#Yonder Pond

[bandcampsnoop]

3/10/24.

Simon Hanes and Tredici Bacci (New York) have been a part of my musical "playlist" for over 7 years. I love chamber pop with weird turns. I love grand projects with talented musicians. Simon Hanes has always provided all that.

"Brave New World" seems to keep everything except the spaghetti western feel that used to be a marker of Tredici Bacci music. Sami Stevens' voice is still here, and so is the meticulous orchestration. Really, there isn't much like Tredici Bacci out there.

But if you want to branch out into similar music listen to Inner Ear Brigade, Yonder Pond, and of course Ryan Power (who has been a regular collaborator with Tredici Bacci).

It looks to me like this is being self-released.

[olympain]

From three years of being the greatest chums, the firmest of friends, part-time lovers and occasional time-travellers.

[iknowimdespicableme]

My top 5 Doctor Who Episodes; And why!

DOCTOR WHO SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT!! I say the season and episode before I start analyzing, so feel free to skip some.

5. Vincent and the Doctor [5x10]

This episode was so touching to me on many different levels. Firstly, as a creative person who deals with mental health and ostracization, seeing a version of Vincent Van Gogh on screen felt almost healing. Acknowledging the hurt he experienced while not ignoring his joys was very special. On a technical level, the way that the episode visualized a way Vincent Van Gogh may have seen the world was incredibly eye opening and better allowed me to appreciate his art. Furthermore, the confusion Amy experienced during the episode regarding her memory was such an experience for two reasons; Firstly, it proved to us, the audience, how much she has grown to love Rory. Before, she was dating him because he was the only half-decent guy around. But, after learning more about him and spending more time with him, she is truly in love with him and this episode gives proof of that. Secondly, I experience dissociative fugue, wherein I may forget large aspects of my life, and this episode was so comforting regarding that experience. Yes, sometimes there are things you can't remember that make you happy or sad. You should embrace the feelings rather than ignore them or feel scared. And, finally, the moment where Vincent Van Gogh is able to see what the future of his art holds is a touching moment; and I like that it didn't save him in the end. Like the Doctor said, “The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don't always spoil the good things or make them unimportant.”

4. The Husbands of River Song [2015 Christmas Special]

I looked forward to finally watching this episode for so long leading up to it because I had heard such flattering things about it; and it didn't disappoint. After many episodes that felt lacking or one dimensional, this special brought back an element of camp, humor, and fun that had been missing, all the while including beloved characters and dramatic sequences. Allowing the Doctor an opportunity to see how one of his companions, especially River, acts when he is not around gives the audience so much more insight into her character and the Doctor a chance to learn and grow. Asking her about himself and learning that, although she may be worried or grieving, she finds these feelings worth it just to keep loving him. Considering how much River puts a mask on around 11 to not show her age and sadden him, it was refreshing to see a new side of her. Not to mention, the storyline for the special was interesting and compelling without being overwhelming in a way that took away from the characters. Although it's unlikely that the Doctor doubted River's feelings for him, this episode gave ultimate proof regarding how much she cares about him. Unfortunately, it also showcases how little River thinks of herself in relation to the Doctor. And, yet, there 12 is to prove her wrong when it mattered. Best of both worlds! Finally, the tenderness mixed with grief and understanding that we end the special with is such a perfect conclusion to River's story with the Doctor as it reflects their whole saga together perfectly. River's argument to the Doctor that, "Happily ever after doesn't mean forever, it just means time." was so special and the Doctor finally allowing himself to settle down (if only for a little bit) was exactly the kind of growth the character needed.

