cape_kore | 013 ✳ day 149 ✳ audio

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013 ✳ day 149 ✳ audio

[She isn't showing her face over the network, but still, Fortescue's voice sounds almost as bad as her numerous injuries. It wobbles every so often, from the abuse it's taken, and she can't even drum up the emotion to be angry about her lack of control over it. It is what is is.]

Hello, Science Center. Miss me? [Fortescue holds the phone away from her face, for a moment, to cough. She might sound dry, but she really is grateful to be back. Very grateful.] Had this place let me remember, I would have been able to return the favor.

...I don't want to inconvenience anyone, but I'm not... especially mobile, and the canteen is quite a distance from my room. If anyone feels like being generous, I wouldn't mind a snack. [Or maybe more than a snack, but she doesn't feel worthy enough, anymore, to ask for more than that. What is she, aside from a person who failed in her most basic duties as a sister?

She almost asks for alcohol, too, just for the hell of it, but she doesn't. She cuts the feed after a quick,]

Thank you.

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...Well. Hopefully I don't remind you of one of them. They sound rather unpleasant, this Imperium.

[ Definitely not imperialistic.

He nods to Jazz to encourage him. A glance is sent up at Fortescue at her comment. Again he squats down and opens the bag up, holding the treats out in his hand. ]

I can tell. Hurting--what does he mean by hurting?

Just in attire.

[Fortescue can't keep the bitterness out of her smile. She's distracted, though, when he mentions hurting, and she blinks as a painful memory rears its head. A blonde girl by a small pond, telling her that a fish was hungry and couldn't they get it some bread?]

...you can talk to animals?

Right then. Might have to change that up.

[ Which probably won't happen as he doesn't have the TARDIS here. Instead he just fixes his bowtie with his extra hand.

The bitterness isn't lost on him. He calmly and patiently waits for her to answer as best as she can. And when she can. Traumatic memories always take humans a bit longer to sort out than him. ]

I can also speak baby. [ The Doctor looks back to Jazz with a bit of a smile. ] Time Lords are telepathic. We can sense one another, hear things you humans can't, and plenty of other things I don't actually feel like listing off at the moment. Speaking cat is very easy compared to all of that.

[ Which means he wants to make sure Jazz knows he isn't a threat. Well, not to them at least. ]

[The bitterness melts into a mischievous smile.]

So you're a fleshy multitool. Good to know.

[Of course, answering his question means letting him know certain facts about her that could compromise her. But if this is the Doctor, and it really does seem to be, she's not too worried about him taking advantage of that.]

...Jazz and I are connected. When I'm in pain, he's in pain, too. But it doesn't work the other way 'round. [Not that it matters. Fortescue has always taken great pains for his safety, even in the most intensive of firefights.]

Sort of. Except I've got a sonic screwdriver and not knives. I don't like weapons.

[ He snaps his free hand and points to her. Brilliant connection there. Good job. ]

A sort of familiar then. He feels what you feel but you don't feel what he feels. [ A slow nod. ] So, then, question. If you get healed does it heal him? Or is this only one of those feel-y type of symbiotic relationships? [ The Doctor still keeps his eyes on Jazz, hoping the cat will take the peace offering of sorts. ]

No knives. Good to know. What about a bottle opener?

[Fortescue doesn't hesitate to answer, now that she's resigned herself to telling the Doctor the truth. It feels good, being able to tell the truth for once.]

He's not actually hurt. Believe me, I looked him over. But because I am, he thinks he is. If he were really injured, we would both have to be looked after. [And they have been.] ...He carries my soul around with him. Most of it, anyway. I've got a little bit left, and a tether between us, and that's our connection.

[It makes Jazz a very important familiar. He eyes the Doctor only a moment more before slinking up and, slowly, accepting a treat from the Doctor's hand. He picks it up and then takes a step back to eat it.]

...Sonic might be able to. Never tried opening a bottle with it.

[ The Doctor looks amused briefly by the notion. He's got to try that. ]

Well, I wouldn't say he isn't injured. [ His head tilts to look Jazz over. ] The mind is a funny thing, Fortescue. Especially the psyche. If you think it hard enough? Your body responds to it. So, Jazz thinks he's hurting because you're hurting and he may very well be hurt. Not on the outside, but the inside. Might not be physical just yet. Depends on how much he wants to embody your bond.

