- 16 - Finishing a good book is like leaving a good friend.

[toobravehearted]

[[Backdated to Halloween afternoon.]]

[ It's been rather quiet from this quarter as of late. That's not necessarily a bad thing. The Doctor has had to wait a little... Waiting he can do. He can bide his time and Time is his business after all. No, he doesn't mind waiting at all.

Endings though. Finalities. Goodbye's. Last pages. Postscripts and signatures. He doesn't like those and there's been so many of them. One after the other after another, oh, THAT doesn't end. People will come and go, and their paths cross briefly or a bit longer and then they're gone, it is a fact of life that he is well aware of. But here it feels so final, like the last stroke of a pen at the bottom of a page.

Is this what Paradisa will do to him one day as it has to others? Finding himself writing notes and postscripts in preparation for the day when the castle has had enough of him? Or did it do that once already?

He's in a spot that's becoming one of his favourite places, the landing that over looks the lobby. Hands flat on top of the stone wall, the Halloween decorations below are just that and feel tawdry, hollow, and mocking his mood. He finds a familiar anger bubbling up again. That won't do. Not now. Not when his journal only just repaired itself, because damn the castle if he didn't throw it hard enough to lose its cover and break the spine. Childish and petulant.

There are no endings. He will refuse them. There is always time and there are no endings, no goodbye's.

It's still a few minutes more before he addresses the journal, though. His tone doesn't carry his usual measure of brightness. ]

Good afternoon. I-.

It's the Doctor here, usually the one in the cricket jumper. Well, I'll get right to the point and save us all some time for today's festivities, shall I, for I'm more than aware I'm not the only one dressed in new clothes again.

[Filter: Code Blair]

Anyone that has heard of or been a part of Code Blair previously, I would appreciate your attention, please. Likewise, parties that are capable of assisting with a castle-wide evacuation should it be required. I find myself in possession of previous meeting notes and strategies; I would like to see these continued and expanded upon. Please consider this a call for your skills and interest in ensuring the safety of remaining castle residents.

[/Filter.]

[Filter: Tenth Doctor]

Do you have a moment?

[/Filter.]

I would appreciate it, I really would, if comments on my attire today could be kept to a minimum. Yes, I know it's likely a lot to ask, and yes, I do understand the humour of operating scrubs, a white lab coat and a stethoscope, thank you. [ Not to mention that rather snappy name tag of 'Doctor McLovely'. There's a pause before he continues. ]

In the meantime, if the children or anyone else interested has had enough of sweets already today, I have left a basket of apples in the lobby. Far much better for your health and you know what they say about apples.

Comments

[workaphilic]

Are you recommending we stay away from you now?

[Apples. And since apparently he's just 'a doctor' now.]

[toobravehearted]

Sherlock. I trust that you are in the rudest of good health?

[workaphilic]

Overdue for a checkup, I suppose, but I was under the impression we weren't supposed to mention it.

[toobravehearted]

Precisely. If you're in good health no reason for a house call. [Someone's snippy today. Yet he has to ask, considering, well, it is Sherlock.]

Unless there's another reason, if 'checkup' is Sherlock speak for there being something up.

[workaphilic]

[His tone goes flat.]

It isn't.

[It's John-speak for there being something up with Sherlock, generally.]

My health is fine, the castle takes relative care in that.

[toobravehearted]

As all of us, when it has a mind to. I wasn't referring so much to your health.

I was going to congratulate you by the way. Excellent choice, although the burnt pages didn't think so.

[workaphilic]

[He knows, but his mental situation isn't exactly something he chats about.

A beat.]

Choice of what?

[He needs reminding, sometimes.]

[toobravehearted]

[He wasn't thinking quite of his mental health. He's still learning to decipher that Sherlock speak. Although with Sherlock's question, that does get a frown.]

Your experiment the other day that you so kindly shared with us. Just what were you up to?

Code Blair filter

[not_nikkiheat]

I can help however you need me to.

Code Blair filter

[toobravehearted]

Kate, thank you. What I'll need-- Speaking up is a good start. I want everyone interested to make equal input. Ideas from all corners that can be put together to make this functional. It's time there was a solid plan and structure.

[And he wants to make it work. Of course he does. And all he can think of right at this minute is the hard work that Phoebe put into trying to make it work and the reasons why.]

Code Blair filter

[not_nikkiheat]

Exactly what I was thinking. I worked some with Katniss before the last...crisis. [She doesn't even know what to call the awful things that happen.] She provided some valuable insight as well.

Code Blair filter all the way

[toobravehearted]

[he can guess exactly what crisis that was, the one he wasn't here for.] Katniss. I don't believe I have met her yet. What insight was she able to give, if I may ask?

[not_nikkiheat]

She lives in the woods, and she said we could evacuate some people there if we ever need to. She said that she would be able to protect a group at her cabin. She seems very levelheaded, and I think she'd be good in a crisis.