3. Wild Blue Yonder [2nd 2023 David Tennent Special]

I watched this episode yesterday and by gods it quickly skyrocketed to one of my favorites, where do I even start. Within the first few minutes of the episode, we are given many similarities and differences when comparing this Doctor and Donna adventure to their previous excursions. While they still compliment each other well, offering understanding and push-back, it is also clear the ways they have matured. Donna seems more in touch with her emotions and how she is truly feeling. When we first met her, she had a lot of anger and frustration within her from constantly being scrutinized and ignored. Now, we can see she is more peaceful and secure, even if below the surface some hesitation still lingers. Whereas, in the Doctor's case, he is so much more open to affection and vulnerability. The lessons he learned as 11 and 13 showed him that he could trust others, even if it is slowly. Although he is still trying to ignore or repress many things that have happened to him, he is at peace with them more than he was as 10. They both are less rageful. So, from a literary standpoint, just the beginning of this episode was wonderful. The classic "TARDIS fucks off somewhere leaving the company stranded" and "Doctor loses his sonic screwdriver and doesn't know what to do with himself for a bit" tropes came back swinging, and the way it affected the duo was wonderful to watch. The reality of the situation wasn't quickly swept under the rug or ignored because of a bigger problem, they got to sit in their fear for a while which was beautiful. The slow realization throughout the episode as if the audience is figuring out the answer at the same time as the Doctor just felt satisfying. Small, seemingly disconnected things coming together to form a compelling mystery. And, because it takes so long to give us the answer, we feel the carnal fear of the unknown just like the Doctor and Donna. I was tense when I realized they weren't talking to each other, but copies. I was scared when they were separated. And, the best part of the whole fucking episode, I didn't know who was who. That was terrifying! Up until the last second, I thought the Doctor had made the right choice, too! It kept me on the edge of my seat, informed me so much about the characters, explored a terrifying "what if" in a way only sci-fi can replicate, and was silly as hell. Loved every second. Also, the little robot guy was cute as hell.

2. Heaven Sent [9x11]

Explodes everywhere I love 12. This Doctor is characterized as a less nice, but still very kind regeneration. He holds so many conflicting feelings regarding the loss of the Ponds, his changing relationship with Clara, his perception of himself. I loved how he acted in his episodes. as socially confused, because it felt very familiar to me. The way his brain always seemed too loud and his loner energy was such a switch-up compared to 11. and yet so in character all the same. This episode carried this perfect essence of Doctor Who that felt lost in the majority of the last couple seasons. An entire episode where the Doctor is alone, and grieving, and loving, and problem-solving all at the same time was so compelling. Although it is clear I am more of a fan of episodes that focus on the characters and not the current storyline, this story was enthralling even if it took away from character moments sometimes. Do I wish we had more chances at the beginning/middle of the episode to properly address or reminisce about Clara? Yes. But, after watching the whole episode, it is clear why it was done. The setting for Heaven Sent was so intriguing, and the whole episode we are just wondering as much as the Doctor is; Why? Why is he being chased, why was he brought here, why are there shovels? It reeled us in. And then, once we realize the torture he is putting himself through, the dramatics, character information, and emotion we are given is so heart-wrenching. Evidently, Clara gave the Doctor a comfort greater and worth more than 5 billion years of torture. Could you imagine that? The depth of his love for Clara is given so much of a spotlight in this episode, and I am frothing at the mouth for it. Especially considering how they may frustrate or hurt each other, they still know each other. They help each other. And goddammit, he is not going to let her go. But, this stubbornness isn't necessarily a good thing. One important thing about loving someone is knowing when to let them go. This love for Clara was selfish the same way her love was for him in these intense moments where they sacrifice themselves for each other. They were doing it to prove something to themselves, to get the other back because they couldn't accept they were gone, not because it would be a better existence for the one in danger. Clara didn't want to be saved, she was being brave. And this imperfect grief the Doctor experiences was so achingly realistic. When I lost my cousin, it was so hard to accept. I wanted to ignore it, I wanted to be angry, I wanted him back. But, in the end, it was his time. This journey the Doctor goes on regarding yet another loss felt so powerful. He was forced to feel this and it hurt, he couldn't just try and quickly forget about it or sulk on his own terms. At the same time, the revelations he comes to throughout the episode were so reassuring to hear someone outside of my own head say. "It’s funny. The day you lose someone isn’t the worst. At least you’ve got something to do. It’s all the days they stay dead."

