paradisa | - 18 - Conscience whispers, but interest screams aloud.

[ The Doctor is dreaming but he doesn't know it yet. It feels like he's been walking through the TARDIS for a long time already, following a voice that's female but indistinct. Sometimes it seems as if it is corridors away. Sometimes, just around the next corner. Either way he hasn't caught up to it. He has called back, asking whoever is there to stay put, he will find them and guide them out. But with each call and follow, he's moving deeper and deeper down into the machine. Who is that? He knows the voice, he's sure of it. The light is changing, corridors are getting darker and at the edge of his vision he sees movement, a quick flash of cloth that disappears around a column.

No. That's not right. It can't be. He lunges at a dash around the column, calling a name as he goes.

There's nothing there except more darkened corridor. Being down this deep, the walls twist and press in around him. It's only then that he realises he needs to wake up.

Waking himself up isn't such a difficulty or a problem in of itself. Discovering where he is, entirely different and definitely a problem. In the depths of his ship, his eyes adjusting to the poor light and the sound of dynamorphic generators in his ears, at his back another sound joins in. Something is there. It slithers and hisses, tasting the air, looking for its prey. The Doctor turns around quickly, eyes widening at what moves in the shadows. ]

Oh no. Oh no, YOU DO NOT!

[ Running forward, he does two things at once. Searching frantically through his pockets, losing items and pocket brick-a-brack in the process, what he really wants fails to immediately turn up. He's also closing off his mind, battening down his mental defences but it's already too late; he was literally caught napping. As the Doctor moves forward to contain this monstrosity, the hunting beast rises up on its belly and rushes forward with a strike.

There isn't a shout or a call for help to mark the Doctor's departure. ]

[ Much later, the Doctor stands in the castle lobby, still and quiet. Too quiet, appearing preoccupied and perhaps even a little vacant, as if he was going somewhere but that it slipped his mind where. Perhaps it had something to do with the serrated and very sharp bladed knife from the kitchen in his hand. Perhaps it didn't. Not that anyone can immediately tell, but there is a fight going on in his mind and it's been going on for a while now. Something claws and grabs at his thoughts and memories, riffling through them and taking them apart, twisting and coiling tighter. The Doctor fights back with ferocity, scratching at the inside of his mind to get out.

'Hello, Doctor. Missed me?'

'A snake in the grass such as you? I don't think so. I will NOT relinquish to you and I can banish you. You'll not control me again.'

There's laughter in the Doctor's mind. 'I already am. Look.' And it is then that the Doctor sees the knife in his hand and the head of a snake on the back of his wrist, peeking out from under his sleeve.

'Be gone with you, Doctor. Back to the Dark Places of the Inside for you.'

The Mara takes full control and the Doctor's mouth twists into a wicked and satisfied smile before it speaks aloud with the Doctor's voice. ]

Time to start having a little fun around here.

[[OOC: Loss start! Two scenarios, a tamer version here or the section below for wanton destruction.]]

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[She does not consider it stupid; more a calculated risk. Kicking him would threaten her grounding support, so headbutting seemed the next best option. It does hurt, oh yes, and she staggers back for a moment, but she does not let the pain show. The pain does distract her long enough for the Mara to get one hand free.

When she sees his other hand reaching for her head again, her struggles begin anew. She strains against his hold on her wrists, turning her head to the side to make it harder to reach. When she feels that mental push and the accompanying drowsiness, her fighting dives into full blown panic.]

No!!

[Dairine screams as she pushes back with her mind against the invading mental presence, pushing it away from her. Her telepathic abilities are not inconsiderable, despite her tendency to not use them. As she lashes out against the Mara, she mentally calls, not to him, but to the Doctor.]

Doctor? Doctor, can you hear me?!

[Her mental cry feels to the Mara as loud and as irritating as her voice is. But isn't that panic sweet?

As for the Doctor, he does hear and is aware, struggling hard and calling but he can't be heard. The Mara however pushes back against Dairine's mind, exerting its will through the skills and mental experience the Doctor has.]

Doctor!! I know you're there, please do something!

[She shouts, her mind projecting as loud as it can. Dairine pushes harder, fighting desperately to keep his reach away both for the Doctor's sake and her own. She does not know what the Mara is planning to do. Part of her wonders if he'll just kill her after knocking her out. It occurs to her that might be more preferable to the other possibilities. As the thought passes though her mind, she realizes her body is trembling, all her rage, fear, and exertion taking its toll. She can't give up, she just can't--!

Gathering her strength, she gets ready to ram into the Mara, aiming to hit him with one elbow. But when she moves, her legs finally give out from underneath her, and she falls onto her knees. The pain that it causes helps a little to keep her lucid, keep her mind fighting, but she's not sure how much longer she can keep it up. Struggling to stay awake, she glares up at him and hisses.]

You're not... going to get away with this...

