#and fails! because she is clara oswald. not the impossible girl | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lovethefangirls · 4 years

Text

How Doctor Who FAILED the Impossible Girl

SPOILERS!!!!!

Clara Oswald, the Impossible Girl, her other alias's include

- Oswin Oswald Jr. Entertainer on the Starship Alaska (Season 7 Episode 1, "the Dalek Asylum", Matt Smith Era)

- Clara Oswin Oswald (Season 7 Episode 6, 2012 Christmas Special "the Snowmen", Matt Smith Era)

- The Woman Twice Dead (Season 7 Episode 7, "the Bells of Saint John", Matt Smith Era)

- Doctor Clara Oswald (Season 8 Episode 9, "Flatline", Peter Capaldi Era)

I'm not sure if this is true but she is suspected to be Charlotte (Cal) Lux from Season 4 Episode 8 "the Library" and Episode 9 "Forest of the Dead" David Tennet Era.

Clara has been known as many things throughout her time as a companion, however she is just mostly known as the Impossible Girl.

Don't get me wrong I loved Clara for the most part. There is no doubt in my mind she was one of the more popular companions since Rose Tyler. She certainly held a place in the hearts of the Doctor and the Doctor Who Community that is comparable to Rose and River.

In Clara's first season it was clear that she would be a companion no one would forget anytime soon (Except the Doctor).

Clara's character was full of mystery since her first appearance in Dalek Asylum. There were many theories surrounding her, multiple of them linking her to Rose Tyler or "Bad Wolf".

Later on in the season it is revealed that she went back into the Doctors Timestream to prevent the Great Intelligence from killing the Doctor over and over again. As a result of this she split into millions of versions of her; "Echos" of herself.

If we count her Echos she has known the Doctor for almost as long as the Master.

Clara was a force to be reckoned with, even after Matt Smith's departure as the Doctor and Peter Capaldi's introduction Clara was still a force to be reckoned with. Clara grounded the Doctor and the Doctor lightened up Clara.

Then Clara met Danny Pink.

This is where her downfall as a character began.

Don't get me wrong I think Danny Pink could've been a great character. He certainly had the potential to be one and I'm not saying he was a bad character. His writing is what prevented him from being a better character.

Danny pointed out hard truths about the Doctor, the fact that the Doctor could act like an Officer in the Military and give orders like one and how he sort of made Clara a soldier in that regard.

I wasn't expecting another Amy and Rory Pond but I wasn't expecting what Danny and Clara were either.

In fairness to Danny, Clara put off telling Danny the truth about the Doctor until she couldn't didn't help.

However, Danny didn't help matters when he gave an ultimatum.

In Addition, the Doctor was condecending to Danny wasn't helping either.

In the end their relationship turned into one of constant lying and hiding on Clara's part. She didn't want to stop travelling with the Doctor and instead of confronting Danny and telling him she kept it hidden. So that way she can stay with him.

I've been witness to toxic relationships all of my life (been in one myself) and sadly this is what Clara and Danny's relationship had become...toxic.

After the events of Danny's death and the toll it took on her, her becoming more and more reckless and loosing her grounding and just becoming another Doctor. It hurt me to see her character become like this.

Before any of you say it was "love" and "grief" that drove her to be increasingly reckless and borderline suicidal I want to paint a picture for you.

Clara was her own character, she was quick witted and funny and she was a perfect companion. But beyond that, let's look at who she is without the doctor and before danny. Clara Oswald had a family, she had a support system. she had her grandmother, her father. She had her students, she had family and friends outside of the Doctor a whole other life that she cared for. If she didn't she would've been like Rose. completely abandoning her life from before the Doctor. However, Clara cared about her family and her life outside the Doctor.

So you mean to tell me that this woman in her grief over a (what I'm going to assume) 1 year relationship. All because she was convinced that she was going to spend her life with him and have a family by some dude who looked like him and vaguely said they were related?

It doesn't make sense.

So this character completely changed (and I was expecting her to but not this extreme since I know grief can change a person or a loss like that) because she just couldn't bare to live without Danny Pink and assumed that there was no future for her anymore with him so what was the point.

She died because she made a stupid mistake that didn't make sense in the first place for her to do that.

and in the end she outgrows the Doctor and flies around in a TARDIS of her own.

I'm actually not mad at her ending but what occured in the middle and how a strong character like her was brought down because she "just couldn't live without him" insults me.

It insults me whenever this happens to any character no matter gender or race or sexual identitiy.

This is NOT TRAGIC ROMANCE. it's just a tragedy.

there is more to life than one person.

there is more to life than what the writers did to Clara.

yes grief and depression and anger and heartbreak and all of those negative emotions change a person forever, and not always for the better.

but there is so much more to life than just that.

Doctor Who's big message was that life was so much more than just the horrible stuff we always get stuck in, yes horrible stuff happens and nothing can change that and it always feels like the end of the world

but there is so much more.

there's family and friends that you love and hold dear.

there's that show you always wanted to watch but never had the time.

there are sunrises and sunsets and rainy days and snow days.

there are stars and the moon.

there is music and art that you've never seen before

there are beautiful places you've never been before

all of these activities that you've never tried before.

that's the message they shouldve tried to write for her

#grief/mourning #doctor who #11th doctor #clara oswald #12th doctor #peter capaldi #matt smith #jenna coleman #x reader

48 notes · View notes

drakewalkerfantasy · 4 years

Text

Don't fall in love (Eleventh Doctor x Clara Oswald)

A Doctor Who fanfiction for #WhouffleWeek2020

Day 1: Jealousy / “How does that feel?”

Pairing: Eleventh Doctor x Clara Oswald

Tagging: @choices-bound @jamespotterthefirst @the-soot-sprite @annekebbphotography

Summary: After winning a battle against the Daleks, Clara witness something what made her angry, jealous and sad. Something what she never expected to see, not when it concerned her Doctor. And the truth that she was afraid to admit even to herself, finally comes out. The silence realisation comes to both that they finally broke the only rule they were strict about: Don't fall in love.

Words: 1305

A/N: I'm not sure who want to be tagged, so tagging some people hope you don't mind. If you do mind please let me know :)

**Warnings: slightly angsty**

When the battle against the Daleks was finally won and Clara’s gaze searched for the Doctor, with sparkles of glee in them, she saw what she never expected to see. The Doctor... her Doctor locked in a passionate kiss with Tasha Lem. She could feel how her heart sunk breaking in a thousand pieces. The powerful pain she never felt before burning through her soul. Her eyes watered and her lower lip trembled, but she still kept calm gulping this new founded feelings away and turning around quietly disappearing into the TARDIS.

Inside she leaned against the console panel. Her palms spread flat against it trying to calm down, pushing away the pain that the sight of the Doctor kissing another woman caused her. She didn’t even realise that she wasn’t alone anymore when the cheerful voice of the man who occupied her thoughts broke through bringing her to reality. Bringing back the anger and pang of jealousy she suddenly felt.

“Where now?” exclaimed Doctor swirling around on the spot before pressing some buttons with ease, sliding to the next set of levers to pull on them.

“I don’t know,” replied Clara. Her usual excitement replaced by indifference and apathy that made Doctor’s brows furrow at a loss of what happened. His brains processing everything what just happened not getting a single clue what could possibly upset Clara. And he could sense that she was in fact upset by him somehow. But why? What did he do to upset his Clara... his impossible girl. His brows furrowed even more in concentration and he pouted slightly still having not a single clue what was wrong.

“Are you okay?” he asked placing his hand on top of hers trying to catch her gaze, feeling how her hand slipped under his and she took a step away. The fact that she even didn’t look at him instead focusing her gaze on the buttons and levers in front of her made him worry even more. “Clara...,” he said. His gaze completely at loss and he stopped moving focusing instead on her, trying to figure out what was wrong. His hand reached for hers but she pulled it out of his reach and turned her back on him. And her next words she uttered in a barely audible whisper breaking slightly at the end made his hearts skip a bit and his eyes widened.

“Take me home,” she said, walking away from him toward the stairs that lead to the corridor filled with lots of rooms, hopping to find some corner away from him and let her emotions out.

“Ok...kay,” he said. His voice breaking slightly feeling somehow responsible for the way how distant she seemed to be. Subconsciously feeling that in some way this was his fault and he somehow hurt Clara without meaning to. But he didn’t question it at least not now... watching her walk away, pulling and pushing buttons to bring her home.

When TARDIS finally landed, Doctor watched Clara to move across the console platform in silence, throwing him a single glance before moving down the stairs toward the exit. He could feel that something was wrong, but no matter how hard he thought about that he still couldn’t understand what... what could have possibly happen in these two-three God forsaken minutes after they won and him finally joining her in the TARDIS.

“See you next Wednesday,” hopefully asked Doctor, feeling somehow nervous while waiting for her reply.

“Uhuh...,” she replied, making a first step down the stair, when Doctor couldn’t take any more of that and ran toward her catching her by her elbow and turning Clara to face him. His face a perfect picture of confusion that occupied his every feature while he searched her eyes as if trying to decipher her bad mood.

“Clara, what did I do? Did... did I do something to upset you?” asked Doctor frowning in confusion. His eyes wide and hopeful, waiting for the instruction of how he can fix this and make her feel better.

“Doctor, I told you it’s nothing. So just leave it. Anyway, you probably want to be back with your friend... to celebrate the victory. So I will not delay you,” she said tiredly, feeling how tears brimmed her eyes. She knew that this wasn’t fair and by the look in his eyes he probably didn’t mean to hurt her or even didn’t realise he even did it, but it still hurt and she... she was jealous. There was no denying it. She was insanely jealous by the way his lips moved along Tasha’s while she herself was standing right here beside him... while she wanted to be kissed like that by him even though it wasn’t fair to him as he didn't promise her anything but she was jealous and angry and hurt... Quickly she moved toward the exit trying to get away from here as fast as she could, trying not to reveal to him her weakness.

She knew that not falling in love with him was a trick as he was brilliant, and funny, and mad... and he needed her. And she really thought that she could perform this trick successfully, sometimes even twice per day until his lips connected with Tasha's. The jealousy coursing through her, like the Daleks' blast of electricity as painful and as fast. It was at this moment when she realised that the trick of not falling in love with the Doctor has failed at last... and it seemed the same realisation caught up with him, when he looked at her back in confusion before strolling after her and wrapping his fingers around her arm to stop her from running.

“Oh... OH,” exclaimed Doctor. His eyes widened, when he caught Clara by her elbow and turned her to face him. “Clara,” he whispered. Her elbow still in his hand, holding it tenderly, while another brushed the stray tear that rolled from the corner of her eye, tracing the wet path along her cheek. “My Clara... my impossible... my perfect girl,” he murmured, while his hand cupped the side of her face in his, and he looked at her with so much adoration and awe in his gaze that it took Clara's breath away. He pressed a chastised kiss to her forehead, before pressing his forehead to hers, feeling her hands wrapping around his midsection so tightly as if not wanting to let him go... never wanting to let him go. Never... he thought, the pain shooting through him knowing that he shouldn't have this feelings for her. Knowing that no matter whether she returned them or not, he shouldn't have encourage them. Because never is a long time, and even he didn't have that. And though he came close to immortality, she would age and die... and he would be left alone with a broken heart once again.

