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doctenwho · 3 years ago

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Gestures and Evasion

Hello! Welcome to a new DT fic! My deepest apologies that it’s been so long, and thank you so much for waiting so patiently! Life’s been a bit of a rollercoaster recently, and I’ve needed a bit to recuperate, but I’m back again!

This prompt didn’t have a specific character mentioned, but luckily, since it wasn’t anonymous, I was able to shoot pistachoz a DM and they’ve confirmed it’s a Tenth Doctor request! :D

Warning: None, I don’t think?

Word Count: 3,514

Summary: Check out the prompt above! :)

(Gif doesn’t belong to me, credit to the creator! :D)

The Doctor doesn’t really remember the first small act he’d committed to try and get his companion to notice him. To notice him on a... well, on a more personal level?

It’s a general memory, nothing pinpointed, but he knows it happened long ago.

It was something small—mundane. (Y/N) had more or less brushed the gesture off with a light laugh and a smile that made his hearts hammer away in his chest, but (Y/N) had really seen if for what it had been.

It wasn’t very often that the Doctor had these sort of feeling about anything, but there was just something special about (Y/N). Something he couldn’t put his finger on.

He’d been trying for just about as long as the companion had been travelling with him to send little messages, or gestures in hopes that maybe (Y/N) would see what he was doing for what it was instead of brushing it off like she tended to do.

If he’s honest, he’s never really had this kind of problem before. He’s had many companions, and more often than not, those companions tend to want more from him than he’s willing to allow himself to give. Rose, and Martha—Jack, even—they were all looking for more from him, and being what he is, and what he does, it’s not that simple to reciprocate feelings.

They’ll all age and eventually die, whereas he’ll just move on to his next bout of regeneration with a broken heart he’ll have to try his hardest to keep under wraps.

The Doctor knows that maybe (Y/N) showing such little interest in him is almost a good thing. Less heartbreak down the road when (Y/N) decides not to accompany him any longer, or, worse, when old age takes (Y/N) away like every other human before her. It’s inevitable, and he really should have a stronger hold on human life compared to TimeLord life, but the loss always knocks him down for a while.

It should be a good thing, but he just can’t seem to bring himself around to believing that it’s a good thing. Not when every time (Y/N) brushes off a gesture he’s thought over, and put time and effort into, it fills his hearts with an unfamiliar pain he hasn’t felt since losing his family and Gallifrey alike.

It had taken him a while to notice he was even trying to win (Y/N) in a sort of courtship way. And it had taken even longer to realize he’d been doing it for about as long as he’d known (Y/N). It hadn’t seemed like it at the time, but looking back now, he can see how all the little comments and gestures were more than just friendly.

But she’d been brushing his attempts off since early in their travels. Shooting him a smile, but turning away when anything too even the slightest romantic turn. Avoiding his eyes when he stared fondly, or laughing it off when a compliment slipped past his lips.

He really didn’t understand it.

He could see the Gallifreyan romantic gestures confusing (Y/N), but the few earth gestures he’d picked up barely stirred anymore of a reaction than the Gallifreyan ones. He didn’t know where he was going wrong—how it was all being perceived the way it was. The wrong way. He wasn’t getting the reactions he wanted and... well, it hurt.

Both his pride, and his hearts.

It had started small with flowers—or, a flower. They were on a foreign planet, but he knew giving small gifts like a flower was one of the human gestures. So, he’d searched around while his companion was busy exploring, and located the loveliest flower he could find. It was mixtures of blues and purples; native to the planet but incredibly rare considering they only bloomed twice a year, for no longer that three days at a time.

The flower had a sweet smell; one similar to those of sweets from earth. For a while, before he’d remembered Earth didn’t have this specific species of flower, nor were they advanced enough in space travel to find one, he’d assumed they’d used the attractive scent of the flower as a marketing technique to sell their sweets.

The sugary smell Earth sweets had would always come second to the scent of this specific flower.

The exchange had been short, and less than pleasurable if the Doctor’s honest. He’d found (Y/N) sitting on the ground, just taking the calming atmosphere of the planet. His heart stuttered in his chest before he finally took those last few steps towards her, where he settled at her side and cleared his throat to gain her attention.

He’d held the flower out, rambling out facts as (Y/N) took the flower into her hands. She gave it a sniff, and fiddled with the stem and petals for a second before smiling down at it. She stared down at it, before looking back at him with an appreciative smile. He’d thought he’d won her over, but instead, she settled the flower on the ground beside her.

His hearts had cracked as his companion’s hand fell away from the flower, leaving it on the ground as she returned her attention to the world around her. He’d swallowed thickly before sitting himself beside her, not bothering to mention the fact his gesture had gone unnoticed.

It was the same ordeal when he’d ordered (Y/N) a space delicacy from one of his favorite planets, where his companion had taken the treat into her hands and tasted it without a second thought. Smiling down at the treat, before shooting him light smile as she licked her lips.

He didn’t know why he’d been expecting—hoping for—anything more than the usual ‘Thank you’ he always received when he did something out of the ordinary for his companion, but the mumbled words had filled his with a sense of sadness.

It was silly.

But he kept trying.

The gestures just kept coming. It was barely a forethought anymore. An unconscious effort to try and win over his companion—seeking this relationship (Y/N) quite obviously didn’t want. It was a sad downward spiral, but he really couldn’t imagine not trying to woo her. He’d been at it for so long, not trying sounded foreign.

He tried just about anything he could to get any sort of reaction. Any hint that his companion knew what he was trying to do. Any acknowledgment that she understood that he was trying. He’d prefer blatant rejection to this... whatever this evasive attitude (Y/N) was expressing.

Dinner in the stars.

Unique gifts from distant planets.

Various treats and snacks from wherever they happened to be.

He even tried to learn more about human things on earth. How humans went about stuff like this, and how it all differed from his Gallifreyan roots. Human courting was quite the oddity.

He didn’t talk to many humans who weren’t his companions, or people he’d saved in some way or another, but the man who ran one of the shops had taken some time to educate him, but the Doctor had come out of that conversation more confused than he’d gone in.

But on the bright side, (Y/N) had enjoyed the bag of sweets he’d awkwardly bought to stand at the register and chat with the friendly shopkeeper.

He was still at a loss. Nothing seemed to be working. Nothing wooed his companion. He didn’t understand—couldn't see how not one single thing he’d tried had gotten (Y/N)’s attention.

But he still had one more thing up his sleeve.

“Where are we going?” (Y/N) asked cautiously from the seat in the console room. The Doctor was doing his usual laps around the TARDIS console to what should be six TimeLord’s jobs simultaneously. He’d gotten good at it over the years, but there was still, occasionally, some rough kickbacks when he couldn’t be everywhere at once.

“It’s a surprise,” the man shot his companion a grin, pulling a lever. At this point, (Y/N) should be used to the surprises. He never got the kinds of reactions he was looking for, but he was still hoping that... maybe sometime he would. That something he planned would be the special one that could win his companion over.

(Y/N) didn’t reply, but continued to watch the Doctor how around the TARDIS like a madman.

They weren’t far from the next greatest surprise the man had planned. They’d been travelling a little under an hour, and (Y/N) had only joined him in the console room ten-ish minutes prior, but he’d still refused to tell her where they were heading.

(Y/N) was still quiet when the Doctor stabilized his space and time machine, checking everything twice before finally tugging his companion up by the hand and leading her towards the doors.

He threw the doors open, grinning widely as he gazed around. Just as promised.

It was a phenomenon really. A collection of heart shaped carbon monoxide ice chunks. No one was quite sure how they’d been formed, or whether someone had carved the hearts and left them to float in this tiny orbital pull in the middle of nowhere.

It was a sight few saw—the Doctor had only heard of this place from chatter on a nearby planet, but he had to admit it was just as beautiful as he’d imagined. The ice glistened as the light casted from the TARDIS hit it, making them twinkle just as brightly as the stars in the background.

It was about as romantic as you could get.

“Woah,” (Y/N) gaped at his side, and the Doctor turned to look, smile slowly lighting up his face as he watched his companion’s eyes travel from heart to heart. “What... what is this?”

“It’s carbon monoxide ice,” the Doctor informed softly, the smile on his face widening as his hearts thrummed in his chest. His companion had an astonished look on her face, eyes wide with childlike curiosity. “Like that of Mars in your solar system. No one’s really sure how they take shape but... well, they’re quite the sight.”

“It’s beautiful,” (Y/N) breathed out, almost like her breath was taken away by the sight.

The Doctor had been told by many, had seen for himself as beauty takes away people’s breath. He’d been there too, once or twice with his current companion.

He barely even caught his words as they left his mouth—his heart speaking before his brain had a chance to filter his words, “Like you.”

That was his moment of error, the Doctor noticed.

He frowned to himself as his companion slowly pulled themself away, shying away from his side and retreating back into the TARDIS with one last lingering glance at the ice. The Doctor’s hearts froze within his chest, as he watched uncertainly—unsure just how he’d managed to mess this one up as well.

“It’s late,” (Y/N) muttered softly before leaving the Doctor alone in the TARDIS doorway, the man’s gaze locked on one lone heart with a barely noticeable crack down the center. It wouldn’t be long before the orbit around them pulled the frail pieces apart, severing the heart into two.

The TimeLord forced a breath, squeezing his eyes shut for just a moment as he resided completely with the cracked heart.

He didn’t understand.

The clumps of frozen carbon monoxide made his hearts hurt the longer he stared, so he was quick to follow on his companion’s footsteps, spinning on his heels and shuffling back inside, making sure to shut the doors behind him.

He wanted to flee this place, this failed attempt, but he couldn’t bring himself around to flying the TARDIS at the moment. He didn’t have the energy too. Like expected, (Y/N) had disappeared into the TARDIS, so the Doctor plopped heavily down on the seat.

Maybe it was time to accept the fact that his companion did not reciprocate his feelings. That he was barking up the wrong tree. He’d thought that they were... but maybe he was wrong.

The Doctor stared up at the TARDIS ceiling, his space and time machine giving a little hum as if she could feel his worries and mood. His hand patted the back of his seat halfheartedly as a promise that he was okay.

It had never been this hard with any other companion. There was just something so special about (Y/N). Something he wanted to get closer too, even though he knew he’d end up hurt in the end. Something he wasn’t sure he’d ever get now.

Maybe it was time to settle this once and for all. His gestures were overlooked, or, maybe even ignored. As much as it hurt to admit, (Y/N) didn’t seem very enthused with anything he’d done. Maybe it was the human not understanding what he was trying to do—but humans tended to like words.

The Doctor from (Y/N) in her room, perched on the edge of her bed. (Y/N)’s attention raised when the Doctor announced his arrival with a sturdy knock on the slivered-open door. The knock pushed the door in enough for the Doctor to poke his head in.

“Do you, uh, have a moment?” He asked cautiously, almost ready for the rejection he’d been living with for the better part of travelling with (Y/N). He’d grown used to it, but it still tugged at his heart strings. She’d never deny him conversation, but he could still see and feel her pulling away from him.

“Of course,” (Y/N) sat up a little more, giving the Doctor her full attention. “What’s the matter?”

He hadn’t thought this far ahead, the Doctor realizes as he shifts from foot to foot in (Y/N)’s doorway, mind vacant of any thoughts. (Y/N) tilted her head at the Doctor’s odd silence, studying him from her spot, “Doctor...? Are you okay?”

“Yes,” the man cleared his throat. Then did so a second time before continuing, “I wanted to, uhm, know what you thought about the, uh,” he gestured broadly behind him, hoping his companion could piece his question together.

“The ice hearts?”

It was a good thing his companion was so clever.

“Yes, the hearts.” The Doctor nods, fingers tapping awkwardly against his side. “Did you... did you like them?”

“They were beautiful,” (Y/N) repeated once again, fidgeting with her own fingers, “it was a bit unexpected, but... yeah, I did. Thanks for showing me them.”

The man gave a nod, but didn’t voice anything. If he thought his voice would’ve come out naturally instead of the anxious waver he was sure would be there, he definitely would’ve replied with a soft ‘My pleasure,’ because it really was his pleasure to introduce (Y/N) to the beauty of the galaxy.

There was an unsettling moment of silence where neither really knew what to say.

It was the Doctor who broke it, staring at his shoes as he finally allowed the words he’d been stewing over out, “do you... not like me, (Y/N)?”

“What?” the surprise was prominent. The word rang out for a second before the Doctor lifted his gaze to settled on (Y/N)’s shocked, tense frame. Her muscles were stiff, body sitting up straighter and more alert than she had been when he’d first asked to talk. “I like you plenty,” (Y/N) assured quickly, “what gave you the idea I didn’t?”

There was a list, really. He could count things off on his fingers, but he wasn't here to be petty. The man bit his lip, leaning against the doorframe to support his weight. He honestly just wanted to know why (Y/N) was so evasive every time he so much as tried to woo her.

“You... well, uh, you never seem to care,” he made sure to word it carefully, “I... I’m not sure if you even notice, or ignore it, or what. I just, I need you to be honest with me. Why haven’t you... reciprocated any feelings?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, Doctor,” (Y/N)’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and one ankle crossed over the other as she leaned forwards in interest.

“Since I met you,” the Doctor swallowed, “I’ve been... I don’t know how to say it but, trying to court you, I suppose? That’s not really something humans do, but it is something TimeLords do. It’s just that... every attempt I’ve made... every try I’ve made to do something cute, or romantic, you brush it off. You’re evasive, and... I’d just like to know if that’s because you don’t reciprocate my feelings. If you don’t feel the same, we can just put this all behind us.”

“It’s not like that,” (Y/N)’s voice was quiet, a near whisper, “please don’t think it’s because I don’t like you. I do, Doctor. I just... I wasn’t sure.”

“Weren’t sure?” The man furrowed his eyebrows, “sure about what?”

“I didn’t want to risk our friendship. I noticed everything, the flower you gave me, the sweets. All the dinners, and the... the dates. Today with the ice hearts even. I didn’t know how to admit I liked you when there was a chance you didn’t like me back the same way. I don’t know what I’d do if I ruined this.”

“But the gestures and dates?” the Doctor frowned, finally stepping into (Y/N)’s room and sitting on the edge of her bed beside her. He’d thought he was being obvious.

“Very obvious,” his companion let out a little laugh, “and I should’ve known, but I was scared. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me. This adventure is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I didn’t want to compromise that by admitting my feelings.”

He could understand that, a bit. “So... you do like me too?”

“Of course,” (Y/N)’s smile was soft, “a lot, Doctor. I just... didn’t know how to reciprocate it without there being a possibility that everything could fall through, and we’d ruin our relationship in the process. I know you were offering it, but I was nervous. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” the Doctor chastised quietly. He paused for a second before speaking again, “I’m having a hard time believing this is real,” he admitted with a tilt of his head, “you really acknowledged it all? I... never noticed.”

“Yeah,” (Y/N) smiled softly, “and I have proof it wasn’t all in vain, Doctor.” (Y/N) stood up from her spot on the bed, and moved towards her book shelf. It housed a few books, and some trinkets she’d found on their travels and liked. She continued speaking as she searched through the books, “I really enjoyed everything you put together for me since I met you. I wasn’t sure you were really doing it all to be romantic at first but... the hearts today really summed that up for me.”

The man watched as she tugged on one of the book’s spines, pulling it from the shelve and holding it in her hands for a second before she waving to retake her seat. She started flipping through the pages, so the Doctor leaned over her shoulder to watch.

“Here,” she stopped on a page towards the middle of the book. The Doctor refrained from gaping as his companion carefully pulled that singular flower he’d given her all that time ago from the book. The room was instantly filled with that sweet, alluring scent and his hand shook as he took the pressed flower into his fingers by the delicate stem.

“I thought you left this,” he admitted softly, studying the vibrant colours that had stayed even after being pressed into the book. He hadn’t noticed her bringing the flower back. Had really thought she’d left it on that planet and ignored the gesture entirely.

“I couldn’t,” his companion sighed, “it was selfish, even if I didn’t want to ruin what we had, I wanted to keep it to remember the moment. To remember you, even if we did at some point part ways.”

“You’re brilliant,” the Doctor breathed out, finally passing the flower back like it was as precious as a crown jewel or something. “So incredibly brilliant, (Y/N).”