Turn Left [4x11]

This comes as a surprise to no one as someone who has been PREACHING character > story. This episode, while being a perfect set up for the finale, tells us so fucking much about the Doctor and, more importantly, ABOUT DONNA! Without Donna, there's no Doctor. Without the Doctor, everything goes to shit! Seeing as we, the audience, are usually seeing the universe by following the Doctor, a companion-focused episode was so refreshing. We got to learn so much about who Donna is, what her life back home was like before we met her, and gave realistic consequences to her actions. FUCK YEAH! It felt grounded, it felt interesting. I also adore the theory that every action we take splits us off into a new universe or timeline, so this episode was so perfect for me. DONNA'S INTERACTIONS WITH ROSE!!! Their comradery and understanding, the way Rose takes Donna under her wing, a moment where we see them as real people without the Doctor intervening or affecting the discussion. The importance of Donna to the universe being made so clear. WILF'S FLASHBACKS!! It's been forever since I saw this episode, but it is so rewatchable and makes me so interested every. single. time. The end of the episode is bone-chilling, with her literally killing herself to save the universe. And then!! The Doctor being out of the loop for once and understanding the severity of the situation with the return of the Bad Wolf. Explodes everywhere, words do not do justice the pure love, respect, and admiration I have for this episode and every actor, producer, tech person, writer, involved. Thank you GODS for this episode, I love you turn left. This lesson that every single person is indispensable and important sets up that conversation in later seasons and eventually becomes the main reoccurring theme of the show. Every Donna Noble, Rose Tyler, and Martha Jones of the universe is important and loved and unique and dbiubibjbjbgiufgbfgu you get me?

Honorable mentions:

The Parting of Ways [1x13]

The first finale of new who, and it was so gooooood!! Tied up the Bad Wolf hints, gave interesting endings to the TARDIS crew, told us so much about the ninth doctor, gave us confirmed ninerose, had a compelling storyline behind it, and just a classic good episode to go back to.

Tooth and Claw [2x2]

I know I've been mostly talking about the character implications of my favorite episodes, but this one was just interesting and fun. I loved the dynamic between the Doctor and Rose, the adventure, the silliness, the royal family being involved. Just a good, well-paced, wonderful episode.

The God Complex [6x11]

This episode was so yummy. While I was watching 11's seasons, I did get the vibe that Amy looked up and admired the Doctor in an unhealthy way and I loved how this episode addressed this. The idea that this thing was taking the forms of people's worst fears, the mystery of what the Doctor saw, the interesting characters, the understanding on what a God Complex actually was, its wonderful!!

The Timeless Children [12x10]

This may be controversial and I don't care!! I loved the way this episode was structured. I was confused and interested the whole time and when it fell into place I actually had to pause and pace around because OH MY GODS!!! it was a well-done reveal that had such interesting implications and I believe every reaction was in character and made sense. At first, I was upset about the loss of the former perception of the Doctor; Just a regular ol' guy who decided to act out and, above all, be kind. Suddenly, she was from another universe and was the original timelord and i was a little sad. But, the way it has been handled after feels so fitting, and it puts the rest of the show into perspective. All of the confusing things that set the Doctor apart from the others, it made sense now! I loved this episode, I thought it was a great.

The Village of the Angels [13x4]

I LOVED THE FLUX!! getting to have a old-school style season wherein the who season was just one problem was so cool and allowed for so much information! This episode specifically was so compelling. I loved the Professor Jericho; was SUCH a great addition to the TARDIS crew, and the way the handled the angels was arguably better than Time of Angels + Flesh and Stone. They were terrifying, the mystery was intriguing, and the characters were interesting!!! The only difficult part of this episode was keeping track of who was who as someone who has difficulty recognizing faces. Besides that, I fucking loved The Village of the Angels.

[seaweedstarshine]

♡ Regeneration! River was right, it's a whole new coloring to work with! ♡

[megline]

my mouth is too long. look.

[mailmiocuoredipietratremaancora]

How my DW rewatch is going: shifting from The Wild Blue Yonder to 11, Amy and Winston Churchill fighting the Daleks during the London Blitz

Life is beautiful after all

[thienvaldram]

The Book of the Snowstorm – Readthrough/Review Part 9

Framing Story (Scene 22)

Reunion time. And Snowstorm reveal, and it was Yog Sothoth (And I think there was a ‘The Snowmen’ allusion there)? Let into the Universe by ‘an Archon making a dent in Urizen’s wall’. (The events of WBY?) And the man in black was a Frenchman possessed by Yog Sothoth.