“I know,” whispered Clara as if knowing what he was thinking. Isn't she always? he thought. Isn't she always... Gently she disentangled herself, looking up at him with a soft sad smile, making him immediately loose her warmth and closeness, missing instantly her scent of the old days and of his home. Something so distant and so close... Something she helped him to save. “See you Wednesday,” Clara murmured, standing on tiptoe and placing a fleeting kiss to the corner of his lips that lingered for a moment longer, while her hand brushed the side of his face, making him lean into her touch.

“See you next Wednesday,” he echoed her, watching her move away from him and toward the exit of the TARDIS.

“Next Wednesday, any Wednesday,” she laughed lightly, knowing that they both broke the one rule they were strict about: not fall In love. Knowing that even the time machine couldn't change that.

#whouffleweek2020 #whouffle #whouffle week 2020 #eleventh doctor #doctor who #clara oswald #eleventh x clara

24 notes · View notes

thelittlesttimelord · 4 years

Text

The Littlest Timelord: The Fall of the Eleventh Chapter 35

TITLE: The Littlest Timelord: The Fall of the Eleventh Chapter 35 PAIRING: No Pairing RATING: T CHAPTER: 35/? SUMMARY: Elise Smith is now a teenaged Timelord. In addition to losing the Ponds, the fields of Trenzalore are calling. But first they have to figure out exactly who Clara Oswald is.

It’d been a few weeks since the Doctor had dropped Elise off with Madame Vastra.

Of course, she’d teased him saying he only wanted alone time with Clara. He’d blushed and stuttered and then sent her on her way.

She wasn’t worried however. He’d come back for her eventually. He always did.

“Elise, come to the conservatory dear. We have a visitor,” Madame Vastra told the young redhead.

“I fail to see how this concerns me.”

Vastra had to keep reminding herself that this Elise wasn’t the shy and timid girl she had first met. This one was flippant to anything that didn’t have to do with her father, Clara, or herself.

“I believe it may have to do with what drew your father here in the first place.”

Elise relented and followed Madame Vastra to the conservatory.

A man, Mr. Thursday, was waiting for them.

Jenny stood on one side of Madame Vastra, while Elise stood on the other.

“Thank you for agreeing to this meeting. I'm told you are the investigator to see if there are strange goings-on.”

“I read of your brother's death. Another victim of the Crimson Horror, I believe?”

“So it is claimed. He was a newspaper man. He and a young woman were working undercover. Tell me, Madame, do you know what an Octogram is?”

Elise had no idea what that even was.

“It is a silly superstition, sir. The belief that the eye can retain an image of the last thing it sees.”

Thursday pulled out a picture and handed it to Jenny.

Jenny handed it to Vastra who removed her veil to see better. “Good grief.”

“Oh, god,” Mr. Thursday gasped and fainted. Once Mr. Thursday had been removed from the home, the three women went down to a darkroom where Jenny and Vastra enlarged the picture.

“Well, I'll be blowed. I think, Madame, that we'd better make plans to head north,” Jenny said.

Staring back at them from the picture of the dead man’s eyes was the Doctor.

Elise sighed. What had he gotten himself into this time?

They quickly assembled what they would need for their rescue mission and started their carriage ride to the North.

“According to my research, Sweetville's proprietor holds recruitment drives for her little community. She is only interested in the fittest and the most beautiful,” Madame Vastra explained.

“You may rely on me, ma'am,” Strax said, causing Elise to roll her eyes.

“I was, in fact, speaking to Jenny.”

“Jenny. If this weak and fleshy boy is to represent us, I strongly recommend the issuing of scissor grenades, limbo vapor and triple blast brain splitters.”

“What for?”

“Just generally. Remember, we are going to the North.”

“I think I should go with Jenny,” Elise said.

“Absolutely not,” Vastra told her.

“Why not?” Vastra sighed.

“Because your father put you under my protection and frankly dear, your temper would get you in trouble.”

“My temper? I don’t have a temper!” Elise settled back into her seat and crossed her arms over her chest and sulked like a small child.

Vastra smiled to herself. It didn’t matter how old the Timelord got, she still acted like a spoiled child when she didn’t get her way.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A day or so later, Mr. Thursday came around and had to be dragged into the drawing room.

“He faints an awful lot. I’m not human and I know that’s not normal,” Elise said.

“It asked for permission to enter and then it fell over. What are we to make of it?” Strax asked.

“I imagine Mister Thursday wants to know what progress we are making. The question is, how did the Doctor's image come to be preserved on a dead man's eye? It's a scientific impossibility. I wonder how Jenny is getting on.”

“If she hasn't make contact by nightfall, I suggest a massive frontal assault on the factory, Madame. Casualties can be kept to perhaps as little as eighty percent.”

“I think there may be subtler ways of proceeding, Strax.”

“Suit yourself.”

“Why do you keep him around?” Elise asked.

Vastra sighed. “Because he’s a surprisingly good butler.”

Vastra and Elise headed to the morgue to find out more about this “Crimson Horror”.

“Them new manufacturers can do horrible things to a person. Horrible. I've pickled things in here that'd fair turn your hair snowy as top of Buckden Pike,” the morgue owner said.

“You know what I'm looking for.”

“Oh, aye. All them bits found in t'canal. The Crimson Horror.” He handed Vastra a large bottle about half full of red liquid.

Vastra turned around and threw off her veil, examining it. “It hardly seems possible.”

“What is it?” Elise asked her

. “I think…I think I've seen these symptoms before.”

“You have? When?”

“A long time ago.”

Elise narrowed her eyes at the lizard woman. “How long ago?”

“About sixty five million years.”

Elise took the bottle from Vastra. “How the hell is something from that long ago surviving today?”

“That’s precisely what we need to find out.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After getting lost and picking up a small boy for directions, they finally made it to Sweetville.

They infiltrated and found the Doctor.

Elise strode in with Vastra, brandishing a sword. Instead of wearing a leather outfit like Jenny, she wore her signature leather jacket, black skinny jeans, blank tank top, and black combat boots.

The Doctor had to admit, the previous Elise had looked odd with any weapon in her hand but this Elise looked born to handle a sword or a gun.

“Let's go,” Vastra told them.

“No, ma'am. We're not escaping. We've got to help the Doctor with Clara,” Jenny said.

Vastra looked at the two Timelords.

“You didn’t tell her?” Elise asked her father.

“I thought you were gonna tell her!” The Doctor looked at Vastra. “Long story.”

“What now, Madame?” Strax asked, “We could lay mimetic cluster binds!”

“Strax,” Vastra said.

“Or dig trenches and fill them with acid.”

“Strax! You're overexcited. Have you been eating Miss Jenny's sherbet fancies again?”

“…no.”

“Go outside and wait for me until I call for you.”

“But Madame, I…”

“Go!”

“I'm going to go play with my grenades.” Strax left.

The Doctor soniced the cubicle in front of him. “Okay, I think she's about done.” He opened the door and there stood Clara. “I know who you think she is, but she isn't. She can't be.”

“I was right, then. You and Clara have unfinished business,” Vastra said.

Clara fell forward into the Doctor’s arms.

“There, there. Hello, stranger.”

“Doctor,” Clara said, poking the Doctor on the cheek. She finally realized they weren’t alone and turned to look at Jenny, Vastra, and Elise. “Hi. What's going on?”

The Doctor put on an accent. “Oh, haven't you heard, love? There's trouble at mill.” He dropped the accent and pointed at Vastra. “She's a lizard.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As they walked around the factory, the Doctor turned to Elise. “You didn’t…use that on anyone did you?” He couldn’t bear the thought of her killing someone.

Elise laughed. “Of course not. Speak softly and carry a big stick.”

“Theodore Roosevelt.”

“Yep.”

“You know we should visit him some time. My good ole pal Teddy.”

“Of course you’ve met Roosevelt.”

“Course I have. Who doesn’t want to meet Roosevelt?”

“My people once ruled this world, as well you know, but we did not rule it alone. Just as humanity fights a daily battle against nature, so did we. And our greatest plague, the most virulent enemy, was the repulsive red leech,” Vastra said, interrupting the duo’s conversation.

“Ooo, the Repulsive Red Leech. Nah. On balance I think I prefer the Crimson Horror. What was it, exactly?” the Doctor asked.

“A tiny parasite. It infected our drinking water. And once in our systems, it secreted a fatal poison.”

“If it's been hanging around, lurking in the shadows, maybe it's evolved. Or maybe it's had help.”

“Doctor, I've been thinking. The chimney…” Clara started.

The Doctor waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Way past that now. Yucky red parasite from the time of the dinosaurs pitches up in Victorian Yorkshire. Didn't see that one coming.”

“Yeah, but the chimney…”

“But what's the connection to Mrs. Gillyflower? Judgement will rain down on us all. An empty mill.”

Clara put her hands on his shoulders and for a second, Elise thought she was going to kiss him like Victorian Clara had.

“A chimney that doesn't blow smoke.”

The conclusion finally made it’s way to the Doctor’s brain. “Clever clogs.”

“Missed me?”

He grabbed her face and kissed her forehead. “Yeah, lots.” He let go and looked at Elise.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

He pushed past her mental barriers for just a split second.

Shut-up.

#eleventh doctor imagine #eleventh doctor #eleventh doctor fanfiction #doctor who #doctor who imagine #Doctor Who fanfiction #clara oswald #clara oswald imagine #Madame Vastra #strax #jenny #the littlest timelord #the littlest timelord: the fall of the eleventh #the crimson horror

7 notes · View notes

timeagainreviews · 4 years

Text

Reappraising Companions

Years after having watched every available episode of Doctor Who, I've had plenty of opportunities to rewatch episodes time and time again. As with most movies and television, I've found revisiting certain stories and eras has caused me to see them in a different light. A story I may have once reviled is suddenly more interesting. I even came to appreciate Peter Davison's performance as the Fifth Doctor for its subtle nature. But what about companions? Are there any companions I didn't care for at first, which I've softened toward over time? That is the question I wish to explore.

Below I've chosen a selection of companions of whom I had initially disliked for various reasons. They span across multiple eras and both the classic and modern versions of the show. With each companion, I have endeavoured to be fair in my reappraisal, but this doesn't mean I've changed my mind. I would also like to state that none of these appraisals are about the actors. My goal is to evaluate companions by the way they were written. The performance will come secondary.

1. Danny Pink

I chose Danny Pink to kick this list off because he is the reason I am writing this article in the first place. Recently, I took to rewatching a selection of Danny Pink episodes, in hopes that I may find something I didn't initially see. When Samuel Anderson was cast as Danny, I was excited. I've always been a big fan of male companions. They offer a different dynamic to the TARDIS that we don't often get to experience. However, in the wrong hands, they can be exhausting. Enter Steven Moffat.

When Steven Moffat took the reins of Doctor Who, he introduced us to Rory Williams. A smart, loyal, and combative male companion, not at all enamoured with the Doctor's mystique. At his worst, Rory was made to compete with the Doctor for Amy's affection. At his best, Rory held the Doctor accountable for the lives he brought aboard the TARDIS. With Danny, I felt like this is what Moffat was trying to do again, but this time, it wasn't as successful.

