Unbreakable&Untamed

@sweetsidejoa

Elena crossed her arms, head tilting just slightly, that familiar blend of exasperation and forced patience creeping into her expression. “Nice to see you too, Katherine. Still confusing bitterness for charm, I see.” Her tone was steady, but there was an edge under it, years of history pressing like a bruise. She took a slow step forward, eyes locked on the older doppelgänger. “I don’t need anyone to look after me. Haven’t in a long time. But maybe you do. Because if you think I’m still the scared little girl you used to toy with, then you’re more out of touch than I thought.” A beat passed. Then a smile, sweet, but just sharp enough to cut. “Now why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here? Or let me guess, you ran out of people to manipulate and figured you’d try your luck with me again?”

Joaquin leaned against a marble column like he owned the place, thumbs hooked in his belt loops, Serpent ink just barely visible under his shirt cuff. His gaze landed on Elaine with an amused glint, like he’d just walked into a scene halfway through and liked the energy anyway. “Ohh,” he grinned, teeth flashing, “so you’re the one who got Jake to trade combat boots for cufflinks. Damn, he really did it, huh?” He gave a low whistle. “You said my husband like it left a weird taste in your mouth. What’s that about? Cold feet? Too late now, baby, you signed the contract and kissed the guy in public.” He sauntered over, letting his voice drop just enough to tease. “And yeah, I know Jake. We trained together for a bit, some elite tactic/combat training program that had us rolling in mud and pretending we liked it. Guy once knocked a man out cold for stealing his protein bar. Romantic type, your husband.” Joaquin looked around the wedding venue like he was casing the joint, then back at her with a smirk. “Anyway, I came because he invited me" He offered a hand, but instead of a normal shake, he turned it palm-up like he was expecting her to hand him a stolen cupcake or a flask. “Joaquin DeSantos. And don’t worry, I only cause mild chaos at weddings. Maximum three broken champagne flutes. Tops.” He raised an eyebrow. “You sure you’re alright? You look like you just realized your whole life changed and didn’t get the memo till right now.”

@sweetsidejoa

Donna blinked at her, like Clara had just offered her a teacake in the middle of a battlefield. Her voice came out brisk, deflective at first. “Do I look like I wanna talk about it?” But the edge in her tone didn’t hold, not for long. She sighed, rubbing a hand down her face, suddenly very tired. “Sorry. I’m just—ugh. I feel like my brain’s in a blender and someone’s hit purée. One minute I’m me, the next I’ve got flashes of things I shouldn’t remember. Stars. Planets. Fire. A blue box and this noise, you know the one?” She made a vague, wheezing-wooshing gesture with her hands. “And then it’s gone again. Just... gone.” Her expression softened, and she glanced at Clara with something like gratitude. “You’re not the first person to ask if I’m alright, but you’re the first one who meant it. So yeah. Yeah, I’d like that. Show me the places. Even if it’s just a broom cupboard with decent lighting.” Then, with a small, watery smile and her trademark sass creeping back, she added, “But if there’s a café, I swear to the universe, you’re my new best friend.”

FP didn’t flinch. He’d been called worse by people he loved more. He just stared at Billy, really looked at him. Not with pity. Not even curiosity anymore. Just a kind of tired recognition, like seeing an old mugshot come to life. One he swore he’d never look at again. “You know,” FP said, voice calm but steady, “for someone who ‘doesn’t need therapy,’ you sure talk like a guy auditioning for a psych ward.” He didn’t move, didn’t raise his voice. That would’ve given Billy what he wanted. Instead, he just let his words cut low and slow. “You come in here barking like a junkyard dog, snarling about how you ‘break shit,’ and I’m supposed to be scared? You think I haven’t seen a kid on the edge before? You think you’re the first bastard who looked like me and hated me for it?” He snorted, wiping his hands on the towel like this conversation didn’t even deserve clean fingers. “You don’t scare me, Billy. You just remind me of what I used to be, before I figured out that self-destruction ain’t a personality trait.” Then he leaned forward again, just enough for the words to land heavy. “You wanna break me? Try. But don’t act like I’m next on some list when you haven’t even figured out what the hell you’re running from.” FP backed off, eyes still locked on Billy’s. “Drink the bourbon. Smash the glass. Walk out that door. Doesn’t make a damn difference to me. But don’t pretend you’re in control just because you’re loud.” He picked up another glass and went back to wiping. “You’re not scary, kid. You’re just loud pain with a pulse.”

