twcntythree

[twcntythree]

PROMPTS FOR THE FORCED PROXIMITY TROPE *  assorted dialogue for the moments and circumstances that force two characters to spend time together, adjust as necessary

who said i agreed to any of this?

i said i would help you. i didn't say i would be nice to you while i'm helping you.

you scratch my back and i'll scratch yours.

oh no. don't tell me it's locked.

i was hired to protect you. that's my job.

i'm actually starting to tolerate you, believe it or not.

i don't want to be stuck here with you.

i'll work with anyone but you.

i'm not letting you sleep on the floor.

they're forcing me to work with you and i don't like it.

how long do you think we'll be stuck here?

is that the only tent we have?

i think we're snowed in here. we'd better find a way to stay warm.

it's going to take a few days for them to reach us.

you sleep in that room, and i'll take this one.

you can't get rid of me that easily.

i'm just going to come right out and say it - i hate being here just as much as you do, but we have to make this work.

don't get any ideas.

i'm going to see if they'll switch my room.

until you came along, i had this under control.

if we're going to survive this, we'd better work together.

why did they sit me next to you?

i'd like to be as far away from you as possible.

out of all the people in the world, i had to get stuck with you.

guess you're just gonna have to get over it.

i thought you were worse than this.

i'm not going anywhere, and neither are you.

you're not exactly my favorite person to be around.

well, get used to it. i'm not leaving.

i told them i don't need a bodyguard.

i never wanted to spend this much time with you.

all this time spent together has really opened my eyes.

you're not as bad as i thought you were.

we might as well try to get along.

i guess i should learn a little bit about you.

i think that means we're the only ones left.

there's no way i'm sharing a room with you.

you again? i've seen enough of you already.

i thought [name] was coming. why are you here?

they're counting on us to save them.

since we'll be here for a while... might as well make the best out of it.

i think we can set aside our differences for two minutes and work this out.

honestly, i think i was wrong about you at first.

there's absolutely no way i'm working with you.

fine, but you're sleeping on the floor. i'll take the bed.

as your bodyguard, i'm supposed to stay with you at all times.

i think we're snowed in for a while.

you could always sleep on this side of the bed.

we have to at least pretend we like each other.

the whole point in having a bodyguard is for me to keep you safe.

i don't like asking for your help, but here i am, asking.

you and i are the only ones who can deal with this.

you don't have a say in the matter.

looks like we're stuck here.

just sleep in the bed with me. i'll even make a pillow wall between us.

i'm not sharing a tent with you.

i need you to stay out of my way.

could you at least "guard" me from over there? why do you have to stand so close?

[twcntythree]

NORMALLY  the  annoyed  groan  would  come  naturally,  this  time  he  has  to  force  it  a  bit,  and  force  down  the  beginnings  of  a  smile  as  well.  "  oh,  stop  it.  "  said  in  true  fashion  of  someone  who  really  wouldn't  mind  it  at  all  if  jack,  in  fact,  didn't  stop.

"  i'm  certain  that's  worked  before,  actually  ...  ",  he  trails  off,  gives  a  huff  as  he  looks  away,  eyebrows  raised  to  high  heavens,  gaze  fixed  to  the  ground,  almost  accusingly.  "  but  i  don't  need  to  tell  you  that,  do  i.  " not  like  he  could  ever  forget  how  flushed  and  giggly  rose  had  been  after  running  into  jack  for  the  first  time  in  1940's  london.  the  doctor  had  found  jack's  antics  to  be  incredibly  obvious  and  pompous  in  their  execution.  (  had  he  sort  of  wished  to  be  the  first  one  to  figure  out  that  rose  was  into  that  kind  of  display  ?  yes.  had  he  also,  for  a  split  second,  perhaps  wished  to  have  been  the  one  jack  had  shown  'round  his  spaceship  with  champagne  and  glenn  miller  playing  in  the  background?  .....  maybe.  )

he  turns  back  to  catch  jack's  eye,  disbelief  plain  to  read  on  his  face  as  he  studies  the  other's  expression.  "  no,  jack,  i  really,  really  don't  care.  simple  as  that.  "  and  he  gives  a  shrug,  glances  towards  the  person  that  had  -  according  to  jack  -  been  ogling  him.  sure  enough  she  was  still  looking  and  the  doctor  quickly  turned  away,  cheeks  a  little  flushed.  he's  never  been  the  biggest  fan  of  that  sort  of  attention  (  save  for  his  tenth  and  fifteenth  face)  and  had  perhaps  subconsciously  made  an  effort  not  to  notice  it.  but  that's  a  problem  for  another  day.  "  why're  you  so  interested  in  what  i  do  about  it,  anyway  ?  i  mean  -  if  you  wanna  try  your  luck,  be  my  guest.  maybe  it  was  you  she's  been  eyeing  all  along.  "

𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙸𝚂 𝚃𝙷𝙴 little game that he and the doctor play . doctor gives criticism and jack is all to happy to absorb and transform it into something he can work with . it's all in good fun , and most of the time it's far from serious . the doctor retorts with the fact that he's being distracting and jack sees the smile that creeps onto other's features . not like jack would be taking him seriously anyway ; they know the doctor better than that . ❝ distracting , huh ? it's not my fault that you're too easily distracted , handsome , ❞ jack coos in reply , smug smirk on lips .

but the doctor is perplexing with his reply to jack's line of questioning , the way he immediately brushes it off . jack doesn't know what that's like -- not just to have restraint , so to speak , but not to have that kind of raging and passionate desire most of the time . he hopes it's part of what the doctor likes about him ; but he knows it's a huge difference of theirs , and it shows in moments like these . ❝ i dunno , you could -- i'm sure that's worked before , right ? ❞ jack tilts head and watches the other curiously , intrigue plain on features . ❝ you mean you really don't care that she's interested ? ❞

[twcntythree]

"  ...  I  KNOW  who  you  remind  me  of  -  a  girl  I  think  I  used  to  know  ...  "

@carbondated liked ' for a one-liner '

[twcntythree]

"  ...  I'M  so  much  older  than  i  can  take  "

@isbrilliant liked ' for a one-liner '

[twcntythree]

"  ...  THERE  was  something  'bout  you  -  that  now  I  can't  remember  ...  "

@ncmad liked ' for a one-liner '

[twcntythree]

one-line    starter    call    !

[twcntythree]

exam  season's  right  around  the  corner  so  it'll  be  a  bit  quiet  the  next  two  weeks  or  so  (  here  +  on  meandcring  /  twcntythree  /  badwofltylcrr  )  see  you  on  the  other  side  xx

[twcntythree]

exam  season's  right  around  the  corner  so  it'll  be  a  bit  quiet  the  next  two  weeks  or  so  (  here  +  on  meandcring  /  twcntythree  /  badwofltylcrr  )  see  you  on  the  other  side  xx

[twcntythree]

@sundaysruby said: ❛  you’re  late .  as  usual .  ❜

tries  his  best  at  an  apologetic  smile,  but  he's  still  so  riled  up  from  the  silurians  he's  just  had  to  outrun  that  it  doesn't  carry  as  much  weight  as  he'd  like  it  to.  a  shrug  (  he's  still  a  little  out  of  breath,  too  )  :  "  occupational  hazard  "  he  pockets  the  shiny  little  artifact  he's  risked  his  life  for,  then  looks  at  her,  expectantly.  blinks  a  couple  of  times,  a  few  second  pass  -  one,  two,  three  :  ah,  there  it  is  -  and  the  adrenaline  wears  off,  excited  grin  falling.  "  oh  -  oh,  i'm  not  terribly  late,  am  i  ?  please  tell  me  i'm  not  terribly  late  -  one  time,  i  was  off  by  14  years.  it  ...  it  hasn't  been  .... that long,  has  it  ?  "

[twcntythree]

ah,  contact  !  finally  !   "  in  where  ?  "  moving  forward  in  the  general  direction  of  the  voice,  he  suddenly  stops,  brows  pulling  into  a  frown.  curious  atmosphere  suddenly  shifts  -  shoulders  tense,  hairs  on  the  back  of  his  neck  stand  up.  seemingly  subconciously,  his  hand  delves  into  the  pocket  of  his  waistcoat,  retrieving  his  screwdriver  as  softly  as  possible. 

