Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Time is tight."

The Doctor (fromgallifrey) wrote in mirage_rpg,
@ 2009-01-11 18:52:00

Entry tags:

complete, day 28, jack harkness, the doctor

Snowed in!
Who: The Doctor and OTA
What: The Doctor is snowed in thanks to the Planet's blizzard
When: Day 28
Where: Inside the TARDIS up by the Ski Lift
Rating: None necessary, I hope
Status: Open

The party had come and gone the night before and the Doctor just had to get up to his TARDIS to set up a couple of overnight experiments. He wanted to do some scans on the planet, make a map, search for a psychic network, and have a bit of his own food. Possibly the most stupid idea he'd had in a while it seemed.

Sure, it had been snowing mildly enough; not enough to make him think that the next time he tried to open his door the damned thing would have a snowbank about hall way up it. So, the Doctor went to sleep, pulling the blankets up to his chin and snuggling down into his bunk. Sooner or later the snow had to stop, the sun would come out and he'd be able to get back to the resort.

In the middle of the night he sat up with a start, he was being so foolish, he ought to just turn the damned thing. Then he remembered his experiments - if he disturbed things now he'd have to start all over. Six hours worth of all over. With a sigh he went back to sleep.

Someone would come up to the big blue box eventually wouldn't they?

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fromgallifrey
2009-01-13 06:36 pm UTC (link)

"Would have?" His tone was quiet as he asked this, the bravado of the Timelord momentarily subdued. The Doctor's head canted a bit. He didn't think that Jack had lost all hope of getting back home; so for him to refer to someone in the past tense made the Doctor question just why he'd do such a thing. There were only so many reasons someone referred to someone else in the past tense.

'Please don't tell me something's happened back on earth while this planet has held me captive,' was all the Doctor could think.

"There's no improving on the TARDIS," the Doctor said quietly, tapping the damned screen again.

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cannot_die
2009-01-13 06:49 pm UTC (link)

Jack's smile dimmed and grief and guilt filled his eyes. "She died recently. She and Owen." He shook his head. "It was..." He swallowed hard and ran a hand down his face, leaning against the railing. "It was my brother. Gray. Our home was attacked when we were children and I was told to take Gray and run. I... lost hold of his hand and when I tried to find him, he was gone. I spent years searching for him, trying to find any trace of him."

"He turned up not that long ago," he said, his voice reflecting the distress he felt. "He was... so angry. At me. He killed Tosh and Owen, trying to get to me."

He looked down at his boots for a moment, trying to shake off the emotions Gray's actions and what he'd been forced to do had done to him. He raised his head again and managed a small smile. "Tosh would have found something to improve. I pulled her out of UNIT prison. Do you know she'd managed to build a Sonic Modulator despite the blueprints being flawed? She just made the corrections and built the thing. She was brilliant."

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fromgallifrey
2009-01-13 08:10 pm UTC (link)

There were times, few and far it seemed, that the Doctor really took the time to weigh the losses around him. Don't stop, keep looking forward always seemed to be his motto. It wasn't like he could ever change those bits and pieces of time. He certainly couldn't change this bit for the Captain; but, he could listen.

The Timelord caught hold of Jack's guilt and rode it like he was in an old familiar car. The Doctor knew a lot about guilt. Not the same guilt, perhaps - but the emotion he knew. The rawness of the feeling that never seemed to go away, despite the time that passed; or the way small things could make it rear it's ugliness at the most unexpected of moments. It wasn't that he was pitying Jack there - it was a moment of being present. For better or worse, it wasn't often that that Doctor was actually, really, there.

"I'm sorry, Captain, I'm so sorry..." He said, running a hand back through those unruly hairs of his as he tried to force his mind back into from whence it came. "You were a child, Jack--" He paused considering carefully his words, "There's more to this, isn't there? Something between when you dropped his hand and when he turned back up?" The Doctor could only imagine, and would only imagine. There were cruel, nasty things in the galaxy; and even he could not be there to defeat them all.

"A Sonic Modulator? From flawed prints? She must have been brilliant!" The Doctor couldn't help but feel excited at the thought. He always enjoyed the absolute genius of humanity. While so many species would have followed the plans to the letter and then wondered why they failed, humanity would improvise and make things better. That's what humans did, they tried to make it all better - misguided as some might be.

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cannot_die
2009-01-13 08:23 pm UTC (link)

Jack winced. He'd forgotten how perceptive the Doctor could be. The Time Lord often seemed so oblivious to things... take Rose as an example... that it was easy to forget that he did pay attention.