(Y/N)’s cheeks flushed and she ducked her head away from his gaze, but it was different than the usual brushing away of his gestures. Something was different now.

They hadn’t cleared it all up, that was for sure. He still had questions, and she still had doubts. They didn’t quite understand each other yet, but it hadn’t all been in vain like he’d thought. She’d seen it all. Acknowledged it, even if not to him. His hearts swelled as he smiled lightly.

There was still a lot they needed to discuss, but for right now, the Doctor just wanted to spend a bit of time with his companion—without all the hassle of their rightful doubts and insecurities.

“Do you think we could... spend a little while longer looking out at the frozen carbon monoxide outside before we leave? It really is quite pretty, and... maybe we can talk about this more later?”

“I’d... love that, Doctor.”

“Good. Uh, great,” he cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. His companion giggled at him, but he didn’t mind in the slightest, “allons-y, (Y/N).”

<><><><>

Once again, sorry this took so long! I’m hoping to keep this momentum going and keep getting out the requests in waiting! I hope you all liked this fic, it was a bunch of fun to write! I thoroughly enjoyed creating the frozen carbon monoxide hearts, so I hope you all liked that as well!

As always, feel free to prompt me again if this wasn’t what you were looking for (though it might take a while to get around to it if you do!) and thanks once more for requesting. Hoping everyone had a good morning/day/night!

#Tenth Doctor #tenth doctor x reader #tenth doctor x you #ten #10th doctor #10th doctor x reader #10th doctor x you #10 #doctor who #doctor who 2005 #TARDIS #writing prompt #writing requests #reader insert #fanfiction #fanfic

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edelwoodsouls · 4 years ago

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i still pick up at the sound of your call [fic]

"Is that a dalek on tv?" [or: Martha has some choice questions for the Doctor regarding the new Prime Minister's addess]

Inspired by this post

Word Count: 1,799 | Also on Ao3

"Oi, what the fuck is going on?"

The Doctor blinks. Pulls the phone away from her ear, to check the number again, check she isn't hallucinating. She'd hardly believed it when she saw it, hasn't seen those numbers strung together in years, though they're still burned into her mind.

Another life, another time.

Another friend burned to ashes.

She hesitates, for just a moment. Takes a deep breath. "Hey, Martha," she cringes instantly at the hollow lightness of her tone, only drawing attention to the lifetimes between their last words. "What's up?"

A heavy pause on the other end. The Doctor tries to imagine her old companion, for just a moment. She'd promised herself she would check up on her friends from time to time, make sure they were okay, if she could help them from the shadows in any way - but that promise has fallen between the cracks, lost along the way with everything she ever thought was true.

The last time she saw Martha, she saved her life. Moments before her own - his own, back then - had slipped between her fingers.

She'd looked happy. The Doctor could never have predicted Martha and Mickey of all people, but she was glad for them. She had ruined their lives in so many ways by crashing through them, by falling in love with Rose - this was the least they deserved.

So she imagines Martha like that. Curled up on the sofa, cornrowed hair and sparkling eyes. Legs tangled up with Mickey as they watch tv in the burnt orange glow of a dying London afternoon.

Oh, fuck. The tv.

"Uh, hi," Martha answers finally, wrong-footed and uncertain. "I wanted to speak to the Doctor, could you put him on, please? Sorry, I- uh, I'm Martha. Jones. I used to travel with him. I'm guessing you're the new companion? What happened to Donna?"

An unexpected lump rises in the Doctor's throat. Thousands of years - thousands - have passed since she last bothered to check in on Martha Jones. How many companions have been and gone in that time? How many have crumbled to ash beneath her fingers?

She swallows it down, files it under Compartmentalise, and Never Think of Again.

Sunshine. Enthusiasm. Energy. The tenets she's founded herself on this go around. She plasters a bright smile on her face, as if contorting her muscles will trick her tone into believing she means it.

"Just me, I'm afraid," she grins, skipping around the TARDIS to fiddle with the controls to keep her hands busy. "Had a bit of a change of face since you last saw me."

Furious whispers on the other side of the phone, far enough away from the receiver that even she can't hear them. She imagines Martha and Mickey, confusion and surprise warring with each other.

This reveal never gets old.

"Sooo, how've you been? How's Mickey? It's been, what, nearly ten years since you last saw me?"

"Uh, yeah," Martha returns to the phone, hesitant. She's never had to deal with regeneration, really. "I didn't know you could- I mean, when you said you change, I didn't realise that-"

"I can be anything I like! It's great, innit? I could have two heads or green skin if I felt like it. First time I've been a woman, though. Well, first time I remember, I guess. Still haven't been ginger, though. Maybe one day."

"Different face, same amount of energy," Martha laughs, and the sound lifts a weight from the Doctor's chest she didn't even know was there. "Mickey says hi."

"Yeah- hi!" A more distant voice echoes through the phone, startled at being addressed.

"Hi! It's great to hear from you!" She twirls the phone cord around a finger. If there's one thing she always regrets in her lives, it's the way her previous selves treated their companions. Each one with a different idea of relationships, of how things should be done.

This version of her thinks Mickey would be a great companion, if not for her Rose-tinted blinders.

"So, to what do I owe this call? Hope you kids have been keeping out of trouble, though somehow, I doubt it."

"Right!" Martha yelps. The whole regeneration thing definitely threw her for a loop. "Yeah, Doctor, what the fuck is going on? Is that a dalek we just saw on tv?"

"Ah, yeah... it is, yeah."

"And?"

"And I'm sorting it out?" The Doctor glances over her shoulder, towards the corridor the fam disappeared down a few minutes ago to get ready. They'll be back any second.

It's not that the Doctor doesn't want the fam to know about her old companions. They've met Jack, know she hasn't been on her own all this time, but- still.

Her companions don't have the best survival rate. It's selfish, probably, to keep having them, and yet she somehow never goes without them for long.

(She's lonely, she knows it. She's not a good person on her own. She clings to these fragments of knowledge and calls it reason.)

"But why is there a dalek on tv, Doctor? New security drones, that's what they're saying. Do they not remember the whole Earth-moving, twenty-seven planets, dalek invasion thing?"

"Or the Battle of Canary Wharf?" Mickey adds, words heavy with an underlying anger. Rose was lost to save the world from daleks, after all.

The least she deserves is to have her sacrifice remembered.

"I'm not sure, to be honest," the Doctor admits, flinging herself onto one of the crystalline seats near the console. "It's incredibly weird, actually. As far as I can tell, the entire human race has forgotten that aliens exist at all. No stolen Earth, no Titanic flying over London or Racnoss star at Christmas. No Battle of Canary Wharf."

"That's- I mean, how does that even happen?"

"I have no idea. Something to do with collective consciousness, I'd guess. Some manipulation from another race wanting to remove Earth's knowledge and wariness of aliens. The Arkangel network is still flying strong in your orbit, after all. It wouldn't be so hard to harness the technology. Maybe even your own governments, or some rogue branch of Torchwood. I never did find Torchwood 2 or 4."

"Then how the hell do we still remember?"

"Probably my fault. You're still keyed into the TARDIS's neural network, so she's protecting you from the effects. Sorry about that."

"No, it's- it's good," Martha splutters. "Are you going to try and fix it?"

"Maybe," the Doctor leans back in her chair, pulling the phone cord as far as it will go. "Once all of this is over, I might look into it. Just to check if it's malevolent or not. It's not a bad thing, necessarily. To forget. Some of things they must have seen..."

She shakes her head to clear it. Can't let herself stop and think for too long, or she might never escape the whirlpool's tide.

"Anyway," Martha says - she always was good at noticing her spirals, circumventing them. "How's Donna?"

Nevermind. She speaks the words lightly, but in a tone that says she noticed the Doctor's avoidance earlier and is bracing for bad news.

"She's great!" the Doctor manages a smile, glad to have something, anything to latch onto that isn't her own thoughts. "Happily married, actually. Won the lottery a few years ago, doing very well for herself."

"That's- that's really good to hear."

"She doesn't remember me." She lets the words fall, as much as she wishes she could hold them close and buried and gone. But Donna needs to be kept safe, and Martha reaching out to her would be- not good. "She doesn't remember anything that happened. I- I had to wipe her memory, after the daleks. It was killing her."

The silence stretches longer this time, and for a moment the Doctor is sure she's broken everything.

"Well, I'm glad she's happy," Martha says eventually. "There are worse fates, right?"

So many of your companions have had worse fates, she doesn't say, but the Doctor reads between the lines anyway.

"Yeah," she breathes.

"And how are you doing, Doctor? You're not alone, are you?"

"No! I'm great, actually. Got my fam. Yaz is really cool, you'd love her. Ryan and Graham are great. Jack's back in town right now, helped me out of prison-"

"Helped you out of where?"

"-and we're just sorting out this whole dalek thing! Should be all over pretty soon. Just, stay where you are."

"You know we can't do that, Doctor." If anything, Martha sounds amused. Determined. Ready to pick up her sword once again, defend the Earth from whatever might be coming.

In this second, everything is right with the world, and she misses Martha Jones in a way that hurts both her hearts at once.

"Well, stay safe at least. I'll call you back when this is done, to let you know."

"Thank you, Doctor. Maybe we could, I don't know- grab a drink, or something. Catch up."

"I'd like that," she replies, and they both know she has very little intent on following through.

Yaz appears at the end of the corridor, eyes bright, smile warm. She's chattering to someone, probably Ryan, completely oblivious, no weight on her shoulders.

The Doctor wishes she could keep Yaz like that, happy, delighted, laughing. Wishes that smile was just for her.

But she might have ruined it forever.

She's learnt to trust the TARDIS over the years, learnt that the TARDIS arrives when she thinks the Doctor should be rather than where the Doctor wants to be. She wants to trust that this, too, was for a good reason. The TARDIS has never led her wrong, in the end.

She has to believe.

"Well, I'll let you crazy kids go be heroes. Beat up some daleks for me, will you?"

"Of course, Doctor," Martha says. The Doctor imagines her smiling, linking fingers with Mickey. "Stay safe out there."

"Always," the Doctor grins. As Yaz and Ryan approach, she jumps up, throws the phone back on its hook and grabs hold of the TARDIS's controls.

"Who was that?" Yaz asks, wary, unsure of how to act around her. They need to sit down and talk, hash out the last ten months - and nineteen years - but now isn't the time.

Unfortunately, the time rarely seems to appear.

"Just an old friend checking in," the Doctor shrugs, avoiding her new companions' eyes. "There's daleks on the tv, haven't you heard? Let's fix that."

She throws the TARDIS into flight with a delighted whoop - after all these years, the thrill of flight never quite fades.

She's lost companions before, but as Martha’s call has reminded her, not all of them have met bad ends.

She refuses to let the fam down on that one, too.

#doctor who #dw spoilers #revolution of the daleks #martha jones #thirteenth doctor #mickey smith #yasmin khan #thasmin #fanfiction #own work #morgan writes

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teentitanimals · 4 years ago

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Helena Kyle-Wayne History

The history of Helena Kyle-Wayne based on how I see her! Ties into this Events Timeline :) I might call this Batfam au Earth Never? Maybe? I’m kinda already attached to the name lol

Helena Martha Maria Wayne was born to Bruce Wayne, age 42, and Selina Kyle, age 45, on Earth Never-Two. Her grandfather Alfred Pennyworth was 67, her half-brother Damian Wayne was 13, her adopted brother Tim Drake was 21, her adopted brother and sister Jason Todd and Cassandra Cain were 24, and her adopted brother Dick Grayson was 29. Growing up she learned acrobatics from her eldest brother, how to hold a gun from Jason, how to be silent by her sister, hacking from Tim, animal taming and katana wielding from her favorite brother Damian, how to defend herself from her father, and how to be sneaky from her mother. Needless to say, from a young age, she was pretty skilled, and being raised in a house of detectives, them attempting to keep their secret lives as vigilantes from her didn’t work, as she knew about it from the age of 6 and onwards. By age 14, she became the new Robin under her father.

She was best friends with Kara Kent, aka Supergirl, who was a few years older than her, and Charles Bullock, aka Blackwing, who was also a few years older than her, and was an intern at the law firm created by her father, her eldest brother and a man named Arthur Cranston, aptly named the Cranston, Grayson and Wayne consumer research firm. The three made an excellent team, and were practically inseparable.

Aside from Kara and Charles, though, Helena greatly looked up to the woman who shared her name, Helena Bertinelli, aka the Huntress. This earned Helena the affectionate name of Little H, or Little Huntress, from Bertinelli and others. Helena as Robin often ended up shadowing Huntress more than Batman. She also got along really well with Charlotte “Charlie” Gage-Radcliffe, a young adult who was like a daughter to Bertinelli. It should be noted that the Birds of Prey never existed in this universe, and Barbara Gordon never became a superhero. In this universe, Charlie mimicked the identity of Huntress rather than Batgirl, before creating her own as Misfit. No Batgirls exist in this universe, but Stephanie Brown still became Spoiler- never Robin, Cassandra Cain simply became Black Bat and then Orphan, and Bette Kane never became a superhero, nor did Carrie Kelley, Tiffany Fox or Nell Little.

At one point, a man named Silky Cernak tried to blackmail and frame her mother for killing a cop as Catwoman, but with her and her family’s help, they cleared her name and revealed the truth, arresting Silky.

Eventually, when Helena was 16, a war against Apokoliptians, lead by Darkseid, started, which resulted in a war torn world. Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman were all killed during the war, as well as Tim Drake and Helena Bertinelli. Her family grieves them, and Dick takes up the mantle of Batman, and Damian makes his new superhero alias Redwing, a combination of Red Robin and Nightwing in honor of his brothers. Charlie became the new Huntress. By age 18, everything had way gotten worse, and Charlie was killed, and Selina soon followed. Helena then became Huntress, while Kara became Power Girl.

At age 20, she, Kara and Charles chased after someone who they assumed was Darkseid, but they would later find out was DeSaad. The trio attacked DeSaad, but in the process Helena entered a Boom Tube while Power Girl and Blackwing fought DeSaad. Helena would never know how the battle ended, though, as the Boom Tube sent her to Earth Never-Prime. She was stranded, and alone, in a world so similar to her own, but not war torn, and just slightly off. She was a Bat though, and she was well-trained. She laid low and studied the world, learning that Batman was still Bruce Wayne here- and that Bruce Wayne was still 42. And that she had never been (or simply yet to be) born, as Bruce and Selina were not even married like they were in her world, with Selina still acting as the criminal Catwoman. In this world, Darkseid had been defeated already.

She stole money from Wayne Enterprises to get by, just for meals, hotels, clean clothes, etc. Scrounging through Wikipedias can only get you so far, so she took to spying on her family and friends and other superheroes and... finds that she can’t handle it. For the most part, they look so happy. Yeah, Jason’s an asshole, and Damian’s so young and angst-y, but... They’re a family, not split by death and war. Every night, she seems to end up in tears, jealous of this world and wanting her world back- no, her family.

Her secrecy does not last long, as she can’t stop herself from jumping in to help her family (Batman, Robin, Nightwing) when they are attacked by the Joker. She attempts to run away after the battle, but her moves and tricks are the exact same as the Batfamily’s, so it ends up impossible for her to lose them. They interrogate her, and she ends up confessing she’s not from this universe. She tells them she’s a Huntress of another world, but not much else. They’re skeptical of her, seeing as the moves she used would indicate she was close enough to train under and with the Batfamily, so why would she be ‘a’ Huntress (of which they’ve only ever had one)? She asks if they could go to the Batcave or somewhere to talk, instead of staying out in the city. They agree, and ask her to lead them to the Batcave, which she does with ease.

There, she confesses more of her story, revealing she was the daughter of Selina and Bruce, and that Darkseid was currently waging war on her world- and winning. She allows them to run a DNA test on her, and the results match up. They believe her story. They offer to help her get back to her own world and also to house her while she’s here. She thanks them, and offers to help them patrol and protect Gotham in return.

