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Donna Noble ([info]illhaveasalute) wrote in [info]silverage,
@ 2011-07-09 01:41:00

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Entry tags:!log, donna noble, susan sto helit

Who: Donna Noble and Susan Sto Helit
When: Saturday, July 9th, early morning.
Where: Out and about on the streets
What: Donna is determined to find some answers.
Rating/status: PG at most, in-progress.



Donna was determined to find out what was happening. Sure, everyone else had already searched, to no luck- but there had to be something, right? There had to at least be a hint to what was going on around here. With that in mind, she planned her attack. First, she had to find a job, which would also work as a cover- she would visit the various office buildings in the city today, looking for work and anything else she could find. With so much science and wealth in this city, there had to be something. Stark Industries was a good place to start, but Wayne was closer to the Welcome Center, so that was where she was headed.

As she passed the people on the street, Donna was glad she'd been able to go shopping- her normal clothes would have been awful here. Still, the style sort of suited her, seer sucker dresses and very small heels, they showed off her figure fairly well and she wasn't unhappy about it. She kept her bright red hair in a bun, hoping against hope that it didn't make her look older. She was already at a disadvantage, being 29 and unmarried, an old maid by 1964 standards. Not that her mother didn't think it was still an old maid in 2008, but she refused to listen to the voice in the back of her head.

She shook her head, trying not to think of her mother, or Gramps. They'd be fine. The Doctor would have her back before they even knew she was gone- well, Mum at least. Gramps knew where she was. Mum would just tell her she was being stupid. She lifted her head, setting her mouth into a firm line. As she walked past a woman dressed all in black, she heard her asking for directions to a bank that could change currency. She jerked to a halt, turning around. "Excuse me. Are you new here?" she asked, grabbing the other woman's arm unconciously.


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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-09 06:27 am UTC (link)
Susan came to a sudden halt when the woman took hold of her arm. It was hardly polite behavior, but this was New York after all. She looked down at the hand on her arm, then raised her eyes to the other woman's face. She considered giving a Look, then reconsidered. This woman might be new, and stuck like she was as well.

"New? Yes, you could say that. I am one of the many recently arrived, as I've read about so many others. You? Are you lost?"

This woman seemed to be wearing the local garb; perhaps she was looking for another new arrival.

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-09 06:51 am UTC (link)
"Oh my god, yes! Brilliant!" She saw the woman look down and hastily removed her arm, blushing. "So sorry. Got carried away there. I'm Donna, Donna Noble, who are you? Where are you from? When are you from? What are you wearing?" Donna looked this woman up and down, finally noticing the hair. "Oh, you are a sore thumb around here, aren't you?"

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-09 07:15 am UTC (link)
"Susan Sto Helit," she replied.

This Donna was another one for a first grade classroom's worth of questions. She reminded Susan of that man who called himself the Doctor.

"I don't think 'when' applies. From what I have discovered, I seem to be from an entirely different universe." She glanced at what the other woman was wearing with a slight disapproval. "I happen to like black. Its a family thing."

She sniffed. "I prefer to think of myself as a trendsetter in fashion."

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-09 07:25 am UTC (link)
"No offense, Susan, it's just- well, it's different, that's for sure. And if you're looking to blend in, black's not going to cut it." She took the other woman's arm again, gently this time, turning her away from the man who had been staring at the two of them. "Another universe?" Donna had heard of other universes, of course- the Doctor was especially evasive whenever she asked, but she'd managed to get a bit out of him. "You might want to not announce that on street corners- or to anyone who isn't a new arrival," Donna said. "Never know what people will do. So!" she grinned, "what's your universe like?" She began to walk along, letting go of Susan's arm as she did, hoping the other woman would follow.

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-09 07:41 am UTC (link)
Susan followed along, intrigued despite herself, when the other woman tugged at her arm again.

"I could look like everyone else, if I chose. I prefer to look like myself."

"Yes, another universe. Different world, different rules." She raised an eyebrow at what Donna had said. "I'm sure I don't wish to concern myself with the actions of ill-bred people. Surely it is better to just ignore small minds and let them go their sordid way. It is bad enough I'm not able to leave this place, without taking responsibility for the actions of others here."

