- 9 - The secret of getting ahead is getting started.

[toobravehearted]

[The Doctor keeps secrets. He always has done. No matter how pleasant and open this incarnation of him is, there are some things he cannot share. Whole chunks of his life are shrouded in mystery, even to the people that know him the best. As a first point alone, there's the universe's oldest and simplest question posed to him everywhere he goes, and still that remains without an answer.

He keeps his secrets. Circling the TARDIS console, brushing a hand affectionately along its edge, he's sitting on several. The last time he thought about being proactive after what happened with the Lewis and Clark and the Event Horizon, he took an extended nap courtesy of the castle's beverage gift. Applying caution with his intentions and a thought that sits just on the edge of his consciousness, all he wants is to talk to the castle. To ask why. To have a reason and to understand. It's what everyone here wants and he is no different in that regard, except he has the means to at least try and he has his curiosity and questions that drive him forward.

In the meantime he is preparing, clearing his mind, finding calm and marking a point there. Attempting this with any animosity will not help his cause. Stopping at the back of the console he takes a piece of broken blue crystal from his pocket, rolls it around in his hand and then absently tosses it up and down, never missing the catch.

Presently that goes back into his pocket and he takes his journal from off the console. Out of the TARDIS and leaving his room, he's dictating as he goes.]


Good morning, everyone, it's the Doctor here. I hope you are all well and that everyone has sufficiently recovered or are doing so from our little trip to Isla Sorna and San Diego. I should think that many of us are glad to see the back of that little sojourn and a certain company especially.

I'm about to make my rounds of the castle and gather a head count as I go, a nice little morning walk and catch up seems to be in order. Yes, I do know CastleNet is available, but I find it far much better to stretch my legs, take in a bit of exercise, and besides, I like to talk. So you may very well see me around this morning. However, I do have some errands to run before the day gets too long. Anything small that anyone needs I'm more than pleased to add to my list, so do feel free to ask.


[[ooc: there's sections today, hold on done!]]

Comments

Around the castle

[toobravehearted]

[And with that the Doctor is taking his usual route as he does his weekly count. You can find him practically anywhere around the castle, with his journal and own notebook in hand, and occasionally with a piece of blue crystal being twiddled around his fingers. He looks like he is deep in thought, or even a little absent at that, so clearly he should be bothered.]

On the main stairs

[toobravehearted]

[He's been up on the Roof before coming back into the castle proper. Carefully making his way down onto the main staircase, he stumbles and then sits on the stairs, not trusting to make it the rest of the way down except for the quick way just yet. Drained and with a headache that nestles deep and thumps along with his heartbeats, he's not only rebuffed, but disappointed and frustrated, and he vents that by talking to himself, or so he might think.]

Of all the infernal, no good and just outright rude- That was disappointing and unproductive.

[deltacain]

Doctor?

[There's a familiar voice, one the Doctor probably hasn't heard much of in the past few days.

David is walking up the stairs, wearing a tracksuit, with a towel over his shoulders. His hair looks damp with sweat and it looks as though he's been out running. It's his coping mechanism.]

Are you okay?

[silent_guardian]

[Whatcha dooooooooin'?

A certain Guardian is bored and, having seen this man walk by a couple of times, curious as to what he's doing. Generally adults can't see him so he'll just fly up behind him and follow for a little while. So, Five, there's a little man sitting on a golden cloud following you around. Wat do?]

[pint_sized_carnivore]

[Chie noticed the Doctor walking around a hallway, and being the friendly creature that she is, she waved and smiled at him]

Hello

[toobravehearted]

[Sitting with his head slightly bowed, the Doctor looks up at the voice. Head moving at all = ow.]

David. [His name comes out on a forced breath.] How- how have you been? It's good to see you out.

[deltacain]

[Dear god...

David kneels on a step lower than the Doctor, frowning.]

I'm going to take that as a no. [His voice is tinged with great concern.] What happened?

[toobravehearted]

[Carrying out this task and taking the walk around clears the Doctor's head. He never knows quite what he might find, therefore, always interesting. Coming to a stop at a door, he fishes a pencil from an inside pocket to scribble a note into his own notebook-- And he pauses when the feeling of being distinctly watched comes upon him. Gaze up while standing still, no, nothing there in front of him, so he whirls around--]

Ahhh! [And with that little squeal he jumps back in surprise. Man on a cloud. Small man on a cloud. Absolutely perfectly normal and obviously there's a clear explanation for this. He'll start with a hesitant smile.]