The Gift of the Renegades

Rob Jaguar huh? Wonder who that’s supposed to be…

That aside, fun little meta piece. Also Lady Aesc’s first in person appearance beyond her Claus Rosen Bridge cameo. Also Coloth was there, though I’m not sure how much it’ll help Martisa and Callum that he is. (Spoiler alert it didn't)

The First Noël

Interesting little piece about the Library as a setting, Room 28 was very effective imagery in particular. Also is that Wade/Old Amy from the Girl Who Waited?

Our Finest Gifts We Bring (1-10)

Fun little vignettes, some connecting to things, some not. Standout for these first ten for me is Warky’s cameo.

[denimbex1986]

'The third and final Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, “The Giggle,” includes several callbacks to the franchise’s recent history – including the controversial “Flux” arc. Here’s how the two stories intersect.

“Flux” was the name given to Doctor Who Series 13. It referred to an anti-matter wave, the Flux, that destroyed half the known universe despite the best efforts of Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor.

Alongside the “Timeless Child” arc, “Flux” wound up being one of the most polarizing storylines from ex-showrunner Chris Chibnall’s run. Despite this, current showrunner Russell T Davies recently confirmed he wouldn’t retcon any of Chibnall’s additions to Doctor Who lore.

Davies proved as good as his word, too. The second Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, Wild Blue Yonder, explicitly references the devastation caused by the Flux – and the regret the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) feels as a result...

How does the Flux tie into Doctor Who: The Giggle?

The Flux wiping out 50% of creation comes up again in “The Giggle.” This time, these events are crudely dramatized as part of a puppet show put on by the villainous Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris).

The Toymaker’s”entertainment” is really a thinly veiled attack on the Doctor, highlighting his supposedly harmful impact on everyone around him. It features distorted retellings of the fates that befell the Doctor’s previous companions Amy Pond, Clara Oswald, and Bill Potts.

From here, the show launches into a simplified recap of “Flux,” with the Toymaker snipping the planet-shaped puppets’ strings to represent their destruction. Interestingly, unlike with the companions, this time, the Doctor doesn’t try to reframe the Toymaker’s version of events.

Instead, he challenges the Toymaker – an indication of how raw he still feels about the “Flux” arc’s happenings. Whether the Fourteenth Doctor’s successor, Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, will display similar sensitivity to the subject is currently unclear.

Doctor Who showrunner teases Series 14’s mysteries

Don’t be surprised if he does, though. After all, “The Giggle” sets up several unresolved plot threads for Gatwa’s run – including the mysterious One Who Waits – so other open-ended story elements could crop up again, as well.

Davies said as much in a recent interview, warning fans that some of the questions raised here and in upcoming Christmas special “The Church on Ruby Road” will remain unanswered for a while yet.'

[saritaurez]

Look. I’m an American that knows basically nothing about Eurovision and even I know the main facets of the holiday are:

1. It’s in Europe

2. People sing and dance? And judge stuff?

3. There are drag queens

every year some clueless dumbasses get upset like "gays and drag queens at the eurovision??!?" yeah bruh, breaking news, fork found in the kitchen, i genuinely dont understand why you're surprised

[idkaguyorsomething]

A Doctor and their companion(s) are inserted into the plot of an episode which they did not experience in place of their counterparts who canonically experienced it. ¿Which of these would you like to see the most?

¡Please reblog and explain your answer in the tags!

[b4si1wh0]

From what I can tell, I can classify the mysteries so far into 5 main mysteries:

The Mrs Flood Mystery

The Susan Twist Mystery

The Mystery of The One Who Waits

The Mystery of Ruby Sunday’s Mother(??) Parent

The Mystery of Ruby Sunday

And here are my thoughts and theories on each of them (as well as fourth-wall breaks, and theories I do not like):

Mrs Flood:

She is Susan. I believe that ‘Susan’ Twist is a red herring, and Susan deserves her return. The fact that Ruby mentioned that she would be living in her time makes me even more sure, especially considering Ruby’s tendency to make things ‘happen’ - Strictly, Star Trek - more on that later.

