The Doctor's Office Hours: Tuesday

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The faint sounds of Snow Patrol can be heard coming from Ten's office this morning. He is bored and restless, there is a strange sense in the air, and his spinny chair is only distracting for so long. But this can all be ignored because he is cheerful. And he has coffee.]


((I'm expecting Sam Carter at some point, but others are welcome.))

Comments

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam wasn't really that shocked by what she was hearing. Ruling classes fell out of power regularly and aliens had become everyday. She unleashed a barrage of questions and completely forgot about the cooling coffee.

"Attempted to maintain balance between what? And how did you control time and space? Is it an innate gift, or is it trained? Is there technology you use? Do you have it here? Can I take it apart to see how it works?"

She remembered class yesterday, and eagerly asked, "Can you see the fourth dimension? Or beyond that?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor rubs his forehead and makes exasperated noises. His answers occur in list form.]
In order: good and evil, generally. Through technology and mysticism and the connection between them which I can't explain in English because there aren't words. Both, partially due to genetic tampering and longevity. Yes. Yes. Hell no, because it'll drive you mad and kill you, literally.

And sometimes. If I think about it too hard.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam took a few minutes to pair the Doctor's answers with the correct questions. "What does the fourth dimension look like?"

She hesitated and took a sip of the cooled coffee, grimacing slightly. After a brief debate with herseld, she decided to ask the next question, unsure of when she'd have another opportunity to do so. "You mentioned being a destroyer of worlds...I understand if you don't want to go into it in a lot of detail...but how and why did you do that?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor closes his eyes. After a moment, he shakes his head and opens them.] I can't describe it to you. There aren't words.

[His eyes meet hers and he looks very, very old.] As for destroying worlds? It was just one world. And I don't really want to talk about it. But let's just say that every answer I just gave you is connected. And connected to this answer. I did it to save everyone else.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam sat quietly, piecing the answers together to form a coherent whole. It's not a pretty picture, but she understood making that choice. Mostly.

"And you're the only one left? That must be terrifying." Her eyes were full of compassion.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

That's one word for it. [He doesn't have much to say, really.]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry. Being without your friends and family...well." She closed her own eyes briefly.

"On a mostly different topic--what do you know about wormholes as a method of traveling through space and time? You know what the situation is here, what we're dealing with...but I thought maybe you'd have some information that could put me on the right path."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I've been without them for a long time, Ms Carter. You tend to learn to make new family, as CJ expressed to me once. [He sips some coffee--he'll drink it cold, no holds barred--and thinks about her other question.]
I know what's been theorised and I know in general what other beings have done. That said, I don't know how their technology works in specifics. The only tech I know inside and out is my own, and I can't let you look at that too closely.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"No, I understand that. It's something that I've learned a lot about in the past year or so."

She pouted just a little at being denied access to technology. Next thing she knew, he'd be telling her humans were too 'young' to understand what was going on with wormholes and time travel.

"If I were to show you some specs for a piece of technology, would you be able to help me reverse engineer it, or at least point me in the right direction?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I sense hostility, Ms Carter. [He levels his gaze at her.] If you looked at what we're so flippantly calling my technology, you'd probably go mad. Or your brain would cook itself. Or both.

But I'd be willing to point like a guide dog. I can't throw technological advice at you, though, it'd disturb the flow of things.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean any..." She sighed and ran both hands through her hair. There may now be some sticking up. "I don't mean to be hostile towards you, sir. I'm not really frustrated with you, but with myself."

She fidgeted in her seat, wondering exactly how they'd gone from a conversation to her offending him. "I understand, sir. And I wouldn't expect you to give me the answers. If you could just let me know when I'm completely off track, that would be enough."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He breathes in and lets out a long sigh.] I know, Ms Carter. I didn't mean to attack in defense. It's just that the subject is one that's fairly sore. As for the technology...I can help you. I know you understand I can't do much...but I can see you getting frustrated with me because of it. Because of what I know.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I'm a little frustrated with you," Sam admitted, "But I'm more frustrated with myself--because obviously the answers to my questions are out there, and I can't find them or figure them out. I hate feeling stupid."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

You're not stupid, by any means. Sometimes things aren't meant to be found straight away. I realise that sounds ludicrous to a scientist, but reality's broader than just logical thinking.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I know. But logic's the place to start, right? Except that my logic, my human logic, may not be enough. Which means that I may never find the answers I'm looking for--and that's both very discouraging and very challenging. Maybe you were right when you called me a masochist," she shrugged.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He looks at her.] Sam.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Yes?"

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

She sighed. "Thank you, I guess." She didn't mention that Jolinar's memories and forty years of living didn't seem to be helping her much in that regard.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

...Is there something wrong, Ms Carter? [He looks at her curiously.]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I'm just impatient, sir, that's all. I want the answers now." She forced a smile, which may or may not have been convincing.


((OOC: I've got to get to bed. Leave this here, or pick it up tomorrow?))

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Uh-huh. Well, perhaps you'll learn from this experience. [He looks unconvinced.]

((Whatever you like.))

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"We can only hope. Anyway, I should be going," Sam said, rising and putting her coffee mug on his desk. "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Doctor."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Any time, Ms Carter...or would you prefer Sam?

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

She smiled. "I prefer Sam, actually, sir."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Then Sam it is. [He smiles at her.] Have a good day, all right?

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I will, sir. Thank you." She walked out, stopping by the office door. "Would you like your door open or closed, sir?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Leave it open. I think I'll subject all of Fandom High to my music choices.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam grinned at him. "Yes, sir." She left the door open and began walking back to the dorms.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

You don't need to keep reminding me that you have human limitations. If anyone can work past that, it's you.