Log - Catch-all for July [Closed for Now]

[thedoctorsmate]

Who: Donna Noble thedoctorsmate & Others
When: Throughout July
Where: Around the City
Summary: Happenings from the TDM and anything else that might arise.
Warnings: scopophobia; paranoia; unnatural animals; thalassophobia; mild scopophobia; bodily harm, stalking; bullying; altered perception

Comments

For Eda and George

[thedoctorsmate]

Donna is very okay with the idea of a barbecue. When was the last time she got to sunbathe properly? Not since Midnight. She's gone for something delightfully loud and pink in the hopes of being noticed. She's also sporting wide-brimmed hat and big sunglasses as she reclines on a beach towel and the sent of the the grill carries over to her.

It's picturesque, really, a far cry from the horrors of Wolf Pen. She's at least a little on edge given her last major foray to the beach had involved Crowley very nearly being buried alive. But no one is screaming or sinking to their doom so far, and there are plenty of people around to help if something is off.

The biggest problem seems to be the birds. Wicked, dastardly things that seem to be eyeing her up whenever she glances over at one. "What're you looking at, featherbrain?" she grumbles, making a shooing motion when one gets too close. She's not paying a great deal of attention to anything else, and the gull... persists in waddling near her, as if pacing. Bloody bird.

[bindlestifflost]

It's impossible not to notice Donna. He would've even without the loud swimsuit. He knows it would be rude and unfair to avoid her forever over something that wasn't her fault, especially when she'd been so understanding. So even though he's sweating bullets about it and can pretend it's the summer heat, he starts over through the sand. The gulls make him almost have to kick them before giving way. He eyes them in a squint from behind his cheap sunglasses in a way that says he will.

He's in a non-descript red bathing suit that hits him mid-thigh and an LA Dodgers cap with the brim pulled low against the sun. It's very clear only his neck and arms from mid-biceps down ever see the light of day. The rest of him is almost as pale as she is.

He drops to a seat downwind so he doesn't kick sand on her, a quick sink to a cross-legged position with his hands resting on his knees. "I owe you an apology. Shouldn't a' hung up on you like that. I'm sorry."

He glances at her then, furtive from the sides of his eyes. "You look nice. Them's good colors for you."

[thedoctorsmate]

Donna's aware of George. She'd seen him heading with the group over to the beach, and she'd taken a few moments to appreciate his shirtless form. Maybe a little more appreciation than might be respectful, really, but with the birds watching everyone, she hopes she's got away with that without him noticing. As it is, she hadn't expected him to talk to her. There last talk in Wolf Pen had ended... poorly. She'd said something wrong or too upsetting and he'd just shut down.

Giving him space had seemed the most sensible option, like she did with the Doctor after some of their more intense adventures.

So, George's arrival and words are a bit of a surprise. She pushes herself up on her elbows to look at him. "Not sure either of us were really at our best back... there." Back in Wolf Pen. Back on the island. "At least not with each other. I'm- thanks. For apologizing. And the compliments. Know my colors ROY to G to BIV." And if she poses just a bit for him? Well. Trying to lighten the mood.

"You look cute, too. We don't have to talk about... everything before, though." At least not right now. "Not if it makes you uncomfortable. I really didn't mean to do that."

[bindlestifflost]

He nods, smiling a little at her when she poses. He thinks he can tell what she's trying to do, and he appreciates it. It does help. Gets them back on more normal footing.

His grin spreads wider and he shakes his head for the compliment, his expression about as Aw, shucks, as they come without any such words coming out.

It fades down naturally. He shakes his head again and wipes once at his mouth. "You didn't. It's, uh..." His brow furrows. "You know how it is when somebody says somethin' you...you wanna hear? Maybe you wanna hear it real bad, but when it hits, you can't believe it right away? You wanna do that, too. You wanna believe. Jes' maybe takes a while to catch up."