He sighed and nodded. "Gray had been... tortured. Broken. He was pyschopathic." He swallowed the lump that had grown in his throat as he remembered the little boy who'd tagged along behind him so much and then the man who had been full of so much hate and rage. "I... was able to stop him. He's in cryogenesis in the Hub. I'm hoping someday someone will be able to help him." He looked over at the Doctor. "I know he's dangerous and if he ever gets out..." He broke off, unable to continue. "I'll be there so I'll be able to look after him, stop him again."

He smiled slightly and nodded. "She was. She even managed to get a Time Lock working for the Hub before she died. Saved Gwen and Ianto recently. I miss her. And Owen."

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fromgallifrey
2009-01-14 08:46 pm UTC (link)

It wasn't that the Doctor was oblivious - it's that he prioritized and internalized; it's just his nature.

The heartbreak rolled on. Lost, tortured, and returned psychopathic. It sounded all too dramatic, too much to be real, and certainly more then Jack ever deserved.

He could hardly respond, trying to think what in the universe could cure a fractured mind; in his travels he'd seen attempts and claimed success - but those successes always came at such high cost. The monitor was forgotten, as was the snow outside, and for the moment the Doctor was stuck as if in a timelock all his own.

"Jack--" he started, wanting to just set him straight, remind him that he couldn't be warden for eternity. Even as the words formed in his mind he thought of the hypocrisy of it - to tell Jack he couldn't take on his responsibility while just so very recently the Master was his.

"I won't even dare ask what you needed a Time Lock for, Captain. I just hope she modulated it properly."

Pushing up from his seat he scooped up a wayward tennis ball from the floor and tossed up and down again in one hand as he thought. "You've had a lot go on since we last met, haven't you?" Wheels were turning and grinding away, only to be so rudely interrupted by the beeping from the monitor. "Aha!" He dropped the ball and pounced on the screen.

"Well, look at that Jack - see that 3.574? That is the frequency of the planet's psychic network..." The doctor beamed, "One little, teenie tiny little step down," he said, pressing a button that would recalibrate the TARDIS' telekinetic modulators. The TARDIS, unfortunately, reacted with a beeping fit.

"Jack - pull that lever!" He said, pointing to the one right on the other side of the console. Unfortunately, he was pinned, stuck pressing the button.

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cannot_die
2009-01-14 10:31 pm UTC (link)

Jack was relieved when the Doctor seemed to let the subject drop. He knew that objectively he should have killed Gray and maybe the man who the Doctor had first met might have, the Time Agent probably could have but now... no, now he couldn't.

"Best not to ask," he said wryly. He had no idea how the Doctor might react to foreknowledge of what was going to happen but it was probably best not to find out.

"As always," he said, managing to unearth that cocky grin of his then leaning forward slightly when the Doctor started talking about the planet's psychic network.

He was just about to ask whether he intended to try the same trick he'd used against the Master when the Doctor suddenly snapped an order and old habits fell into place. He grabbed the lever in question and pulled on it, looking over at the Doctor with concern.

"What's going on?"

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fromgallifrey
2009-01-15 11:27 am UTC (link)

The beeping was getting annoying. It wasn't the horn of the proximity alarm, it was the TARDIS warning that it's circuitry was being probed. The innards of the TARDIS didn't much care for being prodded after all. "That crank too, Captain, if you don't mind," he nodded, releasing the button and closing up another valve.

"3.574... such a fantastic little number, useless now; but, fantastic."

The Doctor returned to the stool he'd abandoned and actively ignored the screen. Peaks and valleys of psychic activity were no doubt playing; but, there was nothing he could do until he could make some repairs.

"Oh, I think the Planet just fused a couple of circuits, and knocked out a few fuses... Nothing that can't be fixed," he said optimistically. "Though, I'd say it's message was pretty clear."

The Planet was gently reminding that they were it's captives and there would be nothing that any of them could do about it.

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cannot_die
2009-01-15 03:35 pm UTC (link)

Jack followed the Doctor's orders without question, knowing he'd get an explanation soon enough. And when that explanation came, a feeling of trepidation ran through him. If even the Doctor and the TARDIS couldn't overcome the planet and get away, what hope did the rest of them have?