When we're introduced to Danny, we watch him and Clara fumble over their words like teenagers. It's meant to be cute, but their chemistry is non-existent. It feels like watching an episode of Coupling, in that it's painful and causes me to scan the room for exits. Their adorkable awkwardness is supposed to endear us to their relationship, but it seems forced. This is compounded when the Doctor enters the equation. Forcing Danny to fight for something very few of us in the audience believe in the first place.

Once again we find the male companion being forced to compete with the Doctor for the affection of a woman. But in this instance, instead of holding the Doctor accountable, Danny seems to hold the Doctor in contempt. Coming from his own history of military training and PTSD, Danny projects all of his inner struggles onto the Doctor. Which is unfortunate, as Danny's inner turmoil is his most humanistic trait. This wouldn't be the first time in Moffat's era where the Doctor's nature as a hero was called into play. The problem with Danny's appraisal of the Doctor as a general, barking orders, is that he's wrong. And we as an audience know it.

Not only do we know it, but so does the Doctor. The Doctor even gets a character arc over the identity crisis Danny gives him, wherein he realises Danny is wrong about him. Danny, however, never comes around to the Doctor's side. Even in his final moments on screen, he remains combative with the Doctor, in an exhausting refusal to grow as a character. We're supposed to believe he's come to some sort of character growth of self-acceptance by sacrificing his chance at a new life, for the life of a boy he mistakenly killed. Instead, he carries the same chip on his shoulder to his grave.

Danny is a companion wholly failed by writing. Even at his most heroic, it seems in service of making the Doctor look like a buffoon. His mimicking a soldier while yelling in the Doctor's face is embarrassing for everyone involved. Imagine this is your boyfriend meeting your friends. You would be mortified by his behaviour. Now imagine you have to lie about hanging out with your friends because it might make your boyfriend upset. Now imagine this friend is a very dashing person who constantly puts the lives of others before him. Danny and Clara's courtship is a romance by gaslight.

2. Clara Oswald

Clara is a whole other can of worms. I could probably dedicate an entire article to her character. I should clarify that my initial dislike for her character is somewhat mired in personal disappointment. By the time Clara was introduced, we had seen a string of modern human companions. We got the occasional tertiary companions from the future, such as Captain Jack or River Song. But we hadn't had a main companion from the past, future, or another planet. So when Jenna Coleman was introduced as Oswin Oswald, Junior Entertainment Manager of the starliner Alaska, I was very excited. Finally, a companion from the future! I was so ready for the Doctor to go on a quest to save Oswin from the cruel fate of becoming a Dalek. What an exciting storyline that was going to be.

And then we see her as governess Clara Oswin Oswald. Ok... Well at least she's still from a different era, right? Oh, she's dead now too? Oh. Much like Moffat's Dracula, all of this great promise was suddenly dashed against the rocks of a contemporary setting. Sigh. I was so excited. What we're given in “The Bells of St. John,” is a new character with less direction than either Oswin or the governess before her. So much that Moffat had taken to literally modulating her brain with an app. Maybe she's really good with computers now? Sorry friends, much like Rose Tyler's gymnastics and Peri Brown's botany, it's never going to come up again.

And this is the biggest issue I have had with Clara Oswald. She spends most of her screen time fluctuating between what character they're writing her as this week. The writers simply didn't know what to do with her while the Doctor tried to figure out why she's so "impossible." One week she's wacky, one week she's stern, another week she's bisexual queer bait. Her characterisation is all over the charts, which sadly, tracks with her entire storyline. She's a woman, fragmented across time, and so is her personality. And don't even get me started on that impossible girl nonsense.

Steven Moffat once said in an interview that one or two people usually guess his big reveal ahead of time, but that no one had guessed Clara's. Perhaps that's because nobody's fan theory was "It's going to be absolute shite." Instead of just being a woman who gets to be her own person, she has to become the most importantest companion. She has to save the Doctor by being planted throughout his timeline, saving him from the Great Intelligence. You know, by sometimes being born as herself, and other times being born as a Time Lord. Sometimes knowing who the Doctor is, other times having no idea whatsoever. Sometimes having a name that is a play on of Oswald, or Oswin, or Clara. And at no times did it make any kind of sense.

The funny thing is, that for me at least, Clara's character doesn't really become interesting until all of that nonsense is behind her. The Clara I find most compelling is the Clara in mourning. Clara post-Danny Pink is a Clara with focus. Her mood swings seem more from a place of destructive behaviour in the wake of great loss. Watching her hold the TARDIS keys hostage above a volcano was some seriously gripping stuff. Aside from the gross digs at her appearance, I found the Twelfth Doctor's relationship with Clara far more endearing than that of the Eleventh Doctor. It may have taken them until her final moments as a companion, but they did get her right, in the end.

3. Melanie Bush

Back in 2015, I had the opportunity to meet Louise Jameson, who played Leela, my all-time favourite Doctor Who companion. I also got to meet Colin Baker, who was all charm. Also in attendance was Bonnie Langford, aka, Doctor Who's Mel. After having gotten autographs from Louise and Colin, and having circled the convention hall a few times, I decided "Sure, why not. Let's meet Bonnie Langford. It's only 10 quid for an autograph." Upon meeting her, she was a very kind woman, and even still, I was racking my brain for something nice to say about Mel. To save face, I lied a very simple lie. I said, "I really liked you in Doctor Who." She smiled, said thank you, and signed my picture. And I walked away, taking my shitty liar mouth with me.

Because the fact is, I didn't like her in Doctor Who. I found every moment she was onscreen excruciating. From her poodle haircuts, to her 80's disaster attire, to her fat-shaming the Sixth Doctor, to her constant screaming at every little thing, she depressed me. I spoke in my review of "Terror of the Vervoids," just how weird it was that we're never actually introduced to her as a character. Instead, Peri is written off, and suddenly, Mel is there, already chummy with the Doctor. You guys know Mel, she's the Doctor's friend, because we told you she was! Instead of getting to know Mel slowly, we're thrown into the deep end, forced to sink or swim within the curls of red hair piled high. Mel doesn't just come out of nowhere, she comes on strong. Fitness expert Mel here to get your fat Doctor Who loving asses into shape. Drink this carrot juice you geek pig!

Not even in Big Finish audios was I finding myself warming up to Mel. When Ace was introduced, they couldn't have pushed Mel out quicker. I found everything about Ace immediately refreshing. Here was a calm and collected badass rebel that I could get behind. It's ironic then; that it was in the Seventh Doctor era that I have begun to find something likeable in Mel. Much like Clara Oswald, a changing of Doctors enriched my appreciation for her character. This appreciation didn't come immediately, mind you, it came about around my third or fourth watch-through of "Paradise Towers."

Perhaps it's the influence of Andrew Cartmel, but with the Seventh Doctor, I have begun to appreciate Mel in the snarkiest manner. Mel is best utilised as a commentary on the Doctor/Companion relationship. She's precocious to a fault, she chews scenery, she screams at the drop of a hat, and she is oftentimes a naive idiot. Yet in "Paradise Towers," it becomes hilarious. Like much of the 80's era of Doctor Who, there is a very "2000 AD," atmosphere to the stories, and I could easily see this as a setting for Judge Dredd to drudge through, busting skulls and filling bodies with bullets. Setting the sunshiny persona of Mel against this backdrop is so brilliant that I can't imagine another companion in this story. Where she would usually grate against me, her sharp contrast from the things happening around her is exactly why I began to soften toward her.

Not even the ire from the Kangs could shake Mel's confidence, which is oddly what makes her cool. Or "ice-hot," as they would say. For the first time, Mel's headstrong sense of self makes her a rebel. She doesn't need to follow a crowd to feel accepted. Sadly, very few writers were able to find this core to Mel, but it was enough for me to be able to look at her in a different light. I could finally look at Mel and say I did like her in Doctor Who. Even if it was just for a moment, and even if it was somewhat at her expense. From a very cynical perspective, Mel can actually be pretty fun.

4. River Song

I know a lot of you are probably aghast to see River Song on this list, but I assure you, I have my reasons, and they are not without consideration. I should begin by saying some good things about River. She's smart, she's competent, she's got a healthy grasp on her sexuality, and she's cool. Why then did I not like her very much the first few times I watched her? Well, if you hadn't noticed, the bulk of this list are characters written by Steven Moffat, and once again, it all comes down to writing.

We're first introduced to River in the Tenth Doctor two-parter "Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead." At first, she's just one of a team of forgettable space scientists on an expedition. However, as she finds out the Doctor is who he is, her entire demeanour changes. Like Mel on steroids, we're given a heaping dose of "Who does this bitch think she is, being all familiar with the Doctor?" Only, instead of it lasting one episode, it's every interaction we have with her character beyond this point. Instead of getting to watch River and the Doctor grow as a couple, we're forced to watch them meet in opposite directions. It is the antithesis of "show, don't tell." Everything about the Doctor and River's relationship is implied. "You're going to love me someday," she promises. Couldn't we just see it play out naturally? Spoilers.

This idea is one that can only really be done on a show like Doctor Who, where things are wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey. The problem is, this doesn't mean that the idea is worth exploring, or even successful. It's made even worse when the relationship implied is one deeper than friendship. The Doctor is famously chaste, married only to his TARDIS and what lies ahead. Because of this, the idea of a person the Doctor will someday trust enough to share his real name and eventually marry carries with it a sizeable amount of convincing. Such a huge shift in the show's dynamic requires a lot of character development. Sadly none of that is to be seen onscreen. Who is Jim the Fish? Who cares? Steven Moffat's joke of "I'll explain later," became painfully prophetic of his time as showrunner.

I've got no complaints about River being a Time Lord, or even her being the child of Amy and Rory. Those elements are fine, really. It's the way in which she is presented which I find most detrimental to her character. I never did buy into the idea that the Doctor loved her as a wife. Their wedding seemed necessary to save the universe, as opposed to a union made out of love. Any kind of enjoyment I've ever gotten out of River stems mostly out of my love for Alex Kingston's performance. Where the show fails to establish her, she more than makes up for in style and substance. I grew to like River Song, despite the show's failure to ground her properly. River grew on me as she always said she would, but by no effort on the part of the writers. River is cool because River is cool, not because it was inferred that she was.

5. Susan

If you’ve followed this blog long enough, you’ll know I’ve already mellowed on Susan. In my reviews of the First Doctor era, I’ve had mostly good things to say about her character. This doesn’t change the fact that I found her utterly irritating at first, and it feels appropriate to talk about it here.

My initial dislike for Susan is a lot like my intial dislike for Clara. A lot of it was wrapped up in my own expectations of the character. Susan is the Doctor’s granddaughter. She is a Time Lord, therefore she should also be brilliant. And we get a lot of that in her first episode. She is mysterious, she’s enigmatic, and she is brilliant. Even her teachers at school found her perplexing. But the show doesn’t continue down that line. In fact, there are times when they make Susan borderline stupid. But how much of this is clouded by my own preconceptions?

For starters, Susan wasn’t a Time Lord. At least, not then. She was just a young girl. She may have been smarter than her fellow students, but this played more into how she was raised. So when the show depicts Susan screaming at every little thing, grabbing her hair dramatically, it smashed apart my mental image of a Time Lord. I couldn’t appreciate that they had her act this way to help sell a bad effect. Oftentimes Susan, like many Doctor Who companions, had her character sacrificed to make the baddies scarier. It was a product of her time, and even still I feel her character suffers for it.

