- 21 - As a consequence of marvellous instruction in the Art

[toobravehearted]

[His voice over the journal is thoughtful, a little distracted and pensive as he speaks aloud numbers, seemingly at random.]

One, one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen, twenty-one, thirty-four, fifty-five, eighty-nine, one hundred and forty four, two hundred and thirty three, three hundred and seventy seven, six hundred and ten...

[A long pause follows, taps of the tip of his pen making ink spots on the page. His voice picks up again before long, distracted but then becoming excited, breathless, as if what he imparts is brand new knowledge just discovered and he is eager to share.]

Patterns. It's funny how some repeat in nature over and over again. It doesn't matter where in the universe you are, or what you are, some patterns will always repeat. One could even be said to be at the very beginning and to be a basic building block of all life. Well, that's if you think that holds any water of course. It's a pattern that's everywhere however, if only you look.

[Turning back to the journal, he starts to write the numbers, heavier than normal pen strokes filling the page as he speaks them aloud again.]



No. No, no, no. That's not good enough. You have to understand this, it's very important.

Look.

[And the Doctor begins to draw...]



Do you see? Beautiful curves and numbers. Golden spirals. They're everywhere.

Comments

[im_the_doctor]

Hearing his younger self's voice over the journal, the elder Doctor breaks out into a run.

Where? Where?! Where was he supposed to be?!

The elder Doctor had been down in the kitchen. The last he'd seen of his younger self was in the TARDIS that morning. Was it possible that he was still there?! In a panic he raced up the stairs and through the door to their unofficially shared room.

Seeing his younger self there he extends out a hand waving it as he yells, "STOP!!!"

[toobravehearted]

[Sitting on he bed - the castle-provided bed in the room, his head jerks up as his elder self bursts in and shouts. His own pen is poised on the journal and about to draw another spiral.]

Did you get what you needed? Stop what?

[im_the_doctor]

"That! Stop that!" Coming fully into the room, and up to the bed he grabs the pen from his younger self's hand. "They're trying to get in. Don't give them to door to get in. You have to resist!"

[i_rule_me]

That's Fibonacci's sequence, innit? Big math thing that's reflected in biology an' all o' that?

[David's not a mathematician, but he understands the concepts well enough. He's started to see these patterns here and there in the castle, but just chalked it up to the Castle being it's usual weird self.]

[toobravehearted]

[With the pen snatched from his hand, he reaches automatically to snatch it back but then stops and frowns.]

What are you talking about?

[Standing up and bringing the journal with him for the precious spiral drawings, he peers at his elder self, concerned and confused at his outburst.]

It's all right. Stop, take a breath just for a minute. Now, what happened? What's the matter?

[im_the_doctor]

[The Doctor frowns at himself.]

What do you mean, what am I talking about?! [His voice a touch on the side of manic. His finger jabs into the journal pointing at the drawings and the numbers.] THIS! I'm talking about this! Don't you see?!

[Glares.] I don't have time to take a breath! You know what happened! You must! Don't you see? Don't you sense it?!

[toobravehearted]

Oh, yes. Yes! But it's only one of the interpretations of approximating Golden Spirals, you know. There's lots of others. But! The beauty in them isn't just the integer sequence.

Look what they make. Do you see?

[He draws another spiral, larger this time, calling out the numbers as he goes.]

[toobravehearted]

[He pulls the journal back and looks down at the page. The tip of his finger traces one of the spirals he drew, around and around, ever increasing. Head back up, he isn't seeing a problem. Except only with his elder self, and that's worrying him.]

Lower your voice. There's no need to shout. They're just drawings, see? Nothing to worry about. In fact, just the opposite. Is it me - and it is - or have you been acting a little... squirrely since the early hours?

[i_rule_me]

[David actually does give the spiral a minute or so of consideration. Maybe he just doesn't have the mind for it? He knows the Doctor's mind is a different sort of thing than his own, but that doesn't explain the other people in the journal, or the castle's behavior. He might have to hop on the Astral Plane and see if there's something worth seeing.]

'Fraid not, Doc. Explain it ta me, I'm curious.

[im_the_doctor]

[The Doctor shakes his head and warns.] Don't! Don't even draw it.

Look, just close the journal. I'd say rip the page out but it will only come back and that will only make things worse. Close the journal though and don't look.

[He pauses, and looks indignantly] Me?! I'm not the one drawing spirals in the journal!

[deductiongeek]

What's with repeating the Fibonacci Sequence all of a sudden?

[This was curious enough to distract even Conan from his efforts at collecting fingerprints.]

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

No. No, stop it; it's--

-- I don't like it. You all need to stop. this silliness.

[dictated]

[toobravehearted]

Stop? Why would I do that. You don't have to look.

Actually, you do, because this is an important lesson.

... Wait a moment. All?

[He starts to flip through the journal.]

[toobravehearted]

[It's easy for the Doctor to see the patterns, to put the equations and formulas together. His mind is always ticking over several problems and thoughts at once. But this now, it's taking up more and more of his attention.]

Explain? What do you mean explain? It's right there.

[His pen taps the page in the center of the spiral.]

Precise, equally measured, and repeating. You can't get away from them. You wouldn't want to.

[toobravehearted]

Why not? It's a perfect mathematical approximation of spirals and whorls. A vor-- The vortex. Yes, of course.

[toobravehearted]

[His finger stops briefly on the page and his eyes narrow at what sounds like a warning.]

Why would I do that? Technically, you are drawing in the journal. The question is, why are you so upset about it? Just look. They're beautiful. Exceptional. Mathematically perfect.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

Stop looking at them!

[dictated]

[toobravehearted]

Why? That's rather rude and you don't need to shout.

Oh, look at the colours! Why don't you like them? They're harmless.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

It's none of your business! Just stop.

[deductiongeek]

What vortex?

[toobravehearted]

Time. Far more complicated than Fibonacci ever dreamed of. Not that he did anyway, the sequence was around long before he was.

[dictated]

[toobravehearted]

Now you're starting to sound like-- Nevermind. It doesn't matter if I stop or not, these are everywhere if you just look.

[im_the_doctor]

[Frowns. Arguing with oneself is taking on a whole new, frustrating, meaning, the worst part is they never seem to see eye to eye. When he has more time that may be an interesting topic for them to discuss.]

If I had the ability to stop me drawing in the journal than I would stop. Be a good chap then won't you and do so.

No. No. I don't want to look. Listen to me. Close the journal and I'll explain.

[toobravehearted]

[It is by no means the first time he hasn't agreed with himself. It's a long ago memory but one he can look back on with some humour. His Second and Third really did not get on and in his Fifth he has the gift of hindsight.

That doesn't mean he has to apply it.]

You're beginning to both irritate and worry me but more of the worry, actually.

[He closes the journal, slowly and reluctantly. Then snatches it back open for another look. Yes, all right, still there. Journal closed again, then half open and, no, no, benefit of the doubt, journal closed. He looks up at himself, eyebrows raised expectantly.]

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

No they aren't.

[But he sounds kind of panicky, and not at all convinced.]