this is the fate au our parents warned us about

[oncoming]

( locked to fionnuisce )

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[fionnuisce]

...

[It was at that point Waver looked like he'd just seen the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future all at the same time and gone through a massive overhaul of his entire worldview in the space of .5 seconds.]

...We have got to get you the fuck out of here.

[oncoming]

That's what I've been saying this whole time!

[ though he does tilt his head at the professor, eyebrow raised. ]

Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost. I don't see anyone coming after us, do you sense something different, Prof?

[fionnuisce]

Nope. Not at all. I'm fine. Just...just a deeply unsettling reminder. Don't worry about it.

[oncoming]

Deeply unsettling? Maybe there is a reason the TARDIS brought me here, then...

[ he quietly continues to muse over his reasons for landing in this place, as he continues. ]

Listen, if there's any trouble, Prof, I could help out. I'm very good at helping people out. It's kind of my thing, as The Doctor.

[fionnuisce]

Trouble? No--no more than usual. Really, it's nothing to be concerned about and if you and the person I'm thinking of were in the same room for two seconds I might age twenty years.

[oncoming]

[ somewhere in the clock tower dorms, flat escardos sneezes. ]

Then I think we should go and find this person!

[fionnuisce]

No. Because you're leaving before I hand you over to the team in favor of vivisection myself. Where's this damn ship anyway?

[oncoming]

Can you stop talking about vivisection? It’s deeply unsettling to be talked about like I’m a lab rat, you know.

[ he sighs, shaking his head. be more mindful of his feelings, professor! ]

It’s tucked in a back alley a few streets down from the campus. Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone should have noticed it.

[fionnuisce]

Fine. Come on, there's a side door down this way nobody bothers using.

[oncoming]

Hahah! There’s nothing better than a secret exit!

[ he is practically vibrating with excitement over this. if he could (well, technically he can) he would break out into a run.

instead he keeps walking in that direction, turning towards waver to chat. ]

So what are your students like, Prof? They can’t be that bad, if they got a man like you as their instructor.

[fionnuisce]

You literally do not even know me. What kind of assessment is that?

[oncoming]

Sure, we haven’t met for long, but you’re already coming off far better than the others. You could have just led me directly to that vivisection that you were talking about. But you haven’t.

[ he looks back, smiling. ]

Well, I suppose you could be deceiving me, but I choose not to believe that right now. If I’m wrong, well… I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.

[ he points at a door. ]

This one?

[fionnuisce]

Well, that's reckless as all hell.

[With a slight nod, he pushed the door open and walked outside.]

You don't plan ahead much, do you?

[oncoming]

It’s more fun that way.

[ where’s the fun in knowing your opponent’s moves? it’s far more interesting when there’s an unknown factor.

once they’re out, he turns his head side to side, orienting himself in the mental map of london that he had in his mind. if he’s correct, then…

he points. ]

This way. Let’s hurry now. I was never that good at hitting the books— I far prefer hands-on experiences.

[fionnuisce]

Well, experience is the best teacher. I won't argue that.

[oncoming]

Oh, yes it is!

[ he leans back on his heels, smug as he continues walking at a brisk pace. ]

So tell me about yourself! How did you end up in a glorified academy that vivisects what they don’t know?

[fionnuisce]

There's nothing worth telling. I'm a mage, of course I would wind up at the Clock Tower sooner or later.

[There was, in fact, quite a lot worth telling.]

Stumbled my way into a teaching position, and here we all are.

[oncoming]

Keeping your cards close to your chest, huh?

[ that’s fine. The Doctor did say that he liked a challenge. ]

How does one become a mage, then? Or are you born one?

[fionnuisce]

[That earned him another eyeroll. Mind your business, beanpole.]

You're born one. It's just as you said--human, but a little extra. The ability to utilize magecraft manifests as what amounts to a second nervous system.

[oncoming]

[ yippee he’s annoying! ]

A secondary nervous system which would allow a human to interact with the world in a completely different sense. It would go far beyond telepathy and more like a completely new set of sensations. An entirely new subspecies…

[ he stops in his tracks, placing his hands on Waver’s shoulders with a barely held back happiness. ]

You’re all so amazing. [ and he pulls back, continuing his walk. ] That’s the incredible thing about humans! You always continue to evolve somehow, against all odds! I couldn’t be more proud of you guys.

[fionnuisce]

Subsp-?! I'm a person, not a fucking iguana.

[huffing his way on after the doctor a step or two behind]

You don't have to patronize us about it, Doctor Oh So Clever Space Alien.

[oncoming]

“The Doctor” is fine enough. The rest comes implied.

[ hehe. ]

I would never say you’re an iguana! You’re human, species name homo sapiens. I would say that you mages would count a subspecies of that.

[ isn’t that logical? ten thinks so at least.

but all their walking has finally paid its efforts as he turns around a corner into a dark alley. and in there standing proudly is a…

blue police box. ]

Still here! Oh, good to see you, girl! I missed you!

[fionnuisce]

...


. . .

[this can not be happening.]

That's a phone box. You realize that, right? An artifact of one, at that.

[oncoming]

Yes, she is! Good eye, I’d say, but that’s not all she is. You see, she’s able to camouflage herself with the rest of her enviornment…


[ he fishes in his pockets… key, key, where’s the key— there it is! ]

Well, supposed to, but there’s the whole thing with the Chameleon Circuit, I’ve never gotten the chance to repair it…

[ he places the key in the lock, turns it to unlock it, and then turns towards waver, an impish smile on his face. ]

Do you want to see inside?

[fionnuisce]

...Sure. This may as well happen.

[The summary of his life.]