tremastersweb

[tremastersweb]

The Doctor smiles when he receives the mug, looking up at the Magister and handing it to him.

"The ghosts, yes…"

He looks at the scattered frames, his lips pressing together, before he adjusts his position again to be closer to Arthur, placing a hand on his shoulder and adjusting his tone with the hope he'd feel reassured.

"That must have been rather scary for you. Brave heart, Arthur, the Magister and I will help you get out of here soon, okay? Are you feeling any better?"

He gifts him a smile which surrounds the sentence like a particularly comforting hug, all the contrary to the rageful fit his counterpart expects, creating a nurturing memory that clearly wants to make its way into Arthur’s mind to never abandon it.

The Time Lord seeks the fragment’s eyes again, expectant for the next course of action.

The Doctor sits up when he receives the mug, remaining close to Arthur and carefully tucking the blankets in between him and his thigh. He then removes the protective plastic and begins to stir with the lolly, a profound sigh escapes him as he glances at the Magister for a second. He clearly knows what he's doing, a lot better than he does.

He looks back at the mug, focusing on the circular movement which seems to gradually and without his awareness blur his vision of everything that is real around him, silently flushing the crackling sounds of the fire with the swirl away from his perception. His body is unusually still, save for the stirring. He is breathing, in and out, slowly, automatically, as any and all sensations in his body that would usually be identified as emotions get relocated somewhere else within his psyche, away from the present, away from becoming an inconvenience.

He blinks, gently swaying his head as he notices the task had finished, much faster than he thought, or at least that's how he had perceived it. He brings the mug to his face, sniffing it, the heat and strawberry scent partially bringing him back to reality.

He then sets it on the floor, carefully, away enough from them so it doesn't accidentally spill when he turns to Arthur, slides an arm under his torso and gently lifts him to sit. Still supporting his weight, leaning him a bit on his shoulder, he adjusts the blankets so they cover as much of him as possible, then grabs the mug and brings it to him.

"Here, Arthur, drink this. It'll make you feel better."

He lifts it closer to his face, waiting to see if he can manage to grab it, not planning on letting go of it whether he did or not, after all, it'd be likely he'd drop it.

[tremastersweb]

"Oh!"

The Doctor gently brings the mug away from his face, only by a few centimeters, carefully to not drop the liquid. "Right, sorry, maybe that's a bit much? Go slow with it, can you blow on it a bit?" He sighs once again, staring at the poor boy, thinking perhaps that's also a bit too much to ask. "Or... maybe I could, if that's too taxing for you."

He doesn't wait for an answer, and begins to blow on the liquid, offering the mug again after a bit, nudging it a little. "Hm?"

The Doctor sits up when he receives the mug, remaining close to Arthur and carefully tucking the blankets in between him and his thigh. He then removes the protective plastic and begins to stir with the lolly, a profound sigh escapes him as he glances at the Magister for a second. He clearly knows what he's doing, a lot better than he does.

He looks back at the mug, focusing on the circular movement which seems to gradually and without his awareness blur his vision of everything that is real around him, silently flushing the crackling sounds of the fire with the swirl away from his perception. His body is unusually still, save for the stirring. He is breathing, in and out, slowly, automatically, as any and all sensations in his body that would usually be identified as emotions get relocated somewhere else within his psyche, away from the present, away from becoming an inconvenience.

He blinks, gently swaying his head as he notices the task had finished, much faster than he thought, or at least that's how he had perceived it. He brings the mug to his face, sniffing it, the heat and strawberry scent partially bringing him back to reality.

He then sets it on the floor, carefully, away enough from them so it doesn't accidentally spill when he turns to Arthur, slides an arm under his torso and gently lifts him to sit. Still supporting his weight, leaning him a bit on his shoulder, he adjusts the blankets so they cover as much of him as possible, then grabs the mug and brings it to him.

"Here, Arthur, drink this. It'll make you feel better."

He lifts it closer to his face, waiting to see if he can manage to grab it, not planning on letting go of it whether he did or not, after all, it'd be likely he'd drop it.

[tremastersweb]

"Would you rather rot in these corridors, with only the supplies you have gathered to keep us alive?"

He turns his head, his eyes seeking the source of her minuscule whisper, and once again a chuckle bumps across the walls in the contained safety of what he has deduced to be a closed loop. 

