#withbox

    Yes. He’s been reading it for quite some time now, tucked away in a little corner, one leg crossed over the other and Amy’s glasses perched upon his nose. The diary is snapped shut the moment she asks after it, and the glasses removed from his face, eyes wide. He looks apologetic. Even if he isn’t really.

    ‘ I’m so sorry, I really had no idea this was a diary! ’ Liar. He had, of course, realised right away what it was. He’d written something quite similar, once upon a time, when he was another man. Quite literally. He can barely contain himself, can barely stop his hands from shaking as he offers the diary back out. He had had a suspicion, before. Now? Now the Doctor knows that he is not alone. His hearts race away in his chest, and he manages to hide his excitement, his hope, his joy, behind an easy and embarrassed smile. ‘ I thought it was — some kind of adventure story. I’m sorry. ’

       “Some kind of adventure story?” Mei snatches the journal from him with an expression that says she’s seriously considering hitting him. “It’s hand-written. And mostly gibberish.” Her other hand tightens on the baton she brought down with her as she takes a healthy step back. “What about that says ‘some kind of adventure story’ to you?” 

        She’s angry, but also—oddly?—afraid. 

        This isn’t the only journal full of strange pictures and something that looks so much like writing and yet is entirely unreadable to her—but it is the first one. There’s a strange twist of embarrassment there too, knowing this is a journal from when she was just a teenager. A time when the only thing she really knew for sure about herself was that she didn’t know anything at all. 

       “What are you even doing here? We closed at nine. I watched you leave.” 

       “You have no proof I’m sleepy.” 

“what’re the consequences of changing someone’s past? you know, how bad could it really be if something changed?”

                  “ Fantastic! You’ve obviously had  a m p l e  practice! It’s not a patented clever face, is it? I’m only asking because ------- would it be terribly plagiaristic of me to borrow it?! It would make a WHOPPING impression on any hypothetical assistants I might entertain in the future! ”

                  Not exactly reflecting all too brain-twistingly hard on the consequences of copycatting, Dirk strikes what he believes to be a suitably Doctor-ish pose. His features undergo an entire Olympics of facial contortion in their quest for the perfect imitation. Admittedly, though, he falls victim to distraction halfway through. What can he say?! There’s obviously a boundless treasure of information to be unearthed here, far beyond being coached on the finer points of clever-facing. 

                  “ Speaking of assistants - those companions of yours, they’re always super charmed by you, aren’t they? Oh, come on, admit it! I’m a detective, remember? I detect !! ”