she let out a small sigh of relief, a gentle chuckle erupting from her. "you are... one of the only other people i've met who has and well... made it to tell the tale. the doctor and martha but they don't... remember me. y'know, time travel and stuff and there's larry but he's not here and well... wow. i can talk to someone about it!" sally all but beamed at the other. she nodded her head, smiling sadly. "i know. i know that she had a wonderful life full of love and a family and all but... i can't help but miss her. wish she were here to talk to and just... have fun with." she admitted with a nod. sally's eyes widened as she listened to the other explaining what she'd seen. "wow, that's... pretty impressive. what were your favourite things to see? or beings to see? and what were the worst?" sally questioned curiously. she giggled a little as she walked behind donna, listening to her speaking about it all. "you are pretty badass, huh? how long were you travelling with him? are you still travelling with him? is something happening here that brought you here?" @sweetsidejoa

Donna glanced back over her shoulder with that familiar glint in her eye, the one that always said oh, you’re in for it now, love. She waited, then turned around fully, walking backward with her arms out wide like she was presenting herself to an invisible audience. “‘Pretty’ badass? Oh, Sally Sparrow, don’t undersell me, I’m absolutely badass.” She laughed, bright and real, but it softened quickly at the mention of Kathy. Donna nodded slowly, sympathetically. “Course you miss her. That kind of thing doesn’t just... wear off. Having someone vanish like that, live out their whole life in the wrong time, without you, it’s cruel, even if they’re happy in the end. But you're allowed to miss her. That doesn't take away from what she had, it just means you loved her.” With a little shrug, she turned and opened the door into the small, cozy kitchen ahead. “Tea first. Existential pain second.” She busied herself, flicking on the kettle and rummaging through a tin of assorted biscuits like she was on a treasure hunt. “Now… favourite things I saw?” she echoed, setting two mugs down with a clink. “There was this library once, massive place, bigger than most planets. Actual flying books. Not just floating, flying. Like they had somewhere to be and were late for it.” She grinned wide. “And this planet made entirely of glass, where the sunlight refracted through the ground. It was like walking inside a kaleidoscope. Nearly went blind, but wow. Worth it.” Then her face grew serious, jaw tensing a little. “Worst thing I saw?” Her voice lowered. “The Ood. Not them themselves, lovely, really, but what was done to them. Enslaved. Muzzled. Treated like they were nothing. Broke my heart, that did. And there was this... thing in Pompeii. Whole city about to go up in flames, and we had to decide whether to save one family or let the entire timeline unravel.” Donna stirred the tea absentmindedly, gaze distant. “You see enough of the universe, and you realise it’s not always monsters that are scary. Sometimes it’s us. The choices. The consequences.” She looked back up at Sally and smiled again, softer now. “I travelled with him for... what felt like forever. But time’s funny like that. He made me forget it all, once. Took it from me. Said it’d burn me up if I remembered.” She slid the tea toward Sally, tapping the rim. “But the universe? It doesn’t let go that easy. Something’s happening, yeah. London’s wrong. I can feel it. Like it’s breathing down my neck, and not in a sexy way. Something big’s coming, and I think you’re part of it.” She paused. “So, how d’you feel about getting back in the game?”

