- 23 - A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention.

[toobravehearted]

[ It was completely by accident that he had even remembered.

Something must have triggered it, some random synapse connecting equations, a name, or a date index, something to pull it from memory to bring it forward to now to have him even studying the Gregorian calendar and practising long division. Surprised verification ensued along with the complicated matter of converting Matrix and Gallifreyan dating, Relative Dating, and the Doctor running out of fingers and contemplating carrying the 1.22^6/acorn and the Local Dateline on his toes.

It was only after all that, that he remembered even mentioning it to someone several months ago now and the date itself had still been and gone by at least two months. Not only had he missed the holiday but his own...

Yes, well. Random connecting synapses. Dendrites firing like so many tiny suns gone supernova. The chaotic mind of the Doctor. Better late than never at all?

There's another supernova of the mind, this time like a light-bulb of inspiration, and the Doctor smiles while reaching for his journal and filtering away from the Tenth Doctor. ]

Who would agree that it might be time for a little light relief?

It's the Doctor here, good afternoon. I hope everyone is as well as can be expected and that things are settling down for the time being. As much as we like to be kept busy, I'm sure that we could all use the time to recuperate and get used to the castle being joined in the middle again.

I would also hope that I'm not interrupting but I do have a small request if you would allow me, starting with: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?



[ He starts to sketch in a picture as he talks - it's a pretty good likeness. Ideally he'd like to use a camera to catch a funny-face and slap that in the journal instead, but that's pushing his luck a bit too far and he's hoping to avoid threats or a cause to enter his next regeneration early. ]

Now, for those of you that don't know, this is... a friend of mine, and for where he comes from there is a holiday that I'm afraid I have been rather remiss of mentioning on his behalf. By about two months. Yes, I know. It's been a busy two months. A bit of a boring holiday really, nothing special, but Otherstide does entail the giving of... Celery.

[ Absolutely it does. Except it doesn't. ]

All right, no, perhaps that's not quite strictly traditional, no. Gift giving however is definitely a tradition of this holiday, and my request is that if you see him... He would really appreciate the gift of celery.

[ Definitely. Probably. Maybe? ]

... Right. Not conventional, I know, and it is entirely possible that he won't like it at all, but certainly it is a gesture of goodwill, one that I will be practising when I see him also. I do hope that after the upheaval we have had of late that some of you would be kind enough to join me in this gentle venture. You know what they say, it's the thought that counts...


[[OOC - Ten will have a general post up tomorrow - please give generously? :D ]]

Comments

[lightbranded]

[With anyone else, Will would have been certain that this was a joke. But this was the Doctor. So Will had to admit to a small amount of doubt. With all the odd things he'd learned about the Doctor's world, he supposed it could be possible.]

Any kind in particular?

[toobravehearted]

Hello Will! How are you doing? As long as it's fresh that will be excellent.

[lightbranded]

Well enough. Now that that jungle is gone.

[He pauses.]

Are you really serious about this?

[toobravehearted]

And the spiders, thank Rassilon. [Complete with a face pull.]

Yes. Against my better judgement, yes, but there are reasons of course, there always is. Nearly always. Most of the time.

[lightbranded]

The spiders were not pleasant. [Will didn't like to think ill of any creature that was not of the Dark. But...

He had really not enjoyed trying to survive the jungle with none of his powers.]

Then I'll go along with it.

Dictated forever

[preformthisneigh]

OH OH! I've seen him! We played the weird jungle game together.

[Of course, the most important part of this post is mention of a celebration. He makes a note of it in his notebook, something to remember for as long as he's here.]

There is no such thing as a boring holiday. You just need to know the right way to celebrate it. I think we could do more than just give him a piece of celery. I'm seeing the ballroom, all greens and whites, bunches bushels? of celery all over. We could even play spin the celery.

[You brought this upon yourself.]

And ever

[toobravehearted]

[Have you put on your construction hat for this, Cheese?]

Yes, that game. Well, I am pleased you know him already. You know, there's no reason to go all out, I am a little late after all.

... Did you just say Spin the Celery?