considers  scanning  for  alien  lifeform  but  -  sadly,  tragically,  it's  obvious  what  he's  dealing  with  here,  isn't  it?  footsteps  become  softer,  sonic  set  to  flashlight  -  after  all,  they  could  zap  out  all  the  lights  in  a  mere  moment  -  he  carefully  rounds  the  corner.  coast  clear,  another  empty  hallway.  "  just  ...  stay  where  you  are,  i'm  on  my  way.  i'm  on  ...  -  "  another  corner,  the  lights  seem  to  be  dimmed.  blasted.  "  ...  my  way.  "

a  deep,  steadying  breath,  he  tries  to  calm  himself  enough  to  hold  off  the  adrenaline  rush  until  later.  lord  knows  they  were  going  to  need  it.  "  i'm  going  to  need  a  little  help  getting  to  you  -  can  you  tell  me  where  you  are  ?  "  step  by  step,  he's  painstakingly  aware  of  his  surroundings.  what  lays  in  front  of  him  as  nervewracking  as  what  might  be  creeping  up  behind.  "  i'm  the  doctor,  by  the  way.  i  assume  you're  what's  left  of  the  crew  ?  what's  your  name  ?  "

the ship was dead silent. nothing to be heard except for metal settling and creaking. the final crew member sat against the wall of the control room, inhaling and exhaling steadily with a comms device in her hand. a headband with a light attached was strapped to her head, eyes keeping directly ahead to the doorway. she was trapped in here. just outside were a group of angels--awaiting for their final victim to move.

it had been about two hours now since she sent out a distress signal. and that's when she heard it. eyes widened and tears of relief (and fear) threatened to form, calla raising her neck to project her voice.

" IN HERE ! " he was close. however this person got on board.

" you've got to keep lookin' at them. if not they'll get you! they-- " she exhaled heavily, attempting to calm her frantic self. " they got everyone. everyone's gone. " // @twcntythree

[twcntythree]

a  telltale  prickle  in  his  eyes,  a  burning,  he  blinks  a  couple  times,  tries  to  concentrate  on  anything  else  but  that  feeling.  then  -  it  is  as  if  a  weight  is  lifted  off  his  chest,  one  that  has  been  weighing  him  down  for  centuries.  guilty  conscience  somewhat  eased  (  although  he  suspects  he'd  never  be  able  to  fully  stop  blaming  himself  for  the  way  things  ended  )  -  he's  often  wondered,  how  they  got  on  after  manhattan.  in  the  past.  everytime  he  tried  to  tell  himself  that  '  they  got  each  other,  they're  going  to  be  fine  '  it  felt  like  a  cheap  excuse  to  try  and  shove  the  blame  off  himself.

"  i'm  so  glad  to  hear  that.  "  and  he  squeezes  her  hand  in  return.  and  he  really  was  so  very  glad.  -  she  returns  the  question  and  he  should've  seen  it  coming,  should've  had  some  answer  ready.  it's  not  like  he  can  fool  her,  though.  she'd  always  see  right  through  him.  so  he  tries  to  skip  past  her  first  question  as  inconspicious  as  possible,  a  short  "  oh,  you  know,  same  old,  can't  complain  "   before  tackling  the  next.  "  i  don't  really  think  in  years  anymore,  because  -  well,  i  lost  count.  "  he  gives  a  shrug  and  a  sheepish  smile.  "  well  -  it's  been  about  ...  oh,  twelve  ?  yeah,  twelve  faces.  since  manhattan.  "

amy can't imagine how different her life would have been had she never met the doctor all those years ago . time had a funny way of making it all worth the wait - from the moment he first landed in her backyard as a little girl, to twelve years later when he finally returned . the girl who waited, time and time again . always her fate . to be able to share her adventures with rory, the love of her life, to even get moments with river . sure, she didn't get to raise her daughter and that ache never went away . but at the very least amy got to know her, and for that she is extremely lucky .

she smiles at his words, even with a new face and all that time that had passed, he was still her doctor . she's convinced she'd recognize him anywhere . ' mine too . ' amy looks at him, really looks at him as he asks her the question . ( are you happy ? ) she takes a couple of moments . ' y'know, i never thought what my life would've been like without you actively in it . ' she reaches forth, grasping his hands in her own . amy still sets a place for him at the table, just in case . ' yes i am, truly . rory and i have made a really good life with each other . i am so so so very lucky . '

' what 'bout you though ? are you happy ? ' she squeezes his hands . ' how long has it been for you since manhattan ? '