"Your amiable protectee is completely fixed. That is, as completely as she can be during this masterfully executed disaster. Everyone else appears to be occupied, correct? Therefore, I must conclude this architectural meddling is of her own intent!”

He firmly tugs at the roundel in front of him…

“Do you understand what that means?”

…and leaves it, as it won't budge, approaching then the human shaped creature as he cracks his fingers, and stretches his wrists.

"She has no qualms on trapping you here, in derivation from our menial dispute! Would you really trust such an insolent machine? You may attempt an alternative, if you so wish, but I shall stick to what I know to succeed."

He moves to the next roundel, which twists rather easily, and as he removes it…

“Mrrrp!”

…His velvet clothes, once again, begin to collect the shedded fur of a rather joyful cat as she jumps to his chest, and he does his best to catch her with an arm and not drop the heavy object.

“...Ooor that could work, too.”

He gives ‘Lin a look.

She's secretly glad when he stops practically marching through the TARDIS'S corridors, stopping along with him and watching him lean on a wall and exhale from the corner of her eye - she is, after all, still quite worried about his health, and not getting the feeling that he'd be gentle with himself and accept his limitations because of his wounds, so she's very afraid he's liable to make his state worse.

...all her thoughts scatter like scared pigeons after a cat lunges at their midst when he asks her if this is a ruse in that tone, frustrated but somehow amused, his voice quieter than usual, though. She isn't sure what to even say in response to that, so she says nothing, just stares at him directly and very, very slowly blinks exaggeratedly back at him, her left hand going straight to the top of her toy radio to rub at it and her right hand worrying at the recent scorch mark on her shirt, needing something to do as he seemingly rests leaned on a wall.

Not that he stays resting for long enough, of course. Because why would he. No, he starts fiddling with a roundel and monologuing, then moves on the fiddling with different roundels, not consecutively, almost ignoring the existence of some.

And then his shoulder cracks, and she flinches like she's the one feeling pain from it, a rather wobbly smile carving itself on her face at his subsequent chuckle. Singular focus is something he carries well, and him seemingly voicing his thoughts feeds the still-warm coals of satisfaction making him relax slightly had ignited, sparks of contentment floating through her lazily and mixing with her worry into a nauseating, but somehow also pleasant, cocktail.

...her smile slides right off at the last word he directs to her, the implications of it hitting her like a sledgehammer. She... Freezes up. He... She wants to say he wouldn't expect that of her. But of course he would.

He said she was going to be quiet. She can be quiet no longer.

"...I can't bear to hurt her, please... Please, is there another way?"

Her whisper is warbly, terrified, but there. Both her hands are now cradling her toy radio, as if by shielding the TARDIS's gift to her from sight she can protect the TARDIS herself.

[tremastersweb]

The Doctor sits up when he receives the mug, remaining close to Arthur and carefully tucking the blankets in between him and his thigh. He then removes the protective plastic and begins to stir with the lolly, a profound sigh escapes him as he glances at the Magister for a second. He clearly knows what he's doing, a lot better than he does.

He looks back at the mug, focusing on the circular movement which seems to gradually and without his awareness blur his vision of everything that is real around him, silently flushing the crackling sounds of the fire with the swirl away from his perception. His body is unusually still, save for the stirring. He is breathing, in and out, slowly, automatically, as any and all sensations in his body that would usually be identified as emotions get relocated somewhere else within his psyche, away from the present, away from becoming an inconvenience.

He blinks, gently swaying his head as he notices the task had finished, much faster than he thought, or at least that's how he had perceived it. He brings the mug to his face, sniffing it, the heat and strawberry scent partially bringing him back to reality.

He then sets it on the floor, carefully, away enough from them so it doesn't accidentally spill when he turns to Arthur, slides an arm under his torso and gently lifts him to sit. Still supporting his weight, leaning him a bit on his shoulder, he adjusts the blankets so they cover as much of him as possible, then grabs the mug and brings it to him.

"Here, Arthur, drink this. It'll make you feel better."

He lifts it closer to his face, waiting to see if he can manage to grab it, not planning on letting go of it whether he did or not, after all, it'd be likely he'd drop it.

[tremastersweb]

It doesn't take him long to notice the repetitive pattern of the obnoxiously basic walls. He looks around, furrowing his brow, eventually leaning on one of them, stopping his light march and promptly expelling the accumulated carbon dioxide from his lungs.

"...Well, my dear? Is this a ruse?"

