InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Dance, little sister!"

// Leanne Jones (unrequitedjones) wrote in silverage,
@ 2011-07-11 23:31:00

Entry tags:

!log, donna noble, martha jones

Who: Martha Jones and Donna Noble
What: lookin' for the Doctor
Where: around the Statue of Liberty
When: tuesday morning.

The Angels. He had told her the angels were bad. And then suddenly she'd materialised in an alley, in the middle of ... somewhere. Not that it had taken her long at all to figure out it was New York. But! She had to put her head in the game, figure out where he'd gone, and where the best place to meet was.

Something familiar to both of them. Despite being in a totally unfamiliar place and time, she had to smile as she saw the Statue of Liberty. Where else would they find each other in such a vast city? She was lucky she was so close to the docks, as she walked, she searched for a newspaper stand to see if she could catch a date. No sense in asking someone and looking like an idiot.

It was New York, and it didn't take her long to track one down. "1964!" she exclaimed, looking about, hoping no-one paid her any mind. "That's great Doctor, strand me in America in 1964. Nothing could possibly go wrong ..." She trailed off when she realised a ginger-haired woman was looking at her curiously.

"Don't mind me," she said, in her cheery accent. "My friend's just havin' a bit of a laugh at me."

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illhaveasalute
2011-07-12 06:11 am UTC (link)

Donna was wandering the town, looking (as always) for that alien friend of hers. She'd looked for the strange, the bizarre; had been attacked by a clockwork robot, even. No sign so far. She was hoping that with time she'd eventually run into him, but she wasn't quite sure where he'd be. Eventually she decided the tourist spots may attract him- he might be looking for them as well, and assume that they'd go to some major spot to wait for him. With that in mind she headed out to the Empire State Building, the World's Fair, and finally the Statue of Liberty.

Unsuccessful, again, Donna thought, sighing. Despite the fact that she'd found Amy Pond, and that Amy was wih the Doctor last, she'd had no luck locating him herself- and she hadn't heard anything about her Doctor being in town. She sighed again, looking around...and catching sight of a familiar face. Was that Martha Jones babbling to herself about the Doctor?

"MARTHA!" she called, "Martha Jones? Is that you?" She walked quickly to the other woman, beaming. "Oh my god, how have you been? It's been ages- honestly, I'm just glad to see someone I recognize! Where's the Doctor, is he with you? I've been looking everywhere, he didn't seem to come through with me. I suppose not, though, since you'd be with Tom, or is he back from Africa yet?" She continued to babble enthusiastically until she saw the confused look on Martha's face. "Oh, no. Oh, god, no...when are you from?"

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unrequitedjones
2011-07-12 06:27 am UTC (link)

She jumped back at her name. So, the woman knew her, AND was talking about the Doctor? She shook her head quickly, "I don't know who Tom is, or why he'd be in Africa, and no, we were at a manor, and the Angels were there, and then I wound up here, and he was holding m'hand, I thought ... I'm sorry, are you Rose?"

Because if the Doctor dropped off companions routinely in some variant of New York City, she was going to be so mad, the Doctor wasn't going to know what hit him. "Though you can't be Rose, since he's always sad about her, unless -" Look, she wasn't going to try to figure out SPACE AND TIME travel right now, her head hurt enough already.

She shook her head again. "I'm from 2007. It's ... what did mum say? Election day. It's Election Day, I guess. Why? When are you from?"

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illhaveasalute
2011-07-12 07:32 am UTC (link)

"Tom- your husband? Angels? What?" Donna shook her head, frowning. "Not with you, then. Guess he's still out there somewhere." She laughed, a harsh bark. "Rose? Oh, god no. No, thank you! I'm Donna. Donna Noble? Oooh," she said, realizing, "2007. I'm 2008." Well, fuck. I hate this. I want to find one person, just one who knows who the hell I am. "Never mind all that. That I just said. It's- well, you know, time travel, it's complicated." Election day. That must mean- well, she's still with the Doctor, I know that much.