However, one of the things I have discovered through repeat viewings of the First Doctor era is the surprising amount of character development among the TARDIS crew. The Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Susan all go through deep character development that was sadly often secondary in classic Doctor Who. Before the nature of the Doctor and companions was transient, there was a feeling of a family bond forming. Through this, I have come to find Susan to be a rather deep and sensitive person.

When it comes time to say goodbye to Susan, I can’t say I exactly agreed with the method. The Doctor locking her out and deciding she was mature enough to set out on her own felt hasty. But I would be lying if I didn’t agree that Susan had gone from a little girl to a young woman at that point. When you stop expecting Susan to be the Doctor, and allow her to be a kid, she grows on you instantly.

6. Adric

Let's be honest; it's not really original to hate on Adric. It's nothing new to point out what a bad companion he is, but here we are. Something I constantly endeavour to do on this blog is to be fair. One of my biggest complaints about the Doctor Who fandom is the proprietary attitude people take toward the fandom. The "I don't like it; therefore you shouldn't like it," attitude spat with such vitriol is one of the worst parts about being in the Doctor Who fandom. So when you say "Adric is my favourite companion," I'm not devising an argument for how wrong you are, it's fine. Like who you like. This doesn't mean I'm not also thinking in my head "What? Why?" Because I honestly, without malice, do not understand.

The most I ever enjoyed Adric, was in his introductory story "Full Circle." Setting him against a group of fellow Alzarians dilutes his lesser qualities. In fact, when paired with Varsh, he almost seems likeable. Sadly, we have to say goodbye to Varsh, and it's downhill from there. We're forced to watch a contrarian boy genius butt heads with the Doctor while he waddles around in a toddler's outfit while showing off his pound shop sheriffs badge for "mathematical excellence," to anyone who will listen. Adric is so obnoxious that he makes Wesley Crusher seem likeable in contrast.

However, it's not just his contrarian nature that makes me despise Adric, he's also disloyal to the Doctor and his friends. He's so susceptible to bad ideas as long as they a presented logically, that I've dubbed him the Ben Shapiro of the TARDIS. He's a smarmy little shit who believes himself superior to women, and he's really got no justification for his ill-placed self-confidence. Constantly demanding respect while giving very little reason to deserve it, he's like a poster child for incels. To make matters worse, he's oftentimes wrong and easily duped into taking the side of evil, turning him into more of a liability than an asset.

Recently, the idea that the Thirteenth Doctor could save someone from sacrificing themselves by using the TARDIS at the last moment to save them came under fire. "Why didn't the Doctor do this for Adric?" they said, forgetting conveniently when the Twelfth Doctor did the exact same thing in "Into the Dalek." But yes, why indeed? Why would the Doctor ever let a duplicitous, argumentative braggart die by their own stupid need to solve a math problem? My headcanon is that the Doctor got better at flying the TARDIS. The real reason is that people hated his character. The silence over the credits after Adric dies isn't out of respect for the character. The real reason is that the BBC couldn't secure the rights to Kool and the Gang's "Celebrate Good Times," before it aired.

Listen, I am not unsympathetic toward Matthew Waterhouse. He never should have been given such a big role, considering his utter lack of ability at the time. I imagine it was his own insecurity that fuelled his on-set antics. Giving unsolicited advice to veteran actors is cringey, but also the actions of a young and naive boy, in over his head. I know I said I was going to try and treat the performance as secondary, but in this case, it goes hand in hand. He has the stage presence of a fake. Every moment he's onscreen is disingenuous. The fact that he is present at the death of my favourite Doctor, stinking up the scene is genuine pain to me. If he has been made better in Big Finish, I've not yet heard it. As of now, there is nothing I've seen of Adric that has changed my opinion. But I'm glad if he makes you happy.

#Doctor Who #Danny Pink #samuel anderson #clara oswald #jenna coleman #Melanie Bush #Bonnie Langford #River Song #Alex Kingston #Susan #carole ann ford #adric #Matthew Waterhouse #tardis #bbc #companions

11 notes · View notes

rumata-est · 5 years

Text

Impossible Girl Begins

Lack of a true character, Mary Sue, the worst companion, invention for the plot etc etc etc... This is a common description of Clara Oswald. But we already have the greatest Mary Sue of all the time and space, though for some reason we call them the Doctor. Why don’t we deserve two heroes?

The problem is Eleven openly delivers these very words: “We're running together, and she's perfect. Perfect in every way for me. Except she can't remember that we ever met. Clara. My Clara. Always brave, always funny, always exactly what I need. [..] I know how she came to be in my life, and I know what she will always mean.”

Well, she is special. And the audience doesn’t like it when the Doctor has someone special cause he has to be lonely and distant for nobody could ever match his high standards. But what if somebody really could? Let’s give Clara credit.

Clara Oswald, the original you might say. When we first meet her, the real one, she has a lot of sparkling energy, she is bold and confident, she isn’t complaining about her life as a nanny and not seeking escape. She desperately needs the Doctor to see she is in control despite the fact he owns a time machine. She doesn’t know whether he comes back or not but she still tells him “ask me tomorrow”. She can’t stand the Doctor pity her.

The Doctor doesn’t need to tell her they don’t go away for she already deals with two kids who lost their mum cause she has... guess what? A duty of care. Nevertheless, sometimes she doesn’t mind to put their lives at risk, probably, cause her beloved Marcus Aurelius wrote things like “Do not despise death, but be well content with it, since this too is one of those things which nature wills” or like “Look round at the courses of the stars, as if thou were going along with them; and constantly consider the changes of the elements into one another; for such thoughts purge away the filth of the terrene life”.

Steven Moffat also notices Clara doesn’t know she’s inside the show about the Doctor, on the contrary, she assumes she is the main character. That sounds pretty much Doctor-y, and she really mirrors Eleven. Who is Eleven?

According to River he is “an ageless god who insists on the face of a twelve year old”. The Doctor considers it’s his last regeneration so he choose to be childish, funny, weird, unpredictable, charming and very tip-toeing round people he cares about, despite his own quite vague concept of putting at risk. So, Clara and Eleven fit together cause they’re alike.

So, what do we have? Clara Oswald knows what she wants, she is clever, fast, brave, kind and confident which is good. She teases the Doctor and openly says unholy things like “the trick is don’t fall in love, sometimes I do this trick twice a day” out loud. Sounds like an impossible Mary Sue? Ok, there are some flaws as well: sometimes she is too reckless, irresponsible and bossy. She analyzes what people feel well enough to use it instead of being lead by it. Basically, the whole universe is like a big toy for her. Maybe, that’s why she is really capable to accept how the world works (at least, for humans).

The Doctor is not her life, he is her Wednesday hobby, but even though she understands his importance for the universe. Not for herself. She doesn’t seem to want to possess him or anything else. Why? Cause she’s trying to be happy with what she gets already. For greedy humans it means an incredibly expanded brain, doesn’t it? (Stoic philosophy detected)

So, one day she decides she was born to safe the Doctor cause it’s a really good thing to do. Why not? It’s a question of her own pride and self respect. She doesn’t expect him to be grateful. She is ready to die like Marcus Aurelius’s good man, and of course this experience changes her. She becomes more attentive and reserved cause she felt the Doctor’s hidden pain and doubts. This is the moment when she realises she has to be a teacher (and the Teacher sometimes).

She doesn’t expect him to be greatful after helping him to save Gallifrey either. Clara is so Doctor-y cause when she does something important, she doesn’t expect people to praise her. She just knows she’s brilliant. Maybe that’s why all three Doctors get along with her. In addition, she never fails to understand whether take things (including him) seriously or not, and when to step back. And every time she learns to seek a solution the way he does cause sometimes he forgets how to apply his own methods to himself.

In "The Time of the Doctor" she has the worst possible Christmas beyond limits. Naked dinner, naked trip to the Church, Trenzalore, war, the stubborness of her dearest friend who is willing to keep her safe against her own free will, time vortex, Trenzalore again, war, dinner, Trenzalore again 900 years later... the Doctor leaves her and lies to her twice for her own safety, but she already knows that nobody’s ever safe. She wantes to stay by his side in this dark hour despite the fact this whole situation probably drives her crazy. But that's not enough.

The Doctor regenerates into someone else who immediately says rubbish like "oh, you remember, thingy, might be Clara might not be, potato height, actually, I'm busy, sort everything out somehow". And it's still the same day. The Christmas Day. So, she is mad at him, and then he leaves her the third time cause... she’s brilliant on adrenaline? And the forth time as well. Twelve assumes she trusts him, plus he actually has enough on his plate to play nice that’s why all of a sudden he starts telling the deeply buried truth: he is happy to play her game, he doesn’t want her to change, he considers her egomaniac and needy, and he’s very well aware she’s a control freak.

She isn't used to such kind of... respect from the Doctor. But she stands Vastra’s accusations, solves the riddle, and manages to do strategy. She's not a control freak for nothing, she really can handle the situation cause it's always about people.

And in the end of the day the Doctor confronts her with "I'm not your boyfriend, but relax it's not your mistake". What the hell is that supposed to mean? I'm not your boyfriend, let no flirting stage begin? Or from now on I will push you to extrems just cause you're brilliant on adrenalin? Or I will not listen to you anymore? Or don’t you dare to control me? After all this mess it would be great to hear something like "I've changed and I've got some pretty tough time on Trenzalore but I'm still on your side, don't worry" from someone who has just claimed he “has lived for over 2000 years”. Instead the Doctor decides to count on his own previous sentimental phone call and dish out this "boyfriend" thing. Of course, she doesn't know him anymore, she's not a saint in the name of sanity.

Still she stays with him because of this “he needs you” wish just to be left in Glasgow for three weeks. Аnd then a new era begins.

But it’s a story for another day.

Part two

#doctor who #jenna coleman #clara oswald #11th doctor #12th doctor #matt smith #peter capaldi #moffat era #moffat is a genius #dw meta #doctor and clara #whouffaldi #whouffle #you have no idea how long it takes me to write this #impossible girl

81 notes · View notes

tillthenexttimedoctor · 8 years

Photo

The Possible Impossible Girl

A (possibly) familiar argument, now with brand new words...

The Impossible Girl arc was an incredibly smart way of introducing the new companion for the Eleventh Doctor. Setting up Clara as a compelling and wonderful character, it played with the audience’s ideas of what a Moffat era storyline looks like. At its core, it was the ultimate subversion of the tropes we had become accustomed to.

When Jenna Coleman first appeared in Asylum of the Daleks and then The Snowmen, theorising came into full force. Every explanation one could imagine was traded around, from a relative of past characters to a gift from the universe itself. But what they all had in common was that people felt they already knew what to expect. And what they did not expect was that Clara Oswald, the mystery, the woman with the thousand monikers (Soufflé Girl, The Girl Who Can, The Woman Twice Dead…), would turn out to be a normal girl.

With the mysterious beginning of her story behind her, Clara’s arc repeatedly emphasised this fact. This was true right down to her first face-to-face interaction with the Doctor. It is “Just Clara Oswald”, thank you very much. Later, this was echoed in Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS, when the Doctor exclaimed “You’re just Clara, aren’t you!”. And Emma Grayling’s “She’s a perfectly ordinary girl” speaks for itself, loud and clear. In the Doctor’s obsession with the mystery of Clara, the story clearly takes Clara’s side.

