[ parallel universes. it's a concept that The Doctor's no stranger to, but it's not the first thing that he would have suspected when the TARDIS seemed to materialize in a corner of London. perhaps it would have been the second thing—definitely the third, for sure— but he didn't see it necessary.
and it was that foolish line of thinking which landed him in...what was it that they called it? the Clock Tower? it seemed to be like he was some pseudo prisoner, with people coming in left and right with questions. something about policies, something about lore, something about secrecy? ugh, just what he needed. bureaucracy.
it had been hours of this before The Doctor had decided that enough was enough. if they wanted to continue questioning him, they were going to have to find him. and while it would be easy for him (theoretically) to break out, there was still someone left in the room. a single...what did they call themselves? lords?
the doctor sits back on his chair, propping his legs on the table of the room with absolutely zero decorum. ]
So, what exactly are you guys the Lords of? As far as I could tell, there was still a Prime Minister here. Unless this is... some sort of shadow government?
[This was weird. This was weird even for the Clock Tower. People didn't just randomly wander in and go about whatever business they apparently decided they had, and the sheer irreverence of it alone caught one Lord's attention. A relatively young man in a dark green suit, he watched the Doctor (for lack of any other name, apparently) from behind dark sunglasses and tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the silver-handled cane at his side.]
...Remarkable, that you've stumbled all the way here and yet still don't know that. If you're feigning ignorance, that's one hell of a bold option.
Oh I stumble into many places, Lord. Usually I know where I'm stepping into, but when it comes to parallel universes? That's a completely different beast.
[ brown eyes observe the so-called lord's movements closely, bringing his arms behind his head in order to give the idea of confidence. overconfidence, even. ]
If you want me to take a guess, though, I suppose I can do that for you. This doesn't seem to be a governmental body, but something closer to... a college? I saw quite a few people of different ages when I sneaked into what I imagine is your campus. So I would say you're nothing more than deans of different departments with overinflated titles.
[ the corner of his lip turns upwards in a half-smirk. ]
Don't do that, it's getting annoying--just call me Professor.
[There wasn't much to read about his demeanor just yet, except maybe mild inconvenience. The overconfidence didn't faze him in the slightest, mostly because Lord El-Melloi II of all people understood well how to put up a smokescreen.]
...Well, I can't argue that assessment. Mostly because it's far more correct than most would want to admit.
[ suddenly, The Doctor's position shifts. he moves his arms so that they're crossed against his chest, his expression prideful like a cat that had just caught the canary. ]
Now, Professor... what was it that they called you? El-Mellow? Professor El-Mellow? You seem just as bored of me being here as I am of being here. Don't you think it'd be better if I just went on my way?
Of course I'm a blasted professor, we just established this is a glorified academy. And it's El-Melloi the second.
[Oh, there was the start of the familiar old friend, tension headache.]
And why, exactly, would I risk my neck over letting a whatever-the-hell-you-are get away from the Mage's Association without understanding how you even got in here in the first place?
El-Melloi the Second. Isn't this even more of an inflated title than normal? It doesn't really suit a grumpy guy like yourself.
[ but, well... if that's his preferred name? The Doctor would understand that, but it doesn't seem to be something that this person likes to be called...
however, that doubt gets pushed to the side as he leans forward, raising an eyebrow at the professor's questionable description of him. ]
Hey, hey! I'm not just some "whatever-the-hell-i-am". I told you. I'm a Time Lord. Not from this world! And you don't have to risk your neck. You can just... look away! In fact, I could also very gently make you unconscious for a temporary time and then I can, well, go back to my, uh, spaceship. All you would have to do is stay there and look pretty! Couldn't be easier.
Stu— [ The Doctor sputters, eyes wide as plates before they narrow in disbelief, scrutinizing the professor. ] Stupid!?
[ he can't believe it. seriously! he's been nothing but honest with these people (okay, not really) and all that this man can say is that it's stupid!? ]
Are the humans of this universe even more empty-headed than the one I came from? I just told you I'm an alien lifeform from outer space! A clever one, too!
No, no, I'm not from Mercury. I guess some would say that I'm mercurial, but I'm not from the planet Mercury. Why would you think I'm from Mercury? I'm from Gallifrey.
[ he rolls his eyes. ]
Besides, the only reason I look so human is because we came before you little humans. I'm a Time Lord, so— [ he points to the professor. ] You look Time Lord.
[ The Doctor smiles, smug as always, as he sticks a hand inside the side of his overcoat, pulling out a stethoscope. ]
I’ll bet you 10 quid and my escape that you’ll be able to hear that I have two hearts. I don’t suspect that would be a normal feature of humans here, right?
One, of course not. I love my job, I just hate everyone else.