She smiled, "Well, my world is flat, and rests of the back of four giant elephants who stand on the back of a giant turtle who swims through the stars. Is that a different enough set of rules for you?"

"I suppose I should ask when and where you are from. I should know that sort of thing, but for some reason I don't here. I would suppose British from the accent, but I'm not knowledgeable enough of this place yet to state exactly where and when."

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-09 08:02 am UTC (link)
Donna looked at Susan and shook her head, sighing. "No- no, it's not about what they think Susan, it's about not getting locked in a loony bin. Mental health care isn't really at it's peak in the sixties. I'm not saying it's your responsibility- wear whatever you like, but be careful. You really don't wanna get institutionalized."

As they continued walking, Donna smiled at the men in the street. This era was excellent for eye candy, that was sure. All those men in suits, she loved it. She was distracted from a particular raven-haired specimen by the description Susan gave her. "You're joking." she said, "Elephants. On a turtle. Flat." She exhaled. "Yep, different enough." She wasn't sure if Susan was testing her, but she rose to the challenge.

"Yes, I am British- from London. Not that I've been there lately- I've been travelling. Through time and space." She may have sounded a bit smug, but come on. It was a bit impressive. Usually, anyway. "With a friend of mine- I'm actually looking for him. Calls himself the Doctor? And yes, it's just "the Doctor" don't bother asking. It's all he'll say."

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-09 08:50 am UTC (link)
Susan caught Donna's eyes with her own, and with a nod of her head directed Donna to look over at her arm as she held it out from her side. Susan let her arm go through the lamppost they happened to be walking past. "Its also a family thing that we don't pay much attention to walls if we should not care to. Locked in a mental institution? Hardly."

She looked away with a slight smile. "I'm not joking. Different universe."

"Through time and space with the Doctor? I believe I met the man. Young, sort of thin, wears a bow tie? Time and space ship went off and left him? You really need to keep that one away from sugar."

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-10 05:02 am UTC (link)
Donna's eyes followed Susan's arm as it passed through the lamppost, her eyes widening. Not of this universe, indeed. "Walls wouldn't be a problem then, no. What do you mean, your family? That's the second time you've mentioned them. Are you all able to walk through walls? How?"

She stopped short at her mention of the Doctor. "When," she cried, wheeling the other woman towards her, "when did you see him? Where?" This was exactly what she'd hoped to find!

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-10 05:27 am UTC (link)
"Well to be frank," Susan's face grew still, as an almost sad expression came over it. "It is only my grandfather and I now. My mother was his adopted daughter, my father was once his apprentice. I have filled in for my grandfather from time to time. And of course doors, or even walls, can be no barrier to Death." She smiled now, through her sadness.

Then Donna became excited. "It was over a week ago. I ran into him when he first got here when he was out looking for what had happened to his ship, and trying to find who was responsible for our situation. I really don't know where he's got off to now."

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-10 06:01 am UTC (link)
Donna noticed the sad expression on Susan's face and frowned slightly. "Just the two of you? And- death? What's that mean? Like, the Death? The Grim Reaper or whatever?" She thought about how strange it would have to be, to be Death's granddaughter. "Hang on, fill in for him? Like, what, you're Death?"

She turned away from Susan and began walking again, waving a hand dismissively. "Well, if it's been a week it's no good. Even if he had told you he'd have been to twenty other places by now. Guess I'll have to just keep investigating and hope I find him that way." She smiled. "That's how I found him. Last time, I mean? We were both investigating this company that was actually an alien breeding project- anyway, we ran into each other, we'd been investigating separately. Hopefully that works again..." she trailed off, looking down. Oh, stupid spaceman, where have you got to?

