–––––– ❝ promise me. ❞ her fingers came to rest upon her own lips, having picked up the feature from the many people that had infiltrated her over time. all the strays - people her thief called friends. letting go of river’s wrist now they were around the corner of an unfamiliar street. ❝ say you won’t tell. won’t show and tell. –––– my thief cannot know i’m here. only you know who i am. you must know. it’s obvious. i can see something so precious in your eyes. those eyes so much lighter than mine. so naive.  –– that look of recognition. ❞ 

THE DOCTOR  SKIDDED  DOWN  THE  CORRIDORS  TOWARDS  THE  FRONT  OF  THE  SHIP  ,  his  hand  on  the  door  to  stop  it  slamming  shut  in  his  face  .  squeezing  through  the  control  room  he  turned  to  see  river  already  at  work  trying  to  stop  it  from  crashing  .  moving  towards  her  then  stepping  back  as  a  button  sparked  FIRE  ,  he  grabbed  her  elbows  &&  pushed  her  towards  the  door  .  ‘  this  ship  isn’t  saveable  .  let’s  move  .  ’  he  told  her  .  

     she leans against the doorway, watching. because she can’t find words, really. it’s difficult on the best of days when she considers river, the implications of this meeting alone are terrible. she’s muddling the timeline again. but she’s selfish. just enough. just this once. tilting her head to admire river song, the doctor’s lips curl up at the corners briefly into a small smirk.

    “just tell me one thing -- am i the first or second wife?”