Living in Wayne Manor was... weird, and more often than not she’d end up crashing at a hotel or something instead. Damian was 13, younger than her, and still very... well, Damian. And there was a kid that had never been apart of her family too, Duke Thomas, and also allies like Harper Row, Julia Pennyworth, Barbara Gordon, etc... And it was weird living among, to her, ghosts. Zombies. Dead people. She was afraid to get attached to any of them, because they weren’t hers, and she’d go back home, where some were dead or dying, and she’d mourn them all over again. Not to mention, Tim was now only 1 year older than her, Jason and Cass 4, and Dick just 9 instead of 29.... And Dick was even married to an alien princess named Koriand’r aka Starfire- where he was Barbara’s boyfriend in Helena’s world- and they had a daughter named Mar’i. And Jason had adopted a girl named Sasha, aka Scarlet. And, also, perhaps this stung most, that her best friend was no longer the same age as Helena. Which meant that even if Helena had been born in this world, she wouldn’t have been Kara’s friend. And similar with Charles, who was a simple citizen in this world.

While talking to this world’s version of her mother, Selina reveals to her that a Helena had been born in this world, but her father was Sam Bradley Jr. (deceased), and she was born nine-ten years ago. Her name was Helena Kyle, but since Selina was under the alias Irena Dubrovna at the time, her legal name was Helena Dubrovna. She had brown hair and green eyes rather than the black hair and blue eyes Helena Wayne had. Helena is surprised to know of this universe ‘her’, although really it’s her other universe half-sister. She wants to meet her, but Selina explains to her that after the villains Film Freak and Angle Man kidnapped and harmed Helena Kyle, she, Zatanna, and Bruce faked Helena’s death (and Irena Dubrovna’s) and put her up for adoption. To make sure no one could ever find Helena via Selina, Selina choose not to know who adopted her (if she officially got adopted at all and was not still in an orphanage). Helena Wayne accepts this and understands her reasoning. Even she had been kidnapped plenty of times back in her home world, Earth Never-Two.

It’s a year of living like this. She talks with the Selina Kyle of this world, with Helena Bertinelli, with Zatanna Zatara, with everybody. She still closes herself off though, calling Bruce “Uncle Bruce” to distance him and her father in her mind. By the end of the year, a part of her realizes she’s never going back... and another part wonders why she would even want to. She could have happiness here. But, at the same time, to give up her friendships with Power Girl and Blackwing? (And what if they were dead by now?) It’s difficult, but finally, with the advice from her other universe family, she decides she wants to try making a life here, just in case she really never can go back. Of course, Bruce offers to adopt her, but Helena can’t bring herself to fully accept this world’s Bruce as her dad yet, nor could she handle being official, legal siblings with her brothers and sister. She still hasn’t adjusted to them, how they are now, how young they all are, how younger Damian is. If anything, she’s most okay with Duke Thomas, someone she had never met in her universe.

To her surprise, as they contemplate making her a fake civilian identity, Selina offers to adopt Helena. Helena, after thinking it over, accepts. She would not have as much hounding from the press, from the media, from the public, as she would if she was adopted into the Waynes. She would not have to deal with the weirdness that was her alternate universe siblings as much, living with Selina. (Not that she needed to live with Selina, she was 21, after all, but Selina had told her that she was welcome to crash in her house anytime- an offer she often took up on when the Manor was stressing her out.) Selina was still a criminal in this universe, but she only robbed banks from time to time, really, nothing major, and she was slowly becoming more hero and ally than superthief by the time Helena had come to this world. Selina had been dead for only 2 years to Helena, while Bruce had been for 4 years, and had died when Helena was young and not used to death. Bruce’s death had a bigger impact on her (alongside Tim and Bertinelli’s), but with Selina, it was easy to imagine she had simply been gone for two years.

So, Helena became Helena Martha Maria Kyle, adopted daughter of Selina Kyle. She slowly built herself a civilian life, working for a law firm under Wayne Enterprises in honor of her friend Charles and his job. And a superhero life, too, as the Huntress. Of course, since Bertilleni was also known as the Huntress, Helena often went by Little Hunt. They called her Little H and Little Huntress at first, but it reminded her too much of her old world, that she requested they use Little Hunt instead. It was similar, of course, but just different enough. Just like this world was compared to hers.

She worked solo, with Catwoman, with the Batfamily, and with the Birds of Prey mostly. It was a challenge, she would say, to adapt back into the old rules of “No Killing”... It’s a dark secret of hers that she became more ruthless ever since the death of her father, blood soaking her hands. But she was almost relieved to be back to No Killing- as, to her, it meant no war. No death. No pain.

Catwoman seemed to reform completely right alongside her, and the day Bruce proposed to Selina, Helena couldn’t be more happier. She was finally ready to be officially apart of the Waynes again. Selina married Bruce, and Helena took on the Wayne name, becoming Helena Martha Maria Kyle-Wayne, loud and proud. It was weird, but somehow she got used to Damian being younger- and boy did she discover how fun it was to tease him. And alongside that, she got two new younger sisters too, in the form of Carrie Kelley and Alina Shelley-Wayne. Her family, she will say, was much, much more bigger than it had ever been in her own world.

Eventually, as years passed, she found herself more attached to this world than her war torn world. She often wonders, if given the chance, would she still choose to go back to her old world, her old family? It’s a question she can never answer. And one she might not have too, as the Kara of Earth Never-Two would eventually find a way onto Earth Never-One.

Name: Helena Martha Marie Kyle-Wayne

Gender: Female (She/her)

Parents: Bruce Wayne (Biological father; legal step-father), Selina Kyle (Biological mother; legal adopted mother)

Adoptive Step-Siblings: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Cassandra Cain, Tim Drake, Alina Wayne

Half-Siblings: Helena Kyle (Current name unknown), Damian Wayne

Adoptive Step-Nieces and Nephews: Sasha Todd, Mar’i Grayson, Jake Grayson, John Grayson II (on Earth Never-Two only)

Hair Color: Black

Hair Length: Long

Eye Color: Blue

Aliases: Robin, the Huntress

Nicknames: Helly, Hel, 'Lena, Hello Kitty, Little H, Little Huntress, Little Hunt

Robin Run: 4 years

Huntress Run: 4 years and ongoing

Reblogs appreciated <3

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annakie · 5 years ago

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It took three and a half months, but I’ve finished my Doctor Who Rewatch.

It’s time to talk about seasons 10, 11, overall wrapup thoughts and some best/worst lists. Very long post below.

I started doing this back at the end of August as more of a joke when I was going back and cleaning the terrible cringe stuff off the first few months of my blog, then ended up taking that project from when I started the blog in May, 2011 until late 2016. I realized that I had too much going on IRL right now to revisit my life at the end of 2016 when things took a sharp turn the wrong way, so I haven’t picked that back up again. I still might at some point.

After the start of the nostalgia tour I:

Cried about Doomsday

Still hated the Manhattan episodes but renewed my love for one of my favorite characters of all time.

Reflected about Martha Jones and being an overly-zealous defender of a fictional character

Cried a lot over meeting and losing River Song in the span of an hour and a half.

Made my way through Season 4 and found myself still mostly loving the show.

Finished Season 4 and was starting to tire of Ten but knew I had more content to get through.

Didn’t post again til I was done with Amy and Rory. Loved Amy, Rory and River even more, especially Rory.

Watched an episode I remembered I didn’t like just because of the guest actors. Only marginally helped the episode.

Disliked the second half of season 7 even more than I used to. Felt meh about Clara.

Warmed to Clara more in seasons 8 and 9. Still, was ready to see her go. Loved Twelve, though the first half of season 8 continued to be rough. Adored the Husbands of River Song for the 6th+ time.

Took a brief moment to love Bill.

Full disclosure on the rewatch: I skipped most of Fear Her except the first and last few minutes, and actually haven’t gotten back to Waters of Mars or the one 11 Christmas Special with the kids who’s father dies. I may or may not pick those up in the next week or two.

So tonight I finished rewatching all of Thirteen’s episodes and wanted to talk a bit more about Bill, and then a lot about Thirteen, and some general thoughts about the whole rewatch.

Bill Potts is too good for this world. I remembered loving her during her season but was blown away on the rewatch with how much I loved her, and almost all of her season. Her energy, her story, her smile, it’s infectious. It’s infuriating that so many people didn’t watch Bill because wow she deserved a lot more attention that I feel like she got, and also I feel like the show itself turned a real corner that season. Season 9, yes, definitely better than 8 and 7.5. But It’s like Moffat or the writers in general kinda grocked into several important things and made the show more progressive and less cringe?

There wasn’t an episode I thought was bad, even the more filler episodes like the one in space with the air being a commodity was tense and fun. I’m not sure I’d skip a single episode.

And then Bill, I think, ends up getting an even shittier deal than Martha in her season. Left alone for ten years in a shithole mopping up floors, only to be turned into a cyberman and get left extremely traumatized, and sacrifice herself. A very good story. A very sad and frustrating ending. Except that she does get to “transform” and travel the universe with Heather.

Maybe she did eventually go back home and finish living her life from not long after she left in the TARDIS the last time -- it’s entirely possible. The Memory-Bill in Twice Upon a Time (the Twelve & One crossover) remembered traveling with Heather, which means her memory was taken from some point AFTER. So maybe she got to be an ethereal being for a long time, and then eventually went home to Earth. Or maybe she’s still out there traveling the stars with Heather. Either way, she deserves a good life, and a good ending, even if we never know the true ending.

Twelve -- I love him. Again, he had a really rough start but Capaldi is an amazing actor and he owned the role. I don’t think it’s actually possible to rank my favorite doctors from the new Who era, they’re all different, all great. And Missy -- such an amazing villain. Paired with Simms-Master was so, extremely fun, but even on her own, I think she’s now my favorite incarnation of The Master. (I’ve only seen a few episodes of Old-Who with Delgado, and I really love Delgado’s Master as well.)

Nardole was also a fun addition to the season. I know technically he was considered a full companion and enjoyed him when he was there, but tbh, to me it was all about Bill.

But hey, when Twelve left, it was a good time for him to go -- I really think three seasons is the sweet spot for length of a Doctor. I was so ready for Thirteen and The Fam.

I remembered loving Thirteen when her episodes were airing and, I was right to. Jodie Whittaker is so good -- I never doubt for a second that she’s The Doctor. The show one again feels very different with a new doctor / companions / showrunner. I honestly loved the lack of Doctor-Angst in the season. Thirteen is so much more brightness and sunshine and I think it was a good way to swing the Doctor after Twelve. I also liked that there were a few comments about changing genders, a little bit of frustration from noticing how people treated her differently, but it was neither an earthshattering thing that made EVERYTHING DIFFERENT nor was it a non-event. I really think they handled it well.

I will say that I think some of the critics were right, that the season itself could have used a bit more of an arc. Not a heavy arc, like seasons five and six had, but a bit more than Tim Shaw showing up in the first and last episodes of the season. It looks like next season is going to have that.

The arc that was there though really came from Graham and Ryan’s grief about Grace and their relationship growing. Honestly, I remember when we learned that one of the new companions was going to be a 60-ish year old dude I wasn’t looking forward to that at all, but honestly, I love Graham. He’s an actual good guy, he loves deeply, he’s allowed to show his emotions, he handles things WELL. He’s not perfect but also I felt like they wrote his character so well, he wasn’t an arrogant guy expecting everyone to follow his orders, he cares deeply for Ryan and even had some great scenes with Yaz.

Ryan and Yaz are both also just so fantastic. I loved getting to spend time with Yaz’s family both current and past. I actually learned a little history in the episode that took place in Pakistan (and loved having a benevolent alien storyline there, love that episode so much). I also loved that they allowed Ryan to show grief and sadness, and vulnerability too.

I was definitely feeling the 13/Yaz vibes on the rewatch, and although I wouldn’t say I’d be upset if they did end up doing a Ryan/Yaz storyline, I also wouldn’t be upset if they didn’t do any romance storylines at all. I didn’t miss it this season, and 13/Yaz seemed more likely than anything.

I also loved that they took on racism in a couple of big ways this series. I felt like the only big swing-and-miss episode was Ker-Blam! where they were so close to really hammering down a good message in the episode and then it felt like Jeff Bezos himself came in and rewrote the last 10 minutes.

TBH there were a couple of episodes that I had COMPLETELY forgotten about, especially the one with Chris North and the big spiders. Like while I was watching it I had a vague memory of seeing it before, but not up until then. I’d also forgotten about the New Year’s episode last year with Ryan’s dad. I only remembered to watch it because after the final episode I was like “Wait, wasn’t Ryan’s dad supposed to be in this season?” and so I went to hunt for the episode.

SO... that’s it. I was actually a little shocked last night when I finished up the New Year’s episode and realized... I was DONE. I made it back through eleven seasons and... it was worth it.

Some final thoughts... and I’m just picking a few things out here off the top of my head, I wasn’t keeping a list all the way through so I’m sure I’m going to think of other things after hitting Post, but here we go.

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COMPANION RANKINGS: God Tier: Martha Jones

Faves: Bill Potts, Rory Williams, River Song

I love you so much: Donna Noble, Amy Pond, The Fam (All together!), Jack Harkness, Mickey Smith, Wilfred Mott

Very very Good: Rose Tyler, Nardole

I Still Like You: Clara Oswald

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FAVE SEASON: I mean, it’s still gonna be Martha’s season with an honorable mention of the second half of 4.

If you take Martha Jones out of the equation, it’d probably be either 6 through 7.0, or Bill’s season.

LEAST FAVORITE: The second half of 7, for sure, and the first half of 8 is kinda rough. It’d be easy to say season 1, as well, but I don’t think that’s entirely fair, as I think the age of the show really shows there and there was a lot of getting-on-their feet they had to do. There’s still a lot of good there, you just have to look for it harder.

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Favorite Specials:

The Husbands of River Song, #1 favorite no question

The Day of the Doctor a close second.

Honorable mention to the Night of The Doctor for the canonical return of Eight. Seriously, the first time I saw that it may have been the single most joyous moment of New Who for me.

Least Favorite:

I mean, I haven’t rewatched two of them yet since I remember not liking them.

Also Voyage of the Damned was just even worse than I remembered it.

I Cried The Hardest:

Amy and Rory’s leaving in The Angels Take Manhattan

River’s death in the Library

The end of Doomsday

Danny’s death

The end of Vincent and the Doctor

Prem’s death in Demons of the Punjab, maybe the only single-episode character death that hit me that hard.

Happiest Tears:

Martha leaves the Doctor

The group in the TARDIS towing Earth home in Journey’s End

Twelve and River get 24 years together

Ryan calls Graham “Grandad”

Jackie and Alt-Pete meet/”reunite”

Heather shows up and... “saves” Bill, they go off on adventures.

Best Twists:

John Simms Return at the end of season ten.

YANA is the Master

Oswin is actually a Dalek

Heaven is run by Missy, and the Cybermen. (Damn I really love twists concerning the Master don’t I?)

Bill discovers she IS a Cyberman

Loudest cheers:

Mickey showing up in Doomsday

Martha laughs at the Master

Rory’s speech at the beginning of A Good Man Goes to War

The Doctor punches a racist who insulted Bill

Best dramatic moments:

Jack and the Doctor talk about Rose in Utopia

Twelve takes several billion years to punch through a wall

Just This Once, Everybody Lives!

Turn Left

The Doctor says goodbye Idris in The Doctor’s Wife

Missy and the Master’s mutually assured destruction.

Biggest Laughs for a good reason:

The entire poison scene in the Unicorn and the Wasp

Basically everything about the Doctor attempting to be normal in The Lodger.

Right, putting Hitler in the Cupboard.

Doctor, when I’m on a date, do not put the Pope in my bedroom.

Biggest Cringe:

Penis-head half-human Dalek

Concrete blowjobs

Anytime a lady slapped/hit a guy not in self-defense

Old goblin Ten / Jesus Ten in Last of the Time Lords

Most of The End of Time part 1

Eleven forces a kiss on Jenny in The Crimson Horror (THAT deserved the slap.)

There’s a lot of things I could point out in season 1 but I’m grading season 1 on a curve.

Favorite non-companion recurring characters:

Danny Pink

Brian Williams

Jackie Tyler

Worst Villians:

“Love And Monsters”

“Fear Her”

The eye-crud sleep monster with Twelve

I kinda wanna say the Daleks are so overdone it’s hard to get excited about them anymore, though I did kinda like what they did in “Resolution” (13′s New Years episode last year.)

OK I honestly don’t know if I want to put “A sentient universe who is in the form of a large frog and just wants a BFF” in best or worst but I feel it belongs SOMEWHERE.