His lip twitches as he sends his coalmine canary a frustrated look, which he then transfers to the surface supporting his weight. In fact, he hasn't seen any doors yet. Playing his own game? Oh, if that isn't petty.

After his short rest, he begins to inspect one of the roundels, pushing, pulling, attempting to twist.

"...The Doctor must have worked a successful repair, if she's able to reorganise with such ease."

He moves to another, skipping some, as if following a specific pattern. Something in his shoulder makes a cracking sound, to which he reacts with a simple chuckle, his eyes fixated on the task.

"Is she insulting my intelligence, or merely attempting to exhaust my patience? Yet, every loop must have a starting point. Don't just stand there, find something to disassemble."

Very grateful, just a little objection, could you tame your girlfriend next time?

...Right, I shall comment on your findings, giving them a proper rating if you wish. You will make your way back here.

-The Master ( @tremastersweb )

Not my girlfriend. I really wish you wouldn't make fun of her like that, but... You do what you do, no matter what anyone wants. It's just... Disrespectful? Insinuating something like that, about someone like her, and something like me.

Anyway, yeah, coming, gimme a mo, yeah?

- 'Lin

~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~

She winds back the braces to a manageable length, humming a gentle melody all the while, then kneels back to pick up the camera holder with her toy radio and hooks it back on its braces, smiling softly and patting the floor while she's down there.

"Thanks, for helping me give him stuff. I know you don't... Care for how he's behaving. But you helped anyway. It means a lot." Her words are quiet and intimate, warm, and she carefully caresses a groove on the floor before getting up.

Now, back to the medbay she goes! Adventure!

[tremastersweb]

The Doctor stares back at the Magister, processing the information, swallowing and then taking a deep breath. He does as he instructs, carefully covering Arthur's head and then gently scooping it up by placing a hand to the back of his neck, so he can have a good look at his face.

"Alright, no rubbing... Arthur, awake, stay awake, stay with me. Try and look at me, okay? You'll make it, but I need you to try to focus. It's very important. Can you try and answer my questions? Simple yes or no...?"

He moves his head again, giving it a slight shake, to call his attention.

"Arthur. The Magister is making you something warm to drink. Would you like that? Right, sugar! I should have sugar..."

He puts his other hand in his pocket, bigger on the inside, and starts feeling the objects around. Not that... no, not that either... Eugh. That was oddly soft. His face scrunches up.

"...I think that was a fish. Do you like fish, Arthur?

He raises an eyebrow, inhaling, frustrated at his own lack of organisation, still hoping for an answer from Arthur. Then, he gets out a bottle... He squints at it, it has mould in it, he's putting it back, slowly.

"I don't think you'd like to drink that... Alright, third time's the charm, they say... "

A lollypop! Strawberry. Not what he was looking for, but... He lifts it, and shakes his hand in the air to get the Magister's attention.

"...Would this help?"

By the time the pair had reached the mountain, the sun had set and the cold had become apparent. The Doctor hadn't complained at all during their hike as to not alert his counterpart of his strain, yet he was about to do so for a different reason.

"Ah. What use is a torch when you can't see anything?"

He let out a frustrated huff, and as if the old torch had taken offense to his comment, it turned off. He gave it a few smacks to get it working again, its light illuminating the thick fog that surrounded them and mixed with the clouds of used air the cold made visible out of their mouths. He looked at the tracker, still nothing in sight.

"...Arthur was not lying about the cold... are we near? We have been walking for a while, we should be near, unless we're lost, but we can't- are we lost?"

...He was clearly frustrated. He looked at the Magister, expectant.

[tremastersweb]

Her proposition causes his eyebrows to rise in disbelief, followed by a confused huff that turns into slight amusement. He stares, for a second, wondering in his perplexity why the apparently indestructible creature appears to continuously accept his will through her own self depreciation, clearly, she's not aware of her qualities. His body then relaxes, slightly.

"Let us hope it doesn't come to that."

He then lifts his chin, and gestures at her to continue the walk, once again testing her servile demeanor.

"If you wish me to trust your competence, you will move now, before anyone finds me. This is your priority. You will do so quietly."

The catlike individual then smiles to himself. The only leash he should need, her minuscule sense of self-worth.

Very grateful, just a little objection, could you tame your girlfriend next time?

...Right, I shall comment on your findings, giving them a proper rating if you wish. You will make your way back here.