"The planet's that powerful?" he said grimly then he made a frustrated noise. "What does it want with us anyway? It brings us here and just wants us to... have a good time? I mean, hey, I'm all for a good time but someone has to keep an eye on the Rift and I sure as hell don't want UNIT doing that."

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fromgallifrey
2009-01-18 04:31 pm UTC (link)

Jack looked disappointed. The the expression on the timelord's face would be a liar if the Doctor didn't look a fair bit on the disappointed side, too. "It seems to be..." He said with a bit of a sigh and a wrinkled brow.

"I can't pretend to know why it brought us here, Captain..." The Doctor remarked as shook his head, "Though, I'm sure we're not the only ones here that have other things that need minding..." Restlessly his toes started tapping on the grating. The Doctor, honestly, has a certain amount of cockiness, he's the Doctor afterall; so, as his mind started drifting he couldn't help but think of all the things that anybody else would bother with if he weren't there.

"We'll find a way off. We just may not be able to be as diplomatic as I hoped..."

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cannot_die
2009-01-19 02:03 am UTC (link)

Jack watched the Doctor closely and smiled slightly. It was obvious from he Doctor's body language that he hadn't given up and his words proved that. Good. That was a very good thing. Not that he'd thought the Doctor would give up... not after everything that happened on the Valiant and the Year That Never Was.

"I don't care if we're diplomatic or undiplomatic," Jack said bluntly. "Recent events have left the Rift a bit touchy and I'm still down half a team until I can talk Martha and Mickey into joining." He cocked his head to the side, thinking hard and not realising what he'd just said. "Do you want me to try... pushing a bit? Even if the planet gets cranky, what's the worst it could do? Take me back?"

He left off the more obvious answer - kill me? - because that wasn't exactly a problem for him though he knew Ianto would be furious if he knew Jack was considering it.

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fromgallifrey
2009-01-20 08:46 pm UTC (link)

"Captain, this is a life form. A very child-like, whimsical, powerful life form. It's possibly the only one of it's kind in all of creation," The Doctor, being himself, was spouting off on the wonder of the universes around him. There was always something marvelous to be found in the new things, wasn't there?

"Pushing? How?" The Doctor stood and crossed his arms. The first line of action is always question, then ask more questions, and then give choices. They hadn't even been able to start asking questions yet.

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cannot_die
2009-01-21 04:38 pm UTC (link)

Jack smiled slightly at that. "If it's child-like, would it respond to the voice of authority? You did that pretty well once." He shivered a little remembering that little boy and his own role in making him that way. He honestly hadn't known that was his fault though he hadn't exactly want to face up to it when the Doctor had shoved it in his face. Still... he'd made up for it.

"If I could find some sort of... central area, an interface, anything along those lines, I could always go and talk," he said calmly. He suddenly smiled, using his most charming expression. "Besides I've gotten capricious people and things on my side before in the past. I like to think I'm good at it. But if it doesn't work or it gets annoyed, I do have an... advantage over anyone else who might try that. It can't kill me after all."

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fromgallifrey
2009-01-21 10:12 pm UTC (link)

"I think the Planet is more in the angsty-teenager stage of life... impulsive, manipulative..." He could have continued to rattle off attributes, but decided against it. The Timelord wanted oh so very much to like the planet, really he did.

"I was trying to use the TARDIS as an interface, it appears that the planet isn't interested, unfortunately," He was tapping along the railing as he thought.

"Captain, I'm sure your charm has gotten you out of pickles before - and it's not your charm I'm worried about," truth be told the Doctor was more worried about a certain capricious recklessness that he'd once seen in Jack and he wasn't entirely certain he'd grown out of.

"It might not be able to kill you, but I wouldn't want the planet trying to kill you over and over again because it doesn't understand you can't die..."

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cannot_die
2009-02-03 04:31 pm UTC (link)

Jack laughed at the Doctor's description of the planet but he had to admit that if that was the case, it would make it a little more difficult to get things done. Child-like was often easier to deal with tha teenage sullenness.

He gave the Doctor a curious look as he continued but when the Time Lord spoke of that scenario of dying again and again, all the amusement he'd been feeling evaporated in an instant. He paled and actually physically reeled backwards, catching himself on the railing with both hands as memories of the Master, the year that never was and the hideous suffocating feeling of being pressed down by dirt, of dying and reviving again and again until he'd been in nothing more than some odd fugue state he'd never experienced before and never wanted to again.

"No," he whispered, shaking his head more to rid himself of the mental images than in negation. "I... I can't do that again."