Best Villians:

Missy

Whatever the fuck that thing is in Midnight

House

Got a Raw Deal award:

Adam (Seriously, he was told nothing and did nothing wrong via what he’d been told?!

Donna

Bill (Seriously, TEN YEARS SCRUBBING FLOORS? only to not be saved by 2 hours and then turned into a cyberman and killed again?)

Most Bothersome Lack of Continuity:

The rules for meeting yourself / interfering in the past.

Uh so who was the Not-Danny astronaut in “Listen” anyway?

Most Improved on a Rewatch:

The Fires of Pompeii because... ten and twelve? It used to be one of my least favorite eps of season 4.

the Daleks in Manahattan episodes I guess just because I liked them more this time though they’re still not great.

Seeing all of River’s timeline in such a short period of time

Gotta say I enjoyed Planet of the Dead a normal amount when before I used to really dislike it.

Best Premiere of a Doctor: The Eleventh Hour Roughest Premiere of a Doctor: Deep Breath, since I’m grading season 1 on a curve. Best Exit of a Doctor: Honestly? I’m gonna give this one to Nine. He sacrificed himself to save Rose, and he died too soon. It seemed a fitting end, if too quick.

Roughest Exit of a Doctor: I’m going to go with Eleven here. It came at the end of what I felt was the worst period of New Who. The episode itself was... I kind of felt like it was overwraught and didn’t pack quite the same punch as the other three. Say what you will about the “I Don’t Wanna Go” line with Ten and Twelve needing to be convinced to regenerate at all. Matt Smith did the best with what he was given, but he wasn’t given much in the entire last run of his episodes after having some of the BEST episodes the previous two and a half seasons.

Best Premiere of a Major Companion: Honestly? Still gotta go with The Eleventh Hour, for both Amy and Rory and the great way they were both set up and the mysteries of the season.

Worst Premiere of a Major Companion: If you don’t count Asylum of the Daleks (which I thought was great) as Clara’s premiere, then it was definitely Clara’s “The Bells of Saint John”. No contest. I don’t think ANY of the rest of them were done poorly, TBH. I guess I’d have to go with “Rose”, because the Autons themselves are pretty meh and the plastic wasn’t great.

Best (Main) Exit of a Major Companion: This one is more difficult. Doomsday deserves a nod. Martha Jones walked the world and ended on her own terms. Journey’s End saw the end of an entire era of companions we loved. River showed up and died on the same day, but her final appearance is one of my favorite episodes ever. The Angles Take Manhattan was SO GOOD. But The Doctor Falls was exciting and tense and tragic. Hell, even Clara’s final episodes were great.

Honestly, this shouldn’t even be a question. I can’t choose. I can’t think of a single one I didn’t love.

Anyway, thanks for reading this, if you got this far! Know what? Doctor Who is still a great show, even if it’s not an obsession anymore. I can see myself doing this rewatch again in a few years, and I’m super looking forward to the next season starting in a couple of weeks!

#doctor who stuff #personal post tag thingy

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blueyesandleatherjacket · 5 years ago

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Ghost of you, 21/21

Volume: 1.

Number of parts: 21/21.

Pairings: Human!Nine x Rose; Human!Ten x Jack; Clara Oswald x Olivia Baxter (OC).

Synopsis: “Maxence wasn’t dead, but he wasn’t alive either. When she had felt better, Jack had taken her to the cages only to find Liv with all the doctors she had by hand at the moment inside Maxence’s cage. They were all around him and Zach explained them that he had had another fit while he was trying to get their attention on what he wanted.”

A/N: I've started writing this fiction last year after I had a particularly weird dream (as usual) and after I wrote the prologue, I've put it aside to work on other stuff. I've gone back to it not so long ago and decided that it would be the fiction I would post next, after not posting anything for a while. I must have watched I am legend and Game of thrones way too much to come out with something like this but I hope you will like it. I am not a scientist, nor did I have a particular knowledge of sciences. I do my researches on the internet like everyone to make sure everything is as close to the reality as possible. I have a literature degree only. Writing is what I do and it makes me explore next fields, and learn new things.

“I've got shame, I've got scars that I will never show. I'm a survivor in more ways than you know.” - Demi Lovato.

CHAPTER 21:

Rose was lying on her side next to Maxence. She wasn’t wearing a suit. She didn’t need it anymore around him. She didn’t want anything to separate them, not even the slightest layer of fabric. She wanted to feel him against her, to feel his fresh skin against hers. Her hand found his cold hollow cheek. The hairs growing there tickled the tip of her fingers as she traced his cheekbone. His face used to be so beautiful and now… now there were all those blue lines representing the vessels running under his translucent skin, the black bags under his eyes, the shape of his skull right under his skin. Now he was only the ghost of someone she used to love. This man beside her wasn’t her husband. And yet, she was there, by his side, stroking the features of this new face he was wearing. She tried to remember what he looked like before but the image was chased away by the real person she was seeing. Maxence wasn’t dead, but he wasn’t alive either. When she had felt better, Jack had taken her to the cages only to find Liv with all the doctors she had by hand at the moment inside Maxence’s cage. They were all around him and Zach explained them that he had had another fit while he was trying to get their attention on what he wanted. That had been shortly after Jack left. After that, he had been looking for his pen and writing a formula as if his life depended on it. Which was the case if they had to be honest with themselves. Jack had expected Rose to be staring at Maxence while the medical team was trying to keep him alive but her eyes were riveted on the pictures of the formula. Zach had screened it and printed it and Rose was fixing it, oblivious of everything around her. She grabbed the pictures, reread them. “He’s right. He’s fucking right.” And suddenly, she ran to Martha’s office. She was the one who needed to see this. Maxence had found the final formula of their cure. If he was right like she thought he was, he probably just saved himself from a terrible death. They would all say they needed months to test the cure if it was really working, to test it to see if there weren’t any side effects to it. However, Maxence didn’t have that time before him. If Martha synthesised that cure, it would be given to Maxence immediately. She had made a tiny mistake in her calculations and he corrected her. She was praying for it to be their final formula, for it to be the solution to the noctiagus. Both Jack and Tegan had told her to be ready but she couldn’t get around the idea that she might lose him. She was aware that his vital signs were terrible, that this fit had been the one too many. He was in a deep coma and no one knew if he was gonna get out of it one day. Rose hoped so. There was worse than death, it was watching him in this condition, forever. And since she was his wife, she would be the one who would decide if it was better to free him from all those machines and let him die or leave him like this with the hope he would get better someday. Everyone thought that killing him was the best option, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. How was she supposed to continue her life without him? That looked impossible in her eyes. She couldn’t imagine the day she wouldn’t be able to lie by his side and stroke his cheek like she was doing right now. Out of respect for them, Zach had rendered the walls opaque. He was keeping a close eye on Maxence’s vita signs and the cameras were still on but he wasn’t looking at them. It was their moment and no one had thought about preventing her from going inside unprotected. They all were aware that if that formula wasn’t right, it was Maxence’s last hours on Earth. Even if the formula was right, there wasn’t much chance for him to survive this, and if he did, there was no certainty that he would be the same as before. There would be serious consequences for him. Heavy consequences. There would re-education: physical and cerebral re-education. It would be long and difficult. But that was only if he was surviving. If he didn’t, she would need an emotional support all her life. If she didn’t end her life when his would be over. She wasn’t really thinking of it as her fingers were tracing the light wrinkles of his forehead following their lines to the corners of his eyes, drawing a circle around the mole on his cheek, stroking the line of his hairy jaw. She could feel the bones of his skull under her fingers and her heart tightened. He used to be so fit, on the limit of overweight even. He loved eating and sometimes ate too much, but with the times changing, he had had to adapt his diet. He still looked fine until that virus infected him. Until it turned him into this man she could barely recognise. “You’re not gonna give up, right? You wouldn’t dare leaving me alone, would you?” She didn’t get any answer. Only the soft noise of the breathing and monitoring machines were breaking the heavy silence of the cage. She dropped a kiss on his shoulder, close to the bandage still covering the bite mark that had caused him to be here. It wasn’t healing very well. His system was too busy fighting the infection to focus on such a tiny wound. There were priorities. “What will I become without you? Without my lovely knight in shining armour?” The expression always made him laugh usually but his body remained as still as if he was dead. He certainly was in some way but she refused to think about it. She pressed her ear against his chest, right above his heart, just to feel it beating, as slow as it was. You could force him to breathe with machines but you couldn’t force his heart to beat. It was still pumping blood so Maxence was still alive. It was these little things that were reassuring her. “Rose.” This was Tegan’s voice. Rose didn’t move though. They didn’t need her anymore. She had done her part of the job. It was up to them to make that cure now. That’s the only news she wanted to hear today, that the cure was finally done. “Martha has finished synthesising the cure from the last formula he gave us.” Once again, Rose didn’t move or say a thing. She was waiting for the whole thing. She knew what was coming of course. They only had one patient they could test it on and it was her Maxence. The idea of him being a guinea pig didn’t please her much but she wanted him to get better. Now more than ever. “Jack has given it to Peggy.” “What?” She had totally forgotten about the pig. With everything that had happened lately, she had completely forgotten about their mascot. She had completely forgotten that Jack had infected her and that she had survived so far. It was only right that they tested it on her instead of testing it on Maxence but she was so desperate to save her husband that fury filled her to the core. She jumped out of bed, rushed the the interactive wall and disabled the opacity of the wall. Tegan was standing right before her, behind the thick glass wall, his hand on the intercom. She pressed the button. “He is the priority.” “Last time he was given a cure to test, it almost cost him his life. I couldn’t take that risk again.” Not in his current condition. Tegan didn’t pronounce the words but he had thought them so loud that she heard them. Tegan noticed her anger but he didn’t show anything. The wrinkles on his face added to the dark bags under his eyes made him look older than he really was. His shoulders were stooped with the weight of his new responsibilities and the events of the last few days, with the anxiety and weariness. He too was about to break down just like so many of them in this building. “T!” Her yell brought his attention back on her. His eyes hadn’t left hers but his mind was far away. She didn’t need to be a therapist or else to see that he was gone in his thoughts and that they weren’t nice. He was still blaming himself for giving the wrong cure to Maxence. But there was more. Things Rose didn’t know about. She admitted that he was being stronger than anyone had thought he would be by accepting this role Maxence had given him. He had impressed them all and was having a hard time believing in himself. “What does it say?” “What?” “The cure, on Peggy.” “Oh, yes. Yes. It’s working. The symptoms aren’t completely gone yet but there’s a clear process of healing.” There was so much relief filling Rose at that moment that she didn’t hear the rest of Tegan’s sentence. The cure was working. That’s all she needed to know. Now it had to be given to Maxence. No other tests. Maxence needed to be saved. “Maxence can’t wait until the tests are done.” “No, he can’t.” “You must bring me a phial of it.” “Yes.” “T; you’re ignoring me.” Tegan put a hand in the pocket of his pants. The other was rubbing his face. Once again, Rose remarked how rough he looked with his beard, creased shirt half out of his pants. He wasn’t even wearing the same socks and his shoes were undone. He was so far from the trendy man he was in normal times. A tired smile that didn’t reach his eyes appeared on his face as she showed her the phial containing a translucent fluid. “Martha prepared one for him. Give him all the phial and watch over him. She’s preparing one for you too, just in case.” “One of the last notes was saying that the virus was transmitted through fluids. We haven’t exchanged any kind of fluids.” “Still, that’s a precaution.” Tegan didn’t want to take any kind of risks. He had no doubt that Rose would follow Maxence if he was to pas away. They never talked about it but years of working with them had taught him a lot about the couple. One could never go without the other. They were completing each other and they couldn’t function without the other. These last few days had been hard on Rose and this is why he hadn’t preventing her from running inside the cage when she was told he was in the coma. It maybe was his last hours on this Earth and she had the right to say goodbye. Except she wasn’t gonna do it. She was refusing to abandon him. Her devotion was admirable. He wished to live this one day, as harmful as it seemed, whenever something wrong was happening. Despite the situation, he envied them. He never experienced something as beautiful as love before. He unlocked the airlock and put down the phial in front of the second door. He didn’t enter the cage, didn’t look at Maxence. He couldn’t. It was too hard for him. He turned his back on the door to face the exit. He had his hand on the handle when he heard Rose speak his name. He didn’t turn around, just wait for her to say what she had to say. “Max and I…” she hesitated. “It hasn’t been immediate like everyone thinks. It has taken time before… before we became what we are today.” “What do you mean?” “Jack and you… don’t waste your time. It’s too precious.” “I’ll try to remember that.” Tegan didn’t ask how she could know for Jack and him. They never showed anything to anyone, always doing that whenever no one was around, whenever no one was looking. It was only relaxing sex, a brutal and pleasurable way to relieve himself from all the tension he was accumulating on his thin shoulders. But not only, when Tegan was trying to leave after sex, Jack always held him back. They lay in that bed or even on the hard ground they had just made love on, one more comfortable than the other, and they spoke. They spoke about everything and nothing and it just felt good. They felt good. Maybe Rose was right, maybe he should tell Jack that he liked these moments, that he was sorry to have pushed him away when he was moving forward. He had pretended he wasn’t ready, but Rose was right. He shouldn’t waste his time. He walked to Jack’s office; He could pretend that he was here to communicate more results, that he was here to update on Maxence’s condition. All his excuses melt when he stopped in front of the glass door: Jack was resting in his desk chair, his hands crossed on his abdomen, his head lightly back on the headrest, his eyes closed. He looked just as rough as the rest of the team with his creased clothes and the beard growing on his face but it only made Tegan’s grow and tickle his lower belly. Never thought he would catch this lovebug, him. Always thought he wasn’t made for love, him. And yet, here he was, observing the man who dared showing him that it was okay to fight back when you were abused, that it was okay to let someone show you kindness and love, that it was okay to be different. Tegan slipped the master key in the reader. The device beeped softly but to him, it sounded like the loudest noise in the world, or maybe his racing heart was being the louder. He didn’t step back, he walked inside. Jack opened an eye and his lips tiredly stretched into a smile. “What a beautiful sight,” he croaked. Tegan smiled in answer to Jack’s. It was very easy around him. His body was reacting to his, unconsciously imitating some of his mimicking. Jack was gonna ask him why he had gone here but Tegan pulled the rug through under him and left him totally speechless by dropping a kiss on his lip. A slow passionate kiss. Jack’s smile widened against his lips and his tongue tickled his mouth until he opened it for a deeper kiss. They pulled apart to breathe, their foreheads touching each other. “What was that for?” “It’s time to stop wasting time.” “I really like that.” Tegan felt free for the first time in over thirty years of life as Jack’s lips collided with his, as his tongue followed their soft curves. He lost it when he attacked the thin sensitive skin of his neck. No, they weren’t gonna waste their time anymore.