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-10 06:27 am UTC (link)
"Just my grandfather and I. Well, there is Death of Rats, and Grandfather's butler." She nodded. "There was an accident. Even Grandfather couldn't save my parents because their time had run out. He offered to let them live in his Realm, but they felt they should move on. Oh, and Grandfather has a horse, Binky. I believe he originally got Binky when he first rode with the Four Horsemen. Did you know there were really five horsemen? Nobody ever seems to remember Kaos. Ronny is frequently irritated by that."

Susan nodded again. "In my universe, when people believe in something long enough and hard enough, it becomes personified. That Death. Here, as far as I can tell, people seem to die without anyone being there to show them the way. It must be very disturbing."

"No, I am a professor at the Ankh-Morpork School for Exceptional Children. I only fill in for him when needed, and sometimes help him with other little errands. Its the price I have to pay for being part of the normal world and the supernatural as well."

Susan smiled at the memory of the Doctor. "He seemed a very energetic individual. Ordinarily, I would be able to find anybody who was on Grandfather's list, but as I said, there seems to be a different system here, so I really can't help you with that."

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-10 09:51 am UTC (link)
"Wow. That's just- wow. Death of Rats, really?" Donna could hardly believe what Susan was saying to her. It shouldn't have been that surprising, considering all the other things Donna had seen, but- five horsemen, Death and his butler, Death's granddaughter? That was more than a little weird. "Who's Ronny?"

When she thought about it, death was a very lonely business. After all, they always said everyone dies alone. Except not where Susan was from, apparently. "That would probably be nice. reassuring, to have someone leading you on. But is it anything people believe in? Like, if I got enough people to believe in a rubbish fairy or whatever, it would become real?"

Energetic- that was a word. "I would probably say bonkers, over energetic, but yeah. That's the Doctor. Ten million things running through his head at a billion miles an hour, usually. Doubt he'd be on your list any- hang on, there's a list? Like what, a death list or something? Oh, that's just spooky."

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-10 03:50 pm UTC (link)
"Its complicated." Susan shook her head at the memory. "Grandfather had a disagreement with the Auditors and got fired. Before New Death took over, there was Death of This and Death of That manifested. Death of Mayflies was horribly rushed. When Grandfather took his job back, he absorbed everything else, but kept Death of Rats on to deal with the Rat Clan at Unseen University. Death of Rats has decided I'm amusing and follows me around. I'm surprised he isn't here."

"Oh, Ronny Soak - Kaos. Kaos got bored when the Horsemen broke up so he created a humanish aspect. Ronny's the milkman for Ankh-Morpork."

Susan couldn't help but grin. "You know how when people wake up in the morning with a hangover and say, 'Oh god, do I have a hangover'? That god's name is Bilious. He is one of the Small Gods, but there you go."

"In Grandfather's library is a wing where everybody's Book is kept, their biography, so Death knows where to find them. In another wing there is an hourglass for everyone alive so he will know when their time is about to run out. Of course it is just a manifestation of how people believe things work. Grandfather really keeps the list in his head, and I have inherited his abilities. Your Doctor is not on the list. I could tell he is not human, of course, but he is either immortal, or part of a different system entirely."

Susan took the time to study Donna for a moment. "You are human, but also not on my List, so I assume the latter."

"What are you going to do when you find this Doctor? He seems just as stuck here as I am."

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-10 11:58 pm UTC (link)
"You can fire Death? Wha- how- y'know what, don't even bother. I don't really want to know the explanation for that." She laughed. "Though I've probably worshipped that god of hangovers a time too many myself."

"So, you're telling me you've got this whole list of everyone in your world and how and when they're going to die in your head? That must be awful." Dona could only imagine knowing when everyone in her life was going to die, especially her friends and family. "Not immortal, not exactly. He has some trick. He's never really explained it, just that he has a trick to change his face and manage to live a little longer. I mean, he is 904. I'm not sure what good finding him will do, actually, if he's just as stuck as us. But I'd feel better with him at my back than I would all alone, you know? If both of us are on it, I'm sure we can come up with something."

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-11 12:56 am UTC (link)
"There are Auditors in charge of my universe. Well, there were, but that's another story." Susan made a quick dismissive gesture with one hand. "That's the reason I assumed someone was in charge here, responsible for bringing everyone to New York and keeping us from leaving. So far though, I've had no luck identifying whoever they might be."

