thetimehorse

[thetimehorse]

The last few days have been rough, for obvious american reasons. As with many others, I have extended family I highly suspect contributed to his win, which is a double-whammy.

It's been hard to get into a creative mindset in light of all this, but I'm going to try. For my sanity, if nothing else. For escapism, but also to continue to create queer art, which feels more important now than ever.

Just, bear with me for a bit...

[thetimehorse]

Love that this alien arm is clearly just green bubblewrap. 70s prosthetics I love you

[thetimehorse]

Currently daydreaming about an au where post-finale Lena has a fellow witch girlfriend who loves and supports her craft, and even though Kara is jealous, she's still happy that Lena is loved by someone who treats her right.

Except that it's Rio, and Lena is on borrowed time.

[thetimehorse]

The Green Pill Secret: Serving Your Country

This week I wanted to pay my respects to our nation’s military as on Monday it will be Veterans’ Day. That’s why this episode it about Serving Your Country, especially in uniform. Having worked for the Naval Research Laboratory for almost 2 decades and that was some of the greatest work I’ve ever done. I was and am very proud of how I worked to keep our men and women in uniform safe. My work…

[thetimehorse]

The Green Pill Secret: Voting

In the United States of America, on 5 November, 2024, you have your last chance, as a citizen, to vote for your next President. But, did you know there are also down-ballot elections? Do you know who your Congressperson is? Do you know your Governor? Do you know your state Senator and Representative or Delegate? Because, believe me, fixing the flaws in the system starts in the grass roots and all…

[thetimehorse]

The Green Pill Secret: Coping with Addiction

Addiction is a very serious topic, and, after all, quite scary for this Halloween episode. Sure, I could have chosen something less real, like skeletons or blood (but the CCS does give some of that aspect in this Spoopy character class I’m using) but tonight, we’re talking about Addiction. After all, there’s nothing more terrifying than the dark and deadly downward spiral that addiction…

[thetimehorse]

The Green Pill Secret: Sunk Cost Fallacy

If you ever read about economics, you’ll no doubt have heard about the sunk cost fallacy. The thing to remember is that this isn’t a general rule. In fact, nobody says it better than The Gambler, as sung by Kenny Rogers: You got to know when to hold them, and when to fold them. Know when to walk away, and when to run… The long and short of it is that you need to look toward the future. For…

[thetimehorse]

The Green Pill Secret: Introversion

Continuing on from our series autumn episodes, this week we’re discussing introversion, extroversion, and extroverted introversion. What is an Extroverted Introvert? If you like parties with friend that you know, but still need to recharge, you might be an extroverted introvert. If you love talking to perfect strangers and schmoozing, and your only feeling when it’s over is that it’s over, you’re…

[thetimehorse]

ainley master truly is just so... wild. stuff that happens in his run includes:

stealing the body of nyssa of traken's father, orphaning her whilst puppeteering her father's corpse in front of her Every Single Time they meet

he also then controls her body via Evil Bracelet so that she's forced to choke adric (it obviously fails)

and then :) he destroys :) her planet :)

and then he kills the doctor. this sounds horrible for four but i think it's most traumatic for the companions, particularly adric (who saw the doctor as a father figure) and, later, five. less so for four, who had already given up on life when romana left him

also it looks like they kiss right before the master kills him. dude trust me

the next serial the master goes all in and straight up tortures adric

the master gets punched in the face by the brigadier

"so what? i'm perpugilliam brown, and i can shout just as loud as you can!"

the fifth doctor straight up kills the master also. just leaves him to burn to death. of course it doesn't work but like, bearing in mind this is the doctor who was created by the master killing him? fair enough honestly

the rani kicks him in the balls

the sixth doctor calls him "prince of darkness"

"he'd get dizzy if he tried to walk in a straight line"

just. this

the master turns into a cheetah in his last tv appearance

yes really

also this is canonically all ace mcshane knows about him. he tormented the fifth doctor's companions in unique and horrible ways but to ace he's just that weird homoerotic rival of the doctor who turned into a furry

[thetimehorse]

😂😂😂

[thetimehorse]

oh tom baker isn't available? guess we'll just whip out the WAX MODEL of him we have lying around which commits the truly impressive crime of being more terrifying than the real thing

[thetimehorse]

Mid Atlantic Tesla Light Show

Next Friday, come one, come all… and bring your Tesla. Because on Friday, 18 October, at the Frederick Airport, we’re going to try and break a record. How many vehicles will we have when we record this record of this spectacular. Still on the fence? Don’t worry, the Airport is opened for us, and we are even excited to have a special guest! None other than the Simon Pollock, the creator of the…

[thetimehorse]

The Green Pill Secret: Your Inner Critic

The Green Pill Secret: Your Inner Critic

As some of you may know, I have been going to therapy on-and-off for a number of years. The main reason for this because, like many young men of today, I left college with nothing, and couldn’t get a date to save my life. When I finally did find someone who would date me, I clung on as if my life depended on it. In hindsight I know this was unhealthy, but I also recognize as a neglected child and…

