The Arcanis isn't anything at all like setting foot on a new planet and exploring a place they've never been before. There aren't untold dangers to quell or people to save on what promises to be a relatively calm and predictable evening, but if there's even the slightest chance of small thrills to latch onto — exploring secret passageways or somehow finding themselves in a bit of delightful, good trouble — he wouldn't at all mind. Quietly, he does lament that he can't simply pull a few levers on his TARDIS and take her for drinks on the moon, or an evening on the planet Florana where the seas are made of milk. He wishes for a moment he could show her starfire and mountains that sing. To see it all anew through her eyes — it's all that he wants right now as he holds her hand and they make their way towards the great ship.
But he's trying very hard to keep hold of the simple joy that's found in small moments like this, too. There doesn't always need to be the majesty and grandeur of a journey through the stars, perhaps. Though, he's loath to admit that out loud. That's his life. But nearly a year here, and — his life is other, smaller moments. Moments where, evidently, he can make her smile, make her look forward to the evening ahead, bring a bit of joy to her.
His mind is always in a thousand places at once, so while they walk and she leans against him, he's contemplating how very strange it is — or maybe not strange at all, maybe this is normal — that he could feel such contentment from the simple act. There's not much to it. She's simply laying her head against his shoulder. This is a basic and expected gesture, yet he feels — warmth. Comfort. A feeling like all is well. How could that be, just from this? And why has it escaped him all these years?
— at the same time, she speaks about Cadens, and his mind is there, too. Thinking of all that's gone wrong, all that could still go wrong, everyone he wants and needs to keep safe. That's his duty of care, here — to protect the people of this world.
"There's been unrest, infighting, worry and panic and fear," he starts. First with the straight answer, blunt sometimes, but just as quick to find the hope and the goodness as he adds, "And so many people doing absolutely everything they can to help others. To keep each other safe. The noisier the bad stuff gets, there's far more of people stepping up to say, not on my watch. I don't think any of us believes it won't get worse before it gets better, but we take care of each other, don't we?"
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But he's trying very hard to keep hold of the simple joy that's found in small moments like this, too. There doesn't always need to be the majesty and grandeur of a journey through the stars, perhaps. Though, he's loath to admit that out loud. That's his life. But nearly a year here, and — his life is other, smaller moments. Moments where, evidently, he can make her smile, make her look forward to the evening ahead, bring a bit of joy to her.
His mind is always in a thousand places at once, so while they walk and she leans against him, he's contemplating how very strange it is — or maybe not strange at all, maybe this is normal — that he could feel such contentment from the simple act. There's not much to it. She's simply laying her head against his shoulder. This is a basic and expected gesture, yet he feels — warmth. Comfort. A feeling like all is well. How could that be, just from this? And why has it escaped him all these years?
— at the same time, she speaks about Cadens, and his mind is there, too. Thinking of all that's gone wrong, all that could still go wrong, everyone he wants and needs to keep safe. That's his duty of care, here — to protect the people of this world.
"There's been unrest, infighting, worry and panic and fear," he starts. First with the straight answer, blunt sometimes, but just as quick to find the hope and the goodness as he adds, "And so many people doing absolutely everything they can to help others. To keep each other safe. The noisier the bad stuff gets, there's far more of people stepping up to say, not on my watch. I don't think any of us believes it won't get worse before it gets better, but we take care of each other, don't we?"