There isn't much heaviness in his expression when he looks at her again. "I figure it'll catch up, and it was real decent a' you to say it." He draws a deeper breath and looks out to the ocean. "That's all the rest a' what I got to say about any a' that. Rest a' the day's wide open. You get you one a' them brownies Kate made?"

[thedoctorsmate]

She thinks about the times the Doctor has called her important or brilliant. "I think... yeah, I sort of get that. More used to just yelling at someone for that sort of thing than hanging up, though." Her smile is just a little pained. "Shout loud enough and maybe they'll stop, right?"

She's just not going to tell him what her pressure points are. Not now. Not when the sun is high, and she's trying not to overwhelm him with her emotions. He seems to have enough problems with his own.

"But brownies, you say? No. No one told me about brownies!" Donna puts on a mock-offended tone and look. "Right, well, we're fixing that, and you're getting another one with me as penance for not bringing one over." She stands and offers him her hand. "A lady needs her sweets to stay sweet with all this salt in the air."

[edalyn]

Eda also appears to be more than alright with the idea of a beach day. While a fair bit of her focus has been on hitting the books since getting back, she could absolutely use a distraction. It's been a while since she's gone to the beach, and even longer since she's been to one where none of the water was boiling.

She's wearing oversized cat's-eye sunglasses and a ruffled, bright red swimsuit with a wrap-skirt thrown overtop. The overall effect is that she walked directly out of the 1980s, but she pulls it off. Mostly. It definitely shows off the fact she's in oddly good shape for her (apparent) age and it's certainly not the worst fashion choice she's ever made.

Unfortunately, whatever effect she was going for is probably ruined by the fact she's chasing a seagull. She's not even chasing it like a person who is angry it stole her plate of barbecue. It may have started that way, but right now the impression she gives off is a lot closer to a cat chasing a bird.

If she accidentally kicks some sand onto the redhead trying to sunbathe while she's at it... well, that's actually on her entirely. She probably should have been paying attention.

[thedoctorsmate]

"Grah!" Donna's parting her lips to take a deep and soulful breath of the clean ocean air when she's suddenly got sand kicked up into her face. And into her hair. And into her mouth.

"Oi!" She shoves herself up to a sitting position and scowls at the offending beach-goer. She considers flipping an offensive gesture, but there are younger people on the beach, not just with ADI, but in general. It wouldn't do to be teaching them that sort of thing. Even if it might serve them well for thoughtless runners. "Watch where you're going, mate! People are relaxing here!"

[edalyn]

Eda skids to a halt, and the seagull takes the opportunity to fly off a short distance before returning to eyeing anyone trying to eat ominously in the manner of seagulls everywhere.

She almost says something equally snappy back but, honestly, she can't really defend herself on this one. She wasn't paying attention, and she'd probably be just as angry if it was the other way around.

"...Sorry," she says, actually looking a bit sheepish. "Little jerk stole my lunch and I guess I got carried away." More than a little carried away. She should... probably be keeping an eye on that.

Apologies for the delay! Gonna try to get back on the horse here after some brainrot.

[thedoctorsmate]

Donna purses her lips, but the apology does go some way toward tempering her irritation. "Yeah, they're a problem out here." She stands to shake and brush herself off. "Reckon they ought to have people standing guard for anyone trying to eat. They nicked a tofu dog off this poor bloke who can't even see them to know to pull his food away.

"Disgraceful, honestly. If you need someone squawking to scary them off, s'pose I'm not doing much apart from taking in the sun. Name's Donna. Donna Noble."

For Garner

[thedoctorsmate]

"Don't even think about it, you!"

Donna's extremely festive beach attire might be lost on Garner, but her presence will not be. She's been feeling those gulls staring at her all afternoon. And now with food, it's only got worse. She's just sipping a drink, though, and it's Garner the birds have set their eyes on.

"Garner, stay still. You've got a bird like two-feet- Oh, no you did not!" The seagull makes a lunge for whatever food Garner is holding... and so does Donna. If Garner does stay still, he's liable to get slapped as Donna takes a swipe at the bird.

