[Open/Catch-all] Don't you let them see your troubles

[twelfthsong]

Who: The Doctor and you!
What: A new place, lack of tech and friends means the Doctor is reluctantly getting his bearings while internally freaking out
When: Over the course of September
Where: Central Command, The Mage's Sector, Electric Heart + Mini Missions
Content Warnings: None, but will update if anything arises

the worst neighbour ever — central command

[A grounded, TARDIS-less Doctor is a bored Doctor. With no missions on the horizon and a reluctance to even participate in them, the Doctor has reverted to what he's always done when he gets bored: build.

Any neighbouring rooms in the residential parts of Central Command would have likely heard a lot of noise over the last couple of days including, but not limited to: dragging, banging, whirring, wielding, shouts of success, annoyed muttering and pacing at varying times throughout the day. Maybe you've been woken up by said noise or maybe worse, kept up by it. Either way, there's a very simple piece of paper that reads, "Do Not Disturb" slapped onto his door. Attempts to get him to shut up usually don't work and he might even poke his head out every once in a while to tell someone to go away because they're the ones disturbing him or give them some earplugs before shutting the door in their face.

The finale of it all results in a small 'boom' from behind the closed door to his room. It's enough to make some of the walls shake, the lights flicker, and moments later a tall man wearing goggles throws the door open coughing violently as smoke begins to spill out.]

Where are the extractor fans when you need them? I should have installed those first.

get in loser we're going to do research — library @ the mage's sector

[Typically when he lands in a place that he doesn't have any information on he'll do his research. Well no, that's a lie. He'll usually just dive right in and get to know a place via the locals if there are any because nothing is better than first hand experience. There are plenty of locals, but, ah yeah the talking bit. He's had his fill of talking to people which means that research is a very valuable and secondary option. That's how he stumbles upon the library in the Mage's Sector. It isn't quite as extensive as the one in the TARDIS - nothing ever will be - but it's got enough books here to satisfy his thirst for knowledge.

It's a good thing that this place doesn't close because once he's sat himself down with a large stack of books in a comfy armchair with a desk in front of him the Doctor isn't keen on moving. Passersby might notice that the titles and topics vary; all of them are about the Broken World and its history, the planet's vegetation, fauna, and local animals, technology, and the customs of the planet - but there's also one slipped in there that very obviously reads, 'Horsemanship For Dummies'. Is his notebook filled to the brim with notes about horse training? Maybe. It's none of your business. Linger long enough nearby and he might ask/tell you:]

Could you keep your breathing down?

guitar hero — vr @ the electric heart

[If you've never seen a Time Lord going through a mid-life crisis (can you even have a mid-life crisis when you're 2000 years old), now's your chance.

The Doctor has been shredding - quite literally - on the VR's version of the electric guitar all day. He's somehow found a pair of Rayban-esque sunglasses and is currently jamming out to a tune that some might recognize. Turns out that it's tied to a game that looks a lot like a familiar Earth rhythm-based game and he's doing an eerily good job of keeping up with the fast chords and beats he has to hit. By the time the song ends, the points total up on the screen announcing him as the current high score holder. While no one is playing with him (yet), there's definitely room for people to join in on another guitar (axe battle anyone?), drums, or any other instrument you fancy (is that a trombone flickering in the background?).

Maybe it isn't a visible mid-life crisis, but trust us he's definitely brooding about something because he doesn't seem the least bit pleased about securing the high score as he punches in 'Doctor Mysterio' into the name section.]

wildcard — pick your own adventure!

[The Doctor can be found in various places across the Witches Camp scavenging for parts, building things, or putting in time between the library, Central Command and studiously avoiding the infirmary. Need someone to bicker with? Do you also want to tell him his hair is unruly? He's your Time Lord.]

[ ooc: prose is absolutely welcome, I'll follow your lead. I'm also happy to throw up private top levels as a general catchall for the rest of the month. Feel free to reach out to me via journal pm or discord for plotting! ]

Comments

[twelfthsong]

"I didn't say it, I'm just repeating what you said," he muttered as he climbed onto the AT, clipping his helmet and goggles into place before coaxing the engine to life. He shifted only slightly in discomfort when he felt Leia's hands slip around his waist for safety but otherwise didn't say anything else to the effect as they rode off into the dense jungle.