-The Master ( @tremastersweb )

Not my girlfriend. I really wish you wouldn't make fun of her like that, but... You do what you do, no matter what anyone wants. It's just... Disrespectful? Insinuating something like that, about someone like her, and something like me.

Anyway, yeah, coming, gimme a mo, yeah?

- 'Lin

~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~

She winds back the braces to a manageable length, humming a gentle melody all the while, then kneels back to pick up the camera holder with her toy radio and hooks it back on its braces, smiling softly and patting the floor while she's down there.

"Thanks, for helping me give him stuff. I know you don't... Care for how he's behaving. But you helped anyway. It means a lot." Her words are quiet and intimate, warm, and she carefully caresses a groove on the floor before getting up.

Now, back to the medbay she goes! Adventure!

[tremastersweb]

"Well that's not... good..."

The Doctor crouched, gently sliding a hand over his forehead, far too cold to the touch for his liking. He carefully lifted his head, so he'd look at him, his eyes darting across his face and chest as if it wasn't obvious yet to him that his breath was considerably slow, and his mumblings incoherent. He searched for his pulse, his hearts were clearly struggling. The guilt-ridden Time Lord sent a concerned look to the Magister, which softened slightly as he noticed he had been taking care of the fire.

He returned his attention to Arthur, lowering his head again and sliding himself under the blankets, pressing his body against him as to share some of his body heat, and then tucking in the blankets. It was the least he could do.

"I'm here now, okay? I am terribly sorry, I... if I hadn't delayed you wouldn't be this bad, but I'm here now."

He stayed silent for a moment, pondering, that the young, freezing Time Lord had waited long enough to assimilate his absence might as well have meant he did not exist, that he could have been a moment too late, that his neglect could have resulted in a rather excruciating regeneration, and worse, a failing attempt, if his organs were to struggle as much as to keep his body working.

Of course, it was solely his fault, and he did not deserve the help the Magister was offering with managing the situation. Yet, Arthur did. He barely noticed his own body had begun to generate a small, soothing rocking motion, as if from instinct.

"...We are here. And we'll get you to safety, okay...?"

He looked over at the Magister again, worry all over his face.

"I'm afraid one of his hearts has a slight arrhythmia, I... will we be able to move him safely? It's a long walk..."

By the time the pair had reached the mountain, the sun had set and the cold had become apparent. The Doctor hadn't complained at all during their hike as to not alert his counterpart of his strain, yet he was about to do so for a different reason.

"Ah. What use is a torch when you can't see anything?"

He let out a frustrated huff, and as if the old torch had taken offense to his comment, it turned off. He gave it a few smacks to get it working again, its light illuminating the thick fog that surrounded them and mixed with the clouds of used air the cold made visible out of their mouths. He looked at the tracker, still nothing in sight.

"...Arthur was not lying about the cold... are we near? We have been walking for a while, we should be near, unless we're lost, but we can't- are we lost?"

...He was clearly frustrated. He looked at the Magister, expectant.

[tremastersweb]

"Smell wh-? Hey!"

He followed, quick as he could, and as he walked he noticed the smell as well, which instead of bringing him relief seemed to further intensify the dread in his hearts.

The Doctor ran off to the door, only registering the Magister's words after he had reached it, thinking just cabin and person in danger. He knocked, not expecting someone to greet him, but just to announce himself.

"Arthur! Arthur, it's me, the Doctor!"

He exhaled, then allowing himself to catch his breath a bit, then attempting to open the door, which was a bit stuck. He managed to push it open with a few tries, then rushing inside to find the source of the fire, where he had said he was sleeping.

"Arthur?"

By the time the pair had reached the mountain, the sun had set and the cold had become apparent. The Doctor hadn't complained at all during their hike as to not alert his counterpart of his strain, yet he was about to do so for a different reason.

"Ah. What use is a torch when you can't see anything?"

He let out a frustrated huff, and as if the old torch had taken offense to his comment, it turned off. He gave it a few smacks to get it working again, its light illuminating the thick fog that surrounded them and mixed with the clouds of used air the cold made visible out of their mouths. He looked at the tracker, still nothing in sight.

"...Arthur was not lying about the cold... are we near? We have been walking for a while, we should be near, unless we're lost, but we can't- are we lost?"

...He was clearly frustrated. He looked at the Magister, expectant.