[whisperedone]

The plan had simply been to try a hot dog or the plant-made one, anyway. He and Katrina had gotten corndogs together once and agreed they tasted like anything but food you should have, so his curiosity had sent him towards the new. Unfortunately, the tofu bog still came in a nice fluffy bun, one he had no idea was so enticing to the beady eyes of his stalker.

Donna's presence was not something easily lost, even in a crowd, but the shift of sand was soft enough and unreliable enough to not be able to pick out exactly where everyone was all the time. He hadn't realized how close she was until her voice took his attention.

He didn't realize how close she was getting as she seemingly shouted at the stalking bird nearby and he heeded her warning- until the stinging impact caught his cheek.

The ill-fated tofu dog soundly tumbles away in the jolt and Garner's white eyes go wide as he looks in her direction. Perhaps not too unlike a confused dog who'd been stepped on in their owner's haste.

"You...have quite the swing."

[thedoctorsmate]

"Bloody hell, I didn't mean to- Agh! Sorry, Garner! Give that- flipping birds." She watches the fiends make off with the tofu dog, fighting over it with each other. "I was trying to get them off you. They were about to snap at your hands. Let me get you another one. It was just a hotdog, right?"

Donna needs to correct this mistake. And then guard this man until he's actually eaten. "The birds are just awful here. They're awful everywhere lately, but they're just getting bold with the food."

[whisperedone]

He rubs slightly at the sting, but it fades quickly enough. "A tofu one, I think. It's quite alright." He shifts where he's seated, contemplating simply getting up himself or forgoing the attempt altogether, though what she says about them has his attention.

"Birds are often scavengers, in my experience. I understand they've been staring quite intently recently-" Which....put a thought into his head that has his usual crease of contemplation furrowing his brow. "I hope they aren't getting bold with us because we're meant to be food."

For Nick

[thedoctorsmate]

So, maybe going at night isn't strictly necessary for this endeavor. It's sanctioned by ADI, they're helping out this Sable person. There's no need to do this in the dark, especially not with how dangerous the Dark can be.

But it's atmospheric.

"God, you still look so weird with skin," she says to her companion as they walk toward the docks. Donna has a large mag light in one hand, but she's glancing over at Nick as they pass beneath a street lamp. "Like, I know I've seen you with it on more than off, but it's just... so weird."

[outofthepast]

The dark works just fine for Nick. Not only can he see in it pretty well, but his motion detectors work no matter the ambient light. Plus, it's not like he'd otherwise be sleeping or anything.

"You're tellin' me," he mutters, lighting up a cigarette. "I keep spooking myself when I walk by windows." Funny it's the human shape that startles him rather than the one with gaunt, torn skin and glowing yellow eyes.

"Too bad they won't let me use it on command. We're supposed to keep all this on the down-low, but imagine the looks on those cultists' faces when mine comes right off."

[thedoctorsmate]

Donna makes a face. "Yeah, well, considering that'd freak me out, I'm gonna go with good tactic, but never do that around me if they ever do relax things." She knows she'd be liable to smack him reflexively in her fear, which might ruin the effect on the cultists.

"Looks like that's our shed over there. Brought some safety gloves with me, but if you've got any fancy bits and bobs on you that can just detect weird stuff, that'd be great. Wish I had my friend here. He's got a screwdriver that's practically magic."

[outofthepast]

"I'll make sure to warn you first," he says, utterly deadpan.

He takes a few long drags on his cigarette before he has to put it out to head inside the shed. "Afraid I'm a couple model years too early for the 'weird bullshit' sensors. And my screwdriver's strictly the standard blade-head."

But Nick volunteered for this mission specifically upon hearing about the mental effects this weird bullshit had on people. Not having a typical human brain, he's assuming, perhaps unwisely, that he'll be spared this. Or at least it'll be less destructive if it goes off on him.

