clara usually stops me from getting coffee
The Time Lord Victorious had crossed parts with his past and future self before. If you changed a fixed point in time, you saw how redundant the laws of time truely were. The Doctor was the last one of the Time Lords - and he would bend the laws to his will. He nowadays had the taste of copper and electricity so much in his mouth, that he had practically become numb to it.
Normally the Time Lord Victorious made a point of avoiding himself in his timeline. He just got in there, grabbed what he had come for and disappeared once more into the TARDIS. A ghost story. Not a care for what damage he was doing towards everybody else. Towards himself. All that mattered was his plan, all that mattered was, what was needed to combat this loneliness. If he tore his own timeline appart in the process, then he could just fix it.
Brown eyes flitted towards his future self. They were walking side by side; the air awfully bristling and hissing between them. The copper taste filled their mouths. The Time Lord Victorious licked his teeth, an unconscious habit he had gotten into. Hearing the question as to when he was, the Time Lord pondered. Yes, when was he? He was not even sure himself anymore.
“Mars happened for me already”, was all the Time Lord finally decided to say. He would not go into detail. He was certain that the events on Mars had been too grand, too traumatising, too life-changing for this forgetmenot boy to ignore. Besides if the Doctor was honest, Mars had been a bit like a re-birth for him. And while the Oods’ prophecy of the Four Knocks still loomed over his head, he was confident, he could avert this too. There was honestly nothing he could not do anymore.
They had reached the cafe, his future self had mentioned. Located by the river, the cafe had several chairs and tables, which allowed you to sit outside. The sun shone onto a few tall green umbrellas. The Time Lord Victorious took a seat and waited for his future self to sit down as well. A waiter approached them. “What can I get the gentlemen?”, he asked.
“Black tea with a pot of milk and sugar for me, please”, the Doctor requested. He turned black eyes towards the other Time Lord. “You?”, he asked. His voice was polite and candid. He sat there in the chair, relaxed and comfortable, still looking so much like this regeneration had looked like from the very beginning.
— The tension between them was both palpable and causing him to wince subtly. He never did mind the feeling of a paradox, not now. This one just felt wrong though. His tongue couldn't sit properly in his mouth, and it was just causing him to be antsy. Unable to even walk comfortably he just seemed to shift, hands never deciding on where to be.
By the time they made it to the cafe, he very quickly slumps into one of the chairs, continuing to fidget. Sitting up, then sliding back down his face betrayed his desire to hide emotions. He was completely annoyed, if only because he couldn't get comfortable. When the waiter approached, he sat up straight, the grimace on his face quickly turning into a smile.
❝ Ah, hello! Yes can I have one of those frozen coffees? The one with the chocolate syrup and caramel sauce. Don't usually have that, but what the hell. My impulse control is asleep at home. ❞
Giving a slight wave and laugh at the waiter, the instant the man was out of view that soured face came back. It was so odd, seeing him so relaxed and happy. It reminded him, well of himself. But that’s not me. It can't be. Mars was certainly something troubling but this was just... This was just odd.
❝ So, that happened but how long have you been doing the uh, you know the- ❞
He couldn't even finish the sentence. Waving his hand a bit, he leaned on the table, green eyes looking at the other intently. For any sign. Any sign of remorse, or regret. Anything that would make the Doctor not feel like he would have to fight himself.