Camden McCarson was very unhappy with the current situation. First of all, Tegan Smith was dumping them in the middle of their open space without any explanation. It was already pretty annoying for him to be ditched that way but to be left without an explanation even hours later… He would have accepted a word from a trainee but Tegan hadn’t sent anyone. He hadn’t sent anything. So Donna and him were left in the dark. They were continuing their researches, not knowing if there was anything else to find in those documents now that they had identified the main responsible and the patient zero. Camden was clever, clever enough to understand bits of the formulas and notes contained in the boxes they had been given. Enough to understand that the solution was right before their eyes but no one saw it. After there had been that alert and they had been pushed into a crowded room for forty-three long minutes. He had counted every single one of them, His eyes were riveted to his watch. Donna had tried to take him out of this autistic behaviour – she was sure he was on the spectrum but never admitted it to her – but he had grumbled something to her, meaning that he didn’t care about what she had to say because he was being grumpy. Instead of insisting, she had left him alone in his corner and talked with the other persons present in the room with them. She was doing it out of curiosity, to pass the time. She hadn’t learnt much about the great Maxence Spitz. They all respected and admired him but none knew that he was currently in this building and fighting the noctiagus. That was a confidential information. She couldn’t reveal it. And now, the couple of detectives was back in the open space. Tegan still hadn’t reappeared and no one came to tell them what they should do now. Their work probably was over but they didn’t have any confirmation and Camden was really furious about it. Donna was putting away the boxes for them to be taken away. For her, it was over and they just needed to wait until Tegan Smith came to them. He was a busy man and she was more patient than her colleague. Well, almost. “This is the worst contract we’ve ever been given.” “You’re saying that only because it doesn’t go the way you want to.” “Even that Sheffield case was better!” “What did you expect?” she exploded. “Have you seen the world outside? Those scientists have been working day and night to find a solution and no one cares about that! They’re busy saving the world and you are being an arrogant prick again! Will you, please, for once stop only being a freaking egoist and be patient!” “Patience isn’t something I can do.” “They called us, kept us safe until we arrived here, kept us safe even in here, gave us rooms and fed us. What do you need to be satisfied?” “That’s an excellent question.” Both detectives looked up when they heard Tegan’s voice. The neurologist was coming to them. They could clearly see in the way he was walking that he was more relaxed than a couple days ago. He had taken the time to shower, shave and pulled on a clean three pieces suit. Donna found him very handsome. “He’s gay, Donna,” whispered Camden. “Doesn’t matter,” she retorted, with a slight kick in his ankle. “Yes, I am, and I’m dating someone. Now,” he clapped his hands together, “your curiosity is satisfied.” There was something different about Tegan. He still looked exhausted but he was somehow… relieved? It was a good thing because it meant they were going somewhere with their researches. He also looked grown up, as if this unexpected experience at the head of department had really been beneficial to him. He probably was gonna keep the job for a moment before Maxence could have it back. “Not exactly. We’ve had an interrupted conversation last time we saw each other.” “Yes. You’re right. Myrtle Appleton. I’m here for that.” Tegan sat down on one of the plastic chairs and invited Donna to do the same. She abandoned her work with the boxes and obeyed. She wondered what was new. “What I’m telling you now is confidential.” “You’ve said that already.” “Myrtle Appleton has come to us. She has worked with us in the last couple days and helped us to find a cure to the noctiagus.” “So you’ve find the cure?” “I won’t go as far as saying we have the cure but we have something that works. Results are there and they are positive.” “So you’ve saved him.” “I won’t go that far either.” His face darkened and Donna nudged Camden for his lack of sensitivity. The subject was hard for him, just like it was for everyone person close to Maxence. Why couldn’t her colleague be nice and considerate for once? “You have done what I hired you for. You even did more than that. You gave us names and reasons and that was exactly what we needed to make progress. We are very thankful for your help and your patience and I, as the leader of this leader of this place, am apologising to you for the inconveniences encountered during your stay.” “What now? Are we done?” “Your mission here is done. Send your bill with the charges and extras to me. We are welcome to stay until the situation outside calms down a bit. You’ll be escorted to your plane by our best elements whenever you will want to fly back.” “Free time then?” asked Donna. “Free time. For you, for me. Until better news fall.” “Can I see him?” Donna nudged Camden harder this time and he glared at her in return. He rubbed his side, where her elbow had met his flesh, but still expected his answer from Tegan. The scientist breathed deeply and looked up at Camden. His blue greyish eyes were staring at him. There was a time when it would have made him uncomfortable but he wasn’t that man anymore. “I agree that you deserve a special reward for your work, but I can’t allow that.” “Why not?” “His state of health doesn’t give me the choice. I have to forbid visits.” “Vital prognosis?” “Engaged.” “Does he have a chance?” “We’re being optimistic. But there will be consequences.” “That’s too bad. I would have loved having a talk with this guy.” “I’m sorry,” said Donna, glaring at Camden. “I hope he will be okay in the end.” “We all are hoping.” Tegan got up and shook their hands before leaving the open space. His mood wasn’t as good as it was when he came to see them but he was remaining optimistic. He had to. If he was losing his hope, everyone would believe there was no chance for Maxence and it wasn’t true.

Rose wasn’t as optimistic as Tegan was. She was spending most of her time with her husband now that she didn’t have anything to do anymore but she was leaving the cage to shower and eat and spend some time with Amy and and Liv and Clara. She had given the cure to Maxence, taken the dose Tegan had brought to her. It had been days or maybe weeks. She hadn’t counted. She was just watching over him and checking his vital signs every day. Zach and her were keeping a close eye while everyone was trying to restart their life. The cure was working and it had been created and distributed en masse all around the world. But Rose hadn’t left the lab. She was still living in the CRCD. She just couldn’t go back to her house without him. He needed the medical cares and she only trusted her colleagues to give that to him. A few hours after she injected him the cure, she noticed that his skin was warmer, that his skin was less pale. She thought it was just her, the fact she was laying next to him, that she was tired and hoping too hard to see those changes appear. But then, his vital signs were better, and they could free him from most of the machines surrounding him. She wasn’t the only one witnessing this: her husband was getting better. His body was reacting to the cure and chasing the virus away. His irises were back to their natural intense blue colour, the bite on his shoulder was just a scar now and his hair had grown back around the improvised surgery he had gotten through. He was better and better and yet, he wasn’t waking up. His scams weren’t worrying, His brain was working just fine – they couldn’t know what were the damages until he woke up. There was no reason for him to remain in the coma. No one could explain it. “Hi, Zach.” “Hi, Doctor Spitz.” Rose was just out of a warm shower and she had changed clothes. Her hair was still wet and she was pretty relaxed. Her last session with Amy had gone well – it was easier to open up to a therapist you were being friend with – and their dinner had been just as good. Now Amy was back to her flat in town and Rose was back to her husband. “Nothing happened while I was gone?” “His brain has had a burst of activity.” He pointed to the latest data on one of his screens. “I thought he was gonna wake up but nothing so far:” “Okay. You send all that to T as usual.” “Already done.” Rose smiled at him and gently tapped his shoulder to inform him that he was doing a good job as usual. After that, she did her routine. She went through the airlock, went through the decontamination process – no need to bring a new sickness to Maxence, the cage was keeping him safe – and entered the cage. She walked to the bed, slipped her hand into Maxence’s and kissed his forehead. When she stood up, she was ready to continue her reading of his favourite book – it was important for him to hear her voice every day – but her routine was broken and her heart stopped beating for a moment as tears ran down her face: Maxence had his eyes wide open and he was smiling at her…

To be continued...

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In the next chapter:

His name is Maxence Spitz. The Doctor Maxence Spitz. If his name sounds familiar to you, it is normal: this mister is one of the youngest scientists to have been published in the most prestigious reviews. Specialist in the cell biology area, he quickly became the head of the biology department at the Centre of Researches for Contagious Diseases. Lately, his works were focused on the noctiagus, this strange virus that had invaded the world and caused an early apocalypse. His team, composed of the Doctors Olivia Baxter, Clara Oswald, Tegan Smith, Martha Jones, Jack Harkness, Rose Spitz – his wife – and Zachary Evans, and himself overworked themselves during five years to find a cure to the disease ravaging the world. Last year, at the end of October, their efforts were rewarded: the cure to this noctiagus was found.

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#doctor who #ninth doctor #rose tyler #tenth doctor #jack harkness #doctor x rose #dwfic #dwau #ghost of you

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thathalloweengal · 6 years ago

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Christmas Eve at Wayne Manor (fanfic)

Bruce Wayne threw another log on the fire, it crackled angrily at him but its warmth soothed his weary bones. It was Christmas Eve and the newly renovated Wayne Manor had been decorated thoroughly, bright red and gold tinsel was draped from the oak staircase, a massive fern tree stood tall in the lounge and hundreds of tiny multicolored lights were hanging everywhere. The coffee table even had freshly baked cookies on it, still warm from the oven and spreading the smell of cinnamon throughout the house.

Bruce had one hell of a night, some idiot with powers called Gentleman Ghost decided to hold Mayor Grange and some city council members to ransom. When Bruce got the call it seemed like a cake walk but he didn't expect some damn councilman to be in on it. One maniac in a pig mask, two stab wounds and a pair of bruised ribs later, Bruce felt far older than he was. Ten years ago he would have been ready for them. The two newcomers to Gotham would have been taken down by what onlookers would only be able to describe as some kind of Bat demon, instead of that fifty year old playing dress up with kevlar.

"A dollar for your thoughts, Master Wayne?"

Not for the first time in his career, Alfred Pennyworth cut through Bruce's self criticism.

"Maybe when I was a kid, my thoughts are a little more expensive now"

"Damn inflation rates" Alfred sighed, sitting down in a nearby recliner and nursing a glass of what was probably cognac

"The guests should be arriving shortly" Alfred said after a moment

"Yeah they should be, you did a great job with all this by the way" Bruce nodded at the decorations and the tree

"Thank you sir, between being tactical support and stitching up near fatal wounds, I too believe that my calling lies in holiday planning"

"You didn't do it, did you?"

"Unfortunately I did not have the time but Mr. Allen thankfully stepped into my shoes"

"That kid's got a lot of heart" Bruce smiled

"Makes one remember brighter Christmases, doesn't it? I just wish he'd stop calling me Elfred"

"I always wanted you to have an irritating nickname" Bruce giggled

"Well bully for you sir, I suppose you are absolutely elated with Master Allen's choice for you?"

The look of confusion on Bruce's face prompted Alfred's reply "Bat Dad"

Bruce grimaced on the outside but deep down kept a slight warm feeling of contentment to himself, it had been a long time since anyone thought of him as a father figure.

"Any luck finding Curry?" Bruce asked

"Won't answer any communications but satellites have pinpointed him in a large stretch of ocean, near where the legendary city of Atlantis was once alleged to stand"

"More turkey for us" Bruce dismissed

A bolt of blue lightning sped into the room, carrying Barry Allen along it, he was wearing a sweater with a half eaten gingerbread man on it.

"Speaking of turkey, I don't know if you guys know this but I'm a vegetarian"

"Your dietary needs have already been catered for, Mr. Allen"

"You're awesome, Elfred"

Alfred rolled his eyes and took a long sip of cognac. Bruce decided to give his old friend a break from the young speedster by bringing back a Wayne family tradition.

"Barry, would you mind heading over to the cave and picking up the package beside the car?"

"The Batmobile?" Barry beamed

"The Batmobile" Bruce confirmed with a reassuring smile

Barry was gone in a flash, back into his blue lightning and out of the room. A few moments later he reappeared with a large crate as tall as he was, it had his lightning symbol on it.

"What is this?" Barry asked, slightly concerned

"Only one way to find out"

Barry raced around the crate, unbuckling straps and somehow removing screws, before finally removing the cover. Inside was a new costume, something that Bruce had his company create as a gift to Barry. Its design was much more refined than the current costume and had cutting edge Wayne Tech inside.

"Early present" Bruce explained

In the blink of an eye, Barry changed into the costume. It looked impressive on him, more like high tech armor than something someone had lovingly thrown together from NASA's dumpster. It's finish was a darker shade of red than Barry had previously sported and small holographic displays were already updating him on crimes around the city.

"Holy crap, this is so cool"

Barry superspeeded Bruce into a hug before saying something that sounded like:

"I'mGonnaTakeItForATestRunThanksBatDad"

Another blink and the blue lightning had once more carried Barry out of the room and through the front doors. Alfred smirked.

"That should keep him busy for at least a few minutes"

"Been getting under your feet?"

"Like you wouldn't believe, you are aware that he moved in upstairs?"

"Who do you think gave him the room"

Alfred chuckled a little before becoming a little more reserved.

"Does he know about the..."

Bruce cut Alfred off, immediately shaking his head, a matter of importance lay in the air between them.

"I wanted everyone to know" Bruce said softly "I'll tell them tonight"

Three knocks at the front door cut through their conversation.

"More of your unruly children, I think" Alfred grinned

Bruce got to his feet as Alfred topped up his cognac with a bottle from a nearby cabinet. Bruce pulled a massive door open to be greeted by a gust of cold wind, Clark Kent, Martha Kent and Lois Lane. Bruce took their coats and led them over to a sofa. He poured Lois and Martha drinks from the cabinet, Clark asked if he could get some hot cocoa instead, which Alfred kindly obliged, rising from his recliner and making his way into the kitchen.

"How's Perry doing?" Bruce asked, Lois and Clark's boss was an old acquaintance of his

"Same as always this time of year" Lois answered, taking a sip of her beverage "Santa hat on, singing Christmas songs older than the building, it's adorable"

"He's also very generous" Martha added

"But only to this one" Lois squeezed Clark's hand "He got the highest bonus that Perry has ever given anyone"

Bruce raised an eyebrow and Clark blushed.

"I don't think our cover story of how Clark Kent and Superman died around the same time and came back around the same time but definitely aren't the same person washes with Perry"

"He's too good of a reporter" Bruce replied

"We talking about the same Perry White that buries stories because they're too quote un quote invigorating for our readers" Clark spoke up

"Well he used to be a good reporter" Bruce said sheepishly "He rumbled me as the Bat a couple of days after he met me for an interview"

"How did you handle that?"

"Ever wonder how the Planet stays afloat despite hemorrhaging subscriptions and sales?"

The two reporters froze, no doubt wondering if Perry was blackmailing him or if Bruce was lying. It was unlikely that they knew they were talking to the secret owner of the Daily Planet.

Another knock to the door provided Bruce with the perfect moment to leave the three. Opening the door, once more, he found Diana arm in arm with a woman who must've been at least seven feet tall, they were both wearing stunning dresses. Bruce showed them inside and over to the Kents. Diana explained that her companion was called Mala, she was an Amazon and had just been exiled from their Island. They went back a very long time together and were now picking up their relationship.

Bruce had never seen Diana so happy, she was absolutely gleaming with joy, holding her partner's hand and joining in with the rest of them laughing at Clark's hot cocoa mustache.

A flash of blue lightning returned to the room, dropping off Victor Stone and Victor's father Silas.

"Look who I found outside" Barry announced, trying to hide his broken holographic displays and partially destroyed costume from Bruce

With one more flash, Barry changed back into his gingerbread man sweater and jeans. Bruce made a mental note to ask him about his misadventure later, but for the time being simply hugged Victor and shook Silas's hand, before pouring them out drinks.

The holiday party started well enough, Barry and Victor were talking about video games, Lois and Clark were sharing incredible "How we met" stories with Diana and Mala, and the sounds of jingle bell rock played throughout the old house. Bruce hadn't seen it this alive and full of love since his parents were there.

Bruce felt himself slipping into the past, he could almost hear his father telling him that he could open one present early. Feeling a little overcome with emotion, Bruce put on his coat and stepped outside for a breath of fresh air and to calm his nerves.

Bruce wanted nothing more than to be back inside, be with this new family he had helped create, but he knew that he would have to leave them soon enough. Why prolong the inevitable. Over the last five years, he had been through a lot, both mentally and physically. Jason's death, the fallout from the battle of Metropolis, his obsessive crusade against Clark and all of the guilt that followed after. Even helping to kill monsters like Luthor's creature and Steppenwolf didn't alleviate the demons and the damage inside Bruce.

The situation was made even worse by the fact that In the last couple of years Bruce found himself having nightmares, very real feeling nightmares. They'd always start differently, sometimes on a ruined Earth with soldiers wearing Superman's symbol, other times in an alley with Bruce himself snapping the Joker's neck. These dreams would have him being captured or buried alive or even breathing in the Joker's poison. They always ended the same way, regardless of if it was Clark, Joker or some mad man claiming to be his own father, Bruce would always be too slow, too beat up, too arrogant, Bruce always died.

Before he woke from these dreams though, Bruce would have a vision of Barry. Not the Barry currently in Wayne Manor, dancing terribly to the music of George Michael but an older, more tired looking Barry. He always gave advice and warnings before leaving. Advice that had helped calm Clark when he was brought back to life. He told Bruce that Lois was the key, had he not done that, Bruce expected things would have gone much worse than they did. Occasionally Barry yelled about being in the middle of a Crisis, about needing to correct something called a fractured timeline and told Bruce to be prepared for worse days to come.

These dreams and every night he patrolled Gotham convinced Bruce that he was seriously incapable of dealing with whatever the future held. Tomorrow as his friends celebrated, he would be on a plane to a city called Nanda Parbat, where he would seek the mythical Lazarus Pit it was infamous for. He hoped that it could heal his body and purge his soul of the pain that weighed him down.