"my kids find it a lot more scary." jj mused, hoping that like a fair few men... when they found out she had children? he might back off. "no, charm doesn't work on me. i'm pretty certain that whatever you throw at me isn't gonna work either." she assured with a shake of her head. "i'm sorry... did you say demons? as in the supernatural creatures? you think... there are literal demons around here?" okay, so he was crazy and in the possession of countless weapons. not a great mix. awesome. she nodded her head slowly as she looked around. "right. holy water... for fighting against demons? salt rounds also work with them or is that for vampires or something?" jj taunted with a cock of her brow, no longer taking him completely serious when it came to that but she was even more concerned about the large collection of weapons. "okay. so tell me why you have all these things. i mean... why do you have weapons that are... altered to kill... demons?" she questioned, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked up at him. "are these... demons... do they appear the same way as we do? looking human?" @sweetsidejoa

Dean gave a soft chuckle at the mention of her kids, clearly unfazed. “Kids don’t scare me, Agent. Hell, I practically raised my little brother on the road. They just mean you’ve got someone to fight for. Doesn’t put me off, if anything, kinda makes you more impressive.” He tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he read her tone. “But just to be crystal clear, I don’t push where I’m not welcome. You’re married, I’m gone. You’re uncomfortable, I back off. I flirt, yeah, but I’m not a creep.” Then, without missing a beat, he walked back over to the weapons cabinet and gestured loosely at the array. “And yeah. Demons. Possession. Real deal. You ever walk into a crime scene that didn’t add up? No fingerprints, no motive, just a look in the victim’s eyes like they saw something wrong before they died?” He tapped the leather-bound journal on the table. “That’s what I deal with. Salt, holy water, iron, they’re not just for Halloween stories. They’re tools. Weapons for a war most people don’t even know they’re in.” He looked at her again, the flirtation momentarily stripped back, just sincerity beneath. “They look human, yeah. That’s the worst part. You don’t know until it’s too late. Until the thing wearing your friend starts talking in a voice that isn’t theirs. That’s why I do what I do. Because if I don’t… someone’s kid doesn’t make it home.” He leaned back slightly, giving her space, letting her process. “So... still think I’m crazy? Or are you starting to see the cracks in the surface too?”

they let out a sigh of relief once their mother's arms wrapped around them. it was a place that they felt safe when they were beside donna. they couldn't thank their parents enough for being so accepting and supportive of everything rose was about. "no, i know you would fight the universe if it meant saving someone in your family." rose admitted with a grin, squeezing donna tightly. "you're not so bad yourself." they teased, crinkling their nose as they grinned. "sounds like a pretty standard day for you! yeah, i figured as much. i've been trying to contact kate or anyone else from unit but... nothing. have you seen dad? the doctor? any version?" referring to the uncle they had gained after the doctor's... what was it? bi-generation! or something like that. "there's definitely something odd about this version of london. something i can't quite put my finger on but hey..." they nudged donna gently with a grin. "team noble are on it, right? we will work it out!" @sweetsidejoa

Donna chuckled, a soft, breathy sound that sounded like the first bit of warmth she’d felt since landing in this strange, off-kilter London. She kept her arms looped around Rose, like letting go even for a second would let the world slip sideways again. “Course we will. Team Noble, back at it again, unstoppable, unpredictable, and totally underdressed for interdimensional crises.” She nudged her forehead gently against Rose’s with a fond sigh. “You’ve got his cheek, you know that? All that hope. That stubborn glimmer of ‘we’ll figure it out’ even when the sky’s bleeding static and there’s something humming under the pavement.” Her fingers laced with theirs, grounding them both. “I see it in you, but I also see me. That fire. That bite. That refusal to back down just ’cause someone said it’s not your place.” At the mention of the Doctor, any version, Donna's expression shifted, just slightly. Not fear, but a flicker of worry. “I haven’t seen him. Not our spaceman. Not any him. And believe me, I’ve been looking. If he’s here, he’s either in deep trouble… or he’s already two steps ahead and trying to fix it without telling anyone. Again.” She gave Rose a look. That look. “Which means we’d better get a move on before he makes it worse. You know what he’s like when he doesn’t have someone to tell him when he’s being daft.” Donna let go of one of their hands only to swing an arm around their shoulder. “C’mon then, brains. You and me against whatever the hell this place is. Pigeon gangs, broken timelines, weird vibes, haunted bus stops, we’ve handled worse. And if we’re lucky…” She glanced down one of the misty, quiet streets with narrowed eyes. “Maybe we’ll find him. Or at least someone who can explain why this London feels like it’s wearing a mask.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Stay close, yeah? Just in case this version doesn’t like Team Noble poking around.”