Two, and this is the part you should really listen to, one of two things happen today. The first option is that you're utterly mad and the other eleven Lords simply decide to boot you off the premises with a minor case of hypnosis to make you forget what you've been up to today. The second is that you are in fact what you say you are--in which case you'll likely be treated as a threat at best and a scientific marvel at worst. Personally, I don't really want to be complicit in vivisection today. Ultimately, if our mysterious visitor were to escape before we could discern the truth...I've enough influence here to get away with a light warning, and god knows I've seen plenty of those.
[ The Doctor's mouth is slightly agape in shock, staring at the professor in silence for a few seconds before his expression twists with slight disdain. ]
Oh, come on, what is it with humans and torturing every extraterrestrial being that they find! We have feelings too!
[ he sighs. ]
Well, lucky for you professor, some would call me 'mad' and I am also an alien. So, come on! Before your little Lord pals return!
[ jumping from his spot on the table, the doctor wastes no time in fishing out his sonic screwdriver, moving towards the door. might as well see if he can disrupt this...forcefield(?) with it, the object humming quietly. ]
Don't look at me, I don't write the rules around here. The Association hates when things are so strange or powerful as to be beyond their grasp, and they choose jars and formaldehyde to solve the issue.
[He moved closer with a click of his cane on the floor with every step, tilting his head slightly at the screwdriver.]
What on earth do you think you're doing with whatever that is? Move. [With a quick hand gesture, he easily undid the Bounded Field on the doorway; better to unlock it with the required authority than use brute force like some kind of idiot.] Just don't make a spectacle of yourself, and let's find this 'spaceship' of yours.
[ he'll point it at Waver jokingly, giving waver a quick scan. ]
You're human, alright, but just a little different. Tell me, is everyone in this world like you? [ he steps outside, tilting his head at the professor. ] What's the fastest you can make an escape?
[ because The Doctor looks like he's .5 seconds from breaking into a sprint. ]
Don't point that thing at me- [swatting it away with an irritated frown]
And no. Did you really not catch on that this is an academic institution of mages, Doctor Clever Space Alien?
[He looked the Doctor up and down, then gestured to the cane next to him.]
What part of 'not a spectacle' didn't make sense? If you take off, I will trip you and we'll all be quite irritated and embarrassed. Just follow me, and stay calm.
[hello migraine my old friend. To his credit, Waver kept up a fairly quick pace; not enough to draw attention, but enough to look far too busy to interrupt.]
The idea of an escape would, I think, not entail leaving the person likely helping you escape in a trail of dust. Do you have no concept of subtlety?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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and it was that foolish line of thinking which landed him in...what was it that they called it? the Clock Tower? it seemed to be like he was some pseudo prisoner, with people coming in left and right with questions. something about policies, something about lore, something about secrecy? ugh, just what he needed. bureaucracy.
it had been hours of this before The Doctor had decided that enough was enough. if they wanted to continue questioning him, they were going to have to find him. and while it would be easy for him (theoretically) to break out, there was still someone left in the room. a single...what did they call themselves? lords?
the doctor sits back on his chair, propping his legs on the table of the room with absolutely zero decorum. ]
So, what exactly are you guys the Lords of? As far as I could tell, there was still a Prime Minister here. Unless this is... some sort of shadow government?
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...Remarkable, that you've stumbled all the way here and yet still don't know that. If you're feigning ignorance, that's one hell of a bold option.
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[ brown eyes observe the so-called lord's movements closely, bringing his arms behind his head in order to give the idea of confidence. overconfidence, even. ]
If you want me to take a guess, though, I suppose I can do that for you. This doesn't seem to be a governmental body, but something closer to... a college? I saw quite a few people of different ages when I sneaked into what I imagine is your campus. So I would say you're nothing more than deans of different departments with overinflated titles.
[ the corner of his lip turns upwards in a half-smirk. ]
How does that sound, Lord?
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[There wasn't much to read about his demeanor just yet, except maybe mild inconvenience. The overconfidence didn't faze him in the slightest, mostly because Lord El-Melloi II of all people understood well how to put up a smokescreen.]
...Well, I can't argue that assessment. Mostly because it's far more correct than most would want to admit.
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[ suddenly, The Doctor's position shifts. he moves his arms so that they're crossed against his chest, his expression prideful like a cat that had just caught the canary. ]
Now, Professor... what was it that they called you? El-Mellow? Professor El-Mellow? You seem just as bored of me being here as I am of being here. Don't you think it'd be better if I just went on my way?
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[Oh, there was the start of the familiar old friend, tension headache.]
And why, exactly, would I risk my neck over letting a whatever-the-hell-you-are get away from the Mage's Association without understanding how you even got in here in the first place?
