was heading up the hill at a trot, waving and calling out, “Hello!  I wonder, could you perhaps tell us where we are?”

“Well, there’s certainly a police box there now, isn’t there?” You’d think she would be unfazed by weird things like an old police box materializing in a barren field by now. But she wasn’t.

“It wasn’t there a moment ago.” A rather obvious statement, but Gwen didn’t have anything else to say. “Looks like it might be … him. And some of those companions Jack mentioned.” And they were heading right for Gwen and Andy; looking a bit more perplexed than Gwen would have assumed from Jack’s vague stories.

“Can’t say I’m impressed, which one do you suppose is the Doctor?” Gwen didn’t have an answer for that, because she wasn’t quite sure herself.

“Maybe it’s the tall one … or frumpy looking one.” Gwen shrugged, ignoring Andy’s words and stepping forward to meet the oncoming party.

“Wales; 2013.” The date was more of a courtesy; she wasn’t sure if the information was needed but it was something she tried to include when meeting time travelers of any sort. “I’m assuming one of you is the Doctor? My name is Gwen Cooper; Torchwood.” Sort of, but that was the best way to quickly explain why she had any inkling of who these people might be. She reached her hand out in the group’s general direction, trying to look less annoyed than she felt about standing in the freezing field before the sun had fully risen.

“Ah, yes, that would be me,” the Doctor said with a smile and a flourish.  He held a hand out to Gwen, his other tucked behind his back.  

Charley didn’t hesitate to step right up beside him.  “Charley Pollard,” she introduced herself.  “And this is C’rizz.  Hang on, did you say Wales?  And 2013?”  She turned an annoyed gaze on the Doctor.  “It’s not even England, and this is nowhere near my time.”

“Well, I may have miscalculated a bit,” the Doctor admitted.  “But that’s the fun of it!”

“I’d hardly call that ‘fun’,” C’rizz groused.  His next question was directed to Gwen.  “What is Torchwood?”  He let his gaze slip over to the man on the hill and then back to Gwen again, evaluating the potential threat they posed.  It was the sort of thing he tended to think of.

Gwen had to agree with Andy, she wasn’t impressed either. Still, she took the Doctor’s hand and shook it, her smile a bit more genuine as she noted with amusement the flourish with which the Doctor greeted her. Maybe this wasn’t what she expected to encounter after Jack’s vague stories of the Doctor; but then again she wasn’t sure what she had expected in the first place.

When the girl spoke it pulled Gwen out of her thoughts; her attention suddenly on the Doctor’s companions. The girl looked so young, and Gwen had to assume the girl was human after her following words. Though, looks didn’t mean much when it came to actual age; she had learned that well enough from Jack. C’rizz looked a bit odd as well, but nothing so abnormal that she felt the need to investigate at that very moment.

The Doctor’s response did elicit a small laugh from Gwen; that was something Jack would have said. “You could have landed somewhere less friendly. The most trouble you’ll find out here is an irate sheep.” She had forgotten Andy was with her until he spoke up, suddenly beside her.

cheekycharlatans:

@companionsintimeandspace

Retirement wasn’t for her; even if Rhys seemed to enjoy the quiet. After America she had caved in and agreed to retire with Rhys and Anwen. But she wasn’t meant for the quiet life, and every so often she would sneak out and help when called upon. Sometimes it was old friends of Jack, or Jack himself. Sometimes UNIT or Martha, and she knew that Rhys was aware of her excursions. Gwen was grateful he put up with it, and with her.

So when a call came at an unholy hour of the morning, she knew Rhys had heard her sneak off. He was pretending to be asleep, and she knew he would wake Anwen up and take care of their daughter; pretending he knew nothing about Gwen’s odd jobs.

“Right, so tell me again why you called me out here before dawn.” At least Andy had provided coffee, and holding the steaming cup was keeping her hands warm. “A blue police box; do you really think it’s him?” She sighed, hearing the excitement in Andy’s voice was more than she wanted to handle before the sun rose.

“We’re out here because some local drunk spotted a blue police box in a field, and I don’t see anything but dead fields and frost.”

“Now then, Charley, England at last!” the Doctor exclaimed.  “Not too far from your own time, I believe.  The late 1940s, if I’ve not missed my mark.”

“It will be good to be home,” Charley replied.  “C’rizz, this is your first trip to Earth, isn’t it?”