jenny felt somewhat... glad to know she had made an impact on the doctor, even if did lead to his pain. it meant that he had truly come to see her as his daughter, something she had hoped for. "i'm sorry that you had to deal with that. have you... seen him around here? i was hoping i would find him here. that i would get to meet him again. that maybe i could... be his daughter properly." she admitted with a small smile. "what's unit?" jenny questioned, head tilting to the side in confusion. "it's an earth thing, right? something i need to get used to. this is my first time on the planet and i... crashed here. i didn't mean to. but i suppose it's a good a time as any to see the planet that the doctor loves so much." she mused, shrugging her shoulders. "damn, sounds like i missed a lot with you! i'm sorry! as for me? you're right! chaos all around me but i like it. exploring and helping people, just like he said he does!" @sweetsidejoa

Donna’s smile lingered for a moment, warm, proud, a little misty before it faded, the weight of Jenny’s question settling in. She shook her head slowly. “No sign of him. Not lately, anyway.” Her voice was softer now, more cautious. “But if he knows you’re alive, really knows, he’ll find you. That man could sniff out a paradox in a haystack of alternate timelines. You’ll get your chance, Jenny. And he’ll be lucky to have it.” She tried to keep things light, but the shift in her tone when Jenny asked about UNIT was noticeable. “UNIT’s... yeah, Earth’s alien clean-up crew. Scientific research, defense, the occasional ‘please stop the sky from falling.’ Martha joined up after she left the TARDIS. She’s amazing. Tough as nails, heart of gold.” Donna glanced around then, her brow furrowing like she’d just remembered where they were. Her fingers tightened slightly on Jenny’s arm. “London’s not like it was,” she murmured. “It’s... off. Too quiet in the loud places, too loud in the quiet ones. You’re not the only one crashing out of the sky lately, either.” She forced a smile again, shaky but real. “Still, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, Earth’s weird, but it’s home. And if you’re crashing into it? Well, might as well make a brilliant entrance.” She nudged Jenny gently, warmth creeping back into her tone. “And hey, chaos suits you. Like father, like daughter. Let’s find you something a bit stronger than air to drink, yeah? You’ve got stories to tell, and I’ve got a thousand questions, starting with, what exactly did you do to that poor crash site?”

Sweet Pea arched a brow, that sharp edge still lingering, but there was something else now. Interest. Not trust. But curiosity. The kind he’d had the first time he saw a snake in the wild and wondered if it was venomous. He chuckled, but this time it had a little more warmth, a little more “okay, you’ve got some balls” to it. “Alright, alright,” he said, dragging a hand through his wet hair. “You got some fire. I’ll give you that.” He stepped closer, but not in a threatening way, more like someone testing the weight of something. “You just roll in and start mouthing off to strangers in alleys, or am I special?” Sweet Pea’s lip curled into a smirk, a little crooked, a little impressed. “You don’t scare easy. That’s good. London’s full of freaks and ghosts, man. You might just fit in better than you think.” He nodded once, like maybe the boy had passed some invisible test. “Name’s Sweet Pea. You got one, or am I just gonna keep callin’ you Swagger-boy?”

Scooby blinked, ears twitching as he tried to follow the man’s tangled words. He tilted his head the same way, then shuffled a little closer, his paws slapping quietly against the wet concrete. “Ruh…” He gave a soft, whiny huff. “R’not a master. Scooby-Doo is me.” He thumped his chest proudly with one paw, barking, tail wagging like he’d just solved a mystery. “Yeah!” He padded up, sniffing man’s knee gently, then looked up at the sky with a shiver. “Rain’s not takin’ us nowhere,” he said quietly. “Runless it’s to snacks.” Then, a bit more serious: “No lorries. No cages. No bad stuff. Just me… and now, roo.” He gave the man a hopeful little nudge with his nose. “Rokay?”