Most people who looked for the Pit died climbing the mountain that hid the city, those who survived disappeared, never to be heard from again. That didn't put Bruce off however, he had inside information that the Pit lay somewhere within the palace of the Sensai, the ancient leader of Nanda Parbat. Bruce's only problems were getting to it through an entire league of assassins and any side effects the Pit might cause him. The only person he knew who had done this before wasn't exactly the picture of sanity, of course neither was Bruce.

"Only you would brood at Christmas" teased a voice approaching him through the snow

Holding a small stack of presents, Commissioner Jim Gordon smiled comfortingly at Bruce.

"Sorry I'm late, some damn fool decided to save the Mayor and tie me up in paperwork and reporters"

"Sounds like a real hero type" Bruce replied "A billionaire playboy like myself wouldn't know anything about that"

Bruce couldn't keep a straight face, Bruce and Jim embraced and kissed. His lips were chapped and he tasted of tobacco but it was Bruce's favorite feeling. When they seperated, Jim looked like something was troubling him.

"What's wrong?" Bruce asked

"I was just wondering, will this be the last time we do that?"

"Hopefully not" Bruce said playfully but Jim looked somber

"I know that you have to go, that for you to stay fighting in a world of super crazies you need this elixir of mumbo jumbo, but I worry"

"That I'll come back different?"

"That you won't come back at all" Jim said, sadly "Bruce I care about you, I don't want you to end up dead in some snowy hell hole"

"Good thing I'm Batman then" Bruce said, taking Jim's hand in his own "One thing you can count on in Gotham, even a small time crook could tell you, when Jim Gordon stands on top of Police HQ and lights that big Signal up, the Batman comes running, might take him a while to get there but he'll always show up"

Jim looked like he was trying to suppress a smile but it quickly broke through.

"What will we do without you?"

"Oh I'm sure you'll cope for a while but just in case I did ask Dick to look in on you from time to time"

"You two are talking again?"

"I know it's a Christmas miracle" Bruce chuckled

"I'll keep your damn oversized nightlight running" Jim agreed "Might scare some superstitious cowards"

Hearing a commotion inside, Bruce and Jim glanced through one of the windows. Barry had supersped an Elf hat onto a sleeping Alfred, Diana was dancing with Martha Kent and Clark and Victor were playing Twister, though Bruce wasn't sure who brought it, Mala and Lois were refereeing.

"You going in?" Jim asked "I've always wanted to meet Superman" he grinned cheekily

"Only if you're my plus one" Bruce said, more cheesily than he had originally hoped

Bruce walked back into Wayne Manor, Jim close by his side. Bruce had no idea what Nanda Parbat would do to him but for now at least he was content sipping tea, giving presents and sharing this night with the people he cared for most.

#Batman #Bruce Wayne #Christmas Eve #Barry Allen #The Flash #Alfred Pennyworth #Christmas #DCEU #Worlds of DC #Superman #Wonder Woman #Jim Gordon

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weconqueratdawn · 7 years ago

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Kowalski’s #5 ~ moar holiday edition

Gradence bakery/coffeeshop AU ~ on AO3 / Read from the beginning

Original!Percival Graves/Credence Barebone Teen & up Fluff, awkward flirting, slow burn, first date, holidays

Fic Summary: Where Credence finds solace in baking and a slightly-washed-up Percy finds solace in Credence.

Chapter Summary: First date in a craft store and car trouble.

Millions of thanks to @pangaeastarseed :) And happy holidays everyone!

Credence was waiting outside on the steps when Percy pulled up. He looked half-frozen but was clasping a flask of something hot and steaming.

Percy popped the passenger door open. “I’m not late, am I?”

Credence gathered his bag and his flask and scrambled in. The door banged shut against the cold.

“No, not at all,” he said. “I prefer waiting outside, watching people go by. And our buzzer doesn’t work that well.”

So that was why, Percy thought. Worried he might miss Percy - needlessly so, as now, secreted carefully in Percy’s phone, were all ten precious digits of Credence’s number. Hopefully that meant he hadn’t spent the whole morning wondering who on earth took someone to Kraft-Mart for a first date, like Percy had.

“I brought coffee,” Credence said. “And also doughnuts.”

Percy laughed. “You brought the bakery with you?” He opened the cup holder so Credence could set the flask down - it got stuck sometimes and needed a sharp tug.

“It’s cold,” Credence said. “And Queenie said traffic might be bad.”

“Traffic is always bad,” said Percy. ��There’s no escaping it in this town - unless you want to leave at 3am.”

But the traffic wasn’t that bad, after all - and the coffee was very good indeed. Once they’d made it out of the city, it only took another forty-five minutes on the Interstate.

Credence was a very quiet passenger but not the sort which needed constant attention. He seemed perfectly happy to gaze out of the window while he ate his doughnut, and took excruciating care not to douse the car in sugar. The car definitely wasn’t worth the effort, thought Percy. But perhaps it was more than simple politeness - perhaps Credence either hadn’t noticed or didn’t care what a heap of shit he drove nowadays.

It was surprisingly comfortable, and by the time they arrived, found a parking spot, and crossed the enormous lot, it didn’t seem at all strange to be walking around a craft superstore together. In fact, it’s very unlikeliness in the eyes of others made it into a kind of shared adventure.

“That woman keeps staring at me,” said Percy. “I think she thinks we’re lost. Or up to something nefarious. Quick, look interested in these candles before she comes over and quizzes us about Martha Stewart.”

Credence smiled. “The baking section is all the way at the back,” he said. “Once we get there she can quiz us as much as she likes.”

After far too many aisles of holiday-themed crafts - the glitter and foil in red, green, and gold looked appallingly aggressive when encountered all together - signs of hope appeared. Rows and rows of huge pastel bowls and spatulas and moulds skimmed by until Credence found what he was looking for.

There the shelves were cluttered with tiny tools and he spent an age examining piping nozzles and cutters which all looked exactly the same to Percy. On the top shelf was a boxed decorating set - for $300, Percy noted with disbelief. Credence took it down, studied its contents critically, then replaced it.

Percy was conscious of a dull sense of regret - once upon a time, not that long ago, he could’ve whipped out his wallet and bought it for him without batting an eye. Even if Credence would never accept a gift like that, it was still nice to think he could have offered.

He stood uselessly by, waiting, and tried to convince himself that technically he still could - even if it wasn’t a sensible thing to do in his current circumstances.

Credence hadn’t finished, though - the next aisle over was entirely stocked with food colouring pastes and gels. He lingered over these particularly, and took a long time choosing between a sky-blue and a turquoise. The turquoise won out, and after that he seemed ready to leave.

Percy dragged his thoughts from the meagre contents of Credence’s basket and his impotent desire to fill it to the brim, and instead made himself look forward to lunch. There weren’t many places nearby - certainly nowhere fancy - but at least taking Credence out would be something.

“Is there anything else you want to look at?” Percy asked, before they reached the checkout. “While we’re here, you might as well.”

They were just passing through yet another holiday section - the aisles opened out suddenly into a mass of differently-themed Christmas trees. In fake-rustic buckets around them were the baubles, tinsel, and lights which went with each theme.

Credence paused. “Maybe the decorations?” he said. He gravitated towards a sugary pastel-coloured one, and stared at it like it was forbidden fruit. “We never had any when I was growing up.”

Percy absorbed this quietly; of course he’d noticed the menorah in the bakery window but, even for Credence, this seemed a strangely guarded comment.

“I could get some fairy lights,” Credence said, mostly to himself. “For my room.”

“Well, why not?” Percy encouraged. “There’s no law against it, is there?”

Credence nodded rather seriously, and a packet of candy-coloured lights joined the other items in his basket.

After Credence had paid, they trudged back across the lot to Percy’s car. There had been a light fall of snow - not enough to worry about but it was slippery underfoot.

Percy locked Credence’s purchases safely in the trunk. “There’s a place not far from here we could go to eat,” he said. “Haven’t been myself but the reviews were good. Want to try it?”

“That sounds nice,” said Credence. He had a way of glowing quietly with pleasure without actually smiling, and Percy felt his self-esteem buck up a notch.

The car was freezing inside; Percy hurried to get it started but the cold seemed to have got to the engine. It spluttered out, though that wasn’t unusual. When he tried again, the same thing happened. It was only after the third failed attempt that Percy felt uneasy.

By the sixth, he was beginning to get mad. By the tenth, he was outright angry. And by the twentieth, he gave up in utter rage.

He had climbed out and wrenched open the hood before he realised doing so would achieve precisely nothing. He didn’t know anything about engines - he’d never had to learn, not when he’d had a brand-new car every year and a goddamned driver as well.

“You fucking piece of shit,” he said, hopefully in the general direction of whatever it was which had gone wrong. Then he slammed the hood shut again, hard enough to make the whole car judder.

Through the dusting of snow on the windshield Credence’s face was discernibly pale and drawn.

Percy turned his back, sat heavily on the hood, and took a deep breath. He wouldn’t be this angry if he’d been on his own. It was so unfair; why couldn’t he be allowed to keep up the pretence, just a little longer?

He pulled out his phone: a tow truck it would have to be. The woman who answered his call was disconcertingly, if falsely, sympathetic. In the background the general hum of dozens, maybe hundreds, of similar calls could dimly be heard. Percy imagined a throng of helpless middle-aged men, many with impatient wives and children in the back seat. It did not improve his mood.

When he hung up, he remembered Credence was still behind him, waiting. Probably staring at his knees, hunched and tense, rather than watching Percy make a spectacle of himself.

He stood, and went to open the passenger door.

“We’d better find somewhere to wait,” he said. “Could be a couple of hours before someone can get here.” On the other side of the lot were a few smaller stores - among them, hopefully, a place to eat. “There’s a diner over there - come on, let’s go.”

Once the car was locked he strode off toward it, leaving Credence to follow. His quiet glow of pleasure had vanished, and just then Percy didn’t think he could stand the reminder of its loss.

But, if anything, he felt worse over lunch. The food was fine but there were none of the other things he’d pictured - no cosy booth, no gentle flirtation, no shared smiles or laughter. Their table was stuck in the middle of the room, and every two minutes a server swept past them with bowls of curly fries or trays rattling with drinks. Credence focused entirely on his plate and didn’t attempt conversation. Percy couldn’t dredge up anything to say, either.

It seemed he’d done all the damage it was possible to do already - losing his temper and making an ass of himself. Then he’d grimly ordered lunch like spending time with Credence was something to be endured. No wonder he was silent and withdrawn. He’d had a better time serving Percy coffee.

That was the thought which did it - the one which managed to break through Percy’s admittedly ridiculous self-pity.

He threw his paper napkin onto his half-full plate and put his face in his hands. “I’m sorry,” he said. Then he took a deep breath and looked at Credence. “The car breaking down wasn’t great, but everything else was totally unnecessary. I’m sorry for being an asshole and spoiling your day.”

Credence looked up in surprise. Percy watched his face grow rather serious and intent and hurriedly kept talking.

“My temper didn’t used to this bad - or at least I don’t think it did - but there seems a lot to be angry about at the moment. That piece-of-shit car is only the tip of the iceberg.”

He realised he’d started to shred his napkin into little pieces. He dropped it again, and resisted the urge to fold his arms across his chest. It would only make him look sulky. Or threatening.

“I know I’m not showing myself in a very good light here,” he said. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to take this outside the bakery again.”

Credence’s watchful gaze continued on for a few moments. Then, without a word, he got up and went to the counter.

Percy stared after him. Could he be leaving? He saw Credence lean over to speak to someone, but couldn’t tell what he said. He seemed to be pointing at something and then waved over towards their table. Was he asking for the check?

But, no - he turned and came back. Relief flooded Percy; relief and more confusion. Credence had two plates of pie, and a server followed him with two mugs.

He took his seat; silence reigned once more while their unfinished burgers were cleared away.

Once the server had left, Credence pushed a plate and a mug towards Percy. “They’re for you,” he said. He picked up his own fork and took a bite of a pie.

More silence followed. Credence ate slowly and thoughtfully. Percy examined his own plate, wondering if he’d missed something obvious.

“Queenie told me something once,” Credence said, suddenly. “She said even when everything feels like shit - and might actually have gone to shit, who knows? - we can always do something about the moment we’re in. To make it a bit better.”

Even if he’d orchestrated all that to get his full and complete attention, Percy thought, he couldn’t have done a better job.

“Right now, it’s cold outside,” Credence continued, “and we’re somewhere warm, with something good to eat and someone to talk to, and- And even if it doesn’t feel like much, it’s something little to enjoy, while we can.”

Percy was astonished. “Queenie told you that?” he said, hoping he might learn when and why.

“Queenie has a way of just knowing things,” Credence said. “She's real smart but not many people notice.” He stopped and frowned at Percy’s untouched plate. “Try some, it’s good.”

Percy stared at him for a full minute before he too started to eat.

“Are you trying to induct me into the pleasures of comfort eating?” he asked, feeling a little more like his old self.

“Do you feel comforted?” said Credence.

Percy struggled with that for a while before he answered. “Not because of the pie.”

Credence smiled cryptically. “It’s never because of the pie.”

When they eventually pulled up outside Credence’s building again, they were only an hour late. The tow truck had arrived sooner than expected; all the car needed was a jumpstart. By then Percy had been able to bear the ignominy with something closer to humour. Maybe it really was funny, just a little bit.

He killed the engine. They both looked out, to where Percy guessed Credence’s apartment must be. Neither of them moved. A curtain twitched and a face appeared at one of the windows. On the sill below it twinkled an LED menorah.

Credence waved up to the peering face and twisted to get his bag from the back seat.

“I guess I should have wished you a happy Hanukkah,” Percy said, and turned to Credence with a smile.

“Oh,” he said, tucking the empty flask safely into his bag. “Because of Jacob and Queenie? And Tina?”

“Yeah,” said Percy. “I thought you might be related or something… Who’s Tina?”

“Queenie’s sister. I live with her.” Credence pointed up toward the window. “I think you saw her once in the bakery.”

“Right,” Percy said, thinking hard. “So you’re not Jewish?”

“No,” said Credence. Instead of getting out of the car, he sat back in his seat again. “I don’t really know what I am now,” he said, after a moment.

“Can I ask…?” Percy began. He got the feeling this conversation ran deep. “Why all the hesitation about the decorations?”

Credence shrugged. “My mother didn’t approve of the commercialisation of Christmas - she said it was the dilution of God’s message.”

“Wow,” Percy said. “God’s message, huh?”

“Exactly,” Credence said. “No decorations, no presents... nothing but church. And you don’t even know what she would’ve said about me living with Tina and going on a date with you.”

“Sorry it wasn’t a better one,” Percy said, feeling doubly guilty.

Credence gave him a sidelong glance and smiled. “I thought it was pretty good, actually,” he said, and went a lovely shade of pink.

Percy still thought he’d failed somehow but the assurance was nice. He swung open his door open, and went round get Credence’s. At least he could end their date on a note of gallantry.

That seemed to lead straight to them both hovering on Credence’s doorstep. Credence wore a touchingly open expression; one very earnest and a little lost. His gaze wavered uncertainly across Percy’s face, particularly around his mouth.

Percy resolved to make it up to him, next time. He leaned in to kiss his cheek, making sure to linger longer than necessary; it wouldn’t do for Credence to doubt his interest.

“I thought it was pretty good too,” he said. “Merry Christmas, Credence.”

Read on AO3

Read from the beginning

#gradence #gravebone #gradence au #original percival graves #credence barebone #modern percival graves #credence x graves #graves x credence #credence/graves #credence/percival #graves/credence #fantastic beasts and where to find them #fbawtft #my fic #kowalski's

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dailynewswebsite · 4 years ago

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How plague reshaped colonial New England before the Mayflower even arrived

The English believed God communicated by plague – and considered the epidemic which decimated Algonquian territory between 1616-19 as an indication. John Eliot Preaching to the Indians, Present of Martha J. Fleischman and Barbara G. Fleischman, 1999, The Met

The Europeans who started colonising North America within the early 17th century steadfastly believed that God communicated his wrath by plague. They introduced this conviction with them – in addition to lethal illness itself.

Plague introduced by early European settlers decimated Indigenous populations throughout an epidemic in 1616-19 in what’s now southern New England. Upwards of 90% of the Indigenous inhabitants died within the years main as much as the arrival of the Mayflower in November 1620.