C’rizz nodded, eyeing the Doctor.  He had gone through the wardrobe at the Doctor’s insistence.  Supposedly, it would help him to be less conspicuous if he was dressed as a human.  He was a bit skeptical of that idea, but he didn’t say so.  “It is.  We’ve never quite managed to land here.  But I’ve heard stories from the both of you.”

“That’s right!” the Doctor exclaimed, whirling on C’rizz with a wide, excited smile.  “Oh, you’ll love it.  It’s one of my favorite planets.”

“Then let’s go!” Charley exclaimed.  She went to the doors and pushed them open, looking out over the field.  It was impossible to tell precisely where and when they were, but it wasn’t London or any of the surrounding area.  That was very nearly all she could tell.  C’rizz stepped out behind her, taking note of the grass and trees.  It was strange.  He had seen something similar in the divergent universe.  But there was something different, something gentler, about this setting.  From what he had heard from Charley and the Doctor, Earth had its share of dangers.  But none of them seemed to be present right now.  It was merely cold under his feet.  Charley hadn’t managed to compel him to put on shoes.

Charley was the first to spot the man and woman at the edge of the field.  That was the first sign that something was off.  “Um, Doctor,” she said.  “I could be wrong, but that doesn’t look like the 1940s.”

“Oh,” the Doctor said, staring out at the figures.  “No, Charley.  No, it doesn’t.  I think I may have been off by a decade or two.  Possibly a bit more.”

“Are they dangerous?” C’rizz asked from behind them, ever the pragmatist.

“Only one way to find out,” the Doctor replied.  And then he was heading up the hill at a trot, waving and calling out, “Hello!  I wonder, could you perhaps tell us where we are?”

“Well, there’s certainly a police box there now, isn’t there?” You’d think she would be unfazed by weird things like an old police box materializing in a barren field by now. But she wasn’t.

“It wasn’t there a moment ago.” A rather obvious statement, but Gwen didn’t have anything else to say. “Looks like it might be ... him. And some of those companions Jack mentioned.” And they were heading right for Gwen and Andy; looking a bit more perplexed than Gwen would have assumed from Jack’s vague stories.

“Can’t say I’m impressed, which one do you suppose is the Doctor?” Gwen didn’t have an answer for that, because she wasn’t quite sure herself.

“Maybe it’s the tall one ... or frumpy looking one.” Gwen shrugged, ignoring Andy’s words and stepping forward to meet the oncoming party.

Retirement wasn’t for her; even if Rhys seemed to enjoy the quiet. After America she had caved in and agreed to retire with Rhys and Anwen. But she wasn’t meant for the quiet life, and every so often she would sneak out and help when called upon. Sometimes it was old friends of Jack, or Jack himself. Sometimes UNIT or Martha, and she knew that Rhys was aware of her excursions. Gwen was grateful he put up with it, and with her.

So when a call came at an unholy hour of the morning, she knew Rhys had heard her sneak off. He was pretending to be asleep, and she knew he would wake Anwen up and take care of their daughter; pretending he knew nothing about Gwen’s odd jobs.

“Right, so tell me again why you called me out here before dawn.” At least Andy had provided coffee, and holding the steaming cup was keeping her hands warm. “A blue police box; do you really think it’s him?” She sighed, hearing the excitement in Andy’s voice was more than she wanted to handle before the sun rose.

“Why won’t you listen to me? They’re trying to have us killed.” Rowena all but exclaimed as she paced across the throne room floor. “Have I not prooved time and again, that I know what I’m speaking of Fergus?  Did I not expose the traitors amongst your court?  I-” She stopped what she was saying, and stepped towards the throne. “I worry about you. I worry that someone is going to hurt my wee bonnie lad, and I’ll be powerless to stop them.”  @cheekycharlatans

For all that he wanted to throw everyone, including his mother, out of the room so that he could have even a moment’s peace he knew that such an action would only bring more grief from the woman pacing before him. So he sighed, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

“Don’t call me that, mother. I am the King of Hell, you could at least attempt to be respectful.” Tilting his head towards the ceiling he steeled himself to attempt to deal with the witch with some diplomacy. “No one is going to hurt me, mother. But I might drive a stake through my eye if you keep up this incessant whining.” He tried, and that was what mattered. But his patience had worn thin over an hour ago.