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

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

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! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Tech slowly gets up again, glancing back down as the Doctor experiments with the mushroom again. He doesn't quite make a face at the suggestion, finally shrugging as he fixes his goggles, looking to one of the larger ones nearby.]

Doesn't seem like it would hurt...

[He steps over, studying it as he puts away his tools from earlier. How did you even address a mushroom? Diplomacy isn't exactly a strongpoint, and even if the mushrooms have no obvious language he can't help but feel underequipped without his helmet. Taking as deep a breath as he can manage with his mask on, he sighs, looking up at the thing.]

Ah, excuse us for our rude behavior. Obviously we're rather new to this place as a whole, but this is our first venture into your ah...territory? We've been tasked with gathering samples from you for potential medicinal use among other things. Would that be permissible?

[At this point it's becoming more of a game. The mushroom the Doctor is interacting with seems to sense that the Doctor doesn't really have any hostility towards it and soon enough several other mushrooms pop up around it, moving in a nebulous wave in response to the Doctor's hand movement.

Despite his gaze fully focused on the new mushrooms that have arrived on the scene, he's still listening to Tech's attempt at mushroom diplomacy.]

Yes - what he said. We don't want to harm you although I imagine any collection might result in it which is why we're asking. We just need some gills, roots, stalks, and spores - sorry about earlier by the way I thought the spores were the least invasive thing to collect! [He straightens up and the mushrooms he was playing with seem to wilt a little in disappointment. Meanwhile the mushroom that towers above Tech remains silent and still. But after a moment it shakes, releasing spores and showering Tech in them.] Is that a yes?

Edited 2022-09-20 17:21 (UTC)

[Whatever Tech had been expecting, this clearly isn't it. He recoils at the fresh shower of spores. There's no way that can be healthy. In afterthought he wonders that he should be collecting them, but he's a bit preoccupied in trying to dust himself off as steps back.]

Was that really necessary?

[He shakes his head, squinting back at the mushroom before he glances at the Doctor.]

I can't tell if that was approval or refusal.

[He tugs out one of the vials from his bag to catch some of the motes yet floating around since they're there, only to stagger back at a sudden sensation of vertigo.]

Well how else would you expect a mushroom to give us their spores? It's probably a reluctant if you must.

[The Doctor doesn't seem too concerned about the shower, but then again, he's not the one standing right under it. He does look back down in time to see Tech stagger and he's quick to extend a hand out so that he doesn't trip over the mushrooms that have suddenly cropped up behind him.]

Between the two of us we should have enough spores. [And then to the towering mushrooms above them -] What about the rest of those parts? Are there mushrooms that are at the end of their life cycle we could take?

[This would be so much easier if he could speak to them telepathically. But something as big as this well...it might be the equivalent of being run over by a T-Rex.]

[Fingers just barely manage to grasp the Doctor's hand, leaning himself forward as he tries to keep himself steady. He's for the moment completely oblivious to the fresh growth of mushrooms behind him.]

Agreed. [More than enough, really. He caps the vial and stows it away, giving another shake of his clothes.

If a shower of spores was the result of asking nicely then perhaps he's appropriately wary when the Doctor makes his more specific request. The loud creak that sounds does not make him feel any more at ease. ]

I'm not sure I like the sound of that...

[He's still feeling vaguely dizzy but it doesn't keep him from looking in the direction he'd heard that noise, eyes widening at the large stalk just to their left as it begins to list towards them, enough so that it uproots itself as it begins to fall.]

Doctor, watch out!

[Meanwhile he's looking around still feeling very much like a kid in a candy shop. There's a lightness to his features underneath the mask as he looks up and around them waiting for a sign of any acknowledgement.

The loud creak followed by Tech's warning shout prompts the Doctor to spin around just in time to see the mushroom falling towards them. He lets out his own shout of surprise, fingers curling on the first part of Tech within his grasp as they stumble backwards out of the path of the mushroom. The small little mushrooms that had appeared in the undergrowth that had initially tripped them up seem to sweep their feet out from under them, rolling over themselves in a cascade so that they hardly have to use their own feet - depositing them just a hair's inch away from the fallen mushroom cap.

There's a moment of stillness as the Troop's silence settles in around them again before the Doctor lets out a burst of laughter. Leave it to the Doctor to sound pleased as punch despite almost getting crushed under a giant mushroom.]

Thank you! I think that was a yes? Was that a yes?

[Already feeling off-balance as it is, it doesn't take much for the Doctor to yank him back, much less for Tech to fall as the very ground seems to move beneath them.

He coughs, pushing himself upright to sit.]

That was too close.

[All the movement doesn't help his already disoriented senses, and even sitting there he still feels like the landscape around him is slowly twisting itself in a knot. At least from the Doctor's sudden exclamation, it sounds like the man is largely unhurt.]

I'm not quite convinced that it wasn't trying to kill us. [Tech mutters, making an attempt to get up and quickly aborting it in favor of closing his eyes for a moment.]

Do the details really matter? We aren't currently crushed under a mushroom.

[The chip hasn't stopped his Time Lord biology from working so he's got a bit of a leg up on Tech in terms of still feeling okay in the forest. Realistically he knows he probably too far behind Tech which means they should probably get working.

He hauls himself to his feet and immediately rushes to the roots of the mushroom bringing out the tools they had been given to start collecting some of them. He goes a full several minutes before realizing Tech isn't doing much. Craning his neck around the side of the mushroom he spots him.]

What are you doing? Are you still upset about the mushroom trying to maybe not kill us? You really shouldn't take it so personally.

True enough.

[He's pulled himself into more of a kneeling position, but the sensation that everything around him is moving hasn't much improved enough for him to trust his feet. At the Doctor's words he gives an exasperated sigh.]

