Rooms

[Local law enforcement and UNIT have been working overtime over the holidays to restrain any suspicious Santas. Their efforts seem to be rewarded when, surrounding a group, the Santas lower their weapons and simply disappear rather than face the conflict. Whatever they were looking for, they found or they gave up on. The centers will continue to be monitored, but the situation is hopeful.]

( narrative behind the cut: Okay, so Martha Jones had never loved Christmas. )

[Later that evening, she wrote this quick journal entry to the other companions.]
These grinches are erratic.

[Another, more violent attack on shoppers took place at Leadenhall Market Tuesday afternoon. Christmas lights exploded around the market, although nothing is reported as stolen. The tension in the city rises, and citizens are advised to stay at home through Boxing Day.]

[With less than a week until Christmas, tragedy strikes. Eyewitnesses report that what looked to be Salvation Army Santas at Westfield London used flamethrowers to scare away the crowd and take their purchases as well as many of the decorations. They were able to flee the scene before law enforcement arrived to assist security. They were said to have simply disappeared.

Is this an isolated occurrence, or the beginning of something more? Opinions vary, but Saturday's morning with Santa will likely be unattended.]

[Local London channels are counting down the days until Christmas. Evening reports are optimistic about the economy as sales have been strong so far. There are a few reports of thefts at major shipping warehouses, also up from last year, but security is increasing as the investigations continue.]

[Christmas was looming on the horizon, and while he and Martha joked about it, the Doctor was too savvy and world weary not to side eye the date a bit. Maybe the future would prove that history didn't matter much, it rarely did that, but it could happen. At the same time he wanted to take the chance to get a break with Rose. In theory getting all his people together to have adventures was entertaining, and it was that, but he no longer took all his time with Rose for granted. When they were traveling before, he didn't let himself think about what would happen when they stopped. And now they didn't have to. So he whisked her away on a surprise.

Rose liked dressing up, he remembered that, and historical meetings. He thought for sure that she'd enjoy the Elizabethan ear, he told Martha as much, so now was his turn to make up for lost chances. The TARDIS shook and hummed as it moved to the right date, and the Doctor grinned ear from ear at her as it came to a stop.] How would you like to see a play by Shakespeare live? [Maybe they could meet the man himself, if he was around, the Doctor would make sure once they got there. But at the least the visit itself would be fun.] You know where the dresses are. Unless you'd like a toga? Romans? Nah, not there, terribly rude to women. [Donna was not impressed.] Sistine Chapel? You name it and we'll go there.

Who: Clara Oswald, The Doctor (Ten)
What: Talking. Figuring each other out, maybe.
Where: Neutral Territory
When: After TARDIS trip?
Warnings/Rating: TBD

( This Doctor, she still didn't know where she stood with him. She didn't like not knowing. )

Doctor. What have you done this time?

[She doesn't know where she is or how she got there, but she's sure it's the Doctor's fault.]

I had plans.

[It could have been ten seconds later or ten months later, time was wibbly that way, but the Doctor knew what he did was try and get there as quickly as possible. The TARDIS knew how important it was to him, so while they might've taken a long way around, he still felt the expedience. It was funny how long time felt when he was in a hurry for once. They finally made it to Earth, Earth 2014 it said, London, and he was on his way out the door. Except then he stopped and had the ridiculous urge to find a nice pinstripe. Listen, it'd been a long time since he actually cared about what type of tie he was wearing, but it was happening. Foolish, yes, but he was an old fool that way. Or maybe he was nervous it wouldn't work. This could all have been a trick.

In London, the TARDIS arriving made a great deal of noise. Strange to anyone who'd never heard it, but someone who knew the sound of the engines wheezing, it was a sign. The Doctor stepped out of the deceptive blue police box, thick rimmed glasses on his nose that he didn't need in the least, and both of his hearts were pumping. He left the journal back in the TARDIS so for now he was simply putting his hands in his deep coat pockets, the collar popped up, trying not to look overly anxious. She said she'd be there. If she wasn't there he'd wait probably for a few decades, no problem, and then find out who was having a lark on him.]