#me once a week. we'd arrange extra shifts and that was it. what if the new store manager sucks or hates me or something??

[i-am-become-a-name]

What's your interpretation of the weird/annoyed look Five gets on his face when Tegan announces that she wants to rejoin the TARDIS at the end of Arc of Infinity? I know it was probably meant to be played for laughs, but it annoys me every time i watch that episode and i'm curious what headcanons people have about it.

My favourite thing I've read about it pointed out that the cybermen specifically used Tegan as a weakness against five, that she's what it took to manipulate him (and through no fault of either of them, Adric's death was part of those consequences.) The novelisation really goes in to the descriptions of the doctor transfixed with the blood running down Tegan's chin from her bitten lip, the building tension as the cybermen get closer and closer to killing her and he's shaking trying to hold himself back from admitting his hearts are so easy to twist, just by threatening his friends. (Does Nyssa ever leave the TARDIS when it's on the spaceship? The cybermen don't even know she exists til they come onboard do they?)

As for why he looks so annoyed? hmmm. Does anyone want someone around that constantly needles them? Really, I think pre Arc of Infinity that even though Tegan had chosen to stay, they still had that power imbalance or even just tension between them that she had not come on board willingly. So five is expecting that to be the continuing, I don't know, continuing manner between them and it hadn't been good. It had its moments (mainly in the audios) but as an arrangement it was not ideal as friends to explore the universe together, all that terrible beauty and awesome monsters.

But it doesn't continue on in that manner - oh they bicker and make faces at each other, sure, but Tegan's conscious decision to step back onto the TARDIS irons out those imbalances, removes that bitterness and the past of her aunt's death. So when he makes that wee face, it's in expectation of the previous status quo. And never let it be said that Tegan's one to do exactly what's expected of her.

Anyway I really hope this makes sense and I may add some more thoughts later but it's 1:50 am Christmas Eve and I couldn't sleep for thinking about this.

----

It's 2am I'm back. I feel like there's also this uneasiness in five about tegan, that mirror that no one likes being held up to themselves. Their similarities but the starkly different ways they express them must be exhausting to five. and here she is back again. To push and prod and challenge and be brashly beautifully glorious. wait. that last bit was the two am shipper coming out. Anyway they draw strength and resolve and anger from each other and Tegan was vital to five, from his first moments till his very last.

[outofthefires]

Secrets and Lies – Part 1 & 2 – Solo by Kaito

⎝ 𝒲𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒶 𝒹𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒷𝓊𝓎 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓈𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒? ⎠

The shift in the mood of the Palace was palpable. The servants and members of the court were all on edge, even when the Lunars were nowhere to be seen. The dinners were awkwardly formal and silent. Father refused to allow Thaumaturge #Sybil to speak politics at the table. I knew my hand in marriage was being vied for in their negotiations. But nobody said so, directly.

I had redoubled my efforts to find out everything I could about the lost #PrincessSelene, but the presence of the Lunars had me paranoid. I was nervous to have #Nainsi reveal her findings to me for fear of being manipulated to divulge the information to the Thaumaturge. I knew she could have me say anything she wanted and even make me believe it was my idea while I was doing it, too. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that no matter how badly #QueenLevana desired a marriage alliance; if they discovered my plot to find the rightful Lunar Heir they would have me killed.

This was why I had made plans with Hiro to disguise myself and sneak out of the Palace to a concert in central New Beijing. But really, I planned to slip away and have #Nainsi meet me on neutral ground, I truly believed that the android was getting close.

"Why can't you just have the staff call ahead and make arrangements? We'd be treated like...." He looked me over in the simplest mandarin-collared, white shirt I owned. "Well... Royalty." Hiro complained as he dug into his closet for something for me to wear that wouldn’t draw attention. His glance made me unbutton the shirt and pull on a plain white vest that sat on a pile of folded clothes I safely assumed were place there by his mother.

"That's the point, Hiro... I don't want to be treated like royalty right now. I need to get out of here. I've had to be on my best behaviour every second. It's maddening, I just want to let loose."