[tremastersweb]

It takes a few seconds for him to register the feeling of the hand contact, and immediately as he does, he slaps her hand and retires his own, glaring at her. He wishes he could use words, and say exactly what he thinks, or rather what he thinks he thinks, such as I will kill you if you insist on misinterpreting me, or, I am not a toddler, I am completely capable of walking on my own, or perhaps, simply, do not touch me unless you wish to experience absolute agony.

He frowns, still not taking his eyes off her, hoping she gets the message, not for her own good, but for his temper. He resists a hiss that would certainly resonate across the corridors, and instead takes a slow, silent, deep breath, before rolling his eyes and continuing to follow her.

Very grateful, just a little objection, could you tame your girlfriend next time?

...Right, I shall comment on your findings, giving them a proper rating if you wish. You will make your way back here.

-The Master ( @tremastersweb )

Not my girlfriend. I really wish you wouldn't make fun of her like that, but... You do what you do, no matter what anyone wants. It's just... Disrespectful? Insinuating something like that, about someone like her, and something like me.

Anyway, yeah, coming, gimme a mo, yeah?

- 'Lin

~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~

She winds back the braces to a manageable length, humming a gentle melody all the while, then kneels back to pick up the camera holder with her toy radio and hooks it back on its braces, smiling softly and patting the floor while she's down there.

"Thanks, for helping me give him stuff. I know you don't... Care for how he's behaving. But you helped anyway. It means a lot." Her words are quiet and intimate, warm, and she carefully caresses a groove on the floor before getting up.

Now, back to the medbay she goes! Adventure!

[tremastersweb]

By the time the pair had reached the mountain, the sun had set and the cold had become apparent. The Doctor hadn't complained at all during their hike as to not alert his counterpart of his strain, yet he was about to do so for a different reason.

"Ah. What use is a torch when you can't see anything?"

He let out a frustrated huff, and as if the old torch had taken offense to his comment, it turned off. He gave it a few smacks to get it working again, its light illuminating the thick fog that surrounded them and mixed with the clouds of used air the cold made visible out of their mouths. He looked at the tracker, still nothing in sight.

"...Arthur was not lying about the cold... are we near? We have been walking for a while, we should be near, unless we're lost, but we can't- are we lost?"

...He was clearly frustrated. He looked at the Magister, expectant.

[tremastersweb]

"Well, perhaps we should make sure we tell her more often, then!..."

Of course, in such a situation where everything seems bigger than themselves, it wasn't easy to believe one was enough. Relying on mutual appreciation, he thinks to himself, is the best they can do. He finishes up with one of the canisters, moving to the other, the quietness around them becoming increasingly uncomfortable, preventing him from shaking the sensation of dread from his chest.

He glances over at the Magister, in search of conversation that could relieve the sensation, a strategy that had worked centuries ago, at a time and place where the complexities between them had not yet matured into such a challenging amount of tight knots to unravel. Unable to think of a light-hearted topic, he gives up, looks away and starts clicking his tongue with an improvised rhythm, soon humming a melody under it to further sway his thoughts away.

Once he's done with the second canister, he loads them into the van. Immediately after, he rummages into the bag the Magister had provided, as delighted as he could afford to be about the great variety of snacks. He finds some of the drinks and takes them with him, approaching his counterpart and offering them to him...

"Are you done? Here, hold these."

...Or, well, practically shoving them into his arms, as he takes the remaining containers to the van.

By the time the Magister's question resonates into the console room, the Doctor is just reaching it, breathing with difficulty again. He had rushed to make up for his small visit, canister handles tied to each other in pairs for easier transport not to take two trips. He stops right at the door.

"Yes... Just... one second...!"

He then leans against the wall, closing the door for a moment, something in the air making it harder to breathe albeit thin and most of it distant. Too busy to think of it, he reaches into his pocket, feeling with his hand... a... sock full of coins? Well, no need for them, he leaves them on the floor, only to touch an... interesting texture, something rather private, oh, is that from that time he ran into Mozart? He puts it aside, still inside the pocket, and... Ah. That's it. The right one, hopefully.

...Blue, he said. He rotates the inhaler in his hand, once again, considering, looking at his surroundings to make sure he's not seen. There's no time to lose, he reminds himself. He shakes it as he takes a deep breath in, then out, emptying himself from as much air as he can, then putting it to his mouth. He's unsure his timing is right, once he's done breathing in the medicine, he looks at the ceiling as he holds his breath, feeling his heartbeats in the quietness of it all, and he listens. One of them aches from the multiple self-shaming thoughts running through his head, the undeserving feeling, as well as the lack of care during all of this face's run, the what could have been, had he listened to the other before, grateful at the help, one which tries to tell him that he's not...