"If I chose to remember it all, past, future, I would be even less human then I am now. Remembering things like doorknobs, and... bow ties, helps me be who I am, instead of becoming my grandfather."

She nodded. "Finding a friend or two here would be a good thing. At least you know the Doctor is here someplace; you just have to find him. It seems that no one I know, or even anyone else from my universe has made the journey here."

"What will you do in the mean time? Find employment? I was looking for a bank that could exchange foreign currency, but I suppose I shall have to find something myself."

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-11 03:23 am UTC (link)
Donna nodded. "You're a lot like the Doctor, in that way. I think half the time he plays around and acts like such a kid because otherwise he'd have to think about- well, being 904. A lot happens in 900 years, not all of it pleasant." She looked down, biting her lip. "Not most of it, I should think. And that's why you'd need friends."

"I was headed to a couple different offices to look for work. And I'm not sure which bank would change currency that foreign. Where are you staying?"

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-11 03:39 am UTC (link)
"You probably wouldn't be surprised to know that most people don't want to be friends with a relative of Death."

Susan shrugged. "I placed a notice on one of those bulletin boards, but it seems there is no demand for mathematicians right now. I suppose I shall have to look for a position as a governess. Fortunately, most of the coins I have are gold or silver. They should exchange for the value of the metal if nothing else."

"I don't really need to sleep - another family thing, but I do try to since its the human thing to do. I've been learning the city since I got here, it will make it easier to get about. I suppose until I find a flat of my own, I will see what this Welcome Center I've read about has to offer. Or do you recommend anyplace else?"

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-11 04:50 am UTC (link)
"Not that surprising, no. But I not that fair, probably." She laughed. "Not female mathematicians, no. This is 1964 America, and all a woman is allowed to do is be a secretary or governess until she's married, at which point she becomes a housewife. They're working on it, apparently, but that's that for now." She looked at the street ahead, frowning. What was that?

"Gold and silver, yeah, that should work. And the Welcome Center isn't so bad. It's where I am right now. and the girl at the front is a bit dim, but otherwise alright. They'll only keep you for a bit though, I need to find another place." She squinted as they approached- was that a man in a mask? She'd seen some strange new arrivals, but this...

She turned her head towards Susan to point the strange man out when all of a sudden he grabbed her arm, pulling her towards an alley. "What is wrong with you! Get off me you crazy man!" she shrieked, "Susan!"

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-11 05:08 am UTC (link)
Susan frowned as she listened to what Donna was saying. She hadn't been aware that mathematics was somehow sex-linked. She would have to look further into the situation.

She was aware of the - not a man, she could tell that right away - thing with a mask for a face approaching. Another new arrival? Then the thing grabbed Donna and began to try to drag her way. Without really considering the consequences, Susan reached out with one hand to touch Donna, and with a snap of her other hand, stopped time around the two of them. Everything came to a stop around them, including the mechanical thing.

Still holding on to Donna, Susan reached into that Place where she kept things she wanted close to hand and pulled out her Grandfather's sword. "That is an extremely rude machine," she said to Donna. "Do you know what it is or where it is from? Should I just shut it down or destroy it?"

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-11 05:31 am UTC (link)
Donna wiggled out of the man's hold. "What do you mean, machine? Stop talking and-" Donna stopped, just before yelling 'run'. Everything around them was stopped. Just...stopped. "What-how-" she looked at Susan, yelping, "where did you get that giant sword? Are you bonkers? This crazy man-"

She turned back to the thing that had grabbed her, noting it's white hair- or was it a wig? It was askew, either way. She reached out and grabbed it, gasping as she took it off and found clockwork underneath. "Shu-shut it down. Just- don't destroy it, not yet. And can you give me a hand?" Well so much for her attempt at gainful employment. She'd have to take this back to her apartment and try to figure something out. "Can you make sure it doesn't turn back on?"