[ Then there is a pause at that. It's clear the Doctor tries to put two and two together. He eyes the cat, then the woman, then the cat again. ]

My point stands even more then. You might want to be careful what you project into him. [ He grins at Jazz. ] Good boy!

We're all hurt on the inside.

[It's quiet, almost muttered, but it slips past her lips all the same as she watches Jazz eat his treat. At least he seems to be enjoying it — the second it's down, he boldly walks right up to the Doctor and sniffs at him for more.]

We've had the bond for eighteen years. Nothing physical's come up yet. And I do plan on keeping it that way. [She tries for a smile.] Twenty-five is pretty ancient, as far as cats go. Makes him a little distant to most people. But usually food does work on him, eventually.

Not that sort of hurt.

[ The Doctor glances up at her. He knows a bit about being hurt on the inside and hiding it. He hides it extremely well, except by those who know him far too well. They're the ones that try to hide their hurt from him.

"Never let him see the damage."

Oh, River.

The Doctor pats his pockets before offering his arm for Jazz to hop up into. They'd need to find more snacks for him! ]

Twenty-five? Blimey, look at you Jazz! You're almost as old as I am. [ There's a soft smile. ] Old men like us always need good company. Don't we? The best.

[To Jazz, this seems as though the treats are simply elsewhere. He leaps deftly onto the Doctor's arm and then moves quickly to his shoulders, agile and clever from doing this a million times with shoulders that are less broad. The black cat then proceeds to sniff the Doctor's hair for treats.

Fish, thinks the feline, hopefully.

Fortescue chuckles, reaching out to stroke the cat's back.]

Er, no, Jazz, I don't think he's got anything for you there. [She smiles, the bone-weariness of her previous expression gone — like leaves in an evening breeze.] I've only met two of your friends, Doctor, but you do seem to have a knack for finding good company.

[She doesn't mention the fact that Jazz will live as long as she does, or until something happens to him. While her soul is held in his body, he won't die from old age. He could live on to be a very ancient cat indeed.]

[ The Doctor laughs at the thought. ]

Sorry, no fish in there mate. Also? Be careful. Don't mess up the wig. Wigs are cool.

[ He got extremely bored one night okay? He turns to Fortescue, a hand up to catch the cat before he falls forward. ] I get around a bit, yeah. Happens when you travel. You mentioned Donna, so, that would leave Martha. Right?

[ It doesn't even cross his mind that maybe she talked to Clara. ]

[Jazz almost seems to huff. He has no problem hanging onto the Doctor, however, even if the pressure of his claws is — for a brief moment — bracing. He routinely hangs onto Fortescue when she's jumping about, and this is small stuff by comparison.]

You're wearing a wig? [Fortescue arches an eyebrow, smirking.] It's a very nice wig. And oh, no, I meant the very cute brunette. [This is not a very innocent smirk, Doctor, but at least it's not malicious. Fortescue does, in fact, play for all the teams, so to speak.] So that makes three of your friends I've met. All lovely.

Yes! It was to get past a planetary shield. The Church forces everyone to be neutral and not to cause a war, you see. Papal Ministry and all the good they try to do. They're not too fond of clothing either, something to do with the whole honesty factor. So, put on a wig and hid a TARDIS key in it. Not sure she'll be able to lock onto the signal here if the sonic can't lock onto anything.

[ This means it is officially debatable if the Doctor is wearing clothes. Presumably, he is, as the TARDIS isn't around to project an image of them.

Brunette, cute? Clara? Well, she's cute. Wears too tight of skirts... ] Clara? She's a bit bossy. Nose does a funny thing. [ Which is basically as much as he's going to say about "cute." Although he sends her a glance that is supposed to somehow say "Stop it!" What, is she like Jack Harkness? ] Three out of loads and loads. All recent--more or less. Martha and Donna traveled with me when I was the previous bloke. Martha first. Then Donna...

[ He pauses for a moment and a dark look passes over his eyes. ]

Clara's the latest friend. She's impossible though. So, don't expect her to make a bit of sense. [ Or maybe that's just him. ]

A church where you don't wear clothes? I could get behind that.

[She's still smirking, and the innuendo is there, but Fortescue doesn't care about clothing, for the most part. She'd barely wear anything if she could get away with it. Sadly, the majority of people are... pretty hung up on it. Shame.]

Oh, I don't know. She made sense to me. [Fortescue cants her head slightly to the side.] It's good to have a lot of friends. And I can't really fault you for your taste.

[Innuendo aside, Donna is very dear to her and, yes, Doctor, you have good taste.]

