cape_kore | 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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[ 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.

Awh, you old charmer. Careful, flattery gets you everywhere. [Fortescue smiles warmly, despite her wry tone. Her own feelings on humanity are rather stony at the moment. It's nice to hear the Doctor speak kindly of some of them.] My father said that about science, once. That teaching it to others made him remember how amazing it was.

[Not that he'd gotten the opportunity very often, but Fortescue had learned from the best. Until that day he'd simply vanished, of course... like the rest of her family. Leaves in the wind.]

Oh, don't I know it. That's how I ended up saving time by marrying my... wife. [ The hesitance is only there because he usually doesn't talk about River these days. It's still a scar on his hearts. Knowing her death was coming and living it? Two different things. ] Your dad is right.

[She arches a brow slightly; she knows that kind of hesitance when she hears it. It's plastered into her own voice whenever she talks about her own family.]

He was good for a few things. Played a mean game of chess.

[And he'd kind of showed up here a few weeks ago as a ghost, and they'd made... semi peaceful amends. But wait.]

You, married? I wouldn't have thought you the type. Not that I know anything about marriage. I could probably fill a teaspoon with that knowledge.

Time Lords invented chess. [ The Doctor gave a small smile at that. ]

I was. Yes. A long time ago then a very very long time ago. [ He looks down to tap the sonic screwdriver in his palm. ] Marriage is a sort of funny thing. I'm no good at any of it. One was just to save all of time. Even if I did... you know.

The horizontal tango?

[Look at this face. Look at how innocent it is. Absolutely. Innocent.]

013 ✳ day 149 ✳ audio

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