He exhales, slowly, quickly stuffing it back into his pocket dimension, grabbing the cords. Back to work, no time to sit with emotions, not now, there's always time later. He swallows, noticing he is, indeed, breathing better. He opens the door and takes the containers off the van, walking towards the Magister, his eyes slightly humid and his lip twitching to make a smile. He shakes them, to get the attention off himself. "Sorry if I took a bit, I wanted to check on Vera, she's alright, occupied but taking care...! She says the electric batteries are almost ready, as well. Isn't she amazing?"

He walks past him, searching for the diesel pump. Once he's found it, he begins to fill the first canister.

[tremastersweb]

"...Enough."

He gives no further explanation, a gelid affirmation in contrast with the turning and stretching of his neck that follows, well, he is able to perform the movement without risking losing his head, and a little stroll would not defeat his will.

He then takes a few steps towards her, inspecting the strange yet familiar shapes her facial features had morphed into, curving his own eyebrow as he makes no conscious attempt at deciphering the emotional fugue.

He opens his mouth, his next command made inaudible, interrupted by distant sounds, rushed steps arriving at the console room to their left lifting up his spine by a thread, so he carefully ghosts to their right instead, tilting his head and indicating his guide with his eyes the initial path to follow.

Very grateful, just a little objection, could you tame your girlfriend next time?

...Right, I shall comment on your findings, giving them a proper rating if you wish. You will make your way back here.

-The Master ( @tremastersweb )

Not my girlfriend. I really wish you wouldn't make fun of her like that, but... You do what you do, no matter what anyone wants. It's just... Disrespectful? Insinuating something like that, about someone like her, and something like me.

Anyway, yeah, coming, gimme a mo, yeah?

- 'Lin

~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~

She winds back the braces to a manageable length, humming a gentle melody all the while, then kneels back to pick up the camera holder with her toy radio and hooks it back on its braces, smiling softly and patting the floor while she's down there.

"Thanks, for helping me give him stuff. I know you don't... Care for how he's behaving. But you helped anyway. It means a lot." Her words are quiet and intimate, warm, and she carefully caresses a groove on the floor before getting up.

Now, back to the medbay she goes! Adventure!

[tremastersweb]

By the time the Magister's question resonates into the console room, the Doctor is just reaching it, breathing with difficulty again. He had rushed to make up for his small visit, canister handles tied to each other in pairs for easier transport not to take two trips. He stops right at the door.

"Yes... Just... one second...!"

He then leans against the wall, closing the door for a moment, something in the air making it harder to breathe albeit thin and most of it distant. Too busy to think of it, he reaches into his pocket, feeling with his hand... a... sock full of coins? Well, no need for them, he leaves them on the floor, only to touch an... interesting texture, something rather private, oh, is that from that time he ran into Mozart? He puts it aside, still inside the pocket, and... Ah. That's it. The right one, hopefully.

...Blue, he said. He rotates the inhaler in his hand, once again, considering, looking at his surroundings to make sure he's not seen. There's no time to lose, he reminds himself. He shakes it as he takes a deep breath in, then out, emptying himself from as much air as he can, then putting it to his mouth. He's unsure his timing is right, once he's done breathing in the medicine, he looks at the ceiling as he holds his breath, feeling his heartbeats in the quietness of it all, and he listens. One of them aches from the multiple self-shaming thoughts running through his head, the undeserving feeling, as well as the lack of care during all of this face's run, the what could have been, had he listened to the other before, grateful at the help, one which tries to tell him that he's not...

He exhales, slowly, quickly stuffing it back into his pocket dimension, grabbing the cords. Back to work, no time to sit with emotions, not now, there's always time later. He swallows, noticing he is, indeed, breathing better. He opens the door and takes the containers off the van, walking towards the Magister, his eyes slightly humid and his lip twitching to make a smile. He shakes them, to get the attention off himself. "Sorry if I took a bit, I wanted to check on Vera, she's alright, occupied but taking care...! She says the electric batteries are almost ready, as well. Isn't she amazing?"

He walks past him, searching for the diesel pump. Once he's found it, he begins to fill the first canister.

[tremastersweb]

"...Ah."

His smile grows, one to distract from thinking of all that's happened, all he's learnt, all the delay. Of course she'd think that, by now, they'd have Arthur. He hides his hands on his back in shame, tilting his head and avoiding her gaze.