Donna sighed- again. She was doing a lot of that these days. "Look, you're in 1964 New York City. And no, there's no getting out. We're not alone, lots of other people are stuck- the other day I met a Death's granddaughter from another universe. Susan. She's quite nice, actually. There is a version of the Doctor here, but he's just as hard to track down as ever- I haven't met him yet."

"You can come stay at the Welcome Center with me, it was built for this- all sorts of unexpected, unusual people showing up these days. You've got to trust me though- I promise I'm not a crazy person, I used to travel with the Doctor until I got caught about a week ago." Donna smiled in what she hoped was a reassuring way.

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unrequitedjones
2011-07-12 07:41 am UTC (link)

"Husband!" Martha laughed. "Oh my GAWD, when did - does - that happen?" When do I get over the Doctor? "And oh good, the way the Doctor's hung up on her! Don't tell me he took you to New New York too!"

Then what Donna was saying settled in and her stomach twisted. "No gettin' out? But there's gotta be a way! Death's granddaughter? More'n one universe? No, the Doctor will get us out, I know it. He's never failed before."

She was scared of 1964 New York, being Black, but she couldn't tell that to Donna. "So it's different here, then? Not like th' actual 1964 New York? And well, anyone who travels wit' him's got to be a little crazy!"

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illhaveasalute
2011-07-12 08:00 am UTC (link)

"No, no, I don't think I'd better tell you. He wasn't your husband yet, when I'd met you. It's probably not allowed." Donna hated these sorts of things. It was Pompeii all over again- well, marriage was probably less dramatic than the Romans discovering volcanoes, yes. But still! "No, not any version of New York. Probably knew I'd just make him go shopping." Donna laughed, thinking about her best friend.

"Nope, no getting out. Even for those who don't travel by police box. Susan is from a very, very different place. And apparently her grandfather- he's sort of like the Grim Reaper, from what I can understand?" She set her mouth into a firm line. "I hope you're right. Never met a trap he couldn't get out of, but still..." she trailed off.

"I'm afraid it's much the same. It's like...1964 New York, only there are all these people who don't belong, who are from the future, or another planet, or another universe completely? I'm not positive. Point is, we're stuck for the time. Well, we'd best get moving. C'mon, I'll get you sorted. How's your typing?"

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unrequitedjones
2011-07-12 08:15 am UTC (link)

"Well, why'd I leave, then?" Martha demanded. She wouldn't leave the Doctor, not for anything. "I always did wonder what he did with us when he was ... bored of us, I don't know. Rose shook him up pretty good though, wonder why he never took you to New York." Unless she'd been the rebound and he was with Donna now, and that's all she was ever going to be, the rebound that he didn't have to fall in love with, just so long as she stayed devoted to him. It was something to think about, at any rate.

"He was possessed by a sun," Martha defended. "If he can get us outta that, he can get us outta New York."

She frowned, not liking the idea of being stuck for some time without the Doctor, and without her family. She didn't have her mobile, she'd left it in the TARDIS, otherwise she'd just call. It did have universal roaming. " I don't type," she said, offended. "I'm a Doctor, myself. Suppose I don't look the part though, story of my travels. Last time I had to be a maid, back in 1913, that was no picnic. Of all the places for him to hide ..." She knew the 60s had been tumultuous with race riots, both in the United States and Britain. "With all the riots, can I even get a job as a secretary?" How had this not come up, not once, during the moon landings? Oh right, they'd had PROPER TRANSPORT. What if he was here, with a fob watch, like he'd just been? What if he was fleeing the Angels too, with the TARDIS hidden somewhere? What if he couldn't trust her with his life because - because they'd got separated?

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illhaveasalute
2011-07-12 08:53 am UTC (link)

"I- I can't tell you that either, partially because I'm not sure myself. But I know it was your choice, in the end. He was a bit hesitant about letting me join up, because- y'know, it got complicated between the two of you, what with you..." she trailed off. "Right, just gonna keep my fat mouth shut, then." Oh, this was complicated. "Yeah, Rose. He's told me about her- misses her quite a bit, from what I can catch. Still. Nothing to be done, right? Really don't see what either of you saw in him- he's too skinny for words, and he's an alien."

"He's welcome to try. I don't doubt he'll do his best, but either way, I want him on my side." And where I can see him. Spaceman's like to get himself into all kinds of trouble, without someone watching him.