It’s nonetheless unclear what the illness behind the epidemic really was. However this was the primary of many plagues that swept by Algonquian territory – Algonquian being the linguistic time period used to explain an array of Indigenous peoples stretching, amongst different locations, alongside the northeastern seaboard of what’s now the US.

The 1620 Constitution of New England, given by King James I, talked about this epidemic as a cause why God “in his nice goodness and bountie in direction of us and our individuals gave the land to Englishmen”. Plague supported property rights – it knowledgeable the again story of Plymouth Colony that was based after the arrival of the Mayflower.

The English believed God communicated by plague. However my analysis argues that declaring “God willed the plague” merely opened, moderately than closed, the controversy. Rulers, explorers and colonists within the 17th century had an curiosity in pinpointing the reason for illness. This was partly as a result of plague was used to acquire land deemed as empty, and even clear it of inhabitants.

Learn extra: Mayflower 400: had been the Pilgrims asylum seekers or subversives?

Justification for getting into the land

Many colonists described New England as an “Eden”. However in 1632 the early colonist Thomas Morton stated the epidemic of 1616-19 had rendered it “a brand new discovered Golgotha” – the skull-shaped hill in Jerusalem described within the Bible because the place of Christ’s loss of life. Most pilgrims and puritans considered plague as a affirmation of divine favour towards the English, partly as a result of few of the colonists died compared to the Algonquians of New England. Colonists typically referred to Indigenous peoples’ our bodies as extra wholesome and match than European ones, and this sense of bodily disparity made the next decline of Algonquians appear all of the extra hanging.

John Winthrop, the primary governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, argued in 1629 that God providentially eliminated many of the unique inhabitants earlier than the colony was planted. A couple of years later, in 1634, he wrote that God continued to “drive out the natives” and that God was “deminishinge them as we improve”. The proper to own a beforehand occupied land rested partly on the assumption that God had personally eliminated the unique inhabitants. Arguments much like Winthrop’s litter the panorama of early colonial reflections.

But, reactions to the epidemic are way more advanced than a easy narrative of land acquisition. Some thought God plagued Algonquians and that it was their obligation to attempt to save their lives and souls. In a single 1633 account, compassionate acts for the bothered coexisted with thankfulness that God was clearing the land – nonetheless mutually unique these two feelings appear.

Some Algonquians linked the plague with the English and their God. In keeping with Edward Winslow’s Good Newes from New-England in 1624, some thought the English had buried the plague of their storehouses and will use it towards them at will. The English tried to dispel the notion that the plague was a weapon they wielded.

Shifting attitudes

Over the 17th century, further plagues swept by completely different Algonquian areas at completely different occasions. These waves of illness upset indigenous energy relations and contributed to the Pequot Warfare of 1636–38 – a battle between the English and their Mohegan allies and the Pequot which resulted within the bloodbath and enslavement of the Pequot.

Attitudes in direction of Indigenous individuals modified after the Pequot warfare. Wikimedia Commons

After the warfare, the English took a extra lively position in “civilising” and evangelising Algonquians, for instance founding an Indian Faculty at Harvard within the mid-1650s. The inclusion of Algonquians into Christianity appeared to contradict the colonists’ earlier view that God had evicted them from the land by epidemic. Some now argued American Indians descended from Israel and their conversion would usher in God’s kingdom on earth.

Many years of illness additionally influenced Native American spirituality. The trauma of the earlier many years – plague being just one issue – made some Algonquians receptive to evangelistic efforts. Some shifted loyalty (at the least partly) to the English and their God and their break up allegiance undermined conventional authority buildings and exacerbated tensions with the English.

Justification for clearing the land

English attitudes in direction of land acquisition ranged from contract to conquest. Most Englishmen thought taking land from Algonquians was unsuitable, however over time land transactions gave approach to conquests.

It was the vacancy of the land attributable to plague that justified preliminary settlements – and over the many years the English bought further lands that had been occupied. However this association proved inadequate because the many years wore on and tens of 1000’s of immigrants from Europe needed an increasing number of land. Roger Williams – a defender of Indigenous individuals and founding father of Rhode Island – critiqued what he known as the rising worship of “God Land” .

The early colonists primarily considered themselves as passively being pulled by God right into a void left by plague. Over time they transitioned to viewing themselves as extra actively concerned in repelling Algonquians, clearing the land of inhabitants with God’s assist.

King Philip’s Warfare in 1675-78, a battle that concerned virtually the entire European and Indigenous inhabitants of New England, was disastrous for the English victors and far worse for the defeated Algonquians. After the sooner Pequot Warfare, many colonists had come to consider their future was tied to the well-being of Indigenous People. However after King Philip’s Warfare, future appeared to tug them aside.

The expansion of racial theories coupled with the current battle fed the assumption that the English and Algonquian couldn’t coexist. This perception, in flip, led to the parable of the “vanishing Indian” – Indigenous populations declined by plague and warfare as God strengthened the English. Evangelism receded. Slavery elevated.

Expulsion of Indigenous People from their lands grew to become extra broadly accepted after the mid-1670s. The English more and more noticed themselves as pushing American Indians out, with divine approval. This shift would have profound implications for the lengthy and lethal historical past of white enlargement in North America.

All through the 17th century, plague invisibly reshuffled the connection between colonisation, “civilisation”, evangelisation and racism behind the scenes. In doing so it performed an vital position in altering the political and spiritual panorama of America.

Learn extra: Mayflower 400: had been the Pilgrims asylum seekers or subversives?

Matthew Patrick Rowley doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or organisation that may profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their educational appointment.

from Growth News https://growthnews.in/how-plague-reshaped-colonial-new-england-before-the-mayflower-even-arrived/ via https://growthnews.in

#Growth News

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asarahworld-writes · 8 years ago

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DW Author Profile

Archives:

This blog, Fanfiction.net, and AO3

Ships:

I love every!Doctor/Rose, but I must admit that I am especially partial to Nine, Tentoo, and Twelve. Companion pairings I ship include Ian/Barbara, Ben/Polly, Mickey/Martha, Amy/Rory, Jenny/Vastra, Clara/Lady Me.

Rating:

I’m far from a regular writer of smut, though I admit that I have attempted it. Generally, though, I tend to stick to fluff. I’m not really a fan of gore or anything, either, so usually I don’t exceed a “T” rating.

DW ‘verse or AU:

Definitely in-universe. As much as I admire and love AU, I am not organized enough to build my own world. Though I have written many ‘UA’ fic where it takes place in-universe but I’ve completely changed the circumstances (i.e. future!Doctor/Rose, because Rose Tyler has never met the Doctor past Tentoo onscreen). That said, I have done a couple of AUs. But I find it tricky to get the voices exactly right when it’s not in-universe.

Genres:

Romance, I suppose. H/C. Adventure.

Tropes:

Whump, H/C, Fake relationships.

Nopes:

Any fic that is poorly formatted. If I have to struggle just to read it, even if it’s a completed multichap of my favourite OTP, I can’t.

Also: explicit smut, fics where Ten loves Rose but Nine doesn’t, fics that kill Tentoo as an incentive for Rose to come back, Tentoo is not the Doctor

Babyfic:

Generally no, especially if it’s set in the Prime Universe with the fully Time Lord Doctor. That being said, Rose/Tentoo babyfic is less squicky (I’ve even written a fic where Rose and Tentoo have kids). But, no, as a general rule.

Head canons that influence my writing:

The Doctor loves Rose Tyler, and the Doctor will always love Rose Tyler. Before Ten regenerates, he’s just said hello to Rose for the last time. This is definitely what he is thinking about as he regenerates into Eleven. And therefore, Eleven is haunted by the memory of her.

Thoughts on other companions:

There are some companions that I’m rather impartial to. I love all the main companions from NuWho, some more than others (Rose Tyler). (This section is going to be super long...)

I liked Jack the moment he first appeared onscreen and then I made the mistake decision to watch Torchwood and then my heart just broke for him and it made some of his later DW scenes that much more tragic. (No spoilers here for those who haven’t watched Torchwood).

Martha Jones is too good for the Doctor. She is one BAMF, even in her first episode. I love how she ends up with Mickey. It is super random, but also appropriate. She loved the Doctor. Mickey lost Rose to the Doctor. And then they find each other, both having known him, both having experienced things that no one else could possibly understand. Of course they would bond over that, and if that friendship turned into something more... Mickey and Martha are perfect.

Donna Noble. I cry every time I watch JE. Donna, despite being older, was far more relatable than previous companions. She lives with her Mum, doesn’t have a proper job, nobody listens to her, probably the most ordinary person in the world and she is the most important woman in the universe. That really struck a chord with me. Just because someone is ordinary, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be extraordinary.

Amelia Pond. The Girl Who Waited, and waited, and waited. I do like Amy. She’s brave and brash and unafraid to oppose the Doctor. She broke up with Rory because she knew how much he wanted children and she couldn’t give them to him. She might be selfish, but she would do anything for Rory. Amy risks everything to see him again after he’s sent back by the Angels, including ever seeing her daughter again. Which takes us to Rory!

Rory Williams is flawless. I hear that his sword’s insured for three thousand pounds. I hear he does Pandorica commercials... in ancient Rome. His favourite subject is history. One time he met the Hitler and told him to shut up. One time he punched the Doctor in the face... it was awesome.

I hated Clara as a companion in series 7. The timeline was too confusing and she was too impossible and she kept dying. And then the Doctor regenerated she became a fully-fledged companion and a more three-dimensional character instead of a plot device. That said, I love how she started as a series of plot substitutions and she ended her arc by pushing her death to the side and forging a new path there. The straightest line is by no means the most interesting.

Classic companions I absolutely love include: Susan, Ian, Barbara, Victoria, Jamie, Zoe, Liz, and the Brigadier. I’m currently watching season 7, so I don’t know very much about anybody after that time.

I desperately want the Doctor to go back and see his granddaughter once more. Susan was an amazing character when she wasn’t thrust into the damsel-in-distress role. And even then, most of the situations that she reverted to that were pretty strange and I definitely would have fared worse in her shoes. Susan is a treasure and deserves to be treated as such.

Ian Chesterton is a dorky scientist. He tries so hard to take care of his Space Fam and it’s so obvious that they all love him, even the Doctor.

Barbara Wright. Historian and BAMF. She mowed down Daleks in a truck. We should all aspire to be more like Barbara.

Victoria Waterfield is a cinnamon roll. She is so pure, she forgave the Daleks for murdering her father. She was adopted into the TARDIS by the Doctor and Jamie and left the TARDIS on her own terms to live with a childless couple because she wanted a family to settle down with.

Everybody loves James McCrimmon and you really only have to watch one episode to understand why. He’s Scottish, wears a kilt, is fiercely loyal to his friends. Like Donna, he is made to forget his time with the Doctor; unlike Donna, Jamie is able to keep his memories of their first adventure. However, while Donna’s memory loss was done to keep her mind intact, Jamie was forced to forget as part of the Doctor’s punishment for interference by the Time Lords.

Zoe Heriot was an astrophysicist on a spaceship at the age of sixteen. She knows her own strengths and weaknesses. Zoe was able to understand the rudimentary workings of the TARDIS. Of course she’s not perfect, but she is pretty close.

This list wouldn’t be complete without the Brigadier. He’s able to recruit the Doctor to a military organization. He does what is best for Earth, even if the Doctor opposes it (blowing up Silurians...)

Even though I haven’t seen Sarah Jane Smith’s first appearance on DW, I have seen her NuWho eps, as well as the SJAs. She has a simpler approach to helping aliens than UNIT or Torchwood, she adopts Luke so that he can’t be used by Miss Wormwood. She becomes friends with the Doctor’s other companions - including Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Jo Grant-Jones, and the Brig. I love how she becomes the ‘Doctor’ of her world, complete with her own companions.

Other things of note: I generally tend to write Doctor/Rose, especially Nine/Rose, Tentoo/Rose, and Twelve/Rose and I gravitate towards shorter ficlets and one-shots.

Open for prompts? Usually.

#not an update #writer profile

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hypexion · 3 years ago

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Since I’ve made a list of my favourite modern Doctor Who stories, it’s only “fair“ that I also mention my least favourites. Doctor Who might be good, but it’s also bad (which is really part of what makes it good).

Series 1: At first I picked The Uniquiet Dead as sort of “well one of them needs to be the worst“. But it’s also the first episode to feature a big moral copout, and the whole thing where refugees are secretly a horde of invaders is still kind of sketchy, even if it’s accidental.

Series 2: Endings can kill, and Love and Monsters is the proof of that. A entirely reasonably episode torpedoes itself with a questionable monster design and an absolutely horrid conclusion. Let us weep in revulsion over the fate of the woman who was turned into a paving stone, and how this is bizzarely presented as a good ending. Serious, what the hell?

Series 3: Hot take but The Lazarus Experiment is a bigger continuity problem that anything related to the Timeless Child. Where’d the magic immortality machine go? This is a big deal! Where is it Russel!? Beyond that this is very much an arbitary pick since Series 3 doesn’t have many big episode sins. Just Martha Jones deserving better, diffused through the whole thing.

Series 4: The Sontaran Stratagem and The Poison Sky are another pick because something needs picking, really. It does have a bit of an issue in that it’s an alien invasion episode where UNIT, who are fighting the aliens, are apparently also bad, which is weird because the Doctor literally used to work for them. Plus the Doctor’s dithering nearly gets the planet destroyed, which has to be a mark against him.

10th Doctor Specials: I hate The Waters of Mars. You can’t make saving innocent people a bad thing and expect your narrative to hold up. The Time Lord Victorious is a complete nothing, since Ten never actually does anything bad. He gives up at the first hurdle, proving he was never really commited the whole bit. You want evil? Have him kill the episode companion because in their future they’re evil. You want consequences? Have that make things worse. Not this inane narrative where the timeline still works when Adelaide dies on Earth instead of Mars. Boo!

Series 5: The Hungry Earth and Cold Blood go together to make a tepid attempt at a moral conflict. It falls apart because the Silurians are 75% evil, and are the ones making the conflict worse. There’s also the weird thing with the attempted torture into murder, which is sort of glossed over. It’s just a big mess.

Series 6: Can it be anything other than Let’s Kill Hitler? First up is the fact that it’s a Hilter episode, with actual Hitler getting his life accidentally saved by the Doctor. Then it reveals that the River Song arc was absolutely not planned in advance by introducing a never-before mentioned characer who is actually River. Also, the Teselecta is a waste of another potenially interesting concept. Oh, and we introduce “the Question“, which is probably the actual worse modern Doctor Who arc.

Series 7: The Angels Take Manhatten is the episode that ruined the Weeping Angels by making them into generic monsters. It’s also a terrible companion send-off, with Rory essentially being hit with a gotcha after the main threat is stopped, and Amy following because of *plot noises*. Also everyone acts like an idiot by listening to a book that doesn’t actually have to describe events that will happen. It only needs to be written, which could include writing things that didn’t actually happen.

Series 8: Another obvious one - In the Forest of the Night. This (slightly) beats out Kill the Moon because in addition to being really dumb, it also wastes a bunch of potentially interesting ideas while focusing on the love triangle. Kill the Moon is at least fun in all the ways you can mock it, but In the Forest of the Night lacks even that.

Series 9: The Zygon In(va/ver)sion is like Cold Blood, but worse! We’ve got Zygon ISIS, a metaphor as subtle as a brick to the head. We’ve got an idiot plot so bad it gives Orphan 55 a run for it’s money. And then, the story’s one “redeeming feature“ of the Doctor’s big speech falls apart when you actually think about it. Despite the entire story being about alien terrorists, it somehow completely fails to understand why terrorism actually happens. It’s a failure on every level that isn’t “Peter Capaldi can act real good“, which is a merit to Peter Capaldi, not the story.

Series 10: In a new level of escalation, The Monks Triology gets the pick here, condemning three whole episodes. None of the parts actually fit together, with jumps from simulations to idoits destroying the world to a discount alien 1984. The story is crammed with ideas that go underused, while the Monks end up having no actual motivations. It ends with the most egregious example of negative continuity so far, with everyone literally forgetting that the Monks very happened. These three episodes are just a total waste of air time, especially given the whole Mistress plotline the series was also trying to do.