FP didn’t flinch. He’d seen enough fists to know the difference between a punch and a performance. He let the silence stretch a little, wiping the same spot on the bar like it had wronged him. His eyes stayed locked on Billy, not cold, just tired. “Field trip, huh?” he said, finally setting the rag down and grabbing a glass. “Most people go to the Tower of London, maybe ride the Eye. You come swaggering into my bar like it’s some kind of confessional booth.” He poured bourbon, slow and precise. The good stuff. No words. Then he slid it across to Billy. “I don’t do long-lost family reunions. Don’t even do birthdays if I can help it.” He leaned on his forearms. “But if there’s one thing I believe in, it’s that nobody walks in lookin’ like that without a reason.” His voice dropped a touch. “So here’s the deal. You don’t have to like me. Hell, I wouldn’t like me either. But you do drink that. And if you’ve got something to get off your chest, you say it now before the bar fills up and the jukebox starts drowning it all out.” Then he just smirked. “Besides… we’re not related. You look way too angry to be my kid.”

@sweetsidejoa

Donna blinked back the sting in her eyes as she rushed forward, arms flinging around Rose without a second thought. “Oh, sweetheart,” she breathed, her voice wobbling even as she tried to sound like her usual self. “You really think anything in this universe could keep me away from you?” She pulled back just enough to look at them, both hands cradling their face like she was checking to make sure they were real. "You’re my Rose.” Her smile cracked wide, full of awe and relief and so much love it practically poured out of her. “Look at you. You’re brilliant.” Donna took their hand, squeezing it tight. “I was taking my time. Had to kick a dimensional door in, argue with a glowing puddle of sentient tea, and flirt my way past a very aggressive robot bouncer. You know. Normal Tuesday.” But her voice softened, lower now, just for them. “I was scared too. Thought maybe I’d got it wrong, or too late, or…” Her lip trembled just a bit. “But I found you. You found me.” Then she pulled them in again, tighter this time. “Never gonna let you go again. Not even if the walls of the universe throw a tantrum about it. Also, this isn’t our London, I demand a refund. The Tube map’s all wrong and I saw a pigeon mug a man for a sausage roll.”

sally looked up at the other in shock. "you... you've seen the weeping angels? you know what they are?" she thought... thought it had only ever been her, larry, the doctor and martha. it was a foolish thought, really, but she had hoped that the weeping angels had all been destroyed. "you survived them. like i did... my best friend hadn't been as lucky. i wish... i wish i could've done something to help her." kathy had lived a long and happy life, even if the angels had sent her years into the past. "thank you. i know that there's all sorts of crazy things out there and not just statues that can move. it can't be just that. i'm sure there's a lot of crazier things out there." sally wished she could've seen more things. could've maybe followed the doctor to travel with him but... maybe that wasn't for her. "tea. tea i would love." she admitted with a chuckle. "especially if there's a biscuit involved. so long as you join me?" sally questioned. @sweetsidejoa

Donna’s face softened, her usual sass giving way to something gentler, something understanding. She knew what it was to carry the weight of almosts and what-ifs. “Oh, sweetheart…” she said, stepping closer. “Yeah. I’ve seen ‘em. Nearly had my own backside zapped into the Dark Ages thanks to one of those creepy lawn ornaments. Scared the absolute pants off me, not gonna lie.” She reached out and gently squeezed Sally’s arm. “You did what you could. We all tell ourselves we could’ve done more, should’ve done more, but that’s just grief talking, yeah? Your friend… Kathy? She lived a whole life. And I bet she thought of you every step of the way. People don’t forget the ones who love them. Especially not the ones who fought for them.” Donna took a breath, eyes scanning Sally’s face with that fierce empathy of hers. “You’re right, by the way. There’s loads more than just stone demons and time-travel traps. Giant wasps, adipose made of fat, planets that disappear, bug-eyed aliens who think a rhino helmet’s a fashion choice... been there, seen that, shouted at most of ‘em.” She gave a cheeky grin. “And yeah, I got to travel with the Doctor. Full-time. It was... brilliant. And terrible. But mostly brilliant.” Her voice dipped just slightly there, wistful. Like there was a universe inside her that no one else could see. “But you? You’re doing something right now. You’re writing, warning, watching. That’s not nothing. That’s flipping important.” Then she turned on her heel. “Now come on. Tea’s waiting. And I saw a custard cream in the cupboard earlier calling my name.” She glanced over her shoulder, smirking. “You buy the next pack, and I’ll tell you the story about the time I slapped a Dalek in the face.” She paused. “Well. Okay. Yelled at one. But it felt like a slap.”