Clara was right though. He didn't have much in the way of a plan. They were usually just something that he came up with on the fly especially if he was caught in the spur of the moment. Thankfully Leia seemed to have enough of one that sounded fair enough. "The sonic will be able to unlock the restraints and free up any locking mechanisms they might have on the vehicles on the premises," he called over his shoulder. "I don't trust that there won't be more hidden security on location though. We might need to coordinate a distraction that'll allow us to find arrivals and loot at the same time."

Herding survivors and searching for any belongings seemed easy enough but the Doctor did have another reason he wanted to go on the mission: getting a closer look at the technology that had brought them all here in the first place.

[makemeasong]

"Alright, well, Leia is small enough to get inside, you need to sonic things and unless you want to give me the screwdriver, that leaves me as the distraction.

Clara doesn't mind even if she knows it's risky and she looks at the wheel of the ATV and back at the Doctor.

"Wild goose chase with the guards that ends with me swinging back around to pick you up?" Clara and the Doctor usually do things with as much chaos as possible, so it's her first idea.

[precociousprincess]

Leia listens to them talk, eyes on the road, trying to remember the way in case something terrible happened and she needed to find her way back to the camp on her own.

At the mention of a screwdriver her faces scrunches and she finds herself unable to resist asking, “What’s a screwdriver going to do to help us?”

[twelfthsong]

“I told you it’s a sonic probe and it’s still going to help us out a lot.” The last part was clearly directed at Leia as he continued over his shoulder, “You don’t see me sassing Meebo, so I’d appreciate it if you kept your comments about the sonic to yourself, missy.” Thankfully the dirt path, while overgrown was easy enough to navigate and they had muffled the engines of the ATV to make the approach to the outpost quieter.

As they rounded a bend that swept downhill, leaves and vines smacked against their helmets and goggles. It was probably best to keep his eyes forward for this part. “Are you going to have enough cover to keep safe from the guards?” The Witches hadn’t let him leave without some kind of weapon despite his protests and he had settled on a stun gun that he was hoping he wouldn’t have to use if he could help it.

[makemeasong]

"Meebo is going to be just as helpful," Clara says, then looks at Leia with a smile.

Holding onto the side of the ATV for dear life, she talks over the noise of the vehicle. "If I take them into the jungle, I think so. The trees help instead of being out in the open. The Witches gave me something that explodes when you throw it. I'll throw them behind me as I go. Make a loop, come back for you. I have six of them." There's only one problem.

"I have no idea how long that gives you."

[twelfthsong]

Thankfully the Doctor's eyes are front so no one can really tell that he's rolling his eyes at the reassurance. No one reassured him about his sonic probe. It was all apprehensive looks and uncertainty just because it looked a little rough around the edges.

"Not long. Maybe 15 minutes at most unless you want to keep running loops around them for an hour." Which frankly doesn't seem possible in his mind. It's not that he doubts her ability to do it, it's more like how long would it take before reinforcements potentially arrived on the scene if they weren't already hidden?

"Leia can't meet up with you if you're on the ATV," he calls back after another brief moment in thought as they bumped along the gravel. "She'll have to meet up with me."

[makemeasong]

"No, too long and they'll know for sure someone's inside," she agrees with him, thinking somewhat parallel to his own thought. But Clara nods and reaches out, gritting her teeth and holding a little tighter to Leia when they hit a pothole.

"We'll trade then, you need to be inside." She has no idea what to look for even if she doesn't want to agree about anything with him. "We'll sync timers on our phones." There, she'll be bossy instead.

[twelfthsong]

"Fine."

The bossy voice tone is back and while he isn't necessarily glad for it, it might mean that they could at least work together to make sure that Leia got through this okay.

They eventually reach coordinates they were given and he climbs off a little ways away, tugging the helmet off so he can get a better look at the facilities below. Through their given binoculars he can't see anyone and the sonic probe doesn't pick anything up either, but he's still wary.

"Are you sure you're both ready?" He nods towards the two of them. There was always a chance to turn around - even if one of them wanted to leave he'd take them back, no questions asked.

[makemeasong]

Clara takes a deep breath, switching to the driver's seat and putting the helmet on. It's still warm and smells a little like him but there's a job to do. It helps to keep her focused. Which means she's ready, and she looks at Leia.

"Once you're in I'm not coming back for 15 minutes," Clara reiterates, getting out her phone and nodding to the Doctor so they can sync their timers.