When he disturbingly dedicated his days to painting Clara at the cloister, this was described as “his madness” by the monks. It was not only Emma who questioned whether Clara as an ordinary girl is “not enough”, but also Clara herself who told the Doctor off. She noticed his intrusion into her past and refused to compete with a fantasy, rejected the amazing opportunity to travel all of space and time if it means that she was not accepted for who she is. The Doctor was depicted as wrong and ultimately as scary when he accused Clara of being a trap and Mr Clever talked about how “interested” he was in Clara.

It is a sleight of hand, really, in which the viewer was invited to join the excitement around the large question mark which hovered over Clara, to become engaged in the story of a new companion. But at the same time, we – and the Doctor – were told that this could not really be it. Any attempt of the Doctor to investigate the mystery of her only revealed someone who has experienced loss, who is compassionate, who tries her utmost to be as brave as the adventures she seeks demand of her.

The Impossible Girl arc reached its climax in The Name of the Doctor. “I’m the Impossible Girl. I was born to save the Doctor.” A final red herring to suggest that this arc would play out in a straight-forward manner. There is a grand mystery to Clara Oswald, connected to him like the cracks in time which stole Amy’s family from her, like the Silence who kidnapped River Song from her parents. And this is the episode where the Doctor would finally solve it. Of course, that is not at all what happened.

In context, Clara’s statement shifted, subtly but importantly until it became literal in nature. Splintered in time, Clara’s echoes are born, they live and they die. She gave them their purpose, by jumping into the Doctor’s time stream and saving not only him but with him whole star systems from certain destruction, but it is not her purpose. She is an ordinary person who made the choice to do something extraordinary. Inspired by her mother and a philosophy of soufflés, in the end this was as much of a play with RTD tropes of ordinary women and domesticity as it was with Moffat’s mysteries.

It is important to note that all of this can only happen because the Doctor fails. He does not solve Clara, like a human puzzle box. Secrets do not keep them safe at all, Clara needed to remember what happened in the TARDIS to realise what she is able to do. The Dalek Asylum, Victorian London, they were her own clues. She found the solution as he was dying and helpless. It is the truth, her courage and her self-sacrifice which rescued him. And Clara Oswald became the heroine of a story which spans all of space and time.

However, series 7 was not just a tale of tropes and subversions. It also lay the foundations for Clara’s characterisation and her relationship with the Doctor in a way that is, in retrospect, masterful. She was presented to us as a person with a life she had no plans to leave behind. After all, Clara Oswald lost her mum at a young age and wanted to travel, before staying with the Maitlands as their nanny after their own mother died. There is responsibility there and maturity. She is sentimental, genre-savvy and clever. But it is not only her kindness which shines bright, Clara is much more complicated.

She is someone who will bake the same soufflé recipe over and over again, with the same disastrous results. Overtly she is full of an adventurous spirit, but she masks her fears just like other less desirable traits. And so we experienced her panic and insecurity after she tries to negotiate with the Ice Warrior. We saw her ruthlessness when she is willing to force a severely weakened Emma to risk her life again. Leadership and bossiness exist a hair’s breadth away, from taking charge of a platoon to battling over the control over a laptop and telling the Doctor to “pop off and get us a coffee”.

Sometimes overshadowed by speculation and suspicion, Clara’s and the Doctor’s interactions were characterised by both distance and the strong, warm sense of affection which they would built on in the future. As much as he obsessed over her, the Doctor clearly loves Clara even then. It should not be forgotten that he asked Victorian Clara to travel with him long before he knew of her connection to Oswin. Still, “always brave, always funny, always exactly what I need” shows just how little he knew this Clara, who hid behind smiles, wittiness, and cute dresses.

And so, really, they both came to love someone they did not quite understand yet, behind the mask of a perfect 21st-century woman and the veil of the youthful regeneration of a 2,000-year-old time lord keeping way too many secrets. We still had so much to learn about them. They still had so many adventures ahead.

This meta was published in 101 Claras to See. The e-book is still available, full of beautiful metas, breathtaking pictures and wonderful fics centred on this amazing character. Get it while you can!

#dwedit #moffat love #doctor who meta #clara oswald #borntosavethedoctor #*mine #meta

300 notes · View notes

bliphany · 8 years

Text

Fanfiction Rec Day - Whouffaldi

Whouffaldi fics means a lot to me not only because they were the reason I started to read stories written in English, but also because many of they helped me through all the angst of Doctor Who series 9. Clara and the Doctor’s last era wouldn’t be the same to me, if I hadn’t had their company.

Here are some stories that will remain in my memory and even Time Lord's device won't change that. I chose to include some of the writer’s tags just fyi, please still read the original tags per your preference.

(not in particular order)

we tried the world and it wasn’t for us; by twelveclara

She studies him, a gentle smile on her face. Her eyes are warm and he decides he no longer believes in science, or logic; there’s a light that comes from within her, like she has a sun for a heart; she wisps around, glittering, and her shadows are moonbeams. She drips dark matter and stardust. “If I were human,” he says, “the likelihood that I would exist at the same time as you is slim - unaccountably, unbearably slim - that it’s a risk I could never imagine taking.” [clara and twelve and philosophy; the paradox of love, and, as clara says, she’s an english teacher. there are too many words. 4,200 words.]

sometime around midnight by twelveclara

He struggles between making poetry out of her body and telling her the truth: it’s a difficult combination, needing her to know and needing it to be beautiful. She says, breathless in wonderment, “Oh, the amount of things that had to happen in order for me to be standing here at all.“ [midnight in paris au. 20k words. butterflies in summer; his bones on fire. a writer and his muse. they’re making history.]

Tidal Wave by samchandler1986

Words:5268; Chapters:3/3

This time, it really is their last hurrah.

if anybody could have saved me it would have been you by twelveclara

He spends the night threading stars into her skin and pouring the moon into the craters of her hips; she watches the birth of deep space begin unfolding underneath her eyelids, and the universe is returned to beauty once again. Together, he believes, they could be the greatest story ever told; if only she would come back to him. [an impossible decision and its consequences; she never wanted to live forever. timelady!clara au. in 12 parts. 6k words.]

some mad hope by twelveclara

He’d almost forgotten they were still out there, scattered across the stars and solar systems and galaxies, waiting for him. Ghosts. A curse. She’s gone, but she’s not gone. She’ll follow him forever. The idea enthralls him. Please, he thinks, haunt me to death. “You love her,” she says quietly. [on his way to revenge, he finds answers. maybe they’re not much better. maybe they are. a hell bent alternative ending. hybrid au, 6k words, in 10 parts.]

a theory about us and the universe by twelveclara

“Call it a paradigm shift,” he responds finally, low and delicate. “The Cybermen and their upgrades, the Time Lords and their time machines; you, alive and standing in front of me.” He stops being able to separate idealism and reality, allowing himself a world in which time watches the way he touches her and thinks,finally, you’ve done enough. [post-hell bent, and simultaneously, pre-magician’s apprentice. some people are much harder to tear apart once they’ve been brought together. based off this theory of mine. 10.6k words]

Love Me Like You Mean it by xXdreameaterXx

Words: 52343; Chapters: 37/37

1959. Dr John Smith moves to Texas with one goal in mind: to start over and forget about his past. When he meets Clara Oswin Oswald, a waitress and an outcast with a whole lot of buried dreams he thinks that she might be just what he needs to give his life some meaning. Diner AU. Rated E for later chapters. Whouffaldi.

Orpheus's Rescue by peacockgirl

Words: 34120; Chapters: 4/5; Major Character Death; Face The Raven; Hell Bent

For everyone who liked the poignancy of Hell Bent & Face the Raven but wished for better for Clara and the Doctor. Clara has resolved to visit 101 more places before she dies, but after she discovers the Doctor has lied about losing his memories, will he really be able to let her go? Whouffaldi

The Box Would be Empty by capildissexy

Words:2174; Chapters: 1/1 Major Character Death

Twelve/Clara discuss her mortality. Inspired by the heavy foreshadowing of Clara's life coming to an untimely end.

Oceans of Me and You by laekanik

Words: 1468; Chapters: 1/1

"I'll be the judge of time," and what followed after.

Suited and Booted by levendis

Words: 596; Chapters: 1/1

On the red velvet coat. (Set during "Face the Raven")

Spring Cleaning by levendis

Words: 672; Chapters: 1/1

The box of annoying things. Post-"Hell Bent"

Ways to Make it Through the Wall by levendis

Words: 1946; Chapters: 1/1

Those who can't figure out their mistakes are doomed to repeat them: The Doctor, the Axis, and an infinite amount of chances to screw up all over again. Post-"Hell Bent"

the man who fell to earth by jontinf

Words: 3846; Chapters: 1/1

“Is she your beloved? This Clara Oswald of Blackpool.”

He nearly slices off the tip of his thumb and throws a suspicious glance Bors’s way. “Are you ill, Bors?” he asks. “Have you come down with a case of the bloody flux?”

bones on fire by kissmeinnewyork

Words: 1238; Chapters: 1/1

There are a million different wars he could wage and a million different stars he could burn, but instead he carries on. (post face the raven.)

Absence in a Vacuum (Where is the Feedback?) by midnightxgarden

Words: 4339; Chapters: 1/1 Hell Bent

Clara made some promises when she took a TARDIS and ran away, but does a frozen heart ever heal? (aka the story of how accidents bring the Doctor and Clara back together in spite of what the universe demands)

That Subtle Knot by antennapedia

Words: 1473; Chapters: 1/1 Hell Bent

The Doctor tells his story, then reaches out to touch the waitress's hand. And freezes.

Hiding by xXdreameaterXx

Words: 893; Chapters: 1/1

They never do it in the TARDIS, or her flat. It's like they're different people out there while they're running, like it doesn't even count, like it never really happens at all.

clara/twelve fic: history, like love by twelveclara

There are planets orbiting her eyes and her mouth tastes like the ocean; in her head she hears a shatter, like her soul has pried her ribs apart in a desperate, aching attempt to reach his. “If I could have picked anybody,” he murmurs, “it would have been you.” [these words hurt as much as the truth always does. a soulmates/new girl (but you need no knowledge of new girl, i just took the ‘roommates’ plot) au. 15k words.]

Things We Don't Say by c1araoswa1d

Words: 1977; Chapters: 1/1

Prompt: At the end of Deep Breath, we hear say, “I’m not your boyfriend,” but then the Doctor has to admit to himself he does have feelings for Clara.

One of Us has to Remember by whouffaldigarbage

Words: 2075; Chapters: 1/1

In a moment of panic at the end of time, just before he prepares to wipe Clara's memory, the Doctor goes back in time to Clara Oswald, alive and well. Before she died. Before she lost her pulse. When she was just his Clara. Turns out he's not the only one who misses what they used to be.

Physicians and Phonographs by whouffaldigarbage

Words: 55212; Chapters: 17/17

A Victoran AU. Clara is a maid overseeing the children of a large estate. Struggling with her own desire for freedom and the suitors pursuing her, she feels a profound lack of something in her life. One day, circumstances out of her control lead her to require the services of the mysterious and ostracized Doctor, and a friendship grows between them that leads to something more. Demons from their past come back with a vengeance, society seeks to tear them apart, the supernatural rears its ugly head, and their future stands on the precipice of extinction. Together or alone they could face it all, but the choice is not a simple one.