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fromgallifrey
2009-02-03 04:44 pm UTC (link)

"And I'd never expect you to Captain - that's why we need to think this through before we go through with anything," He could see the unease and upset on the Captain's features, and it was odd to him to see him so disheveled.

A hand set on Jack's shoulder, a gesture meant in comfort and compassion. While the Doctor had been through his own ordeal on the Valiant not so long ago, it was damned near impossible to imagine what it had been like for Jack.

"So, perhaps you and your team might be able to cook up another method of communication. I thought for sure we'd be able to use the TARDIS as a relay - but, that won't work until the Planet thinks it has a reason to listen," The Doctor breathed, his hand long gone from Jack's shoulder as he circled around the TARDIS' controls deep in thought. What threat could they possibly pose to the planet? What kind of leverage did they possibly have?

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cannot_die
2009-02-03 05:26 pm UTC (link)

Jack leaned into the Doctor's touch and wished he dared to drag the man into a hug, wished that Ianto was there so that he could drag him into a hug. He'd never made any secret of the fact he was a tactile man but touch meant more than just sex or the prelude to sex for him. It was comfort, it was connecting, it was affirmation that they were alive, it was just simple friendliness. That odd standoffishness that people displayed was one of the few things he'd always disliked about the 20th and 21st centuries.

He gave a short quiet almost bitter laugh as he realised that the Doctor wouldn't know about Gray, about John, about what had happened. That there was more than the year on the Valiant at play here. He wished even harder that he'd woken Ianto and talked him into coming with him. He wrapped his arms around himself a little.

"We can try," he said, attempting one of his usual smiles but feeling fairly sure he wasn't quite making it. "Here's a thought... the planet wants us to be happy. Maybe if we got everyone together and had a... group unhappiness day, the planet might pay a bit of attention to what's going on. You might be able to get through to it then."

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fromgallifrey
2009-02-03 11:01 pm UTC (link)

He watched as Jack cocooned around himself, his arms closing loosely about his form. It wasn't like the Captain to be so inwardly driven - it was almost like he often lived to be external, to be sensory even.

"It's worth as much a shot as anything -- you think many of the others will go for it? I mean beyond our little band?"

The Doctor thought of Jack's team, Rose, Sarah Jane and her son. That was just a fraction of the planet's population - though, even the Doctor hadn't been able to establish an accurate count jut yet.

"I think we might need an out and out psychic, too," The Doctor remarked, taking a deep breath. He knew about Andy; but, would Andy even go for this.

"Jack, I think you need to get some rest first. Though, I think this plan just might work!" he said this as enthusiastically as he could muster. This would be plan number four for him.

"Captain... are you alright?"

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cannot_die
2009-02-18 09:31 pm UTC (link)

Jack shrugged. "There must be others who want to go home. I can't imagine everyone's happy to be here, no matter how gilded the cage is. We probably don't need everyone but if we had a good percentage, we might be able to get through."

He gave a small chuckle. "If what Ianto says about the people here, there's a fair chance there'd be one or two around. Though if they're from earth, they're going to be a little shy about coming forward."

He actually smirked when the Doctor mentioned rest. It was true he hadn't gotten a lot of rest last night but then he'd never really needed all that much sleep since he'd become what was not quite immortal but close enough to it.

He drew in a sharp breath at the Doctor's question then let out before replying. "I'm... from a point a little more... advanced in your timeline than when you're from," he said slowly. "There have been a couple of incidents. One involving just me and my team and one involving... well, everyone." He smiled, a sad and weary expression. "I'll be fine. I have Ianto, Gwen's here as well and so are you and Rose. I'll be fine." He dredged up one of his grins. "Aren't I always?"

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fromgallifrey
2009-02-20 09:37 pm UTC (link)

"Well, Jack, I think we have our plan," he said with a grin, almost thankful to be able to put the psychic calibration on hold for a while.

That smirk of Jack's was palpable, it wasn't lazy or slow - it was almost like a twitch, a reflex - it made the Doctor feel comfortable in it's familiarity.

"From the sounds of it, Jack, you're far from fine," He leaned back against the control's rounded edge, running his fingertips up under the edge as he sort of clutched to it, "Now, Jack, as someone who's lived a long time, and might even outlive you; don't try and fool yourself that you're just fine when you're probably not,"he sort of let his lips curl up on one side as he tried to look a bit more humble a Time Lord for the moment. "Just the voice of experience, Captain."

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