She is River Song. A huge jump in likelihood, because I do believe her story is over, but you never know, and I don’t think I would be complaining about her return particularly. We don’t know Mrs Flood’s first name, which might be for a reason. Melody Pond, River Song and then xxxx Flood.

She is the One Who Waits. I’m going to probably say this about everyone but… idk what else to say. sHe’S tHe RaNi!!!11!!

Susan Twist:

She is the One Who Waits/part of the Pantheon of Gods. It just seems likely.

She is Ruby/Ruby’s mother. Seems the least likely, but in that case it would be a situation of ‘watching over’ Ruby in a way, but Susan Twist looks nothing like Ruby, so very unlikely.

She is no one/a spy. This works well for my first point regarding Ruby’s parent, but I think she might be a spy for The Trickster to keep an eye on the Doctor/Ruby. They could also be the same thing as the ‘Bad Wolf’, ‘Torchwood’ and ‘Vote Saxon’ - they don’t make sense until the finale, she might not make sense until the finale.

The One Who Waits:

Obviously one of the pantheon of Gods - I do believe the most powerful.

Probably Ruby’s mother, or someone related to Ruby.

We don’t know who they are yet. Some new guy. Hoping any one of these.

Ruby’s Parent:

THE TRICKSTER FROM THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES! The hood and cloak are the same, the desolate London is so similar and the theme when Maria has The Trickster’s box in her bed and when Ruby was hoisted into the air is the same - please just search on youtube, it will probably be there. Plus, The Trickster would work well with the Pantheon of Gods - the Gods of CHAOS - what The Trickster thrives on.

A powerful being from the Gods of Chaos - an evil thing, the One Who Waits.

Someone the Doctor may recognise - though I doubt it somehow.

Ruby:

The daughter of one of the Gods of Chaos - you cannot deny her powers, in terms of the snow, mentioning things and then they exist - she mentions the Butterfly Effect- it happens. She mentions Star Trek in Space Babies, and the crew are dressed in uniforms eerily similar to the Star Trek ones. She mentions Strictly - who come but Johannes and Shirley from Strictly.

A supernatural entity - like a changeling, or something like that. The DNA scan said she was human, but it was only 70% done - that might be foreshadowing something - in terms that she is not human. In The Wild Blue Yonder, The Doctor let superstition come in - maybe he also let Ruby in.

A bad guy. One of the Gods of Chaos, the One Who Waits. Getting close to The Doctor all this time… maybe this won’t even be revealed until series 15. That would be great in my opinion honestly!

The last episode - ‘The Legend of Ruby Sunday’ makes me believe that she is older than she is. It is not the story, it is the legend - the Google definition being ‘a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated. Not a word being used for a 19-year-old girl from Manchester, methinks.

Fourth-wall breaks: The Legend of Ruby Sunday seems to be based on a TV show - now we get to the ‘Doctor Who’ is a TV show in ‘Doctor Who’ - e.g. The Doctor can hear the non-diegetic music. I think this is a great idea. (I have written a fan-fiction about this 2 years ago hehe).

I DO NOT think these theories are true: 

The Doctor is Ruby’s parent. Nope. Too obvious, lazy and just plain weird.

Ruby is Ruby’s parent?? Weird and impossible. Very very timey-wimey.

The Master is returning - I don’t think they are this series - keep in mind that we only last saw them 6 episodes as of now (after Boom - not counting The Tooth).

THANK YOU READING IF YOU’VE READ ALL OF THIS!!!

[starlight-bread-blog]

I'm new to the BBC's Doctor Who and I just started watching all the seasons without worrying about the specials. It was a mistake to say the least. Then, I didn't know in what order to watch them. So,

This is How to Watch the BBC's Doctor Who

Cristmas specials will be marked with "🎄"

Between S1 and 2:

The Cristmas Invasion🎄

Between S2 and 3:

The Runaway Bride🎄

Between S3 and 4:

Voyage of the Damned

Between S4 and 5:

The Next Doctor🎄

Planet of the Dead

The Waters of Mars

The End of Time (Parts 1&2)🎄

Between S5 and 6:

A Christmas Carol🎄

Between S6 and 7:

The Doctor, the Window and the Wardrobe🎄

Pond Life (Mini series, five eps).