[twcntythree]

sharp  inhale,  his  voice  is  a  little  shaky,  despite  his  best  attempts  to  get  out  a  firm,  coherent  answer.  "  and  that's  the  problem.  "  jaw  clenched  so  tight  it  gives  him  a  headache.  from  the  corner  of  his  eye  he  can  see  her  turned  'round  to  him  on  the  sofa,  but  he  just  can't  bear  to  look  at  her.  he  scolds  himself  for  not  telling  the  tardis  to  hide  those  artefacts  and  books  better  -  he'd  intended  for  them  to  be  anchors.  if  the  time  ever  came  when  he  decides  he's  better  off  with  his  memory  in-tact,  and  the  pain  that  came  with  it.  he's  never  meant  for  her  to  find  them.  by  avoiding  to  meet  her  eye,  he's  forced  to  settle  his  gaze  on  something  else.  (  the  something  else  in  question  ?  the  very  purple  patch-y  shirt  that  donna  noble  had  picked  up  from  the  handrail  accusingly  on  her  first  trip  )  he  presses  his  lips  together  for  a  moment,  focuses  his  all  his  energy  to  banishing  that  little  glimpse  of  the  past.  shutting  that  door.  "  i  don't  talk  about  the  past  much,  as  you  know  "  never,  more  like.  he  sits  down  on  an  armchair  opposite  the  sofa  -  anything  so  that  damned  shirt  is  out  of  his  line  of  vision  -  fingers  beginning  to  pick  at  loose  threads  in  the  armrest.  "  the  reason  being  that  i  -  i  made  the  ...  concious  decision  to  forget.  "  a  nod,  fingers  now  drumming  an  insignificant  beat.  "  i  don't  recall  the  details,  of  course.  but  i  know  ...  it  all  just  became  too  much  to  bear.  the  -  the  leaving.  "  stated  rather  matter-of-factly,  and  he  gives  a  shrug.  "  they  never  ...  left  by  choice.  not  really.  "

･ .  ✶ ━━       head falls back against the couch. she's been in the library for pretty much the whole day. reading. finding bits and pieces about old companions. about the people the doctor used to run with. it made ellie's stomach feel like it was falling out through her butt. they had all left. they weren't here anymore. some of course were living their own lives. but many weren't alive. it worried ellie , that maybe she'd end up the same. cause there was no way that ellie would ever want to stop traveling. not that she really could anyhow. so the only way she would , is if she died. ❛ i won't leave. ❜ she replied , moving then - turning around so that she was sitting up on her knees , leaning her stomach against the back of the couch. hands wanting to grab a hold of the doctor's but she didn't want to be too forward. ❛ i'd probably have to die first. ❜

[twcntythree]

he's  been  stood  there  for  quite  a  bit  before  he  speaks  up.  taking  in  the  sight  -  carefully  making  note  of  every  detail  so  he  can  file  it  and  save  it  for  later.  for  days  when  the  console  room  is  garishly  empty,  and  there's  no  sound  except  the  incessant  whirring  of  his  ship. 

"  ....  no.  no,  i  don't.  "  it  feels  so  tragically  bitter-sweet,  yet  the  smile  that  tugs  at  his  lips  is  genuine.  he's  not  talking  about  adventures,  the  incredible  sights,  the  running.  he's  talking  about  the  things  he  can't  experience  on  his  own  -  the  uniqueness  of  being  lucky  enough  to  go  through  life  with  someone  else,  even  if  only  for  a  short  while. 

the  doctor  takes  a  seat  next  to  her,  gives  her  a  little  nudge,  as  if  to  ease  the  tension.  "  well,  i'd  sure  hope  you  won't  get  sick  of  this  !  there's  so  much  left  to  see  -  oh,  rubes,  you  haven't  even  seen  the  half  of  it.  "

she finds herself seated on her own, baby blues glancing focused on the horizon . it's calm, peaceful and for the first time her mind isn't focused on the what - ifs and the mystery of her own past . she's focused on the right now . ruby's head quips as the doctor's voice snaps her back into reality .

@twcntythree : i thought you might like some company .

a smile forms upon her lips &. shoulder shrugs to meet her chin. eyes finally landing on the doctor . ' do you ever ... get sick of all this ? ' ruby looks upwards and then around . ' i don't think i could ever be . '

[twcntythree]

HIDDEN  room,  door  disguised  as  a  bookshelf.  lifts  up  the  bottom  of  a  inconspicuous  looking  book, activating some mechanism  -  a  wing-backed  chair  in  the  corner,  walls  adorned  with  photographs,  souvenirs  from  travels.

