Hauted by inner demons - OTA Forward dated to early hours Friday

[not_the_question]

The Doctor has a terrible secret that he has tried to keep somewhat hidden since his return.

He is older. Four point five billion years older. He might have mentioned it to a few people, but he hasn't properly explained to anyone how that all happened. "Stuck in a place" was probably as specific as he got. But the terrible truth was about to be revealed to everyone in the worst way he could imagine.

River might realise what's going on, at least in theory. But it had been very early days on Darillium when he had been forced to tell her. Even in his time now, that seems like ages ago. And for her... well... it had been substantially longer.

The Doctor woke to find himself back in his castle. He sighed heavily. It had been an odd dream anyway. Stuck on a ship that was pure fiction. That was almost worse than being stuck here. At least he knew how the castle worked now.

He got up, dressed and continued his search for Room 12.

He hadn't seen the Veil in some time. He checked the monitors and they showed it to be a surprising distance from him. Good. That means he had more time than he thought. Well, that was good. Maybe if he could confuse it enough, he could get more than his tested maximum of eighty-two minutes.

[ooc: The Doctor will be wandering all over the ship, thinking he is in his Confession Dial. Anyone who happens upon the Doctor will be infused into his nightmare. Some might take on the image of the Veil and others might become 'haunts' from other parts of the Doctor's life. Depending on how the Doctor incorporates your character into the dream will dictate his reaction to them. The goal, should your character choose to accept it, is to wake the Doctor. But, be aware, he believes his life is under threat from the Veil, so he is likely to do a lot of things to try to get somewhere safe. This includes but is not limited to hurting others.]

Comments

[not_the_question]

"I told you I wasn't making any more confessions."

Stubborn as can be. Especially when he thinks it might lead to others being harmed.

[professorsong]

"Didn't ask for a confession, just a story. You can, of course, lie."

[not_the_question]

"Fine. River came into existence and then went out of existence, story over."

Really, he's not in the mood for this. He's just ready to get out.

[professorsong]

"Spoilers. She's still here."

[not_the_question]

"Not spoilers. That is everyone's story. Even mine someday."

He hopes.

[professorsong]

"I like to think that when something is that universal, it's the universe's challenge to us to change it."

[not_the_question]

"Is that why they've trapped me in here again? I'm pretty sure where I am, now. Closed energy loop, the need for confessions. It's fairly obvious, now that I think about it. I'm in my Confession Dial. But I wasn't about to die. So... they must want something from me. But what could they possibly want now?"

[professorsong]

"About that confession dial," she said, might as well see what he'd say now that he was talkative, and see what he'd say after when he was himself again. "You're a time traveler. It could have gone to anyone, at any point in time."

[not_the_question]

He huffs a sardonic chuckle. "No, it couldn't have. It's my confession dial. One per Time Lord. That's just how it works."

[professorsong]

"Yes. One. And that was who it went to?" she asked, arching a brow at him.

[not_the_question]

He can't see her expression since they're on opposite sides of the door.

"Since I'm currently stuck inside it, it goes to no one. Eve of my Death, it will be delivered to someone."

[professorsong]

"Has already been delivered. You lived to tell me about it. You escaped this, my love."

[not_the_question]

"Clearly I didn't. Or they trapped me again."

[professorsong]

"Oh, I'd agree to again, and trapped even, but my love, this time the trap is of your own making. You are trapped in the single scariest place in any universe, in any time; you are trapped in the mind of the Doctor. You trapped yourself, my love. But I'm River Song." Stormcage was easy, but helping him escape this... Well now.

[not_the_question]

"Well, you've pretty much defined the Dial, haven't you?"

And he's getting bored so he's going to start searching for another way out. There has to be some way out. Even if it's just the ventilation shaft.

[professorsong]

"Have I now? Tell me, Doctor, I have enough in me that I had regeneration energy. Will I have one of these myself?" Give him a puzzle, something to think of. Even if it hurt.

[not_the_question]

"I told you no more confessions. I might answer it if you were who you claim to be."

But, as of right now, she had yet to prove herself as such.

[professorsong]

"Mmmmm, no, I think if you actually believed me, you'd be trying to have very nearly any other conversation. Which, of course, means that some part of you realizes I am real my love."

[not_the_question]

"I don't run from River. Not any more."

Especially not after her statement about him not loving her. He had intended on spending those 24 years with her and ensuring she would never doubt his love for her again. In his mind, if that was her, she'd be breaking down this door to get to him, consequences about the Creature be damned.

[professorsong]

The consequence that scared her was him harming himself, or doing something he's later regret too badly. She could have caution, she could take her time. He wasn't going anywhere. She would take care of him, as best she could.

"You see, you say that, but you're in there, and I'm out here. You've spent most of today running from me, sweetie."

[not_the_question]

He has been working his way around the room. He found a panel tucked behind some shelves. That was fine. His sonic was good at shelves. River might be able to hear his sonic going.

"Because you're not her."

Simple statement of fact in his mind. Again, he didn't think River would have ever threatened to kill herself. She was a woman of action, not of empty words.

[professorsong]

And when she heard the sonic, she got to her feet. "I'm a woman if keeping my husband safe, even from himself." Especially from him self. But the sonic meant her time was up. Too dangerous to use the squareness gun when she had no clue how far from the door he was. At least... the proper way.

River drew the gun again, made sure all the safeties were engaged, then slammed the butt of it at a weak point in the door. Great thing that odd ability she had the other day was. She learned ever so much. Sonic would have been better, but she'd take what she could get.

"Hello, sweetie," she said as the door opened.

[not_the_question]

Except she waited just a hair too long. The Doctor had made his way into the ventilation shaft and she can probably hear the sonic activating again to lock the cover back up.

The Doctor had been studying the schematics. While he doesn't quite have them memorised, he is fairly certain how to make his way around the ship from it's insides.

[professorsong]

She was not pleased, and she pushed at the cover to try and get it open before he could activate the lock. Very much never leaving the sonic behind again, lines of her dress be *****ed.

"Will you just wait for once?" she asked. "You can be so infuriating sometimes!"

[not_the_question]

No he can't sit still, or the creature will get him. But if she thinks to use her PADD, he'll be easy to locate. He'll be in the one place on the entire ship he feels somewhat safe: the cargo room near the TARDIS.

Though, near would be an understatement. He'll be perched on top of it - meditating.