Between S7 ep5 and 6:

The Snowman🎄

Between S7 and 8:

The Day of the Doctor (50th anniversary)

The Time of the Doctor🎄

Between S8 and 9:

Last Christmas🎄

Between S9 and 10:

The Husbands of River Song🎄

The Return of Doctor Mysterio🎄

Between S10 and 11:

Twice Upon a Time🎄

Between S11 and 12:

Resolution🎄

Between S12 and 13:

Revolution of the Daleks🎄

Between S13 and 14:

Eve of the Daleks🎄

Legend of the Sea Devils

The Power of the Doctor

The Star Beast

Wild Blue Yonder

The Giggle

The Church on Ruby Road🎄

[ofpineapplesanddawns]

Rewatched Wild Blue Yonder and just... gosh, I love the Not-Things, they are horrifying, a villain that either wears your face, knows you inside and out, or both. I love when the Doctor is forced to fight themselves in some way, like with the Dream Lord from Amy's Choice, or when the Second Doctor faced that evil man that shared his face.

So, I decided to write up a little thing with Fourteen and their Not-Thing confronting one another during the running about before all four are in the same room together.

This takes place after Fourteen ran into the Not Donna.

As always, I use they/them for Fourteen for personal choices. The Not Fourteen uses them as well.

On with the fic!

--

They felt too tight under their own skin, too angry and hurt by that confrontation with... with the Not Donna.

She played the Doctor like a fiddle, and oh how they sang their mournful song of sorrow and guilt, because they thought she'd hear it and understand. No, only their Donna could, not this copy. Not this monster that laughed as their misery, played with their emotions, got them talking.

She knew about the Flux, about the guilt that still ate at them, even now, even with this face.

The Doctor had screamed and raged, kicking and throwing a fit, like a child, when they had escaped. They still felt the urge to continue, but they needed to keep going, before the Not Donna or the monster with their face found their Donna.

There was a shifting sound, a door opening, and the sounds of old trainers on the metal floors.

"Oh." Came the voice of an old self. "It's you, not her."

"Better that way." The Doctor frowned, turning to see themself, standing at the other end of the room.

Well, standing wasn't... the right word.

The Doctor watched as the stolen form contorted and snapped itself from the uncomfortable position it had been in when entering the small space, before the Not Doctor was standing up right. They cracked their neck in a casual way, and the Doctor frowned.

"Your mind games of deception won't work on me. Hard to do that when you're wearing my face."

"A face you still haven't figured out why you're parading around again." Said the Not Doctor, so casually. Even the stance they put themself in was, hands in the pockets, rocking on their feet. The Doctor noticed they were missing their tie, odd.

Then they watched as it shifted and formed out of their neck and shirt.

"Ah, thank you." The copy said, smiling, too many teeth showing. "I nearly forgot about it. Took it off to trick your idiot friend, shocked she noticed it vanished off the floor when she was rambling and rambling away about some nonsense."

The Doctor felt their eye twitch. "Don't talk about her like that."

"'s what you think, when she goes on and on about whatever dumb human thing is going on in her life."

"No, I don't."

"You doooo..." They sang song, spinning on their heel before facing them again, grinning. "I know what you really feel."

"She's my best friend, I love her."

The smile faltered. "But not enough to tell her the truth about yourself. About what happened in those fifteen years you were gone. Or was it two hundred. A thousand? Over a billion years?"

The Doctor frowned deeply, fists clenched at their sides as they watched the Not-Thing stroll around the room as they spoke. "She might remember some things, but she doesn't know the blood that stains your hands. All those lives you ruined because you couldn't stop playing games with time and space. With. Your. Friends."

"Stop it."

"The Time Lord Victorious, do you think she'd be your friend if she knew you damaged a fixed point? After you wouldn't let her change Pompeii?"

