He's Fire And Ice And Rage

FOR THE DRABBLE MEME.

• I'm not even angry.
I'm being so sincere right now.
Even though you broke my heart.
And killed me.
And tore me to pieces.
And threw every piece into a fire.
As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!

Now these points of data make a beautiful line.
And we're out of beta.
We're releasing on time.
So I'm GLaD I got burned.
Think of all the things we learned
for the people who are still alive. •

"If you throw the piece down here, I'll be able to throw it in!" the Doctor called up to Jim, who had decided, in the Doctor's opinion, that suicide was a fantastic idea. It was the only explanation for his reckless use of the portal gun.

( Cut for spoilers to Portal. )

Muse: The Doctor (Ten)
Fandom: Doctor Who
Word Count: 728

Right, so the Doctor was becoming increasingly aware of how very bad he was at steering. Or, at least, how very bad the TARDIS was at listening to his steering directions. He did say he wanted to go to Corsicroz Minor, but, instead, he found they had landed somewhere else.

"It's Saturday, at least," he said, pulling on his coat. He glanced at the screen on the console, then tossed the coat aside. "Temperature's at a lovely 40 degrees---um, that's around 98 degrees for you two---and the radiation's good, atmosphere's good. Should be quite nice out."

He looked over to his companions, trying for a 'this is an improvement' grin. He was looking forward to Corsicroz, but, really, a new and exciting place? So much better.

Dear Dorothy,

I don't know if you know this, but I do so I figured that I, knowing the things that I know and knowing that you might only possibly know them, am sending you this postcard.

Blimey, that sentence was long. Did you see that? Long! Lots of commas in there, though. I think I might have a problem with commas in sentences, what do you think? Do I breathe too much when I talk? Maybe I talk too much. And in writing in the same manner that I talk, it's entirely possible that I talk with too many commas.

But I've come full circle.

Where was I?

Oh! Circles! Round! Right! Pies!

I think we need to go on a date involving pies. Because, really, what sort of a boyfriend adult-man-friend spouse-ish individual companion would I be if I didn't take you on at least a few dates?

Love,

The Doctor

Muse: The Doctor
Fandom: Doctor Who
Word Count: 150

"That's something I think is growing on me as I get older: happy endings." -- Alice Munro

Dorothy is a fairy tale.

As a fairy tale, she believes in two things with absolute certainty: Magic and happy endings.

She links her pinkie with his as they lie in the dewy grass on Scarbora 8.

"Am I ever going to convince you to believe in magic, Doctor?"

"Am I ever going to convince you to believe in science, Dorothy?"

"Touché."

Sometimes he believes in magic.

He doesn't talk about it often, because usually he's arguing science versus magic with his companion and it's much more interesting to see her face get all red and her shoulders square off when she argues with him than it is to admit he occasionally thinks she's right.

How can he not believe in magic once in a while?

Oh, he can rattle off the scientific reasons for the light of a passing shooting star hovering over them as they sit on a hill and stare at the sky. He can explain the adrenaline shooting through their veins at the surprise lightshow and the hormones and physical attraction that make it feel like this particular moment is special to just them. In that way, he knows that series of events and the way they feel is far from magical.

But sometimes, it just feels that way.

"Am I ever going to convince you to believe in happy endings, Doctor?"

A more serious reply. "No."

He's seen too much, he's fallen in love too much, he knows too much to think that there's an ending that'll ever be perfect and happy like a fairy tale might want. He can feel her sad expression without looking over to her. She wants to make him happy, she wants to make him believe in the things he doesn't want to believe in anymore.

And sometimes, like moments like this? He thinks she just might.

That would be enough to convince him that magic is real, if nothing else in the universe could.

Muse: The Doctor (Ten)
Fandom: Doctor Who
Word Count: 322
Based on rp with galeforcehero

She's too sincere for one so young.

Not the dainty Judy Garland, no, the Dorothy Gale the Doctor meets is a sassy farm girl with strong calves from running and a backbone as tough as the heels on her silver slippers. One night at Ezereckian karaoke they both belt out "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with about the same mediocre skill at both note-catching and lyric-remembering.

Funny, the things fairy tales get wrong.

He understands that. While she becomes a blue-check wearing princess in stories, he becomes some sort of a hideous monster with eyes that shoot fire and all that good nonsense. It's better that he knows her story and she doesn't know his. Of course, he imagines she'll ask him, eventually, about his stories. She asks him about everything else.

He's been traveling on his own too long. It's been a long time since there's been anyone wandering the halls of the TARDIS, asking what this is and what that is. The questions she asks aren't deflected easily, they sink in and he lets more of himself out. In turn, she's not used to company that understands her and her world and she finds herself relaxing around him. They talk about things and discuss emotions and do an absurd amount of running.

She makes him open up and he makes her feel.

She makes him go back for survivors he said weren't savable and he points at her firmly and insists she's brilliant. If there is one thing the fairy tales got right, she's got a ridiculous amount of Kansas modesty and he's got an overloaded sense of Time Lord ego.

Still, it makes for good balance.

They learn a lot about each other, as traveling companions often do. He knows how she likes her grilled cheese sandwiches and she knows his abhorrence towards pears. He knows how she takes her coffee (lots of cream, no sugar) and she knows how he likes his tea (clear, lots of honey). He knows she's never been in love and she knows his hearts are all but glued back together with crazy glue.

She's afraid he's never really going to put all those pieces back together.

He's afraid she's never going to fall in love.

Everyone should, he says. Though not with him, oh no. Brittle old man, he is. Already had his lessons in love. She says she's better than love. He thinks that's a silly way to think. She's only 116, after all. She's got a great big life ahead of her full of mistakes and foolish crushes and love.

Just not with him, he adds, and she agrees. She offers up her pinkie in a promise. Silliest thing, but her gaze is deadly serious. He rolls his eyes and links his pinkie with hers.

To never falling in love---with each other, at least.

Still, she smiles up at him with the edge of her lips in that twisty way and despite all protests he feels himself smiling back.

They walk back to the console room with their pinkies linked, off to another adventure.

Muse: The Doctor (Ten)
Fandom: Doctor Who
Word Count: 545
Based on RP with galeforcehero