Rated M for future chapters. Slow burn fic. Angst, humor, the supernatural, and stuffy Victorian romance, with a dash of the original tale of Beauty and the Beast.

i live to let you shine by freloux

Words: 1125; Chapters: 1/1

Blanket fort ridiculousness.

Good Days by samchandler1986

Words: 1211; Chapters: 1/1

He said he never forgets a face. Now, neither does she.

basil and cleopatra by jontinf

Words: 13891; Chapters: 2/2 Hell Bent

Clara and the Doctor if they'd never stopped running.

The Thief by antennapedia

Words: 9679; Chapters: 1/1 Death in Heaven

The Doctor just smashed up the TARDIS console, but he needs to get away from there. He shoves his fingers into the telepathic matrix and goes... somewhere. He doesn't care where. The TARDIS cares, however. This is what happened in between the visit to Gallifrey and the meeting in the cafe.

The Hypervodka Incident by antennapedia

Words: 12086; Chapters: 4/?

There’s some karaoke. And hypervodka. And consequences.

In Your Place by lornesgoldenhair

Words: 7930; Chapters: 1/1 Hell Bent

After years of travelling with Ashildr Clara decides to return to Gallifrey and her own timeline but attempts to Face The Raven fail and she is left in limbo, unresponsive, unable to live or die. Chased by Reapers and Time Lords Ashildr knows only one person can help them now, but can she risk reuniting Clara with him? With paradoxes and rifts opening, Reapers attacking and all hell breaking loose will Clara close the loop and sacrifice herself or will the Doctor take the place of a woman he has forgotten?

The Man That Once Was by xXdreameaterXx

Words: 7802; Chapters: 4/4

The Doctor has reigned Gallifrey as Lord President since the Time War. Driven mad by power he has one goal in mind: the utter and absolute extinction of the Daleks. Until one day a seemingly ordinary human girl attempts to steal his most precious possession just to bring a little hope to the entire universe.

Being Human 101 : Lessons in Physiology by lornesgoldenhair

Words: 21240; Chapters: 9/9

This is set in the universe created by 'In Your Place' wherein Clara gets her heartbeat back after the Doctor sacrifices himself to the Raven, but being a Time Lord with a special connection to his companion, he survives. You don’t have to have read it to read this. The two are different in style too.

In Summary : Clara having been frozen between one heartbeat and the next has to relearn how her body works. Everything from sleeping to processing alcohol, eating to sex, its all hazy to her after 400 years but the Doctor is on hand to help her discover what he describes as 'the fun a working body can lead to.'

Rated M for later Chapters.

A bit of an experimental work in progress.

dim the lights some, whisky lemon by dorothymcshane

Words: 2360; Chapters: 1/1

”Shut up, Oswald.” ”Make me.” In response he turns her around and pins her to the shelf. She gasps, unprepared for losing her control over him so abruptly, and more than a little turned on. ”My pleasure,” he says, his voice seductively husky, and slides her skirt up to place a hand between her legs.

Communicate by xXdreameaterXx

Words: 1253; Chapters: 1/1

The TARDIS translation circuit is broken. The Doctor doesn't speak English. But there are three words that the two of them still understand perfectly despite their communication failure. Twelve & Clara.

All Inclusive by xXdreameaterXx

Words: 34335; Chapters: 21/21

When his sister Missy convinces him to go on a cruise the Doctor has no idea that she is sending him on a party & singles cruise, determined to find him a match. It's even more of a surprise to him when he wakes up the morning after a party and realizes he is married to the annoying woman who vomited on his shoes on the first evening. But all will be well and the marriage can be annulled back on land – as long as he and Clara don't consummate it. Whouffaldi AU.

Running Out Of Pages by UniverseOnHerShoulders

Words: 2589; Chapters: 1/1

Somehow, their evenings always come to this: Clara doing her marking, while the Doctor sits idly beside her and tries to avoid doing anything his companion might deem to be "annoying." So he's surprised when she asks him for background noise while she works - although of course, there are stipulations...

Double shot, and extra hot by redpandanormalpanda

Words: 2346

AU when your OTP are both assholes - the Whouffaldi version. ‘I’m a barista and you’re the obnoxious customer who comes through and orders a venti macchiato while talking on the phone the whole time so I misspell your name in increasingly creative ways every day’

The Edge of the World by infinite_regress

Words: 2262; Chapters: 1/1

The Doctor remembers Clara, his memories return in a flood, and he makes some questionable choices. Luckily Clara is there to pick up the peices

Bookends by samchandler1986

Words: 529 Chapters: 1/1

As the Earth orbits the sun one more time, as the calendar edges closer to counting another year of her brief life, it’s a time for renewal. Like a mini-regeneration. And unlike the TARDIS, Clara’s wardrobe is resolutely finite.

Like Stars by c1araoswa1d

Words: 2050; Chapters: 1/1

Twelve and Clara have a quiet evening of babysitting.

but we're so happy (WIP) by twelveclara

part one: “I knew them both,” Jack says quietly. “I watched them fall in love. I watched them change.” Their knees touch, and her hand is on his thigh, and he’s smiling at her like she’s the sole reason he’s alive; Rory pictures the sun and the earth, orbiting. [punk rock au. from the outside looking in. the song repeats, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, haunting him. so, maybe he’ll never know. 10k words]

part two: Nobody has ever kissed her like this in her entire life; she swears she’s spent years building up to this, decades, millenniums. Somewhere, a star is dying and a galaxy is being born and her head is a black hole; in every other dimension a version of her stops and takes in a breath, missing something. She says hotly, “If we’re already going to hell, you might as well just fuck me tonight.” [punk rock au. she’s the devil herself and he never stood a chance. 27k words. mature.]

#whouffaldi #whouffle #ficrecdays #whouffaldi fanfiction rec #clara oswald #12th doctor #bless all the fanfiction writers #show: we’re all stories in the end #long post

15 notes · View notes

chasingthecosmos · 5 years

Text

By Any Other Name

Fandom: Doctor Who Rating: T Pairing: The Doctor/Rose Tyler, Eleventh Doctor/Rose Tyler (The Doctor/Clara Oswald, Eleventh Doctor/Clara Oswald) Chapters: 33/33 Read on AO3 here.

“Rose Tyler was dying - or, at least, she was relatively certain that that’s what was happening …” A Season 7 AU where Rose returns to her home universe only to find that 100 years have passed and nothing is quite the way that she remembers it. She wakes up with a new body, a new life, and a new Doctor. What has the Bad Wolf gotten her into this time? The 50th Anniversary will be included in this story.

"Doctor!" a familiar, grating voice shouted, immediately interrupting Rose and the Doctor and striking fear into their collective hearts. "The Doctor will be brought! The daleks demand the Doctor!"

"Doctor, what are we going to do?" Rose asked quietly as she stared up at his defeated, weary expression.

"We aren't going to do anything," he stated resolutely as he grabbed for the cane at his side and heaved himself upwards onto stiff, aching limbs. "You are going to stay here. Promise me that, Rose - promise me you will."

Rose could feel hot, angry tears welling up behind her eyes once more as she relinquished her hold on the Doctor's hand and stood up to her full height to glare at him in response. "You've been here all of this time ..." she muttered quietly as she leveled her eyes on him. "All of this time, all on your own, because you lied to me again." Rose's jaw tightened as she raised her chin in stubborn defiance and stated, "Well, not this time. This time, I'm not leaving you, no matter what you say." When the Doctor's gaze dropped from hers in bitter defeat, she added, "And when we both get out of this alive ... I'm definitely installing a truth field in the TARDIS - don't think I won't!"

That, at least, startled a small chuckle from him as he slowly raised his eyes to hers once more. He took a few stuttering steps forward, his gaze and his movements hesitant as though he wasn't quite sure how to approach her anymore. He slowly raised his shaking hand to the back of Rose's neck and pulled her forward into his arms as he buried his face against her should. "My impossible girl ..." he whispered bitterly into her hair. Too clever and too beautiful for me by far, he added silently I've missed you.

Rose squeezed her eyes shut tight as she wrapped her own arms cautiously around his middle and felt the first of her tears begin to seep out onto the familiar tweed of his jacket. Don't do this, Doctor, she begged him silently across their bond. Please don't say goodbye.

"It's time," he muttered definitively in response, stepping back and looking down on her with those wide, green eyes that betrayed all of the anguished longing that he wouldn't admit to, not even across their telepathic connection.

Rose answered those unspoken words in the only way that she knew how - she stood on her tip-toes and pressed a gentle, desperate kiss to his lips as she filled his mind with all of the bold confidence that she could possibly muster in that moment. She knew that she would have to let him face the daleks alone - the Doctor would never allow it to be any other way - but she also knew that there was no way that she would just let him give up and die the way that he clearly wanted to, not while she still had anything at all to say about it.

"Go," she whispered against his lips when she finally stepped away, not failing to catch the way that he subconsciously leaned back into her, clearly not ready to separate from her just yet after so long of being apart. "Give them hell," she added with a small, watery smile. "And don't you dare give up."

He smiled as he laced his stiff, wrinkled fingers through hers one last time and gave her hand a parting squeeze. She was pleased to note that there was a new, determined look in his sad green eyes that hadn't been there a moment before, and Rose felt hope flare through her as she allowed herself to believe that perhaps she had finally managed to get through to him after all.

She waited until the Doctor had completely left the room, his footsteps fading into silence as he slowly ascended the winding stairs towards the top of the bell tower, before she narrowed her eyes back on the glowing crack in the wall behind her. She glared at the jagged, golden line as though it were the sole source of the danger currently threatening her bondmate's life as she rushed forward and bent down to meet the thing at eye-level.

"Listen to me, you lot," she growled menacingly. "Listen! Help him. I know that you can, and I know that you can hear me right now, so just do it!" Rose had to bite back the many other hateful, bitter words that she could feel welling up within her chest as she contemplated all that the Time Lords had done ot the Doctor and the many, many things that they still owed him for. She closed her eyes and forced herself to take a deep, calming breath before she continued. She knew from long conversations with her husband about his people that irritating the pompous elite of Gallifrey would win her no favors.

"You've been asking a question ... and it's time someone told you you've been getting it wrong," she declared quietly. Rose knew that she could have given them the Doctor's true name just as easily as the Doctor himself could have done back when they had first arrived here. It would be such a small, simple thing to do in order to put an end to all of this chaos and destruction for good. But Rose decided in that moment that she would follow the example of her bondmate and not give either side the satisfaction of actually having their plan work out the way that they had intended it to. No, she had a plan that was even better - and an answer that would go far beyond what anyone else would have expected, just like the Doctor would have wanted.

"His name ... his name is the Doctor. All the name he needs - everything you need to know about him," Rose stated resolutely. "And if you love him - and you should - help him. Please." She hung her head as the tears began to flow once more and she felt the rest of her words being strangled into silence around the lump of emotion in her throat. She leaned her forehead wearily against the wall above the crack as she silently counted the seconds that ticked by.