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-11 12:05 pm UTC (link)
Susan sighed, then put on the Aspect she used when she had substituted for her grandfather. Susan had looked at herself in a mirror; she knew her flesh became transparent and her bones showed through. There would be a bit of an unearthly glow about her if Donna looked closely. "STAY CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO TOUCH YOU. I PUT US OUTSIDE OF TIME FOR NOW." Death's Voice could be a little intimidating, but at least people generally listened to what she had to say. People who would ignore her teacher's Voice would not ignore Death's.

She put her grandfather's sword back into its Place and gave the machine man a closer examination. At Donna's request she took a Look inside the thing, finding it a complex mechanism based on surprisingly simple principles. It was clockwork! She Reached through the thing's clothes and 'skin', took hold of the mainspring housing, and pulled it out. "IT WILL NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT ITS MAINSPRING. IT IS NOW ONLY A BROKEN TOY. GIVE YOU A HAND WITH WHAT? WHAT DO YOU WISH TO DO WITH THIS THING?" Did this make her Death of Clockwork Men?

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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-12 02:31 am UTC (link)
"Oh my god. Oh my god oh god. You- okay." Donna took a deep breath. "Alright. Staying where you can touch me. Got it." She needed to compose herself- it's not like this was the weirdest thing she'd ever seen. I mean, it's not like this skeleton creature who was only moments ago was a normal girl (with weird hair) was any stranger than say, an Ood. Who was talking- it was crazy, but Donna could swear she heard it in her head in all capital letters. Alright.

As Susan-or Death Susan, or whatever she was- inspected the machine, she thought about her options. Obviously, something was going to have to be done about this, because this machine couldn't be allowed to wander free. Then again, it had only attacked her. What she needed was help- maybe if someone else had seen these machines, or if she could track down that stupid alien. She bit her lip. "I'm going to take it back to the Welcome Center. To my room. So that I can- figure it out. WIll you help me?"

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-12 02:59 am UTC (link)
Susan thought for a moment, then put off her Aspect, shaking her shoulders a little to settle back into her human form. She raised one eyebrow as she considered what Donna had said. "I don't see what there is to 'figure out' about this thing. It reminds me somewhat of the mechanical creatures made by the mad scientists of Uberwald. Where would one go to find a mad scientist in New York? That is where you should look."

She thought for a moment longer, then reached into the Place where she kept her umbrella. "Although calling it a broken toy gives me an idea."

Reaching out with her umbrella, Susan used a trick her grandfather had used when he filled in for the Hogfather, shrinking gifts so they would all fit in his sack. "If we shrink it down to toy size," she tapped the mechanical man on the head with her umbrella and just did that, "it should fit in your purse, and even if you do happen to reactivate it, it will hardly be of any danger to you."


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[info]illhaveasalute
2011-07-12 03:23 am UTC (link)
Donna smiled, much more comfortable with Susan now that she didn't look like skeleton. "I wanna know where it came from. Is it from your universe, do you think? That Uberwall thing?" Laughing at the idea of a mad scientist, she replied, "Maybe Tony Stark? He's mad, apparently."

She watched the trick Susan did again, trying to figure it out. It looked like she was pulling and placing things in mid-air, but how was that possible?

Donna picked up the small machine- now nothing more than a toy. "Thank you. This should keep it safe." She placed it in her purse. "Do you still need help finding that bank? I think there's one on third, which is two blocks...."she turned around, "that way?"

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[info]ms_susan
2011-07-12 03:36 am UTC (link)
"Not from my universe, no." Susan shook her head. "That transparent casing of the head. Someone from Uberwald would have used glass, or crystal. I think you should look elsewhere for the source."

She snapped her fingers again, putting the two of them back into Time. Things around them went back to their normal motions. "The bank can wait for a bit. Where there was one of those things, there might be more. If you wish, I can go with you back to the Welcome Center. I suppose I should have a permanent address of some sort if I am going to apply for a position as a governess or some such. And, no offense, but you did not seem to be really capable of dealing with that mechanical creature."

Susan gave her umbrella a jaunty twirl. She would keep it in hand for now, just in case.

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