"Stop it. Stop it, right now."

"Or how you ruined the lives of the Ponds by constantly interfering? Couldn't just leave well enough alone?"

The Doctor's teeth clenched. "They were my friends, I wanted to be part of their lives just as they wanted to be part of mine."

"They lost their daughter because of you. You led to her being kidnapped and eventually killed."

"She lived a long and beautiful life, I made sure she had good memories! We had twenty four years together!"

The Not Doctor was smiling still. "You took a young girl's life and turned it into a puzzle and then a game. Clara was normal, perfectly normal, but you couldn't let go of the fragments."

The Doctor swallowed. "S-she told me off for it, I stopped chasing the mystery."

"After it was solved. And you kept her around, when she wanted to leave. You couldn't let her go. And then she died. Stuck forever in one point in time. Especially now because the Time Lords can't fix it. Thanks to you."

They hated this, they hated this, stop, stop!

"And Bill, poor Bill! She loved you like a grandparent! A mentor! And then there was... oh, what did we call them? The Fam?" The teeth were pointed, the smile horrifying.

"They weren't ours! They were my family!"

They stopped pacing and turned to look at them, tilting their head unnaturally. "Did you ever stop to think that if you hadn't gotten them involved in your adventures, all of them would be perfectly fine, living their lives? Grace wouldn't have died."

The Doctor looked away.

"And Yaz? What about her? The heartbreak in that poor girl's eyes when she realized that you were leaving her be-"

"SHUT UP!" The Doctor had moved and there was a sharp pain in their knuckles. A small spark of gold went across them, the last lingering threads of regenerative energy.

The Not-Thing was on the ground, clutching their cheek. They looked at the Doctor with such cold, dark eyes, did they look like this to people? To those that feared them?

A smile came back to the Not Doctor. "I know you so well, Doctor. You can't stand thinking about the truth, can you? Knowing that I'm just voicing your thoughts aloud..."

"Doctor! Where are you!?" Came an echoing shout from somewhere nearby.

The Doctor looked at their counterpart and snarled. "I've dealt with worse than the likes of you, and you know it. Mind games are just a cheap trick."

And then they ran, leaving behind the creature wear their face, using their voice to hurt them.

And they knew that the thing was aware of how they really felt about the truth.

--

I am such a sucker for Fourteen angst. :)

[instruth]

STILL I PONDER

By the pond, I ponder

wandering, as I wonder

what dream for a dreamer

far or near, here and yonder

fondest, wherever I’m fonder

Listening, as the good listener

drifting further, beyond a drifter

tending to a soul so gently tender

dreams all merge, original dreamer

the One Dream Maker .. still I ponder

©Johnny J P Lee

06 October 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (10)

Photos Credit, J. P. Lee

[ninemelodies]

Speaking of ideas. There's one thing I still don't get about that explanation from a BTS for that scene from Wild Blue Yonder. Because inactual future timelines can actually affect the past, even in such a way as to prevent themselves, right? There's canon precedent — Seasons of Fear (Big Finish audio thing), Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS, even the Valeyard depending on your theory. I'll accept everyone's memory retroactively changing, since the Web of Time is self-healing, and one time almost self-healed Evelyn Smythe out of existence, so that's not a problem — and people sometimes being able to remember inactual timelines also has (inconsistent) precedent, as per Name of the Doctor/JttCotT again, Amy Pond's whole thing, and the story The End with Valarie Lockwood. The question is — where did the Doctor and Donna from the actual 'mavity' timeline go? So far I've only found two explanations that I'm satisfied with. One is that they created and retroactively merged into the 'gravity' timeline — symmetrically to the pair we followed throughout the episode. Or it was a similar, but longer and more complicated loop The other option is that the 'mavity' timeline is stable — that Donna jokes about 'the mavity of the situation' and Newton just remembers her correctly — in that case there's already a whole timeline merge happening in that scene. The minor problem of the TARDIS not insulating the travellers from the timeline change as it usually does (Out of Time - The Gates of Hell, probably a bunch of other stories which I can't remember right now where characters return to find a wrong future/present and retroactively fix it) I'll just chalk up to the malfunction. That's fine, it does that :)

i try not to think too hard about time travel loops bc it starts to make my head hurt bc a lot of it boils down to a bootstrap paradox and that’s an argument that will never really be solved re: egg or chicken.