"Fine." He huffed and tossed a dark grey hoodie into my face, harder than necessary. I caught it and stuffed my arms into the sleeves. "But next time we go as the Prince and an upstanding member of the Royal Court." He popped the collar of the leather jacket and I rolled my eyes, he was going to overheat in that thing.

"Deal." I agreed, and we both hurried from the room in the two-bedroom apartment; afforded to them by his mother’s position has the Palaces head chef. Whom I promptly walked right into when I stepped out to the narrow hallway. She shrieked a little with fright.

"Zhao-jiĕ!" I dragged my finger through my scruffy hair. "I'm sorry, I thought -"

"Your Highness!" She clutched her chest and gave a relieved laugh. "You scared me half to death." Then her gaze drifted over my clothing... rather her son's clothing. Then a glare settled on Hiro.

"Right." Her eye's flickered from her son to me. "I never saw you, I have no idea what you’re up to, and don't want to. Go before I change my mind." She added after we didn’t respond.

"Thank you." I grinned, gave a polite dip of my head and shuffled past as she plastered herself to the wall to make space for us to go by.

Leaving the palace wasn't as hard as it used to be, now that I was of age it was within my power to dismiss my security detail for the evening once I had retired from my official duties. Once we reached the grounds the android security was really only concerned with keeping people out... not in. The Hover was waiting for us when we got to the west gate, and Hiro swiped his ID chip so mine wouldn't be tracked. Not that it was likely... but my planned rendezvous with #Nainsi gave me extra cause for caution.

I had insured in my planning that I would have some time to enjoy myself before then. We made our way inside the venue. Hiro was a pro at attracting attention to keep it off of me. He flashed the guy on the door bedroom eyes, as he reached into his jacket to pull out his portscreen to scan our tickets, blowing him a kiss and waving his fingers at the guy as we passed; I was slinking behind him with my hood pulled close around my face as he carefully weaved between me and anyone that happened to have a portscreen in their hand.

The massive space was swarming with bodies, and even the rare open spaces felt crowded with the heavy bass beating against my chest. A feeling I had to say... Was addictive and I rarely had the chance to experience in a place like this. My eyes move to the balconies... where half of these people wished they could be. But when I was sat up there, I craved being down here.

The human condition… always wanting what we cannot have.

We found a less crowded spot and Hiro squeezed his way to the bar and got us some drinks. We had hardly finished those before a young woman and leather and fishnet gloves snaking over her arms stumbled on her heels and I instinctively reached out to catch her before she hit the ground. "Shit!" I saw Hiro's lips make the shape of the word, but I heard nothing other than the pounding music. She recognized me before I even steadied her back onto her feet. She pressed her fingers to painted purple lips, and her eyes widened the way they always did right before the screaming started. I gave the girl a not-really-shy smile and brought my finger to my lips.

"Someone with a face like yours can't easily hide, Your Highness." She leaned into me. Slightly intoxicated.

"Would a dance buy your silence?" I tilted my head to the side and smiled. She nodded and took my hand leading me to the edge of the crowd.

⎝ "𝖂𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖆𝖒𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖘!!!” ⎠

I got lost in the crowd with my dance partner, it gave me the perfect cover to ditch Hiro and it was all too easy to slip away from the girl in the sea of bodies. I checked my watch and slipped out through a fire exit. I had memorized the route from the map before I left. I didn’t carry my portscreen. It was too easy to trace, and I was already the most traceable man in the Commonwealth.

I had studied the path to the place I had arranged for #Nainsi to meet me. My heart was pounding with anticipation that our research may have finally amounted to something. I knew it was a rash decision to have her reveal her findings now… with Lunars in the Palace that could pry the information from my pliable, human mind with a simple thought. But the longer they were here the more I believed that time was running out for my country… my people… and yes, of course for me too.

By the time I made it to the corner I was supposed to meet the android on, I already knew something was up, the street was deserted. I had chosen it after the sector was shut down for several days after a handful of factory workers were afflicted by the plague that was ravaging our country. The sector had since been cleared to reopen, but fear lingered for weeks after an outbreak so; all but those that worked here stay home and once the workday was done they would leave as quickly as possible.

