#bitofanexile

@thedandydoctorblog [from here]

"Madam I mean you no harm. Put the knife down or I shall be forced to defend myself. I am a gentleman and would prefer not to get into fisticuffs with a lady."

"You think you can match your fists to my knife? Or is that why you don't wish to fight? Don't be afraid, I am a warrior with honor. I will not cut down an unarmed man who poses no threat."

Basil Ashford was an intelligent man, but neither education nor practical sense could really prepare someone for travel through space and time. It wasn't uncommon for the gentleman to find himself feeling quite clueless when accompanying the Doctor to a far away future or to a distant planet. Helplessness, however, was a rarity. Basil hated to admit it, but as he stood there, staring out the observatory window, he couldn't say that he felt anything else.

"Surely there must be something we can do." The gentleman spoke softly, his tone almost pleading.

A callused hand rose to press against the cold glass of the window. Inside the room, beads of water trickled up towards the ceiling. Plumes of smoke billowed inwards as well, chasing an implosion to its source. The people, the poor scientists caught in an experiment that Basil could hardly conceptualize, ran backwards. Basil wondered how long this had been going on, how long these men had been living their lives in reverse. He wondered if they were conscious, if they knew what was happening or if everything seemed completely normal to them. Their reaction, or rather their lack thereof, to the duo's presence didn't lend credence to either theory. It was as frustrating as it was confusing.

"Yes, well, it's rather complicated. Honestly, I don't even know where to begin." The Doctor nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not quite sure where you are right now in regards to your timeline. I'm not even sure how you got here." He rubbed his face with both hands and took a deep breath. "I'm the Doctor. You will know me, know me, or have.." the last part the doctor said in a whisper. "...forgotten me."

She was older than he'd last seen her, years away from the teenager who'd wished him goodbye. She'd used the years chasing half-forgotten memories, trying to rebuild herself piece by piece as she sought the one man who she was sure could help. Who could at least explain why she had forgotten so much. Her hand wrapped unconsciously around the time travel device at her wrist as she stared, and tried to remember something that would put this into context.

"Oh, but--" But he didn't look at all like the man she'd met on the Wheel. Was it a different man named the Doctor? She could not recall ever seeing him. But... he knew about her amnesia.

"Zoe, my dear, have you ever known me to listen to anyone in authority. Especially some bureaucratic paper pushing Minister."

She had to think for a moment. He did sometimes lie-- but truly acquiesce? Not once in her limited memories. "Well, no!" The realization eased her frustration-- peevish eagerness slowly dawning in its place. Disobedience.

@thedandydoctorblog from [here]

"You will do no such thing. Good grief Zoe, have you always been this reckless? You can't just go running headfirst into danger."

"Honey, we both know you already know the answer." He must be feeling hurt that his idea was vetoed earlier. "Smash." As if to solidify the unnecessary point, she leans in for a heated kiss.