This has nothing to do with any issues I might have against the Troop. I...do not think that exposure to the spores is doing me any favors however.

Even with the mask?

[For some reason he's tempted to say 'Are you my mummy'? in the mask but he can practically hear Bill rolling her eyes and saying this isn't the time or place. Instead he strides over to where Tech is and stoops down beside him.]

I don't know the full extent of my chipped power yet but I can try it out - with your permission of course.

They... were probably not intended for such direct exposure.

[He presses a hand to his face, tentatively lifting his head to look up at the Doctor when he finds the man has moved towards him. Or is it just everything else again?]

I don't believe I'm familiar with what your power is. But if you think it may be of help...

They could have given us a bit more of a disclaimer. But now we know.

I'm not either. [He wouldn't know what to call it and hasn't had a chance to fully use it yet either - but he had felt it when he had stubbed his toe in his attempt to move a workbench into his room by himself. The pain had gone as quickly as it had come.] Good time to find out. [But now that he has Tech's permission, he reaches out placing fingers on either side of his temple. He can feel the haze of the Troop clouding Tech's mind and with an exhale he shoves the haze aside.

In the grand scheme of things it's not so different from what he'd be able to do sans chip. But he still feels like there's more to explore.] How does that feel?

I would have much preferred not finding out firsthand.

[The Doctor's admission just then isn't very comforting. Tech looks like he's having second thoughts, but even that becomes difficult to maintain when he starts seeing two or three Doctors there in front of him. He shuts his eyes again, resigning himself to whatever the other has in mind.

Even with his eyes closed, in that moment he feels like his head is swimming before all at once the sensation clears, which is almost just as dizzying. Tech opens his eyes again, blinking as he takes a steadying but careful breath.]

...much better, actually. How did you do that?

Firsthand experience is the best teacher and look on the bright side - now we can make a better mask.

[Building things, making things that won't harm is where he'd prefer to focus his energy. Of course he wants to leave - but at the same time he knows he can't in good consciousness just leave these people here.

There's a bit of a jaunt in his body as he straightens up and helps Tech to his feet.]

I just concentrated on blowing the spores out of your mind and it worked. [He's not sure how else to explain it.] Now. Roots?

So long as one survives those experiences, but yes, that's true enough on both counts.

[At least the ground doesn't seem like it's going to twist under him as he gets back up with the Doctor's assistance. He dusts himself off.]

Interesting. Have you used this ability before? I'm assuming you have, at least, given you knew it was an available option of sorts.

[Tech nods as he removes his pocket knife again. At least he can focus again and not accidentally cut any fingers off. He moves towards the fallen mushroom.]

[He leads the way back towards the roots, carefully clipping off what they need.]

I stubbed my toe the other day and it stopped hurting when I thought about how annoying that was.

[He lets them fall into silence.]

Have you decided if you're keeping you chip yet?

[Tech works with equal efficiency, carefully storing samples away. There's the smallest snort in amusement at how the Doctor had apparently come across his ability.]

That's quite a leap between a stubbed toe and spore-induced disorientation. I've not yet discovered what ability I might have.

[So...much...mushroom.]

...for the time being, I've decided to. If it's the only way we'll effectively be able to get into the Sylphid's city without drawing attention, then I'll endure it. Otherwise it hasn't been too bad of a hindrance after I've had some time to acclimate. My only concern is that there may be other, undocumented advantages that the Sylphid may have over those still having such a connection, as it were.

You might get an epiphany stubbing your toe.

[With the roots done he circles around to Tech. What was next on the list? Oh right, mushroom caps. The one of this particular mushroom seems a little too big for the two of them to just pop off and walk out of there with and the Doctor has to pause to contemplate it]

Of course there's going to be something else. They can't just be tracking chips. Bit of a waste of technology if it was just that. Maybe it's some kind of control device as well?

We'll likely have to just break it down to a manageable size. [He suggests as he observes the Doctor.]

First thing I looked into. Given that I've had experience with that sort of a chip before, I was not inclined to having another one to deal with.

The information available from the rebels has assured that controlling someone through these chips isn't one of the functions, and while I do not think that is something they would have any reason to lie about, I am not sure how extensive their research has gone into such matters, save that they've obviously been dealing with these far longer than we have.

Do we have tools big enough for that? [It's not like they were given a large carving knife or a saw. In the end though he simply decides that climbing up onto the mushroom to try and hack bits down is the best option.

As he hacks though he doesn't see the enoki-like mushroom trendles creeping down from the canopy above them and creeping along the surface of the larger one towards the Doctor's feet.]

Control could extend to other functions. Control of the body or restraint of the body?

[Tech eyes his knife.] No, unfortunately. But if we cut through enough of it, we may be able to just break parts off.

[He studies the mushroom cap to see where about he should start.]

That is an excellent point. And given the particular placement of this chip, it does leave a lot open to possibility, none of which are likely pleasant.

[He glances at the Doctor, brow arching as he notices the extra company gathering.]

Ah...looks like you're about to have more company there.

What -

[The trendles are already wrapped around his ankles and tugging him backwards as he lets out a shout.]

I still can't tell if they're joking around.

[Tech is already moving, reaching out for the Doctor.]

Neither can I, but perhaps we shouldn't overstay our welcome. We have collected the specimens requested, haven't we?

Everything sans the mushroom caps
oi – not so tight!

[The last bit is shouted as the mushrooms latch a little tighter onto him. There's a bit of a pretzel situation going on as he tries to twist around to grab Tech's hand.]

If this is all the Troop wants us to collect then we should probably listen to it.

No objections here.

[He tries to pull the Doctor back, quickly folding up his knife to put it away so he can have his other hand free to do likewise. Raising his voice, he addresses the mushrooms.]

Let him go, we'll take our leave, if that's what you wish.

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

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