[thetimehorse]

The Tough Lemonade: My Co-host's Cabaret

The Tough Lemonade: My Co-host's Cabaret

Folks, As we begin the autumn series of the Green Pill Secret, we welcome my good and dear friend Cat back onto the podcast, I was reminded of a wonderful cabaret Cat shared, which we discussed on the podcast in the episode coming out this Sunday. On the Cabaret we have Cat performing a number of wonderful pieces, including a shout-out to use Baritones what never get no love from the Tennors of…

[thetimehorse]

Musician Age Gap AU Pt 9

Weeks pass, and their evening phone calls continue. The timing varies, but its a rare day that Kara doesn't hear from Lena. Each call feels like a gift, as Kara remains conscious of the constraints on Lena's time, and the energy expended on days she does her shows.

But on those rare evenings where her phone stays quiet, Kara can't help the concern that tickles at the back of her mind. She manages to refrain from issuing a check in, certain that it would be considered a nag, or at the very least an entitlement to Lena's time.

The morning following one such evening, the first text she receives comes in after she settles behind her desk, ready to tackle a mountain of paperwork. When she opens the chat window, she's confused to see an image of a glass-paned wall of an office building.

It's not until she spots the building number that she realizes that it's *her* building.

She all but sprints to the lobby, bursting through the front doors to come to a sudden stop to see a black suv and a casually dressed Lena Luthor leaning against it.

When Lena beams, warmth pools in Kara's chest. She surges back into motion, breathlessly throwing her arms around Lena to squeeze long and hard.

"I wanted it to be a surprise," Lena says into her shoulder, seemingly content to remain in Kara's embrace as long as possible.

Kara laughs. "The best surprise. I've missed you."

When she pulls back, Lena all but bounces on her toes. "You down to play hookie with me?"

"Dodging another meeting?"

"Actually.... I miiiiight have cleared my schedule." From her puckish grin, Lena doesn't appear to feel all that guilty about it.

Kara's heart skips a beat. She can't remember the last time anyone has ever set aside time dedicated to her. It's been years since her last real committed relationship, and even then the time she spent with her partner had been perfunctory, a matter of course. It hadn't made her feel... special.

"Let me grab my purse."

---

They go to the movies. It's Lena's idea, but Kara is the one to choose the goofy comedy that has Lena in stitches before the end of the first act. And if the sound of Lena's giggling heats Kara's cheeks, who could blame her?

They continue to snack on their bucket of popcorn even as they leave the theater. Lena wears the same denim jacket over a zip up hoodie that she'd worn their first day in the park, and with her sunglass firmly in place, she almost looks like a normal person. No one seems to give them a second glance, for which Kara is deeply grateful for.

Selfishly, she wants to keep Lena for herself, for as long as possible.

"When's the last time you went on vacation?" Lena asks, apropro of nothing.

Kara blinks at the unexpected question. She takes time off every year, but she doubts her little staycations to relax and recharge are what Lena would consider a proper break.

"Define vacation," Kara hedges.

Lena laughs. "Time away, somewhere else. Maybe... with someone?"

Sensing the direction the conversation is headed, a thrill of adventure sparks in Kara's belly, even as she begins to talk her way out of it.

"Lena, I don't know..."

"I know, I know, but listen! I've got five days before my next show in Paris, and it's the longest stretch I'll have free for months, and... I want to spend those five days with you."

Kara stares at her. Lena rushes to fill the silence.

"We could go to Capri. Or the alps, if you want somewhere cooler? Or--"

"Yes," Kara interjects. Lena's rambling halts in surprise. Kara grins. "I don't care where we go."

Lena's answering smile puts the sun to shame.

---

Capri is gorgeous. Kara expects to them to be taken to another lavish hotel, but instead their driver heads to residential area, and when they stop, Kara finds herself at the gate of a sprawling villa.

"Wow."

Lena nudges her playfully. "Wait til you see the real view.

Kara follows Lena's lead. Carry-ons in hand, they make their way into the main area of the villa. When Lena places her bag on one of the long couches in the middle of the room, Kara does the same, then allows Lena to lead her by the hand to the verandah at the back.

The whitewashed terrace serves as the perfect frame for the vista that sprawls beyond the walled perimeter of the villa, all the way down to flat stretch of ocean reaching towards the horizon.

"Wow..." Kara breathes.

"I know, right?" Lena turns, sidling a little closer to press a chaste kiss to the corner of Kara's jaw. When her head rested on Kara's shoulder, Kara let her cheek rest atop it. "I'm glad you're here."

Kara sighs, surprisingly content. "Me too."

---

Though the villa's kitchen is fully stocked and equipped, Lena insists on going out for dinner. "I'm not about to stay in on a night like tonight," she says, and Kara offers little protest.

