The Doctor (just_thedoctor) wrote in seasidecafe, @ 2008-12-28 00:49:00 |
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Entry tags: | presents |
The Doctor: Presents
The Doctor remains in his seat, grinning. "Nicely done!" he cheers for Quirrell, applauding.
He gets to his feet and tucks his hands into his pockets, then leans against the edge of the table and waits for the crowd to quiet down. When he can speak without having to raise his voice much, he begins, smiling as he does.
"See the thing about time travel, is that it makes it possible to go back into the past and make sure people you... care about get just the thing they were hoping for, just what they wanted, for the holidays. It's a little bit like playing Father Christmas." He grins. "Maybe even better than playing Father Christmas, because it's a complete surprise to the people getting the gift... Can't really stick around to reveal yourself -- just think of the paradoxes it would cause if they met you before they really meet you!"
"And..." He removes one hand from his pocket and points to the crowd, tone a somewhat stern. "For those of you more familiar with the rules about timelines and interfering with them, if done properly -- that is, making sure you aren't seen – the whole secret-gift-giving-thing is sort-of permissible under the Cheap Tricks clause. Which is a very important clause. Not unlike Santa."
He shrugs, then hurries on to better explain himself, speaking rapidly. "And it's not every year that I do it, just, you know, every once in a while, when I see something special. A microscope for Liz, an out-of-print book on plants Peri. Rare recording for Grace. And plenty of others." He grins, eyes twinkling. "Don't want to ruin any surprises."
His smile fades, expression becoming more serious. He speaks again after a moment. "But I think the best present I ever gave was a red bicycle. To Rose Tyler. When she was twelve." He smiles fondly. "I thought she’d like it. And the red – not sure if it was a favourite colour, but like a rose... " He shrugs and smiles somewhat sheepishly. "I thought it was an appropriate choice at any rate. And it made me think of her."
After another pause, he continues quietly. "I told her about it, one time, after we'd started traveling together. I was smiling, had a good day, saved the world, met Jack, everyone lived, and she said to me, she said 'Look at you, beaming away like you're Father Christmas.' And I replied, 'Who says I'm not, red-bicycle-when-you-were-twelve.'" He grins, eyes looking a bit too bright and continues with a short chuckle, "I don't think she believed me!" His smile fades, expression turning wistful, before he shrugs and adds "But that's fine." He stands quietly for a moment, looking downward, scuffing the floor with his trainer..
He takes a deep breath, shakes his head, trying to shake off his mood, before continuing. "Anyway! What I would want as a present..." He hesitates a moment, then speaks quietly. "Well, it's really not worth destroying the universe for. Well, she is. But... Never mind." He shakes his head forcefully. "Impossible! Not important!"
"And besides!" he bursts with forced enthusiasm, smile taking a moment to become truly genuine. "It's the season of giving!"
"So, tell you what, I have too many things. Really. The TARDIS is bursting, which..." he breaks off, nodding emphatically before continuing on in a rush "...is saying something, seeing as it's dimensionally transcendental. So, you're all invited to stop over after our meeting this evening and pick something out. Anything you want out the wardrobe, the library, storage, even the art gallery. Though, you will have to arrange how to transport whatever you select, since, you know, my ship is still not quite working."
"Ah!" he adds quickly. "And, I'll make sure my... er, roommate is out... or locked up... or something... so he can't bother you at all." He lowers his voice. "He's... a bit Grinch."
He grins suddenly and takes his seat. "Hope to see you later! And Happy Holidays!"