rude_not_ginger | RP for tastefulfashion

"Nope!" He popped his head back up and flipped a few switches on the console, "Just checking the pareterasora stabilizer. Looks like it's a bit rusty. This could be rough. Hang on!"

As if on cue, the TARDIS shook and landed with a thud at their destination. The Doctor gripped onto the sides of the console to avoid falling over. That was the last thing he needed to do in front of Romana!

"Right! We're here!"

Had she not grabbed a hold of the side as well she suddenly would have found herself slipping under the console. By luck she caught herself in time - and how unflattering it would have been at that.

"Well, wherever here is I do hope you were able to park in a proper location." Knowing him he could have very well landed right smack dab in the middle of a conference hall or even a child's birthday party for all she knew.

Brushing the front of her dress, smoothing out the slight wrinkles, Romana was already striding over the door to see just where they were exactly.

Edited 2008-02-06 05:22 (UTC)

The Doctor was absorbed in checking coordinates. Right time zone,
yes, yes, right area. Yes, right location? Yes. Terrible parking?
No, he didn't do too badly, just off of the dance floor---

Wait! Romana was leaving! He jogged towards the door in order to
catch up with her.

Outside the door was a black-floored dance hall illuminated by white
lights cut into diamonds on the floor. There was a bar on the far
end of the dance hall, and an orchestra populated mostly of Draconian
harpists. The walls and ceiling appeared to be nonexistant, as the
dance hall was actually a space station sitting just outside of the Rexerian Sector and protected by a force field.

There were a variety of creatures perusing the location of many
cultures and many races.

"Here we are," he said, offering her his hand.

In all of her years she never thought she would be as amazed as she was now. breath-taking, eloquent - it was so different from home on Gallifrey. The smile on her lips grew when she stepped out from the TARDIS.

Some of the other races she recognized off-hand. But the atmosphere was enough to distract her entirely and leave her to be so calm and soothed. She was away from the responsibilities as president and enjoying every moment of it.

"A surprise indeed!" She spoke gently, taking his hand.

"Well, it was either that or dance lessons in the 1950's," the Doctor replied with a sassy smirk. "I trust your ability to remember how, at least."

He curled his fingers around her hand and led her towards the dance floor. His black trainers made no sound against the shiny surface, but he felt as though he had to step lightly in any case. Couldn't take this situation for granted, she might bolt. Might run back to Gallifrey too soon.

Her? Forget? Why, she never! "Oh, I remember! My memory tends to serve me better than your own."

There were many other dancers on the floor but still plenty of room remained for them to move easily through the crowd. It was the music that seemed to guide her now, following The Doctor with complete trust. The nagging thoughts concerning Gallifrey were weighing down in the back of her mind but he had promised her that they would return, ensuring that little time would have passed.

The music, of course, turned to some sort of Draconian waltz. He didn't know the exact steps to their waltz, but he did know how to waltz. Well, he could remember. Well, Romana would guide him if he fouled it up.

What? Right! Dancing! They were already on the dance floor.

He took a breath and put a hand to her hip and held the other more formally.

Feeling more at ease with the music she also slip into the familiar position for the waltz. Her fingers curling over his shoulder while the other held his hand Romana looked up at him, a kind smile on her lips.

"Just relax, Doctor."

The music had started to crescendo, the notes and tones of the strings strengthening, to which she took as a cue to begin. Her head tilting just the slight fraction to the left she took it upon herself to lead the first few steps.

Relax? He was relaxed! Well, sort of. Romana led the first few steps, and the Doctor eventually found himself catching the beat and leading a little more easily.

"Didn't realize it had been so long for me, too," he admitted.

It was...it was nice. A little strange, having her stand so close to him. Well, dance so close to him. And he'd already grieved over her loss, though he didn't know if she'd even traveled with his Eighth self yet. And he couldn't possibly ask.

Timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly indeed.

In these times passed Romana had not even allowed herself to relax or be this close to anyone else. Save for Leela there was no one she could have really trusted, aside from K9 that is. But dancing with the Doctor... it was not the vacation she would have suggested had someone asked her previously, but it was enjoyable still.

"You're doing fine," she assured him, continuing to follow his lead. The rise and fall of the music, moving around the other dancers, it seemed so unnatural to her. Perhaps she had been confined to her duties for far too long.

She did, however, notice the thoughtful look in his eyes. her own curiosity shown in her eyes as she asked, "Is something on your mind?"

Of course Romana would notice. If anyone did, it would be her. He shook his head gently.

"Trying not to stumble. Last thing I need is for you to think of me as...well, a previous self." The lie was a little flat, but it was much better than the truth.

He did smile, though, and genuinely. "It's wonderful to see you. Not sure if I said that before."

