Shortly after their arrival here, the Doctor was quick to visit the ailing dragons and assess their well-being himself. Lacking his usual resources and by no means an expert on dragons, he was under no delusion of being able to miraculously heal them; rather, he'd wanted to just see them, comfort them if a moment allowed it. He's also never seen dragons at all, so the visit had proven to be both wondrous and upsetting. The Doctor never has been and never will be anyone capable of sitting idly by and doing nothing, so he'd leapt at the opportunity to journey to the Ashlands. Don't go alone, they'd warned. He'd considered it, though, even knowing his own propensity for far worse things happening whenever he's done anything alone.
At the thought of someone with him on the journey, his thoughts had turned to Julia, this most recent connection he'd come to value immensely. They could understand each other already, it seemed, and she'd want to help, he was sure. Neither of them could be sure what to expect, but there's strength in numbers. The path they follow is littered with empty birds' nests, a dragon's skeleton, and the Doctor is about to remark on what they've just seen when a few birds fly past them; seemingly innocuous until some unfortunately familiar phrases are called out in the air around them.
"Oh, Doctor. My lonely Doctor. Doctor. Doctor who? It's more than just a secret, isn't it? There comes a time, Time Lord, when every lonely little boy must learn how to dance."
The Doctor suddenly slows and stops abruptly, watching the birds tensely, a deeply troubled look in his eyes. He remembers — Reinette, who had seen things in his mind she was never supposed to see. Not ever. How could —
"That's not —"
He starts to try and shoo the birds away, surprised when they disappear into smoke, and glancing quickly at Julia. He means to say something, to explain, to pre-empt whatever she might say or ask, but then the birds appear again.
"I walked away from the last Great Time War. I marked the passing of the Time Lords. I saw the birth of the universe and I watched as time ran out, moment by moment, until nothing remained. No time. No space. Just me. I walked in universes where the laws of physics were devised by the mind of a mad man. I've watched universes freeze and creations burn. I've seen things you wouldn't believe. I have lost things you will never understand."
It's little comfort when the birds disappear again, the Doctor already unsettled by what's been shared aloud, and how. How could they know, how could they — he starts walking briskly again now, not looking at Julia at first, distracted, far away from this moment. It suddenly clicks a moment later he's not keeping pace with her anymore.
"Sorry, we should keep going before they come back. Distractions, that's all they are." Currently attempting to ignore what just happened!
closed ► julia
At the thought of someone with him on the journey, his thoughts had turned to Julia, this most recent connection he'd come to value immensely. They could understand each other already, it seemed, and she'd want to help, he was sure. Neither of them could be sure what to expect, but there's strength in numbers. The path they follow is littered with empty birds' nests, a dragon's skeleton, and the Doctor is about to remark on what they've just seen when a few birds fly past them; seemingly innocuous until some unfortunately familiar phrases are called out in the air around them.
"Oh, Doctor. My lonely Doctor. Doctor. Doctor who? It's more than just a secret, isn't it? There comes a time, Time Lord, when every lonely little boy must learn how to dance."
The Doctor suddenly slows and stops abruptly, watching the birds tensely, a deeply troubled look in his eyes. He remembers — Reinette, who had seen things in his mind she was never supposed to see. Not ever. How could —
"That's not —"
He starts to try and shoo the birds away, surprised when they disappear into smoke, and glancing quickly at Julia. He means to say something, to explain, to pre-empt whatever she might say or ask, but then the birds appear again.
"I walked away from the last Great Time War. I marked the passing of the Time Lords. I saw the birth of the universe and I watched as time ran out, moment by moment, until nothing remained. No time. No space. Just me. I walked in universes where the laws of physics were devised by the mind of a mad man. I've watched universes freeze and creations burn. I've seen things you wouldn't believe. I have lost things you will never understand."
It's little comfort when the birds disappear again, the Doctor already unsettled by what's been shared aloud, and how. How could they know, how could they — he starts walking briskly again now, not looking at Julia at first, distracted, far away from this moment. It suddenly clicks a moment later he's not keeping pace with her anymore.
"Sorry, we should keep going before they come back. Distractions, that's all they are." Currently attempting to ignore what just happened!