They choose the restaurant on sight alone, and the food is sumptuous and, once the sun goes down, decorated with a blanket of stars overhead. Lena looks stunning in a white shift dress, perfect for the weather and venue, and Kara's gaze roves in a certainly non-platonic way. She only feels a little bad about it when Lena catches her staring.

The other woman's gaze deepens as she reads Kara's appreciation in her expression, and a knowing smile curls her lips. When Lena's bare foot brushes Kara's shin beneath the table, Kara can't bring herself to pull away. She wants Lena, and she's rapidly running out of reasons to talk herself out of it.

Along the walk back to the villa, Kara points out as many constellations as she can recognize, only for Lena to laugh.

"There is no way I could possibly tell which stars you're pointing at," she says.

Rather than be deterred, Kara pulls them to stop. She positions herself behind Lena, her front pressing close against Lena's back. So close that she can feel the hitch of Lena's breath when Kara reaches one arm over her right shoulder, pointing at the brilliant anchor of the big dipper.

"There. You've got the bright one, which is Polaris. The north star. Follow it that way, and you can see the rest of Ursa Major."

Kara turns her chin to gaze down at Lena. The younger woman's skin glows in the moonlight, her hair nearly merging into the shadows. She looks ethereal against the moonlight off the sea, but in Kara's arms she's all to tangible.

"See it?"

"Yeah," Lena croaks. She tries again. "Yeah, I do." She shifts, reaching back to let one hand rest against Kara's hip. The touch is intimate though non-sexual-- a simple gesture to keep Kara exactly where she is. "Show me more?"

Kara does. She's able to point out most of the greeks-- Orion and Cassiopeia and Andromeda, among others. It's at least another hour before they get back to the villa, and the long walk leaves them melting into the couch the moment they sit.

Unable to keep from dozing off, even with the lights blazing, Kara wakes hours later to find Lena asleep on her shoulder. It doesn't even occur to her to move.

When next she wakes, however, Lena is nowhere to be found. Sunlight streams through the tall arched windows, illuminating the spacious room with a pale light that doesn't help this trip feel any less like a dream.

Stretching the kinks out of her back as she rises, Kara meanders to the kitchen, only to find it similarly empty. From there she explores the adjoining hallways, until the sound of hushed, harsh murmurs draws her towards one of the bedrooms.

Peeking through the open door, Kara spies Lena pacing, phone pressed tightly to her ear in agitation. Kara can't discern her words, but her tone is clear enough-- something is wrong.

Lena looks up when Kara gives the door a light push, and Kara is taken aback by the tears glittering in her eyes. Lena turns away slightly, muttering a swift "I have to go," before ending the call.

"I'm sorry," Lena grinds out, turning back towards Kara. "This-- this was a terrible idea, and I-- I shouldn't have pushed it--"

"Whoa, hey..." Kara interrupts gently. "What's wrong?"

Lena sniffs, before unlocking her phone to give to Kara. There, in all their telephoto glory, are a slew of photos-- of them. Here in Capri. One of them captures the moment Lena had kissed Kara's jaw the day before on the terrace, and others track their trek through the village and their dinner at the restaurant. The last one shows the two of them at the outlook, Lena pressed to Kara's front, with Kara's arm stretching towards the stars.

"I know--" Lena's voice cracks. "I know you didn't want this. That you didn't-- want to be seen with me."

Kara frowns. Papparazzi hasn't even been a thought in her mind, beyond one of their outings being interrupted by people hounding Lena. Her concern-- her *only* hesitation to committing towards something deeper-- has been the dread of losing Lena before having more than a taste of her.

"I swear, I didn't know they knew where we'd be," Lena continues. By now, quiet tears have spilled down her cheeks. "I didn't *know*--"

"Hey," Kara says sofly, cupping Lena's damp cheeks with both hands. "It's okay."

Lena shakes her head. "It's not," she croaks. "You didn't want this..."

"I want you."

The confession comes easier than Kara expects. It stills Lena to a mere tremble, her eyes taking on a hopeful glimmer through the tears.

"Anything else, I'll handle it."

Lena swallows, throat clicking. "*We'll* handle it?" she corrects, tentatively.

Offering a smile, Kara leans in and presses a soft kiss to Lena's lips.

"We," Kara confirms.

Lena exhales, tension bleeding from her in a visible whoosh. She steps Kara's arms when they open, nestling herself into the embrace as her hands grip tightly against Kara's shoulderblades.

"We'll do it together."

[thetimehorse]

There's something in the whole "regenerations are affected by who the Time Lord last sees/first sees/is thinking about at the time" that has some undertapped characterisation potential.

Like, 9 becoming young and bubbly 10 for Rose, Simm choosing to be young to match with the Doctor (to do battle better, obviously. Definitely not anything else haha. Definitely.) 12 having a Scottish accent after 11 died thinking of Amy?? And then Missy taking the accent for herself??

The Doctor taking traits from their companions and the Master taking theirs from the Doctor being the pattern here. Like come on. So much can be read into that. It's just sitting there for free.