(no subject)

[thecricketer]

[the video flickers on to reveal a man who looks quite the worse for wear; his hair is mussed, his face smudged, and his clothes look a bit singed]

Ah, hello there. I got this at the shop – fascinating little thing, really, never seen anything quite like it.

[he pushes a sooty hand through his hair]

From what I can work out, this is a network for those stranded here? And I seem to be, at the moment. I crashed… [he waves a hand in a vague direction] right outside the city.

[as much as he attempts to sound cavalier, there's a strain to his voice, guilt and worry and suspicion]

I'd like to learn more about this place, now I'm here. Particularly why so many people seem to have ended up on it.

[he flashes a smile, bright and cheerful in his grimy features]

I'm the Doctor, by the way.

Comments

[thecricketer]

...Yes, I'm quite certain I am. Have been for quite some time, in fact.

[sorcerous]

There was no deceit in her.

Locked

[timesbureaucrat]

My business is classified, naturally. I'm not about to go spouting CIA secrets to any renegade who asks.

And you're hardly in a position to criticize others for endangering members of the lesser species, considering your history with them.

[thecricketer]

[he leans forward slightly, which is a bit absurd considering] You can tell that?

Locked

[thecricketer]

I was President, you know. Technically.

[his lips part for more idle banter, but Narvin's barb pierces deep, and he stares past him for a moment; then, low and intent]

They are not lesser, Coordinator.

[sorcerous]

Of course.

[thecricketer]

That must come in handy, particularly in a place like this.

[sorcerous]

I have a tongue that knows lies. It is practice, not magic.

[thecricketer]

[with a wry smile] Magic generally isn't my first guess.

How long have you been practising?

[sorcerous]

A thousand years.

[thecricketer]

[he settles back, grinning] So I've finally met someone older than I am.

[sorcerous]

And I'm young, yet.

[thecricketer]

As am I, really, but don't tell anyone that.

[sorcerous]

I'll endeavor to keep the secret.

[thecricketer]

[his eyebrows arch] But will your really?

[sorcerous]

No.

Locked

[timesbureaucrat]

Was being the operative tense in that sentence.

It's a figure of speech. [Which Narvin throws around quite easily and casually, despite his association with Leela causing his assumptions about aliens to crack a little. (But just a little.)]

[video]

[buckingauthority]

It has more to do with some of us getting woken up on the alien ship that's half buried in the mountain a few clicks from here. It's making the locals jumpy because no-one came out of that thing until a few weeks ago. Which is why the idiots from the dome are getting trigger happy.

[video]

[thecricketer]

[wryly] It doesn't take much for some people, does it.

[he nods towards the direction of the dome] Have you any idea what they're so scared of? What it's like, inside those domes?

Locked

[thecricketer]

[in a moment's time, he's regained his composure; outwardly, at any rate] Well. The Lady President likes me.

[a light snort] Oh, certainly.

[sternly] These people aren't yours to toy with, Narvin - or the Agency's.

Locked

[timesbureaucrat]

The Madam President has terrible taste in associates.

[He raises a brow.] What a suspicious mind you have. I've said nothing of why I'm here, yet you automatically assume it's something nefarious.

Locked

[thecricketer]

[not at all petulant, really] She does see quite a bit of you, yes.

I prefer to think of it as experience.

[rpondicus]

The Doctor as in the TARDIS?

Locked

[timesbureaucrat]

Very amusing, Doctor.

I can assure you, I'm not here to hurt any of these aliens. [This is true. If only because he doesn't actually know why he's here at all. Of course not coming here with intent to hurt them doesn't mean he won't hurt them if it comes down to him against them.]

[thecricketer]

[well, that's a bit of a surprise] ...Yes, actually. Have we met?

[a beat, a rueful smile] Well. Will we meet, I suppose is the question.