"Oi! Nothing wrong with typing- or are you one of those doctors who knows nothing about the office of their hospital? How do you think everything get's kept in order, then? No need to get high and mighty with me, Martha." Donna frowned, turning away. "Even if you could type, it wouldn't be a good job. I'm sorry, not much I can do about 1964. Doesn't mean it has to be maid's work- we'll do what we can."

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unrequitedjones
2011-07-12 11:29 pm UTC (link)

"What with what?" Martha now demanded. "Look, we're 'ere now, and you said we can't get out. Maybe something I don't know about can help us, right?" Martha was upset that Donna wasn't telling her anything - especially things that seemed as though they might work out for a bit with her and the Doctor! She rolled her eyes at missing Rose, "If he liked her so much, why'd he let her go, then?" Why had the Doctor let her leave? It made no sense.

"Of course! Why wouldn't be be on our side, then?"

She threw her hands up, this wasn't a fight worth having, "I wrote up all th' things I was supposed to do, the nurses did the work involvin' the computer. I'd rather do something that's like my skill level, but since my colouring isn't going to make that possible ... how long you been here then? Doctor and I were stuck for months last time."

First a shop girl, now typing? The Doctor had better hurry up and get here fast!

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illhaveasalute
2011-07-13 12:13 am UTC (link)

Donna pursed her lips, annoyed at the other woman's snappy tone, and turned towards her. "Listen, Mad Martha Jones, you listen here. I can tell you all sort of things about you and the Doctor, and not a single one of them will be what you want to hear, got it? He didn't let her go, he lost her. If it was up to him he'd still be traveling with her and you and I would be back doing whatever it was we were doing before we'd met him." She stopped before mentioning that- in her opinion anyway- the only reason he'd picked up Martha was that she herself had refused to travel with him. "So don't get short with me."

She took a deep breath. "I didn't mean on our side like he was going to be- I dunno, acting against us or whatever. I just meant- he's gone, Martha, and that means that until I find this new one wandering around, we're a bit on our own. And that Pond girl, she wasn't any help- hadn't heard of me, which makes me wonder where the hell I am in the future and she can't even tell me. I mean, at least I can tell you that yeah, it all ends well and you're happy and whole, but where am i, if the Doctor's never even mentioned my name?"

She blinked rapidly- this wasn't the time to get upset, this wasn't the time to cry. She had to find that moron and then she could scream and yell and berate him and then she could let go. But until then she had to do what the Doctor's friends always did- keep up the good fight. Keep looking at the odd and the unusual and figure them out.

"Two weeks," she said finally. "I've been here two weeks now. And I don't like it anymore than you."

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unrequitedjones
2011-07-13 07:03 am UTC (link)

Hot, angry tears welled in her eyes. "Alright then!" she yelled, mostly just to stop the goddamned conversation about how the Doctor wouldn't have still run into her. She didn't know who this Rose girl exactly was, but man alive did Martha severely dislike her already.

"Happy, whole, and Mad Martha Jones, it works for me," Martha said, mostly because she didn't want to not have a friend while stuck in 1964. She might not know who Donna was, but Donna had at least reacted positively to her. She wondered, but didn't ask, if they'd started off this rough when they met before.

She coudln't, however, stop herself from scoffing at Donna's last comment. "You're white, and you type. You'll have a better time of it than I will. Bet I won't even be allowed to run a till. Wasn't at the shop in London either. Didn't have my papers, and the Commonwealth Immigration Act had just been amended. Lucky for psychic paper, I suppose, but I was still out of colour." She laughed and shook her head a little at the memory. She was a doctor for goodness' sake!

"But at least I got the moon landing to look forward to, yeah? Wait a second ... it isn't July 18 yet, is it? That's what starts it all, y'know, we studied it in primary." Suddenly Martha was very scared. Her mother had been just a girl at the time, but she said the whole of the world was riveted when Harlem burned. Then America couldn't stop burning for years.

The Doctor had taken her to lands where being human was all that distinguished her, not anything of what category of human she was, or what colour her skin was. Sometimes, like right now, it was hard to imagine how the world had ever got off to the stars. Not that 2007 was much better. Sure, things were a bit different, but now it was those of Arab or Chinese descent who faced discrimination in England.