would the other have been... offended if jenny admitted to seeing donna as a motherly figure? would it upset her or would she think it was a jab at her age? "damn, i'm sorry i missed that! i hope it was beautiful. did... did he stay? did... the doctor... grieve for me?" she found herself asking, curious if he truly did care about her. jenny nodded with a chuckle. "it's meeee! really me." she beamed as she held onto donna, squeezing her tightly. "i missed you too, you wonderful woman." jenny mused, giggling a little. "is martha here? or...?" she wasn't quite sure where she stood where the doctor - her father - was concerned. "anyways! what have you been up to? i bet life's been full of adventures for you?" @sweetsidejoa

Donna let out a breathy laugh, still clinging to Jenny like she might vanish again if she let go too soon. Her arms loosened just enough for her to look Jenny in the eye. Donna's gaze shifted, more serious. Gentler. “Yeah… he grieved, Jenny. He really grieved. Not in the falling-to-his-knees-sobbing sort of way, he’s useless with feelings, you know that, but… he went quiet. Really quiet. You’d broken through that armour of his. He was proud of you, and losing you... it gutted him.” She touched Jenny’s cheek with a thumb, brushing away a smudge of something. “And look at you now. Back from the beyond like it’s a casual Tuesday.” At the mention of Martha, Donna tilted her head. “Martha? Not around, no. Last I heard she was off being brilliant and heroic with UNIT or saving the world in her sleep or something equally exhausting.” A pause. “As for me? Oh, you know, the usual, saving planets, recovering lost memories, regaining my entire identity through an epic tragedy or two... Tuesday stuff.” She grinned. “But you first, space miracle. Where have you been, and what mad chaos have you been dragging through the stars?”

jj resisted the urge to roll her eyes, reminding herself that she had a job to do. she needed to remain professional. "charming. i'm sure that works on some but i'm afraid it won't on me." she admitted with a shake of her head. her brows raised as she entered the house, admittedly a little shocked by his so-called security. "why? why those things for security? most people go for cameras not salt lines. what's that about?" jj questioned with a raise of her brows. "modified how exactly? since depending on what you've done? that can be illegal. though i'm sure you know that since you seem to be... a know-it-all." she mused, giving him a pointed look. "and just who might those 'bad guys' be that you need modified weapons to go after? and more importantly... why are you doing so? i mean, playing vigilante isn't safe. nor legal depending on what it is you're up to. to have this collection of weaponry means that you aren't just telling them off." jj did roll her eyes this time. "why would i be here to ask you out? i'm here for a reason and it most certainly isn't that. now, show me your collection." @sweetsidejoa

Dean let out a low whistle. “Damn. Ice queen vibes. Bet you terrify your interns.” He closed the door behind her, the smirk never leaving his face as he leaned casually against the table. “Noted, charm doesn’t work on you.” he quipped, watching her eye the salt lines. “As for the security setup? Cameras don’t stop demons, sweetheart. Salt, iron, Latin, that’s what works when things start crawling out from under your bed.” Her comment about legality made him chuckle, running a hand through his hair. “Modified like… practical. Salt rounds, holy water, silver bullets. Stuff the cops don’t teach you, but I do. And yeah, I know what’s illegal. I’ve read the fine print. Doesn’t mean I follow it.” At her mention of vigilante work, he tilted his head. “Bad guys? Think less drug dealers, more… demonic possessions and pissed-off ghosts. Trust me, calling 911 won’t help when your fridge starts bleeding and your kid’s levitating.” He opened a steel cabinet with a keypad, revealing his neatly organized, supernatural arsenal. “This isn’t about being a hero. It’s about survival. For me. For the people who never see it coming.” Then came the grin again, cocky, unbothered. He stepped back and gestured to the gear. “Now go ahead. Take a look. Just don’t touch the grenade with the rune. She’s got... trust issues.”