When she got to number seven, there was a faint, shifting noise that had Rose's eyes immediately snapping open in alarm. She gasped in surprise as she was met with the sight of the swirling, golden haze that was currently seeping through the crack in the wall and slowly engulfing her in its embrace. She only just managed to reach out over her mental link to the Doctor in startled panic before the cloud of golden dust infiltrated her mouth and nose and quickly silenced all else with its overwhelming power.

The sensation that suddenly filled her was similar to that of the Bad Wolf as time steadily pulsed within her, but the energy was more concentrated this time - more purposeful. There was still a sense of eternity and endless possibility to it, but the burn that Rose felt in her bones felt as though it was coming from a single flame instead of that of every sun in all of existence.

Rose, what have you done? the Doctor demanded, his thoughts running wild and panicked through her own mind as he desperately sought out the cause for her sudden pain and uneasiness.

Doctor, hurry ... she called back distractedly as she gazed down in wonder at her own hands, which were now reflecting the same golden light as the crack in the wall.

Everything after that happened in a blur of light and sound and movement as Rose fought to separate the mess of glowing timelines converging and unraveling all around her. It was difficult to tell what was real and what was imagined as she dashed desperately for the stairs in an attempt to reach her bondmate. She didn't know what was happening to her, but she had a deep, instinctual need that seemed to be pushing her forward, moving her faster in an attempt to find the Doctor - now, before it was too late.

She eventually did find him - of that, she was certain - though the details of the process seemed to elude her. She didn't know if she had managed to rush up the stairs, or if he had ran down them. She didn't know if his face was old or new as his features seemed to blur and swirl together before her very eyes. She didn't know which one of them it was who eventually kissed the other in the end, either - she just knew that when their lips connected, there was a burning, searing pain that felt as though everything inside of her was exploding and reconverging all at the same time.

Rose knew that she lost consciousness somewhere along the way, but even in her sleep, her mind was filled with golden light and fiery combustions that seemed to go on into eternity, destroying and reforming her world into new, constantly shifting configurations.

When the haze finally lifted and she was able to see clearly once more, the steady sound of her rapidly-beating heart was the only sound that she could hear pounding away in her ears and filling her with a quiet sense of foreboding. Rose quickly realized that she was no longer in the town of Christmas, either, as she sat up and hesitantly gazed around the familiar setting of the TARDIS console room. The ship was groaning ominously in the back of her mind - almost as if the she was holding her breath, as though she were waiting for something to happen.

"Doctor?" Rose called out instinctively as she slowly raised herself to her feet. Every single one of her muscles felt sore, as though she had just finished running a marathon, but at the same time, a cocktail of endorphins were rushing through her system, flooding her with the type of manic, eager energy that she normally only ever associated with the Doctor.

As she fought to steady her erratic breathing and regain her bearings, Rose noticed that the console room floor around her had been littered with piles of old, worn clothes - chief among them, the Doctor's jacket, which looked as though it might have been serving as some sort of blanket or pillow for her while she had been lying on the floor.

"Doctor?" she called out again, her voice a little louder and more concerned as she peered at the glowing console controls and caught sight of the half-empty bowl of what looked like custard, with long strips of something that had been battered and fried floating in it. She turned her nose up slightly at the strange sight as she turned her gaze away and focused instead in the direction of the sound of quiet boot steps on the stairs before her.

"Doctor!" she sighed in happy relief as she finally caught sight of the familiar features of her bondmate as she knew him - the bright green eyes and floppy dark hair restored over a fresh jacket and bowtie.

"Hello," he replied quietly as he flashed her a small smile that refused to meet his eyes. Rose's own cheery grin began to falter and fall as she mentally reached for him and was met with nothing but a solid, cold wall of denial. He was purposefully shielding his thoughts from her in a way that he almost never did, and it instantly made her nervous.

"Doctor?" she called his name again in question as she hesitantly stepped closer. "What's wrong?"

"It's started," he stated, still watching her with that blank, empty smile on his face. "I can't stop it now, this is just the reset. A whole new regeneration cycle." His gaze dropped to his boots as he paused to gesture lamely at himself. "Taking a bit longer - just breaking it in."

He took a few steps forward, but ended up half-collapsing against the TARDIS console as he struggled to keep himself together against the weight that seemed to be pressing down on him. Rose was immediately at his side, one hand on his back and the other on his arm as she attempted to steady him further.

"Doctor, no, please ..." she whispered desperately. "This can't be happening. Please tell me this isn't happening ..."

"It all just disappears, doesn't it?" the Doctor murmured distractedly as he turned his wild, unfocused gaze back to Rose. "Everything you are, gone in a moment, like ... breath on a mirror." Another strange, empty smile began to turn up his features as the Doctor's gaze scanned over Rose's features, eventually settling on her lips. "Any moment now ... he's a-comin'."

"Don't say that, Doctor, stay with me," Rose begged, reaching out and twining her fingers around his neck to bring him closer. "Please, stay with me," she breathed in desperation as she pressed her forehead against his.

"Always," the Doctor replied with a small huff of unamused laughter. He leaned in to kiss her, but his lips just barely managed to brush against her own before his breath hitched and his head whipped around to focus on something that Rose couldn't see.

"Amelia!" the Doctor called out excitedly.

"Doctor?" Rose asked questioningly as she peered up at his wide, unfocused eyes that seemed to be tracking something invisible through the upper levels of the console room. "What's going on? Who's there?"

"The first face this face saw," he explained distantly as he turned away from her in order to follow the phantom that only he could see. Suddenly, his hand reached up as though to touch something - or someone - and Rose felt the tears that she had been fighting against finally break loose and slip down her cheeks as she watched a wide, heartbroken smile light up the Doctor's features.

When he finally turned back to her, there were tears in his eyes as well as he reached up and slowly unwound the old bowtie from around his neck. He rolled the stip of fabric into a tight ball and then pressed it firmly into Rose's hands, both of his gripping hers tightly as he stared deep into her eyes. "Keep an eye on it, Rose," he told her, his voice cracking quietly with emotion as his gaze roamed over her features once more. "And keep an eye on him, too."

Rose found that she could do nothing but gaze up at him in horror as his skin slowly began to glimmer and glow gold, just as hers had done earlier. "No, no, please don't change!" she cried as he stepped out of her reach and her hand raised automatically in an attempt to grab him back again. "Doctor ... don't go ..."

He was watching her with a small, sad smile on his face as he silently filled her head with devotion and reassurances, but his thoughts were immediately cut off as he threw his head back with a jolt and their bond flared between them. Rose gasped as a flash of fire shot through her and simmered like an ember in the back of her mind. When she was finally able to focus once more, she blinked and realized that there was a new man standing in front of her.

He was tall and skinny with a severe-looking nose and a pair of sharp eyebrows to match. His gray hair was cut into short curls around his head and his eyes were a bright, startling blue that were currently staring at her with an expression of wide-eyed shock.

Once again, Rose could do nothing but stare as she matched his look of surprise and watched as he slowly stepped towards her, his head tilting to the side slightly as though he were some sort of wild animal trying to assess if she was dangerous or not.

She held her breath as she counted the strange man's footsteps as he grew closer and closer until all of a sudden, she could feel the Doctor's presence in the back of her mind once more as he slowly eased himself back into all of the places that he had occupied before, as though he were slowly testing out the waters of her thoughts.

Doctor ...? Rose called out hesitantly to him, desperate to grasp onto any small reassurance that she could find that would convince her that her bondmate wasn't completely gone for good.

The strange man before her seemed to freeze in his tracks at her tentative mental touch and then his entire body convulsed as he bent backwards once more and grabbed painfully at his side.

"Kidneys!" he cried out through clenched teeth. "I've got new kidneys!" He was still staring at her, as though he were waiting for her to say or do something, but Rose had absolutely no idea what was meant to happen next. She had already been through a regeneration with the Doctor once before, but she found that it hadn't quite adequately prepared her for this. There had been no flames, no fire, no watching as his face slowly rearranged itself into new and unfamiliar features. He was just there one moment, and the next ...

"I don't like the color," the man before her declared, his already-severe-looking eyebrows coming together in a dark scowl as he glared at her.

"Of your kidneys ...?" Rose asked in quiet confusion. She furrowed her own brows as she noticed for the first time that this man seemed to be speaking in a Scottish accent - just one more new addition that managed to set her whole world slightly off-kilter.

Just then, the TARDIS gave a mighty jolt around them, sending them both rocking into the console as they fought to maintain their balance.

"What's happening?" Rose cried out in terror as the old ship groaned and rattled dangerously beneath their feet.

"We're probably crashing!" the strange man called back as he turned his scowl to the TARDIS controls and roughly flipped a few switches. "Stay calm," he commanded as he continued to focus down at the buttons near his hands. "Just one question - do you happen to know how to fly this thing?"

#doctor who #dw #fanfiction #fanfic #dw fanfic #dw fanfiction #doctor who fanfic #doctor who fanfiction #the doctor #rose tyler #eleventh doctor #eleven/rose #elevenxrose #the doctor/rose #the doctorxrose

0 notes

chasingthecosmos · 5 years

Text

By Any Other Name

Fandom: Doctor Who Rating: G Pairing: The Doctor/Rose Tyler, Eleventh Doctor/Rose Tyler (The Doctor/Clara Oswald, Eleventh Doctor/Clara Oswald) Chapters: 11/26 Read on AO3 here.

All of Rose's petty jealousies were soon forgotten, however, when the four of them entered into the Eye of Harmony and discovered that they were now trapped between two oncoming sets of ashen zombie monsters.

"There's no way out! We're trapped!" the man called Gregor shouted as he slammed the door shut on their one remaining chance at escape.

"Doctor!" Rose shouted, grabbing the Time Lord's arm as he attempted to race past her and forcing him to stop and face her. "You know what they are, I know you do, so just tell us!"

"I can't," the Doctor replied, his eyes wide with panic as he fought and failed to find another option for their survival.

"Tell me!" Rose insisted desperately. "What's the use in secrets now?"

"Secrets protect us! Secrets make us safe!" the Doctor shouted in response, bringing his hands to either side of her face as though he could somehow protect her through sheer willpower alone.

But the old argument did nothing to reassure Rose. In fact, it only served to make her more frustrated than ever with him. She was tired of secrets. Maybe she had been spoiled by her life of humanity with her half-human husband who held nothing back from her, but whatever happened now, Rose knew that she never, ever wanted to go back to the times when the Doctor used clever lies and witty half-truths to keep her at a safe distance - telling her all the while that it was for her own good.

Just then, a robotic female voice interrupted them from somewhere over Rose's left shoulder. "Sensor detects animal DNA," Gregor's intelligent sensor announced. "Human core element. Calculating data ... calculating data ..."

"No, no, turn it off!" the Doctor shouted desperately, immediately releasing his hold on Rose and pushing past her in a mad dash back towards the two salvage dealers behind them, who were currently holding the sensor up to one of the charred monsters.

"Unidentifiable substance," the sensor declared resolutely before the Doctor could reach them.

Gregor and Tricky stared at one another in silent confusion while the Doctor froze in place, his hand half-raised as though to snatch the sensor out of Gregor's hand.

"What is it?" Rose asked from where she stood frozen watching them. "That thing said ... it said 'human core element'. What does that mean, Doctor? What are those things?"

Gregor and Tricky, finding no further information or anything of value, ran past her towards the door on the other end of the room without comment.