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illhaveasalute
2011-07-13 07:56 am UTC (link)

Donna sighed, seeing the girl's tears. So maybe she'd been a bit harsh- she was stranded in the past with a Doctor who wouldn't find her and no one who knew her name. She was allowed a little harshness. "Sorry. It's just- well, it's tough, traveling alone."

"Yes, I am white, and yes, I can type, and yes, that means it's going to be easier for me. I'm sorry, and it's not right, but again- not a lot I can do about the sixties, is there? I'll look out for you- we can look out for each other. And the girl at the Welcome Center might be able to help with all that nonsense." Donna had just turned up at Wayne Industries and started working, since she was qualified. It wasn't like temping (which is what Donna was considering this) was different from one place to another- office gossip, catty women, climbing the ladder. Only difference is that climbing the ladder here meant marrying up.

"No. July 12th. We've got time. You won't be living in Harlem, I promise you that." Even if the girl was being abrasive- and yes, she probably had reason to be, but Donna didn't feel all that charitable at the moment- she wasn't going to let anything happen to a friend of the Doctor's, not on her watch. She could only imagine what he'd say if she told him she'd let Martha Jones get killed in a race riot.

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unrequitedjones
2011-07-14 03:53 am UTC (link)

"Tell me about it," Martha laughed, glad Donna was making an effort. "Not that being stranded with the Doctor is a picnic either! When we were in London in 1969, he had this perpetual frown on and wanted to know why we couldn't have nice things!"

She frowned, "So this Welcome Center, it's for people like us? I go there, everyone else here will know I don't belong?"

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illhaveasalute
2011-07-16 09:37 pm UTC (link)

"He's spoiled, that one. Too used to wooshing here and there, not used to being like the rest of us." She smiled. "Lucky we found each other, then. Not as alone, anyway. How'd you get stuck in 1969, anyway?"

"Well, yeah, but you won't be the only one. There's lots of people at the Center, I'm hoping to get out of there soon myself. Got a job, now I just have to find a flat-" She turned to Martha, an idea having formed. "Maybe after you get a job, we could find something together. That way we'll be able to find each other, if the Doctor shows up."

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unrequitedjones
2011-07-16 09:49 pm UTC (link)

Martha beamed, "Oh, I'd like that! Very lucky we found each other, Donna!" Martha was pleased, glad they could put their rocky start behind them.

"But, 1969, right! We went for the moon landing. Well, we'd already been to see the moon landing twice by then. But we went again, and there was this tiny thing with the Livbern lizards, and he turned to me and was like 'okay, we're stuck here for a little bit. Day at most. Where's an ATM?' and I had to remind him we were in 1969 and no-one knew what on Earth that was! You know how he gets when he thinks he's got it all under control and he doesn't? That little frown he does like it's all your fault that humans don't have the tools he wants at that very moment? Was like that for the two days we were looking for the last of the Livbern lizards. I just told him to pop back ahead a few decades, but he said he wouldn't risk it. Then after we were done, I asked for something more fun and we wound up with the Angels instead."

She'd already been talking a lot, but she talked more, "He ever mention the angels? Quantum-locked. Dangerous little devils. He said they 'live you to death' then never got around to explaining what that meant before one of 'em touched us. I hope that means I'm not due for death anytime soon, but if they were going to kill me, they'd have outright done it, right?"

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illhaveasalute
2011-07-17 05:13 am UTC (link)

She was glad she'd asked Martha- they'd gotten off to a much rougher start than last time, but she was sure that could all be sorted. "Never heard of Angels, no. Last I saw he was talking about the Vashta Nerada- got me way too scared of the dark. So like him, half the time he's got human technology figured out to an exact decimal, other half he gets it all muddled up."

"Still haven't had a word from him. I'm not sure why- I know he's in the city, and I think he knows I'm here, but I can't- I can't find him, and for some reason he hasn't found me. I've never not been able to find him before." She sighed, then smiled at the other girl. "Well, maybe I just haven't found him yet, hmm?"

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