"There's... still a bit to go, I'm headed to the storage room to retrieve something, but don't worry, we'll... get there in no time. I just wanted to make sure you're alright, too."

He sways a bit on his feet, now looking at them, and... aha! Three rooms ahead. Right. He pats her shoulder, before swiftly turning around.

"Glad you're taking care. And thank you, for all your help. Ring me when you're done, yes? Well, must dash!"

He closes the door behind him, before rushing to the target room.

"Alright! Four it is..."

The Doctor scurries into his TARDIS, leaving the door open to ease his own work. The empty containers were... to the right? Yes. Surely they should be to the right.

He walks briskly across corridors, almost passing the workshop, then he gasps, turning back on his feet. Well, it will only be a second. He knocks on the door, before opening it.

"...Vera? Hello! It's me. The Doctor. Is all going well over there?"

He walks a bit closer, observing her and her work, offering her a small smile, certainly not his usual bright one.

"Did you find the water dispenser, in the end? Ah, I had the chance to visit your TARDIS, well, she seems to be alright."

As he speaks, he tries to remember the exact room he had stored the containers. He's almost got it.

[tremastersweb]

"Alright! Four it is..."

The Doctor scurries into his TARDIS, leaving the door open to ease his own work. The empty containers were... to the right? Yes. Surely they should be to the right.

He walks briskly across corridors, almost passing the workshop, then he gasps, turning back on his feet. Well, it will only be a second. He knocks on the door, before opening it.

"...Vera? Hello! It's me. The Doctor. Is all going well over there?"

He walks a bit closer, observing her and her work, offering her a small smile, certainly not his usual bright one.

"Did you find the water dispenser, in the end? Ah, I had the chance to visit your TARDIS, well, she seems to be alright."

As he speaks, he tries to remember the exact room he had stored the containers. He's almost got it.

[tremastersweb]

"Perfectly well, and by the looks of it, so are you. Alive, as per usual."

He raises his eyebrows in amusement, before stepping away from the hole. Of course, he wasn't attempting to kill her, nor harm her in the slightest really, yet had the ray hit any vital part, it wouldn't have taken long for her to fall... theoretically.

Soon after he leaves to search for another fork, which he bends into a makeshift pick, a small quantity of black smoke starts greeting 'Lin as it escapes the hole, only barely letting show what seems to be a surgical machine repurposed into a laser blaster of sorts, her candid gifts having helped the finishing touches. Shame, he thinks, that it didn't hold enough to provide himself with such a weapon, yet it did the work.

The TARDIS has certainly experienced worse, but she doesn't miss her chance to protest, opening and closing the top cabinets as he passes by, causing some objects to fall near him. He scoffs, stepping away from them and simply taking another route. He then picks apart the remaining pieces that hold the door closed, that of the security lock and the regular one, newly gloved hands preventing potential burns with the remaining heat. He then pushes with the wheeled machine, finally meeting his counterpart.

He stares, for a moment, considering the reply he didn't send, and her devastated expression. The felinelike's eyelids close slowly, before opening again with his gaze pointing in any other direction. He'd rather have her as an ally, after all.

"...Well, did you think asking nicely would have freed me, hm?"

He grabs the bag from his side, before going out.

"Right, 'Lin, you know her better than I do. I shall need a sheltered place, one less depressing, if you wish for me to properly appreciate your thoughtful offerings... Somewhere to exist unbothered. You will lead the way."

Very grateful, just a little objection, could you tame your girlfriend next time?

...Right, I shall comment on your findings, giving them a proper rating if you wish. You will make your way back here.

-The Master ( @tremastersweb )

Not my girlfriend. I really wish you wouldn't make fun of her like that, but... You do what you do, no matter what anyone wants. It's just... Disrespectful? Insinuating something like that, about someone like her, and something like me.

Anyway, yeah, coming, gimme a mo, yeah?

- 'Lin

~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~∞~

She winds back the braces to a manageable length, humming a gentle melody all the while, then kneels back to pick up the camera holder with her toy radio and hooks it back on its braces, smiling softly and patting the floor while she's down there.

"Thanks, for helping me give him stuff. I know you don't... Care for how he's behaving. But you helped anyway. It means a lot." Her words are quiet and intimate, warm, and she carefully caresses a groove on the floor before getting up.

Now, back to the medbay she goes! Adventure!