Attracted To Shiny Things

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It wasn’t a favorite topic but it was inevitable. “I think you can. She’s pretty likeable, she likes many of my companions. Except for Clara for some reason.” Will chuckled at the thought before he turned serious. “I do love Jack and care for him, but you can understand why I can’t let him touch anything, right? If the old girl goes down, so do we.” 

“That’s weird. The TARDIS usually likes a lot of people.” When her father turned serious, Emma arched a brow. “I know Jack likes to goof around but he loves the TARDIS. I don’t think he’ll do something bad like that. Even if he likes to play pranks he’s really careful.”

”Usually,” he muttered then shrugged.  “I know but I can’t help but worry. Or protective. It’s the same, isn’t it?” William paused to think then whirled around before digging into his coat pockets to take out a crayon and scrap piece of paper, to which he started doodling on. 

[                         i have NEVER played by the RULES                      && i do not INTEND to START NOW             ]

“Of course not, I’m secretly a hoarder.” Sad but true. He couldn’t bring himself to rid himself of the items he’s collected over the years. Too many memories. “I just might have to. I’m running out of faces, someone’s got to take care of her. I’d entrust Jack but, well, he’s Jack. Don’t need him acciddently freezing the TARDIS.”

She didn’t like the talk about running out of faces. “I’d take care of her. I won’t let Jack do anything bad to the TARDIS.” Emma smiled as she did a little twirl. “I think she likes me. I try to treat her as nice as I can. She’s really pretty and really cool.” 

It wasn’t a favorite topic but it was inevitable. “I think you can. She’s pretty likeable, she likes many of my companions. Except for Clara for some reason.” Will chuckled at the thought before he turned serious. “I do love Jack and care for him, but you can understand why I can’t let him touch anything, right? If the old girl goes down, so do we.” 

“Yes, I realize this, but a dystopia such as that makes one question things,” answered the brunet. “1984 is a brilliant book - it just might be a reality out there somewhere. Because for all we know, it is possible!” Of course it was all nonsense, it was just something to babble over. 

“Yeah, perhaps there might be,” he agreed with the stranger, arms crossed as they looked out over the bridge. “Do you always come up to people you don’t know and open with that line? I shouldn’t try that sometime, good icebreaker.”

“No, of course not - maybe I should though. It’s a great conversation starter. The topics are possibly endless.” The man paused then looked over at him. “Speaking of good ice breakers, pinstripes, have you run into Martha recently?”

“How do you know about Martha?” He asked, frowning suddenly. Pinstripes? What sort of name was that? He hadn’t picked up that this was in fact him from the future, but he was growing suspicious.

“Well, am I not suppose to? She was one of my old companions, after all.” He was, indeed his future self. Though his own timeline was different than what was expected. 

“Yes, I realize this, but a dystopia such as that makes one question things,” answered the brunet. “1984 is a brilliant book - it just might be a reality out there somewhere. Because for all we know, it is possible!” Of course it was all nonsense, it was just something to babble over. 

“Yeah, perhaps there might be,” he agreed with the stranger, arms crossed as they looked out over the bridge. “Do you always come up to people you don’t know and open with that line? I shouldn’t try that sometime, good icebreaker.”

“No, of course not - maybe I should though. It’s a great conversation starter. The topics are possibly endless.” The man paused then looked over at him. “Speaking of good ice breakers, pinstripes, have you run into Martha recently?”

Slowly the man nodded as he thought the notion over. “That’ll be splendid! I miss having my daughter around. Maybe one day you can use this old girl.” That might not happen but it was a thought. “You’re old room is still here, I can’t get rid of it. I can’t get rid of anything, apparently.”

“You would consider getting rid of it?” she asked in mock shock as she leaned against the railing, staring at the controls admiringly. “One day, you could teach me how to fly the TARDIS, papa… If she likes me enough. She might not let you teach me though.”  

“Of course not, I’m secretly a hoarder.” Sad but true. He couldn’t bring himself to rid himself of the items he’s collected over the years. Too many memories. “I just might have to. I’m running out of faces, someone’s got to take care of her. I’d entrust Jack but, well, he’s Jack. Don’t need him acciddently freezing the TARDIS.”

“Yes, I realize this, but a dystopia such as that makes one question things,” answered the brunet. “1984 is a brilliant book - it just might be a reality out there somewhere. Because for all we know, it is possible!” Of course it was all nonsense, it was just something to babble over. 

William sighed, almost sadly. “I don’t mean to, Emma. Sometimes I can’t get the coordinates right, or the date, or there’s some catastrophe to take care off..” He shook his head. “I’ll stay longer this time, alright? As long as I’m kept occupied.”

“I’ll keep you occupied!” Emma insisted. “Then you’ll have to stay for a longer period of time and you won’t leave soon.” She looked around the TARDIS, loving the familiarity of this police booth that was bigger on the inside. 

Slowly the man nodded as he thought the notion over. “That’ll be splendid! I miss having my daughter around. Maybe one day you can use this old girl.” That might not happen but it was a thought. “You’re old room is still here, I can’t get rid of it. I can’t get rid of anything, apparently.”

He hummed lightly then smiled as his arms wrapped around Emma. “I’ve missed you too! I’ve missed everyone - always do. Time isn’t always in my favor..” A small sigh left him as he simply held his daughter for a few moments. “Actually, let’s go to the Amazon. Haven’t been there lately.”

“Then why don’t you stay longer?” Emma questioned in a soft voice. She rested her head against him, refusing to let go. “You come but hardly ever stay. You’re gone all the time and I think mother gets lonely.”

William sighed, almost sadly. “I don’t mean to, Emma. Sometimes I can’t get the coordinates right, or the date, or there’s some catastrophe to take care off..” He shook his head. “I’ll stay longer this time, alright? As long as I’m kept occupied.”

“Even i fyou put in coordinates, the TARDIS will send you somewhere else, anyway. It’s how she’s always been.” He gave a half shrug before he tapped his chin in thought. “1800s, London?”

“Yes,” she agreed with a happy smile. “I think anywhere is fun. I just want to travel with you, papa.” Emma hugged her father around his waist. “I’ve missed you tons.” 

He hummed lightly then smiled as his arms wrapped around Emma. “I’ve missed you too! I’ve missed everyone - always do. Time isn’t always in my favor..” A small sigh left him as he simply held his daughter for a few moments. “Actually, let’s go to the Amazon. Haven’t been there lately.”

Will smiled and hugged her tightly, placing a kiss on top of her head. “I love you, baby girl,” he murmured before pulling away from her a bit. “Depends. I’ll let you pick where we go, how about that?”

“But I wouldn’t know where or when to go? I’d just like to go somewhere super duper fun!” Emma sighed and thought for a long moment. “I really don’t know where I could go.”

“Even i fyou put in coordinates, the TARDIS will send you somewhere else, anyway. It’s how she’s always been.” He gave a half shrug before he tapped his chin in thought. “1800s, London?”