in this scenario tho i imagine it’s such a small change that the timelines just kinda merged at parallel like you mentioned. the doctor seems to remember it being gravity before so he is aware of the two timelines (he’s a time lord, i would hope he is).

idk overall time travel IS weird

as for the tardis not protecting donna from the timeline change like that…well. she was kinda on fire so i’ll forgive her.

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

✵ (ROBIN!!!!)

✧ ━━ 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃 ✵ 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐘 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝙱𝚈 𝙳𝙰𝚈𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

THEIR FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOUR MUSE: ━━ "I sensed a kinship with them, I suppose. A touch of night, a darkness within them that felt ... familiar to me; the same wicked urges - I oft found myself pondering the taste of their blood."

CURRENT IMPRESSION: ━━ " ... "Hm," he mused, a hint of disdain lacing his words, “it is of little concern to me if the Gravewalker wishes to toss away what's left of themselves over their pride. I will not give them council, my words will fall upon deaf ears; the road will go ever onward - with or without them." But lo, he seemed to have shrunken when he spoke - his voice soft and … almost melancholic. Robin glanced eastward, imagining where the horizon kissed the sky - longing for the solitude of the church's yonder top most tower; its lofty spire reaching for the heavens. There, amidst the stone and shadows, he could gaze upon the bleeding sun until the world faded away. "The world has changed."

ARE THEY ATTRACTED TO YOUR MUSE?: ━━ "A bold question; we are much more our thoughts and minds than our flesh and bones, would you not say so? "Mine eye hath played the painter."" His gloved fingers twirled a lock of pale moonlight into a spiraling curl that frames his face, "Yet eyes this cunning want to grace their art: They draw but what they see, but know not the heart."

SOMETHING THEY FIND FRIGHTENING ABOUT YOUR MUSE: ━━ "To find that their words and beliefs struck me so; nay ━ it is worse than that. To find my control slipping away … to be unable to put the thought aside and dimiss it as nothing but foolish prattle. I've let it fester for too long ... and yet, I cannot relinquish it's hold on me."

SOMETHING THEY FIND ADORABLE ABOUT YOUR MUSE: ━━ "I personally favor the word "charming" , but their immense passion for the works they create. I ... do confess that I wish I could read what they've written, I am ever envious of those with that privilege. Hm~ Father Death should be pleased to have such a devout follower."

WOULD MY MUSE SACRIFICE THEMSELVES FOR YOURS?: ━━ "So eager to ask such foolish questions."

WOULD MY MUSE GO ON A DATE WITH YOURS? PLATONIC/ROMANTIC: ━━ "I do believe I am still owed dinner actually, unless my memory is failing me once more but I find the moments around them to be filled with quite a bit of clarity. Whether fortunately or not." He chuckled, tone light as air before he settled down and fiddled again with the end of his hair, "I do enjoy our alone time together."

ONE WORD MY MUSE WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOURS: ━━ "Insidious."

WOULD MY MUSE SLAP YOURS IF THEY COULD?: ━━ "I would do far worse, if it would please me. But I don't think I would take much pleasure in removing the only ... interesting person within this realm."

WOULD MY MUSE HUG/KISS YOURS?: ━━ The still pond of his mind ruffled with the question, it was unexpected and he seemed … unsure how to answer. Robin thought back, or tried to, and grappled with the remnants of emotions that felt foreign and distant; human tenderness. He could barely recall the echoes of his past life, each one faded like dew evaporating under the first blush of dawn, leaving behind only a dry, barren memory of what once was. Within that emptiness a darkness had grown, and almost every physical action he could commit was bloodied in his mind. Kisses transformed into sharp bites, teeth grazing and tearing. Comforting arms wrapped tight enough to choke and form into nooses. Still, his mouth tingled strangely and he tutted, "I do not remember such things well enough to answer."