Hello. Don't you know it's rude to sneak up on someone like that?

[inafadingcrown]

[Very quietly, she seats herself beside him on the stairs and waits. She could ask right away, but she knows enough to see that he needs a little time to recover before facing any questions.

For the moment, she's just a silent comforting presence.]

[toobravehearted]

[Yes'm, here he is. Seeing movement from the corner of his eye he turns and breaks into a wide smile before returning the wave and coming closer to the young lady.]

Hello! Fantastic morning isn't it? How are you doing and- wait a moment. Is that you, Chie? [For as much as he recalls they've only spoke on the journals before... but he could be mistaken.]

[lightbranded]

[Will listens to this with some concern.]

Are you well, Doctor?

[toobravehearted]

[Well, she can move very quietly. The first that registers is what he has sensed previously when in her presence, and looking around he sees her. He tips her a nod (and immediately regrets the movement) before giving a moment in companionable silence.

As for what he tried to achieve, that's on his mind, right at the front actually. Along with that headache.

Turning to face her a little better, albeit slowly, ] Hello Lady Galadriel. It is good to see you.

[toobravehearted]

[He looks up at Will and then wipes a hand down his face. He's clearly frustrated with what transpired and that is on his mind. His words come out on the back of a sigh.]

Hello, Will. I'm- I'm fine. How are you? Keeping out of trouble I hope?

[The reference to keeping out of trouble isn't lost on himself either, he's clearly doing badly at it.]

[toobravehearted]

[An intake of breath and his lips clamping into a line, he leans back away from David as far as the stair riser will allow him. While this Doctor doesn't usually outright lie, he doesn't always tell the full truth, either.]

Nothing. Nothing happened. [And that right there is the problem, nothing came of his efforts.]

I'm perfectly fine, David. [Followed by a wince.] Mostly fine.

[deltacain]

Doctor.

[This word has the hint of a warning.]

Please don't make me give you a taste of your own medicine. I don't want to be stubborn.

[inafadingcrown]

And you. [She smiles softly and places a hand on his knee.] Forgive me, but you seem unwell.

[courageous_wit]

[she is out and about. On seeing the Doctor, she moves to greet him]

Doctor! I haven't seen you in ages. Are you feeling all right?

[gentleidealist]

Doctor!

[He has a paper bag full of food, but he sets it down nearby so that he might jump Five without dropping something.]

How are you doing? What's that crystal for?

Action

[wizard_redfive]

Doctor!

[Dairine rushes over when she sees him sit down, rather concerned.]

Are you all right? You don't look so good.

[silent_guardian]

[Sandy had been peeking and trying to read what the man was writing when he, uh, squealed. He started, floating backwards a few feet in surprise.

Wait, he can see him? This is new and entirely unexpected, though not altogether unwanted. He grins sheepishly and waggles his fingers in a greeting. Oh hello, strange man, he didn't mean to scare you.

He shrugs, giving the man an apologetic look.]

[fluthlu]

[Hello there, have one (1) small deadpan teen girl from the dinosaur trip, coming out of her bedroom with a cat heaved up onto her shoulder. The cat lets out a meow, and as Rose is attempting to calm him she sees the Doctor.]

Good afternoon.

[Always one for polite pleasantries.]

[lightbranded]

Well enough.

[Will tilts his head and looks at the Doctor intently.]

You seem troubled.

[pint_sized_carnivore]

[Wat. How does he know her name? Wait, he does sound familiar]

Doctor?

[toobravehearted]

[A meow? Cat. Absolutely correct. Unless that's a digglehorn and then it's not a cat. Turning around at the noise, yes, that's definitely a cat attached to a young lady, one that he recognises even, and politeness always goes a long way.]

Good afternoon miss! Afternoon already, how did that happen? Time really does fly.

[Have a broad smile and his gaze flicking towards the door and its name plate.] Is this your door?

[toobravehearted]

[Jump him? Oh dear. To make matters worse he's reading his journal as he's going. Coming to a startled stop and fixing the kid with a look-- Wait a moment. He knows that voice, doesn't he? Sifting through memory and placing it, his face breaks into a smile.]

Lloyd? Lloyd! Good heavens, look at you! How are you doing?