"I'm so sorry," the Doctor muttered quietly. "It isn't just the past leaking out through the time rift. It's the future." He stepped closer to her once more, returning his hands to either side of her face as he bent close to level his gaze with hers. "Listen, I brought you here to keep you safe, but it happened again. You died again."

"You're saying we're going to die here?" Rose asked breathlessly as she met his gaze. The half-crazed look in his eyes was making her more nervous than she had been in a long time. "Doctor, those things ... are they ...?"

But he turned away from her before she could finish her thought, running his hands through his hair and over his face and suddenly showing every single one of his thousand years in the weary set of his shoulders.

Rose didn't need to finish her question, though - she had already put the pieces together to come to the truth. She knew that these creatures were somehow their future selves - or, at least, what was left of them after they all fell to their fateful deaths in the Eye of Harmony.

The TARDIS's song had risen to a scream within Rose's head and she winced as the ship's pain and sorrow filled her mind. She watched helplessly as Gregor and Tricky fused together and transformed into an indistinguishable black mass right before her eyes. The TARDIS lamented with her, groaning out a melody of loss and regret.

Too late, too late ... death, fire, pain ... run, you have to run ...

She must have been projecting the same commands to the Doctor, because he immediately rushed to Rose's side, took her hand in his, and then pulled her after him as they raced to stay out of the clutches of the new two-headed, red-eyed monster that was lumbering quickly towards them.

"The engine room," the Doctor commanded, pointing the way forward with his free hand. "The heart of the TARDIS."

Rose followed him obediently, not needing him to guide her as he normally did since the TARDIS was leading them both quite clearly in the direction that she wanted them to go. However, the sentient ship failed to warn either of them to watch their step as a set of doors opened before them and they nearly ran head-long over the edge of a rough cliff face. Rose and the Doctor shouted in unison and pin-wheeled on the spot in an attempt to regain their balance and keep from tipping over to their deaths.

"'The engine room'?" Rose repeated dubiously as they paused to catch their breaths and get a better look at the rocks shrouded in mist around them. Her hand was still being held firmly in his, and she made no move to step away even though his grip was irritating the burn on her palm.

"Yes, well, we're almost there," the Doctor replied, motioning across the great expanse of empty space that stood before them as though that were explanation enough for the fact that they suddenly seemed to be outdoors.

"But there's no way across," Rose muttered, eyeing the impossible distance that stood between them and the other side.

"No, okay, you're right ..." he agreed distractedly.

"So what do we do?" she asked, squeezing his hand in an attempt to get him to focus. "Time for a plan. Do you have a plan?"

"Well ... no. No plan. Sorry," the Doctor replied slowly as he turned to face her with a sheepish expression.

"You always have a plan," Rose reminded him simply. "So come on, out with it."

"Nope. Not this time. No plan, no escape, no chance at survival," the Doctor stated matter-of-factly. "So go on, then, why don't you just tell me?"

"Sorry?" Rose asked in confusion.

"Well, there's no point now," the Doctor reminded her, gesturing around at their lack of options before glancing back at her with a weighted look in his eyes. "We're about to die, you see. So go on, then. Just tell me who you are."

"Are we ... doing this now?" Rose asked through gritted teeth.

The Doctor immediately dropped her hand and she felt it like a slap to the face as he turned his back on her only to whirl around a second later to level a dangerous-looking glare on her. "Yes! We are!" he shouted angrily, making her flinch as he came close and bent over her intimidatingly. "I look at you every single day and I don't understand a thing about you. Why do I keep running into you?"

"Doctor, I ..."

"I met you in the dalek asylum," he interrupted her. "There was a girl in a shipwreck and she died saving my life, and she was you."

"Doctor, please, let me ..."

"Victorian London!" he continued as though she hadn't spoken. "There was a governess who was really a barmaid, and we fought the Great Intelligence together. She died, and it was my fault, and she was you!"

"Doctor, listen to me!" Rose begged, feeling tears prick at the back of her eyes as he simply continued to advance on her threateningly. This was the first time in her long, long life that Rose had ever been afraid of the man who she loved and it was breaking her heart to see him like this. She knew that the time for the truth was now - if only he would just listen.

"What are you, eh? A trick? A trap?" he demanded loudly, continuing to back her up closer and closer to the ledge and the steep, steep drop below ...

"Doctor, please!" Rose cried, but her voice ended on a choked gasp as she felt the rocks beneath her feet shifting and then she was stumbling backwards towards the great chasm behind her.

The only thing that stopped her from plummeting to her death was the Doctor's hand quickly taking hold of hers and pulling her back to him in a tight embrace. Rose felt as though she was unraveling, with his arms being the only thing holding her together as he squeezed her closer and pulled her quickly out of harm's way. Her heart was filled to overflowing with a combined ache for the Doctor she had known in her previous life, her husband, and for the man who was here with her now. Even here, when he was accusing her and doubting her at every turn, he was still saving her life, and being in his arms felt like she was finally, finally coming home.

"Oh, Clara, I'm sorry ..." he whispered quietly as he heaved a sigh and buried his nose against her neck.

The false name was what finally broke her last shred of resolve. Rose squeezed her eyes shut tight and murmured against his shoulder, "My name's not Clara."

The Doctor instantly went very still and very silent, but Rose refused to let go of her strangle-hold on his neck - she didn't want him to be able to step back and see her devastated expression as tears began to slowly fall from her eyes. He still fidgeted uncomfortably within her grip, though, as he murmured a questioning noise into her hair.

"My name's not Clara," she repeated, stepping back slightly and resting her forehead against the rough wool of his waistcoat. "It's a fake name - an ... alibi."

The Doctor made quick use of what little space she had put between them and immediately stepped back so that he could keep her at arms-length and look her fully in the eye. "Who are you, then?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous once more.

"I know how important names are to you, Doctor," Rose muttered slowly, flashing him a sad, uneven smile. "I know the value of a true name on Gallifrey."

She watched as his green eyes widened in surprise, but Rose forced herself to continue on before he could give voice to the many questions that she could see running through his mind. "I can tell you my real name, but I need for you to understand the gravity of the situation. It's a name that's a secret. No one else in this universe will know it, except for you. You're the only one who will ever be able to speak it out loud. Do you understand, Doctor?"

Rose had received similar instructions after she had married her husband and learned his true name - the same name of the man currently standing before her. It was a sacred tradition amongst his people - a ceremony that was not to be taken lightly.

The Doctor's gaze was hesitantly curious but also gravely serious as he examined her carefully before giving one quick nod of assent.

"Well, in that case, I'll give you all three," Rose told him with a nervous smile. She took another deep breath to steel herself before she looked him directly in the eye and whispered, "The first name ... is Bad Wolf."

The Doctor flinched as though she had hit him and there was a flare of fire in his deep green eyes as he stared down at her. Rose ignored all of that, though, as she grabbed him by his waistcoat and pulled him close so that she could lean up and whisper the second name into his ear. It was his name - the one that could never be spoken out loud unless they were completely alone, and even then only in hushed tones.

This name instantly froze him in his tracks and she swore that he wasn't even breathing as she stepped back to look him in the eye once more. His brow began to furrow in silent question, but Rose took another step back so that there could be a respectable distance between them before she gave him the third and final name.

She still wasn't quite sure how he was going to take all of this information, so she didn't want to push him even further out of his comfort zone than he already was. She ran her fingers nervously along the hem of her dress and forced herself to meet his shocked green gaze as she finally opened her mouth and stated, "My name ... is Rose. Rose Tyler."

The last name was like a punch in the gut and the Doctor seemed to physically sag as he let out a long breath of air and simply stared at her. Rose watched him as patiently as she knew how as his giant alien brain slowly put all of the pieces together and analyzed every single moment that they had been together up until this point.

"Hello ..." she muttered nervously, flashing him a tight smile and a small, teasing wave.

"How ...?" he finally asked breathlessly, his eyes still wide and disbelieving as he slowly looked her over from head to toe and then back again.

Rose let out a breathy, nervous laugh and clasped her hands behind her back so that he wouldn't see them shaking. "That's a long story," she replied. "Long and confusing. And we're in the center of an exploding TARDIS, so ..."

"No," the Doctor muttered under his breath. "No, no, no!" Each time that he said the word, he got louder - and suddenly he was stalking towards her, closing the distance that she had so carefully put between them.

"Sorry ...?" Rose asked in confusion as she gazed up at his stormy expression.

"No," he stated again through clenched teeth. "I don't care what else is going on. I want answers - now."

Rose was about to open her mouth and ask him what he was talking about when suddenly his hands were on either side of her face again and she could feel his presence creeping up around the edge of her mind as his fingers slowly drifted closer towards her temples ...

"Oi!" she shouted indignantly, raising her own arms to shove his out of the way as she stepped quickly out of his reach. There was no denying the allure of his mind being so close to hers, though. Rose had been missing her link with her husband terribly over the past few years, and the promise of having that again - even if it wasn't a full bond - with the man who she loved most in all the universe was tempting, to say the least.

But the fact that he had attempted to do so without asking first was extremely offensive, and she glared up at him with a mixture of rage and shock. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded angrily.

The Doctor blinked at her in surprise, as though it had just now occurred to him how incredibly rude he was being. To his credit, his cheeks flushed pink as he stuttered awkwardly and backed away from her once more, but Rose wasn't about to let him off the hook so easily.

"You can't just do that without asking!" she shouted haughtily. "You can't go forcing yourself into people's minds like that. Blimey, Doctor, what's happened to you? What would ever make you think that doing something like that was okay?"

There was hurt in his eyes, then, but he smiled wanly and shook his head as he backed away a couple more steps, quietly allowing Rose her personal space. "Right. Sorry," he muttered quietly. "I forgot ... I mean it's been such a long time ... Most humans don't know what this is." He raised his hands before him, shrugged lamely, and then began to wring them nervously together. "I wasn't going to intrude, I swear. I just ... needed to know."

"Know what?" Rose asked quietly, her ire dimming as she watched the dejected slump of his shoulders.

The Doctor looked up at her with a haunted expression as he replied, "I needed to know that you were ... real."

Rose sighed heavily and shook her head at her daft old alien before she stepped forward and silently offered him her hand. He took it wearily, refusing to meet her eye as he stared at her fingers like they were the most dangerous things in the galaxy.

As soon as their skin touched, Rose opened her mind to him and projected the memories of her experience with the Bad Wolf into his head. His breath hitched at the sudden mental contact, and he screwed his eyes shut tight as she silently showed him the truth of what had happened to her - the whole truth, not leaving a single detail unaccounted for between them.

Rose, however, couldn't have torn her gaze away from him in that moment even if she had tried. She was sure that she was smiling like a completely besotted fool when he finally took a deep breath and opened his eyes once more, but she couldn't quite bring herself to care.

The Doctor's lips twitched upwards as he met her gaze again and he let out a long, slow breath. "Hello," he whispered quietly, his green eyes sparkling as he finally, finally smiled at her once more.

"Hello, Doctor," Rose replied, easily mirroring his expression. "It's good to see you again."

#doctor who #dw #fanfiction #fanfic #doctor who fanfiction #doctor who fanfic #dw fanfiction #dw fanfic #the doctor #rose tyler #eleventh doctor #eleven/rose #elevenxrose #the doctor/rose #the doctorxrose

0 notes