"Each of your previous selves each had something distinguishing about himself and something familiar," she found herself admitting. Deep down she knew there was something more, something he was not telling her but then again that was very much like him.

His smile was contagious, however, for she found herself smiling in return. "You did, but I do not mind hearing it a second time."

Romana wanted to ask further, wanting to know what he was truly dwelling on, but common courtesy kept her words silent for the time being. So, in place of a question, the old habit of teasing returned.

"For an old man you do dance well."

"I am not old," the Doctor countered with a bit of false grumpiness. "I'm only 903."

Give or take a few years.

He took a step back and spun her out as the music rose, then back into his arms. She danced well. He wouldn't have expected less from her. In many ways, she gave him a run for his money. He liked that, though he'd never admit it aloud.

"And even now you continue to be in denial, lying through your teeth about your age!" What could have been a scolding was nothing more than a laugh. "It isn't very becoming, you know. You may look young but you certainly are not nine-hundred and three!"

The chiffon ruffles of her dress spun with her, almost like a pale flower blooming underneath the lights shining down on the dance floor. To where a dress instead of those stuffy, stiff Presidential robes was a relief.

"I am," he replied in a teasing tone, "And you have no idea what time I come from! I could be!"

He wasn't...well, he was. Well, ish!

If there were other people dancing around them, he most certainly didn't notice. This was wonderful just as it was. Dancing with Romana. Something he never thought he'd be able to do at all.

"But your eyes seem older than that," Romana said with a smile.

From one waltz to another, the melody was all that she could hear. The sounds of others dancing were lost to her.

"Thank you," her tone was much softer than before, gazing up at him, "For this." She had never realized just how much she had changed since she had first left him to travel through E-Space. To dance like this, away from it all and with him alone to trust... it felt like a lifetime ago.

"I read a lot." It was a common reply to that sort of statement. He wondered silently if he really was getting that old. Maybe he just needed some sort of cream or whatever to lessen the non-existent wrinkles.

Her words softened his smile.

"Thank you," he said. And for a man who rarely thanked anyone, he truly meant the words.

Four different incarnations and yet he was still the same man she met so long ago, making her smile and challenging her banters with wit and humor to match.

Her train of thought was interrupted rather abruptly when another couple passing by bumped into her. Now, normally rather graceful on her feet the heels of her shoes did not help to steady the woman. Throwing her off balance entirely her lips formed an 'O' as her eyes widened, stumbling forward right into The Doctor.

Now that was embarrassing!

The Doctor caught her easily and held her up as best he could. More sensible shoes were good to have in this sort of situation.

That did, of course, throw her entirely into his space. Which was embarrassing for him, as he'd become less accustomed to having someone invade his space at all. Especially someone like Romana.

"You all right?" he asked.

Both of her hands were holding onto the sleeves of his tuxedo in order to help steady herself. It was times like these that she wondered why she didn't think twice about the shoes she wore. And of course the reason being was that whatever she chose looked well with the outfit she would wear.

"Yes, I'm fine," she answered before adding in a few words of an apology when she realized just how close they were. Their dancing had come to a halt, thankfully the other dancers moving around them as if they were not there. "My apologies."

Edited 2008-02-07 04:02 (UTC)

"Far from your fault."

He smiled a little to show her it was all right. This was...well, it wasn't unpleasant, if a little strange. No, not strange. Strange wasn't the right word. He didn't actually know the right word.

It was not awkward either. It just.. was. Not to mention for once she was unable to think of something clever to say.

Her hands still gripping his arms the smile returned was small. It would not do for the Madame President to appear sheepish but she certainly did still feel the tiniest bit embarrassed.

He thought he should say something. Something witty or possibly clever in order to alleviate some tension that was probably not even there. As it was, he didn't know what to say.

He thought about that old tradition. The one he talked to Astrid about. Funny that he should think about that now.

"Get you onto solid footing, shall we?"

He helped straighten her a bit but when the time came to pull away and dance properly, he couldn't make himself just yet.

Romana nodded her head once. When she was stable once more in those silly shoes of hers, she waited for him to start their dance once more.

When it never came her curiosity got the best of her yet again. She studied his expression to see if she could learn anything, hoping to see even the smallest twitch of his lips that could clue her in.

"Doctor? Is something the matter?"

Edited 2008-02-07 04:31 (UTC)

The matter? A bit. No matter how much he had always tried to convince himself it wasn't so, Romana was always the one who got away. Got away, ran away, then he lost her forever.

And part of him cried out that now was the chance to try for something. Anything. But what good would come of it? He'd just have to give her up to the timeline he already knew was coming.

"No, nothing," he stammered a bit and took her hand again.

RP for tastefulfashion

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