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[ but, well... if that's his preferred name? The Doctor would understand that, but it doesn't seem to be something that this person likes to be called...
however, that doubt gets pushed to the side as he leans forward, raising an eyebrow at the professor's questionable description of him. ]
Hey, hey! I'm not just some "whatever-the-hell-i-am". I told you. I'm a Time Lord. Not from this world! And you don't have to risk your neck. You can just... look away! In fact, I could also very gently make you unconscious for a temporary time and then I can, well, go back to my, uh, spaceship. All you would have to do is stay there and look pretty! Couldn't be easier.
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[Calmly pushing his sunglasses up to rest on his head, just to make his complete disbelif that much more obvious:]
That's the stupidest fucking thing I've ever heard.
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[ he can't believe it. seriously! he's been nothing but honest with these people (okay, not really) and all that this man can say is that it's stupid!? ]
Are the humans of this universe even more empty-headed than the one I came from? I just told you I'm an alien lifeform from outer space! A clever one, too!
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[He shrugged with one shoulder, blatantly unimpressed.]
What, you want me to believe you're Type-Mercury or something? Nothing from outer space would look or act remotely as human as you.
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[ he rolls his eyes. ]
Besides, the only reason I look so human is because we came before you little humans. I'm a Time Lord, so— [ he points to the professor. ] You look Time Lord.
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[no one needs the explanation of types, now or ever]
As stunningly convenient as that excuse is, how do you expect to prove it?
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[ The Doctor smiles, smug as always, as he sticks a hand inside the side of his overcoat, pulling out a stethoscope. ]
I’ll bet you 10 quid and my escape that you’ll be able to hear that I have two hearts. I don’t suspect that would be a normal feature of humans here, right?
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Better idea. Why don't you show me this spaceship of yours- [barely suppressing an eyeroll] -and then we'll see who's going where.
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[ that makes it easier. in a fluid motion, he pushes himself up to a standing postion, tucking his stethoscope back in his coat.
the coy smile remains on his face as he approaches the professor, sitting down on the table next to him. ]
What makes you think they won’t believe that you’re assisting in my escape? [ a beat. the smile widens. ] Unless you’re as locked in as I am?
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Two, and this is the part you should really listen to, one of two things happen today. The first option is that you're utterly mad and the other eleven Lords simply decide to boot you off the premises with a minor case of hypnosis to make you forget what you've been up to today. The second is that you are in fact what you say you are--in which case you'll likely be treated as a threat at best and a scientific marvel at worst. Personally, I don't really want to be complicit in vivisection today. Ultimately, if our mysterious visitor were to escape before we could discern the truth...I've enough influence here to get away with a light warning, and god knows I've seen plenty of those.
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[ The Doctor's mouth is slightly agape in shock, staring at the professor in silence for a few seconds before his expression twists with slight disdain. ]
Oh, come on, what is it with humans and torturing every extraterrestrial being that they find! We have feelings too!
[ he sighs. ]
Well, lucky for you professor, some would call me 'mad' and I am also an alien. So, come on! Before your little Lord pals return!
[ jumping from his spot on the table, the doctor wastes no time in fishing out his sonic screwdriver, moving towards the door. might as well see if he can disrupt this...forcefield(?) with it, the object humming quietly. ]
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[He moved closer with a click of his cane on the floor with every step, tilting his head slightly at the screwdriver.]
What on earth do you think you're doing with whatever that is? Move. [With a quick hand gesture, he easily undid the Bounded Field on the doorway; better to unlock it with the required authority than use brute force like some kind of idiot.] Just don't make a spectacle of yourself, and let's find this 'spaceship' of yours.
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[ he'll point it at Waver jokingly, giving waver a quick scan. ]
You're human, alright, but just a little different. Tell me, is everyone in this world like you? [ he steps outside, tilting his head at the professor. ] What's the fastest you can make an escape?
[ because The Doctor looks like he's .5 seconds from breaking into a sprint. ]
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And no. Did you really not catch on that this is an academic institution of mages, Doctor Clever Space Alien?
[He looked the Doctor up and down, then gestured to the cane next to him.]
What part of 'not a spectacle' didn't make sense? If you take off, I will trip you and we'll all be quite irritated and embarrassed. Just follow me, and stay calm.
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[ he rolls his eyes, breaking into.....a slow walk. a leisurely pace. he looks around, and then back at the professor. ]
Come on, what's so wrong with running? Do kids not run late to their classes here? Impossible. I was always running late, back in my Academy days.
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[hello migraine my old friend. To his credit, Waver kept up a fairly quick pace; not enough to draw attention, but enough to look far too busy to interrupt.]
The idea of an escape would, I think, not entail leaving the person likely helping you escape in a trail of dust. Do you have no concept of subtlety?
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[ glancing back towards waver he rubs his cheek as in contemplation. ]
You don't listen too well, do you?
[ a pause, unaware of his own hypocrisy. ]
Now your lot was talking a lot about secrecy. But how can you be so "secretive" and have a school in the smack middle of London?
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