[There's a shift, a struggle, a fight for control that hits a new ferocity. If the Doctor could be heard his voice would be raw from shouting, not that Dairine would know. The Mara hears it, and it's another irritating whine that it doesn't like, but can't shut it up for the minute because its concentration is on the girl that keeps fighting, using up that dwindling will until there's simply none left.

Both struggles please the Mara no end.

As the girl falls to her knees it compensates for her movement, not letting go of her wrists and the fingers of the other hand brush over her forehead.]

Shhh. I already did, and I did warn you. [The voice it uses turns sing-song again.] All the way to space and back, how long before your world turns black?

[The last push to sleep comes, like a mental symbol of turning out lamps one by one and the Mara, being so sure it will tip her over that edge this time, will be ready to catch her. How lucky is she, the best restful sleep of a few hours she'll ever have, all free of charge.

Who said the Mara wasn't merciful to its subjects, now?]

[Dairine has not quite given up, pushing and searching at the edges of his mind for the Doctor. If she no longer has the energy to physically fight or run, she intends to use the last of it to find him. Perhaps to free him, if she can. If not, she can at least try to forward a message to the rest of the castle or something. Standing at the edges of his mind, she thinks she can see a wall deep in the darkness. Maybe... if she could just... reach it...

But then a much closer touch of darkness snaps her out of her mental wanderings. She glares daggers at the Mara even as it touches her forehead, her voice clear despite its whispered tone.]

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

[No matter what the Mara was trying to do — kill her, overshadow her — it didn't matter. She had long prepared for such a possibilities. The thought relaxes her, or was that the Mara's influence dulling her senses? Dairine could hardly tell anymore. But even if she was taken out, others would take her place. She could trust them to protect the residents and stop the Mara. Dairine was certain of that. Her fall would only draw more people against the Mara. Her sister... Her stomach clenches. Neets would not be happy about this, but she would do her best to avenge her little sister. Just like Dairine would do for her. The thought of her sister makes Dairine fight harder, harder, but a false sense of calm is seeping into her system like venom, making her mind sluggish and slow. As darkness begins to take over her vision, she feels regret over not telling anyone about that letter she wrote, should the worst happen. Maybe they will find it anyway. One final thought escapes, barely audible.]

Neets, I'm sorry.

[And with that Dairine slumps forward, sleep finally overtaking her.]

[As the girl falls forward, the hand that was on her head comes around quickly to catch her at the waist and the other lets go of her hands. Such a fight she had in her! Cruel and drawn out... The Doctor would never allow that, should he use the inclination it would be kind, it would be quick, blah blah blah, but as much as he voices his disgust, he's in no position to do anything about it.

Holding the girl steady the Mara looks around the lobby for if what it did was seen. It can't leave this one so out in the open and on the floor, that would attract attention too quickly. Its eyes alight on the couches that surround the room, and scooping the girl up the Mara stands and places her on one.

Just look at that, she looks all plum-tuckered out and caught napping. Stupid, foolish child. Perhaps there's a lesson to be learned here, one the Doctor should be pleased was doled out. With a final look around, the Mara leaves.]

Dair!

[Her call for help had been heard, if only a little too late. Nita transports in, ready and willing to lend her hand in a fight- only to find her sister crumpled on the floor.

Her heart jumped up into her throat.]

Dair! [She rushes forward, but a quick check shows that she's still breathing, still got a pulse. It was going to be okay. Nita lets out a deep breath and quietly shakes her sister's shoulder.]

Hey, kiddo. Time to get up.

[Oh Neets, such a good sister.

Unfortunately the Doctor's (or rather the Mara's) mental command to sleep has already gripped her mind, putting in deep sleep mode. A little shaking will not be enough to wake her.

At least she doesn't look in pain though? Lying on the couch, you could almost believe nothing had happened.

Except Dairine never sleeps this deeply unless something has happened. A spell wiping her out, the aftermath of their family's loss, getting chased to a distant planet by bug-eyed aliens... Deep sleep was usually a sign that something was wrong.

Not to mention hidden behind cloth and sleeve, the beginnings of bruises are starting to form on her knees and wrists...]

[Alright. Step one is to get her out of the lobby. She doesn't exactly feel like performing indepth wizardry out in the open while whatever (whoever) did this to Dair might still be lurking around. It's a bad idea to leave yourself open.

So, it's the 'Beam Me Up, Scotty' spell with a few adjustments made to account for Dair's unconscious presence. Okay. She can do this. Get her up to her room first.]

[The transit spell works perfectly well. Of course, Dairine being to deep in sleep to move on her own probably helped keep her in the circle. Now she's simply asleep on the room's floor instead.]

- 18 - Conscience whispers, but interest screams aloud.

I apologise for the italic explosion u_u

no worries ;)

and Dairine is stubborn to the last ;;

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so much tl;dr

That's usually me using the TL;DR button...

And cue big sister rescue mission

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