immortalclarareborn

“I was asleep in one of the libraries. (There are dozens, scattered about the place; at first I thought the books kept changing, but then I realized it was the rooms. The TARDIS likes to play musical rooms when she’s bored.) The libraries are lined with books, scrolls, datacubes, you name it, floor to ceiling, wall to wall. They have that gorgeous musty smell of old paper; one or two even have cobwebs, but I’m sure they’re merely for effect. There’s a big comfy chair & a table to put the books on & I know, I know, get to the point.”

“By the time the Doctor and Ace joined Benny on the grass outside, she was standing, arms folded, and looking back towards them with a hint of amusement. ‘Okay,’ she said, nodding towards the TARDIS. 'Which one of you wants to explain this?’ Ace grinned. ’“Blends in”, eh?’ she taunted the Doctor. ’“Blends in”?’ echoed Benny. 'Doctor, that thing “blends in” like a rhinoceros at a goldfish-only drinks party. I mean…’ She looked up at it again, as if checking that her eyes hadn’t deceived her. 'Of all things…the gingerbread cottage!’ 'Can you eat it, too?’ Ace wondered, experimentally breaking a piece of candy from the side of the construct. The Doctor whisked it from her hand, jammed it forcibly back into place and stomped moodily back inside the ship.”

“On a four-poster bed lay the woman from Ace’s visions. Dark-haired, in a long red velvet dress. Golden chains hung from her ankles and wrists, connected to the bed’s woodwork. She was asleep, her hair spread out on silken pillows. Ace somehow knew what she was supposed to do. She bent forward and kissed the woman gently.”

“Thank Heaven for small mercies,” Holmes muttered with heartfelt relief as the growler clattered off.

“All legitimate business expenses,” agreed the Doctor. “Even with all that we’re still well in profit.” “Making our own booze in the TARDIS must be a big help.” “It is. We don’t have to run a fleet of booze trucks or pay armed guards to stop hijackings.” “Meanwhile I can’t have a swim because the TARDIS swimming pool’s full of bootleg beer.” “Swim in the beer, the customers won’t complain. It’ll give it added body.” Ace winced. “I’m glad you’re making a success of your new career, Doctor. How long is all this going on?” “Hard to say,” said the Doctor evasively.

‘Are you all archaeologists?’ ‘No we’re…’ the Doctor paused as he moved over to check the rest of the family. ‘Troubleshooters, if you like.’ ‘Troubleshooters?’ ‘Well, everywhere I go, I seem to find trouble,’ the Doctor explained with a grin. ‘And I shoot it,’ Ace added, with a lopsided smile of her own.

‘I am many things,’ [the Master] acknowledged. He gestured with a stubby black device in his gloved hand. It looked to Benny like either a weapon or a sex toy, and she didn’t think even he would consider this a proper time or place.