"Maybe you better let me do the handling, just to be safe. I'll use gloves still, but... you know."

un: supertemp; text (for Jon)

[thedoctorsmate]

Guess that fish thing worked out pretty well for all this apocalypse business, yeah?

Re: un: supertemp; text (for Jon)

[the_archivist]

Good luck with next time. And the time after that.

[thedoctorsmate]

Look.
I reckon you were doing a lot of... whatever you were doing in your own world on your own, right?
We've got a whole team.
Means we come up with better solutions together.
Yeah, people are going to try again and again and again.
But we're going to stop them.
Because we're a hell of a lot cleverer than all of them when we put our heads together.
You don't have to be doom and gloom and the sky's falling all the time.

[the_archivist]

No. There were other people. They were killed or were... replaced by horrific creatures that made us forget the original. Or are massively traumatised.

They were some of the smartest people I know. Being a team didn't help. It didn't save anyone.

And I already saw the sky fall once and every second of the suffering it caused.

For George (back-dated a bit)

[thedoctorsmate]

Donna checks her hair one last time before heading out to meet up with George. A date. Her on a proper date! It's been a spell since she's done something so ordinary and actually... remembered it. The Library hadn't really happened, after all. Just memories inserted to try to make the disjointed jump from one 'scene' to the next make sense. But this is going to go well, she's decided. George is nice, sweet... damaged. But aren't they all?

She waits out by the entry gate to the complex, shimmering slightly beneath the streetlamp in her blue sequin dress. She hasn't got much play with this one since Katrina had helped her pick it out, but there's a part of her that really wants to dazzle this man. Maybe he won't notice how nervous she really is.

It's easy enough to pull on a smile when she sees him approaching. "Hey, there, handsome! Ready to get a lit'le... footloose?"

[bindlestifflost]

George has never felt less like himself in his life, all dressed up (sans bracelet) what feels like to the nines, but as soon as he spots Donna, he's glad he didn't fight the tie too hard. Conveniently, he wipes his sweaty hands in his pockets before pulling them out and grinning wide. "Ain't you a sight," he says. "That sure is a pretty dress. I been ready all week. I called us a cab. They said it'd be here real soon."

He comes to stand next to her and looks off down the street before turning back in her direction again. "This place I picked ain't too loud. I don't know none a' the music, but it seems like something easy enough to move to." He'd done a bit of recon ahead of time.

"You ever done any Swing Dancin'?"

[thedoctorsmate]

Donna preens at the compliment, striking a little pose as she turns her head to one side and lifts her chin. "I'll tell Katrina you approve. I'm sure she'll like that. Apparently, this is a good dress for an 'alpha.'" She's not sure if George knows Katrina, but the mermaid's mention of that had tickled Donna rather a lot. If the Doctor ever gets his spaceman butt here, she's telling him about that first thing.

"Can't say I've done much Swing Dancing, but I made Lance sign us up for dance lessons before the wed..." She trails off for a moment before pushing on. "My ex-fiance, Lance. We had a few dance lessons. I think Swing was one of them, but we didn't do a lot with it. Plenty for you to team me, yeah?"

[bindlestifflost]

"What's an alpha?" He knows about an alphabet. It doesn't sound like the same thing at all.

"If you's had even the basics, you ain't gonna have no trouble at all learning more," he says. He's determined not to bring her down with any sad talk. Ex-fiance sounds and looks said, so instead he does a quick footwork demonstration that's not too complex. "We'll have both of us cuttin' a rug before the night's done."

Headlights illuminate both of them, casting long shadows to their right before the cab pulls up. George steps over to open the back door for her and once she's in, he trots round to the other side to let himself in, too. He gives the driver the address and settles back. "This is way better 'n goin' into town with the fellas. They's all so full a' piss and vinegar. You never knowed if you was gonna get in a card game or a fight." It wasn't really as bad as all that. He figures it can't hurt to talk up a contrast, makes it all sound less awkward.