The only light was the deep orange-yellow of the streets light. The faint blue glow of #Nainsi’s sensor was nowhere to be seen. I reached into my pocket for my portscreen to comm the android, the stark memory hit me that I had left it behind in Hiro’s room.

They were incapable of being late. Something had happened. There must have been a crisis at the Palace; imminent danger to human life was the only thing that could trump an order from their owner. My mind raced a mile a minute.

“Dad!!” I said out loud to the empty street. “#Sybil!” I growled.

I started to run, my eyes peeled for a hover, anyone… anyone with a portscreen that could comm one. I pulled the hood down, I didn’t care if I was recognised. I wanted to be recognised. If my face started popping up on net profiles my security detail would be alerted in minutes and I’d get home.

“Hello!!” I called out into the darkness, but nothing. This place was deserted at this hour. I ran for ten minutes in the thick heat, as fast as my legs could carry me. I finally reached a residential area and stopped at the first house I found with a light on. I steadied my nerves so I didn’t rap on the door like a maniac. Just because I was freaking out didn’t mean I had any right to terrify whoever was on the other side of that door.

The second I knocked I heard the steps inside.

“Yes, Your Highness. My husband was stricken with the plague in the outbreak in the industrial district.” She replied.

My heart sank. “My deepest sympathies.” I muttered; the sentiment felt empty.

I asked her if I could use her Portscreen to contact the palace, she agreed and I commed my head of security directly. While I waited, I glanced around the home that seemed to be no more than three rooms, but that wasn’t what struck me the most, it was the boxes stacked neatly against the wall.

“Are you moving?” I pried shamelessly.

“Yes, Your Highness. This housing district is only for the employees of the factories. The rent was deducted directly from my husband’s wages.” She explained and my eyes pressed her for more.

“I am a seamstress, but my daughter was born via C-section only one week ago. I cannot work yet.” She teared up and her eyes darted to a document in the table. A real paper document, I snatched it up, enraged before I even knew for certain what it said.

“Notice to Vacate” was printed across the top. There was a knock on the door she moved to open it.

“No.” I said to her softly and took her arm, she still clutched the child. I guided her to the chair. “You shouldn’t be on your feet.” I moved to the door and let in the two Palace Guards. My mind was still racing as they reminded me of my irresponsibility.

I cut them off. “I’ve just hired this woman as my personal tailor. I would like her, and her daughter transferred to the Palace as soon as it can be arranged.”

The men eyed the woman’s tear-streaked face. It was now coloured red and her jaw hung open.

I was thinking on my feet. “She will receive full maternity care and pay until she is cleared to work… and she is to be assigned a domestic droid to aide her until she’s recovered from her recent medical procedure.” I suddenly realise #Nainsi wasn’t with them… That was unusual. This message really shouldn’t be relayed to them. It wasn’t their job.

“Your Majesty.” The Guard started. But I had turned away and was speaking to the woman now.

“It’s not a glamorous life, but you’ll be sheltered, and fed. Paid a fair wage. And it’s a job, not a sentence, you can leave as soon as you are able... if that is what you wish.” She still didn’t speak. I heard another hover pull up outside and Hiro rushed into the cramped kitchen, seconds later.

“Kai!!! What in the name of all the stars!!!” he yelled, one of the guards shifted uneasily.

“I apologise, Your Majesty. He was coming us in a panic.” He started to explain.

“That’s quite alright. Actually, you are just the man for the job Hiro.” He eyed me curiously and I continued. “This young woman will be relocating to the servant’s wing of the Palace. How long will it take to prepare a place for her and the child?”

Hiro was stunned, his jaw hung open now to. “Um…. Hours…. Less maybe.” He shrugged, still aghast.

“Excellent.” I turned back to the woman. “I won’t tell you this will fix all your worries. But at the very least it will help you heal in a safe place. And Hiro…” I pointed to him over my shoulder. “We grew up together. He grew up in the servant’s wing. I trust him with my life, if you are comfortable with it I will have him stay with you and he will make all the arrangements?” I rested my hand on hers. She had still yet to speak a word.

“I don’t know what to say.” She stammered out.

“Say you accept?” I said with the most comforting smile I could muster.