[toobravehearted]

In that case I think I should like to meet her. There should be a designated meeting point outside, far away enough from the castle, but not at such a distance that makes it too difficult for people to get there. Of course, I can transport people should it be required but out of what we have seen the castle throw at us previously, the TARDIS isn't the be all and end all.

There will also need to plans in place in case of a castle-lockdown. If we can't get outside.

[not_nikkiheat]

I've been wondering if we shouldn't split the evacuation up by floors. The lower floors go to a designated area outside, and the higher floors go to the TARDIS.

We could see if we can secure some room as a safe room in case of a lockdown, as well.

[toobravehearted]

An excellent thought, Kate. I should hope for there to be volunteers to manage each floor as well, if we can dig up enough interest to have two per floor.

As a secure room, I believe the library was used last time. A good safe point for three of the floors at least with the three entrances to it, but that could also be its downfall if the entrances can't be manned.

[im_the_doctor]

[Filter: Code Blair]

Happy to help if needed. I've always found running for the exit to be the best strategy in an evacuation but I suppose there are others to consider.

[Filtered]

[Filtered: Fifth Doctor]

I suppose I could spare you one or two.

[Filtered]

Tenth Doctor filter for convenience

[toobravehearted]

Excellent, I was rather hoping you would. Our two heads of course will be better than one. If something should happen to either one of us, it is important we know what the plan is in case the TARDIS needs to be moved. [In particular he's thinking of his last little castle affliction of being turned into a porcelain bust.]

Two, no, three things. 1. Where are you right now? 2. I've copied our room configuration although I'm sure you may want to tweak it and it's here if you want to use it. 3. There's something in Power Room Three. Nothing too major, nothing to panic about. [Except it might be.] I've double and triple checked that it's contained and I've made it so that only us can actually find Power Room Three.

Continued Filter...

[im_the_doctor]

True, true. I'm sure you've tried but what happens when you tried to leave here in the TARDIS? Are we able to include her in our evacuation plans?

Oh a list! I do enjoy a good list! 1. This very moment I'm on the roof. Where are you? 2... Or would me asking you a question make that 2 and this now 3? No, that just messes up the reference points now doesn't it?! How about my question to you is 1b. and that would still make this 2. So, 2. Thank you! Although I'm not sure what you mean by tweak it. What kind of things are options to tweak? And now 3. Yes, this makes much more sense. 3. That sounds rather ominous! Perhaps I should take a look at Power Room Three in the very near future then. 4. I'm on my way back to the room, I trust the TARDIS is still there?

Filter all the way

[toobravehearted]

Evacuation of the Castle, certainly. Travel through time or leaving Paradisa, not at all. The poor old girl can't go further than the Dead Zone. Technology of any kind doesn't function beyond it.

[Lists! Yes, it's the first smile he's cracked all day. And with that he starts to make his way back up to his room.]

1 and 4, I'm on the first floor over looking the lobby, of course she is, and I'm on my way to meet you there now. 2, you're very welcome. Tweak it for your current personal taste of course. And for 3... I'm rather counting on that you would take a look at it, yes. No time like the present?

[im_the_doctor]

Dead Zone. Yes. I've heard of that. Not yet gone out to see it though. Doesn't sound like the most liveliest place now does it?!

1 and 4, excellent, I'll see you very shortly. 2. Well, you may not enjoy what my tweaks result in. Remember what my Control Room looked like? 3. Why procrastinate what you can do now?

5. I beat you to the room. Hurry up will you, haven't got all day now do we?! You may have to back off on those jelly babies a wee bit.

[toobravehearted]

I beg your pardon?! [Well, he sounds quite out of breath. Opening the door to the room - from the inside - who beat who, old man? - he grins at his elder. It's just like that moment when you're on a mobile phone with someone and then they're standing right behind you...] I think you could do with a bag or two, actually. They're really a good source of energy. Come on then, slow coach!

[He's still in running mode and hasn't slowed down yet. Watch him run into the TARDIS...] You're to leave the Console Room alone please, thank you!

[im_the_doctor]

As the door opens, the look of surprise turns to one of disbelief. The older has to take a step back and raise an eyebrow as he looks his younger up and down from head to toe. "You're taking our name a bit to far don't you think? You are well aware that we really aren't that kind of doctor?"

"Well, there is more than one control room..." The older version pretends to think on this as if he's making plans for one of them as he enters the room and closes the door behind him. "And I have plenty of energy, thank you! You're the one who's out of breath... Or does that have something to do with McLovely? I can back if this is a bad time!"

1/2

[toobravehearted]

2/2

[toobravehearted]

[He really, really dislikes this castle at times. Blasted stupid, confounded outfit. He sniffs.] You're just jealous.

If you're quite done, shall we get on?