Series 11: If you want an episode that completely screws up it’s intended message, look no further than Kerblam!. Space Amazon is bad, except actually it’s good and the person who is against it is the real villain. Nothing about this episode makes sense, with the worldbuilding contradicting itself, the theme being confusing, and the plot falling at the last hurdle. Zero stars, return for a refund.

Series 12: While it’s not the worst of the idiot plots, Orphan 55 has a good go at it. I’m pretty sure no one makes a single sensible decision in this episode, which leads to nearly everyone dying. There’s not really much else going on this episode, which makes the bad decisions stand out even more.

Christmas: Voyage of the Damned is pretty miserable for a Christmas episode. All the others have some level of levity to them, but this one just kills off most characters for the sake of it.

And those are my evil picks! Another grab bag of various stories, with a surprising level of varience in episode quality. Other than Series 3 and 4, each of these was pretty much an instant pick due to the magnitude of badness presented. The most recurring negative quality is the story mangling it’s attempt at a theme, followed closely by the characters acting like idiots. Sometimes, both of these things happen! I don’t think I could pick a Worst Episode out of all of these, because while the main way in which they are bad is somewhat concrete, there’s a lot of variance in execution. Even in negativity, Doctor Who’s best quality remains its ability to try to make any kind of story work, even when that’s not for the best.

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funface2 · 5 years ago

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Doctor Who: 10 Funniest Quotes From The Tenth Doctor | ScreenRant – Screen Rant

Doctor Who wouldn’t have been the success it has become after its revival in 2005 had it not dived into its comedy. “NuWho” has felt distinct due to its taste for comedy and the Doctors have reflected this style as well, with the Tenth Doctor’s comedy coming in the form of his one-liners

RELATED: 10 Great TV Shows To Watch If You Love Doctor Who

Over the course of his sadly short life, the Tenth Doctor delivered some memorable quotes that have passed on to his future versions as well. Now that we’re waiting for the Thirteenth Doctor’s second series to debut, it’s worth taking a look at the character’s tenth incarnation and the funny lines that made him so memorable.

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10 “Wibbly-Wobbly, Timey-Wimey…Stuff.”

This quote’s lasting quality is such that it has persisted ever since the Tenth Doctor first coined it. When the Doctor couldn’t understand how the Weeping Angels were able to send someone in the past without killing them, and yet killing them, he started mumbling to himself.

His conclusion was that time is “Wibbly-wobbly,” and that stuff he couldn’t understand was now classified under this. Since then, the Doctor has been shown terming things as wibbly-wobbly every instance that Time doesn’t make sense. The “Timey-Wimey” part seems to have been put in just for fun.

9 “I Hate Pears.”

Like the above quote, we’ve seen this one go down in Doctor Who’s canon as well, as the Twelfth Doctor also had a fierce hatred of pears. When the Family of Blood was about to find the Doctor, he wiped his memory and hid in the early 20th century to avoid a confrontation, which is when he made a video to give his companion Martha instructions.

While speaking, the Doctor went on a different tangent and started talking about how much he hated pears. Hence, one of the most important things for Martha to do was to ensure the Doctor didn’t eat a pear in his new identity. Unfortunately, he ended up doing just that and even enjoyed it.

RELATED: The Worst Thing Each Main Character From Doctor Who Has Done

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8 “…What!?”

This became a trademark for the Tenth Doctor every time he was taken by surprise and was at a loss for words – and you can find a lot more of this in the comics. The best instance of this happening was when he and Donna Noble first came across each other.

Just moments after having said goodbye to Rose Tyler, the Doctor saw Donna clad in a wedding dress in his TARDIS, and he could do nothing else other than exclaim “What!?” in a voice that went squeakier by the second. Following this, the Doctor regularly employed the use of this word and the squeaky voice whenever he was caught off guard.

7 “Am I…Ginger?”

Priorities, right? Well, as far as priorities go for the Doctor, that is. After finally regaining full conscience when his regeneration sickness healed up, the Doctor walked right into a tense situation between the humans and the invading aliens.

Rather than defuse the situation through a cool speech like the Twelfth Doctor would be known for, the Tenth Doctor instead made it his first priority to ask Rose Tyler if his new incarnation was ginger. When he was told he wasn’t, the Doctor was more bummed out about not having red hair than the fact that the aliens were ready to destroy Earth.

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6 “I Have No Idea Where He Picks That Stuff Up.”

People tend to get embarrassed by their own antics once they see it in a different lens, and the Doctor saw himself twice when he had the Eleventh and War incarnations in front of him. Even funnier was the fact that the Tenth Doctor felt he had to defend himself from the actions of his future self to his past self.

The Eleventh Doctor, carrying on the “Timey-Wimey” idea he had started when he was the Tenth Doctor, scandalized the War Doctor through the use of this phrase, leading to the Tenth Doctor feeling embarrassed at how silly it sounded and attempt to pretend he didn’t know where the phrase had been originated.

RELATED: 10 Things Wrong With The Doctor Who Universe We All Choose To Ignore

5 “I Need…I Need…I Need You To Shut Up.”

Somebody had to tell Jackie Tyler to shut up at some point, and the Doctor did just this as part of his first conversation with Jackie in his new incarnation. The funny part about this was that the end of his sentence wasn’t even what he’d set out to tell her, rendering the whole exchange pointless.

As it happened, the Doctor was in pain due to his regeneration and needed something to help with it; Jackie made it worse by giving him a long list of things that would quell the pain, but it only ended up annoying the Doctor. Eventually, after saying “I need…” about ten times, the Doctor simply told her to shut up.

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4 “Yup, Still Got It.”

Fangirls will be shattered to realize that the Doctor and Rose never had a true kiss with one another, as each instance had them be different people (it makes sense in context), with this instance being the funniest one.

In this scene, the villainous Cassandra possesses Rose and has access to a body after a long time, leading her to give the newly regenerated Doctor a prolonged kiss because she found him attractive. The Doctor, not realizing it wasn’t Rose who kissed him, simply got an ego boost and thought he’d still got it with the ladies.

3 “The Doctor. Doctor…Fun.”

After almost fifty years by that point, we found out why the Doctor engaged in any of his missions; it was all in the name of fun. When he arrived on Mars in 2059, the Doctor was held at gunpoint by the first human colony on the planet, with their leader asking him what his name, rank, and intention was.

Not missing a beat, the Doctor told the truth that he was the Doctor, his profession was that of a doctor, and that his intention was fun. So, all those adventures we saw him have, all those lives he saved, the grand plan he’d had all this time was just to have fun.

RELATED: 10 Hilarious Doctor Who Memes Only True Fans Will Understand

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2 “I Let You Keep Mickey!”

The Doctor doesn’t get attached that easily, but he tries to cling on to things that he does get attached to, one of these being a horse he’d taken from the past. When Rose told him he couldn’t keep a pet in the TARDIS, the Doctor argued that he’d let Rose keep Mickey.

As every Doctor Who fan remembers, the Doctor generally treated Mickey as if he wasn’t a companion. His treatment usually had him bully Mickey for fun, which sort of seemed like an owner messing around with his pet, and this scene sealed that he did indeed see Mickey as Rose’s pet.

1 “Allons-y, Alonso!”

For the longest time, the Doctor had one dream in mind and that was to come across a guy named Alonso. There was no profound meaning behind this; rather, the Doctor just wanted a guy named Alonso because he wanted to say “Allons-y, Alonso!”

The crazy thing is that he actually got his wish, as one of the crew members of the Titanic spaceship had this name. And he also got to find out this fact just when the time came for the “Allons-y” part to be uttered. Sometimes, the stars just do align the way you want them, don’t they?

NEXT: Spider-Man: 10 Hilarious Leaving MCU Memes We Can All Laugh At Now That He’s Back

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buytabletsonline · 7 years ago

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Fans of the dystopian-noir novel Altered Carbon surely had to wonder what form it would take when turned into a TV series. Or, to borrow the 2002 book’s lingo, what “sleeve” the show would slip into.

The result, whose entire first TV season debuted last week on Netflix, is a pretty surprising one: it’s totally solid. The results walk a tricky tightrope between book-allegiant and TV-appropriate, and as a result, neither end of the viewer spectrum will come away 100 percent satisfied. This is not necessarily must-see TV; not quite the sci-fi world’s version of Breaking Bad or The Wire. You can nitpick it enough to classify the show as good, not great.

But if you take even one glance at the show and think, “yeah, I might like this,” then you’ll be just fine. Its grand scope, well-rounded cast, consistency, and ambitious pacing make it a high-water mark among Netflix-exclusive action series. So long as you’re over 18, at any rate.

Gutsy? Or just guts?

Takeshi Kovacs, as played by Byron Mann.

Takeshi Kovacs, as played by… Joel Kinnaman. (At least one other actor portrays another Kovacs “sleeve” before season one runs out.)

Kinneman gets the most screen time as this season’s Kovacs, a character who is originally of Germanic and Japanese descent. We wish the TV series talked a LITTLE more openly about this cultural weirdness, honestly (even if it’s authentic to the book).

Either way, at least he sports this ridiculous backpack on occasion. (It’s always full of guns and drugs.)

When Kovacs comes to after a prolonged suspension, he is as confused as all of us as to who he has become.

A demonstration of how “stacks” work in the world of Altered Carbon includes this hologram.

Go on, slap your stack into an upgraded sleeve. For a price (moral, monetary, you name it).

Two Kovacs…es.

The locals don’t take too kindly to upgraded sleeves ’round these parts.

That age-gating is very unfortunate. In my dream world, Netflix would create an entirely new edit of Altered Carbon‘s first season that pulls a few of its needlessly violent and sexual punches—let alone the egregious moments that gratuitously combine those two extremes.

The compliment that I want to give this series is how awesome it could otherwise play for any sci-fi hungry teenagers in your life—for young adults coming to terms with identity, morality, and altruism. But in fulfilling a promise of book authenticity, Skydance Media’s take on Altered Carbon turns words into blood and genitalia—and often with little character-development payoff. Bad guys don’t look worse because more blood gushes, or because we see how horrifically prostitutes are beaten. Brutality and subtlety require different measurements in books and on screen, and this is possibly Altered Carbon‘s greatest failing.

Otherwise, this book’s filmed series nails something really important in TV sci-fi: it raises obvious existential questions without talking down to viewers. Altered Carbon imagines a near-future world in which humanity has figured out how to cheat death: by slipping our personalities into discs in the back of the neck, known as “stacks,” that can then bounce from body to body. Stackless bodies, as hinted to above, are known in this world as “sleeves,” and these work as a point of controversy and contention among this future world’s citizens (not to mention capital and bartering chips).

This ten-episode series follows Kovacs, a once-powerful and rebellious “envoy” who has been resurrected and slapped into a muscular, combat-ready sleeve. In his new life, Kovacs works as a bodyguard and detective for one of the world’s richest men, Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy). If Kovacs can solve a tricky murder case for Bancroft, then he becomes a free man—but, as you might imagine, nothing about this murder investigation is easy.

If you own an HDR-compatible 4K TV, get thee to Altered Carbon, stat. It’s easily Netflix’s best showcase for the format since Planet Earth II.

A look out into the dystopian-future night sky.

If Blade Runner-esque cityscapes bore you, worry not. This series also has ridiculous cloud cities.

Kovacs, alongside his sometimes-partner-sometimes-rival Ortega (Martha Higareda), is taken aback by these cloud cities.

What unfolds can be described as two very good TV series battling each other for position and dominance. On one hand, we have a flashy, sexy, gorgeous-in-4K exploration of dystopian-future themes that are admittedly well-trodden territory. The world has changed thanks to so much body-swapping and other high-tech developments, and we see those concepts explored as a mix of broad, obvious strokes of plot development and thrilling action scenes. This series’ producers waste no time visually proving their admiration for Blade Runner and The Matrix—and when this show’s fisticuffs, gunplay, and sword fighting are at their best, such shameless homages are easily forgiven.

On the other hand, Altered Carbon is simultaneously a noir crime show that relies on sometimes-strong, sometimes-cheesy character development. Many of the show’s sequences feel like a squishing together of Veronica Mars with Star Trek: The Next Generation (and I say this as a fan of both), as Kovacs and his eventual partner/rival Ortega (Martha Higareda) cross paths while solving their own respective mysteries. This material sometimes shines with a bright sheen. These two lead actors are given a lot of room in the script to carve out their identity, their moral shades of gray, and ultimately, their likability even when they’re at their most selfish and foolish.

One major problem is that Kovacs exists as a major player in both extremes… as two different people. We see actors Byron Mann and Will Yun Lee portray Kovacs’ older existence as a murderous, taking-down-the-system envoy, but he takes much longer to open up as anything other than a stone-faced, cold-blooded murderer. (Most of his character’s opportunities to express emotions are drowned out by his timeline’s sci-fi war content, though these sequences still prove quite arresting—particularly thanks to the killer chops of actor Renée Elise Goldsberry, who nails that timeline’s character Quellcrist Falconer.)

Kovacs’ rebirth in the skin of actor Joel Kinnaman is a far more compelling one in terms of the script and character-development opportunities he gets. This is probably the most glaring way that the book shines brighter than the TV show: in allowing Kovacs to feel consistent, as a man who’s grown and changed over centuries but is unified by major principles. Having each TV actor handle such different parts of his life, and having those scenes framed in such different ways, creates a schism in his character development and in the show’s pacing.

(If you’re looking for top-notch timeline-hopping sci-fi on Netflix, you may very well be happier watching Travelers. Or Hulu’s Future Man, even.)

Being Takeshi Kovacs

But the series is still pretty nimble at finding opportunities to expand book moments, or build upon them, in ways that make sense without remaining entirely tied to the book. My favorite not-a-spoiler example is when an entire “B plot” of an episode revolves around Ortega’s family. They’re celebrating Día De Los Muertos while arguing about the spiritual and religious beliefs that all these stack- and skin-swaps conjure up—and one family member forces the conversation into an uncomfortable zone by pulling a surprise, last-minute switcheroo using stacks. Multiple generations of a family look at each other in entirely new ways as a result, and every actor involved gets to dance around the scene with performances full of life and energy.

This is what damned good sci-fi accomplishes better than any genre: it lets characters become equal parts other-worldly and familiar. It finds a way to laugh and revel while tackling serious life subjects.

Ortega and Kovacs get ready to team up in a strange arena.

A holographic AI butler named Poe (Chris Conner) gets the comic-relief stuff right without being obnoxious about it. Very good turn, honestly.

Vernon (Ato Essandoh) pleads for his daughter’s survival in a simulation.

Miriam Bancroft (Kristin Lehman) makes moves.

Vernon, Kovacs, and Ortega exchange weaponry.

One of the most brutal scenes in the series features a shape-shifting VR torturer.

Two bystanders face off in a zero-G fight. The winner gets an upgraded sleeve.

As the plot unfolds, every character enjoys a mix of these high-mark moments of self-discovery and tedious, should’ve-been-trimmed moments. Supporting characters like a holographic AI butler (Chris Conner), a shape-shifting upper-class wife (Kristin Lehman), and a grieving marine (Ato Essandoh) all enjoy brief opportunities to steal scenes and round out the other main characters in revealing their eccentricities and shades of gray. But some of their episodes’ B plots do as much to dull the momentum.

That kind of criticism about plots with tertiary characters, honestly, is par for the sci-fi TV course—and we’ve certainly seen more obnoxious padding in longer-running series (lookin’ right at you, newer Battlestar Galactica). Altered Carbon really does a good job keeping its casting in a “quite good” range from bottom to top, and every major character mostly nails a mix of intensity, believability, and humanity in a show all about people magically swapping bodies and flying around cloud cities. (It’s also fun to see a few actors pull double duty as multiple personalities in the same “sleeve.” The results aren’t as charming as on Orphan Black, but they come close.)

I could level a few criticisms about the show’s later-season surprises, along with some irrational turns in how characters get along. But beyond their spoilery nature, they’re also just not the kinds of bummers that will tank the full season’s impact, should you get through all ten hour-long episodes. Netflix and Skydance Media clearly invested in making a TV show worthy of the Altered Carbon namesake—which was never about blowing away sci-fi conventions. That book series was just as shameless about its forebears, but its compelling twists and badass core characters kept you flipping its pages. Netflix’s version does just enough to deliver the same thing for your “play next episode” button.

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