[Yes, yes he did bring it on himself. His elder is going to kill him!]

[preformthisneigh]

[Darn right he has.]

There's no such thing as being late for a party, especially if it's for such an important celebration. Don't you worry about a thing, I can pull something together in five seconds flat.

Well, you've gotta keep with the theme. Who'd spin a bottle in a celebration with celery?

[toobravehearted]

[We thought so, the construction hat shows the gravity of the situation.]

... Oh, I'm not worried... [Yes, yes he is.] Ah, you do raise a valid point Cheese, but would you be kind enough to explain what Spin the Celery entails?

And also I did clean forget my manners as well as, yes. How are you doing? You didn't get into too much trouble I hope during the game?

[preformthisneigh]

[It means serious business is going on.]

You sit in a circle and spin the celery and the pon- peope it points to have to dare one another to do something! You guys don't have this game?

Aww, I'm just fine! We've got stuff like that happening all the time in Equestria, it was easy to deal with.

[This Doctor]

[rose_of_battle]

[Thanks to a certain event, Sheena knows who the man in the picture is, and she also knows that THIS Doctor wears a piece of celery...]

What are you up, too, Doctor?

[She's totally trying not to laugh, by the way.]

[This Sheena]

[toobravehearted]

Me? Sheena, whatever might you be inferring? [Except he may very well be grinning behind his journal.] Hopefully spreading a little cheer, especially after the time we've had of things of late.

[This Doctor]

[rose_of_battle]

[He's not the only one smiling right now.]

Come on, Doctor. I know this man's more than a friend, and you wear celery.

So, shouldn't you be the one getting that particular gift?

[Celery bouquets for both Doctors...]

[This Sheena]

[toobravehearted]

[Sheena, please don't make it sound like they're getting married. The vows alone would be a nightmare.]

Ah, no. Definitely not for me. Besides, I already have my own celery.

I just thought, that seeing as I had clean forgotten me would as well and something a little fun and nice would be... nice. Don't you think it's nice?

[Don't you think he's waffling?]

[This Doctor]

[rose_of_battle]

[Not to mention confusing.]

But technically, if we give him celery, aren't we giving it to you, too?

[Dog with a bone, here.]

Oh, I'm not saying it's not nice, but if you forgot it, and he forgot it, and the two of you are the same person, then if we do something nice for him, we should do something nice for you, right?

[What the hell did she just say?]

Dictated

[sugarwaffo]

[Let's be honest, a good bit of that went over Sugar's head. But the most important parts stuck.]

A holiday! No I haven't seen him, but if I do I'll be sure to give him...

[A pause.]

...What's celery?

Dictated

[toobravehearted]

[He recognises that voice, doesn't he?]

Hello! That would be excellent, thank you. Celery is a vegetable. Don't you have celery where you come from?

Dictated

[sugarwaffo]

[Yes, he does!]

Maybe? What is a vegetable? [Sugar does not specialize in plant identification. She can recognize grass, bushes, trees, flowers, fruit... stuff like that. But more detailed information about the Human World's plant life is lost on her.]

Dictated to end

[toobravehearted]

[What a question to answer. Layman's terms then. Very simplified ones.]

Well... vegetables are basically edible plants. Like fruits. But where fruits tend to come from a vine or a tree, vegetables are grown and come from the ground.

[sugarwaffo]

I know fruits! Fruits are yummy.

So... vegetables are the plants you eat?

Fifth Doctor

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine does recognize that man from Christmas. She could almost believe Five... almost, until she reaches the mention of celery that is.

She smells a prank in the works.]

What are you doing, Doctor?

Dairine, to end

[toobravehearted]

[Prank? Him?]

I'm being nice of course. Hello, Dairine.

Fifth Doctor, to end

[wizard_redfive]

Nice. Sure. [She doesn't believe it.]

Hey, Doctor. Get through the rainforest all right?

[toobravehearted]

You're sounding rather dubious.

Yes, thank you, but what about you? Doing all right after all that?

[wizard_redfive]

Anyone with a slight knowledge of pranking should be right now, honestly.

Of course. As good as ever. [Which is to say she's holding up.]