It would have been nice to have friends along when I traveled. But... that didn't work out.

They do allow you to project clothing onto yourself! But, I don't think that'll be a problem for you.

[ The Doctor turns his head to her again, but this time there is a playful smile. And a brief wink. ]

That's because you haven't met her multiple times through out all your lives. [ A dark look passes over his face as he looks forward. Oswin Oswald and Clara Oswin Oswald. Just two of the lives he met. He knows there is more out there. Ones that he never even noticed. How many times was she born, how many times did she die? It's something he constantly thinks about. ]

Yeah, well, they're all better than me. Every single one of them. Maybe that's why I travel with them. They... they force me to be better. Maybe. [ Then he reaches up and taps Jazz on the head. ] Not true, you've got Jazz here. Good ol' reliable Jazz.

[Oh look, he can crack jokes about that sort of thing. What an improvement. Not that she'd really tried too much flirting with the previous Doctor, but, well. She'd always gotten a scandalized impression of him.]

Hm, all right. Maybe that is complicated. [As well as very interesting.] But what's life without being complicated?

[She should know. She really should. Everything is just a mess back in her world. But she tries not to think about that, and smiles when he taps Jazz.]

You know, I try not to mention that my best friend is a cat. People get the wrong impression. Or it's usually the wrong impression.

[Comes in handy if you want to get under the radar and seem pathetic. ...Came. Came in handy. She doesn't do that anymore. Right. Now she's a killing instrument who doesn't want to kill.]

[ He still gets flustered! Just normally with the kissing and the all-up-in-his-personal-space. ]

It's not like it's a competition. Besides, if it was? I'd have you beat. [ A chuckle escapes him. ] Everything is complicated.

Yes, well, I'm a time traveling alien with two hearts, wearing a bowtie and can speak baby and cat. [ The Doctor raises his eyebrows as if her being best friends with a cat is strange to him. ] Besides, I've met cat people before. Not very nice! Nun cat people at that. Did I tell you about them before?

You're completely welcome to beat me in that particular area, Doctor.

[Fortescue smiles wryly. Her life is a mess, but it's comforting to know that there are bigger messes out there. Slightly comforting, anyway. That they still exist isn't exactly a good thing, just a fact of life.

She think she knows what he's talking about until "nun" comes into it.]

When you say cat people, you don't mean people who have eight cats and wear frumpy sweaters, do you?

[Because they're usually nice enough...]

Only in that particular area? I might need to work a bit harder then.

[ He reaches up and taps her nose with his finger. ]

No. I mean actual cats. You know, whiskers! Teeth! [ He raises his hands to make pawning notions. ] A bunch of cat nuns. Wanted to go ahead and treat the whole universe. Nice notion of course, except for the bit where they were creating people and then testing the cures on them. Gave them every disease in the whole universe! [ The Doctor's face falls as he remembers it. Long time ago, but still wrong. So very wrong. ]

That sounds quite ambitious. [Every disease in the whole universe was, surely, a lot. Fortescue's still grinning from the tap to her nose.] Not like cats at all, really. Though Jazz did love to collect bottlecaps, back in my world... not exactly sure why.

--Sorry, did you say bottlecaps?

[Fortescue laughs quietly.]

Bottlecaps, corks. Anything small he could get his paws on. He'd bat them around and then hide them. I once found a large pile under a sofa.

[Jazz looks almost smug.]

[ The Doctor turns his head to look at Jazz. ] Then it looks like we need to find you some bottlecaps, mate. Can't have an old man like you being bored. The universe knows what happens when we get bored.

Torn furniture, racing around at all hours of the night?

[It's just a joke, but really, she wouldn't put that last part past the Doctor.]

[ He chuckles. ] I wear a wig because I got a bit bored one night.

[ But, there is a feeling that he can be a tad more open with Fortescue. Not too open. Not enough to expose himself. Just more than most get to see. That old man who has seen far more than he ought to have.

The Doctor looks back at her as they round the corner. ]

It's usually how I end up meeting you lot. Knock around a bit when it's late at night. Find a planet that needs help. Solve a problem and turn around and... there you are. Impossible mysterious human beings. [ There's a sad smile on his face as he says that. ] The ones who truly understand the wonders of the universe and can show an old man how to enjoy it again after everything he's been through.

Beautiful and brilliant human beings. [ He reaches up and taps her nose gently. ] And their cat companions.

013 ✳ day 149 ✳ audio

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