-   "  and  when  i'm  back  in  here,  i  feel  it.  "  these  faces  mean  nothing  to  him,  and  yet  -  they  do  make  him  so  unspeakably  sad.  "  another  version  of  me,  i  was  in  it.  "

lyrics for @ncmad

[twcntythree]

CAN  he  even  put  into  words,  how  irrevocably  she  changed  his�� very  being  ?  how  being  allowed  the  great  fortune  to  have  known  her  has  left  traces  in  his  dna,  forever  -  he's  a  changed  man,  thanks  to  the  pond-williams  household.  the  first  real  family  he'd  known  in  ages.  with  christmas  and  dinners  and  coming  'round  for  tea  and  popping  off  to  fight  dinosaurs  on  a  spaceship  and  everything.  if  things  had  been  different  -  he's  absolutely  sure  he'd  have  stuck  around  until  their  last  breaths. 

"  i  think  ...  crashing  into  your  shed  was  one  of  the  happiest  days  of  my  life.  "  sometimes  he  thinks  of  it  as  the  dawn  of  a  new  age,  a  new  beginning.  new  face,  new  doctor,  new  tardis.  new  year,  new  him,  etc  etc.  it's  so,  so  long  ago  (  and  he  is  so,  so  old  now  )  but  he  still  remembers  it  as  if  it  was  yesterday.  leave  it  to  the  ponds  to  leave  a  mark  on  your  very  soul,  so  that  you  may  never  forget  them  (  no  matter  how  hard  you  may  try  )  "  can  i  ask  ...  are  you  -  are  you  happy  ?  now,  i  mean  ?  are  you  doing  okay  ?  "  an  incredibly  selfish  question  -  the  doctor  doesn't  think  he  could  live  with  himself  should  the  answer  be  no.  still,  when  would  be  the  next  time  he  could  ask  her  ?  would  there  be  a  next  time  ?  merely  seeing  her  again  is  beyond  his  wildest  dreams.

she doesn't mean to stare - a mixture of awe, sadness, hope and most importantly concern washes over her . the years she had spent with his younger self, he was her best friend and seeing him now, brings back all those memories she holds fondly .

@twcntythree : it's been very rare to have known you, very strange and wonderful .

' i wouldn't change any of it y'know . ' she smiles as she speaks, and she genuinely means it . if amy was given the chance for a do - over she wouldn't do a single thing different . ' those years with you ... they were everything i could have ever dreamed of . '

[twcntythree]

@protectxthem said : " if i don't come back... "

"  PLEASE,  jack  -  "  he  intercepts  immediately,  with  a  firm  shake  of  his  head.  makes  a  great  effort  to  appear  as  if  he  just  can't  be  bothered  by  his  attempt  at  a  farewell-speech,  as  if  it  is  the  greatest  inconvenience  to  him  possible,  as  if  he's  got  bigger  fish  to  fry.  but  the  burning  in  his  eyes  is  not  easily  blinked  away,  and  the  scoff  he  emits  is  a  weak  one,  not  to  be  taken  seriously.  "  you  and  i  both  know  you're  going  to  be  just  fine,  yeah  ?  we've  always  made  it  through  somehow,  us  two.  "  it's  just  one  of  those  times  where  he's  not  particularly  convinces  of  his  words.  a  part  of  him  wants  to  scream,  tell  jack  that  he  doesn't  need  to  do  all  this,  they  can  just  hop  in  the  tardis,  pop  off  to  some  outer  rim  planet,  have  great  old  dandy  time  and  never  look  back.  but  it's  pointless  -  because  it's  not  the  truth.  and  this  face,  this  doctor  might  be  a  lot  of  things,  but  he's  not  a  liar.  a  weak  attempt  at  a  smirk  :  "  hey,  now  -  i  couldn't  get  rid  of  you  if  i  tried,  captain.  "

[twcntythree]

"  WELL  ...  "  he  cocks  his  head  to  the  side,  considers.  a  shrug,  the  hint  of  a  sly  yet  giddy  grin.  "  since  i  can't  exactly  advise  you  to  do  it  -  as  that  would  be  very  ludacrious  and  ...  well,  generally  in  a  morally  grey  area  "  (  not  like  he's  ever  cared  much  about  that  before  but,  hey,  never  a  need  to  possibly  put  people  into  harm's  way  -  even  if  it  would  mean  tremendous  fun  for  the  both  of  them  )  "  i  guess  -  yeah.  yeah,  i  guess  you  could  consider  this  a  challenge.  "  a  wiggle  of  his  brows,  he  nods  towards  what  can  only  mean  both  danger  and  myterious  intrigue.  "  what  do  you  say,  huh  ?  up  for  it  ?  "

@twcntythree gets a randomly generated one-liner!

❛ is that a challenge? ❜